What is the SteelSeries Stratus?
The SteelSeries Stratus is the first wireless controller for iPhones and iPads that uses Apple's new official iOS 7 controller mappings. Because of this is offers much better compatibility than any former iOS game controller.
It's likely to cost around £80 in the UK. Is it worth the cash?
SteelSeries Stratus – Design and Features
Designed for portability rather than absolute ergonomic joy, the Steel Series Stratus gamepad is small, somewhere between half and two-thirds the size of a standard console controller. It's light, it comes in either white or black shades (to match your iPad), and is wires-free.
This is a Bluetooth controller that hooks up to your iPhone or iPad just like any other Bluetooth accessory. There's a Bluetooth sync button on the bottom, where it can be quickly forgotten once you're setup. SteelSeries claims the Stratus offers around 10 hours of battery life, making it about as long-lasting as an iPad. 
The Stratus's size does take a little bit of getting used to, as your hands can feel a little cramped grasping such a little controller. But unless you want a controller that is effectively not portable, you either have to live with a smaller pad or one that your phone/iPad slots into – which rarely looks good.
Typical of a gaming geek company like SteelSeries, the Stratus squeezes in lots of controls. You get two analogue stick, a D-pad, four face buttons and two sets of shoulder buttons up top.
This gives the SteelSeries scope to handle everything from console-style first-person shooters to breezy casual games and retro platformers. It's the real deal.
We tried twin stick shooter Minigore with the SteelSeries Stratus, and the experience was great – no discernable lag and good feedback from the analogue sticks, which have a little bit of give to them. And while the face buttons aren't quite up to the standard of the Xbox One and PS4 controllers (predictably), they do not feel cheap. The controller is quite light, though, a clear sign that SteelSeries is trying to balance bring able to take the thing with you with making it feel well-made.
As well as the controller, the Stratus comes with a clip-on plastic shell that protects the sticks and buttons from damage should you throw the thing carelessly in a bag. 
SteelSeries Stratus – Compatibility and Problems
The real selling point of the SteelSeries Stratus is that it is one of the first pads to use Apple's own controller mappings. In the past, pads like this have used third-party systems that offered limited support, and developer interest that generally waned in the months following the release of a new gamepad.
Support for these new Apple mappings is in its early stages, but it's already better than most of these former third-party systems. Plus, that handfuls of accessories will be made using Apple mappings should help cement developer support long-term, and not just from curious indie devs that like the idea. 
The SteelSeries Stratus seems like a success to us. It looks good, feels pretty good and works as you'd hope. However, there are a few issues.
As a separate controller, it works best with an iPad, but you'll need somewhere to rest your iPad in a TV-like position for it to be enjoyable. It's just a case of choosing the right case, but it's not something the Stratus itself gets involved in. And there's still a big premium to pay here.
You pay twice the price of an Xbox One or PS4 controller for something that's less technologically advanced – and we imagine many people will find that hard to swallow. 
Early Impressions
The SteelSeries Stratus is a great little controller in most respects. It looks good, feels good and works well. However – like its 'non-official' predecessors – it is a bit expensive to cause an iOS gaming revolution.
Next, read our Logitech Powershell preview
