| Price | SagakLabs |
| Release | December 6, 2024 |
| Compatibility | PS5 / XSX / NS / PC |
| Dimensions | 11.8″ x 7.9″ x 1.3″ |
| Weight | 6.61 lbs |
| Cable | 2 m |
Introduction
At a first glance, you may think that the Steelbox Pro is just a larger version of the Steelbox. The truth of the matter is there is more to it…
At a second glance, you will probably realize that the Steelbox Pro has two extra keys, one extra button, and the screen is to the left of the function buttons (instead of to their right).
Not only that, the Steelbox Pro has less screws, and there is a spacious wrist slope for your comfort. Fortunately, the controller brings back the custom RGB LED.
Performance
Although the Steelbox Pro’s 3D printed keycaps look like they have grooves, they are quite smooth to touch. Moreover, the Cherry MX Speed Silver switches are hot swappable if you find them too loud for your taste. We at The Arcade Stick often appreciate having a lot of other switch options, so this is really cool.
The Steelbox Pro’s jump button is bigger than the rest. That said, because of its position, you will likely find yourself using only your left thumb for the jump button, which can feel limiting.
On the bright side, no input latency was detected when testing the Steelbox Pro. Also, remember the wrist slope? The entire top panel is actually sloped! Specifically, the slope gets more intense near the edge where your wrists rest.
Moving on, the Steelbox Pro has five function buttons, and its screen shows the input, turbo, directional, and SOCD modes. Back to the function buttons, they are for:
- Turbo
- Home
- Touchpad
- Back
- Options
The turbo function of the Steelbox Pro can go up to 15-30 presses at a time. Anyway, what is nice about the function buttons is that they were not an afterthought. In fact, they are easy to press and more like actual buttons than teeny weeny pins. However, most similar controllers seem to have six function buttons rather than just five.
Now, let us talk about those two keys: they are for movement in games that require a right stick. So, you can use the usual directional buttons as a D-pad or left stick, and you can use the keys as a right stick for pointing left or right. To the right of those keys is a tournament lock for disabling function buttons, which is useful in a pinch.
At the bottom, the Steelbox Pro has two strips of mute foam for stability on each leg. The controller’s significant size makes it optimal for both lap and desk play.
Hardware
The Steelbox Pro prides itself on its steel housing and insulation. Depending on your checkout options, you can order the controller with as much or as little compatibility as you want.
Note that, if you would like to use a compatibility enhancing adapter, it would have to go inside the Steelbox Pro, not via some passthrough externally. This is a blessing in disguise to avoid having an adapter stick out of your controller.
The detachable USB-C cable comes out of the controller’s back, specifically the center left. Something you may also be glad to know about the Steelbox Pro is that current, voltage, and ESD protection are applied.
Appearance
The Steelbox Pro’s Bauhaus elegance would have probably made Steve Jobs proud. The cherry on top is the array of RGB LED modes. You can even adjust the speed of the LED, well, depending on the mode.
Conclusion
The Steelbox Pro is a stylish leverless controller with a generous size and eye catching LED.
- 15 smooth keycaps
- Couple of extra keys
- Hot swappable switches
- Detachable cable
- Diverse compatibility
- Decent size
- Sloped design
- Anti-slip bottom
- Useful screen
- Elegant look
- Custom lighting
- Tournament lock
- Jump button location
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐