LEADJOY Saber Plus Review: Symmetrical TMR Performance on a Budget
GadgetHyper Team
June 17, 2026 · LEADJOY · Saber Plus
Hey everyone, Ray here from GadgetHyper! Following the massive success of their first breakout hit, the Xeno Plus, the team at LEADJOY is striking while the iron is hot. They've just dropped their latest weapon for competitive FPS players: the LEADJOY Saber Plus.
What's wild is the pricing strategy. LEADJOY launched the Saber Plus at the exact same $59.99 USD price tag as the Xeno Plus, sharing a very similar spec sheet on paper. At first glance, it looks like a brand competing with itself. Why do that?
After getting my hands on it for an initial test run, I realized what's actually happening. LEADJOY isn't trying to replace the Xeno — they are listening to a very specific, passionate niche of the gaming community. Here are my honest, subjective first impressions of the Saber Plus.
LEADJOY Saber Plus — Quick Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 USD |
| Layout | Symmetrical (PlayStation Style) |
| Weight | 230g — Ultra-lightweight |
| Joysticks | JS13 Pro TMR Joysticks |
| Polling Rate | 1000Hz — Wired & 2.4G Wireless |
| Face Buttons | Mechanical Micro-switches |
| Connectivity | Tri-mode — Wired, 2.4G, Bluetooth |
A Symmetrical Love Letter to the DS4
The biggest selling point of the Saber Plus is its physical form factor. This is a pure symmetrical layout controller — and while most modern symmetrical pads try to mimic the bulkier DualSense, the Saber Plus scales things back. It feels incredibly close to a classic PS4 DualShock 4: slim, comfortable, and at just 230g, a true lightweight champion.
"If you are an Apex Legends or CoD player who grew up loving the DS4 mold but always wanted modern pro features, this shape is an instant win."
The front shell has a clean, smooth matte finish, while the back features laser-etched grip textures that keep the controller secure even when your hands sweat during intense clutch moments.
Button Tactility & Trigger Performance
LEADJOY didn't skimp on the action buttons. The ABXY face buttons utilize a mechanical micro-switch structure — beautifully crisp, responsive, and tight with absolutely zero loose play. They aren't obnoxious or overly loud when mashing in a firefight.
The triggers feature a very aggressive upward flare. The sharp angle initially seemed awkward, but because the trigger blades are slightly longer than a standard DualSense trigger, it cradles your fingers perfectly — completely guarding against slippage. Toggle the back switches into zero-deadzone, mouse-click micro-switch mode for instant firing in shooters.
The Ergonomic Quirks
Extra Shoulder Buttons
LEADJOY added two small extra macro buttons next to the bumpers. They lack a smooth ergonomic transition — pretty blocky compared to competitors' sloped designs. A 6-finger or claw grip can feel awkward until you build muscle memory.
The RGB Strobe Effect
When you pull the triggers, the 24-LED RGB rings around the joysticks spin in sync. At maximum pull, this turns into a high-speed strobe that can get tiring for your eyes. Highly recommend tweaking this in the software immediately.
The Dealbreaker Flaw: The Conductive Rubber D-Pad
If there is one major miss on this hardware, it's the D-pad. While the face buttons got the premium mechanical treatment, LEADJOY opted for a traditional conductive rubber D-pad.
⚠️ Honesty Check — D-Pad Limitation
Quiet and perfectly fine for casual or retro gaming, but prone to diagonal misinputs under competitive pressure.
Quickly tapping "Up" to pop a shield cell in Apex can cause a diagonal drift — pulling out a grenade instead.
For a controller explicitly marketed toward competitive esports, a mechanical D-pad should have been standard.
Pro-Grade Joysticks & Software Customization
This is where the Saber Plus completely justifies its existence. It features Ginnsu Gen 2 TMR Joysticks (JS13 Pro), TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) tech gives you the infinite lifespan of Hall Effect sensors — but with significantly lower power consumption and higher precision.
It feels incredibly buttery smooth, delivering a true 1000Hz polling rate over both wired and 2.4G wireless connections with native 12-bit resolution.
Software Customization Depth
500-step macro programming — build complex input chains for any genre.
8-point Bezier curve adjustments for fully custom stick response profiles.
AI anti-deadzone curves to unify the camera feel across different games.
What is RC Filtering? (And Why You Should Try It)
If you're plugged into the competitive controller scene, you've probably heard of RC Filtering. It's a massive talking point right now, and the Saber Plus includes it right out of the box.
What It Does
RC Filtering is an algorithmic layer that alters how stick data jitters, heavily optimizing how a game processes your raw inputs. It makes your micro-adjustments feel incredibly responsive — and it makes the Saber Plus's 1000Hz polling rate feel every bit as competitive as the 8000Hz marketing hype running rampant in 2026.
It is absolutely a must-try if you want to experience total raw stick responsiveness.
ALGS & Tournament Safety Note
Because RC Filtering manipulates raw input data to maximize native in-game aim assist, it is highly controversial and currently banned in official pro tournaments like the ALGS. If you're concerned about compliance, LEADJOY provides an official ALGS-compliant firmware download. Flashing this version completely disables the algorithmic tweaks, letting you enjoy the pure TMR hardware safely in any regulated environment.
Final Verdict
One of the Best Budget Competitive Controllers Available Today
Keep in mind, this is just my initial hands-on impression, not a 100-hour durability report. But for $59.99, the LEADJOY Saber Plus delivers an incredible package: premium Gen 2 TMR joysticks, a legendary lightweight symmetrical shape, and elite-tier software customization.
If you can overlook the conductive rubber D-pad and the blocky extra shoulder buttons, this stands out as one of the strongest budget picks in the competitive controller space right now.
Join the Conversation
Does a lightweight PS4 shape with TMR joysticks sound like your next daily driver?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below — and if you've already tried the Saber Plus, drop your RC Filtering settings too. Let's talk tech!
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.