It is not perfect (the fan noise and app discovery bugs need addressing in V1.7), but the core improvements in latency, thermal performance, and tactile UI make it a reliable workhorse. If you are a professional who has been tolerating the sluggish V1.5, this upgrade is mandatory.
V1.6 introduces capacitive shortcut keys that support gestures (swipe to swap sources, pinch to scale windows). Combined with physical routing buttons, it allows eyes-free operation once memorized. Mobile Matrix Panel FF V1.6 ...
The companion PC/Mac app for V1.6 is stable, but the iOS app occasionally loses discovery via Bluetooth 5.0. Requires a power cycle of the panel’s Bluetooth radio once per day. It is not perfect (the fan noise and
The on-panel 5" touch display now offers a color-coded "heat map" of your active routes, making it instantly clear which sources are congested. This is unique at this price point. Cons 👎 1. Learning Curve for Legacy Users If you are coming from a traditional Blackmagic or Ross panel, the "FF" philosophy (which prioritizes preview over direct route) is disorienting. You will spend two hours re-training your muscle memory. Combined with physical routing buttons, it allows eyes-free
While thermals improved, the single 40mm fan ramps up audibly (42 dB) when routing four 4K streams simultaneously. Not suitable for dead-quiet recording studios.
Supports 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 with full 4:4:4 10-bit up to 60p. The cross-conversion engine in V1.6 handles mismatched frame rates (e.g., 59.94 to 50) without dropping frames—a lifesaver for international multi-cam shoots.