Let’s say you wanted to buy a new controller, but money was tight. You’ve got about $25, and you want 2.4GHz, but you also want a USB-C adapter for Switch or your phone, maybe. Well, your options are limited, but there are still good ones to go for, and if you want the retro look, you’re in luck.
Fantech was kind enough to send over its Shooter III controller in the new retro colorway, and I think this might be one of the better sub-$25 options for those looking for a 2.4GHz controller that can plug into just about anything.Â
Fantech Shooter III: Specs
For $25, you know not to expect the world of a controller, but the specs on this one are really not too bad.Â
- Sticks and Triggers: Hall Effect
- Face Buttons and D-pad: Membrane
- Extra Features: Gyro, Fantech S3 Software, Adjustable Triggers (In Software)
- Battery: 600mAh (20hrs Battery Life)
- Polling Rate: 1000hz Wired and 2.4GHz via StrikeSpeed
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz/Wired
- Compatibility: PC/iOS/Android/Switch
- Weight: 188 grams
Fantech Shooter III at AliExpress
Fantech Shooter III: Build and Ergonomics
When it comes to design, I think that they nailed the aesthetic they were going for. From the Super Famicom-themed box to the Skittles face buttons and the mix of dark and light grays, the Shooter III Retro edition looks great. And what adds to it is the feel in hand.
It’s a really lightweight controller. I own controllers that weight just shy of twice as heavy, but this one doesn’t feel like it’s built to be lightweight. There’s no give if you try and twist it, an
The plastic is thicker than some handhelds I’ve tried that are twice as much. A sturdy body like this one is helped by the lightly textured surface on the backside of the grips. It’s not a soft-touch rubber, it isn’t super jagged or anything. It’s a nice plastic on an Xbox-styled controller.
And it’s nice for what it is.Â
Control Testing
Running through my games testing was a great experience on the Shooter III, but I just wanted to preface this by saying I’m not sure what they did with the sticks, but in my testing, they remained quite consistent in terms of response and were really a highlight here.
Sticks and Triggers
As I keep mentioning, the sticks on this controller have really been a high point for me. I decided to run a few stages in Art of Rally for testing this time to get a feel of the triggers and sticks, and I’ve come out impressed. The sticks have a rubbery texture and are ribbed along the edges for additional grip. As a whole this comes out really well and made controlling my car easy.
The triggers have a nice angle to them without feeling pointy on the end, and depending on if you adjust their actuation in the software they can be fully analog or easily digital. They gave me the full range to decide how much I needed to brake or gas around a corner, and they helped steer me to finally getting first place in the Japan stages. So for that, I applaud these triggers as well.
Face Buttons and Dpad
As usual, I do my Celeste runs a couple of times to get a nice feel for the responsiveness of the face buttons and d-pad. While the responsiveness was as expected out of just about any controller in 2025, I’d be remiss to ignore a couple of notes about the controls. The face buttons all have a stiffer actuation before bottoming out. If I had to relate it to any of my controllers, I’d say it lands pretty close to a Stadia controller face button, just at a lower pitch.
The D-pad is a shield-style one with a more pronounced D-pad shape on top. It works well, and I got the exact diagonals I was looking for. In some cases I was more easily landing time skips in Celeste than I would have otherwise. However, I did notice it would get a bit clunky if I was jumping back and forth a few too many times.
Both get a solid pass as I averaged about 3 minutes in a run, with at or below 10 deaths each time.Â
Overall, these are really good controls for $25 or less.
Software
Just like a lot of things with this controller, the software is barebones but functional. If you follow their downloads link on the Fantech website, it’ll take you to a MediaFire download. The entire software is just an exe, but when activated lets you do everything from mapping controls to adjusting stick deadzones and controlling the integrated gyro of the controller.
It’s truly nothing special when it comes to software, but I also prefer when things just work. In the case of Fantech’s Shooter III suite, it does just that. I do wish that updating the dongle was just a little bit easier, though. I had it just not update a few times before finally working. This didn’t have any impact on connectivity for me.Â
Speaking of connectivity if you take that USB-C portion of the adapter out, you can put it on the bottom of a Nintendo Switch or a USB-C phone, and it just works. I had no issues with dropped connections, and anything I could plug it into seemed to pick up on it fairly well. Minus some janky handhelds.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to go this low in price you’ve got a couple of options, the most prominent of which being the GameSir Nova Lite. For your money, you’re going to end up choosing which features matter to you most. With the Nova Lite you get that extra hardshell case for easy transportation, with the Shooter III you get a dongle with a built in USB-C adapter meaning easier use across even more devices.
Aside from that, you’ve got a no-frills controller that feels surprisingly good in hand and comes with hall effect sticks that are remarkably consistent in testing, and don’t feel bad to boot. The only disappointing notes come from either those who prefer clicky buttons or those who want a less clunky feeling d-pad at times. As a whole, it feels like a lot of other $25 or less controllers, but after testing it for a while, I’d happily use this over a lot of its contemporaries. Plus, it comes in this cool SFC colorway. Who can say no?
Fantech Shooter III at AliExpress
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