| Price | AliExpress |
| Release | May 10, 2025 |
| Compatibility* | NS / PC / RPi / Android |
| Dimensions | 11.5″ x 6.2″ x 0.6″ |
| Weight | 1.32+ lbs |
| Cable | 1.5 m |
Overview
Although left handed gamers are few and far between, there are still enough of them for the bestselling brand of Haute42 to offer the E16 Mirrored.
Fundamentally, the E16 features a southpaw layout in which the attack buttons are on the left and the directional buttons are on the right. This, of course, is opposite of traditional arcade controllers.
With that said, the E16 brings back the same 16 button goodness we at The Arcade Stick have gotten used to seeing over the years. One thing this means is that this is a dual layout controller, so you can use it like a WASD controller as well—saving you money.
Now, let’s dive into the E16’s box contents:
- Manual
- USB-C cable
- Keycap/switch puller
- One or two extra switches
- Three extra function buttons
All the E16’s buttons—except for the jump button—are 23.5 mm, which is a decent size. The jump button is 25.8 mm to make it easier to press with the side of either thumb, opening up your options.
There are several 6 mm function buttons—as well as a tournament lock. You see, the last thing you want to do at a tournament is press function buttons accidentally, getting you disqualified.
Thanks Haute42!
Anyway, here are the E16’s function button labels (from left to right):
- Turbo
- –
- Home
- Back
- Start
Yes, turbo support is back, so if you’d like to just press a button once and have that result in multiple inputs, the E16 will let you do that.
Moving on, the Wind Engine switches the E16 uses have been picking up in popularity. These blue colored switches are low profile, and they are quite snappy. They’re linear and trigger fast. This also means minimal sound. No bumps or clicks here, folks…
No worries if Wind Engines are not your cup of tea, though, because they are hot swappable, so you can install other compatible switches you prefer instead.
Oh, and the little OLED screen is back. On it, you can see important information like:
- Input mode
- Directional mode
- SOCD cleaning mode
You can even see your button presses live. That said, the E16 is a smaller controller, which is good for portability. Plus, the award winning Haute42 offers a lot of large controllers anyway, so the variety is appreciated.
However, one thing the E16 does not sacrifice is width. In fact, this controller is wide enough to place on your lap without having to squeeze your legs together painfully.
With non-slip mats per bottom corner as well, the E16 should stay put on your desk too. Needless to say, this controller is slimmer than Carlos Slim himself. Moreover, its surface and buttons are smooth.
Onward, the black right-angle cable comes out from the center back USB-C port, which is a tactical location to prevent the cable from becoming a significant trip hazard. Not digging that location? No problem, there is another USB-C port on the E16’s left.
On the right is where the USB-A port is. That’s right: there are three USB ports, and this USB-A port is there to insert a compatibility boosting adapter like the BOOTER 5, making your E16 compatible with more consoles. It’s important at this point to mention that you conveniently adjust some of the controller’s settings by way of web configuration.
With an RP2040 chip, the E16 runs on the excellent GP2040-CE firmware known for:
- Being updateable online
- Decent compatibility
- Pretty much no lag
- Open source
In classic Haute42 fashion, the E16 features custom RGB LED that can bring its button rims to life with beautiful lights. Furthermore, there is some cool engravement on the controller’s bottom. We won’t spoil for you what’s under there, so you’ll have to grab an E16 to find out for yourself.
Listen: if you’re not left handed yourself, maybe you can gift an E16 to your left handed friend. Left handed warriors: now is the time to shine!