| Price | BOOTH |
| Release | February 25, 2024 |
| Compatibility | NS2 / PC |
Overview
With a plethora of buttons, keys, pins, and even joysticks, the SparrowG21 is the final boss of mini leverless controllers. Offered by 74th Books & Gadgets all the way from Japan, this controller ships globally—directly to your home.
Also known as the 74TH-G039, the SparrowG21 is a DIY controller that you may be able to buy preassembled from 74th without soldering.
Without further ado, here are the SparrowG21’s kit contents (with the amounts in parentheses):
- SparrowG21 PCB
- Top plate FR4 PCB
- SH1.0-4P (Qwiic) cable
- SH1.0-4P (Qwiic) SMD socket
- SK6812-MINI-E RGB LEDs (12)
- 6 mm M2 black flat screws (6)
- 2 mm M2 spacers (6)
- B10K joysticks (2)
- OLED screen
As for the components pre-mounted on the SparrowG21’s PCB:
- RP2040 microcontroller
- RP2040 capacitors, oscillators, and resistors
- Microcomputer program flash W25Q32JVS
- Ideal diode CH213K for power protection
- 6×6 mm SMD tactile switches (2)
- 0805 SMD blue LEDs (2)
- USB-C connector
Moving on, let’s briefly gloss over the parts already mounted on the SparrowG21’s top plate:
- SH1.0-4P (Qwiic) SMD socket
- 0805 SMD blue LEDs (2)
- 0805 SMD resistors (2)
Finally, in addition to the SparrowG21’s kit, you will need (assuming MX compatible switches):
- MX compatible switch sockets (21)
- MX compatible switches (21)
- MX compatible keycaps
- GH60 compatible case
- USB-C cable
Phew! The hardest part of reading this article should be over. Now, let’s talk about some of the fun stuff, such as performance—starting with the SparrowG21’s switches.
We’ve already established that MX switches are compatible with the SparrowG21, and so are Kailh Choc V1 low profile switches—but with the latter switches having caveats like no hot swapping.
By the way, there’s an option to make Qwiic sockets readily implemented. Otherwise, the SparrowG21 has a dozen buttons in one of the most uncommon layouts you’ve seen, but as usual, the jump button being bigger than the rest allows you to press it with your left thumb’s side more easily.
At your disposal as well are two pins for reset & BOOTSEL on the top panel’s bottom left, and the SparrowG21 also has nine keys labeled:
- Turbo
- Extra
- Fn
- L3
- R3
- A1
- A2
- S1
- S2
More interestingly, the SparrowG21 has two analog joysticks with a 3D printed stick cap being included for you. Furthermore, the controller has these three elements:
- Power and mode LED indicator
- Turbo LED indicator
- OLED screen
You see, the SparrowG21 is generally compatible with most GH60 cases. Not just that, its RP2040 microcontroller runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware that we at The Arcade Stick adore.
Don’t worry—the SparrowG21’s RP2040 has GP2040-CE written on it in advance. However, it’s not the default GP2040-CE pin map. Therefore, it must be customized.
But what about the visuals?
The SparrowG21 is aesthetically the most impressive in its diversity of input methods—from joysticks to pins—but the unusual layout’s functionality might mar its look. It’s still appreciated that the controller has visual nuance in the form of flamboyantly pink buttons.
With that being said, brew a cup of dark roast pour-over, and head over to all three of 74th’s BOOTH, GitHub, and blog to learn more about the fascinating SparrowG21 that may elevate your fighting (or non-fighting) game skills from so-so to pro. Remember: You’re only as good as your tools, and this controller has many of them!