The GX Trust Muta isn’t going to top the likes of the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro any time soon, but then it’s not supposed to either. At a fraction of the price of the more advanced Razer offering, the Muta controller is designed as a budget option for people after a no-nonsense controller that does the job.
How does the finished product fair? Read on to find out what I make of the GX Trust Muta controller.
Design and Layout
Primarily designed for Windows PCs and Nintendo Switch, although I got it working almost flawlessly on the Steam Deck as well, the Muta controller is as lightweight as they come at 225 grams. The PS5’s Dualsense controller comes in at 281 grams while the Xbox Series X|S controller rocks up at 287 grams.
The difference in weight is instantly felt, and that won’t be for everyone. It feels super light. I’m fine with that, but I know some people prefer the heft of a controller when they’re holding it.
The button layout mimics that of a PS4 or PS5 controller – both thumbsticks lay horizontally from one another while the face buttons and directional pad (d-pad) occupy up the furthest left and right points.
What’s interesting here is despite using the PlayStation controller as inspiration, GX Trust has put a fair amount of thought and design work into the end result. The sticks are concave (as they should be!) and despite being smaller than the Dualsense’s sticks, they still move without any problems. The smaller diameter also means there’s zero chance of thumbs ever bashing.
The face buttons offer up more resistance than other controllers, but they don’t make that irritating clicky sound found in Xbox or Razer controllers.
I tell you what, I was shocked – shocked! – at how this thing works on top. The bumpers and triggers are somehow better than any other controller I’ve reviewed or played with. I know, right? Who saw that coming?
The bumpers are nice and chunky, meaning when you’re adapting to the layout during the first few uses, you know exactly where they are. They do make a clicking sound when pressed, but that’s a minor gripe. What matters here is that they’re very distinguishable from the triggers. You won’t hit them by accident.
And then there are the triggers themselves, which are a revelation. The curved ends mean your finger slides naturally into place, and the resistance on them is outstanding. You feel like you’re actually pulling a trigger rather than pressing a button. For competitive fighting games, that may be an issue. But for home use? This is how triggers should be done.
Features
One of the big hooks of the Muta is the customizable d-pad. Much like many of the more premium controllers, GX Trust decided there needs to be a budget option that offers something similar.
The controller comes with three d-pads that can be yoinked off and replaced. You’ve got the standard up/down/left/right configuration, one similar to the Xbox Elite disc-shaped add-on, and a third that’s a mix between the two.
How do they handle? They’re fine. Just fine. It’s nice to have more options, but the d-pads feel gimmicky more than anything. Despite what the Muta gets right, it’s still a budget controller with budget tech inside. Making full use of the d-pads isn’t something the controller can really capitalize on. It feels like a controller playing dress-up rather than a fully-fledged feature.
Battery Life
GX Trust says the Muta controller is designed to last for 10 hours. I averaged nine and a half hours during my testing, so I’d say that claim is near enough true. It’s definitely longer than the Dualsense (about six hours), but much less than the Xbox controller running on AA batteries.
It’s USB-C as well, so charging the controller when you need to is nice and simple. That may sound a bit obvious but you’d be surprised by how many third-party companies still use micro-USB as their charging solution. If you’re a company that still uses micro USB, please just stop.
Verdict
For around $40/£35, the GX Trust Muta controller exists in the budget space. It’s not going to hold a candle to any of the premium controller offerings, but if you’re after a second controller, or need one for the Steam Deck, it has a lot going for it that makes it stand out.
The textured grip alongside some of the best triggers out there really separates the Muta from the plentiful affordable offerings. It’s not perfect by any means, and the extra d-pads aren’t anything to get excited about.
But for the price, the Muta bests all the lesser-known brands with its thoughtful design and gaming-first approach. Imperfect, sure, but if you’re after a worthy budget purchase, you’ll come away happy.
Review unit sent by GX Trust. | Photos captured by Wesley Copeland.
