10. RAC-J500B
Compact, light, and affordable, the RAC-J500B is a decent entry point into the world of hitboxes. The jump button is larger than the other buttons, which is standard for stickless controllers. Included is SOCD cleaning to make pressing left and right equal neutral, making the controller legal in tournaments.
The case is made of plastic that can endure many battles. Opening up the case is easy with a tool. You may even be able to use your fingers in the process of doing so. The interior is neat and spacious, which should make mods such as swapping buttons easier for you. The suction cups at the bottom provide stability on a surface.
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9. FightBox B1-MINI
The FightBox B1-MINI is an ultra-thin mini acrylic controller available in a lot of colors. Its layered structure allows for the placement of custom artwork onto the panel of the see-through variant.
Cherry MX switches are featured, which are nice, but thanks to hot swapping, you can replace them with your favorite mechanical key switches if you wish to do so. The stock buttons feel & sound good, and they are quite reminiscent of typing on a keyboard. The buttons can be taken out with just one’s fingers.
The B1-MINI achieves its compatibility through a Brook PCB. The cable is nicely detachable. The B1-MINI has SOCD cleaning. The controller has no noticeable input delay.
Order from AliExpress:
B1-MINI-PS5 / B1-MINI-PS-DIY
8. Slimbox
SQ Arcade presents the Slimbox that arrives with a shaft, shaft puller, plastic spudger, and USB type C cable. The switches include a combination of Kailh on top and Gateron on the bottom (specifically Gateron low-profile). This acrylic controller can accept custom artwork.
Regarding the PCB, you can choose between Brook or Pico, and SOCD cleaning works by equating left & right to the neutral position. Moreover, up and down will equal up. You can find an input display on the upper left of the Slimbox.
Order from AliExpress: R5 / R3
7. 2nd Stage Creations
This is a handmade 2nd Stage Creations controller made of ambrosia maple, and the wood’s burl is quite nice. Despite the wood being high quality, the controller will likely be pleasantly lighter than you expect. It feels fine on one’s lap, and playing on a table is viable as well since there is padding. The wood’s finish is smooth with round edges for your wrists’ comfort.
You can get a Brook PCB with this controller. The buttons feel good and are mostly 24 mm EG STARTS buttons with one 30 mm button. You can request that the function buttons be placed on the top of the controller. In fact, you can tell 2nd Stage Creations your preferences to customize the controller as much as possible. There is also a slightly bigger edition.
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6. hitFIGHTER
The hitFIGHTER is quite thin and runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware. With USB type C, this bad boy comes with Outemu Black switches that are Cherry MX compatible with Kailh hot-swaps. The buttons have LED too. The base is fiberglass with foam padding that is anti-slip. The cherry on top is the clear acrylic top plate that accepts custom art.
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5. Pocket Mini HitBox
The Pocket Mini HitBox is a mini all-key controller that consists of aluminum and acrylic. It comes with two USB ports and a nifty LED display beneath the attack keys. There is a wide selection of quality switches you can order in different colors. You can even install your own keys.
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4. RTU
The RTU mini hitbox is sturdy, weighty, and only an inch thick. Its hot-swappable switches can be Cherry MX or Glorious Panda. The secondary buttons are laid out to the right of the OLED screen, which shows button presses and function settings in real time. The PCB is the Raspberry Pi Pico with almost no input latency. The RTU should arrive with a USB cable, anti-slide padding, Allen key, and keycap remover. You can also choose from different colors of GamerFinger buttons to customize your RTU, including the art.
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3. SallyBox
Both a hitbox and a WASD controller, the SallyBox is a two-in-one innovation. This aluminum & acrylic Raspberry Pi Pico mini controller has hot-swappable silent Cherry MX Speed Silver switches, anti-slip pads, LED functionality, and SOCD cleaning. There is also turbo support, and the cable is USB type C.
The LED screen of the SallyBox shows the input & direction types, SOCD type, and turbo’s speed. The switches are light yet need a reasonable travel distance to trigger, meaning you should not worry about pressing them without intending to press them. Glorious Panda switches should be compatible with your SallyBox as well. The art of the SallyBox is customizable.
Order from AliExpress:
Sinoarcade / SQ Arcade
2. Slab Mini
The Slab Mini All Button Controller is a sandwich acrylic case that has replaceable Cherry MX Clear switches alongside hot-swap sockets. The six function buttons have microswitches, and on the back, you can find useful reset & BOOTSEL buttons. We at The Arcade Stick can offer you a custom artwork service to submit a digital art file while ordering the Slab Mini so that it arrives with your desired design on top and at the bottom.
The Slab Mini has countersunk top & bottom screws, and there are also PLED pipes. RGB LED is supported as well, and there is an OLED screen near the bottom right of the Slab Mini. This controller has a USB-C port.
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1. Flatbox
The Flatbox is a 3D-printable hitbox designed by jfedor that you can order prebuilt. Its affordability is appealing, and it is is portable enough for travel while having parts that are often available in spite of any current chip shortages. The six secondary buttons can be found on the upper left of the top panel.
When it comes to compatibility and SOCD options, the Flatbox runs on the GP2040-CE firmware that is open source. Depending on where you buy your Flatbox from, the PCB may come assembled with Kailh switches that are socketed for easy swapping and cleaning without soldering. The Flatbox has a USB-C port.
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