Premium Hori quality or budget DIY control: which should you buy?

Display

Neither product includes a display or screen, so there is no direct winner on visual quality. For buyers searching this pair, the more relevant point is how each product interfaces with games. The Hori PS5 Fighting Stick is a complete controller designed for modern console play, while the EG STARTS bundle is an input kit intended for DIY cabinets, MAME, Raspberry Pi, and PC builds. Winner: tie, because neither product has a display and their use cases are fundamentally different.

Performance

The Hori PS5 Fighting Stick wins decisively here for most buyers. As a branded PS5 fight stick, it is built to deliver consistent, console-ready performance with minimal setup and predictable compatibility on PlayStation hardware. The EG STARTS Zero Delay USB Encoder is attractive for latency-conscious DIY users, but its performance depends heavily on the quality of the joystick, buttons, wiring, and enclosure you pair it with. In other words, Product B is only as good as the build around it, while Product A is a finished device with a much lower risk of user error. Winner: Hori PS5 Fighting Stick.

Build quality and design

This is another clear win for Hori. At £189.94 and backed by 818 reviews with a 4.6/5 rating, the Hori PS5 Fighting Stick is priced and reviewed like a premium, purpose-built accessory. Hori has a strong reputation in the fighting game community for making durable, ergonomic arcade controllers, and the higher review count suggests broad real-world confidence. The EG STARTS kit, by contrast, is a parts bundle: a zero-delay encoder, red joystick, and 10 illuminated buttons. That means the build quality of the final result depends on the cabinet, panel, wiring, and craftsmanship of the person assembling it. Winner: Hori PS5 Fighting Stick.

Battery life

Neither product has a battery, so this category is not applicable. The Hori stick is a wired controller, and the EG STARTS kit is a wired USB encoder solution. If you were hoping for wireless convenience, neither option delivers it. Winner: tie.

Price and value for money

This is the one category where EG STARTS dominates on sticker price. At £24.99, it is £164.95 cheaper than the Hori stick, which is an enormous gap. For hobbyists building a Raspberry Pi or MAME arcade project, that low entry cost is excellent value because it covers the core control electronics and illuminated buttons in one bundle. However, value is not just about price: the Hori’s much higher cost buys you a polished, PS5-compatible, ready-to-use controller from a trusted maker, which can be better value if your goal is to play immediately rather than build. Winner: EG STARTS for budget value; Hori for premium value. If forced to pick one overall on value alone, EG STARTS wins because the savings are so large.

Game library/features

The Hori PS5 Fighting Stick wins for feature completeness in the context of modern console gaming. It is the only option here that is clearly aimed at PlayStation 5 use, making it the obvious choice for players who want to jump into fighting games on current-gen hardware without compatibility headaches. The EG STARTS kit is more flexible in a DIY sense: it can be used with PC games, MAME, and Raspberry Pi systems, and the included LED buttons add a fun arcade aesthetic. But it does not provide a game library, and its usefulness depends on your own software setup and build project. Winner: Hori PS5 Fighting Stick for ready-to-play features; EG STARTS for DIY flexibility.

Overall user experience

The Hori PS5 Fighting Stick delivers the better overall experience for almost anyone who wants to play fighting games right away. You get a complete, branded controller, strong review support, and a design that should feel stable and familiar on PS5. The EG STARTS kit is more of a project starter than a finished product: it can be rewarding, cheap, and customizable, but it requires assembly, compatibility planning, and likely additional parts such as a panel or enclosure. That makes it a great choice for makers, but not for someone who simply wants the best out-of-box experience. Winner: Hori PS5 Fighting Stick.

Overall summary: If you want the best finished product, buy the Hori PS5 Fighting Stick. It is the clear winner on performance, build quality, features, and user experience, and its 818 reviews at 4.6/5 support that premium reputation. The EG STARTS kit is only the better buy if your priority is saving money or building a custom arcade controller for PC, MAME, or Raspberry Pi. For most people searching this comparison, the Hori is the safer and more satisfying purchase.