| Price | AliExpress |
| Release | December 2023 |
| Compatibility* | PS5 / NS / PC |
| Dimensions | 14.2″ x 9.1″ x 1.1″ |
| Weight | 3.20 lbs |
| Cable | 1.8 m |
Introduction
The “U” in Punk Workshop Leverless U probably stands for “ultra thin” because this controller is quite slim. Its size can be compared to that of a smaller laptop. As for its top, it is held together magnetically for easy removal.
That said, many layouts are available for the Leverless U, and their primary difference is where the L3 & R3 buttons are placed. One of the layouts even has its directional buttons in the WASD format.
The Leverless U’s face buttons can range from 12 to 14 buttons. Needless to say, this controller features the popular Punk Workshop buttons.
Another aspect that is needless to say is that the Leverless U has SOCD cleaning for tournament legality purposes. If you are a tournament player, you are probably interested in this tidbit.
The eight function buttons of the Leverless U are located on the top panel to aid you in battle. Specifically, there are two rows of function buttons comprised of four buttons each.
Unboxing
The Leverless U comes in a snug box that prevents rattling. Once you pop it open, the controller is held in place by two foam housings on each side. Remove the foam to find your beautiful controller in plastic wrapping you can reuse later.
Punk Workshop provides a black USB-C cable that is braided. You may also get a few extra Punk Workshop switches, a switch puller, and a keycap remover.
The most exciting freebies, however, are the adhesive leg pads that actually work. The pads being adhesive means you can adjust their positioning on the bottom panel to ensure that they match the width of your sitting stance, so if you have Wilt Chamberlain legs, you might want to increase the gap between the pads.
That said, you may find the included manual to be too simple for your tech savvy self. In that case, you should be able to scan a QR code for more detailed instructions online.
Performance
The core of the Leverless U’s performance lies within its buttons, which activate faster than average. Can you pull off moves in-game faster that way? Sure, but you may feel less feedback from the buttons when you press them. In this case, you can go for other Punk Workshop buttons that sit taller.
While there is plenty of space for your wrists to rest, Punk Workshop’s choice to make the Leverless U’s top panel sloped is a questionable one. In other words, it does not necessarily make you pull off combos more easily.
Let us end the performance section on a positive note. The function buttons have that optimal size so that they are not too small to press, but they are small enough not to get in the way. Good job, Punk Workshop!
Hardware
One perk about the Leverless U’s size is that you should be able to find a third party sleeve for it. In fact, you may have a laptop or tablet sleeve lying somewhere around your attic that can fit the controller.
With that being said, the star feature of the Leverless U’s hardware is actually the magnetic seal. After you pop open the controller magnetically, you can find the organized interior. We just wish the wires were color coded.
On the bright side, the Leverless U’s interior is so spacious that you can even fit a dongle in there. You may ask: what kind of dongle? The fact of the matter is you can actually insert a dongle to increase the controller’s compatibility.
For compatibility purposes, one option you can go for when ordering the Leverless U is the Brook P5 Plus PCB, which grants you compatibility with PlayStation 5 fighting games, the Nintendo Switch, PC, and more. That is besides Punk Workshop’s own PKB chip that offers less compatibility, although that option is still good to have.
Appearance
Whether you would like your Leverless U in black, white, carbon fiber, or the official Punk Workshop artwork is totally up to you. On the other hand, you can order it with custom art under the acrylic plate as well.
If you decide to add art after ordering the Leverless U, you probably need an Allen key to unscrew some screws and pull this off. Needless to stay, the controller’s design is not entirely screwless.
That being said, we at The Arcade Stick would be happy to provide you custom art. For example, check out this art by our Carlos Martinez for the Leverless M, and he can make custom art for your controller as well:
Before you go, do not sleep on the carbon edition, which also comes in a silver edition. In addition to its beauty, its smaller size may be more convenient for you, but it does have four less function buttons.
Conclusion
The Punk Workshop Leverless U is one of the most unique controllers out there, but it is marred by a hit-or-miss slope.
- Layout options
- Magnetic panels
- Leg pads
- Thin design
- Decent size
- Wrist rest
- Organized interior
- Expandable compatibility
- Braided cable
- Customizable art
- Color options
- Sloped top panel
- Shorter buttons
- Black wiring
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐