Xboxaddict.com Article
Setex Controller and Thumbsticks Grip Review
by Kirsten Naughton
I am the last gamer on the planet that truly cares about the look of my controller. I don’t really pay much attention to it to being the most fanciest, colourful or top of the line. I have the standard controller that came with my Xbox Series S console and am completely content with that. When I got the opportunity to review Setex’s Controller and Thumbsticks Grip, I was strangely open minded to try them out on my controller.
What’s in the Package:Controller Grip x1
Thumbstick Grip x2
Application Instructions
Colours Available: Red, Blue, Black
Consoles Available for: Nintendo Switch (Joy Con and Switch Pro), PS4, PS5 and Xbox
Price: $14.99 USD
In terms of the packaging, it’s simple and sleek. Pretty colourful. Not much to say here. It arrived intact and ready for application.
The goal of these grips is for you to have a firmer grip on your Xbox controller to improve your game, keep control with sweaty hands and colour matching or contrast your controllers. Setex has provided their customers with a few options to reach their customers however they choose to read instructions for how to apply the grip to the controller. A physical card, on their website or a step by step video on their website. I personally didn’t bother with the step by step video and only maybe watched it for a few seconds. My preferred method relied mostly on my judgment and the physical card to guide my way. You do you; if videos help you, I did watch the video just to see what it was like and it’s informative and for those who need visualization, the video does the trick.
If you’re a perfectionist that needs the grip to be exactly like its shown on the instructions, you’ll be staring at your controller for a good long while. Some may love that challenge, others, may groan in agony as it does not match exactly as its shown. Either way you prefer, the grip does indeed appear like its shown on the instructions to my standards. Others may disagree, but my issue was more with getting the thin paper off the controller grip before I even thought about how many millimetres I needed to be away from the battery pack or the line along the front of the controller. For those who get impatient easily or if you’re a younger gamer, you may want to take a few deep breaths or get someone to help you. It’s quite the task to get the thin paper off.
It’s no secret that if you buy a controller grip, you want the grip to stick to your controller or thumbstick properly so it won’t fall off. Setex claims in their FAQ that “They are easy to remove, but are not designed to be reused multiple times due to the type of adhesive”. I have had my grip on both my controller and thumbsticks for about a week or two now. At the time I tried to remove the grip, taking it off really was not an option, as a thick layer of adhesive was left behind when I pulled up a small corner of the grip. I do agree, you don’t want to be using this grip multiple times, but I do find it upsetting that this grip is now on my controller for potentially the entirety of me owning this controller. I found it upsetting to think about taking off the grip and having a sticky adhesive left over that may be difficult to remove.
In terms of the thumbsticks, the second you put those on your thumbsticks, I pray that you don’t attempt to take them off. The only way I can describe the experience of putting on my thumbstick grips is imagining an octopus grabbing its prey with tentacles and not letting go. Which, bonus, it won’t come off during gameplay. Thank heavens the thumbstick grips don’t have adhesive, but I am highly concerned about the day I choose to take the grips off.
All I can think about is if a young child were to attempt to take off the grips and how their controller may break due to how tight the grips are on. There’s zero give in the grips, which if you’re into these additions and are in love with them, it won’t be a problem for you, but for those who tried it for a few weeks now and don’t necessarily enjoy them as much as expected, there may be some consequences for the controller if you take the grip off without care.
During gameplay, it was an overall positive experience. I completed a review of a video game with the grip on the entire time and enjoyed the fact that my controller wasn’t sweaty no matter how long I had played with my controller. It however got quite dirty when it wasn't being used which I'll go through below. Setex claims a comfortable, anti-slip grip that works on wet or oily skin and surfaces, also soft to the touch. So as for Setex's claims of the grip, my thoughts are as follows:
Comfortable Anti-Slip: Yes
Wet or Oily Skin and Surfaces: Yes; However I would mention that the dirt from your hands does in a way get onto the grip and makes the grip look a bit dirty. Most of the oil stays off the grip itself though.
Soft to the Touch: Yes
Firmer Grip: Yes
Improved Grip Control: Yes
Colour Matching: If That's important to you, Yes
The one thing I will say about my experience with Setex Grip is that after about a week I picked up my controller and noticed dust was stuck to the grip portion of my controller. I can’t get it off very easily either, and for someone who likes to keep their controllers and consoles clean at all times, I was a little dissapointed when I saw a bunch of dust and gunk collecting on the grip.
I'm not sure if I would not go out and buy another Setex grip if I needed another. The fact that adhesive will be left on my controller after I attempt take it off, and the thumbstick grips being practically super glued is a major dealbreaker for me. I use my controller all the time. I almost always have a game review in the works, and when I have time I’m playing other games as well. I need the flexibility of changing things up with my controller if I want to, or if another similar product were to come along and review.
I do like the colour of the Setex grip and it’s pretty sporty with the white controller and the blue grip. If you can live with the grip being on your controller for a long period, or essentially until it wears out, then I'd say give it a try. The visual appeal is there but the functionality aspect doesn’t grip with my lifestyle simply due to my own preferences and how dirty it can get over time.
