Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S Review
Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S
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Gaming can be an expensive undertaking these days. Even if you stick to one console, your hard earned money will slip away as fast as you let it. Between the sheer magnitude of games available, monthly subscriptions and accessories, there is no shortage of places to spend your money in the world of gaming. Luckily for us consumers, there is also no shortage of ways for you to save money, either. One of the best ways is through third-party hardware like the Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S, which turns an expensive PS4 controller replacement into a much more financially viable option.
Priced as low as $30CAD, the Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S is a truly affordable option for a spare controller. Equally important as the price point is the freedom that this price offers. No longer do you have to worry about your friends tossing your controllers around or your kids spilling sticky drinks over them. This controller will provide far more value and usage and if it does finally get destroyed, it won’t be soul-wrenching to go out and buy a new one.
As a third-party hardware manufacturer, Snakebyte has modified their controller slightly from the standard PS4. Keep in mind here that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to controllers, so your mileage may vary. I found the D-Pad in place the four directional buttons a welcome change, my hand simply has an easier time following the D-Pad to different directions and allows me quicker use of the controls.
The rest of the changes were less impressive. Even though the controller is offered in black, grey and the stylish blue or bubblegum camo, the controller itself feels bulkier while the buttons do not make use of the extra space and feel almost cramped together. When compared to the dualshock, the buttons on the Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S are smaller and tighter together. The buttons are also quite stiff, but I could see them loosening up with repeated use.
I was quite impressed with the responsiveness of the controls, as I did not experience a single drop in wireless signal during my time playing with it. The battery life and rumble features are equal to that of the dualshock as well.
I did have one absolute head-scratcher of a moment with this controller, however. Picture the four main buttons on a dualshock controller. You know, the iconic symbols that have been on every PlayStation controller since the beginning of time? For some reason that I do not comprehend, those symbols have been replaced with the words for the symbols. You read that correctly. Instead of ‘X’, your bottom button is labeled ‘CROSS’. And so on.
The only possible reason I can think of for this would be a copyright issue for the PS symbols in that order. While it does not make a difference during gameplay for experienced users because you aren’t looking at the controller while you play, it is a bit of an eyesore and has significantly reduced readability for new players.
All in all, the Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S is an affordable alternative to a spare PS4 controller for friends or kids. While the button layout is slightly different and took some getting used to, it is certainly very usable and has great wireless responsiveness and battery life. For those who are tired of spending full-price on controller replacements or just want a spare they can let their kids use worry-free, look no further.
Learn more about the Snakebyte Wireless Gamepad 4S here: https://mysnakebyte.com/en/products/playstation/ps4/ps4-gamepad-4-s-wireless-black.html