The G5 Pro, from developer Machenike, is a gamepad that attempts to raise the bar on what we can expect from a controller. Featuring the latest in controller tech and packed to the brim with features and customization, the G5 Pro hopes to offer a one-stop-shop for all your controller needs. Featuring some impressive specs in a sleek looking package along with a host of supported connections, the G5 Pro really does look poised to set a new gold standard for what we can expect from our controllers.
How well does Machenike’s G5 Pro hold up though under long hours of gaming? With two weeks of testing and a lot of hours of gaming achieved, its time to get under the hood of this gamepad and see if it really can handle all that is thrown its way. Grab that coffee, kick back and check out our review of the G5 Pro from Machenike.
Specifications
- Current Price: $55.99 - Epomaker
- Hall Effect Analog Sticks
- Hall Effect Triggers
- Upgraded Kailh Switch D-Pad
- Motion-Sensing Support
- Dual-Core Programmable Back Buttons
- Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz Wireless, Wired Connectivity
- Proprietary Software for programing
- Nintendo Switch One-Button Wake Up
- Customizable RGB Lighting
- Compatible with PC, Mac, Switch, iOS, Android, Care Multi-Media Systems, Android TV
- Weight: 229g
- Dimensions: 6.26 inches wide x 4.37 inches long x 2.28 inches high
Elegant Design
The G5 Pro is a sharp-looking controller. A translucent, magnetic faceplate covers the front of the controller and adds a unique look to the controller. Once removed you’ll be greeted with a beautiful plastic finish. The G5 Pro comes in two colors, black and silver, with the former being the one used for this review. The button layout resembles the Xbox Series S controller with an additional function button for onboard programming and customizing.
Machenike has also included some fully customizable RGB lighting on the G5 Pro as well. While there is software to handle button and RGB assignments, the included function button can handle all of it on the controller itself. The lighting looks great and also doubles to communicate different things with the controller. For instance, when pairing the RGB lighting flashes. A built-in indicator light for battery level is also included and matches up with the rest of the included light strips. It's a neat accent piece that adds a little extra to the design and looks.
The underside of the controller has a nice matte finish with a rigged surface where your hands grip the controller. Much like the series S controller, the G5 Pro fits exceptionally well in hand with the added textured area aligning perfectly with your hands. Along with the connection mode switch, there are also two additional programmable buttons that, once again, can be programmed from the software or by leveraging the onboard function key.
The controller is charged via an included USB C cable with a single charge lasting about 10 hours of play with RGB lighting on. For comparison, a PS5 controller gets roughly 10-15 hours on a charge. For those wanting to conserve battery, there is an option to turn the RGB brightness down or off but honestly, I didn’t note any major issues leaving the RGB lighting on.
The G5 Pro feels solid as well. Weighing in at 229g, the Pro is much lighter than the Series S controller but still has that same rugged, solid feel when being held. The thumb grips and triggers, likewise, feel solid when used. The overall build quality of the G5 Pro is surprisingly premium and has become a staple for my PC and Switch gaming over the past couple of weeks.
The Devil Is In The Details
While the G5 Pro looks and feels great, the devil is in the details and the real test is just how well this controller is constructed. On that front Machenike hasn’t held anything back. The analog sticks get away from traditional potentiometer style sticks and instead have opted for Hall effect sticks. Unlike traditional potentiometer sticks which you’d find in joycons or the PS5 controller, a Hall Effect stick removes the need for physical connection and resistive strips to measure action.
Instead, Hall Effect sticks rely on permanent magnets that detect movement without the need for a physical connection. As the stick is moved the magnet disrupts the electrical flow of the conductor which in turn reports the action. This process removes friction and long-term wear and tear on the analog sticks and potentially removes controller drift, which for those of us with a Switch, would be a huge win.
As for response time, the G5 Pro analog sticks are exceptionally sensitive allowing for incredible responsiveness. Because of the nature of the design, the hall effect sticks also provide incredible precision for in-game movement. Due to the way that movement is measured with this technology, the controller is able to detect, incredibly accurately, micro-movement which is then seamlessly translated onscreen.
Using the analog sticks feels amazing, with each movement of the stick responding instantly on screen in all three connection modes. It's incredible to use while gaming, especially for FPS titles like DOOM Eternal that rely on accuracy and precision with quick response time. This is just one area where the G5 Pro raises the bar on what to expect.
Another impressive piece of tech that comes with the G5 is the half-trigger switches that are built into the two triggers on the top plate of the controller. Much like the Hall Effect analog sticks, the triggers leverage 255 steps of actuation. This means you will be greeted with a whole new level of precision and control when using the triggers. Each trigger is also sound-dampened which results in an almost silent experience when engaged. It is seriously impressive to use while gaming.
Moving along to the D-Pad, Machenike once again has decided to raise the bar on expectation. The D-Pad leverages Kailh switches which are known for a life span of about 60 million clicks. Additionally, each switch makes a distinct clicking noise when pressed which is both satisfying for this A.D.D. gamer but also acts as a clear indicator of when the switch is engaged. The switches are incredibly responsive, once again, pointing the to premium build quality of the G5 Pro.
As mentioned, the G5 Pro also comes with two additional programmable buttons on the underside of the controller. These can either be assigned as one of the other buttons on the controller by leveraging the onboard function key or, with the use of Machenike’s software, programmed to execute a macro. Programming via the function key is exceptionally easy and takes only a few seconds.
My only critique of these additional programmable buttons is their placement. This could be in part due to the size of my hands, but they feel a little too out of place on the controller in comparison to where my fingers naturally rest when gripping the controller. They are still accessible but it's not as smooth or natural a movement to click them as something like the Turtle Beach React-R. Regardless they do work exceptionally well and are still easily accessible.
A quick note on Machenike’s software; at the time of writing we were not able to get access to it to test its functionality. However, based on what I’ve read, it does look like it will be able to unlock a host of additional programming and customization for the controller. Even without access to it though, I’ve had no issue programming buttons or changing RGB settings. The controller can absolutely be used out of the box without any additional software needed.
The final area of note is the G5 Pro’s connectivity. On the box, the Pro has the ability to connect to PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Switch, Android TV, and even in-car game consoles. This is achieved through Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless (via dongle), and wired connection (via USB-C). While I don’t currently own a Tesla, I was able to test the G5 Pro on all of the other device types listed. Across the board, the controller was easily recognized via Bluetooth. Windows and Mac connected it without issue and treat it like an Xbox controller. iOS, Android, and Android TV (via a smart projector I had on hand) were able to recognize and connect seamlessly. In all cases, the controller performed exceptionally well.
Connecting to Switch, likewise, is seamless. It's worth noting that when in Switch mode (the controller is toggled to different modes via a switch on the back) the controller takes on additional functionality. For starters, you can actually switch the controller to a Switch-friendly layout. Additionally, Home button wake-up is supported as well as the gyroscope function giving you many of the features you’d find on the Switch Pro controller. While I didn’t run into this personally, there is a note in the manual that states that some games may not support the controller due to game restrictions.
Moving to Wifi 2.4GHz mode, the controller once again performed exceptionally well. However, at the time of writing, there is one interesting point to note. When connecting to PC in 2.4GHz or wired mode, the controller isn’t recognized as an Xbox controller but simply as a USB controller. While normally this isn’t an issue, some games on PC only support Xbox or PS4/5 controllers meaning that the G5 Pro simply isn’t working for those games. Interestingly as soon as I switched the unit back to Bluetooth it is instantly recognized as an Xbox controller. This leads me to believe that this is a temporary issue as the G5 Pro is still in development and drivers aren’t fully implemented.
Despite this minor driver issue, the g5 Pro has no issue connecting to its various supported devices. The process, across the board, is simple, seamless, and intuitive. Another impressive feather in the G5 Pro’s cap as it were.
Final Thoughts
The Machenike G5 Pro controller is an impressive piece of tech that truely raises the bar on what we can expect from multi-platform controller. Packed with well throughout design elements, quality parts, and an array of excellent features, the G5 Pro has everything needed to get you up and running on a wide range of devices. Despite not being able to test the software and leverage every programmable function the G5 Pro has to offer, it is none the less an impressive piece of tech. Priced at a competitive $55.99 USD, the Machenike G5 Pro gamepad would be worthy controller to have in your arsenal.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
