Manba One Review: An Odd One

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Manba One Review: An Odd One

https://retrohandhelds.gg/manba-one-review/

Let’s be real: no one asked for a controller with a screen… but now that it exists, we kinda can’t look away.

Enter the Manba One—a $70 beast that looks like a regular gamepad… until you notice the tiny 2-inch screen glowing on its face. It’s like if a Switch Pro Controller and a smartwatch had a baby, and that baby was obsessed with customization. Need to remap buttons mid-game? No PC needed. Want to tweak vibration or RGB lighting while waiting for your Steam library to load? Done. It’s the controller version of “I don’t need help, I’ve got an app for that.”

The controls? Solid but not spectacular. Hall-effect sticks glide like silk, triggers are light and clicky (good for racing games), but the D-pad feels like it’s walking through mud. And those macro buttons? Cute in theory—annoying in practice. I accidentally mashed them while trying to jump in Hades. Twice.

But here’s the kicker: the screen. It’s not just a gimmick—it’s useful. Pairing devices, checking battery, adjusting settings—all on the controller. No software installs. No laptop drama. For folks who hate fiddling with drivers, this is a dream.

Is it perfect? Nope. It’s bulky, the dock does jack-all beyond charging, and those trigger stops are just noisy. But if you want one controller to rule them all—and you’re okay with a little extra weight and screen glare—you won’t find a better option.

Verdict: Weird? Yes. Worth it? Maybe—if you’re the type who enjoys tweaking your gear like a tech wizard. 🎮✨