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(NOTE: Review unit provided by MOJHON for testing and evaluation.)
Aether (noun): The ancient Greek personification of the clear upper air of the sky.
The company formerly known as BigBig Won, MOJHON’s new product, the Aether Wireless Controller, has already made an early impact with its features and options at a budget price point, but is it a breath of fresh air or just a breeze on a dull afternoon?
What’s in the box:
- Aether Controller
- 2.4g Dongle
- Support Card
The Mighty Aether
At first glance, the Aether appears simple, showcasing an off-white color with silver wind designs, but appearances can be deceiving. This seemingly simple aesthetic conceals a powerful hurricane.
A small 0.98-inch wide screen lets you set up your controller in real-time without needing software (you still require the MOJHON App for firmware updates). Your options include Config, Modes, Language, Pair, Light, and Info. These options allow you to adjust settings such as joystick deadzone, button mapping, switching from Xinput to Nintendo Switch mode, language selection, pairing mode, screen brightness, and viewing information, including a QR code to access the manual.
The Aether includes many standard features typically found in more expensive controllers, such as Hall effect joysticks and analog triggers. These features make this controller resistant to drift and allow for precise inputs. The triggers can also be configured in hair-trigger mode, making this controller an excellent option for racing games and first-person shooters.
MOJHON achieved a polling rate of 1000Hz in both wireless and wired modes. I tested the controller and found that the maximum rate in wireless mode was 1000Hz, with an average polling rate of 932.84Hz and a stability of 93.28%.
The numbers were impressive in wired mode: a maximum rate of 1000Hz, an average polling rate of 991.08Hz, and 99.11% stability.
This controller features membrane ABXY buttons along with a sturdy mechanical D-Pad button. I could easily execute various combos in Mortal Kombat 1 using this device. The entire button layout is as follows:
- ABXY buttons
- Home button
- Start button
- Select button
- D-Pad button
- Function button
- Left and Right bumper buttons
- Left and Right triggers
- M1 and M2 back buttons
Using the Aether was effortless across various game genres, from shooters to indie and fighting games. The controller was very stable, and as mentioned earlier, its concave D-pad excelled with combos.
Connectivity
The connection was remarkably stable, thanks to its ceramic antenna. You can connect the Aether to the following devices:
- Windows 10 and 11 PC
- Nintendo Switch
- iOS devices
- Android devices
Drawbacks
The Aether boasts many features found in other, more expensive controllers, making it an indispensable device. Some issues might be minor, but I’ll address them.
I noticed no indication of whether the controller is on or off. The screen stays active for a few minutes, so you must press the function button to check if the controller is on. Perhaps a light behind the home button could serve as a helpful indicator.
Remember that this is a budget controller, and even with all the fantastic features, I wish there were some extras, like replaceable joysticks and a switchable D-Pad, to convert the 4-way button into a circular design. I enjoy those options, similar to MOJHON’s Blitz 2, but I realize it would increase the price of this controller.
The Aether features mappable buttons that can be configured in real-time. It also allows you to map the M1 and M2 back buttons. I want to create macros for those buttons as well. This could be a fantastic feature for fighting games.
Finally, I attempted to connect the Aether to my Steam Deck, but it didn’t link properly to this console, similar to the Blitz 2. I hope this is feasible because I’d love to use this controller via Bluetooth on my Steam Deck.
Conclusion
The Aether will be launched by the end of April at a retail price of $29.99, with a limited introductory price of $25.49. This positions it among the most feature-rich controllers in its price range. This controller is a must-have thanks to its design, Hall effect joysticks and triggers, interactive screen, and strong connectivity.
Aether Wireless Controller
