10. Mayflash F700 FLAT Elite
9. Razer Kitsune
Justin Wong is one of the pro players who gave feedback during the Razer Kitsune’s development. Its low profile Razer linear optical switches have a shorter actuation distance, resulting in a fast response time. The jump button is bigger than the rest, so you can hit it with the side of either one of your thumbs.
The Kitsune is a light & medium sized controller, and its slimness may remind you of a tablet device. Also, SOCD cleaning makes it legal while competing at tournaments. Speaking of tournaments, the controller has a tournament lock to prevent you from being disqualified by unintentionally pausing a match.
Licensed by Sony, the Kitsune has native PS5 compatibility, so you do not have to worry about getting an additional adapter, and the Sony license means that the controller will likely work on future PlayStation consoles too. This means you can save money and invest it in the stock market.
Onwards, 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 provides you stability. Not only that, the braided cable is detachable, and the port can be locked.
The Kitsune is a minimalistic beauty that 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 diminish 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 more editions. Because the controller has an aluminum top panel, you can add custom vinyl art, ending up with a controller that represents your aesthetic taste while also performing well.
Order from Amazon
8. Victrix Pro KO
As for the Pro KO’s mounting posts, they allow for a handle or shoulder strap, letting you carry the controller with little tiredness. Your order should also come with a protective sleeve and switch puller.
Order from Amazon
7. DuelPad Zen
The DuelPad Zen has 16 buttons, and it comes with some freebies that include extra parts & rubber feet. DuelPad calls the Zen’s layout an ergo-split layout, a layout for reducing 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 the average.
The Zen’s buttons are smooth, and they sound quieter than your run-of-the-mill buttons. Also, they should not pop off if you perform pro techniques like pianoing or sliding.
When you play, the Zen should not slide around, even without installing the optional feet. On a side note, the controller’s size may remind you of a tablet device. It is light enough to carry without getting tired but 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 the top panel to check for any warping. That said, you might be glad to know that the controller has USB-C ports in the back and on the left. Needless to say, the cable is detachable.
There is a USB-A port as well where you can insert a converter like the BOOTER 5 to make the Zen compatible with the PS5. There is also a screen that tells you important information like which buttons you successfully pressed.
Aesthetically speaking, the Zen is an acrylic controller with matte black and crystal options. The matte black edition uses Ghost switches, and the crystal edition uses White Rain switches. Both switches are low profile, linear, swift, and quiet, but if you have another preference, the switches are hot swappable.
The beauty of your Zen can be enhanced with RGB LED, and there are a whopping 35 themes! The buttons and the controller both light up. You might 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 larger buttons and Kailh Choc low profile switches for speedy presses. There is another edition with less buttons if you like. The input lag of the buttons is less than a millisecond, which is fantastic.
The T16 is an acrylic controller with chamfered edges for the comfort of your palms. 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 the center back, and you can find another port on the right, which is where you would insert the BOOTER 5 dongle for PS5 compatibility.
The T16’s SOCD cleaning includes the usual modes of up priority, neutral, and last input priority, so tournament legality should not be a problem for you. The screen keeps you informed about your inputs, input mode, and SOCD mode.
RGB LED makes the T16 even more stunning when you press its buttons. You may also be glad to know that the art of the controller is customizable, so you can have your favorite characters displayed on it.
Order from AliExpress: Standard / Crystal
Order from Amazon: Standard / Crystal
5. Haute42 R16
The Haute42 R16 has 16 buttons, with one button on the left being for your pinky. The Kailh Crystal low profile switches allow you to press the buttons rapidly. The input latency is less than a millisecond, which is awesome. You can even make use of turbo for fast inputs with little effort.
The R16’s onboard screen reveals aspects that range 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 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, such as the BOOTER 5 for PS5 support.
The R16 is a beauty, especially due to the RGB LED when you press its buttons. The controller can also accept custom artwork to make your controller your style. A black edition is available as well.
Order from AliExpress: White / Black
Order from Amazon: White / Black
4. DOIO KBGM-H07B
If you are a serious fighting gamer, DOIO is a brand that you should be paying close attention to. It has many creative controllers, such as the KBGM-H07B.
The KBGM-H07B 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. You can even map the buttons online.
That said, the PBT keycaps of the KBGM-H07B are smooth with a slight texture, and they utilize the low profile Gateron Silver linear switches—that are hot swappable. So, if you have another preference for switches, you can go for it.
With aluminum alloy on top, the KBGM-H07B runs on the awesome GP2040-CE firmware for its compatibility. Also, the little screen tells you information like the input, directional, and SOCD modes.
While the KBGM-H07B is impressively slim, 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 the next tournament—without having to squeeze your legs together.
There are two USB-C ports: one in the back, and one on the left. This way, you can insert the USB-C cable into the KBGM-H07B where it impedes you the least. As for a PS5 adapter like the BOOTER 5, it can go into the USB-A port.
The KBGM-H07B’s has LED backlight that makes it glow like a carnival. The controller is also offered in a lot of colors. In addition, four stabilization feet can be found at the partially see-through acrylic bottom. These feet should not dig into your lap—if that concerns you.
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 suits your style.
Order from AliExpress
3. Haute42 U16
The Haute42 U16 combines the best of both worlds: it has a plexiglass top and an injection molded bottom. The controller has 16 buttons, which are enough for modern fighting games, and the U12 edition only has 12 buttons.
The buttons of the U16 have a satisfyingly smooth texture, and the button rings make you feel like you are pressing true arcade buttons. For your convenience, the jump button is bigger than the rest, letting you press it without needing to be too precise.
The U16’s Crystal linear switches are fast and fairly quiet. Another awesome aspect is the size of the wrist resting area you can enjoy when using this spacious controller. An additionally 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 like to play with your controller on a desk or your lap, the U16 has got you covered. You see, the controller has 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 big enough not to have to squeeze your legs together, and the controller’s lightness makes long gaming sessions more comfortable. In addition, the controller is slim, 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 detachable USB-C to A cable with it. For PS5 compatibility, you can insert the BOOTER 5 adapter into the USB-A 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’s feel. Even the buttons are swappable.
Now, you may be glad to know that the U16 is one of the easier Haute42 controllers to customize the art of to represent your interests. Just unscrew the top plexiglass layer, insert your brand new art, and put the plexiglass back on.
That said, we at The Arcade Stick would love to provide 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 art for Haute42 controllers, so please feel free to get in touch with us if you are interested in our custom artwork service!
Order from AliExpress or Amazon
2. Haute42 M16 Ultra
The Haute42 M16 Ultra is a sturdy metallic controller that is slim. There is an edition with 12 buttons as well. Otherwise, this masterpiece can come in a black or silver color. With custom RGB LED, the controller’s beauty is boosted further.
The M16 Ultra has less than a millisecond of input delay, so you can enjoy responsive gameplay. Also, there are multiple SOCD cleaning modes to fit your fighting game needs, keeping the controller tournament legal.
The M16 Ultra has an info screen, so you can see your inputs in real time, and you can also know which input & SOCD modes you are currently in.
For your convenience, there is built-in web configuration so you can adjust your M16 Ultra online to your liking. As for the useful EXT port, it allows you to insert a dongle such as the BOOTER 5 for compatibility with the PS5. An additional thing you can do is add custom artwork to the controller to make it reflect your interests.
Order from AliExpress: Ultra / Plus
Order from Amazon: Ultra / Plus
Featured: FightBox F-PRO
FightBoxArcade is an all-inclusive shop for your leverless needs. With the FightBox F-PRO, it is no different: there are a whopping 17 buttons, so you can even use the leftmost button with your left pinky. The possibilities are infinite.
Something we often see with modern leverless controllers is that they do not come with standard arcade buttons because they are too thin, but not this controller. The F-PRO comes with Sanwa buttons known for their responsivity and durability. Moreover, you can swap them for other reputable brands like Seimitsu.
All the buttons are 24 mm except for the jump button, which is 30 mm so you can press it more easily. Thankfully, the function buttons are harder to press, which means 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 good. Not only that, the weight is moderate too, and in addition to the rubber feet at the bottom, the controller should stay in place while you play. Though 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 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 the 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 artwork to make your controller truly represent you. Be sure to check out all their models to find the controller you like both visually and in the performance department.
Order from FightBoxArcade
1. Haute42 X1
The X1 is Haute42’s most ambitious controller to date, and it is like having multiple controllers in one. This modular controller contains three main swappable modules:
- Upper directional buttons
- Lower directional buttons
- Attack buttons
You can get the buttons with or without rims. You can also go for the smooth Kailh Wind Engine switches or snappier Kailh Ice Cream switches. Because of the overclocked polling rate, the X1 has less than 1 ms of input lag.
You can rotate the directional button module to find the most comfy angle. What also adds to the X1’s comfort is its spacious wrist area. Also, the controller is thin.
With that being 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 under 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 modes. You can activate the turbo feature as well to just press a button one time, resulting in multiple button presses in-game.
If you would like to make the X1 compatible with the PS5, there is a USB port where you can insert the BOOTER 5. Otherwise, here are the free items you should be receiving when you order this controller:
- A couple of extra Haute42 switches
- Switch puller
- USB cable
- Manual
- Black bag
To wrap up, Haute42 fans and newcomers should consider the X1. It adds a new layer of customization to the Evo award winning company’s line of bestsellers, which we at The Arcade Stick have had many positive experiences with.