A capable controller with plenty of adjustments: while this Nintendo Switch 2 and PC gamepad looks like an Xbox controller, it hides some serious upgrades but there are a few sticking points you need to know about

Date:
Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
It may look like your typical Xbox controller, but the GuliKit KK3 Max has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Gulikit KK3 Max: One-minute review The GuliKit KK3 Max might look like a standard controller, but it has plenty of extras and features on board.

Adopting the familiar form of the Xboxs gamepad, the KK3 Max doesnt exactly push the boundaries in terms of design. But given how comfortable and convenient the shape and layout are, its hard to complain about its lack of originality. There are also a few extra flourishes that add some interest.
The matte white finish of my review unit was rather fetching, while the front panel is incredibly smooth, smoother than any other Ive felt before. Its construction also feels quite solid, rivaling the builds of the best PC controllers . Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

This premium feel extends to the buttons, since theres very little wobble to any of them. The same can be said of the various sets of levers for the four back buttons, although a fair amount of force is required to insert them. (Image credit: Future) Gulikit KK3 Max at Amazon for 75.99 Despite the lack
of software, there are still plenty of input-related customizations and settings available via various button combinations. These range from basic adjustments, such as the vibration intensity and stick sensitivity, to more advanced features, such as motion control and macro recording.

The overall performance of the KK3 Max is pretty good. Most of the buttons
are responsive and satisfying to press. The triggers offer a fair amount of control, although I found their travel distance a little too short for my preferences. The sticks also lack the precision of the best, although they move easily and quickly. Motion controls are also inconsistent: I found they performed well with Nintendo Switch games, but were less effective on PC and mobile titles.

Im happy to report that I had no issues with connectivity on any system I tried the KK3 Max with. Whether it was to my PC via the USB dongle or to my Switch and Android tablet via Bluetooth, the KK3 Max connected quickly to
them all and I didnt experience any dropouts or lag. Hotswitching between devices is also easy thanks to the dedicated button for this purpose,
although it can take several presses for the button to respond. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The current multiplatform controller market is certainly a competitive one, with an increasing number of entrants offering increasingly better value. At $79.99 / 65.99 / AU$113.95, the KK3 Max is dangerously close in price to some real standouts, such as the Steam Controller and the GameSir G7 Pro 8K , and more expensive than the 8BitDo Pro 3 , another highly capable controller. It mightnt quite match up to its cohort, but the KK3 Max is still a gamepad to consider if you prefer onboard adjustments and like to have plenty of back buttons. (Image credit: Future) Gulikit KK3 Max review: Price & availability $79.99 / 65.99 / AU$113.95 Available now in various colorways Premium pricing puts it against big hitters The GuliKit KK3 Max costs $79.99 / 65.99 / AU$113.95 and is available now from Amazon . Three colorways are available: black, white, and grey.

This pricing places the KK3 Max at the premium end of the market. It comes close to some big names in this space, such as the new Steam Controller .
This has the advantage of touchpads for controlling the mouse cursor, and we found its gyroscope controls performed very well, unlike the KK3 Maxs. It
isnt compatible with the Switch or Switch 2, though.

The KK3 Max is also more expensive than the 8BitDo Pro 3 , which has class-leading performance. We particularly loved its smooth analog sticks and triggers, as well as its phenomenal D-pad. Its very customizable, too, thanks to its accompanying software something the KK3 Max lacks. Gulikit KK3 Max review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0

Gulikit KK3 Max

Price

$79.99 / 65.99 / AU$113.95

Weight

9.7oz / 275g

Dimensions

6 x 4.3 x 1.3in / 154.7 x 108.1 x 32.4mm

Compatibility

PC, Switch, Switch 2, Android, iOS

Connection type

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

15-28 hours (Image credit: Future) Gulikit KK3 Max review: Design and
features Super smooth surface No extra D-pad hats or stick caps No software The KK3 Max has a simple and conventional design, replicating the form and layout of the best Xbox controllers . This is no bad thing, though, since
such gamepads are among the most ergonomic and comfortable out there. Along with many others, Im also particularly fond of the asymmetric analog sticks, since this moves the D-pad to a position that makes it easier to use with either thumb.

What may prove more divisive, however, is the relatively small size of the entire unit. I dont have particularly large hands, but both my thumbs and forefingers tended to overhang the sticks and triggers respectively. I was able to adjust my grip to compensate without sacrificing comfort or security, but others might find this more of a problem.

There are some extra touches to the KK3 Maxs design that set it apart from
the crowd. The brilliant white matte finish of my review unit is quite eye-catching, as is the subtle yet effective RGB lighting around the sticks, which also has a practical function that Ill come to later. (Image credit: Future) The front plate is incredibly smooth to the touch, smoother than any other controller Ive experienced. However, this plate isnt magnetically attached as it is on other gamepads, allowing for easy removal for the sake
of customization and reordering or replacing buttons.

You can still remove the KK3 Maxs face buttons youll just need to use the included puller to do so, which is thankfully easy to use. You cant directly swap the X with the Y button or the A with the B, though, since they have different depths and curvatures. Rather, duplicates of each button are included in the box with the appropriate depth and curvature for swapping their position. This seems like a rather inefficient solution to me, and just means you have more bits of plastic in your life than you otherwise would.

I cant complain about their quality, though. Theyre pleasantly smooth and stable, with only a marginal amount of play, while their transparent design
is quite fetching. The D-pad also feels stable, although its a shame you
can't replace the hat, as different designs can make a real difference to
feel and performance, and would cater to more preferences. Fortunately, I found it quite ergonomic; even though it adopts the traditional four-point shape, its rounded edges make it better for rolling between directions.
(Image credit: Future) The triggers are also comfortable. They have rounded outside edges, which makes them soft on the finger, as well as a dotted texture to provide grip. The analog stick caps are reasonably small but have an ergonomic shape and a soft finish. Their edges are slightly textured, although this is less prominent than other examples, so those with sweaty thumbs might slip off them. They are removable, but GuliKit doesnt provide
any extra sets in the box, which is a shame. The sticks themselves are quite tall and suitably planted, with a negligible amount of play.

More solid are the back button levers. Despite how they look, theyre not made from metal, but they are reassuringly sturdy. They actually require a fair amount of force to insert in their slots, but once in place, I felt pretty confident that they werent going to come loose. They come in different
shapes, with two sets of paddle-like levers and a set that looks more like bumpers. (Image credit: Future) Theres no software for customizing the inputs of the KK3 Max, which is a shame. However, there are still plenty of adjustments you can make and features to enable using various button combinations. You can alter the sensitivity of the analog sticks, with three levels to choose from, as well as toggle Dead Zone mode for them. You can
also enable the Motion Aim Assist mode, letting you assign gyroscopic
controls when either the left stick or the left trigger is held. Again, there are three levels of sensitivity to choose from here.

Other settings include a toggle for the D-pad between four- and eight-direction modes, A and B and X and Y swaps, and a Rapid Trigger
function with two modes to choose from: one where the chosen input triggers repeatedly when held, and the other when its merely pressed. An autopilot
mode and a macro recorder are available, too.

All these adjustments are quite easy to make, and there are some useful indicators that let you know what settings have been selected. For instance, the sticks light different colors depending on which of the three sensitivity levels is set, and the pad rumbles once, twice, or thrice depending on which of the three sensitivities of the Motion Aim Assist is set. However, I still wouldve preferred software for convenience's sake; its always nice to see
your settings represented graphically, and having to remember all the button combinations is a hassle I could do without. (Image credit: Future) Gulikit KK3 Max review: Performance Solid button feel Slightly imprecise sticks
Motion controls are mixed In action, the KK3 Max acquits itself rather well. The face buttons are tactile and well-damped, and only require a light touch to press, which makes them feel snappy. However, they dont provide the best feedback, and there are times when it can be difficult to feel them actually being pressed. Thankfully, however, this didnt result in presses failing to register, in my experience.

The bumpers are more clicky, but still have enough dampening to make presses satisfying. However, I found their position a little too high, which can make reaching them a little difficult. I should say that I encounter this problem on quite a few gamepads, but here its particularly acute.

In fact, I found the back buttons more usable than the bumpers, which isnt something I can say about a lot of other controllers with back buttons. Their travel might be shallow, no matter which lever you decide to attach, but theres enough dampening and feedback to make them viable as replacements for other inputs. I didnt accidentally trigger them when gripping the KK3 Max tightly, either. The shapes of the various levers are easy to use, although I did find that the lower paddles were best used with two fingers rather than one. (Image credit: Future) The triggers are resistant enough to provide adequate control when performing graduated presses, something I especially appreciate when playing racing games such as Assetto Corsa that require precise acceleration and braking inputs. Their relatively shallow travel does negate this aspect somewhat, but I still found them just about up to the
task. Theyre also light enough to perform rapid inputs when needed, and to prevent fatigue from setting in during prolonged holds.

The sticks move freely and quickly, with a fast rebound that makes them feel snappy. Aiming was quite accurate when I played 007 First Light , although they dont offer the smoothest motion, with small but frequent jumps and unexpected accelerations affecting my accuracy. Thankfully, their aforementioned height didnt pose a problem when moving them around, although it did cause some instability when pressing in the L3 and R3 buttons, with accidental directional movements often accompanying them.

The gyroscopic motion controls are mixed in terms of their performance. When
I played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on my Switch, they were smooth when aiming the bow, and on a par with the best Nintendo Switch controllers . However, with games on other platforms, such as First Light on PC and Hitman Blood Money Reprisal on Android, they were jerky and restrictive in terms of movement. No matter how many times I recalibrated
them using the onboard function to do this, they didnt improve on these systems.

I had no issues connecting the KK3 Max to my Windows 11 PC, Switch, or
Android tablet via Bluetooth or the USB dongle. The handy button for hot-switching between devices is also useful, and hot-switching itself proved quick in my experience. However, the button doesnt operate that well, taking
a few too many presses to actually respond. Should I buy the Gulikit KK3 Max? Buy it if

You want a comfortable gamepad The ergonomic shape of the KK3 Max, combined with the super smooth front panel and rounded triggers, make it comfortable
to use although those with particularly large hands might struggle with it.

You want plenty of back buttons With four back buttons and three different kinds of lever attachments for them, the KK3 Max is great for those who like to trigger inputs with their fingers rather than their thumbs. Don't buy it
if

You want software Even though you can customize the inputs of the KK3 Max, youll need to do this with button combinations, as theres no companion app.

You want the best stick performance The sticks arent quite as smooth or precise as those in the best gamepads. Gulikit KK3 Max review: Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0

GuliKit KK3 Max

8BitDo Pro 3

Valve Steam Controller (2026)

Price

$79.99 / 65.99 / AU$113.95

$59.99 / 40 (around AU$84)

$99 / 85 / AU$149

Weight

9.7oz / 275g

8.5oz / 242g

10.3oz / 292g

Dimensions

6 x 4.3 x 1.3in / 154.7 x 108.1 x 32.4mm

6.1 x 3.9 x 2.6in / 154 x 101 x 65mm

4.4 x 6.3 x 2.2in / 111 x 159 x 57mm

Compatibility

PC, Switch, Switch 2, Android, iOS

Switch, Switch 2, PC, Android, iOS

PC, Mac, Android, iOS

Connection type

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)

Steam Controller Puck, USB, Bluetooth

Battery life

15-28 hours

15-20 hours

35+ hours

Valve Steam Controller (2026) Valves latest iteration of the Steam
Controller was highly anticipated, and in our view it didnt disappoint. We found it offered great all-round performance, thanks to its TMR analog sticks and excellent gyro controls. Unlike other controllers, it also features touchpads for controlling cursor movement, making it a real boon for PC players. It doesnt have the wide-ranging platform support of others, though.

Read our full Valve Steam Controller (2026) review .

8BitDo Pro 3 If you want to spend less on a controller but still want great performance, look no further than the 8BitDo Pro 3. We loved the performance of its sticks, triggers, and D-pad, and we found its shape supremely comfortable, while still staying faithful to the old SNES gamepad its keen to emulate. It also has great software with plenty of customizations.

Read our full 8BitDo Pro 3 review . (Image credit: Future) How I tested the Gulikit KK3 Max Tested consistently for a few days Played a variety of games on multiple devices Plenty of controller experience I tested the Gulikit KK3 Max for a few days, during which time I played a number of games on most of the platforms the controller is compatible with. I used it on my Windows 11
PC via the 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle, and on my Switch and Samsung Galaxy
Tab S11 tablet via Bluetooth.

I made sure to play a variety of games across these platforms to test every facet of the controllers performance. I played 007 First Light on PC, which
is a good test for the accuracy and precision of analog sticks, as well as Hitman: Blood Money Reprisal on my tablet for the same purpose. I also
played Assetto Corsa , which is not only a good test for the sticks but also for the control offered by the triggers. I also played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Switch, primarily to test the motion controls, as the game and console handle such controls very well.

Ive been gaming for decades, and have used numerous gamepads with numerous systems in that time. Ive also reviewed a number of other controllers, from budget offerings to high-performing premium models. Read more about how we test First reviewed: July 2026 Gulikit KK3 Max: Price Comparison 75.99 View
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