ASI LVL Leverless Controller Review: DESIGN MEETS PERFORMANCE!!

[@Crazen2]

I built my own leaverless, and it cost about £100, so that is a great price. Good review

[@HushMySweet1]

lol @ the mood set. The removable PCB is an interesting take and something pretty novel. A cool cover over it might also look nice. The LED line around the whole thing also looks really clean. And I suppose that top cutout area makes sense for Wingman users, but Magic Boots dongles stick out less than 1.5 cm so it's never really bothered me. But I might be singing a different tune if I used the longer Wingman or PXN N5 devices. Great job all around and this was a nice controller showcase! (Oh, and FWIW, I am not sponsored by those who send controllers/parts to me either, but I always tick the sponsor box just because I was given a free item and like transparency, but IDK if that's best practice or just me being fussy)

[@Chris_F]

Thx bro, glad you liked it! The paid promo thing is so hard to understand! Some reviewers do it, some don’t, I just decided to click the box and be transparent. Trusting in my community to know that being honest

[@n0dding]

I think if they add a hatch cover for the PCB, then there wouldn't be any questions about the PCB design choice. Having it completely exposed is my only concern.

[@efemji]

they showed you can spray the microcontroller with a waterproof or something like that, but yeah its still terrifying to see the pcb exposed xd

[@nathansheeran6162]

Great review! I loved following the early access coverage on this. I’ve been wanting an asindo controller for a while. If they had a hatch cover for the PCB and a cable strain relief on this one, I’d consider it perfect!

[@Chris_F]

Thanks for watching! I think a pcb cover could be a good idea, maybe they can make one!

[@phatlokki]

LOL lights a candle for the button noises. Funny XD Thats pretty neet dude! I just got my first leverless recently. I got the haute 42 M16 series. Not that plus though. i prefer desk play. Ive never gotten this much into fighting games b4. There is a whole new world I didnt even know existed. Your videos have been a great help! thanks

[@Chris_F]

Glad to help and it’s great to see you’re getting into fighting games!

[@phatlokki]

@Chris_F Thanks man. Been playing sf 6. Plat 1 in a month. But I hit a wall I think lol. Slowly pushing past it. Ken main

[@demothy6276]

Very cool controller. For the most part I love the design and featureset, the one thing that bothers me about the design is how high up the buttons stick out from the case. It looks like there’s a very defined gap between the keycap and case which A: i think is kinda ugly but B: looks like it’ll result in the keycaps potentially popping off when doing certain movements like slide motions.

[@RaqueteQuizumba]

beautiful controller, thank you for the review

[@Chris_F]

And thank you for watching!

[@AndysCuts]

Hi Chris, love your videos. I can't figure out how to get the extra buttons to work. Do you have a tip on how to activate those buttons? It lights up but I can't macro

[@Chris_F]

Hard to say without a bit more info, but if I had to guess it’s most likely something with your input setting or pin mapping. Try setting it to Xinput if you’re on PC. If that doesn’t fix it, you’ll have to do some pin mapping in settings to get it to work. I have a pin mapping guide I uploaded to KZbin a few months ago so check that out if you need help. If all else fails, go to the official ASI discord since they’re super helpful. Don’t worry though, it’s definitely not broken!

[@frankf1509]

Cool review, thanks!

[@Chris_F]

Thanks for watching!

[@kaihimura3897]

Wow this looks amazing. I definitely want one especially for 147 usd. Holy heck.

[@Chris_F]

I’m really enjoying mine!

[@garethelrick7253]

I do think this, it's cool but I don't don't like how the PCB is not covered. Yes, I know it's hot swappable but I'd have that broken when traveling with it.

[@warwickrework519]

I like the idea that the menu buttons are also switches.

[@DissipatedTire]

I hope more companies forgo the top up button and go for a left pinky or a button to the left of the bottom up button. I feel like if you want a up button up top, it would better to just go for a mix box style.

[@Chris_F]

They do have a mix-box style version and that’s in my video too! I think the left pinky button is a good idea for some people but for me, my left pinky goes WILD when I play 😂

[@AlbertoBarbosa-it5lk]

if the pcb is exposed wont dust accumulate on it

I don't know that that matters. It's been common practice in the DIY keyboard community for ages to have exposed PCBs.

[@shroomroyalty]

I have another device with an exposed PCB (through-hole keyboard) and it's not too bad. It does get dusty but like once a month you just wipe a dry cloth over it and no issues. Or you can blow on it now and then. It doesn't attract too much unless you ignore it for a long time. Some boards have covers they sell but I can't find one for the GP2040.

[@Chris_F]

I was worried about that myself when I first got the controller, but I tried using a feather duster to clean it and that seemed to keep it clear of dust. One of the main features of this controller is that the PCB can be replaced easily and inexpensively in case something goes wrong. You could also remove the PCB and store it in a box when not in use if you’re really concerned about dust build-up. Thanks for watching!

[@gwen9939]

The price seems fair, lower than I expected from a company that is known for premium sticks. I'm a fan of a lot of the decisions in regards to number of buttons and their placements(Haute's usually have way too many and some of them use 30mm which are too big for me), with the only thing holding me back is the height of the buttons. I'm not even coming from low-profile buttons, but just traditional 24mm arcade buttons, and on normal leverless layout it adds a bit of room between them so it's very easy to quickly piano tap a button using 2 fingers instead of one, but the way these buttons look it looks like that's kind of hard to do without accidentally hitting a button on a row lower. Since I have no way of trying it before buying and I'd have to have it shipped overseas it might be too big of a gamble for that price.

[@Chris_F]

I double tap with 2 fingers a lot but I don’t have any issues with that on this. Thanks for watching!

[@RonRon0110]

Man ive been looking for something just like the wasd style one of course i find this after release and its sold out I really hope they restock 😭

[@Chris_F]

Not out of stock, preorders didn’t open yet. They go up for preorder this weekend!

[@RonRon0110]

That's awesome to hear!! Is their somewhere they will post once they go up for preorder?

[@Chris_F]

@RonRon0110 not sure, check their website and Twitter

[@Spathinator]

really not sure how i feel about that exposed hotswappable PCB would rather have a clean incased look or have it underneath.

[@Ghostdoge]

Hi Chris, I just got mine. Its awesome. I keep hitting the small button next to jump accidentally. Do you know if there is a way to disable that one button? I can't seem to figure it out or if that is even possible. Cheers.

[@Chris_F]

Definitely possible! I have a pin mapping guide on my KZbin channel, check that out and just disable that one button in the settings

[@Ghostdoge]

@@Chris_F sweet, sorry I missed it. Should of look better. Thank you.

[@affinity601]

Haute42 gang coming in with the budget values. But honestly thing looks sleek af

[@Chris_F]

Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with either and it’s really going to come down to small personal preferences to find the one you like the most. This controller is beautiful for sure

[@affinity601]

@@Chris_Ffull profile switches is pretty huge at least. Gateron unicorns, oreo milks or other fancy and expensive switches feel fantastic in these things. That the only thing i didnt like about the haute42 but at least with the haute im not switches my switches every month

[@Chris_F]

@affinity601 I’m REALLY down to try some gaterons but I’m currently running Durock Splash Brothers keys since they’re only 1mm. Waiting for my punk workshop 0.5mm keys to come in

[@affinity601]

@@Chris_F ooo yeah thats a really fast board. If you do want to try gaterons and want fast switches, gateron silver pro 3.0s are awesome and super smooth :D

[@xAutmnx]

While the design is very attractive, and the innovations tasteful, I think having exposed contacts on your PCB like that doesn't bring a lot of confidence. A small caddy to cover the unit would definitely be appreciated from a buyers standpoint. The price is also a little steep compared to the competition, although there is definitely an argument that this unit is doing things that others simply aren't; which would be entirely true. Looking forward to seeing opinions on this as it comes out and then over time as people use it in practical settings.

[@Chris_F]

I’ve been loving it but I’m curious to see what the general consensus is a few months down the road

[@arsonne]

Looks so cool. I just don't love the rimless buttons with gigantic gaps between the surface and button cap. This style must be cheaper or something because it's on most leverless sticks but it's just not for me.

[@jackipiegg]

Will you review the one on ali that has 2 analog thumbsticks at the bottom?

[@Chris_F]

What’s the name?

[@jackipiegg]

@@Chris_F RUYI BOX

[@Un1234l]

How do you feel about the 25 mm buttons compared to the 30 mm buttons on other controllers? How does the Noir (or whatever) layout compare to Viewlix or Astro City in your opinion?

[@Chris_F]

I answer this in the review

[@fighting1fefnir]

The thing I keep coming back to is, what is this doing that a Haute42 isn't for like half the price? They're both gp2040 boards, they run the same firmware, so what's supposed to sell me on this aside from the cutout for the wingman board and taller, less comfortable buttons?

[@frankf1509]

The lighting appears better; hot-swappable pcb; full profile switches allows for far more options regarding button-feel (if you don't like the taller profile, fair enough but nevertheless); convenient killswitch for the additional buttons and inset USB so your brooks doesn't get sheared off, to name a few reasons. Asking price seems OK, not great, but options are good!

[@fighting1fefnir]

@@frankf1509 I agree that the lighting looks better and key profile is a taste thing, but the buttons on the top of the Haute42 at least on my M16 normal and Pro are pretty small and hard to hit by accident. I don't really feel like I would need that lockout switch at all if they'd gone with a lower profile for those three buttons so they're just harder to hit on accident in the first place. I'm also not really sure why I'd want to hotswap gp2040 boards if I can just save multiple profiles and use a function button to swap between them on the fly. I guess it helps repairability, but at the same time I feel like I'd only need to repair this *because* the board is exposed and more likely to get bumped and broken. I love the notch for the wingman and I've lost a couple from the exact issue it solves, but aside from that and some pretty colors, I don't really feel like this one's doing it for me.

[@lamMeTV]

yea I thought that its missing the left pinky button oh well

[@Chris_F]

Personally I don’t like using my left pinky so I was happy with this layout

[@affinity601]

As someone who waited in line at evo vegas for 3 hours to get a paradise arcade mpress… fuck waiting at evo vegas lmao. I live in vegas and this event blows

[@elbaeee]

Since they keys are hotswap would low profile switches work on it?

[@Chris_F]

Haven’t tried low profile ones yet myself, but they will need to have the same connector pins as a full-profile cherry mx

[@feifonglong4321]

are the buttons bigger than 24mm sanwas?

[@khanhhuynh5451]

Can the thumb button be set as action?

[@Chris_F]

Yes!

[@johnsnow228]

My question: how moddable are the switches? Stock gamerfinger switches don’t let you use ANY switches. Only silvers. The rest don’t fit 100% and the buttons come out during gaming. Can you confirm for me I could use custom switches like tangerine C2? Or other popular high end pc keyboard switches?

[@Chris_F]

I show this in the review. Any key switch that has the same connector pins as a cherry mx will work afaik

[@Darksid3c3]

I don't recommend to use any of those buttons you will hate it like me try to get one with rings thank me later

[@CatAficionado]

Sold out...

[@Takeshita_Sakakaki]

did you watch the video cause they're not for sale until after EVO

[@CatAficionado]

@@Takeshita_Sakakaki This is youtube, of course I didn't watch the video.