For gamers who play multiple types of video games, purchasing a modular gaming controller is one of the best investments you’ll ever make. As the name suggests, this type of gaming controller provides gamers with a wide range of customization options such as mappable buttons, adjustable trigger controls, and swappable analog sticks of different heights. Not only do all these personalization features allow gamers to adapt their controller’s capabilities to match their personal needs depending on what type of game they’re playing, but it also gives hardcore players a huge competitive advantage in comparison to players that play with standard controllers, which typically have less action buttons and fewer configurable macros (or none whatsoever). For a highly modular gaming controller that offers tons of customization options, the newly launched HexGaming Phantom Controller is your go-to choice.
The HexGaming Phantom Controller is a fully-modular gaming controller for the PS5 and PC that features an ergonomic anti-slip grip design, 4 remappable rear buttons which support configurations with up to 15 assignable buttons, the ability to create and save up to 6 customizable profiles for switching between different button mappings for different types of games more easily, along with a built-in DRIFIX module consisting of a precise calibration tool that corrects stick drift to ensure your joysticks remain accurate and responsive while also allowing for manual adjustments to its thumbsticks’ offset within a range of 0.12 units, plus two separate triggers control mechanisms that let you toggle between digital triggers for short clicks and adaptive triggers for long clicks. The controller also comes with 8 swappable joysticks in 4 different types for customizing its versatility to match different play styles, supports both a wired USB-C connectivity and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 5.1, and boasts between 3 to 6 hours of battery.
In short, this fully-modular gaming controller was designed to be as adaptive and customizable as possible in order to meet the demands of virtually any gamer, from its thumbsticks and back buttons, to the adjustability of its trigger style, making it an incredibly versatile controller for all gaming scenarios, whether that’s casual, hardcore, or even competitive / esports gaming.
Below you can find our comprehensive review of the HexGaming Phantom Controller, where we go over all the awesome features that this fully-modular gaming controller for the PS5 and PC has to offer you.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the controller’s size, this gaming controller comes at a slightly smaller size when compared to other modern gaming controllers, measuring just 6.29 inches long by 4.33 inches deep by 2.36 inches tall (160 x 110 x 60 mm), which makes it relatively compact, comfortable to hold, and easy to store away when not in use. Plus, the controller is also fairly lightweight, as it only weighs 10.40 oz. (295 g).
On top of its sleek dimensions, this fully-modular gaming controller also features an ergonomic design with an anti-slip material at its back-side that ensures gamers can keep a firm grasp of the controller while still providing remarkable comfort, even during long gaming sessions.
As for as its overall design, the HexGaming Phantom also features a really cool, ultra-modern aesthetic, for which the different available color variants will have its body coming either in one solid color, a dual color design with split front and back sides, or an opaque / see-through design for its special edition.
Moreover, this modular gaming controller also packs a high-quality construction, as it is also built with durability in mind.
Another really cool thing offered by this modular controller is that the Phantom also comes with a total of eight (x8) swappable joysticks available in 4 different types, enabling you to change its thumbsticks for adjusting its versatility so that the controller can better match your preferred play style. By providing players with such a vast interchangeability for its thumbsticks, players can have a faster target acquisition, smoother movement, and more flexible controls of their player character.
The controller’s 8 swappable joysticks include:
- 2 Concave Regular Thumbsticks – This pair of thumbsticks lets you make the controller’s joysticks more tactile, as they offer you an improved grip.
- 2 Concave Extended Width Thumbsticks – These two thumbsticks have an extra-wide surface that’s particularly designed to provide players with increased comfort and an improved performance.
- 2 Domed Extended Length Thumbsticks – This pair of thumbsticks are designed to provide a boosted height and a raised surface for more detailed reactions.
- 1 Domed Regular + 1 Concave Extended Length Thumbsticks – This dual pair of different thumbsticks is mostly suitable for fine-tuning your movement and aiming controls, making them ideal for FPS and racing games.
All of the controller’s swappable joysticks can be easily pulled of its thumbstick bases and effortlessly snapped back into them when swapping them around.
INTERFACE / BUTTON CONTROLS
We’ll now have a closer look at the controller’s interface, meaning all of its button controls and integrated switches.
Starting at its front side, just like any other modern gaming controller for the PS5 or PC, the HexGaming Phantom Controller features a set of four (x4) directional keys (Up, Down, Left, Right), along with four (x4) action buttons (X, O, Triangle, and Square), two (x2) thumbsticks (left and right thumbsticks for character and camera movements), a Share and Options buttons (respectively located at the top-left and top-right of the controller’s front side), plus a 2-point capacitive touchpad (integrated at the top-center of the controller’s front side).
Then at its back side, we have the controller’s L1 and L2 Buttons, R1 and R2 Buttons, and L3 and R3 Buttons.
This fully-modular gaming controller also comes equipped with four (x4) remappable rear buttons (consisting of a K1, K2, K3, and K4 buttons) which are integrated at the bottom side of the controller. These 4 remappable rear buttons support configurations with up to 15 assignable buttons, allowing players to easily switch between different button mappings on the fly.
Not only that, but you’ll also be able to see at a glance which profile you’re using thanks to a multi-color LED indicator that comes integrated around its Profile Switch button, which is located at the top-center of the controller’s back-side
In addition, the HexGaming Phantom Controller also comes integrated with a built-in DRIFIX module (installed at the center of the controller’s top side) which consists of a precise calibration tool that aims to correct and eliminate stick drift, thus ensuring that your joysticks return to their central position while also remaining perfectly accurate and responsive. This essentially helps to keep your thumbsticks at pinpoint accuracy.
What’s more is that players can also perform manual adjustments to the controller’s DRIFIX module (by using the included DRIFIX calibration tool) for fine-tuning its thumbsticks’ offset within a range of 0.12 units, allowing them to keep their gaming smooth, accurate, and enjoyable at all times.
Lastly, this fully-modular gaming controller also comes equipped with two separate triggers control mechanisms that let you instantly toggle between digital triggers for short clicks and adaptive triggers for long clicks for its L2 and R2 buttons, thus allowing players to tweak the trigger pull for those buttons in order to better suit their play style / gameplay.
When set to adaptive trigger mode, players can experience full haptic feedback for the controller’s L2 and R2 buttons, which will offer long clicks with a long travel distance up to 7mm, which is mostly suitable for adventure games or for racing games where you need detailed acceleration controls.
On the other hand, when set to digital trigger mode, the controller’s L2 and R2 buttons will offer significantly shorter clicks with a short travel distance of just up to 1.5mm, giving you a massively increased rate of fire in FPS games.
CONNECTIVITY & COMPATIBILITY
In regard to the controller’s connectivity options, know that the HexGaming Phantom Controller supports both a wired connectivity via a USB-C connection cable as well as a wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 5.1.
As for its compatibility, the controller offers multi-device compatibility, meaning its compatible with the PlayStation 5, with both Desktop computers and laptops, and it can also be used with smartphones and tablets for mobile gaming.
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
For its power, the controller comes equipped with a built-in 1650mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery that offers users between 3 to 6 hours of battery life.
Keep in mind that the controller’s battery life will mainly depend on the type of game you’re playing, as well as vibration frequency and adaptive triggers, but you can still extend its battery’s usage time by minimizing these features in the controller’s settings.
As for recharging the controller’s battery, you simply have to connect its USB-C charging cable to the controller’s USB-C port.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
The HexGaming Phantom Controller comes neatly packed with all of its accessories inside a sturdy cardboard box.
Inside each package, users will find: their HexGaming Phantom Controller, along with the controller’s eight (x8) swappable joysticks, its DRIFIX calibration tool and a Hex Guide for it, plus a Quick Start Guide.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With this fully-modular controller, gamers are offered a wide range of customization functionalities that enables them to seamlessly adjust the controller’s capabilities to match their personal gaming needs, no matter the type of game they’re playing or the gaming environment, from casual gameplay all the way to professional gaming at an esports-level.
The HexGaming Phantom Controller is currently available in five (x5) stylish color variants, including: Dream Blue, Shadow Gray, Chaos Black, Vision White, and the special Explorer Edition, which has a really cool ultra-minimalist and industrial design.
If you’re interested in purchasing it, all you have to do is pledge a minimum of $190 to HexGaming’s Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign, which you can do via the provided link.
