Coming hot off the heels of having my first experience with the Flydigi Apex 5, I figured now was the best time to go to the other end of the pricing spectrum to see if you really need to spend $150 on a controller. Luckily for me, Flydigi also fills in that spacing with their Dunefox, a controller that ranges from $20-$30, depending on where and when you find it. I grabbed it from Amazon and want to figure it out.
Is this controller worth its diminutive price tag? Are there better options? Do you need to spend that much on a controller? Well, now’s the time we talk about it.
Flydigi Dunefox Specs
Off the bat, you’re looking at a $25 MSRP, which ranges up or down by $5 depending on the platform you grab it from. At that price, corners can be expected. But did they cut too many?
- Sticks and Triggers: Hall Effect
- Face buttons and D-Pad: Membrane
- Battery: 600mAh
- Extra Features: Vibration, Space Station Software
- Connectivity: Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth (Up to 500Hz Across all)
- Compatibility: x86/iOS/Android/Switch 1
- Weight: 213 grams
What I Like
Ergonomics
Something nice and pleasant I can get out of the way first is that it has a decent grip length. Everything is within reach without a strange stretch needing to be done. The triggers are nice and big and hold my fingers well. As a whole, the Dunefox at least does its shape well. But that shouldn’t be too high praise considering my Xbox-style controllers steal the Xbox shaping.
Functionality
When it comes to functionality, I can say the thing works as expected. The controller picks up immediately when plugging the 2.4GHz dongle into my PC. I didn’t experience any major or awkward hiccups during my time with it, and as a PC controller, it works admirably. Even on Switch, I was able to get it to connect with ease. And while I couldn’t get it to wake up my Switch 1, it still would connect back without me having to mess with it. Overall, that’s a solid positive in my book.
Controls
They’re basic, but function well. The face buttons have a nice tension to them, and in use, I found them to be pretty positive as a whole. Probably has some of my favorite membrane buttons in the price range, only being edged out by something like the GameSir Nova Lite 2. The sticks and triggers are the most basic Hall Effect models you can get, but they’re smooth and accentuate well. However, there is some roughness along the way that I might not find the best experience. I would say, give it some time and see where it goes.
What I Don’t
The Finish
I know I harp on soft-touch rubber grips. But somehow I think I’ve found something worse for me personally. Smooth, almost unfinished feeling, slick plastic. That’s the entirety of what coats the Dunefox. It’s slick, and while the ergonomics are good, holding this for a long time is not my favorite thing. The Dunefox would have been leagues better if they had done something like texture the plastic. I would have paid another $5 just for that alone to help with the grip experience.
The D-Pad
This has to be one of the worst D-Pads I’ve used in a long while. I don’t think I’ve come across this before, but my D-Pad squeaks. It’s got minimal pivot, and if you try to quickly go from top to bottom, or diagonal to diagonal, if you’re pushing down too hard, the D-Pad audibly squeaks. I personally had to keep my headphones on while doing a run of Celeste. It’s a fine feeling D-Pad, but the lackluster quality control really brings it down into the depths of a Nook-shaped switch controller. It’s not going to be good in the long haul.
Competition
This controller lands in an incredibly competitive field. Last year, I covered controllers under $40 on RH, and today, in late 2025, I would probably have to place the Dunefox under most of that list, minus the Abxylute C8. Controllers in the budget end have gotten really good, and it shows that something like this wouldn’t even make my personal top 5.
At $30, you can grab an 8BitDo Ultimate 2C, a GameSir Nova Lite 2, or an Aolion K10. For $20, you could grab a Fantech Shooter III, a Nova Lite 1, or even the Anbernic RG-P01. It’s not just the fact that there are so many other options to pick from, it’s that there are so many better options. The Dunefox starts to fall into a sea of mediocrity.
Final Words
No. Don’t buy this one. You have dozens of better options within $5-$10 of the Dunefox. While the controls feel good, you’re let down by a mediocre stick experience and a worse D-Pad. In the previous section, I mentioned six options that I would recommend over the Dunefox, and I’m sure there are dozens more.
Why is this here? To fill a price point, more than likely. The Dunefox is the “Hey, look. We made a sub $30 controller for you.” controller, rather than something good. The best part is that, while it has software, you don’t need it for anything. The only reason I’d even open the software is to calibrate the sticks (which I’ve already had to do). Overall? It’s fine at best, but you can buy something else.
Maybe I should buy another Ultimate 2C…Maybe.
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