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Mobapad N1 HD: one-minute overview
The Mobapad N1 HD is a Nintendo Switch controller aimed in the direction of extra critical players, because of its versatile performance and premium options.
It doesn’t look significantly spectacular, and it even lacks RGB lighting, a standard characteristic on many third-party controllers. It does, nonetheless, look a bit of extra distinct in its pink and purple colorway.
On shut inspection, you’ll be able to inform the N1 HD is constructed to a excessive commonplace, rivaling among the best Nintendo Switch controllers. The supplies really feel premium and the development is stable, but it’s additionally very mild within the hand and comfy to carry – though these with bigger arms may discover it a bit too small.
The buttons and sticks additionally really feel nice, providing a satisfying quantity of dampening and smoothness for probably the most half. The N1 HD additionally comes with a USB cable for charging and wired play, though it’s fairly quick and isn’t braided, proscribing its practicality.
The cell app for the N1 HD consists of varied customization choices, a few of that are fairly detailed, comparable to customized curve profiles for the analog sticks. Sure changes may also be made utilizing the settings and different buttons on the controller itself.
To sport with, the N1 HD lives as much as its guarantees. The Corridor impact sticks are as clean as you can need, and the buttons are satisfying and tremendous responsive, particularly the D-pad – regardless of which of the 2 included hats you might have hooked up. It’s a disgrace, nonetheless, that the triggers lack analog management when used with a PC or cell.
Though I discovered it simple to hook up with the Change and PC, switching between them on the fly isn’t actually viable, since repairing is required, though happily, that is a straightforward course of. Connecting to Android is comparatively easy too, though beware that you’ll want to hook up with “Mobapad N1” slightly than “Mobapad N1 HD” within the listing of Bluetooth gadgets your telephone finds.
The N1 HD is pricey, however so too are the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and the 8BitDo Ultimate, two of the perfect Change controllers on the market. Like these pads, it’s a vastly succesful controller and though it lacks analog triggers and seamless machine switching, the N1 HD is price your consideration all the identical.
Mobapad N1 HD overview: Value and availability
- $74 (about £60 / AU$119)
- Out there now worldwide
- Equally priced to key rivals
The Mobapad N1 HD prices $74 (about £60 / AU$119) and is accessible now in three colorways: black, white, and pink with purple accents. Mobapad solely lists USD costs on its web site, but it surely does ship worldwide. It comes with two D-pad hats, a USB cable for charging and wired play, and a dongle for wi-fi PC connectivity.
If we choose it by its unique value (now we have seen it on sale at a substantial low cost), it’s near the official Nintendo Change Professional Controller, though this controller lacks official help for different platforms, in addition to further buttons on the entrance and rear.
The N1 HD additionally prices about the identical because the 8BitDo Final, our decide as the perfect Nintendo Change controller proper now. This too has Corridor impact sticks and multi-platform help, however not like the N1 HD, the Final comes with its personal charging dock. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have NFC help, so it could possibly’t be used with Amiibo equipment.
Mobapad N1 HD overview: specs
|
Value |
$74 (about £60 / AU$119) |
|
Dimensions |
6.3 x 4.7 x 3in / 159 x 120 x 76mm |
|
Weight |
7.6oz / 215g |
|
Compatibility |
Nintendo Change, PC, Android and iOS |
|
Connection sort |
Wi-fi (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz USB dongle), wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
As much as 15 hours |
|
Software program |
Mobapad cell app |
Mobapad N1 HD overview: design and options
- Strong but light-weight construct
- Is likely to be too small for some
- Detailed cell app
The N1 HD boasts an identical design to the best Xbox controllers: it even has the identical distinctive D-pad design, though that is detachable and could be swapped with a extra conventional four-pronged unit included within the field. As a consequence of these similarities, It seems slightly unoriginal in its black and white colorways, however the pink and purple variant does assist to set it aside considerably.
Nevertheless, the upside of this acquainted type is the ergonomic profit: it sits nicely within the hand, and the lightness makes it much more snug. It’s a bit of smaller than an Xbox Wireless Controller, although, which can be an issue for these with bigger arms. And should you’re a fan of the best PS5 controllers, then it won’t be for you both. Regardless of its unsubstantial weight, it feels nicely constructed, with sturdy, premium-feeling plastics. The textured grips are a welcome contact too.
The USB-C port is straightforward to make use of because of its placement, though it isn’t recessed, which can be a trigger for concern, however I didn’t discover it susceptible to disconnecting whereas gaming. The included cable is a regular charging cable, with out the braiding or size these included with many different controllers have, which does restrict its sensible utilization.
The N1 HD has liquid silicone buttons, which Mobapad claims are extra snug and extra sturdy, whereas additionally enhancing consistency. Beneath the thumb, they actually really feel nice, however the dampening isn’t the perfect I’ve skilled, and the button caps aren’t the tightest, with some wobble to them. The shoulder buttons, nonetheless, really feel higher in each these points, however the triggers are a bit of too quick for my liking.
The analog sticks are a spotlight, with treaded edges to assist enhance grip, which they actually do. I did discover them to be a tad small, although, however these with smaller thumbs shouldn’t have an issue.
There are additionally two further again buttons for customizable programming. Whereas these are additionally fairly small, they did go well with my grip model, as my center fingers naturally landed flush onto them.
Other than the same old Change buttons, you’ll additionally discover a setting button, which can be utilized at the side of different inputs to carry out varied features, from altering vibration depth and toggling turbo modes to programming macros. These are complicated for input-based features; some controllers don’t even provide this degree of customization of their software program instruments.
Talking of which, the Mobapad cell app gives much more tweaking potential, together with the power to remap buttons and set set off modes on a per-button foundation, with maintain and loop choices to select from.
You may as well change the useless zones and curve profiles of the analog sticks, with the latter adjusted through two factors on a graph, freely draggable to create your personal model, which may be very concerned. It’s a disgrace, nonetheless, which you can’t even view the battery degree of the N1 HD on this app, which looks as if a fundamental piece of knowledge to omit.
Different options of the N1 HD embrace the power to modify between Xinput, Dinput (for older video games), Change Professional enter modes, and NFC help for Amiibo {hardware}. At the moment, it’s not suitable with Mobapad’s PC software program, however help is anticipated after March.
Mobapad N1 HD overview: efficiency
- Nice buttons and sticks
- No analog triggers
- Machine switching clunky
The N1 HD performs nicely. The face buttons are satisfying to make use of, with a great deal of accuracy and responsiveness. The D-pad has these qualities in much more abundance, with an excellent shorter actuation, making it nice for speedy faucets. It’s additionally simple to roll for fast consecutive inputs with both the round or four-pronged hat put in. It’s, nonetheless, very clicky, feeling extra like a mouse button than a controller button, which can deter some players, however I discovered it satisfying to make use of.
Much more damped are the shoulder buttons, which have a softer really feel however nonetheless present a responsive enter. Nevertheless, for the reason that N1 HD is a Change controller initially, the triggers lack analog functionality, even when used with a PC. It is a disgrace when enjoying sure video games, comparable to these involving driving or racing, since they lack the exact management these titles profit from.
The analog sticks make the most of Corridor impact expertise, which purportedly gives higher precision in addition to stopping stick drift. I actually discovered them exact and extremely clean to maneuver in all instructions, offering simply the correct amount of resistance to impart some helpful suggestions with out being onerous. The N1 HD additionally helps movement controls, and once more I discovered these correct, monitoring fantastically.
In my expertise, the rear M buttons have been additionally simple to make use of, though they have been much less constant of their responsiveness; their small dimension and quick journey meant that they have been laborious to hit within the optimum place each time.
Connecting the N1 HD to your platform of selection can be very simple. Throughout my check, it linked immediately to my Change, in addition to to my desktop when utilizing the included USB dongle, making it simply as amenable to the platform as among the best PC controllers. Nevertheless, hot-switching between wasn’t an choice, because the N1 HD required re-pairing to every machine, which is a disgrace for many who change between the 2 often.
At first, I used to be unsuccessful in connecting the N1 HD to my Google Pixel 7a, though this was remedied once I realised that I wanted to hook up with “Mobapad N1” slightly than “Mobapad N1 HD” within the listing of discovered Bluetooth gadgets. As soon as paired, utilizing the N1 HD with my telephone was as simple and responsive as with different platforms.
I wasn’t in a position to check the battery lifetime of the N1 HD to exhaustion, and contemplating the dearth of battery info – none within the cell app and solely an LED indication on low battery – I couldn’t gauge how a lot I had left. I can say, although, that it lasted for a number of days of use with out displaying a low battery warning.
Ought to I purchase the Mobapad N1 HD?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally contemplate…
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Mobapad N1 HD |
Nintendo Change Professional Controller |
8BitDo Final |
|
Value |
$74 (about £60 / AU$119) |
$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95 |
$69.99 / £59.99 (about AU$112) |
|
Dimensions |
6.3 x 4.7 x 3in / 159 x 120 x 76mm |
5.3 x 3.7 x 2.1in / 152 x 106 x 60mm |
5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 104 x 61.5mm |
|
Weight |
7.6oz / 215g |
8.7oz / 246g |
8.6oz / 245g |
|
Compatibility |
Change, PC, cell |
Change |
Change, PC, Steam Deck |
|
Connection sort |
Wi-fi (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz), wired (USB-C) |
Wi-fi (Bluetooth) |
Wi-fi (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz), wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
15 hours |
40 hours |
22 hours |
|
Software program |
Mobapad cell app |
None |
Final Software program |
How I examined the Mobapad N1 HD
- Examined for a number of days
- Used on Change and PC
- Plentiful gaming expertise
I examined the N1 HD for a number of days, throughout which period I used it on Change and PC, each wired and wirelessly. I attempted to apply it to two Android telephones however failed to attach with both.
I performed The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which supplies an intensive check for any controller, given the calls for it locations on all method of inputs, from the face buttons to the analog sticks and movement controls. On PC, I performed Artwork of Rally to check the triggers and sticks, and Tekken 8, which is nice for testing button responsiveness. On my Android telephone I performed Alien: Isolation and Asphalt Legends Unite.
I’ve been gaming for over 25 years, and through that point I’ve skilled numerous controllers throughout a myriad of platforms. I play on consoles, together with the Change, in addition to PC, each of which I take advantage of controllers with.