Razer's latest collaboration with Loupedeck has brought forth a new competitor in the space for your desk's real estate. The Razer Stream Controller X is a programmable device aimed at streamers who are looking for a new way to control apps and tools on their PC. But how does it stack up, especially compared to entrenched rival Elgato?
Specifications:
- Buttons: 15 Tactile, programmable membrane face buttons
- Connectivity: 2M USB-C to USB-A cable
- Screen Angle: 8 degrees (controller only); 50 degrees when using stand
- Size: 111 x 80.7 x 30mm
- Weight: 146g (Stream Controller X only); Stand: 117g
- Powered by Loupedeck Software
- Price: $149.99 on Razer website
First thoughts
I've become rather familiar with Finnish company Loupedeck's software lately, having reviewed both their first collaboration with Razer, the Stream Controller, as well as Loupedeck's own Live S. While the first Razer Stream Controller was seemingly nothing more than a reskinned Loupedeck Live console, the Razer Stream Controller X seems to be a product all its own.
Clearly using the form factor that rival Elgato made famous, the new Stream Controller X features 15 face buttons, each of them a backlit LCD that showcases the various icons with amazing clarity and brilliance. Each of the buttons themselves is programmable in the Loupedeck software - though it should be noted that two of the buttons are reserved for navigation, so it's really like 12 to 13 buttons on each screen that can be programmed.
One thing I loved about the Loupedeck Live S and the original Razer Stream Controller (which has been my go to streaming device since I reviewed it last year) is the fact that those buttons, while a touchscreen, provided some hapic feedback. I also adored how easy it was to turn pages on the device - simply swipe left or right on the screen and it would turn the page. I found myself really missing both features on the Stream Controller X, with navigation instead reserved for buttons on the bottom row, depending on the page you're on.
The Stream Controller X allows for 14 programmable pages, so there is still a lot of button real estate, but I really wish we had the swipe function here. It's just so convenient, in my opinion. I use it constantly.
One feature I love, especially compared to the Elgato Stream Deck Mk. 2 is how bright and crisp each button can be. You can adjust the device brightness on the device itself (sacrificing some of those programmable buttons in the process), but out of the box each pre-loaded icon was brilliant. Compared to even the LCD touchscreen on the Stream Controller, these looked so much cleaner and brighter. The device comes pre-loaded with profiles and workspaces via the Loupedeck Software, meaning it's pretty much ready to go with minimal tweaking out of the box should you choose, but it still offers all the customization that Loupedeck's consoles have come be known for.
While controlling a stream isn't the only thing you can do with the Stream Controller X, it is in the name, so the default profile is the Razer with preloaded commands for Twitch, OBS and more.
The build quality of the Razer Stream Controller X feels pretty premium, especially with the angled stand to prop up the console to face you while sitting at the desk. I do think the placement of the USB-C port in the back is a little weird, almost as if placing it there was an afterthought, as there isn't a cutout to feed the cable comfortably throughout without putting some stress on the connection. However, I really appreciate how sturdy this thing is in practice, and the device never once moved on me while using it throughout the last week.
Using The Razer Stream Controller X
Using the Razer Stream Controller X is rather like any other stream controller, really. Programming the buttons is rather easy in the Loupedeck software, and each button has a satisfying feel when pressed. They feel a bit stiffer than the Elgato equivalent, but I think I prefer the crisp, more tactile feel of each button on the Razer device a bit more.
I do, however, miss the combination of touchscreen and haptic feedback that the Live S and Razer Stream Controller have. But it's not a deal breaker, especially given how responsive the Stream Controller X is when used in action. However, while the Stream Controller itself had multiple buttons at the bottom of the device to quickly swap pages, I did find having to navigate using the main face buttons a little cumbersome in practice.
Check out the stream embed below from earlier this week, using the Razer Stream Controller X in action. The device itself was so simple to set up and use with most of the stream controls used right out of the box. I did have to adjust a bit since I use Streamlabs and the navigation was mostly for OBS, but it really only took a few minutes to get used to in the end.
On my Controller X I have my Streamlabs controls set up on one page while my control of the Twitch dashboard is on another. With the other devices powered by Loupedeck it's either a swipe or single button press away. With the Stream Controller X I needed to be a bit more deliberate with my page layout as having to push an arrow key multiple times to get to the right page itself tended to be a pain.
One area where Razer's collaboration with Loupedeck serves it very well is down to the marketplace itself. Feature full with plug-ins from across industries and use-case scenarios, it makes it very easy to set the Stream Controller X up to do more than simply control OBS or when to run an ad on Twitch. Profiles in the Loupedeck software help to keep things organized, with the device supporting so many dynamic profiles at once it can get a bit dizzying. The great thing too is if you have dynamic profile switching turned on in the app, the device will detect this and when using a supported program, that profile will be loaded up.
This is convenient when using programs like Adobe Premiere Pro or Photoshop, giving you a fully laid-out device to give more finite control over these apps. Third-party apps can be installed on the device as well, giving more control over more use cases. The marketplace also houses tons of free icons to use (such as the ones I use in my screenshot above to help navigate Streamlabs easier), to further customize the experience.
I still wish there was an official plug-in for YouTube streaming, and even Facebook Live (though that one is likely not as important since it seems Facebook themselves have just decided to not care about streaming anymore), but when we ran our review of the Loupedeck Live S we were told by a Loupedeck rep that a third-party YouTube plugin was in the works.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the Razer Stream Controller X does its job. It's a well-built, incredibly performant, and functional PC controller that, thanks to Loupedeck's powerful software and years of experience building consoles for creatives, does the job well right out of the box. The additional functionality offered with Loupedeck's profiles and workspaces in the software makes this device easy to plug in and use across a wide gamut of use cases, not just streaming.
However, if you're looking to just stream, it's got you covered as well with plugins and controls for virtually every major streaming platform, from OBS, Streamlabs, and Xsplit. The buttons themselves are satisfying to push, even if they lack some of the features of its more expensive brothers. I don't like that some of the buttons aren't programmable, reserved only for navigation, but it's not the end of the world when you consider just how many pages and face buttons to use across the wide range of uses on the device.
At $149.99 it might put the device out of some people's price range, especially when devices like the classic Elgato Stream Deck and the Stream Deck mini are on the market at lower costs. However, it's priced competitively with its next nearest neighbor, the Stream Deck Mk.2, and honestly, I found this turning my Stream Deck Mk.2 into an expensive Elgato Key Light light switch in the end.
What does it for me are the dynamic profiles and the range of out-of-the-box use cases the Razer Stream Controller X has on offer. It takes little to no setup if all you're going to do is stream, but you're rewarded with a ton you can do if you spend a little more time exploring the full gamut of uses.
At the end of the day, the Razer Stream Controller X is a phenomenal device that offers incredible functionality out of the box. It's not really doing anything new in the grand scheme of streaming consoles, but the dynamic profiles powered by the Loupedeck software it's packaged with give it so much more to do than just swapping scenes on your next stream. It's definitely worth a look if you're in the market to upgrade your stream.
Full Disclosure: The product described in this review was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of this review.
