As a lot of reviewers are saying, it feels very close to the Steam Deck controls. The trackpads are slightly different texture and a bit more refined (in a good way). The D-pad and face buttons feel good to me as a longtime gamer.
I’m used to the Xbox Elite 2 these days and this is quite a bit lighter in weight and feels more like plastic, but still solid enough (again, like the Deck). I do maybe prefer the 8-edged D-pad and I’ll probably miss the trigger stops, but gyro and trackpads and grip sense should more than make up for it.
Other notes:
I played some Elden Ring. I love that I can map the “target” function to one of the grip buttons instead of pressing in on the joystick (same as I do on deck). I map crouch, jump, and roll to the others so I don’t have to take my thumb off the right stick most of the time.
I was worried about the seams on the edges but they’re plenty smooth for me. The screw holes are a little rough but not a problem so far. However I don’t love the overall texture (gets a little slick with sweat) and will likely add a rubberized grip/case just like I did on the Deck.
It smells like a new Deck lol