Genki Manta is a $279 gaming controller with a built-in screen and its own OS
Genki has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Manta, its first controller designed entirely in-house, and it's gunning for the top of the premium gamepad market. The headline feature is a 2.79-inch color display running MantaOS — a full operating system built on the Raspberry Pi RP2350 chip — that lets you tweak every setting without touching a phone or PC app. Early-bird backers pay $189; retail price is set at $279, with delivery estimated for February 2027.
The screen does the heavy lifting
MantaOS is the real differentiator here. Rivals like the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro pack OLED screens for status readouts, but Genki goes further: the display doubles as a full customization hub. You can swap profiles, remap buttons, adjust dead zones, set macros, and tune haptic feedback mid-session — all from the controller itself. There's even a tiny on-screen keyboard accessible via the rear buttons, so you can type a quick chat message without putting the pad down.
Genki Manta gaming controller with 2.79-inch color MantaOS display.
Under the thumbs, Genki fitted TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) joysticks with tool-free tension adjustment — a feature borrowed from high-end PC peripherals and rarely seen on console pads. Triggers come in three flavors via TriStage: digital (instant actuation), Rapid, and classic analog. Polling rate hits 8,000 Hz over wired USB and 1,000 Hz wirelessly over 2.4 GHz — figures that will matter to competitive players. Six extra programmable buttons and an Action Timeline macro system round out the spec sheet.
Cross-platform and crowdfunded
Compatibility covers Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Apple Vision Pro. The 2,600 mAh battery is swappable, which is an increasingly rare touch. As GamesRadar notes, the Manta is Genki's ninth crowdfunded product — the company has delivered on all eight previous campaigns, which lowers the usual Kickstarter risk considerably.
Manta's TMR joysticks with tool-free tension adjustment.
The February 2027 window lines up with the Switch 2's growing momentum, and the $189 early-bird tier undercuts most premium pads on the market right now. UK and EU buyers should factor in potential VAT and shipping costs on top of the listed price, since regional retail availability hasn't been confirmed yet.
Genki Manta rear view showing programmable buttons and swappable battery.
If the hardware delivers on its spec sheet, the Manta could be the first controller to make a built-in screen feel genuinely useful rather than a gimmick. Back it on the Kickstarter campaign while the early-bird pricing lasts.