The first EasySMX S10 made a strong impression. It looked the part, felt great in the hands, and packed in more features than you’d expect for the money. So when the EasySMX S10 Lite landed, the obvious question was whether this was just a cheaper knock-off of its own sibling, or a proper budget alternative that still made sense.
Before we get into the review, make sure you check out our unboxing video below for a closer look at what you get in the box and how the controller shapes up in person.
The short version? The S10 Lite is absolutely the more stripped-back option. You lose some of the flashier extras from the S10, including RGB lighting and NFC support, and that immediately makes it feel more basic. But “basic” isn’t always a bad word. Sometimes it just means getting the important bits right.
A familiar shape, just with fewer bells and whistles
Straight away, the S10 Lite feels very similar to the S10. That’s not just me saying it, either; broader coverage has pointed out that it appears to use much the same shell and keeps that same comfortable, solid feel in the hand. It’s clearly been designed as the more affordable sibling rather than a complete redesign.
That’s good news, because the original had a shape that worked. The Lite still feels sturdy, still sits nicely in the hand, and still gives off that reassuring “this won’t fall apart after a month” vibe. Where it differs is in the details. The original S10 had more of that enthusiast edge to it, with TMR sticks, HD rumble, mechanical buttons and NFC. The Lite scales back and instead leans into the essentials: Hall Effect sticks, 9-axis motion control, native Switch 2 wake-up support, a dedicated C button, and two back buttons.
That makes the pitch pretty simple. The S10 is the one for people who want the nicer extras. The S10 Lite is the one for people who want something dependable, cheaper, and still far better than the sort of no-name third-party pad you regret after 20 minutes.
Less flashy, but still smart where it counts
I do miss the RGB. I know not everyone cares, but the original had a little more flair to it. The Lite is more practical. More “Player 2 controller” than “look at my desk setup”. The same goes for the missing NFC; if you use Amiibo regularly, that’s going to matter. If you don’t, it probably won’t even register as a loss.
What matters more is that the stuff left behind hasn’t killed the experience. Hall Effect sticks are still a big plus at this price, especially when stick drift is still the sort of thing that can turn a perfectly good controller into a very expensive paperweight. EasySMX is also making a big deal of its native Switch 2 support, with one-button wake-up and that dedicated chat button, and that does help the S10 Lite stand out from a lot of budget alternatives that still feel like they’re awkwardly pretending to be official hardware.
It also works across multiple platforms, which is a big win. Yes, it’s clearly been designed with Switch 2 in mind, but being able to jump over to PC, Android, or iOS gives it more value long-term, especially if you’re after one extra controller that can do a bit of everything.
In use: Reliable, comfortable, and pleasingly straightforward
This is where the S10 Lite earns its keep.
Controllers in this price range often promise loads and then immediately feel cheap once you actually start using them. That’s not really the case here. Buttons feel responsive, the grip is comfortable enough for long sessions, and the whole thing has that easy “pick it up and play” quality EasySMX is clearly aiming for. Outside impressions have highlighted that same idea too; it’s not trying to be the absolute best controller on the market, it’s trying to be the smart buy, and in that sense, it does its job well.
The key thing is that it doesn’t feel like a compromise every second you’re using it. Yes, it’s missing some of the premium features from the S10, but the actual fundamentals are still there. Motion controls remain a major selling point, too. The Lite bumps that side of things up with a 9-axis setup, and for motion-heavy games, that’s one of the areas where it arguably pushes forward rather than just cutting back.
That doesn’t mean it outclasses the original. It doesn’t. The softer D-pad and the more straightforward overall package make it feel less enthusiast-focused. But at this price, that’s kind of the point.
The bigger picture
The EasySMX S10 Lite feels like it exists for a very specific type of buyer. Not the person chasing every extra feature, but the one who wants a good second controller, a travel pad, or something for family and friends that isn’t awful. And in that space, it makes a lot of sense.
It’s also probably a more sensible purchase for a lot of people than the original S10. Not better, just easier to justify. If you’re not fussed about RGB, NFC, or some of the higher-end bits, then paying less for a controller that still feels good and covers the basics properly is a perfectly fair trade.
Would I still pick the original S10 if money wasn’t an issue? Probably. It’s the fuller package. But the S10 Lite doesn’t feel like a poor relation. It feels like a controller that knows exactly what it is.
Overall thoughts on the EasySMX S10 Lite
The EasySMX S10 Lite is the sort of controller that doesn’t try too hard to impress you, and somehow ends up doing exactly that.
It drops a few of the headline-grabbing features from the S10, and yes, you do notice that. But what’s left is a solid, reliable controller that still feels properly built, still works smoothly, and still offers enough modern extras to avoid feeling bargain-bin.
It’s not the exciting one. It’s the sensible one. And for around $39.99 / £31.00, that’s a pretty good place to be. If you want to get yourself a better deal, though, use the code FULLSYNCS10lite on the official EasySMX site, and you can get 15% off.
Want more details on the S10 Lite controller? Head over to the official EasySMX website, where you can get yourself a 15% discount with the code FULLSYNCS10lite. For more hardware reviews, click right here.