Travelers seeking a fully featured mini gamepad have a new option with CRKD's Atom Plus, retailing for $29.99 in editions like retro purple and gray. Measuring roughly 3.5 inches wide, the controller is about a half-inch smaller than 8BitDo's Zero 2 yet manages to incorporate an impressive array of hardware features, including symmetrical analog thumbsticks utilizing anti-drift tunneling magnetoresistance technology. Designed primarily as a portable companion for platforms like the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PCs, iOS, Android, and smart TVs, the Atom Plus aims to solve the ergonomic complaints many players have against standalone Joy-Cons without requiring a bulky full-size controller in luggage.
Key takeaways
- The CRKD Atom Plus measures about 3.5 inches wide and costs $29.99.
- It features symmetrical analog thumbsticks with tunneling magnetoresistance technology.
- The controller supports multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, PCs, iOS, and Android.
- A companion mobile app allows for firmware updates, button remapping, and NFC product verification.
Features packed into an ultra-compact footprint
Despite its exceptionally small size, CRKD has managed to fit a surprising list of specifications into the Atom Plus. Beyond the twin analog thumbsticks, the gamepad includes shoulder buttons, digital triggers, rumble feedback, a dedicated home button, motion controls, and built-in NFC capability. Tapping a smartphone to the internal NFC chip reveals the controller's unique product number through an accompanying mobile app, which also handles firmware updates, battery status monitoring, rumble adjustments, and complete control remapping.
Multiplatform connectivity is supported via several Bluetooth modes. Users can pair the device across various operating systems by holding down the home button alongside specific directions on the D-pad during power-up. While functional, remembering the exact button combinations can prove frustrating, leading to occasional reliance on manuals or online searches. The back of the controller features etched technical info, though pairing instructions are notably omitted from the engraving.
Ergonomic compromises and travel utility
The micro-sized footprint inevitably introduces physical compromises, particularly for users with larger hands. The D-pad and front action buttons are responsive, but the cramped layout means pressing right or down on the D-pad frequently results in thumbs bumping the adjacent left thumbstick. Similarly, the digital shoulder buttons and triggers sit at slightly different heights, yet their close proximity can occasionally cause accidental simultaneous presses during fast-paced gaming sessions.
To help mitigate space constraints on the face of the controller, CRKD integrated dual-function shortcut levers on the back that replicate the Switch plus and minus buttons alongside the screenshot shortcut. While these levers cleverly reduce front-panel clutter, they share the general scaling theme of feeling somewhat undersized. Ultimately, the Atom Plus serves as a capable, inexpensive travel accessory rather than a primary everyday gamepad, though its limits highlight the ongoing industry challenge of shrinking hardware without sacrificing playability.
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