Qanba Obsidian 2 vs HORI Fighting Stick Mini
Qanba Obsidian 2 (#1, best overall) vs HORI Fighting Stick Mini (#5, best budget): in our Fight Sticks scoring the Qanba Obsidian 2 totals 9.5/10 and the HORI Fighting Stick Mini 6.7/10, the Qanba Obsidian 2 leading on Components and Moddability and the HORI Fighting Stick Mini on Value.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Qanba Obsidian 2 | HORI Fighting Stick Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $50 |
| Buttons | Sanwa OBSF-30 | HORI standard (8-button layout) |
| Joystick | Sanwa JLF with swappable tops | Micro switch with V-cut housing |
| Platform | PS5, PS4, PC | PS5, PS4, PC |
| Connection | Wired USB | Wired USB |
| Weight | 4.33 kg | — |
| Features | Tournament Lock, Side Storage | Turbo, Rubberized feet, Compact design |
How they differ in real use
Built from our fight sticks scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Qanba Obsidian 2 and the HORI Fighting Stick Mini made our Top 5 Fight Sticks, at #1 (best overall) and #5 (best budget). Premium Sanwa Denshi joystick and buttons out of the box with a sleek aluminum top panel. Tournament-proven build with excellent weight and stability for competitive play. Compact and portable entry point for fighting games. Small form factor is travel-friendly, though the mini buttons take adjustment. Perfect for beginners testing the waters.
We score fight sticks on Components (35%), Build Quality (25%), Moddability (20%), Compatibility (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Qanba Obsidian 2 totals 9.5 out of 10 and the HORI Fighting Stick Mini 6.7. The widest gap is Components, where the Qanba Obsidian 2 scores 10 against 6 for the HORI Fighting Stick Mini — lever and button quality. Moddability also separates them: 9 for the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus 5 for the HORI Fighting Stick Mini. The HORI Fighting Stick Mini claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Buttons — Sanwa OBSF-30 on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus HORI standard (8-button layout) on the HORI Fighting Stick Mini; Joystick — Sanwa JLF with swappable tops on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus Micro switch with V-cut housing on the HORI Fighting Stick Mini; Features — Tournament Lock, Side Storage on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus Turbo, Rubberized feet, Compact design on the HORI Fighting Stick Mini. They match on Platform and Connection.
Pricing as of February 1, 2026: $300 for the Qanba Obsidian 2 and $50 for the HORI Fighting Stick Mini, a $250 difference in the HORI Fighting Stick Mini's favor. Owners praise the Qanba Obsidian 2 for genuine Sanwa JLF joystick and buttons and swappable ball and bat tops included; the most common complaint is expensive at $300. Owners praise the HORI Fighting Stick Mini for most affordable fight stick at $50 and full 8-button layout despite compact size; the most common complaint is smaller than standard arcade sticks.
Qanba Obsidian 2
- Genuine Sanwa JLF joystick and buttons
- Swappable ball and bat tops included
- Side storage compartments for accessories
- Heavy build for excellent stability
- Expensive at $300
- Piano finish shows fingerprints easily
- Wired only — no wireless option
HORI Fighting Stick Mini
- Most affordable fight stick at $50
- Full 8-button layout despite compact size
- Micro switch activated joystick
- Officially licensed for PS5/PS4
- Smaller than standard arcade sticks
- No Sanwa or premium components
- No touchpad button
Which should you buy?
The Qanba Obsidian 2 is the better fit for serious fighting game players and tournament competitors — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Components and Moddability. The HORI Fighting Stick Mini is the better fit for beginners trying fight sticks and budget-conscious gamers, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. If the $250 saving matters more than Components, the HORI Fighting Stick Mini is the better value. The Qanba Obsidian 2 is a poor fit for budget shoppers; the HORI Fighting Stick Mini is a poor fit for tournament competitors.
Choose the Qanba Obsidian 2 if
- Serious fighting game players
- Tournament competitors
- Those wanting premium Sanwa components
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Those wanting wireless
Choose the HORI Fighting Stick Mini if
- Beginners trying fight sticks
- Budget-conscious gamers
- Those wanting portable compact stick
Skip it if
- Tournament competitors
- Those with large hands
Common questions
Is the Qanba Obsidian 2 better than the HORI Fighting Stick Mini?
In our Fight Sticks ranking the Qanba Obsidian 2 scores higher overall, 9.5 to 6.7, with the biggest advantage in Components. The HORI Fighting Stick Mini is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Qanba Obsidian 2 cost than the HORI Fighting Stick Mini?
$250 more as of February 1, 2026: $300 for the Qanba Obsidian 2 against $50 for the HORI Fighting Stick Mini. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Components — 10 versus 6 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Qanba Obsidian 2 and the HORI Fighting Stick Mini?
The headline spec difference is Buttons: Sanwa OBSF-30 on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus HORI standard (8-button layout) on the HORI Fighting Stick Mini. In use, the gap that matters most is Components (10 vs 6 in our scoring): lever and button quality.