EasySMX Arion 9110 Wireless Controller Review
Introduction
There are certain games that are best enjoyed laid-back, away from the TV or monitor and using a controller. If you are looking for a cheap wireless controller, EasySMX has a few to offer including the one I’ll be discussing today – the Arion 9110 wireless controller. While the product page calls it the “Arion 9110”, the packaging says otherwise calling it the “ESM-9110”. Either way, both names apply to this particular model of controller.
At $39.99 for the colorful version and the standard black version cheaper at $34.99, the ESM Arion 9110 is an affordable wireless controller with over 4,000 reviews on Amazon – way more than the more popular Logitech F710 wireless controller that was recently popularized by the OceanGate Titan Submersible incident. Needless to say, if you are just planning on playing games and not controlling a vehicle like a submarine, the EasySMX Arion 9110 is a good choice. Watch EasySMX’s product video below.
Let’s take a closer look at the EasySMX controller below.
Packaging and Bundle
The controller comes in a compact box, and inside is a bundle of accessories including a manual, USB-A and USB-C cable for charging, 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle, and a card asking you if you are happy or not happy with your purchase along with support contact details.
Closer Look
The “colorful” version has some colored art in the front. It has a glossy finish that looks nice. The controller has a standard set of buttons and control sticks. The home button works as the power on/off button. There are two additional buttons at the bottom – the LED light intensity button and the vibration intensity button, both of which have four intensity modes.
At the rear of the controller are four programmable buttons – the M1, M2, M3, and M4 buttons. The handles is just a textured plastic finish to help with grip.
At the top of the Arion 9110 wireless controller are the LT, LB, RT, and RB buttons and a USB-C port for charging. There’s also a plug for the phone stand accessory – you need to order the controller and phone stand bundle to get the accessory.
Experience and Feedback
Physical Product
The EasySMX 9110 wireless controller’s RGB lighting is a good addition – it gives the controller the gaming vibes and aesthetics which is cool when gaming in the dark. The vibration is good, maximum vibration is strong.
The glossy finish of the EasySMX 9110 wireless controller is a fingerprint magnet but I find it easier to clean compared to controllers with rubberized finish. You can easily wipe the fingerprints off after gaming.
EasySMX says the controller is 15.7, the measurement unit not specified on the product page, in length – would be 15.7cm. It appears to be the standard size for controllers.
Gaming Experience
I played a couple of hours of NieR:Automata and Genshin Impact with the controller. I would say NieR:Automata is one of the games that is best enjoyed with a controller like the EasySMX 9110. Genshin Impact is also enjoyable with a controller. However, for archer characters like Lyney and Ganyu, it is quite challenging to aim charged shots compared to using a mouse wherein you can aim faster and more accurately. I guess there’s a learning curve with aiming using a controller for a PC gamer like me. Overall, I had fun using this controller compared to using a wired controller since I can go further away from the computer. I tested the signal strength of the 9110 controller with its 2.4GHz wireless that’s rated for up to 10 meters, I can only test up to 5 meters and it appears to be strong and stable even at that distance.
Compatibility – A Confusing Part
The EasySXM 9110 is said to be compatible with PC, Stream Deck, Android, and Nintendo Switch. I can only test with PC and Android since these are the only two machines I have at home. The 9110 solely depends on its USB dongle for connectivity and does not have Bluetooth connectivity, see table below.
I tried using the EasySMX 9110 wireless controller on my Android phone and failed to do so. I can confirm this model doesn’t have Bluetooth since my computer nor my phone cannot detect it which is also specified in the specifications that it does not have Bluetooth. As for a wired connection to an Android device, I used a USB-C to USB-C cable – which is not included in the accessories and you would have to acquire one separately. It did not detect the controller at all. As for using it with other handheld consoles, you’d need a Type-C to Type-C cable to even connect the controller to the device.
Apparently, to connect the EasySMX 9110 to a Nintendo Switch, you need the Nintendo Switch Dock that has USB ports for you to plug the 2.4GHz wireless dongle of the controller. For PS3, the dongle would be plugged to one of the USB ports as well.
So in the case of Android devices, you would need an OTG USB hub to plug the dongle for the controller to actually work. At this point, it would be easier to just purchase the 9124 model with Bluetooth and connect the wireless controller to the device via Bluetooth.
Final Thoughts
Build Quality: 7/10
At $39.99, $35.99 for the plain black model, the EasySMX 9110 feels average with its overall plastic construction which makes it durable and does not feel premium. I’ve been using the controller for a month and only time can tell if this controller can last a long time. It does feel pretty solid
Features: 8/10
The EasySMX 9110 offers a pretty standard set of features with vibration and RBG lighting modes and four additional programmable buttons at the back. The faceplates at the front that has the colorful design are removable. Users can easily modify and personalize the faceplates with stickers or decals.
The EasySMX is pretty much a basic wireless controller and you do get what you pay for. It is not going to beat the feel and features of more premium wireless controllers from bigger name brands costing more than $100. If you need something that does not break the bank and works, this is a good option for PC and PS3 gamers. As for Android and Switch users, the requirement for the dock and other components should tell you to just buy a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller. I tried using a Type-C cable to an Android tablet (Xiaomi Pad 6) and phone (LG V60S ThinQ), didn’t work on both. I also tried using an Orico USB-C Docking Station (11-in-1) to the Android devices mentioned, plugging the 2.4Ghz wireless dongle and the included USB cable does not connect the controller to the Android devices either.
With that said, compatibility is very confusing with this product – the packaging includes the PS3, Switch, Android, Windows and Tablet icons while on the product page says “PC and Switch controller” only. Furthermore, the product page url path says “easysmx-esm-9110-2-4g-wireless-game-controller-for-game-consoles-windows-android” but Android support is no longer mentioned on the product page. Anyway, I can only attest that it works for PC using the 2.4GHz wireless dongle but for the other devices, I am not really sure.
The EasySMX ESM-9110 (or Arion 9110) wireless controller is available on Amazon and EasySMX website for $35.99 / ₱2,300.00. If you are a PC gamer looking for a wireless controller, the 9110 is a good option but there should be a lot of alternatives at this price point that offer Bluetooth connectivity. There are numerous reviews buyers posted on the product page, would highly recommend reading them before purchase because using this controller on Xbox and Android devices appears to be an issue.
Learn more about me and my rating here.
