Mad Catz Unveils New Standards in Portable Controllers & Keyboards, the L.Y.N.X.3, & the S.U.R.F.R

Android, PC, and Bluetooth.

Back at CES 2015, Mad Catz revealed one of the most impressive and promising mobile controller designs to date, the Mad Catz L.Y.N.X. 9. The L.Y.N.X.9 sports a near modular design which features a collapsible state, two dual grip states (for dual analog use), a gripless state (for classic d-pad style play), a smartphone holding extension, and extending tablet grip, a MHL-based HDMI out, multimedia control, Bluetooth support for PCs and Android platforms, a built-in mouse nub, a full keyboard piece (think chat pad size), and even a mic. The LY.N.X.9 also features aluminum construction.

All of this capability though, comes at hefty price of $299.99. The presentation of the L.Y.N.X.9 (and its price) lead to this very immediate question- How and when would this halo product see a lower-priced model along the same lines?

That day is today. With the announcement of the L.Y.N.X.3, buyers now have a much more affordable option that sports many of the same features as its bigger brother.

The L.Y.N.X.3 brings a collapsible dual analog controller to Android and Windows PCs/tablets. There is detachable (and foldable) mobile clip for affixing a smartphone, which along with the foldable grips and analog sticks, carries on the ergonomic L.Y.N.X. design.

There are also multimedia controls and a rechargable battery life of 30 hours. What's missing when compared with the L.Y.N.X. 9, is the MHL out (which can be added with the solo PlayBig & Charge pack), the aluminum build, the breakout tablet mode, the built mic and mouse, and the keyboard component. And yet at $69.99 with a full complement of or triggers, sticks, and buttons, the L.Y.N.X.3 is almost a no-brainer for anyone looking for an Android or Windows PC mobile controller.

The Mad Catz L.Y.N.X.3 is up for preorder now ahead of the planned May 2015 release.

Speaking of the missing keyboard element, Mad Catz has also announced the full QWERTY keyboard S.U.R.F.R. for use with Android TV, Android Smart Phones, and Amazon TV. The S.U.R.F.R. bundles mouse and keyboard controls with analog sticks, shoulder buttons, a unique A B X Y/D-pad set-up, and extendible grips. There are multimedia controls as well as a mobile clip. (Mouse control is handled through the left analog stick.) The S.U.R.F.R. is powered by two AAA batteries.

The Mad Catz S.U.R.F.R. comes in three colors (black, red, and white), is priced at $79.99, and is available to preorder now ahead of the planned May 2015 release.

Source: Mad Catz