Quality and comfort are the most critical factors when choosing a controller. This wasn’t what I expected from the Neo S, judging by first impressions of its awkwardly boxy form.
This immense rectangle looks as comfortable as dad giving his “speech” way too tardy while sitting on a pineapple with soggy socks. In fact, this deceitful daddy is surprisingly composed about everything. What I mean is that the CRKD Neo S is great and surprisingly comfortable. I played it for hours and never once did I feel a sting in my hand.
You can also connect it to virtually anything you want and quickly switch between them when needed. Once set up, I can easily swap the Bluetooth connection from the Switch to iPad to an Android phone by holding down various buttons on the D-pad while connecting. What’s really surprising is how quickly the connection responds.
Libra: 192 gr
Communication: Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type C, Aux
Characteristics: Hall effect sticks with dead zone options, motion controls, reconfigurable buttons including back triggers, configurable rumble and trigger activation depth
Battery: Internal 750 mAh battery
Price: $50 | 50 pounds | 91 Australian dollars
In this house, we were playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – aka TMNT-flavored Hades with a couch – so out of curiosity, we swapped controllers. None of us noticed much of a difference between connecting CRKD and connecting Xbox controllers on their specialized dongle. We ran the same test with a bit of Serious Sam madness, and we were all equally cheerful to play on the Neo S, both for connection and comfort. This led to me getting perpetual Doom – switching between Neo S and Xbox and not really feeling that either one performed better.
According to two of my kitchen scales, it weighs just 192 grams and can be carried on the go, and the Bluetooth connection works really well if the device is within a few meters and has no lag so far. The internal battery lasts ages and comes with a USB Type-C port for charging, as well as a wired connection (you better believe it can even do both at once), so I don’t have to bring any extra lengths of wire with me when I travel.
Since gaming is all about enjoyment, customization for personal satisfaction is a huge boon. This CRKD cube once again surprises by being one of the more malleable controllers in this respect. No software is required as everything can be changed using button combinations on the controller itself if you remember them. You can adjust the side and strength of the engine rumble, trigger sensitivity, hold dead zones, configure turbo mode and full button remapping, including disabling rear triggers.
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Fortunately, there is a mobile app that provides a uncomplicated alternative method to change most of them, complete with visual effects. I just wish it gave options to save different configurations to profiles and even connections. For example, having my Zelda setup automatically load when paired with the Switch and Hades on PC would be next level. Still, that’s a lot of functionality and quality for a controller that only costs AU$90.
Buy if…
✅ Are you looking for a travel companion: The deceptively convenient brick construction makes this controller uncomplicated to pack and take with you, while being very lightweight. What’s more, you can assign it on the fly, connect it to anything, and easily switch between them.
✅ Are you a fan of the feature: It’s not often that a controller feels this good, is affordable, and allows you to remap the whole thing.
✅ You are a collector: Between numerous rarities, app registration and a retro style that includes a range of different designs, these products were created with collectors in mind. You can even buy matching docking stations and wall mounts to display them.
Don’t buy if…
❌ Want a professional controller: The CRKD Neo S is pretty darn good for a sub-$100 unit, but you’ll have to trade up the bigger buck for something shinier or if you prefer professional options like stick swaps or reactive triggers.
The app can also pair, register, and even check the rarity of the controller, which is assigned by any number, if you’re into that sort of thing. There is a section of the manual that contains a link to a downloadable PDF file. It’s refreshingly full of useful, clear pairing instructions, as well as all the button combinations for app-free customization. Unfortunately for me, when flying from Australia to Europe, the download link rather than the app file (even once downloaded) is a bit less useful when you’re on a plane with no network and trying to figure it out.
All of these great, newfangled implementations feel almost hidden beneath the retro styling of the CRKD Neo S. I easily surmise that this is a form-over-function controller not only in terms of shape, but also tone. It comes in a wide range of pretty frigid looking shell designs, from painted cherry blossoms to retro style shells. For the pleasure of seeing the technology under the hood, I’m rocking the crystal clear color. While undeniably stylish, it gives off a Cheeto dust-covered, sticky 2-player energy button. I’m almost surprised when I pick it up and the face buttons and D-pad are quick and responsive, the Hall effect remains polished, and while it’s not DualSense level, the triggers are quite solid.
It’s not at the level of $300-plus professional controllers, but at a third of that price it hits well above a modest 192 grams. WASD may be superior in terms of effective head clicking, and I certainly indulge in its superior accuracy against competitive PC shooters, but it comes at the cost of my natural enjoyment. The CRKD Neo S is a surprisingly well-built, comfortable and versatile controller, and what’s more, I had a great time playing games with the CRKD Neo S.
