Surely every gamer had a situation where some interesting toy came out on a PC, but only the controls in it were not very well implemented, and running a character with a mouse and keyboard is not very convenient. Or, for example, well-known fighting games: Street Figther, Tekken, Mortal Kombat. Playing these games using the keyboard is very inconvenient, and any combo attacks and crown moves are also difficult to perform. Another thing is to replace the keyboard and mouse with a gamepad and completely immerse yourself in the gaming atmosphere, forgetting about poor management.
Choosing a good gamepad is not as easy as it seems at first glance, especially when there are so many of them on the market. In today's review, we will consider one of, though not new, but still the most popular models - Logitech Wireless Gamepad F710, which is sold in many computer stores at a very affordable price.
Description
Logitech F710 was released back in 2010 and, in fact, is the older "brother" of the F310 model. Both gamepads are almost similar, but still the 710 has some differences, for example, the presence of a vibration motor, wireless operation, colorization, etc.
Both models have become very popular among not only beginner gamers, but also ordinary gamers. Perhaps this is what became the main reason for Logitech not to stop production after almost 8 years from the date of release, but, on the contrary, to continue it.
Equipment
The gamepad comes in a transparent plastic blister, which does not open so easily. The first thing that catches your eye is the inscription on the green background "Logitech Wireless Gamepad F710" and, of course, the gamepad itself. Considering the packaging does not make much sense, so let's move on to packaging.
In the package, in addition to the gamepad, there is a nanoreceiver, a USB extension cable for the receiver, instructions and other documents, a disk with drivers and additional software and two Durasel finger batteries (surprisingly, the manufacturer immediately put them in the kit). Actually, that’s all, so you can move on to appearance.
Appearance
Externally, the Logitech Gamepad F710 looks good, although a bit rustic. The material from which the gamepad is made is a good and high-quality plastic. Moreover, the upper part has a matte finish, which, of course, is a plus. But the sides and the bottom of the gamepad got a rubberized coating, which allows you to comfortably hold the manipulator even during intense play, when the palms sweat.
Below is the battery compartment, which is hidden behind a removable cover.
Well, in conclusion, it is worth saying about the coloring. Initially, the manufacturer released a gamepad in three colors: white, silver and black. Today, the model is more often found only in silver color, which slightly spoils the appearance.
Controls
Logitech F710 has standard controls that can be found on absolutely any gamepad. So, on top of the left side is the D-pad, which has 8 control positions (top, bottom, left, right and 4 diagonals).
Further in the middle you can see 4 buttons: "Back", "Start", "Vibration", "Mode".
On the right are 4 buttons that are responsible for actions in games - A, B, X, Y. They are painted in different colors, like the Xbox gamepad. Well, of course, do not forget about two sticks that have a nice coating with a fine pattern for genuine leather. They are controlled very easily and freely, and their location is copied, apparently, from the classic Dualshock from Sony Playstation. In general, if you connect gamepads from Sony and Microsoft, you get exactly Logitech F710, because the controls and their location are borrowed from these two models.
And the last buttons that stayed here are the triggers. They are located on the back of the gamepad and fall exactly under the index fingers. Between the triggers there is also a small XInput / DirectInput switch.
In general, all control elements have a good, smooth ride and are in place. Ergonomics - 5 points.
Connection
There were no problems connecting Logitech F710 to Windows 10. The system automatically recognizes the model and installs the driver itself. You can, of course, install software and drivers from the supplied disk, but there is no special need for this. The gamepad works through a wireless module that connects to a PC. The signal is clear and good, there are no delays in actions.
Reviews
As for the reviews on the Logitech F710, there are a lot of them, which is not surprising, since the model has been produced since 2010. The main disadvantages, users consider not very convenient sticks, since the finger strives to jump off them.
The second minus is that the rubberized coating is covered after 4-5 years of use. And the last - some have problems with drivers - they constantly fly off. The problem is manifested in users of Windows 8 and 10.
Price and conclusion
Logitech F710 is an excellent gamepad that will definitely please its owner for a very long time. It has good ergonomics, the gamepad fits perfectly in the hand, and the buttons have a good, clear move. The F710 has very few disadvantages, for which he received popular love.
As for the price, today this model can be bought from 2600 rubles and above. It is worth saying that the price tag is extremely overpriced - even 2-3 years ago the F710 was sold in stores for 1600-1800 rubles. Buy it now or not, let everyone decide for himself.