| Price | AliExpress |
| Release | Late March 2026 |
| Compatibility | NS2 / PC / Android |
| Dimensions | 11.8″ x 6.2″ x 0.7″ |
| Weight | 1.79 lbs |
| Cable | 1.5 to 3.0 m |
Other Edition
Introduction
What emotion does a leverless controller invoke in you? Joy? Angst? Surprise?
If anything, the Haute42 Emotion III-17 may invoke an emotion of wonder in you—as it has four thumb buttons, a couple of which are pill-shaped, and it also has a left pinky button (plus a lanyard loop)!
Unboxing
The Emotion III-17 comes in a white TBGamer box that looks like it was custom made for the controller’s size, which is always appreciated.
The box opens up like a briefcase, and inside, the Emotion III-17 is waiting for you in a plastic sleeve. Here are the freebies that should also arrive with your controller:
- Right angle USB-C cable
- TBGamer charm
- Spare switch
- Switch puller
- Keycap remover
- Set of fasteners etc.
- Three adhesive rings
- Double-sided manual
Performance
The Emotion III-17 has 17 buttons (PBT keycaps) that are mostly sized 23.5 mm. These low profile buttons truly make you feel like your inputs are getting registered instantaneously in-game, resulting in:
- Easier combos
- Faster reactions
- More wins
Meanwhile, the Emotion III-17’s pill-shaped buttons are sized 1.5U. These pill-shaped buttons have more surface area in a way that makes them easier to press.
The Emotion III-17’s pill-shaped buttons are angled in a convenient way in which even The Arcade Stick’s cofounder and his long thumbs can still press them comfortably.
That’s not all. The Emotion III-17 also has dedicated left pinky and left middle finger buttons—the latter of which unlocks a bonus WASD layout (if you like to play that way).
Other than that, the Emotion III-17’s eight attack buttons are in the Sega 2P layout, which is arguably the third most popular layout after the Noir and Vewlix layouts (at the time of this writing). The Sega 2P layout is still fairly popular and frankly quite cozy.
Aside from a function button lock, the Emotion III-17’s function buttons are labeled like so:
- T
- –
- Home
- Back
- Start
The Emotion III-17’s back and start buttons are on the top panel’s right side. This design element is especially convenient if your right hand is your dominant hand since the start button—a really useful button in a lot of games—being on the right side allows you to press it conveniently.
That said, the Emotion III-17 brings back the awesome Shadow Hunting switches that are quiet, preventing giving away your button presses to your opponent sitting nearby (or waking up your roommate in the next room).
Consider Shadow Hunting switches lighter and faster than your average Kailh Choc or Cherry MX switches. Still not convinced? Here are Shadow Hunting switches’ specs in further detail:
| Switch Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Travel distance | 2.0 mm |
| Actuation point | 0.8 mm |
| Actuation force | 40 gf |
Hardware
With a premium feel, the Emotion III-17 is a slim CNC metal controller with an injection molded bottom panel, which also has four triangular feet (for stability on a desk). Up top, the palm rest has a subtle slope.
Speaking of palm rests, the Emotion III-17 is unlikely to provide you an optimal palm rest. Here’s the thing about palm rests: you either want them to be really spacious or you don’t want them to be there at all.
(If there’s no palm rest at all, at least you can use your desk or legs entirely for palm resting—instead of having a little palm rest potentially dig into your palms.)
With the Emotion III-17, especially if you have big hands, you have two options:
- Have the palm rest dig into your palms.
- Levitate your palms while playing.
On the bright side, the Emotion III-17 has enough width to set it on your lap, although if you’re taller than most, you might have to bring in your legs together a wee bit.
You also get a colored screen on the Emotion III-17 that can show you valuable intel, such as an animation of your button presses—in addition to:
- Directional mode
- SOCD mode
- Input mode
You can also use a compatibility enhancer like the BOOTER 5 to make the Emotion III-17 compatible with more consoles. Such a dongle can go into the USB-A port on the right side.
On the left and in the back, the Emotion III-17 also has USB-C ports, meaning that there are two USB-C ports in total. Pick and choose your preferred location to insert the USB-C cable.
Appearance
The Emotion III-17 comes in different artworks, such as spunky artwork with zesty button labels that even include a smiley face. Another option would be something like the Astral Glory artwork:
- It’s glittery.
- It’s black.
- Its black cable has a subtly blue tip.
- Its buttons look like they have digital camo (reminiscent of Call of Duty gun skins).
(Are you bold enough to paste custom vinyl artwork on the Emotion III-17? If so, reach out to us here at The Arcade Stick as we have a custom artwork service.)
To add, the LEDs light up the edges of the Emotion III-17’s buttons nicely. Not to mention, you can run whatever fits through the lanyard loop (such as the included TBGamer charm) or maybe a keychain you own that features something like your favorite fighting game character (such as Dan Hibiki).
Other than those, the bottom panel is essentially translucent black—with some interesting nuances that are hard to explain in writing, so we hope you visit the Emotion III-17’s listing(s) to see everything for yourself. Deal?
Conclusion
The Emotion III-17 is for the serious player who’d like four thumb buttons, a couple of which are pill-shaped, as well as a left pinky button. The lanyard loop is a nicely added touch too.
- 17 low profile buttons
- Function button lock
- Sega 2P layout
- Quiet switches
- Triangular feet
- Lanyard loop
- Premium slim metal
- Useful colored screen
- Different artworks
- Awesome LEDs
- Three USB ports
- Right angle USB cable
- Compatibility extension
- Little palm rest
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐