Other game controllers we tested
Several other mobile controllers we’ve tested that just missed or failed to score in one place above.
Photo: Simon Hill
Acer Nitro mobile gaming controller for £70: Compact design is perfect for portability, Acer’s controller even folds half into a pocket or bag. You can plug in devices up to 8.3 inches via USB-C, and the controller has a standard offset joystick, four standard face buttons, and four shoulder triggers. Everything felt a little cramped and basic. The trigger is OK, but everything else feels a bit Um. There is a USB-C port for charging through, but there are other features that are missing to justify the price (no Hall effect, no customization, no software). This is only available in the UK.
Gulikit Genie 2 Pro, priced at $50: The shape is reminiscent of the old SEGA controller, but the Gulikit is packed with effect joysticks, 9 vibration levels and six-axis gyroscope motion control to this Bluetooth controller. The shoulder button is nice and clickable, and although it and the four facial buttons use a membrane, the floating 8-way D-Pad is good for fighting games and platformers. It’s compact, so I find it a little uncomfortable to use for a long time, despite my big hands.
GXTRUST MYLOX Wireless Mobile Controller, priced at £45: This large cradle-style controller connects via Bluetooth 5.0 instead of USB-C. It supports basic haptic feedback and has an RGB LED refresh button. It’s very comfortable to use, but feels a bit cheap, and despite the huge design, the buttons and triggers are small. I’m not passionate about D-Pads. If the lighting is turned on, the battery life is much lower than the recommended 12 hours. This is only available in the UK and Europe.
Gamesir X3 Pro is priced at $80: This replaces the X3 and extends to almost any Android phone (or USB-C iPhone) in its rubber hug. Feel good, with customizable grips, click buttons and Hall effect thumbs, and with different sized removable caps in the cute zipper suitcase. The title feature is a huge fan on the back with severe cooling, which may come in handy, as the smartphone can get uncomfortable in the game for a long time, although it sounds annoying, and the X3 Pro is very bulky. Custom options are welcome, but the Gamesir app is a bit cumbersome and confusing.
Asus Rog Tessen costs $104: When I started using Rog Tessen, the prospects for Asus controllers quickly diminished. It features a neat folding design, responsive control and through charging. I love programmable paddlebacks and have RGB lighting for jazz. However, the thumb keys quickly felt uncomfortable and the buttons proved to be a little noisy. This is also only Android and does not use any iPhone (even USB-C iPhone).
Gamesir X4 aileron priced at $100: This controller has a lot of operations, including a compact design, RGB lighting, Hall effect bar and tactile buttons. It has two sections, which are perfect for folding neatly, but means you have to pair one side, then the other, and may be picky. It’s not a bad effort, but there are better options on it.
CRKD atomic controller, priced at $20: This small small controller is very cute and very portable and comes with a wrist strap that you can attach to the bag. The battery life is up to 10 hours and it uses a USB-C port to charge, although I find it sometimes opens in my pocket. It’s not big enough or uncomfortable to use for a long time, but if you need a super portable emergency controller, it can meet the bill.
Photo: Simon Hill
Turtle Beach Atomic Controller, priced at $50: With a clever two-piece design, the controller folds neatly, but it doesn’t feel safe. The fixtures on each side are awkward, especially the phone comes with a large camera module. I have a hard time connecting and don’t like having to open the right side separately (press the B and menu buttons). The right side is wirelessly connected (2.4 GHz), but the controller is connected to the phone via Bluetooth. This is mainly good for me, but when I play Jydge, The movement is inverted on the left stick. You can get about 20 hours of battery life. It takes about two hours to charge. If portability is your main problem, possible Worth a look.
Powera XP Ultra, priced at $80: I like the idea of combining the load of options into the controller, and Powera’s crazy XP Ultra is certainly universal. It works wirelessly with your Xbox, Windows PC, or Android phone, and provides solid battery life (60 hours via Bluetooth or Xbox). However, for games on the go, the gimmicky mini controller is too small to be comfortable. Buttons, triggers and sticks are all good, and the clips hold the phone, but the D-Pad is stiff. All in all, this is an expensive mix bag.
Riot PWR iOS Xbox Edition Cloud Gaming Controller for $20: This is made for iPhone certified controllers for iPhone or iPad games (older Lightning Port devices) with pass-through charging, direct lightning cable connection and 3.5mm audio port. It feels like an Xbox controller, supports Xbox Cloud games or remote games, and comes with a free game pass ultimate game. The downside is that the cable is a bit messy. this Riot PWR MFI Controller ($40) Almost the same, but without the fancy green style and colorful Xbox buttons. There is also a USB-C option.
Turtle Beach Scout Cloud Price $40: This is another Xbox brand controller that supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play, and comes with a free gaming pass Ultimate. Feels great, with solid phone clips and works with Android, Xbox and Windows. It also has some audio enhancements (insert), programmable buttons and convenient professional features that reduce the sensitivity of aiming FPS games on the right stick. This is an upgraded pick for the PowerA controller listed above, but only if you want the extra features.
Powera Moga XP7-X Plus costs $94: This controller provides everything the XP-5 X does, but you can also remove the center stand to slot in your phone (my Pixel 6 Pro fits perfectly). It’s sturdy, offers a lot of buttons (only screenshot buttons are missing), and can charge your phone wirelessly. But it’s expensive, and when I prefer USB-C, it has a micro USB port and only has a 2,000 mAh battery, so stick with the XP-5 X unless you want the spring-loaded cradle to fit your phone.
8BITDO SN30 PRO priced at $45: Memory of SNES, the controller works with Android, Windows, MacOS, and Switch. It has built-in rumble, a solid D-Pad, good battery life and USB-C port.
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