| Price | Amazon |
| Release | May 5, 2025 |
| Compatibility | NS2 / PC / Android |
| Dimensions | 11.7″ x 7.7″ x 0.5″ |
| Weight | 1.91 lbs |
Introduction
Is there one valid reason why you still haven’t bought a 16 button controller? You can benefit from 16 buttons when playing some modern fighting games, you know. A wise man once said, “You’re only as good as your tools.”
That said, this is a perfect opportunity to present to you the Zeetain MS1. This 16 button controller’s keycaps all have a 25.5 mm size. In addition, 16 buttons mean you have access to a dual layout, including a WASD layout.
For now, let’s unbox the MS1!
Unboxing
With your purchase of a brand new MS1, you should be getting so many things for free:
- 16 O-rings for key travel reduction
- Two extra Kailh Choc Red switches
- Two replacement keycaps
- Key switch puller
- Screwdriver
- Black USB-C cable
- Four anti-slip rubber feet
- Couple of illustrated art sheets
Also, good news: the manual is in English.
Performance
The MS1’s buttons are bolstered by low profile Kailh Choc Red switches. These switches are smooth and with no disturbing bump or click.
If the MS1’s switches aren’t your cup of tea though, you may be glad to know they’re hot swappable—without the need for tedious tools.
Moving on, the right thumb button (R3) sits lower than most similar controllers. The unique R3 positioning is good because there’s no need for different companies to make the same controller over and over again, right? In other words, if the MS1’s layout is your preference, then that’s fantastic.
As for the MS1’s function buttons (from left to right):
- Turbo
- Touchpad
- Home
- Select
- Start
It’s worth mentioning the screen on top of the MS1. It shows you information like the current input, directional, and SOCD cleaning mode—as well as an animation of your live button presses.
Hardware
The MS1 is a large yet light and slim controller held together by eight screws. Structurally, the controller is so robust that you shouldn’t feel any rattling—whether it’s on your lap on desk. Anyhow, the controller’s USB-C port can be found in the back, and its USB-A port can also be found in the back.
Why is the USB-A port important?
That’s because the USB-A port is where you can insert an adapter to make your MS1 compatible with even more consoles. You see, the RP2040 chip this controller uses already gives you decent compatibility, but with an adapter, you can extend the controller’s compatibility further—as we’ve already established.
Thankfully, the MS1’s input latency is less than a millisecond, so lag is almost nonexistent. Furthermore, you get access to web configuration to adjust this controller’s settings seamlessly.
Appearance
The MS1 looks so elegant in its matte black color, which is sweat-resistant and fingerprint-resistant, and the black cable is befitting. Oh, and remember the screen we talked about earlier?
You can actually create a custom animation that shows up on that screen whenever you boot up the MS1. By the way, such screens are usually called OLED screens, which reminds us…
The MS1 features LED that can bring the controller to life with beautiful lights. Namely, there are adjustable RGB LED modes that include:
- Static
- Blink
- Fade
Let’s wrap things up with a bang: the MS1 can accept custom art to make the controller a reflection of your interests. For example, maybe you want your favorite character displayed on the controller, which we at The Arcade Stick can help you out with through our custom art service that has been around for years.
Conclusion
We can rave on and on about the benefits of the MS1, but its selling point is its unique right thumb button placement.
- 16 identical buttons
- Hot swappable switches
- Unique dual layout
- For lap or desk play
- Structurally robust
- Large, light, slim
- Matte black
- Anti-sweat
- Anti-fingerprint
- Custom art
- RGB LED
- OLED screen
- RP2040 chip
- Almost zero lag
- Web configuration
- Extendable compatibility
- So many freebies!
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐