Ant Esports GP100 review: A capable yet economical controller

If you’ve ever used a controller to play games, even on mobile, then you might actually prefer it to touch controls for certain games. Now there are a bunch of different options out there. You could invest in something like the Dualshock 4 or Xbox controller, a Razer Kishi, or some other premium controller. The Ant Esports GP100 is something of an exception though and also a very economical option, possibly due to its origins in India. This review is going to go over the good and the bad of Ant Esports GP100

Starting off with the Ant Esports GP100 review, when it comes to playing racing titles or something like the GTA ports for mobile, a controller is actually a great way to play. The pros of expensive controllers are that they are incredibly reliable and last for years. However, if you have a smaller budget, there are still a lot of options Here comes, the Ant Esports GP100 as its usually available for a bit more than 1,000 INR (a little more than $10), although the actual MSRP is 1,799 INR so Amazon does have a pretty sweet deal and the controller is available for even cheaper on the official website.

Pros

Comfortable Form Factor and Good build quality

Although the controller looks a bit on the stubby, large side, it’s quite comfortable to hold onto and get used to. The game goes for a joystick layout similar to that of the Xbox and Your hands might choke up on the arms of the controller at first but it’s something that players can get used to easily.

Along with the XYBA buttons, two joysticks, and directional buttons, L1,2,3 and R1,2,3, there’s Select, Turbo, Home, Clear and Start. Now, these buttons didn’t exactly always work but that was more or less because the games weren’t paired with those buttons.

The shell of the controller feels sturdy and can handle a few knocks in terms of design, there’s not much difference between the GP 100 and the GP110 but the wire connection points on the GP100 do seem to be sturdier and better. The ergonomics are actually pretty good too and there are no complaints about the way the controller sits in the player’s hands.

Wired connectivity

The game’s wired connectivity is a bit of a double sword but here are the pros that come out of it. There’s no time wasted or interruptions because of the time that charging takes. The game directly draws power from your devices and the length of the wire is pretty decent so you don’t have to be worried about having to stick to your phone or tablet screen.

Wireless options at this price range are not ideal either because they are prone to issues like frequent disconnection and the controller does come with a USB A to Micro USB OTG connector.

Gameplay experience

It really felt great to complete a playthrough of GTA: Vice City, drive around in Hot Lap League and break down doors in Doorkickers: Action Squad with this controller. For some games, we did have to set up the device and pair the right controls but that’s a one-time process and a rather important one since players have the freedom to use the controller according to their preferences.

The controller does have Xinput and Direct Input and the haptic feedback also is a really cool feature, especially since the whole thing operates on a small budget.

Cons

Issues with design

There are very minor flaws here and there with the controller that can be avoided for the most part. Some of the buttons didn’t exactly always work but that was more or less because the games weren’t paired with those buttons. It seems like the controller has digital triggers, not analog and some users might have an issue with that but again, you’re not paying too much.

Another issue is how the XYBA buttons aren’t marked clearly and darker than the rest of the plastic, which could be a little problematic for users playing with a controller for the first time and we noted bleeding from the LED indicator lights through the joystick slots and doesn’t look all too visually pleasing. Again, very small nitpicks.

Wired connectivity

Coming to the cons of a wired controller, here’s what we felt. The wired setup might be a bit janky and having to carry around OTG cables (especially if you use this controller for different devices with different ports) is a bit of a hassle too and users will have to get their own USB–C OTG cables but at this price range, it’s excusable.

FPS game compatibility

Now the one place where this controller probably would not fit in all too well would be in FPS games since fingers and touch controls allow for more precise and quicker movements. Although with Gunfire Reborn, a game with rather a strong aim assist, the controller worked fine.

Final Verdict

If you’re on a budget, there’s no reason to not buy the Ant Esports GP100 controller. It’s a fifth of the price of something like the PS4 Dualshock and is efficient and enhances the gameplay experience.

When it comes to cheaper options, this is great because, unlike some other products, it has a clean design and not a flashy or cheap look. One other issue is the lack of availability outside of India but hopefully, ANT Esports will expand overseas. That being said, overall this is a great gaming accessory.

What are your opinions on the Ant Esports GP100 and your review of it? Do let us know in the comments!

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