This tiny gamepad with dual analog thumbsticks pushes the limits of portable controllers

As much as I value the ingenious scheme of the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con, my family and I can’t remain using them as standalone gamepads. So whenever we journey alongside the Switch 2, we continually bring at smallest one full-size gamepad, affirmative a brace of 8BitDo’s Zero 2 controllers for games that don’t use analog thumbsticks. I’ve spent years hunting for an substitute that pairs the size of the Zero 2 alongside as much of the functionality of a larger controller as I can get, and CRKD’s new Atom Plus is nearly exactly that. But if you have larger hands akin I do, you may discover the gamepad’s concentration on portability a struggle.

Measuring about 3.5 inches wide, the $29.99 Atom Plus is concerning a half-inch smaller than the 8BitDo Zero 2 but squeezes in considerably additional features and functionality. The most apparent is a brace of symmetrical analog thumbsticks alongside anti-drift tunneling magnetoresistance technology. You additionally get high arm buttons and triggers, rumble feedback, a dedicated residence button, motion controls, and customization through a mobile app.

Like many third-party controllers, the Atom Plus plant alongside multiple platforms, including the Switch and Switch 2, PCs, Android, iOS, and assorted astute TVs. And fair akin another gamepads, pairing to distinct devices requires putting the Atom Plus into one of multiple Bluetooth modes by holding downward a blend of buttons at power-up, which in this case is the residence clasp affirmative a particular direction on the D-pad. It’s uncomplicated to do, but never uncomplicated to remember: I frequently needed to catch the manual or quickly Google which direction I need to media whenever switching devices. The Atom Plus already features a bunch of specialized info etched into the rear of the controller, so I’d affection to see these crucial pairing instructions included there, too. (And that goes for all multiplatform gamepads.)

I chiefly tested the Atom Plus alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 since I mostly scheme to use the controller as a journey accessory. The thumbsticks are concerning the identical size as those on the first Switch Joy-Con, which method they’re smaller than the Switch 2’s. And during I favor an asymmetrical layout, the Atom Plus’ sticks are extremely good, alongside a small additional strain than Nintendo’s that I discover really helps alongside precision movements stated their constricted travel.

While the general build norm feels excellent, the Atom Plus’ small footprint creates several compromises and challenges. The forefront act buttons and D-pad awareness nice and squishy, but the gamepad’s controls are a small crowded. When pressing downward or correct on the D-pad, my thumb regularly bumps the remaining thumbstick. It doesn’t hinder gameplay, but I do discover it an annoying distraction.

The high arm buttons use digital microswitches, as do the triggers, which method the second can’t be used for racing games that assistance analog acceleration controls. I akin that the two sets of buttons on the top border sit at slightly distinct heights, but I would have preferred a small additional differentiation since I’ve occasionally accidentally pressed the triggers whenever I meant to hit the high arm buttons.

I was impressed alongside the Atom Plus’ customizability, however. When paired to an accompanying mobile app, you can inspect the controller’s remaining charge, rotate off rumble feedback, see its distinctive merchandise figure (by tapping your phone to an NFC part inner the controller), and remap any of its controls. That includes the brace of dual-function shortcut levers that replicate the Switch’s affirmative and minus buttons and screenshot shortcut.

Those levers move up and downward and cleverly decrease the figure of buttons crowding the forefront of the Atom Plus, but they awareness a small too small, which is additional or small the broad theme. It’s a small gamepad that’s awesome for journey or stashing in your mundane carry. But, unsurprisingly, it likely won’t discover its way into your regular gaming rotation. It’s assumed that players volition be consenting to resolve for the colony of occasionally contorting their fingers in weird, new ways for among the smallest completely featured controllers on the market.

I don’t think a dual-stick controller could get any smaller than the Atom Plus without making too many ergonomic compromises. So during I applaud CRKD for the careful balancing act rearward the Atom Plus’ design, and would certainly propose it for those wanting a extremely capable controller that’s additionally cheap and portable, I’m now inquisitive how it compares to Microsoft’s recently announced Xbox Nano controller that’s “surprisingly comfortable,” according to The Verge’s Tom Warren. It’s $20 additional costly than CRKD’s and noticeably larger, but it adds analog triggers, a additional roomy design, and stubby grips making it easier to clasp for those of us alongside beefy mitts.

Photos by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge