It is time for another PC and mobile controller review! This time, HyperX throws their hat into the ring with the HyperX Clutch Controller. Previous HyperX Clutch releases were ChargePlay products aimed at improving the grip of the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices while doubling as a back-up battery. We reviewed both the ChargePlay Clutch for Mobile and the ChargePlay Clutch for Nintendo Switch here. Now, the HyperX Clutch Controller is a wireless controller for both PC and Android devices. Offering three modes of connectivity and a 19-hour battery life, we simply had to check out HyperX’s very first gaming controller for ourselves.
Let’s dive into the HyperX Clutch Controller for $49.99 to see what it brings to the table.
Build, Comfort and Feel
A purchase of the HyperX Clutch Controller comes with a removable mobile clip, a 2.4Ghz Wireless USB adapter, and a USB-C to USB-A cable.
This controller features a familiar Xbox button and analog stick layout. It comes with a removable phone clip which can either attach your mobile device to the controller or act as a standalone tabletop stand.
The phone clip itself is ready to grasp onto devices ranging from 41mm to 86mm in width. The controller uses Bluetooth connectivity for mobile. However, when it comes to PC use, you can either connect wirelessly with the included 2.4Ghz USB dongle or wired with a USB-C to USB-A cable.
The HyperX Clutch Controller features rubberized textured grips on each of the handles. Outside of the basic Xbox-esque buttons and controls, the controller also has Turbo and Clear buttons. The Turbo button allows you to set your specified buttons to rapid auto-fire when held down. The Clear button lets you undo those settings. When connected to Android devices, the Home button in the center acts as you would expect, bringing you to the device’s home screen. However, when you are using the controller on PC, and if you have the Xbox Game Bar installed, pressing the Home button acts just like the Xbox button does on standard Xbox controllers. Just like that, your traditional party, chat and gameplay recording features are brought to the forefront at the press of a button.
As far as build and comfort goes, there is practically no learning curve with getting accustomed to the HyperX Clutch Controller, especially for Xbox gamers. The buttons and controls are easy to access, with the additional Turbo and Clear buttons not getting in the way. The controller is light yet solid, buttons feel snappy, and the analog sticks have a nice amount of resistance to them. I particularly liked the angular nature of the triggers, which actually made it easier to rest my fingers on them between shots. The rubberized handle grips are a nice touch, making the controller comfortable to hold while adding some stability. Overall, the controller gets top marks in both build and comfort.
The removable grip is also quite handy. While it is easy to apply to both your phone and controller, the grip remains very secure with each. The grip even retained a tight hold on the larger-sized TCL Stylus 5G, a phone whose dimensions are 6.67” x 3.01” x 0.35” (169.6 x 76.5 x 8.98 mm).
Whether you are playing on the bus or a place with a countertop surface, the HyperX Clutch Controller is ready to handle your mobile gaming needs. My only wish for this controller is a compartment where you stow away the USB dongle for safe keeping.
Performance
Starting off with some mobile fighting games, both Street Fighter IV Champion Edition and the King of Fighters ’98 played smoothly. Latency was at best negligible, allowing for each of the games to handle well over the Bluetooth connection. I was impressed with the feel of the D-pad, where command inputs were easy to execute. I tend to play certain fighters while holding controllers and fightpads in some rather unique ways. As such, being able to remove the mobile grip to use it as a phone stand was especially welcome here.
Then to try the controller with a shooter, I booted up Mass Effect: Legendary Edition via the Xbox Game Pass app for mobile.
Here, that traditional Xbox controller layout handled nicely well here as well. Playing a streaming game off a bar’s wifi while using Bluetooth connectivity did present a noticeable pinch of latency here. However, the game was still plenty playable and enjoyable.
Next up was the HyperX Clutch Controller’s best wireless connection option, 2.4Ghz wireless play on PC.
I started off again with fighting, giving King of Fighters XV a go. Not only did the D-Pad continue to hold up admirably during matches, but the 2.4Ghz connection maintained a virtually latency-free connection between the controller and the game. While I was admittedly rusty with KOF XV, the combos I did remember were still easy to execute.
When it came to shooters, Destiny 2 felt as comfortable with the HyperX Clutch Controller as if I were playing it on my Xbox Series X. Naturally, I had to take it on some Trials of Osiris runs. Those tight thumbsticks allowed me to make accurate and snappy headshots with my slow-firing Something New hand cannon. I felt so at home with the HyperX Clutch Controller that I was able to bag a couple of Flawless runs.
Throughout each of my marathon gaming sessions, I got to enjoy the solid 19-hour battery life that the HyperX Clutch Controller has to offer. Even when I forgot to recharge the controller after about three days, I simply flipped the switch to wired mode, plugged in a USB-C to USB-A cable, and kept on playing as the controller recharged. No complaints on the performance front.
Final Thoughts
The HyperX Clutch Controller is a solid buy at a respectable price of $49.99. You simply get what you pay for. It is a solid controller that feels great, handles beautifully, and lasts for hours on end. It is a great solution for either PC or mobile gaming. The fact that it handles both platforms so well makes it an easy wireless controller to suggest for gamers at home or on the go.
If you are in the market for a wireless controller for either PC or mobile gaming, the HyperX Clutch Wireless Gaming Controller is definitely one worth checking out. You can check out the HyperX Clutch Controller for yourself by clicking here.
† As usual, there are no affiliate links contained within this post. We were provided a HyperX Clutch Wireless Gaming Controller for review purposes and were not compensated for this review.