| Price | AliExpress & Amazon |
| Release | August 14, 2025 |
| Compatibility* | NS2 / PC / RPi / Android |
| Dimensions | 11.8″ x 7.9″ × 0.5″ |
| Weight | ~1.74 lbs |
| Cable | 3 m |
Other Editions
Introduction
From the Mavercade KeebBrawler to the 8BitDo Arcade Controller, the fightstick industry started realizing that pill-shaped buttons may be a better way to play. Why limit yourself to the confined space of a round button when you can instead press a button shaped like a pill, right?
With that said, the Haute42 C16-S may literally be what you’re missing to get better at fighting games. You see, the award winning Haute42 took its bestselling C16 and added pill-shaped buttons to it—creating the C16-S.
To be specific, your thumbs and pinkies can enjoy pill-shaped buttons with the C16-S. As for the round buttons, they’re a mix of 23.5 and 25.8 mm. The buttons are textured, and they have flat rims.
Not only that, the C16-S also has:
- 16 buttons
- Split layout
- Plenty of room
- Wrist rest slope
- Informative screen
- Ample function buttons
That said, the C16-S should be wide enough to comfortably set on your lap. Of course, this slim controller is suitable for desk play too.
Unboxing
As you unbox your brand new C16-S, you can expect to also find:
- Black USB-C cable
- Instruction manual
- Keycap/switch puller
- Couple of extra switches
Speaking of switches…
Performance
The stock switches of the C16-S are Wind Engines. These switches are linear, low profile, and trigger fast—with minimal sound. With these switches, you can forget about clicks or bumps.
Listen, if the switches of the C16-S aren’t your style, then good news: they’re hot swappable. This means you can install other switches you prefer.
As for the function buttons of the C16-S, they are as follows:
- Turbo
- –
- Home
- Back
- Start
The C16-S also has a couple of toggles you can make use of, such as a tournament lock that can be used to disable function buttons—and prevent you from getting disqualified for pausing during a match, for example.
Hardware
As previously mentioned, the C16-S has an info screen, which shows three main details:
- Input mode
- Directional mode
- SOCD cleaning mode
You can also see a visual representation of your button presses on there, but how is all of that made possible? Fundamentally, the C16-S runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware known for:
- Decent compatibility options
- Being updateable online
- Almost zero lag
With that, the C16-S has two USB-C ports that come out of the left and center back. As for the rightmost USB-A port, it can accept a compatibility extending dongle like the BOOTER 5, making the controller compatible with more consoles. You can conveniently adjust the controller’s settings through web configuration.
Appearance
RGB LED can make your C16-S light up like it’s Coachella. This is what you can use the other toggle for, by the way. You can turn the LED on or off with it.
With four screws holding the top panel in place, the art of the C16-S is customizable—made easier by the magnetic acrylic you can lift after a button press or two. Also, the acrylic being frosted makes it hide smudges.
Depending on the available quantity, you may be able to choose from Haute42’s preset skins for this controller. You may also be ecstatic to know that we at The Arcade Stick specialize in customizing fightstick art! If you’re considering hiring us, here’s what a C16-S print by us can look like:
(If you already have some C16-S art, we can print that for you.)
Finally, the aluminum alloy bottom of the C16-S features a couple of anti-slip pads (one for each leg). Are you sold on the concept of this amazing controller by now?
Conclusion
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐