As someone who does digital drawing and painting, and some gaming, I like the idea of a controller than can be used for both of these activities. The EOS Mini from Fantech is not only a fun, compact controller for mobile gaming, but it also doubles as a remote for my digital art shortcuts on PC. Would be good enough to replace my preferred little 8Bitdo Micro though?
Key points
- Very affordable ~ 13 USD
- light and compact
- No keyboard mode
- Can’t be customized for mobile
In the box
Inside the box, you get the essentials:
- the controller of course
- a USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- A wrist strap
- Quick Start guide
- Warranty card
A look at the controller
The EOS Mini has a total of 19 buttons all around. Only 14 of these are customizable though, including the D-pad. Being a gaming controller, the different button groups all have a unique feel and placement which makes it easy to remember what you’ve programmed where.
Along the top side are shoulder and trigger buttons with a USB-C port in the middle for charging and wired use.
The bottom has the paring button and LED indicator lights for what mode you are paired in, or for displaying the battery status.
On the back is a reset button and a really small hole for the wrist strap to thread through. Something that I expected to take me less than a minute to do normally took several attempts, but eventually I got it.
Compatibility and Setup
For gaming, the Fantech EOS Mini is compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, and Switch. But there is no keyboard mode so, for digital art shortcuts, this will only work on a Windows PC.
Fantech does not have their own software for customizing the EOS Mini but they recommended using AntiMicroX to customize the buttons in either X-input or D-input modes. You can use this same software for customizing other gaming controllers too for this same purpose.
Setting things up in AntiMicroX is relatively straightforward. You press the button on the controller and it highlights the button in the software so that you know is which. Then you can click on it, assign a keyboard key and save. Combination shortcuts (like Ctrl+Z) require a few additional steps though. You can’t simply perform the full shortcut on your keyboard. You have to first assign the first key normally, then open the advanced settings, tap the next button and then press the additional key on your keyboard.
The Home, Capture, and Turbo buttons are hardware buttons that can’t be customized. If you have controller plugged in though, then you could assign something to the Home key, but using a controller like this wired is a bit inconvenient.
Using it
Overall, the EOS Mini was easy and comfortable to use as a digital art shortcut remote. On it’s own it does give some convenience if you have a simpler workflow. Some folks might still feel like it’s not quite enough depending on the other tools that you are using. In my case using the Wacom Movink 13, I get three buttons on the pen, touch input on the display, and the ability to create on-screen menus. So all together, I have a lot of customizability to work with.
Being as small and light as it is, I could also use this to extend the shortcuts I have available from my express keys if using something like the Intuos Pro or maybe a Kamvas 13 Gen 3. While holding the remote in my hand and I can still hit the tablet buttons if I need to.
EOS Mini versus the 8Bitdo Micro
8Bitdo’s Micro has been a popular option for digital artists for a while; especially those on mobile tablets like an iPad or a Galaxy Tab. It’s thanks to having a keyboard mode along with a mobile app to customize the buttons that sets it apart from the EOS Mini.
The Micro also has the edge with an additional two buttons to customize giving it a total of 16 rather than the 14 of the EOS Mini. The battery life on the EOS Mini is higher at around 20hours of play time.
When it comes to casual mobile gaming, I do prefer the EOS Mini over the Micro. The buttons are a bit bigger and easier to press, especially the triggers.
Conclusion
The Fantech EOS Mini is a fun little controller to have in your setup if you are specifically creating art on a Windows laptop and like to do some casual gaming. It might not revolutionize your workflow but it could be an affordable way to add in some extra convenience. The lack of a keyboard mode is a bit of a deal-breaker for me as someone who switches between computer and mobile a lot. So, this won’t replace the 8Bitdo Micro that I often carry around with me when the Tourbox would be too bulky.
If you think the EOS Mini will work for you, then you can find out more about it on the Fantech website,
