Pixelhue U5 Mini Beta displayed at ISE 2025

At ISE 2025 in Barcelona, Pixelhue showed a new product in early beta: the U5 MINI Event Controller. The idea is simple (and honestly overdue): deliver the hands-on speed of a real event controller, but in a smaller footprint and at a more accessible price point than the full-size U5 Event Controller.

Because the U5 Mini is still beta, the final hardware layout, firmware features, and availability may change before release — but the prototypes on display already reveal a lot about Pixelhue’s direction.

The Full-Size U5: Pixelhue’s “big console” approach

Pixelhue positions the U5 Event Controller as a premium live console, built for visual, touch-driven operation and deep control. Officially, the U5 features: 87 user-programmable LCD buttons, 4 encoders, 8 faders, a high-resolution T-bar, plus a large dual-screen setup: a 21.5” main touchscreen and an 8” smart touchscreen. 

That design is excellent when you want:

• maximum on-desk visibility (big UI + multiview style workflows),

• lots of physical controls,

• and a “control-room console” feel.

But that’s also exactly why some P10 / P20 users look at the U5 and think: “Amazing — but more than I need for this rig.”

The U5 Mini (Beta): What we can confirm from the ISE

Our photos show two U5 Mini prototypes:

• A fade lever version (vertical fader slot on the right side)

• A T-bar version (classic live-switching bar on the right side)

And importantly: the Mini isn’t “just smaller.” It’s clearly designed to keep the event-controller workflow while trimming the console footprint.

What’s visibly different on the U5 Mini

From the U5 Mini beta units shown:

• Two smaller horizontal screens (instead of the U5’s large 21.5” + 8” display stack)

• A dense, tactile button layout optimized for “hands-only” operation

• 52 “Assign / navigation” buttons (as seen across the top/around the screen sections)

• 12 dedicated “Function” buttons (clearly labeled under the “FUNCTION” header)

• Dedicated CUT and TAKE buttons (bottom right)

• One of two transition control styles depending on the model: fade lever or T-bar

This matters because it tells us the Mini is built for operators who want:

• quick preset hits

• fast layer/source switching

• reliable transitions
  …without needing a full “touch-heavy” console.

U5 vs U5 Mini: The real-world comparison (operator perspective)

1) Screen philosophy: “big UI” vs “fast glance”

• U5: Large, highly visual control with 21.5” + 8” touchscreens. 

• U5 Mini: Two smaller status/control screens (seen in the photos), designed more for quick reference + button-driven workflows.

Who wins?

• If you want the most visual workflow and touch interaction: U5

• If you want compact control that still feels like a show controller: U5 Mini

2) Physical controls: “more everything” vs “only what you need”

• U5: Pixelhue specifies 87 programmable LCD buttons, plus 4 encoders and 8 faders. 

• U5 Mini: The beta units clearly focus on dense, dedicated controls: 52 assign/navigation buttons, 12 function buttons, and CUT/TAKE, plus either fade or T-bar transitions.

Translation: U5 is the full console. U5 Mini looks like the “sweet spot” for everyday P10/P20 event switching where speed matters more than a giant touch UI.

3) Transitions: both are “event-first”

• U5: Officially includes a high-resolution T-bar, and the Quick Start Guide explicitly references using T-bar / CUT / TAKE for sending preview to program. 

• U5 Mini: The beta units show the same core approach: CUT and TAKE, plus either fade lever or T-bar depending on model.

This is huge: Pixelhue is keeping the muscle memory intact — U5 users can step down to Mini without relearning how to drive a show.

Why U5 Mini is such a strong match for Pixelhue P10 / P20 rigs

Pixelhue’s own documentation groups the P-series (including P10 / P20) together with the U-series event controllers, which is exactly the ecosystem the U5 Mini is aimed at. 

In practice, the U5 Mini makes sense when you want:

• a real event-control surface for P10/P20,

• a more compact footprint for flypacks and small desks,

• a more cost-justified controller than a full U5 console for many everyday shows.

If your P10/P20 jobs are:
corporate events, smaller touring setups, ballrooms, churches, rental packages, breakout rooms, or portable LED walls —
…the U5 Mini is shaping up to be the “finally, that’s the one” controller.

Beta note: what to expect

Pixelhue showed U5 Mini as a beta-phase product, so final hardware, features, and availability may still change. But the ISE prototypes already look like a serious direction: U5-style show control, simplified and compact.

Order U5 Mini through us

If you want the event-controller workflow without committing to the full U5 console, the U5 Mini is one of the most exciting Pixelhue developments we’ve seen for P10/P20 users.

👉 Contact us to be first in line when U5 Mini moves from beta to release.