CRKD’s tiny Atom Plus gamepad packs dual analog thumbsticks into portable controllers, but pushes their limits
Small controller, broad feature set
At around 3.5 inches wide, the Atom Plus is roughly half an inch smaller than 8BitDo’s Zero 2. Despite that size, it includes symmetrical analog sticks, shoulder buttons and triggers, rumble, motion controls, a home button, and mobile-app customization.
The thumbsticks use anti-drift tunneling magnetoresistance technology. The controller supports multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, computers, Android and iOS devices, and various smart TVs.
Pairing takes some remembering
To switch between devices, users select one of several Bluetooth modes by holding the home button and a particular D-pad direction while powering on the controller. The process is straightforward, but remembering which direction matches each mode can be difficult.
Pairing instructions are not etched on the back, despite other technical information appearing there. The reviewer often needed to consult the manual or search online when changing devices.
Compact controls bring compromises
The sticks are about the size of those on the original Switch Joy-Con, and smaller than the Switch 2’s. The reviewer found them responsive, with slightly more tension than Nintendo’s sticks, which helped with precise movements despite their limited travel.
The front buttons and D-pad feel soft, but the controls sit close together. Pressing down or right on the D-pad regularly brought the reviewer’s thumb into contact with the left stick, an annoyance that did not prevent gameplay. Larger hands may find the controller difficult to use.
Triggers and app features
The shoulder buttons and triggers use digital microswitches. As a result, the triggers cannot provide analog acceleration for racing games, and their positions at different heights did not always prevent accidental presses.
The mobile app can show remaining charge, disable rumble, display the controller’s product number through an NFC chip, and remap controls. Two shortcut levers replicate the Switch’s plus and minus buttons and its screenshot shortcut, reducing the number of buttons on the front.
Key points
- The $29.99 Atom Plus is about 3.5 inches wide and supports several platforms.
- It includes dual analog sticks, rumble, motion controls, and customizable buttons.
- Crowded controls may bother larger-handed users, and digital triggers lack analog acceleration.
- Bluetooth pairing requires remembering a button combination for each mode.