Asus ROG Tessen review: brilliant mobile FPS performance

TechRadar Verdict

The Asus ROG Tessen is a formidable mobile controller that offers a compact, foldable design with some fantastic-feeling inputs. Its hard-wearing metal elements and pleasant RGB lighting improve the overall design, though the lack of iOS compatibility and occasionally uncomfortable grips hold it back.

Compact, foldable design

Excellent triggers

Pleasantly tactile face buttons

Attractive RGB

Durable metal rear paddles

Angular grips can be uncomfortable

Android only

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Asus ROG Tessen: Two-minute review

The Asus ROG Tessen is an excellent mobile controller that’s well-suited for FPS gaming in spite of some small setbacks. Its overall design is mostly superb, with durable metal rear paddles and a unique folding mechanism that makes it even easier to take on the go. Its tactile face buttons and d-pad are satisfying to use, though the latter is definitely better suited for fast-paced competitive games than any retro titles or traditional platformers, even if it is on par with the feel of some of thebest PC controllers.

While not utilizingHall effect technology, its thumbsticks perform well and the triggers are a highlight - delivering a quick but satisfying motion that makes every match ofCall of Duty: Warzone Mobilethat much more enjoyable. Throw in some pretty RGB lighting (which is unfortunately controlled by a rather underwhelming app) and compatibility with most mobile phone cases and you have a very strong overall package.

Even so, there are a few areas with room for improvement. The more angular design of its grips won’t be for everyone and I found that they could often be a little uncomfortable during longer sessions, digging into the palms of my hands. It’s by no means the worst, but it is one of the few areas where the comparableBackbone One 2nd Gentakes a clear lead.

There’s also the fact that the Asus ROG Tessen only officially supports Android despite being a wired USB-C controller. I’m sure there’s some nitty gritty technical reason why this is the case, but it’s still disappointing now thatiPhone 15(and sooniPhone 16) series phones use the connector standard. The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones is also a notable, and mildly annoying, omission. Hopefully, a small hardware revision will be able to remedy these complaints in the future.

Overall, the Asus ROG Tessen is still remarkably close to being a best-in-class mobile controller at its price range. If you’re willing to look past these few minor frustrations, it offers a very capable and enjoyable mobile gaming experience.

Asus ROG Tessen: Price and availability

The Asus ROG Tessen costs $109.99 / £109.99 / AU$179 and is available directly from Asus or at online retailers such asAmazon. It comes in slightly more expensive than the Backbone One 2nd Gen which costs $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99. This price seems quite fair given the additional features found on the Asus ROG Tessen though, such as the rear paddles and folding mechanism.

That said, this controller does not offer any iOS support, so those who often switch devices would be better off saving the cash and picking up a Backbone One 2nd Gen instead. I would also recommend that those who can stretch for the $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95Razer Kishi Ultrado so, as that controller is significantly more comfortable, offers iOS support, and features Hall effect components - though loses in terms of portability due to its much larger size.

Asus ROG Tessen: Specs

Asus ROG Tessen: Design and features

Much of the Asus ROG Tessen looks and feels premium. It has a very similar design to most telescopic mobile controllers, though with the addition of two hinges on its extending portion. These allow the controller to be folded cleanly in two for greater portability. As a result, I had no trouble fitting the Asus ROG Tessen in a rucksack and could even cram it into the large pockets of my cargo jeans. Despite its compact form factor, there’s still plenty of space for a full phone case when you’re using the controller which is very convenient.

It is a tad unfortunate that, due to the orientation of the mechanism, the thumbsticks are left sticking out when the controller is folded, making it easy to catch them on your bag if you’re not careful.

The controller has pleasantly springy triggers with a good level of travel and shoulder buttons that are clicky and responsive. Thumbsticks are on the smaller side and have little friction, though I found them to be smooth and perfectly comfortable to use. The face buttons and d-pad are mechanical with a very pronounced tactile click. They’re enjoyable to press and the shallow travel distance of the d-pad is ideal for quickly organizing your gear in a battle royale likeCall of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

It’s not perfect in games that require extensive use of the d-pad for movement, though, and I soon found myself missing the softer, more spongy d-pad of the Backbone One 2nd Gen after a few hours ofDead Cells. On the back of the controller, you’ll find two rear paddles, both made of aluminum and sporting a pleasant grippy texture. They’re easy to press and well-positioned and the use of metal gives them a more premium feel.

In addition to the standard home, menu, and start buttons, the Asus ROG Tessen features a dedicated button to open the Armoury Crate software. This is, unfortunately, extremely basic, with an ugly UI and few features beyond button remapping and the ability to configure the bright RGB strips located on the bottom of each grip. These lighting elements, on top of a few subtle printed graphics and plenty of different textures, lend the controller quite a distinctive aesthetic - which is appreciated.

Asus ROG Tessen: Performance

The Asus ROG Tessen is a fantastic fit for fast-paced games, particularly first-person shooter (FPS) titles. I was impressed with its snappy responsiveness in bothCall of Duty: Warzone MobileandCall of Duty Mobile. The use of a wired connection also eliminates any potential latency and facilitates pass-through charging via a USB-C port on the bottom of the right-hand grip.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the thumbsticks, which have more than enough motion for navigating tight corners inAsphalt Legends Uniteand power through dungeons inZenless Zone Zero.

As previously mentioned, the d-pad is very shallow so can be quite harsh on your fingers if you’re playing very d-pad-centric titles. In addition to native games, the Asus ROG Tessen performed well when it came to cloud gaming, with full compatibility withAmazon LunaandXbox Cloud Gaming.

The rear paddles are easy to reach and can be fully customized through a range of possible inputs. My only real complaint with the Asus ROG Tessen is that the very angular shape of its grips can be uncomfortable over extended playing sessions. Spending a few long train journeys with the controller, I found that they uncomfortably dug into the palms of my hands after just a few hours which wasn’t ideal.

This won’t be a problem if you intend to play in shorter bursts, but could be a very compelling reason to choose another product if you love to pour hours into mobile games at a time.

Should I buy the Asus ROG Tessen?

Buy it if…

You value FPS performanceWith its lovely tactile buttons and handy remappable rear paddles, the ASUS Rog Tessen is a great fit for playing fast-paced FPS games on your phone.

You want some premium featuresAlthough similarly priced to the Backbone One 2nd Gen, the Asus ROG Tessen sports some premium features like RGB lighting and its remappable rear inputs.

Don’t buy it if…

You play for very long periodsThe biggest issue with the Asus ROG Tessen is its quite angular grips, which can be uncomfortable over long play sessions. Consider an alternative like the Razer Kishi Ultra if you want to game for hours with ease.

Also consider

Not fully sold on the Asus ROG Tessen? Here are two very strong alternatives to consider.

Backbone One 2nd GenThe Backbone One 2nd Gen is a small revision of the original Backbone One design. Like the Asus Rog Tessen, it’s compatible with most phone cases but has more comfortable grips and offers iOS support.

Read our fullBackbone One 2nd Gen review

Razer Kishi UltraThe Razer Kishi Ultra is the definitive mobile controller if you have the budget. Incredibly comfortable with full-size console controls, RGB lighting, rumble effects, and more, it’s easily the leader in the mobile controller space.

Read our fullRazer Kishi Ultra review

How I tested the Asus ROG Tessen

I tested the Asus ROG Tessen for over a month, using it as my main Android gaming controller. I paired the controller with aSamsung S23 Plusand played a wide variety of games. This included native mobile titles likeCall of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Vampire Survivors, Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition, Diablo Immortal, Asphalt Legends Unite, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact,and more.

I also tried the controller with various game streaming services, such as Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming. On Amazon Luna, I playedWatch Dogs Legion,Mighty Switch Force Collection, River City Girls,andStar Wars Outlawswhile Xbox Cloud Gaming saw me enjoy a few hours ofForza Horizon 5.

During my time with the controller I relied on a pair ofBeats Solo 4andBeats Studio Buds+headphones for audio and compared my playing experience with my hands-on testing of many other mobile controllers such as the Backbone One 2nd Gen,Turtle Beach Atom,Scuf Nomad, andRazerKishi Ultra.

TechRadar Verdict#

Asus ROG Tessen: Two-minute review#

Asus ROG Tessen: Price and availability#

Asus ROG Tessen: Specs#

Asus ROG Tessen: Design and features#

Asus ROG Tessen: Performance#

Should I buy the Asus ROG Tessen?#

Buy it if…#

Don’t buy it if…#

Also consider#

How I tested the Asus ROG Tessen#