SteelSeries Nimbus+ review: A middle-of-the-road mobile gaming controller

Whether the SteelSeries Nimbus+ is one of the best phone controllers or best PC game controllers is up to you. The Nimbus+ is compatible with phones, computers, tablets and even some TVs, so the opportunities are endless.

While the Nimbus+ is compatible with Apple Arcade, Android users can opt for the Stratus+, which is virtually identical to the Nimbus+. Both controllers have Hall Effect triggers that are designed to reduce stick shift over time, tactile buttons with smooth movements and ergonomic handles.

Despite being somewhat pleasing to hold and use, the Nimbus+ and Stratus+ aren’t perfect controllers. The poor construction makes way for longevity issues, wobbly phones and unsteady mounting. But could they be worth $69? Find out in our SteelSeries Nimbus+ review.

SteelSeries Nimbus+ review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A wireless mobile gaming controller
• What is it for? The Nimbus+ is for Apple users while the Stratus+ is for Android users
• What does it cost? The Nimbus+ is available for $69 / £69 as is the Stratus+
• What do we like? Easy setup, long battery life and great for mobile gaming thanks to the Hall Effect triggers
• What don’t we like? The phone mount is… problematic, there’s no app support and it uses analog thumbsticks

SteelSeries Nimbus+ review: Specs

SteelSeries Nimbus+ review: The ups

With Hall Effect triggers, ergonomic handles and tactile buttons, there is a lot to like about the Nimbus+ and Stratus+ controllers.

Hall Effect triggers

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A big selling point of the SteelSeries Nimbus+ and Stratus+ controllers are that their triggers are fitted with Hall Effect sensors, like the ones in the GameSir Kaleid ($49). These allow more precise control over sensitivity. That’s thanks to the magnet at the bottom of the trigger which changes the flow of electricity as it gets closer to the sensor. It then sends a signal to the controller to let it know how far you’re pressing down. Compared to traditional triggers, Hall Effect controllers allow for smoother movements and motion.

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This comes in handy while playing racing games and shooters. Playing Real Racing 3 with the Nimbus+ controller was far better — and easier — than using touch controls to accelerate and make sharp turns. The triggers were highly responsive when accelerating and braking, and the car responded appropriately depending on how far a trigger was pressed. This made turning corners and swerving past NPCs very easy.

Responsive thumbsticks

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The SteelSeries Nimbus+ and Stratus+ use ALPS analog thumbsticks, which showed their prowess in both Real Racing 3 and Call of Duty: Mobile. Peeking past corners and then retreating to gauge enemy positions in Call of Duty: Mobile was easier, as was sprinting and making quick sideways movements to dodge oncoming bullets. The Hall Effect triggers were quick to respond when drawing my gun and taking a shot. The Nimbus+ is great for mobile gaming.

Case? No problem

Most phone controllers — such as the PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus ($100) — come with mounts that are designed to be used with your phone case off. Not the SteelSeries Nimbus+ and Stratus+. We were able to mount our iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro onto each controller comfortably as the mount stretches wide enough to allow most phone cases. You should also be able to use the controllers with bigger models, such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, respectively.

The mount hooks are also fitted with PTFE pads, which keep the mounted phone from slipping and sliding, firmly holding it in place as you play away. Overall, the mounts are designed well — except for their receptacles (more on that soon).

Compatibility galore

As this review encompasses both the Nimbus+ and the Stratus+, users of almost any device will have a compatible device. iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV 4K and macOS users will need the Nimbus+. Nimbus+ is compatible with iPhones from iPhone 6, iPads from the iPad Gen 5, iPod Touch and macOS — as long as they’re all running the current iOS/macOS version.

Similarly, the Stratus+ is compatible with smartphones running Android 4 or higher, over a Bluetooth connection. There’s also a USB-C port to connect the Stratus+ to Windows machines or even the best ChromeBooks.

So much juice

The SteelSeries Nimbus+ can run for a really long time on a single charge. SteelSeries claims that the Nimbus+ can last up to 50 hours while the Stratus+ clocks in at 90 hours, which is outstanding. The PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus, in comparison, lasts just 10 hours, which seems like nothing compared to both the SteelSeries controllers.

SteelSeries Nimbus+ review: The downs

Despite the huge range of compatibility and ease of gaming, a few construction-related issues and the lack of app support let down the SteelSeries Nimbus+.

A tear in the fabric

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Not the fabric of time, but in the rubber mount. Erin tested the SteelSeries Nimbus+ while Nikita tested the Stratus+, isolated in different environments. Within an hour of unboxing, the mount receptacles on both controllers had torn, proving that the construction materials used were shoddy.

As you can see, the rubber casing around the mount receptacle has a tear on each side. This happened after around an hour of use. The controller’s poor construction raises questions about its longevity, especially considering it’s not exactly budget, priced at $69. Contrary to the “teel” moniker in the brand's name, the Nimbus+ and Stratus+ aren't made of any solid metals — but of something much more brittle and fragile, like octogenarian bones.

(Un)Steady as she goes

Another result of poor quality construction: the phone mount itself is wobbly and unsecure during use. Mounting the iPhone 16 Pro onto the SteelSeries Nimbus+ was difficult, requiring the phone to be held still with one hand, while simultaneously inserting the mounting prongs into the receptacles with the other. This also happened while mounting the Google Pixel 7 Pro onto the Stratus+. On both models, the mount wobbled noticeably during use, which wasn’t confidence-inspiring and again calls into question the controllers’ longevity.

Shiny, shiny fingerprints

To add insult to injury, the SteelSeries Nimbus+ is a fingerprint magnet. It’s made of ABS plastic, which gets shiny really quickly. Fingerprints were easy to see around an hour into using both the Nimbus+ and the Stratus+ controllers, which isn’t great, especially if you’re a germaphobe. Both controllers are fully black, too, which makes the issue far more apparent.

Customization, anyone?

SteelSeries GG, the hub for all SteelSeries gear, is a fantastic app that lets you personalize nearly every device made by the Danish giant. It’s sad to see that there’s no app support for the SteelSeries Nimbus+ or Stratus+. Similarly priced controllers, such as the GameSir G7 SE ($44), allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks. The Manba One ($69) lets you customize the controller on the fly via its LED screen. Unfortunately, the Nimbus+ and Stratus+ lose some brownie points due to the lack of customization options.

Analog thumbsticks only

As we noted earlier, the ALPS analog thumbsticks on the SteelSeries Nimbus+ and the Stratus+ are responsive, but we wish the controllers used Hall Effect thumbsticks. Analog thumbsticks are prone to getting stick drift (like we see on most Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons) over time, which basically causes your character in a game to move unintentionally, therefore making precise movements a drag. This issue is negated when thumbsticks use Hall Effect sensors instead.

Controllers like the PB Tails Metal Crush Defender ($109) and the GameSir Kaleid utilize Hall Effect thumbsticks that, combined with their magnetic triggers, result in a far better gaming experience. To take it one step further, you can set each of the Kaleid’s triggers to hair-trigger mode, allowing instantaneous initiation when pressed, making the controller far better value for money.

SteelSeries Nimbus+ review: Verdict

Touch-control gaming is sooo 2010, and the SteelSeries Nimbus+ is a respectable controller if you want to take your mobile gaming to the next level. Equipped with Hall Effect triggers, the Nimbus+ and the Stratus+ give you precise control over movements, especially in racing and first-person shooter games. Boasting extremely long battery lives, SteelSeries’ offerings are almost perfect.

Both are massively let down by their poor build quality, though. Not only are the controllers fingerprint magnets but it’s also difficult to mount phones, and we noticed tears in both controllers’ fabrics. There’s also no app support so you can’t customize the controllers or adjust trigger sensitivity. While they use Hall Effect triggers, thumbsticks are analog only.

For the same money — or a little more — there are better alternatives out there. For instance, the GameSir Kaleid features Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks, and gives you plenty of customization options either through its companion software or on the controller itself. Both the GameSir G7 SE and the Manba One let you adjust trigger sensitivity, too.

At the end of the day, the Nimbus+ and Stratus+ are decent controllers and worth it if you’re a die-hard SteelSeries fan. But with competitors delivering better products for the same price, alas, the Nimbus+ and the Stratus+ leave a lot to be desired.