Beitong Zeus 2 Elite Review: Worth the 'Elite' Tax?

Almost instantly, the Xbox Elite Series 2, the SCUF controller series, or, more recently, the DualSense Edge come to mind when I think of professional controllers. Additionally, you can switch to something like the Xbox Elite Core range if you reduce the functionality. However, what if you're not merely seeing the well-known figures here? What if you want complete customization, right down to the buttons?

With no restrictions on what they might say, Beitong kindly sent their Zeus 2 controller over for review, indicating they had the right idea. Let's check to see if it's worth the money. Could you use the Zeus 2 as an endgame controller?

Beitong Zeus 2 Elite Specs

Since there are many specifications, I will keep it brief and easy to read.

  • Sticks and Triggers: Hall-Effect, 3x Stick Height, 2x Trigger Distance Settings
  • Face Buttons: 4 Modules: Optical Microswitch, Mechanical Clicky, Membrane, and Optical(for Switch)
  • D-Pad: Clicky (4 total options for replacements)
  • Extra Features: M1-M6 on back, togglable Gyro, 3.5mm Jack
  • Battery: 1000mAh
  • Polling Rate: Up to 1000hz
  • Connectivity: Wired/Bluetooth/2.4ghz
  • Compatibility: Switch/PC/iOS/Android
  • Weight: 302 grams

Ergonomics

I wanted to get the feel out of the way first because the control testing portion of this look would take longer. First, the Zeus 2's in-hand feel is quite similar to that of the Xbox controller, which is fortunate for me because that controller is still among the most comfortable ones I've seen in use. Every button is positioned within my fingers' reach and is quite simple. M5 and M6 are omitted.

These are positioned between the shoulder and trigger button areas on the controller. I feel like I will squeeze the shoulder buttons to push these when using them. Ultimately, I would map them to something you don't use frequently. However, M1–M4 are still easily accessible.

The rubbery texture on the back of the grips is my main criticism of the feel of the hand. I'm always worried that this kind of rubber will deteriorate and wear out with time. I'm concerned about durability but haven't tested it for over a week, so I can't draw firm conclusions.

Control Testing

Triggers

This is the most effortless control to start a conversation with right away. The Zeus 2's triggers are incredibly reliable. They have considerable movement and need a fair amount of force to travel down, making racing in Forza Horizon 4 a delight. I don't need to worry too much about getting enough distance to tell the difference between nothing and full power. However, getting from one to the other is simple and quick.

Minimizing their distance was also helpful in other games; in AK-lot, it was simple to fire quickly at foes, but that's merely nice.

D-pad and Face Buttons

I had the most significant testing issues with this one. I ran my Celeste gamut 12 times using four different D-pads and four different face button modules. The switch face buttons were identical to the optical ones, that's why. What is the consensus, then? Let's begin with the positive.

The three alternatives for the face button are all good. The optical buttons are even louder when they click in, the mechanical buttons are light and clicky, and the membranes are stiff. The mechanical ones, however, were my favorites as they adequately alerted me when I pressed buttons. However, I would be content if forced to choose one of these.

The less-than-ideal comes next. The metal cross was my favorite option among the D-pad possibilities. Shield D-pads aren't my thing, but the plastic one is my choice. The diagonals are the main issue I have with the D-pad. I had no trouble with lower diagonals, but during my Celeste runs, I especially had trouble with up and left diagonals. Increasing my effort to concentrate on the direction I was pressing did help, but it never fixed the problem.

My most excellent run was with the metal D-pad with optical face buttons, which ended at just under 3:25 with 10 deaths. All 12 of my runs fell between 3:30 and 4:00. This is probably the only significant issue with the controller, but it shouldn't be the deciding factor.

Sticks

Another element that required additional testing for me to understand is the sticks. The left and right sticks on the Zeus 2 include short, medium, and long stick options. The medium stick was the most helpful on the left side of my AK-lot test, while the short stick worked well on the right. Similar to the triggers, I had no problems with these. After a while, I discovered that they added enough grip to make the experience enjoyable, even though the texture on top was initially strange.

Extra Features

I want to highlight two other features on this controller that are primarily PC-focused. Mouse mode is activated by pressing the FN button on the controller's bottom. This lets you control the scroll wheel with the right stick and the cursor with the left stick. Although it's a good add-on, I suggest adjusting the sensitivity with the accompanying program.

The enormous AI button on the front is the other. Although AI is a valuable tool for rapidly accessing a few things, I don't particularly appreciate its use in gadgets that don't need it. There are buttons for screen capture and game recording, as well as for just opening the companion app from any location. Although I have left it as the default, it is changeable. At this price, it's just a good addition to a controller.

Final Thoughts

The Beitong Zues 2 Elite controller is in a different class. The user experience can be customized in every way: a different D-pad, longer sticks, or buttons with fewer clicky faces. Nearly everything functions flawlessly right out of the box, and in contrast to most controllers, I discovered that I needed to use the optional software.

You're comparable to those professional controllers I mentioned earlier, with a selling price of $140. This is far more customizable than other options and more affordable than a DualSense Edge. It's a great choice if you can get it for about $100 during their Cyber Monday Deal.

The main advantage of customization is the capacity to fix this item. If a button breaks, you only have to replace the entire item—the module. Although it won't survive forever, it's a controller worth having for the time being.