| Price | FightBoxArcade |
| Discount Code | THEARCADESTICK |
| Release | Circa November 2022 |
| Compatibility* | PS5 / PC |
| Dimensions | 9.3″ x 4.9″ x 0.7″ |
| Weight | 1.21 lbs |
| Cable | ~3 m |
Introduction
You loved the FightBox B1—but just wish that it was smaller. No problem, this is what the B1-Mini came for! It gives you most of the B1’s benefits—though this time—it’s in a smaller, more portable size.
Performance
The B1-Mini doesn’t give you super tiny buttons just because the controller itself is small… Nah, it gives you 24 mm buttons like the B1 did—this time on a compact form factor.
Not only that, the B1-Mini brings back the bestselling Cherry MX Speed Silver switches that are smooth and quiet. Don’t like these switches? No biggie, you can hot swap them with another model.
Even the B1-Mini’s buttons can be removed and reinstalled with just your fingers—yet they shouldn’t randomly pop off during play. This is impressive.
Now, the B1-Mini’s convex buttons both feel and sound good—if not a bit wobbly. That said, the buttons do sit taller than usual, but you should find yourself adapting to them fast.
On a side note, the B1-Mini’s unique aux buttons are tiny pins on each side of the top panel. Each side has three—totaling six. Without further ado, here are the aux buttons—as well as examples of what they can do:
| Left Aux Buttons | Right Aux Buttons |
|---|---|
| Home | Start |
| Touchpad | Select |
| L3 | R3 |
Hardware
Simply put, the B1-Mini is a small and slim acrylic controller with a light weight of about a pound. Just like the iPod was marketed as 1,000 songs in your pocket, this controller can be considered 12 buttons in your pocket—and many matches to be played.
Admittedly, the B1-Mini may slide around on a desk, but this can be mitigated by installing a non-slip pad. That being said, we did want to tell you that the controller can achieve its compatibility through one of the following board options—with the second option supporting PlayStation 5 fighting games (which we’ll abbreviate as PS5 FG):
| PCB | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Brook P5 Mini | PS5 FG / PS4 / PS3 / PC | $$ |
| RAC-C800-PI | PS4 / PS3 / NS / PC | $ |
Appearance
A portion of the B1-Mini’s elegant design comes from its unlabeled buttons, but that comes at the cost of not knowing which button does what without referring to the documentation. On the bright side, the buttons can come in:
- White
- Black
- Red
Even the B1-Mini itself can be white or black. Also, the black USB-C cable is pretty based. Having said that, the acrylic can accumulate smudges, which can be less noticeable depending on the color you pick. Just be sure to wipe it often.
By the way, if you’d like custom art for your B1-Mini, our artist Carlos Martinez designed art for the B series before and can be of service to you too:
(Have some digital art for your B1-Mini already and just need printing? We can print it for ya!)
Conclusion
The small, slim, and light B1-Mini with multiplatform compatibility lets you slide it into your pocket and attend a tournament with little to no fatigue.
- Hot swappable Cherry switches
- 24 mm colored buttons
- Case color choices
- Custom artwork
- Small, slim, light
- Compatibility options
- Slightly wobbly buttons
- Unlabeled buttons
- May slide around
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Links
- FightBoxArcade (10% code: THEARCADESTICK)
- RetroArcadeCrafts
- Amazon
- Etsy