Razer Sabertooth controller review
Lewis Denby January 17, 2013 - 3:00 pmRazer can always be relied upon to one-up the competition with its pro-gaming hardware. We take a look at their latest offering, the Sabertooth controller for Xbox 360 and PC.
Historically, we haven’t reviewed hardware products here at BeefJack. But times they are a-changin’ – and what better occasion to test out something new than the launch of Razer’s latest controller, the Sabertooth?
Feeling very much like a standard Xbox 360 controller, albeit with a huge number of additional buttons and a super-cool look, it’s a decent bit of kit if you’re after the sort of precision that a regular pad can’t quite provide.
It’s the successor to the Onza, and it’s certainly a step up. With six remappable inputs and some general re-jigging of the previous setup, it’s a comfortable peripheral that allows you to customise it to your needs. And if you find you don’t need quite so many inputs, an included screwdriver lets you easily get rid of two of the rocking switches on the reverse of the pad.
We’ve passed the Sabertooth around the office, and opinion is split on the returning clickety-click of Razer’s A, B, X and Y buttons. Essentially, pressing them feels more like using a mouse button than the more typical pressing of those on an Xbox 360 pad.
They’re there to provide added precision, and it works in games that suit it. But there’s a slight lack of feedback to pressing these buttons, and many of our staff missed the physical responsiveness of a more traditional button-press.
The reason you’re buying this is going to be key, really. It’s likely that most players won’t get enough additional functionality out of the Sabertooth, especially for the enormous asking price of almost £80 in some places (it’s also $80 in the US, which makes it feel like we’re getting a rough deal over on this side of the pond). The Onza doesn’t feel quite as swish, but it’s available at a fraction of the cost.
And while the build quality is clearly high, the Sabertooth can’t escape that slightly plasticky feel. For 80 quid, I personally would expect something with a little more heft.
It’s a good pad, though, especially if you take your gaming very seriously and competitively. At half the price, it’d be an easy recommendation. So maybe wait for the price to drop a tad, then add it to your setup.
The Razer Sabertooth is compatible with Xbox 360 and PC. We can’t seem to find it currently available from any UK stockists, but prices range from £69.99 to £79.99. It’s definitely available in the US, priced at $79.99.
