16. RAC-J500B
The RAC-J500B is a decent entry point that is budget, compact, and light. The jump button is larger than the other buttons, which is the industry standard. Included is SOCD cleaning to make pressing left and right result in neutral.
The case is made of quality plastic. Opening up the case is easy with the right tool. You may even be able to use your fingers in addition. The interior is neat and spacious, which should make mods such as swapping buttons easier. The suction cups at the bottom work well on a flat surface.
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15. Hit Box
The Hit Box Arcade team took the fighting game community by storm with its revolutionary concept of having buttons for directions instead of a regular joystick. The idea was to convert slower joystick movements into swift button presses.
The slim Hit Box packs Sanwa buttons, a sturdy chassis, and other robust elements. Hit Box Arcade concluded that the best combination of directional button sizes is to make the jump button 30 mm and the other directional buttons 24 mm. The travel distance is short, and there is a satisfying bounce when you press.
The bottom of the Hit Box has an anti-slip pad, and the braided USB cable is detachable. Hit Box Arcade also provides a sling bag and microfiber cloth.
The visual design of the acrylic Hit Box is masterful and reminiscent of designs by high-tier tech companies. The Hit Box itself has been tried and tested for a decade now, and it has stood the test of time, making it a staple in the industry.
With the Hit Box, professional Street Fighter player Kawano was able to win Evo. and while it is on the pricier end, it is a force to be reckoned with.
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14. Excellence
The Excellence controller is available in a whopping 20 hitbox and mixbox layouts. The default layout has 11 buttons that are 24 mm and a jump button that is 30 mm. The start and select buttons can be found on the side. The Excellence controller is available in white, black, or black & white options.
The stock switches are the silent Cherry MX silver type, which is light, Sanwa-like, and makes no clicking sound. Still, the switches are swappable. Needless to say, the Excellence controller includes SOCD cleaning. There is a hinge to lift the top panel and access the neat interior where you will realize that the PCB is the Brook UFB.
This is an acrylic controller with the same case as the community favorite Mad Catz TE, and the bottom panel has acrylic over the metal. The top plexiglass was designed for custom art designs.
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13. Slimbox
SQ Arcade presents the Slimbox that comes with a shaft, shaft puller, plastic spudger, and USB-C cable. The switches include a combination of Kailh on top and Gateron low-profile switches on the bottom. As this is an acrylic controller, it can accept custom artwork.
Regarding the PCB, you can choose between Brook or Pico, and PC compatibility is achieved through XInput. SOCD cleaning equates left and right to neutral. Additionally, up and down equal up. An input display is on the upper left.
Order from AliExpress: R5 / R3 / B5
12. 2nd Stage Creations
11. Pocket Mini HitBox
This is a mini all-key controller made of both aluminum and acrylic. It comes with two USB ports and a nifty LED display beneath the attack keys. There is a wide assortment of quality switches you can order in different colors. You can even install your own keycaps if you wish.
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10. RTU
The RTU mini hitbox is slim at 1″ thick. It is also sturdy and weighty. It can come with hot-swappable Cherry MX or Glorious Panda switches. The secondary buttons are stylishly laid out to the right side of the OLED screen, which shows inputs and function settings in real time.
The PCB is the Raspberry Pi Pico with practically nonexistent input latency. Your RTU should arrive with a USB cable, bottom padding, Allen key, and keycap removing tool that is useful. You can also choose from different colors of GamerFinger buttons, customizing your RTU to your liking, including the artwork.
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9. MAG-SF6
SQ Arcade’s MAG-SF6 is a Raspberry Pi Pico hitbox with three extra buttons for more efficient Drive Impacts in Street Fighter 6, but of course, you can use the MAG-SF6 for other games as well. You are several screws away from accessing the organized interior of the MAG-SF6.
Order from AliExpress:
MAG-SF6 / MAG-SF6-2
8. SallyBox
The SallyBox acts both as a hitbox and WASD controller, making it 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, and SOCD cleaning in addition to turbo support. Its cable is USB-C.
The LED screen shows the input & direction types, SOCD type, and turbo rate. The switches are light yet need a reasonable travel distance to trigger, meaning you should not worry about pressing them without meaning to. Glorious Panda switches should be compatible in addition. You can add artwork to the SallyBox.
Order from AliExpress:
Sinoarcade / SQ Arcade
7. Slab Mini
The Slab Mini All Button Controller is a sandwich acrylic case that has replaceable Cherry MX Clear switches and hot-swap sockets. The six function buttons have microswitches, and in the back, you can also find reset & BOOTSEL buttons. You can submit to the seller a digital art file to receive your Slab Mini unit with the top and bottom panels looking the way you like them.
The Slab Mini has countersunk top & bottom screws, and there are PLED pipes as well. RGB LED is supported too, and there is an OLED screen. The type of the USB is C.
6. Flatbox
The Flatbox is a 3D-printable mini hitbox designed by jfedor that you can get preassembled. Its small form factor is appealing in addition to its affordability. The Flatbox is portable enough for travel while having parts that are often available in spite of any current chip shortages. The six function buttons on the upper left are useful.
When it comes to compatibility and SOCD options, the Flatbox runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware. PC compatibility is instant and effortless. Depending on your purchasing source, the PCB may come assembled with Kailh switches that are socketed for easy swapping and cleaning without soldering. The USB port of the Flatbox is type C.
Order from AliExpress & Etsy: Flatbox / Neobox
5. Victrix Pro FS-12
The Victrix Pro FS-12 is available in white and purple. The buttons are all 24 mm Sanwa, except for the bottom jump button, which is 30 mm (and Sanwa as well). There is a tournament mode to avoid pressing secondary buttons during gameplay.
The wrist resting space is sloped for your convenience, and there is an anti-slip foam pad below. Also, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack. The controller itself is interestingly made of aircraft-grade aluminum.
The carrying handles and cable organizers allow for maximum convenience, and the quick-access back panel allows for the swapping of components with little effort. Mods can be made.
What you also get with the Pro FS-12:
- Detachable braided USB-C to A cable
- Allen wrench
- Storage bag
Order from Amazon: White / Purple
4. Punk Workshop Hitbox
The acrylic Punk Workshop hitbox is light and easy to carry about. It comes with mechanical buttons and swappable SOCD cleaning functionality.
You can choose from the colors of black, white, red, clear red, clear blue, or something else that is custom. Again, because this is an acrylic hitbox, you can message Sinoarcade your custom design.
You can swap out the pink silent Kailh BOX switches to customize the feel, tension, and actuation, but Kailh BOX switches are relatively light and similar to Sanwa parts. Furthermore, they have a soft bump above the actuation point. The controller’s internal wiring is rather neat.
Order from AliExpress:
Mini V3 & V2
Mini V3
Mini V2
Ultra Thin A
Ultra Thin B
Street Fighter 6
3. FightBox B1
The FightBox B1 is an ultra-thin but decently weighted acrylic controller available in many colors and many variations. The thickness is less than two centimeters, but the B1 is not malleable. Its layered structure allows for the placement of custom artwork onto the panel depending on the edition you choose. There is SOCD cleaning, and the cable is conveniently detachable.
All buttons measure 24 mm, and Cherry MX switches are used. Thanks to hot-swapping tech, you can replace them with your favorite mechanical key switches if you want. Otherwise, the stock buttons both feel & sound good, and they are quite reminiscent of typing on a keyboard, but they can be taken out with just your fingers if you prefer something else. The B1 has no noticeable input lag.
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2. FightBox F1
The FightBox F1 comes in many variations. It has three Sanwa OBSF-24 directional buttons, one Sanwa OBSF-30 jump button, and the attack buttons are Sanwa as well. The secondary buttons cannot be pressed by accident, which is a good safety measure during tournament play. Of course, SOCD cleaning is featured.
The F1 is made of metal that feels good, and the panel is sturdy acrylic that is not malleable. Custom art fans can upload their own image file when ordering. Additionally, there are rubber feet at the bottom for stability enhancements.
The wiring in the interior is very organized despite the F1 being thinner. The weight is also moderate. If needed, you can detach and replace the USB port of the F1.
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F1 White
F1 Black
F1 Custom
F8 Black
Razer Kitsune
The Razer Kitsune is a slim hitbox that is based on the Razer Blade laptop. Justin Wong is one of the professional players who provided feedback during the development of the Kitsune. The switches are red Razer low-profile linear optical ones with a shorter actuation height and speedy response. There is space to rest your wrists, and the bottom has an anti-slip pad.
The Kitsune has a removable aluminum top panel. This lightweight and mid-sized controller also comes in Chun-Li and Cammy variations.
The Kitsune is powered by Razer Chroma RGB, and the light shines through the Kitsune’s sides. As the Kitsune is licensed by Sony, it is expected to also work on future PlayStation consoles. SOCD cleaning makes the Kitsune tournament-legal. The USB cable can be conveniently detached, and you can lock the port if you want.
Order from Amazon:
Black / Cammy / Chun-Li
1. RAC-J800B
The RAC-J800B is the best bargain. It is is an improvement over the J500 series and comes in many variations. It has three Sanwa OBSF-24 buttons and one Sanwa OBSF-30 button on the left, which is the community’s favorite layout. The attack buttons are Sanwa too.
Because the secondary function buttons are firmer, it is unlikely that you will press them by mistake during tournament play. Needless to say, SOCD cleaning is implemented.
The case is made of quality metal, and the panel is sturdy acrylic that is not malleable. Moreover, there are rubber feet at the bottom to make your RAC-J800B more stable.
The wires inside are quite organized, which is impressive because the RAC-J800B is thinner than average. Also, the weight is moderate. Even the USB port is detachable if you would like to replace it, which is nifty. The RAC-J800B accepts custom art, and we at The Arcade Stick have a custom art service.
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