ManbaOne Interactive Screen wireless gaming controller review — One of a kind

We all do our fair share of internet “window shopping”. Just like in real life, occasionally you come across something unique and a little weird. Such has been the case with the ManbaOne Series wireless gaming controller. This controller is one of the more distinctive ones I’ve reviewed, and while it falters in a few areas, has enough going for it to be a good addition to your gaming setup.

Inside the box you’ll find the ManbaOne Series controller, a USB dongle for wireless connection, a charging dock, a USB-C cable, and two additional styles of thumbsticks. This is an absolute wealth of accessories to go with your ManbaOne. The charging dock even has a cavity underneath with a door to allow you to store the USB dongle when you’re taking it on the go or between devices. It’s the little things that count, and the ManbaOne has that down.

The controller itself is pretty stylish, with a translucent cover on top of the shell. It’s held on magnetically, so you can also purchase other covers later. Besides this, you’ll find your face buttons (which are labeled as Xbox inputs), offset thumbsticks, a D-pad, two triggers and bumpers, your start and select buttons, and four back buttons. There’s also a home and back button.

Of course, the reason you’re probably reading this particular review is the two inch display screen on the top. I’m fine with the placement, but its presence has pushed the start, select, home, and back buttons to the bottom of the controller face. This certainly throws me off, as these are important buttons depending on the game you’re playing. The screen is home to quite a few functions, including button mapping, vibration control, and even things like response curves and dead zones. I must admit, for a more inexpensive controller like this one, I’m stunned with the amount of features packed in.

RGB lighting also runs along the sides, adding extra points to the cool factor. You can choose from a few colors, a prism of them, along with two different effects to customize the ManbaOne to your liking. It’s nothing over the top, which works perfectly.

In hand, I can tell it’s a bit larger of a build. It reminds me of an Xbox 360 controller, being a bigger size than an Xbox Series controller. Heavy is a good word for it as well, with vibration motors inside that add to the heft. The screen probably makes this controller need to be a tad on the large side, but they’ve found the right balance of size and weight. Even so, if you have smaller hands, this one might be uncomfortable for you at first, especially if you’re playing something more competitive in nature.

It took me a moment to acclimate to using this controller while gaming. Beyond the size, the thumbsticks are quite loose. With these being anti-drift Hall Effect sticks, I was initially concerned something might be wrong. After playing with them for a while, it seems to simply be a design choice, as moving and aiming have no drawbacks whatsoever. The face buttons are also a bit mushy compared to the precise presses a first party controller would have. They’re still responsive, however, similar to the thumbsticks.

This trend extends to the back buttons, which are a bit small for my tastes. They press just fine, but the location doesn’t help their use, with the top two being tougher to reach. The bottom two fit in grip, but I’d have liked to have both directly under my fingers so I could operate them individually without moving my fingers around. I do love how simple it is to change them, as with the display you know exactly what you’re mapping and can do so in seconds.

As for the triggers, they have a trigger stop function for faster pulls. It’s probably closest in comparison to the original Xbox Elite controller, with either a full or locked pull available. I find it very comfortable in action, although it is a tad sensitive. Every once in a while I accidentally fired my virtual gun when adjusting my grip or just because the situation grew tense.

If you want to use this controller everywhere, it’s unfortunately a bit limited. PlayStation and Xbox compatibility isn’t available for the ManbaOne, but it will work on the Switch, PC, and mobile platforms. You’ll be able to choose your platform via the display screen, along with activating Bluetooth if you prefer that connectivity. There’s also USB dongle or wired options for using the ManbaOne, so one way or another they’ve got you covered.

Playing games with the ManbaOne is natural once you adjust to its idiosyncrasies. Whether playing something casual like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, or fighting in the intense battlegrounds of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it holds up well. My time in Black Ops 6 was especially enlightening, as I saw my initial interactions slowing me down while I learned the feel of the ManbaOne, with everything ticking up as my muscle memory began to acclimate. As someone who uses back buttons and trigger locks regularly in competitive games, it was nice to not experience a big drop off to this controller.

Given the wireless capabilities of the controller, the design team has dropped a 1800mAh rechargeable battery inside. This is a bit more than a PS5 controller, so you can guess at 6+ hours of charge per use, assuming you don’t run the RGB too hard. Adding the charging base helps that life from giving you not only a place to store your controller, but a spot it will be charging. There’s even an audio cue to let you know it’s on the base correctly, with an auto waking feature when you take it off to let you dive right back into the game. The battery life design has been well thought out, making it simple to keep your controller ready to go.

Pricing is one of the major reasons this controller is a great pick up. Somehow, packed with all of these features, the ManbaOne comes out to just $70. I’m honestly taken back; I have controllers that are twice that cost that have less functionality. I’d assume the platform limitations have something to do with it, but even with that in mind the ManbaOne is a steal.

You can grab your own via this handy link!

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