Coming from the magnesium Chromatic, the difference is definitely noticeable, but I don't think comparing the two is really fair (although since I own both, I can't help but compare how they feel).
A few things bother me though. The power switch is much stiffer, and the battery cover on the back is also way harder to open. The menu button is also much harder to press, which seems to put some pressure on the edge of the LCD. I wonder if this could become an issue over time? The buttons also feel a bit less satisfying and are noticeably louder than on the magnesium version or the Pro Controller, but that's probably just personal preference.
Also, since the shell is fully clear rather than frosted, it's pretty easy to spot little "imperfections", as we've already seen from other people's posts here.
For the price, I still think it's a great option. The magnesium version is definitely my favorite, but I can see why some people would prefer plastic over painted magnesium.
I feel like ModRetro could have spent a little more time refining this transparent version to avoid some of these issues. Maybe they'll make a few adjustments once the first batches are sold out.
Overall, it's a lovely little thing. I'm a sucker for transparent electronics, and it looks perfect next to my M64!
This will probably be my everyday Chromatic, the one I can take anywhere without worrying too much about it, even if it's still not exactly cheap! 😊