6. Mayflash F500 FLAT
The Mayflash F500 FLAT is a stickless installment in the long running F500 series. The controller has L3 and R3 buttons as additional action buttons. Also, the start button being recessed makes it harder to press accidentally.
The width of the F500 FLAT makes it comfortable for lap and desk play. Plus, the controller is large enough with plenty of wrist space. Not only that, the rubber feet at the bottom also enhance stability.
As for the two turbo speeds, they include 15 times or 25 times per second. For your convenience, the F500 FLAT has turbo and mode light indicators.
The F500 FLAT is not that heavy to carry. Its metal enclosure and base increase security overall. Moreover, there is a headphone jack. Next to the jack are a mute button and port for a rumble wrist strap. There is an USB-A port to insert an adapter for extended compatibility with more consoles.
Otherwise, the cable comes out of a compartment on the left, and the F500 FLAT also arrives with USB-C, micro USB, and OTG USB cables.
If needed, the F500 FLAT’s buttons are easy to replace because of the easily visible bottom screws. Sanwa buttons are compatible as well.
The F500 FLAT’s interior is color coded and neat. There is a clear acrylic panel, and you can you get custom art to make the controller a mirror image of yourself.
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5. DuelPad Zen
The DuelPad Zen has a 16 button layout and comes with extra parts & rubber feet. DuelPad calls the Zen’s layout an ergo-split layout, which is for decreasing wrist discomfort.
Basically, you would be tilting your wrists at a slight angle when using the Zen, and the movement buttons are farther apart from the attack buttons than what you might be accustomed to.
The Zen’s buttons are smooth, and they do not sound as loud as your average buttons. Also, they should not come off if you perform intermediate techniques like sliding or pianoing.
When playing, the Zen should not slip, even without the installation of the optional feet. The controller is light enough to carry without getting tired, but it has enough weight not to forget that you are still carrying it.
The Zen is slim, but it passed a malleability test when pressing on its top panel. With that said, the controller contains USB-C ports in the back and on the left. Of course, you can detach the cable if you need to.
There is a USB-A port as where you can insert an appropriate dongle to make the Zen compatible with additional consoles. There is also a built-in screen that lets you know important info like which buttons you pressed.
When it comes to looks, the Zen is an acrylic controller with matte black and crystal variations. The matte black variation uses Ghost switches, and as for the crystal variation, it comes with White Rain switches. The switches are low profile, linear, swift, and quiet, but if you have another style in mind, the switches can be hot swapped.
The Zen’s aesthetics can be beautified with LED, and there are as many as 35 themes. The buttons and controller light up with flair. As a last tip, the controller accepts custom art to represent your personality.
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4. GuileKeys GK-21
The GK-21 is an acrylic controller with 21 primary buttons, so you can use the directional buttons with your left and right hands in unison, but if you do not need 21 buttons, the GK-16 edition only has 16 buttons.
The buttons of the GK-21 are rimmed, and as for the turbo functionality, it allows you to press one button and have that one press result in many inputs, requiring less effort from you.
Regarding the RGB button, it refers to the LED that the GK-21 has, which glows around the buttons and through the midsection in an attractive way.
When it comes to the GK-21’s switches, they are Kailh Choc Reds that are hot swappable, so if you have another preference, you can just change the switches.
Continuing on, you can find a screen that lets you know valuable intel to boost your experience. For instance, you can watch your button presses, and you can also see the GK-21’s current SOCD cleaning mode.
When it comes to the connectivity, the GK-21 lets you pick from a USB-C port in the back and another one on the left side. Compatibility-wise, the RP2040 chip runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware with negligible lag.
If you plan to play on more consoles than the GK-21 supports, there is a USB-A port to boost the controller’s compatibility through an adapter.
To wrap things up, here are some freebies your GK-21 order may include:
- Couple of extra keycaps
- Couple of extra switches
- Switch puller
- White USB-C cable
- Black USB extension cord
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3. Haute42 T16
The Haute42 T16 is a controller with larger buttons and low profile Kailh Choc switches for fast presses. There is another edition with less buttons too. Luckily, the latency of the buttons is less than a millisecond.
The T16 is an acrylic controller with chamfered edges for your skin’s comfort. There are anti-slip feet to make your controller stay in place during matches.
The SOCD cleaning includes the essential modes of up priority, neutral, and last input priority, so tournament legality should not be a problem. In addition, the T16’s screen lets you know your inputs, input mode, and SOCD mode.
The T16’s USB port conveniently comes out of the center back, and you can find an EXT port on the right, which is where you could insert a dongle for added compatibility.
LED makes the T16 even more attractive when you press its big buttons. You may also be glad to know that the artwork of the controller is customizable, so you can have characters from your favorite game displayed on it.
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2. Haute42 R16
The Haute42 R16 has 16 buttons, with one button being for your left pinky. The Kailh Crystal low profile switches allow you to press the buttons quite quickly. The input latency is less than a millisecond, and you can even make use of turbo for fast inputs with little effort.
The USB port conveniently comes out of the R16’s back center, and on the right, there is a port for an adapter to enhance your controller’s compatibility.
The R16’s onboard screen reveals information that includes your inputs, the current SOCD mode, and so on. What you can also get with the controller includes an extra switch, switch puller, and option buttons.
The R16 is a beauty, especially due to the LED when you press its buttons while gaming. The controller exists in a black edition too. The controller can also accept custom artwork to make your controller represent what you like.
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Featured: FightBox F-PRO
FightBoxArcade is a powerhouse of a leverless store. With the FightBox F-PRO, you get a whopping 17 buttons, so you can use the leftmost button with your left pinky etc.
Something we often see with leverless controllers is that they do not come with arcade-style buttons because they are too slim, but not this controller…
The fact of the matter is the F-PRO comes with Sanwa buttons that are responsive and durable. In any case, you can swap them for other famous brands, such as Seimitsu.
With that being said, all the buttons are 24 mm except for the jump button, which is 30 mm so you can press it more easily. The function buttons are harder to press, meaning you are unlikely to press them by mistake.
About its hardware, the F-PRO is made of sturdy metal, and the acrylic on top is not malleable. Not only that, the weight is moderate too, and in addition to the rubber feet, the controller should stay in place while you play for hours. Though the controller is not flat, it can still be considered thin.
Needless to say, the F-PRO supports SOCD cleaning, so you should not be disqualified from a tournament for hitting opposite directions together.
If you are tech savvy, you might be glad to know that the USB port has a two screws you can take out to replace said port. Speaking of modding, the wires inside the F-PRO are really organized.
To wrap it all up, FightBoxArcade controllers come in different colors like white or black, and they often accept custom art to make your controller showcase your favorite characters. So, be sure to check out all their models to find the controller that you like visually and when it comes to performance.
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Featured: FightBox F-PRO
FightBoxArcade is one of the most known leverless stores on the web, and with the FightBox F-PRO, you get a whopping 17 buttons, so you can use the leftmost button with your left pinky, for example.
Something we often see with leverless controllers is that they do not come with arcade-style buttons because they are too slim to handle them, but not this controller. The fact of the matter is the F-PRO comes with Sanwa buttons that are durable and responsive. In any case, you can switch them with other reputable brands like Seimitsu.
That aside, all the buttons are 24 mm except for the jump button, which is 30 mm so you can press it more easily. The function buttons are harder to press, meaning you are unlikely to press them without meaning to.
About the hardware, the F-PRO is made of sturdy metal, and the acrylic on top is not malleable. Not only that, the weight is moderate as well, and in addition to the rubber feet, the controller should stay in place while you play your favorite game. Despite the controller not being flat, it can still be considered thin.
Of course, the F-PRO supports SOCD cleaning, so you should not be disqualified from a tournament for hitting opposite directions together.
If you like to tinker, you might be glad to know that the USB port has a two screws you can take out to replace said port. Speaking of modding, the wires inside the F-PRO are organized well.
To wrap it all up, FightBoxArcade controllers come in different colors like white or black, and they often accept custom art to make your controller showcase your favorite character. That is why we recommend you check out all their models to find the controller that you like visually and when it comes to performance.
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1. Haute42 U16
The Haute42 U16 has a top plexiglass layer and an injection molded bottom. The controller has 16 buttons that are enough for modern fighting games, and the U12 edition only has 12 buttons if you do not need many buttons.
The buttons of the U16 have a smooth finish to them, and the button rings make you feel like you are pressing standard arcade buttons. The jump button is bigger than the rest, allowing you to press it without max precision.
The U16’s switches are fast and quieter than average. Another awesome tidbit is the size of the wrist resting area you can enjoy with this spacious controller. An additionally awesome feature is the screen that tells you useful information like whether you are using the directional buttons as a left analog stick or D-pad.
Whether you like to play with a controller on a desk or your thighs, the U16 has got you covered. You see, the controller has built-in pads so that it does not slip when you game.
If you would like to place the U16 on your thighs, the controller is large enough not to have to squeeze your thighs together, and the controller’s lightness makes long gaming sessions more comfortable. In addition, the controller has a slim body, and it might even fit into a laptop or tablet sleeve you already own.
When you order the U16, you do not have to worry about buying your own cable because Haute42 ships a USB-C to A cable with it that is detachable. If you would like to extend the controller’s compatibility, you can insert an adapter into the designated USB-A port.
With the U16, you also get an extra switch in addition to a switch puller because of the hot swappable switches that allow you to customize how the controller feels. You can change the buttons too if you want.
Now, you may be glad to know that the U16 is one of the easier Haute42 controllers to customize the artwork of to represent your personality. Just unscrew the top plexiglass, insert your new art, and screw the plexiglass on again.
That said, we at The Arcade Stick would love to provide custom artwork for your U16. We have a team of dedicated professionals ready to serve you, and we have had experience designing custom art for Haute42 controllers, so please feel free to get in touch with us if you are interested in our custom art service.
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| Rank | Full Article | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haute42 U16 | Price |
| 2 | Haute42 R16 | Price |
| 3 | Haute42 T16 | Price |
| 4 | GuileKeys GK-21 | Price |
| 5 | DuelPad Zen | Price |
| 6 | Mayflash F500 FLAT | Price |
| Featured | FightBox F-PRO | Price |