We’ve been sent a QRD Stellar T3 Wireless Joy-pad from the good folks at QRD Games and have been putting it through its paces over the last few weeks. It’s a Switch controller that can be used as individual Joy-Cons, as a full wireless controller or in handheld mode.
The QRD Stellar T3 also features a spectrum of LED lighting choices as well as turbo functions that can be switched on or off. It costs just over £50 once shipping is calculated and includes everything needed to use it right out of the box including Joy-Cons, charger cable, additional 8-way D-Pad and a bracket to combine the Joy-Cons.
Before getting into all the fancy lighting and turbo functions, we’re starting with the general feel and build quality of the QRD Stellar T3. For this review, we started by using the controller in handheld mode to get a general feel and allow the Joy-Cons to charge. Both controllers were recognised instantly and the Switch had no problem being playable from the instant they were connected.
The overall feel is different to the standard Joy-Cons, most notably due to the ergonomic shape that allows you to create a comfortable grip. The QRD Stellar T3 feels quality to the touch and is an all-around better shape than the official Joy-Cons. Those with bigger hands will rejoice in being able to get a firm, comfortable grip.
Each button feels tactile and responsive, especially the shoulder buttons that are situated in a perfect angle for fingers to press down. You also don’t need to press too hard due to the microswitching technology used in the controller. There was no delay in button presses causing actions on the screen and being able to press lightly to cause a firm push was refreshing.
The only button that didn’t feel quite right was the D-Pad. But this has been an issue with all switch controllers we’ve tried. There isn’t anything wrong with the QRD Stellar T3’s version of the D-Pad, it’s just not much improved on what has gone before. We do feel that this is just an issue with Switches in general though, the D-Pad has never felt that sturdy or responsive compared with the analogue sticks.
After being impressed with the handheld capabilities and the Joy-Cons now fully charged, we disconnected them and set up the wireless controller mode. As with the handheld mode, the controller connected quickly with the Switch and was ready to go right away. The QRD Stellar T3 has excellent connectivity and can turn the Switch on as well as position itself as controller one with only one click.
The distance between the Joy_cons felt just right and with the extra grip, this feels like a solid controller with just the right amount of weight. Again, the buttons were within easy reach of fingers and it felt comfortable on a lap or being held upright. There was no delay on button presses and the QRD Stellar T3 is sturdy, responsive and comfortable in every way that matters when considering a controller.
We continued to use the controller in this way until the battery drained and it took a fair while to do so. During our review, we completed several retro games and had a long play on Zelda before the battery finally gave up. The battery life feels about the same as a regular Joy-Con but has the added value of being charged from a USB cable if you wish to.
Lastly, we tried the Joy-Cons as individual controllers on a round of Mario Kart. Due to the design of the grips, this didn’t feel right and the QRD Stellar T3 doesn’t work well for those games where you wish to split the Joy-Cons. It was inevitable though, given the grip design decision was made to make handheld and full controller modes more comfortable, but they do function as separate Joy-Cons.
With all our tests around compatibility, comfortableness and battery life out of the way, we next tackled the additional features the QRD Stellar T3 has to offer. We started by trying out the different LED lighting arrangements. The colours have a good range and with a few button presses you can switch from flashing to sustained light. And for times when you don’t wish to use the lights, you can switch them off by first setting to the breathing mode and then clicking the analogue three more times.
The turbo functions were a little bit tricky to work out at first but once we understood the instructions we found that they worked quite well. We question whether modern games need any form of turbo function but this did help us with some retro shooters that would otherwise require us to keep hammering a fire button. You can also program in certain commands via the macro switches on the back.
Overall, the QRD Stellar T3 is a quality controller that is a great alternative to the official Joy-Cons, especially for those with larger hands. The build quality is what you would expect from a controller at this price point and the overall responsiveness is better than the official Joy-Cons in certain areas. For those looking for precision, better grip and a splash of LED colour, the QRD Stellar T3 is the perfect choice.
