MAYFLASH F300 or F500 Elite: the smarter arcade stick buy?

Display

Neither product has a display or screen, so there is no difference here in the literal sense. For buyers coming from standard controllers, the practical equivalent is interface clarity and ease of setup. Product A, the F300, is simpler and more straightforward for plug-and-play use, while Product B, the F500 Elite, is geared more toward enthusiasts who will appreciate its premium hardware but not any screen-related advantage. Winner: tie, because neither includes a display and this category does not separate them.

Performance

On-paper platform support is very close. Product A supports Switch/Switch 2, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Xbox 360, macOS, Windows, Steam Deck and more, while Product B supports Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Switch/Switch 2, Android, Windows, macOS and more. In practice, the F500 Elite’s Sanwa buttons and joystick are the performance advantage: Sanwa parts are widely regarded as the gold standard for arcade sticks thanks to their crisp actuation, fast return, and consistent response. The F300 is perfectly serviceable, but its stock controls are not in the same league for competitive play or heavy fighting game use. Winner: Product B, because the Sanwa components deliver better precision and feel.

Build quality and design

This is where the price gap starts to make more sense. Product A is the more affordable stick at £59.99, and that lower price usually means a more basic shell and standard components. Product B costs £109.00, but it earns that premium with Sanwa buttons and joystick, which are a major step up in durability and tactile quality. The F500 Elite is the better long-term buy if you want something that feels closer to an authentic arcade panel and can handle more serious play over time. Winner: Product B, because its higher-end internals justify the stronger build proposition.

Battery life

Neither product is a battery-powered device, so battery life is not a meaningful comparison. These are wired arcade sticks, which means you are trading portability and convenience for zero charging concerns and stable latency. Because both avoid battery limitations entirely, this category is a wash. Winner: tie.

Price and value for money

Product A wins decisively on value. At £59.99, it is £49.01 cheaper than Product B, and it also has the stronger review volume with 6,672 ratings versus 1,603 for the F500 Elite. That review count suggests a much larger user base and more proven real-world satisfaction at the lower price. If you are a casual fighting game player, a retro fan, or someone who just wants to try an arcade stick without spending much, the F300 delivers far more affordability. Product B only becomes better value if you specifically care about premium Sanwa parts enough to justify the extra £49.01. Winner: Product A, because the price-to-function ratio is far stronger.

Game library/features

Both sticks are broadly compatible with a wide range of platforms, which is the real feature here. Product A has the edge in breadth because it explicitly includes Xbox 360 and Steam Deck support in the listing, while Product B adds Android support and still covers the core modern systems. In terms of actual game library, neither stick unlocks exclusive games; the difference is how many ecosystems they can plug into. For most buyers, Product A’s broader legacy and handheld-PC friendliness make it slightly more versatile. Winner: Product A, because it covers more edge-case platforms and offers more flexibility for mixed-library households.

Overall user experience

For most people, the F300 is the easier recommendation because it gets you into arcade stick gaming cheaply, has huge review volume, and supports an impressively wide set of platforms. The F500 Elite feels better in the hand and will almost certainly satisfy more demanding players because of the Sanwa joystick and buttons, but that improvement comes at a steep premium. If you are a beginner or a budget-conscious buyer, the F300 is the more sensible and less risky purchase. If you are already committed to fighting games and want a more authentic premium control feel, the F500 Elite is the better experience, even though it costs nearly twice as much. Overall summary: the F500 Elite is the better arcade stick, but the F300 is the better buy for most people because it offers the strongest value and enough compatibility to satisfy the majority of users.