Gamesir Nova and Nova Lite Review

The days of terrible budget controllers you wouldn't inflict on your worst enemy are long gone. A variety of decent gamepads can be found for $40 or less without compromising on quality, and the Gamesir Nova (available at Amazon) and Nova Lite add two new wireless options for PC, Switch, and mobile gamers on a budget. Both deliver solid gaming experiences and make up for their flaws, including unimpressive battery life and confusing wireless device management across both, with excellent Hall effect joysticks and a familiar face button layout. Both provide good value but the $25 Nova Lite gets our vote as the better option.

About the Gamesir Nova and Nova Lite

Gamesir Nova and Nova Lite specs

• Price: $36 (Nova), $25 (Nova Lite)
• Connectivity: USB-C (with USB-C to USB-A cable included), Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz wireless (with USB-A dongle, sold separately for the Nova).
• Dimensions: 6.2 x 4 x 1.5 inches
• Weight: 7.7 ounces/218 grams (Nova); 7.16 ounces/203 grams (Nova Lite)
• Colors: Retro White, Neon Teal (Nova only); Midnight Blue, Nova White (Nova Lite only)
• Device compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS,
• Battery life: 1,200mAh, up to 20 hours (Nova); 600mAh, up to 10 hours (Nova Lite)
• Material: Plastic
• Special features: Hall effect joysticks, dual rumble pack, software swappable ABXY layout, six-axis gyroscope, programmable RGB-LED lighting (Nova only), HD rumble pack (Nova only)

The Gamesir Nova and Gamesir Nova Lite share a name for a reason. They have similar Hall effect joysticks and button feel, as well as identical device compatibility. Both adopt a design that’s most similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which includes offset joysticks, small triggers, and a cluster of function keys between the joysticks.

These are budget controllers: the Nova Lite starts at $25 and the Nova is $36, though, at the time of writing the latter is already on sale for $32. Despite that, both are remarkably close to the Switch Pro Controller’s level of build quality. The plastics used are a bit too smooth and lacking in texture but it’s a subtle difference, and nothing else screams cheap. On the contrary, the Hall effect joysticks, a feature conspicuously lacking from higher-end first-party controllers, have a pleasant, soft-touch finish and feel smooth to use.

The Nova and Nova Lite differ in their default face button arrangements. The Nova has a YXAB layout, while the Nova Lite uses an XYBA layout. Both let players digitally swap the layout by triggering a specific key combination on the controller, so the difference is insignificant. The Nova also includes a pair of programmable back buttons on the underside of the controller. The face buttons on both controllers and the cross-style D-pad have a short throw that ends in a soft, yet definitive, action.

Strangely, the Gamesir Nova has hair triggers that function as digital inputs (either activated or not), while the Nova Lite provides analog triggers with a range of activation. This makes the more expensive Nova a bad choice for games that benefit from analog input, like racing games or emulated titles where trigger depth is used for contextual actions like Super Mario Sunshine. I largely stuck to first-person shooters and MMORPGs so it didn't bother me much, but it will be a dealbreaker for some.

In exchange, the Nova gains RGB LEDs around the joysticks, HD rumble motors, a pair of back buttons on the rear of the controller, and a six-axis gyroscope. I was especially impressed by the RGB LEDs, which look as nice as many controllers priced twice as much.

Both controllers have a built-in battery for wireless play, but the Nova is equipped with a larger 1200 mAh battery, while the Nova Lite has a smaller 600 mAh battery. During testing the Nova lasted between 15 to 20 hours of gaming, while the Nova Lite only endured 10 hours. Battery life won’t be an obstacle for players who stick to short game sessions, but those who like to play all day will find the Nova Lite's lackluster endurance annoying. Wired use is supported over a USB-C connection and a USB-C-to-USB-A cable is included with both controllers.

Bluetooth is the default wireless option for both controllers and works without issue. The controllers also support a 2.4GHz wireless connection over a USB-A dongle. In another odd twist, the dongle is included with the Nova Lite, but not the more expensive Nova.

Both controllers deliver identical device compatibility; each supports Android, iOS, Windows PCs, and the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, PlayStation and Xbox players are left out. Both controllers also lack a good indicator of which device is currently connected. The Nova Lite lacks LEDs for this purpose. The Nova Lite has indicator LEDs, but they’re unlabeled, so users must memorize what they mean or refer to the manual.

Should you buy the Gamesir Nova and Nova Lite?

Yes, they’re inexpensive and enjoyable wireless controllers

The Gamesir Nova and Nova Lite are budget gamepads that make concessions to reach a price point that rivals or beats many wired alternatives. Still, both controllers offer an enjoyable gaming experience in most situations and hold up well against the competition.

A look at Gamesir’s rivals underscores the point. Logitech’s $20 G F310 is ok for some retro games, but not good for modern titles. PowerA’s Wired Controller for Xbox is a great buy for the money but wired and limited to Xbox and PC compatibility. 8Bitdo’s Ultimate C is similarly priced, has 25 hours of battery life, and retains the same shape as the more expensive 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller but is more limited in compatibility. Some versions support Bluetooth, and others support wireless over a USB-A dongle, but none support both.

Between the two, we more strongly recommend the $25 Nova Lite. It lacks some features found in the Nova, such as the larger battery, HD rumble, and RGB joysticks, but otherwise feels much like its more expensive sibling. It also has analog triggers and includes the USB-A dongle that enables a 2.4GHz connection, which the more expensive Nova strangely lacks. The Nova Lite is a good pick for gamers on a tight budget and makes a perfect backup controller for Nintendo Switch games that support couch co-op.

Gamesir Nova

The Gamesir Nova uses Hall effect joysticks and boasts RGB lighting for under $40.

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at Amazon