Small even in Chobot's little mits.
The most remarkable aspect of the Pandora Pro is its size. Seriously focused on the mobile market, Genius crafted the controller in miniature and also engineered a pretty unique folding capability that allows the apparatus to take on the proportions of a thick matchbox when buttoned up. Snapped shut, it'll fit easily in the palm of your hand or in a pocket. Unfurled the Pandora Pro remains quite small, but impressively has space for an analog stick, four main action buttons, turbo and clear buttons, and an array of four shoulder buttons on the outside. Even more surprising, the Pandora Pro has two vibration feedback rumblers tucked inside as well.
In use the Pandora Pro plays surprisingly well if you can manage to come to terms with its minute size. The main action buttons are thankfully far enough apart so that even with decently large thumbs we weren't running into problems like pressing two buttons when we were only aiming for one. They've got a good, deep throw, but make connections quite early in the motion, which is how it should be. The shoulder buttons are a bit squishy and are quite close to one another, but in most classics they are used only sparingly. If a problem did arise, the Pandora Pro's software allows commands to be remapped if such an option isn't available via the game itself.
The analog stick feels a lot like the one on the PSP, though the actual thumb-nub on the Pandora Pro is easier to get a grip on due to its domed and textured top. It works best in games that support analog control, though it's not bad for replicating digital directions either. There is a dead-space in the middle however, which makes it a little hard to edge a character in a 2D platformer just to the edge of a crevasse. Vibration feedback also works in games that support it, though likely due to the miniature size of the motors within, vibrations are pretty weak and don't feel as though there's much modulation between sides of the controller.
The Pandora Pro comes in a nice foam-lined plastic carrying case with form fitting cut outs for the controller itself and an extendable USB wire on a spool. There's also an extra space for memory cards of some sort. To a degree the plastic case defeats the purpose of the miniature controller if you actually intended to bring the whole arrangement on a trip, but then again, it's not bad to have regardless.
The Genius MaxFire Pandora Pro can be had for $25. For a rather specific audience of gamers who need a minute gamepad to bring on trips, it's a completely viable option with no major drawbacks.