In a world where gaming on the move is probably one of the most popular thing to do on a smartphone or tablet device, it only opens the door for gadgets like the SteelSeries Stratus Wireless Controller. It is one of the smallest games controller I have ever seen or handled.
The SteelSeries Stratus is the first Bluetooth iOS 7 MFi game controller aimed at the iPad, thanks to Apple’s wider support for third party controllers. It means when playing games such as GTA: San Andreas or Asphalt 8, you further immerse yourself in the games without having to touch your iPad, you can simply connect via bluetooth and use your iPad as a stand-alone device for gaming on the move. Imagine sitting on a long flight or sitting on a long train journey, it would be the perfect companion for your iPad.
Some blockbuster games you can already play with the Stratus includes Asphalt 8, Bastion, Galaxy on Fire 2 HD and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, just to mention a few; you can even search the internet for wider range of games available for different genres. Measuring just 60mm wide and weighing a mere 75g, its miniature size means you can easily fit it in your pocket alongside your wallet, iPhone or anything else you may normally carry in your pocket.
On the front of the Stratus is a pressure sensitive D-Pad, four action buttons with two analogue sticks and a pause button and above that is the red LED light array to indicate when the controller is synced; like any regular game controller, there’s your L1 and R1 shoulder buttons with the L2 and R2 buttons just below it. With all those buttons present, it really feels like a serious control pad in hand ready for some serious gaming. To turn the controller on, there’s a switch on the side and a there’s a Bluetooth pairing button on the back.
To keep it powered for as long as you are willing to game, the Stratus comes with a micro USB charging cable in the box which you can attach to the micro USB port located at the bottom of the controller. The Stratus is built for portability and anyone purchasing one should not complain about the size or how it fits in hand as it’s not built to be on the same level size-wise with a console gaming controller.
When it comes to connecting it to your device, it is incredibly straight forward and you can begin to use it within minutes of connecting it to your iPad, in fact, the longest part of the process is finding the games that you want to play. Although it’s aimed at iPad users, it also works with other iOS devices like the iPhone also.
Tech specs states it would last for 10 hours of use, but that depends on how much you use it daily, although I found that with my commute every morning, it did last almost 10 hours and that’s a big bonus. With it’s micro USB charging capability, it’s also useful as I can simply connect it using the same charger as my Android phone’s charger. It only takes no more than two hours to recharge and the LED indicator on the front will let you know how much battery is left. It also takes it toll on the iPad’s battery, although not really noticeable, but when used with the iPhone 5S’s small battery, it becomes an issue.
Overall the SteelSeries Stratus is a great piece of gaming accessory and if you are thinking of buying the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, this would make a great companion for the larger display on the new Apple’s idevices. The price is debatable however, as it would set you back around £60 and for a controller, that is quite hefty.
