The Fantech Revolver III is a versatile budget-friendly gamepad compatible with a wide range of platforms including PC, Android, PS3, PS4, and even the Nintendo Switch. At ~US$25, the Revolver III is one of the cheapest wireless controller with Hall Effect joysticks and gyro support — making it an impressive contender in the budget gamepad segment. As usual, use discount code ‘TECHJIO‘ to enjoy 10% off!
Unboxing
In the box, you’ll find the following:
- Fantech Revolver III Gamepad
- USB Wireless Dongle
- USB-C to USB-A Cable
- User Manual
Design and build quality
If the Shooter line was Fantech’s take on the Xbox layout, the Revolver III is its DualSense-inspired sibling. Fantech Revolver III comes in three colours – (1) black, (2) grey, and (3) white. The unit I got was the black variant, which features an all-black design with clean lines, symmetrical thumbsticks, and a minimalist vibe. I found the design to be understated and sharp, one that I prefer over the EOS Pro.
Despite its affordable price, the build quality does not feel cheap. The controller feels light at around 200g, yet sturdy in hand. The surface texture is a mix – smooth on top and lightly textured at the grips. The grip is noticeably less grippy than the EOS Pro. There doesn’t seem to have any special coating on the controller, but the fine ridges carved into the plastic do help improve grip.
Usage and features
At the US$25 price point, I wasn’t expecting any special features but Fantech gave the Revolver III an upgrade over its predecessor with Hall Effect Joysticks & Triggers, mappable rear paddles, and 1000Hz polling rate to name key ones.
The other buttons use membrane switches which have good tactility and snappiness. The travel distance is slightly longer than the EOS Pro. I don’t own a DualSense controller so I can’t compare between the two. But shape wise, if you are familiar with layout of a DualSense controller (Playstation), you’ll get used to the Revolver III in no time. I’ve highlighted some of the key features of the Revolver III below:
Hall Effect Joysticks & Triggers
Like the EOS Pro, the Revolver III has Hall Effect sensors for its analog sticks and triggers. That means no drift – a common issue with traditional potentiometer-based controllers. If you’re new to Hall Effect switches, it just means you get more precise output from your registered input.
I didn’t encounter any errant movement, and the joysticks responded accurately in all directions. The dead zones were virtually non-existent when in tested Hardwaretester showing very low circularity error, ranging from 0 to 0.1%
Hall effect triggers are especially useful in racing games when assigned to the accelerator, as they allow for more precise control over your driving speed. I noticed their impact most clearly in racing titles.
Macro Rear Buttons
One of the key additions on the Revolver III is the inclusion of rear macro buttons. These are tucked comfortably under your fingers and can be used for quick access or combo moves in fighting games. They’re firm enough not to be triggered accidentally, but soft enough to feel responsive when needed.
Setting up the macros is done onboard via button combinations. I like that this allows for quick, on-the-go customisations without the need to load up a software if you’re in a time pinch. You can record up to 63 buttons. I found the rear macro buttons to be particularly handy in games that rely on combo-based actions, like Tekken. With a single press, you can execute a sequence of button inputs.
Battery life and connectivity
Fantech Revolver III is powered by a 600mAh battery, rated for up to 20 hours of playtime. Charging is done via USB-C. As for connectivity, Fantech Revolver III supports:
- PC (Wired & Wireless via Dongle)
- Android
- PS3 & PS4
- Nintendo Switch (via USB OTG or direct cable)
The wireless 2.4GHz dongle is also thoughtfully designed through a 2-in-1 USB-A and USB-C combo. The USB-C dongle has rather long shape, likely for having a flatter fit when connecting it to an Android phone or Nintendo Switch. But this shape wouldn’t be the best use for PC as it might block out other empty USB-C ports on the computer, or render it unable to be used if the port next to it has already been used.
Software
You can tweak different settings of the controller such as button mappings, thumbstick & trigger sensitivity, vibration levels, and motion sensing. These in-depth customisations require you to download a custom software solely for the Fantech Revolver III.
Again, it’s another single software for a Fantech product but so far that’s how Fantech works. Fair warning though, I did get Windows Defender flagging the software as a suspicious item but I personally didn’t face any problems.
Conclusion
If you’re on a budget and want a Playstation-style controller that works well across PC, Android, PlayStation, and Switch, the Fantech Revolver III delivers way more than its price suggests. Hall Effect joysticks, macro buttons, 1000Hz polling rate, and gyro support are features you don’t usually find at such price range. At ~US$25, you’ll likely be hard-pressed to find something better.
TECHJIO
Use code for 10% off
If you’re interested, don’t forget to use discount code ‘TECHJIO‘ to enjoy 10% off!