Steelseries Stratus+ unboxing and key features: Ultimate Android gaming controller? [Video]

Sponsored Post | Mar 24 2022 - 2:34 pm PT

Steelseries has a rich history of making high-quality gaming accessories, and that continues with the Stratus+. Designed specifically for Android and Chromebook usage, just why is this a great gaming companion for services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW? Here are some of the key functions and features.

What’s in the box?

Smartphone mount
- Bundled into the package is a dedicated folding smartphone mount that fits snugly to the Stratus+ and making the Bluetooth accessory superb for a multitude of your favorite devices.
USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- Steelseries is kind enough to provide a charging cable even, but you can always use your existing Android USB-C cable to charge up the gamepad so no need to carry multiple format cables to keep gaming.
Steelseries Stratus+ gamepad
- The main event is naturally the Steelseries Stratus+ controller, which feels like a fusion of the best gamepads around.

Key features

Steelseries Stratus+ gamepad on Chromebook

Steelseries Stratus+ gamepad with Galaxy S22+

Your smartphone is a gaming behemoth in your pocket, and high-quality accessories are becoming more commonplace, but the Steelseries Stratus+ has a few benefits over the competition that might make it the ideal everyday accessory. It’s also fully certified and tested to work flawlessly with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and the RTX 3080 membership tier no matter what device you are playing on.

Familiar button arrangement
- The beauty of PC gaming, in general, is the ability to use a multitude of peripherals with all of your favorite games. The Steelseries Stratus+ include a familiar button layout that mimics classic controllers so that when you’re playing your favorite titles on cloud services like GeForce NOW, everything is right where it needs to be and you can just enjoy games as intended without confusing controller button configurations.
Compact smartphone mount
- Most controller smartphone mounts clip on, which causes a couple of problems. Firstly, these can damage your controller and, in turn, damage your phone. The smartphone mount on the Steelseries Stratus+ connects using metal prongs that plug into the gamepad. It’s deceptive sturdy, and you’ve got the benefit of being able to remove and fold flat so it fits in a pocket or bag.
GeForce RTX 3080 gaming rig
- Sure, you play games on your phone, but the beauty of cloud gaming is that your Chromebook can access an RTX 3080 gaming rig in the cloud. Sync the Stratus+ and it’s a dual-purpose everyday extra courtesy of stable Bluetooth LE connection.
Additional analogue sticks and triggers
- A lot of cheap gamepads suffer with loose or slack analogue sticks that make precise movement impossible. The Stratus+ analogue sticks are robust and precise like a regular console gamepad. They click in just how they ought to, which is great for L3 and R3 commands in games that support the addition input option.
- The triggers and shoulder buttons feature smooth actuation, which is perfect for fast-paced FPS games where reaction times can mean game on versus game over.
Rechargeable USB-C battery 90 hours
- You’ll get 90 hours of play with a full charge of the Steelseries Stratus+, which is more than enough to tackle even the longest transatlantic flight. Plus a quick 15-minute charge with your smartphone charger and you’ll get a further 12 hours of playtime.

With all of the clout of a console gamepad, the Stratus+ is a match made in heaven with NVIDIA GeForce NOW when gaming on your Chromebook or Android phone. Don’t take our word for it, try the GeForce NOW service for yourself by heading to geforcenow.com, and to get the latest and greatest gaming news each and every week, be sure to check out “GFN Thursdays.”