GuliKit ES Max Controller Upgrades Anti-Drift Sticks With New TMR Sensing

GuliKit has launched its latest wireless controller, the ES Max, which builds on the anti-drift technology found in its earlier ES Pro model. Priced at $49.99, the ES Max is now available and introduces a refined version of the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks that debuted in the budget-friendly ES Pro last year.

Unlike traditional TMR sensors that measure changes in magnetic field strength as a magnet moves closer or farther away, the new sticks measure the rotational angle of the magnet as it follows the stick's movement. This approach ensures the magnetic field remains constant, leading to more accurate readings and thumbsticks that are more precise, responsive, and stable. The improvement isn't a complete overhaul of the technology but a subtle change in how stick movement is detected.

The ES Max is designed for a wide range of platforms, including all versions of the Nintendo Switch, Windows and macOS PCs, iOS and Android devices, and Steam. Beyond the upgraded sticks, the controller adds two remappable back buttons, swappable thumbstick caps, and Hall-effect linear triggers that can be switched to micro-switches for faster response times. GuliKit also bundles a Hyperlink 2 Bluetooth adapter, which the company claims reduces wireless latency. Additionally, the launch introduces GuliKit's first mobile app for customizing, configuring, and updating the controller.

While the ES Max costs $20 more than the ES Pro, it undercuts Nintendo's Switch 2 Pro Controller while offering extra functionality and protection against the stick drift that affected the original Switch.

This report is based on information from The Verge.