1. Haute42 M16 Ultra
The Haute42 M16 Ultra is a sturdy metallic controller that is thinner than average. There is a version with 12 buttons too. Otherwise, this masterpiece can come in a black or silver look. With LED, the controller’s beauty is amplified.
The M16 Ultra has less than a millisecond of input delay, so you can enjoy responsivity when gaming. Also, there are multiple SOCD cleaning modes to fit your needs, keeping your controller legal per tournament rules.
The M16 Ultra has an info screen, so you can see your inputs live, and you can also know which input & SOCD modes you are currently in, keeping you aware.
For your convenience, there is built-in web configuration so you can adjust your M16 Ultra online to meet your fighting game needs. As for the useful EXT port, it allows you to insert a dongle for compatibility with additional consoles.
By the way, you can add custom art to the M16 Ultra to make it reflect your interests. To do that, we at The Arcade Stick have an art service.
Order from AliExpress: Ultra / Plus
Order from Amazon: Ultra / Plus
Featured: FightBox F-PRO
FightBoxArcade is a comprehensive shop for your leverless needs. With the FightBox F-PRO, you get a whopping 17 buttons, so you can use the leftmost button with your left pinky and so on.
Something we often see with leverless controllers is that they do not come with standard arcade buttons because they are too slim, but not this controller. The F-PRO comes with Sanwa buttons that are responsive and durable. In any case, you can swap them for other reputable brands, such as Seimitsu.
With that 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, which means you are unlikely to press them by mistake.
Hardware-wise, 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. Though this controller is not flat, it can still be considered thin.
Needless to say, the F-PRO features 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 couple of screws you can take out to replace said port. Speaking of modding, the wiring inside the F-PRO is really organized.
To wrap things up, FightBoxArcade controllers come in different colors like white or black, and they often accept custom art to make your controller a mirror image of you. So, be sure to check out all their models to find the controller you like visually and when it comes to performance.
Order from FightBoxArcade
2. Haute42 R16
The Haute42 R16 has 16 buttons, with one button on the left being for your left pinky to press. The Kailh Crystal low profile switches allow you to press the buttons quickly. The input latency is less than a millisecond, and you can even make use of turbo for fast inputs with little work.
The R16’s onboard screen reveals aspects that include your inputs, the current SOCD mode, and so on. What you can also get with the controller includes an extra switch, switch puller, and function buttons that are tiny.
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 is a beauty, especially due to the LED when you press its buttons. The controller can also accept custom artwork to make your controller match your tastes. If you prefer black controllers, this controller can come in black too.
Order from AliExpress: White / Black
Order from Amazon: White / Black
3. Haute42 X1
The X1 is Haute42’s most ambitious controller, which is like having multiple controllers in one. This modular controller comes with three main swappable modules:
- Upper directional buttons
- Lower directional buttons
- Attack buttons
You can get buttons with or without rims. You can also pick the smooth Kailh Wind Engine switches or snappier Kailh Ice Cream switches. Because of the overclocked polling rate, there is less than 1 ms of input delay, meaning the X1 is fast.
You can rotate the directional button module to find the most comfortable angle. What also adds to the X1’s comfort is its wrist space. Plus, the controller is thin.
With that said, the X1 is a machined aluminum controller, and it features LED that beautifully lights up the buttons as well as what looks like light underneath the controller when you set it on a surface.
The X1’s screen shows your button presses in addition to the input, directional, and SOCD cleaning modes. You can activate the turbo feature as well to just press a button one time and then get multiple button presses in-game.
Here are the free items you should be receiving when you order the X1:
- A couple of extra Haute42 switches
- Switch puller
- USB cable
- Manual
- Black bag
Haute42 fans and newcomers should consider the X1 for sure. It adds a new layer of customization to the Evo award winning company’s line of bestselling controllers, which we at The Arcade Stick have had positive experiences with.
4. Haute42 U16
The Haute42 U16 combines plexiglass on top with an injection molded bottom. The controller has 16 buttons, which are enough for modern fighting games, and the U12 edition only has 12 buttons if you do not need a lot of buttons.
The buttons of the U16 have a satisfyingly smooth texture, and the button rings make you feel like you are pressing real arcade buttons. For your convenience, the jump button is larger than the rest, allowing you to press it without needing to be too precise.
The U16’s Crystal linear switches are fast and relatively quiet. Another awesome aspect is the size of the wrist resting area you can enjoy when playing with this spacious controller. Yet another neat 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 play with a controller on a desk or your lap, the U16 has got you covered. The controller comes with built-in pads so that it does not slide around when you game.
If you would like to place the U16 on your lap, the controller is large enough not to have to squeeze your legs together, and the controller’s lightness makes gaming marathons more comfortable. The controller is also thin, and it might even fit into a laptop or tablet sleeve you already own.
When you order the U16, Haute42 ships a USB-C to A cable with it, and it is detachable. If you would like to extend the controller’s compatibility, you can insert an adapter into the EXT port.
With the U16, you also get an extra switch as well as a switch puller because of the hot swappable switches that allow you to customize the controller further. The buttons are also changeable.
You may be excited to know that the U16 is one of the easier Haute42 controllers to customize the art of to represent your personality. Just unscrew the plexiglass on top, insert your brand new art, and screw the plexiglass back on.
Order from AliExpress or Amazon
5. Haute42 T16
The Haute42 T16 is a controller with larger buttons and Kailh Choc low profile switches for swift presses. There is another edition with less buttons too. Fantastically, the latency of the buttons is less than a millisecond.
The T16 is an acrylic controller with chamfered edges for the comfort of your palms and wrists. There are non-slip feet to make your controller stay in place during a set of matches.
The T16’s USB port conveniently comes out of its back center, and you can find another port on the right, which is where you could insert an adapter for more compatibility options.
The SOCD cleaning includes the common modes of up priority, neutral, and last input priority, so tournament legality should not be a problem for you. Plus, the T16’s screen lets you know your inputs, input mode, and SOCD mode.
LED makes the T16 even more attractive when you press its buttons. You may also be glad to know that the art of the controller is customizable, so you can have characters from your favorite series displayed on it.
Order from AliExpress: Standard / Crystal
Order from Amazon: Standard / Crystal
6. Mayflash F700 FLAT Elite
7. DuelPad Zen
The DuelPad Zen has 16 buttons, and this controller comes with extra parts & rubber feet. DuelPad calls the Zen’s layout an ergo-split layout, a layout for reducing wrist discomfort.
In essence, 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 may be used to.
The Zen’s buttons are smooth, and they sound quieter than many buttons. Also, they should not pop off if you perform advanced techniques like sliding or pianoing.
When you play, the Zen should not slip, even without having the optional feet on. The controller is light enough to carry without getting tired, but it has enough weight not to forget that it is still in your hand.
The Zen is slim, but it passed a malleability test when deliberately pressing on its main panel. With that being said, the controller has USB-C ports in the back and on the left. Needless to say, you can detach the cable if needed.
There is a USB-A port as where you can insert a dongle to make the Zen compatible with more consoles. There is also an onboard screen that tells you important info like which buttons you pressed.
When it comes to looks, the Zen is an acrylic controller with matte black and crystal options. The matte black edition uses Ghost switches, while the crystal edition comes with White Rain switches. The switches are low profile, linear, swift, and quiet, but if you have another preference, the switches are hot swappable.
The Zen’s aesthetics can be boosted with RGB LED, and there are as many as 35 themes. The buttons and controller light up beautifully. One last detail: the controller accepts custom art to represent your personality.
Order from AliExpress: Acrylic / Metal
8. DuelPad A16
One of the DuelPad A16’s best features is its left pinky button. The controller has 16 buttons, and one of the extra buttons is on the very left—for your pinky to utilize. The pinky and jump buttons are bigger than the rest so you can press them more easily.
Otherwise, this acrylic controller comes in multiple editions. Simply put, the EPIG edition has Kailh Choc V1 switches, and the Cross edition has Kailh Choc V2 switches. Both editions come with 16 or 14 buttons, depending on your needs.
If you want, you can have a combination of EPIG and Cross buttons throughout your A16. In any case, the controller features an overclocked polling rate to decrease input lag—resulting in fast inputs.
Back to the A16’s switches: they are the low profile Kailh Choc Reds. They can be described as smooth, light, and quieter than average.
As for the A16’s focus toggle, it is essentially a tournament lock that disables function buttons—when you do not need them. The little screen shows you valuable information like your inputs in real time, which input mode you are in, the current directional mode, and which SOCD cleaning mode is activated.
Running on the open source GP2040-CE firmware, the A16 supports web configuration, so you are able to easily adjust the controller’s settings.
That said, the A16’s design prevents it from sliding while you are gaming intensely. Also, the size of the controller is suitable for both desk and lap placement. Moreover, there is plenty of space for your wrists to rest. It goes without saying that the controller is quite slim, but despite being slim, the controller still feels robust—and not flimsy.
Now, you may be interested in adding more stability to your A16, which you can do by attaching the rubber feet that come with the controller. Also, there are a couple of aluminum stands you can add to the controller’s bottom to make it more angled—like a keyboard.
The A16 comes with plenty of freebies, such as a USB-C cable. If you need more length, just use the cable extender. Also, DuelPad provides a two sided puller, with one side being for switches and the other for keycaps. There is a manual that helps you set up the controller too.
Your A16 may also come with custom art you can apply. The art is easily customizable, so just unscrew the top, place the art, and the screw the top back on.
A couple more things about the A16’s looks to wrap up: the keycaps are multicolored, and with dozens of LED patterns—the buttons come to life even more.
Order from Amazon
9. DOIO KBGM-H07B
If you are passionate about the fighting game genre, DOIO is a brand you should pay close attention to. It has many creative controllers, such as this one.
The KBGM-H07B has 16 primary buttons, and many of those buttons are shaped like a teardrop. This means you need less precision to press them, giving you a competitive edge.
The PBT keycaps of the KBGM-H07B are smooth with some texture, and they utilize the low profile Gateron Silver linear switches that are hot swappable. If you have another preference for switches, you can go for it instead.
With aluminum alloy on top, the KBGM-H07B runs on the GP2040-CE firmware. Also, the little screen tells you information like the current input, directional, and SOCD modes.
While the KBGM-H07B is slim, it is has enough weight not to slip when you play. Its width also allows you to play with it on your legs at the next tournament—without having to squeeze them together.
There are two USB ports—in the back and on the left— to insert the cable into the KBGM-H07B where it obstructs you the least.
Anyway, the KBGM-H07B’s has LED backlight that makes it glow like Times Square. The controller is also offered in many color options. You can four stabilization feet at the partially see-through acrylic at the bottom too. The feet should not dig into your lap while enjoying a gaming marathon.
If the KBGM-H07B is not your style, that is fine. Just be sure to check out DOIO’s other controllers—because you are likely to find a controller that matches your criteria.
Order from AliExpress
10. GuileKeys GK-21
The GK-21 is an acrylic controller with 21 primary buttons, allowing you to use the directional buttons with your left and right hands simultaneously, but if you do not need 21 buttons, the GK-16 edition only has 16 buttons.
The buttons of the GK-21 are rimmed. As for the turbo function, 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 shines around the buttons and through the midsection beautifully.
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 change the switches.
Moving onward, you can find a screen that lets you know valuable intel to boost your gaming experience. For instance, you can see your button presses. You can also see which SOCD cleaning mode the GK-21 currently has deployed.
When it comes to connectivity, the GK-21 lets you pick from a USB-C port in the back and another one on the left. Compatibility-wise, the RP2040 chip runs on the GP2040-CE firmware with almost nonexistent input latency.
If you plan to play on more consoles than the GK-21 supports, there is a USB-A port on the right to boost the controller’s compatibility through an adapter.
Finally, 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
Order from Amazon: GK-21 / GK-16