LeadJoy Xeno Plus — Tech-Noir colorway with translucent purple accents

There's a new player in town that I've been tracking for a while, and they just officially kicked off pre-orders. The brand is LeadJoy, and their first major swing at a dedicated controller — the Xeno Plus — just finished a year of development with a very successful launch.

You might be wondering: "Why get hyped for a brand I've never heard of?" The answer is simple: pedigree. The R&D team behind LeadJoy are industry veterans. If you've heard of the Rainbow 2 Pro or the Blitz 2 from BIGBIG WON (now Mojhon), then you know exactly the kind of FPS-focused performance these guys are capable of. This is essentially their spiritual successor.

First Look & Ergonomics: Lightweight is King

The aesthetic is a clean "Tech-Noir" vibe — mostly black with beautiful translucent purple accents on the sticks, menu buttons, and triggers. It looks premium without being "gamer-tacky."

Thin shell profile, reminiscent of the BIGBIG WON Blitz 2

Weight & Grip

At 233g, going back to the Apex 5 after using the Xeno Plus feels like picking up a literal brick. For long, competitive sessions, this lightweight profile is a huge advantage for reducing wrist fatigue. The grip itself hits that sweet spot — a unique "sticky" granularity on the triggers and back buttons that feels secure without feeling like sandpaper.

Fit & Shell

The shell is relatively thin, reminiscent of the Blitz 2. I have smaller hands, so it feels incredibly nimble to me. If you have XL hands, your mileage may vary — but for the "claw" or "fingertip" grip crowd, this is a fantastic form factor.

How It Compares to an Xbox Series Controller

A lot of folks in the GadgetHyper Discord have been asking about this — and some have flagged concerns about the size. Fair question, so let's address it directly. The Xeno Plus is noticeably smaller and flatter than a standard Xbox Series controller. It's not a dramatic difference, but it's real and it's intentional. The reduced depth and narrower grip circumference are by design — this is a controller built for speed and low-fatigue sessions, not for filling a large palm.

If you're coming from an Xbox controller and have average to large hands, there will be an adjustment period. Most players adapt within a session or two. If you have smaller hands or prefer a tighter, more nimble grip, you may never want to go back.

Xeno Plus vs. Xbox Series controller — the Xeno Plus is visibly slimmer and slightly shorter in grip depth

The Buttons: Tight & Tactile

The ABXY buttons use a microswitch structure. The contact surface is slightly larger than your average controller, which makes them feel very stable. No "wobble" or travel issues here — it's a crisp, "tight" click that doesn't feel like you're pressing your finger against a wall.

Microswitch ABXY with enlarged contact surface for stability

Adaptive Triggers

You can toggle between Hall Effect linear and Microswitch digital modes via a physical switch. Both feel solid, and the upward curve of the trigger keeps your fingers from slipping. A genuinely useful dual-mode implementation.

Back Buttons

They've gone with a 4-button horizontal layout (similar to the Gale or Huben 2). LeadJoy improved the surface area and added better grip dots. The outer buttons (R5/L5) are full microswitches and feel great. The inner ones (R4/L4) are not — worth noting if you live on your back buttons. That said, it's the best version of this layout I've tried.

L5 / L4 / R4 / R5 — outer pair are full microswitches

The Tech: TMR Sticks & The 1000Hz Debate

This is where the Xeno Plus wins the price-to-performance war.

TMR vs. Hall Effect

If you're an FPS nerd, you know TMR is the current gold standard for precision and durability. The stick material itself also feels "grippier" than standard sticks — a big plus for micro-adjustments in games like Helldivers 2 or Apex Legends.

Polling Rate: Quality Over Numbers

It supports 1000Hz. I know we're seeing brands claim 2000Hz or even 8000Hz lately — but diminishing returns are very real. The software algorithm LeadJoy brought over from their BIGBIG WON days is rock solid. I'd take a stable 1000Hz with good jitter management over a "fake" 8000Hz any day of the week.

JS13 Pro TMR sensors — delivering pro-grade stick precision at a budget price point

The Reality Check

No controller at this price is perfect. Here's the full picture:

Note: This is a first-impressions piece based on 48 hours with the unit — not a full long-term review. Durability and wireless performance will be covered in a follow-up.