The Minibird Pop Top wireless controller is one of the newest controllers for Nintendo Switch and although it’s a bit smaller, it’s a pretty impressive piece of hardware. Want to learn more? Let’s jump in!
What is a Pop Top?
Before we address the controller itself, let’s take a look at the name itself. As the name suggests, this is a completely wireless controller, similar to the Pro Controller of the Switch but what’s up with the Pop Top? Well, this controller comes in four different variations, all mimicking an important piece of pop culture. The black one is Batman-inspired, the yellow one took inspiration from Pikachu, the purple one features elements of Fortnite while the red and blue one features some iconic Super Mario resemblances. We received that last one and I must say the Super Mario theme really is strong. The red and blue really are close to the Super Mario colors and make a perfect fit for Switch owners. Of course, the designs are aimed to offer variation so everyone finds a controller they like the most. The different colors are pure esthetical, as the controllers themselves are all the same on the inside.
The controller
Once you picked your favorite controller, it’s time to get your hands on it. The first thing you’ll notice is its size. Compared to the Pro Controller, this one is a lot smaller and is clearly aimed at a younger audience. I’m pretty sure this controller fits the hands of the younger gamers perfectly while it might feel a bit too small for adults. I personally didn’t mind it that much but after spending a couple of hours with it during some more intense gaming sessions, I have to admit it might be slightly too small. Nothing to worry about, however, as the controller itself is rather high in quality for its lower price. This one costs almost half the price of a Pro Controller so even with its smaller size, it’s worth looking into.
Just like the Pro Controller, you’ll find all of the typical Switch buttons at the same place, but this one comes with extra AGL and AGR buttons underneath the controller. These are fully programmable and changeable using a handy switch, it’s a great extra feature and something you wouldn’t really expect in a controller in this price class. A more questionable addition to the controller is the so-called turbo button. You can align this with one of the traditional buttons to make it enter the turbo mode, which means that this button will receive some extra virtual clicks if you use it in turbo mode. A nice extra for the fans I guess, but I didn’t really use it while gaming.
That being said, the quality of the controller is certainly something worth pointing out. Although it’s a bit smaller, it has some weight to it which makes it rather comfortable to hold. The material is also really pleasant to touch and thanks to some clever use of antislip materials, you’ll never lose your grip while gaming, which is a big plus of course. As said at the beginning of the review, this is also a fully wireless controller that comes with a rechargeable (USB-C) battery on board. It will take around 10 hours of intense gaming to recharge it, which is a bit less compared to the Pro Controller but then again, this controller is a lot cheaper in stores. For its price, this really is one of the better Switch controllers on the market as it comes with some unexpected pleasant surprises, the ability to change the rumble of the controller is one of those. You’re able to make it vibrate less or more while gaming, all depending on your personal preferences. To top it off, the controller also comes with motion controls so you can use it in the exact same way as the official Nintendo controllers, which is rather impressive.
Conclusion:
The Minibird Pop Top wireless Switch controller is a worthy alternative for the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller as it offers everything you would expect from a Switch controller and even adds in some great extras. The only real downside is the fact that it’s a lot smaller compared to other controllers and is probably best suited for younger gamers. That being said, if you don’t mind the size, you’ll enjoy using the Minibird for hours.
