10. Mayflash F700 FLAT Elite
9. Razer Kitsune
Justin Wong is one of the pro players who provided feedback during the Razer Kitsune’s development. Its low profile Razer linear optical switches have a shorter actuation height, resulting in a fast response time. The jump button is bigger than the rest, so you can hit it with the side of either thumb.
The Kitsune is a lightweight & mid sized controller, and its thinness may remind you of a tablet device. Also, SOCD cleaning makes it legal at tournaments. Speaking of tournaments, the controller has a tournament lock to prevent you from being disqualified by accidentally pausing a match.
Onward, the Kitsune has ample space for your wrists to rest, and its slimness spares you from tilting up your wrists to use it. In addition, the anti-slipping pad at the bottom provides you stability. Not only that, the braided cable is detachable, and the port is lockable.
The Kitsune is a sight to behold. It is powered by Razer Chroma RGB, and the light shines through the controller’s sides. The button labels are colored in a way that does not take away from the controller’s beauty, but they are still visible enough for you to see them.
In addition to the black edition, the Kitsune can come in Cammy, Chun-Li, and other editions. Because the controller has an aluminum top panel, you can add custom vinyl art to it. This way, you get a controller that represents your aesthetic taste while also performing well.
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8. Victrix Pro KO
As for the controller’s mounting posts, they allow for a handle or shoulder strap, letting you carry the controller with little fatigue. Your Pro KO package should also come with a protective sleeve and switch puller.
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7. DuelPad Zen
The DuelPad Zen has 16 buttons, and it comes with a bunch of freebies that include extra parts & rubber feet. DuelPad calls the Zen’s layout an ergo-split layout that is there to reduce your odds of wrist pain.
Essentially, 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 usual.
The Zen’s buttons are smooth, and they sound quieter than the average button. Also, they should not pop off if you perform advanced techniques like pianoing or sliding.
When you play, the Zen should not slide around, even without installing the rubber feet. On a side note, the controller’s size may remind you of a tablet. It is light enough to carry around without getting tired but has enough weight not to forget that it is still in your hand.
The Zen is quite slim, but it passed a malleability test when deliberately pressing on the top panel to see if any warping would happen.
With that being said, you may be glad to know that the Zen has USB-C ports in the back and on the left. Needless to say, the cable is detachable for your convenience.
There is a USB-A port as well where you can insert an adapter to make the Zen compatible with more consoles. There is also a screen that tells you important information like which buttons you have successfully pressed.
Aesthetically, the Zen is an acrylic controller with matte black and crystal options. The matte black edition comes with Ghost switches, and the crystal edition uses White Rain switches. Both switches are low profile, linear, fast, and quiet, but if you have other preferences, the switches are hot swappable.
The beauty of your Zen can be enhanced with RGB LED. There are a whopping 35 themes! Both the buttons and the controller itself light up. You may also be glad to know that the controller accepts custom art.
Order from AliExpress: Acrylic / Metal
6. Haute42 T16
The Haute42 T16 is a controller with large buttons and Kailh Choc low profile switches for speedy presses. There is another edition with less buttons if you prefer so. The input lag of the buttons is less than a millisecond.
The T16 is an acrylic controller with chamfered edges for the comfort of your hands. There are non-slip feet to make your controller stay in place during matches.
The USB port of the T16 conveniently comes out of the center back, and you can find another port on the right to insert a converter, making your controller compatible with more consoles.
The T16’s SOCD cleaning includes the usual modes of up priority, neutral, and last input priority, so tournament legality should not be an issue. The included screen lets you know your inputs, input mode, and SOCD mode.
RGB LED makes the T16 even more stunning when you press the buttons. You may also be glad to know that the art of the T16 is customizable, so you can have your favorite characters on it.
Order from AliExpress: Standard / Crystal
Order from Amazon: Standard / Crystal
5. Haute42 R16
The Haute42 R16 has 16 buttons, with one button being on the left for your pinky. The Kailh Crystal low profile switches allow you to press the buttons quickly. The input latency is impressively less than a millisecond. You can even make use of the turbo mode.
The R16’s onboard screen reveals aspects from your inputs to the current SOCD mode you are in. What you can also get with the controller includes an extra switch, switch puller, and some function buttons.
The USB port conveniently comes out of the R16’s center back, and on the right, there is a port for an adapter to enhance the controller’s compatibility.
The R16 is a thing of beauty, especially due to the RGB LED when you press its buttons. The controller can also accept custom artwork to make your controller truly represent your taste. There is a black edition too.
Order from AliExpress: White / Black
Order from Amazon: White / Black
4. DOIO KBGM-H07B
DOIO is a brand that should be on your mind because of its many creative controllers—like the KBGM-H07B. This controller has 16 primary buttons, and several of those buttons are teardrop-shaped. This means you need less precision to press them, giving you an advantage over the competition. You can map the buttons online.
That said, the PBT keycaps of the KBGM-H07B are smooth with a slight texture, and they use the low profile Gateron Silver linear switches that are hot swappable. So, if you have another switch preference, you can go for it.
With aluminum alloy on top, the KBGM-H07B runs on the popular GP2040-CE firmware for its compatibility. The tiny screen tells you information like the input, directional, and SOCD modes.
While the KBGM-H07B is impressively thin, it is has enough weight not to slide around while you play. Not only that, its width also allows you to play with it on your lap at some tournament—without having to squeeze your legs together.
That aside, there are two USB-C ports: one on the left, and one in the back. This way, you can insert the USB-C cable into the KBGM-H07B where it obstructs you the least.
The KBGM-H07B’s aesthetic features include LED backlight. The controller is also available in a lot of colors. Furthermore, four stabilization feet can be found at the partially see-through acrylic bottom. These feet should not dig into your lap—if that is how you like to play.
If the KBGM-H07B is not your cup of tea, be sure to check out DOIO’s other controllers because you are likely to find a controller that really suits your style.
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3. Haute42 U16
The Haute42 U16 has plexiglass on top with an injection molded bottom. There are 16 buttons, which 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 satisfyingly smooth texture, and the button rings make you feel like you are pressing arcade buttons. Moreover, the jump button is bigger than the rest, so you can press it without being too precise.
The U16’s switches are fast and relatively quiet. Another awesome aspect is the size of the wrist resting area you can enjoy when you use this spacious controller. Yet another cool 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 lap, the U16 has got you covered because the controller has 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 wide enough not to have to squeeze your legs together, and the controller’s lightness makes long gaming sessions comfier. Additionally, the controller is thin, and it might even fit into a laptop or tablet sleeve you already own.
When you order your U16, you do not have to worry about buying your own cable because Haute42 ships a USB-C to A cable with it, and it is detachable. If you would like to expand the controller’s compatibility, you can insert an adapter into the USB-A port.
With the U16, you also receive an extra switch as well as a switch puller because of the hot swappable switches that allow you to customize how the controller feels. Even the buttons can be changed.
Now, you may be happy to know that the U16 is one of the easier Haute42 controllers to customize the art of to represent your personality. Just unscrew the top plexiglass, insert your brand new art, and screw the plexiglass back on.
We, The Arcade Stick, would love to provide you custom art for your U16. We have a team of dedicated professionals who are ready to serve you, and we have had plenty of experience designing artworks for Haute42 controllers before, so please feel free to get in touch with us if you are interested in our custom art service. Have fun!
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2. Haute42 M16 Ultra
The Haute42 M16 Ultra is a tank that is metallic yet slim. There is another edition with 12 buttons. Otherwise, this masterpiece can come in black or silver. With custom RGB LED, the controller’s beauty is enhanced further.
Impressively, the M16 Ultra has less than a millisecond of input lag, so you can enjoy high responsivity during gameplay. Also, there are multiple SOCD cleaning modes to fit your needs, keeping the M16 Plus tournament legal.
The M16 Ultra has an info screen, so you can see your inputs in real time. You can also know which input and SOCD modes you are currently in.
For your convenience, there is built-in web config so you can configure your M16 Ultra online to your liking. As for the useful EXT port, it allows you to insert a dongle for compatibility with more consoles. Something else you can do is add custom artwork to the controller to make it represent your personality.
Order from AliExpress: Ultra / Plus
Order from Amazon: Ultra / Plus
Featured: FightBox F-PRO
FightBoxArcade is a one stop shop for all your leverless needs. With the FightBox F-PRO, the case is no different. There are a whopping 17 buttons, so you can even use the leftmost button with your left pinky. The possibilities are endless.
Something we see a lot with modern leverless controllers is that they do not come with standard arcade buttons because they are too thin, but not the F-PRO. This controller comes with Sanwa buttons known for their responsivity and durability. Furthermore, you can swap them for other reputable brands like Seimitsu.
All the buttons are 24 mm except for the jump button, which is bigger at 30 mm so you can press it more easily. Thankfully, the function buttons are harder to press, which means that you are unlikely to press them accidentally.
Regarding hardware, the F-PRO is made of sturdy metal, and the acrylic on top is not malleable, which is awesome. Not only that, the weight is decent too, and in addition to the six rubber feet at the bottom, the controller should stay in place while you play your favorite fighting game. Although this controller is not flat, it is still quite thin.
Needless to say, the F-PRO features SOCD cleaning support, so you should not be disqualified from a tournament for pressing opposite directions at the same time.
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 the port for whatever reason. Speaking of modding, the wiring inside the F-PRO is impressively 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 truly represent you. Be sure to check out all their models to find the controller you like both visually and performance-wise.
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1. Haute42 X1
The X1 is Haute42’s most ambitious controller to date. It is like having multiple controllers in one. This modular controller has three main swappable modules:
- Upper directional buttons
- Lower directional buttons
- Attack buttons
You can get buttons with rims or without rims. You can also choose between the smooth Kailh Wind Engine switches or snappier Kailh Ice Cream switches. Because of the overclocked polling rate, there is less than a millisecond of input delay, meaning the X1 is fast.
You can rotate the directional button module to find the angle most comfortable for you. What also adds to the X1’s comfort is its generous wrist space. Plus, the controller is slim.
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 set on a surface.
The X1’s screen shows your button presses live in addition to the input, direction, and SOCD cleaning modes. You can activate the turbo feature as well to just press a button once and then get multiple button presses in-game.
Here are the freebies you should be receiving when you order the X1:
- A couple of extra Haute42 switches
- Switch puller
- USB cable
- Guide
- Black zipper bag
Haute42 fans and newcomers should definitely consider the X1. It adds a new dimension of customization to the Evo award winning company’s line of bestselling controllers, which we at The Arcade Stick have had plenty of positive experiences with.
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