| Price | AliExpress |
| Release | January 5, 2024 |
| Compatibility* | NS / PC / Android |
| Dimensions | 7.7″ x 4.9″ x 0.5″ |
| Weight | 0.86 lbs |
Introduction
The Haute42 S16 is a small and slim stickless controller with more buttons than usual. For example, the up button acts as the W button of the WASD layout to jump, meaning this is a dual layout controller. The S13 edition has three less buttons, but it has a dual layout too.
Performance
The S16’s keycaps have a smooth finish and are pleasant to touch. Except for the jump button, all the primary buttons are 23.3 mm, and the jump button is 26.6 mm, requiring less precision from you to press it. The buttons are quieter than average, and they are supposed to last you a whopping 40 million presses.
Here are the S16’s function buttons:
- PlayStation/home
- Options/start
- Share/back
- Touchpad
- Turbo
Turbo is for if you want to press a button one time and have that result in multiple button presses in-game, requiring little effort from you.
As for the S16’s switches, they are the low profile Kailh Choc V2 Reds, which are linear, fast, and relatively quiet. However, this probably means you can only hot swap the switches with other Kailh Choc V2 compatible switches. That said, you do get a switch puller with the controller.
Now, you may be wondering about the wrist resting space of a small controller like the S16. The truth of the matter is that you should not need wrist space for most leverless controllers anyway, and that is because your palms will likely levitate in the air to press the buttons more effectively.
Regarding the S16’s weight, it is light but still has the minimal weight needed for stability. Because of its size, you will likely want to place it on a desk for optimal usage.
Hardware
The S16 is an acrylic controller with six anti-slip feet at the bottom. It has two USB-C ports: one in the back and one on the left. So, you can choose the location you prefer. There is also an EXT port where you can insert the BOOTER 5 or a similar adapter to make the controller compatible with platforms like the PlayStation 5.
Moving on, the S16’s OLED screen lets you know valuable information like:
- Current SOCD mode
- Current input mode
- Current directional mode
- Current buttons being pressed
Note that, with your order of the S16, you should receive a couple of extra function buttons, extra switch, and USB-C to A cable. Otherwise, you may be glad to know that the controller is small enough to fit into a 7″ sleeve you might have.
Appearance
The S16 has a cute design that may be described as a small rectangle with rounded corners. Because it has acrylic, be sure to wipe down any fingerprint smudges from time to time. On the bright side, the RGB LED of the buttons brings them to life with vibrant lights.
That said, you can add custom art to your S16 to make it reflect your taste. Again, because there is acrylic, we recommend wearing gloves when inserting custom art to avoid smudging the acrylic’s underside.
If you like, we at The Arcade Stick can provide you our artwork service by designing custom art for your S16. In fact, check out these artworks for the S13 model by our Milford Peynado:
Conclusion
The Haute42 S16 brilliantly makes use of a small space to give you a dual layout with decently sized buttons.
- Two editions
- Dual layout
- Customizable art
- Compact size
- Slim design
- Smooth keycaps
- Hot swap switches
- Button LED
- OLED screen
- PS5 port
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐