Before the launch of the Game Pass, having the best controller was important for mobile gaming. There are a lot of great games out there that can be enhanced with a controller, but who really enjoys using the on-screen controls? If you are looking for a new controller to enhance your mobile gaming experience and take it to the next level, we have got you covered.
Many game developers took over the Play Store with better phones. Call of Duty is a great example. If you want to play your phone like a controller, you should not have to deal with a third-party plastic clip. You don't have to worry about being slowed down by the internet with the Razer Kishi, it can turn any phone into a Nintendo Switch.
In our review of the Kishi, we found it to be just about every mark you could want in a game controller. With cloud gaming becoming increasingly popular, you will be happy to know that the Kishi is one of the recommended controllers to use. The best part is that you won't have to charge the Kishi as it plugs into your phone. If you start running out of juice, there is a pass-through port available.
There aren't many gripes with the Kishi, but Razer did miss the mark in several places. You will not be able to use the Kishi to play games on your computer. Unless you have a 3.5mm jack on your phone, there is no way to plug in some headphones.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...
The Raiju Mobile has everything that you would want in a mobile device: dual wired and wireless connections, a hair-trigger mode for both left and right buttons, and a phone mount with a 60-degree tilt. The price is the only thing that might give you pause.
Even with a phone mounted, the Raiju Mobile feels perfectly balanced in your hand. That makes this a great controller for extended gaming sessions, in addition to the 20-plus hour battery life and the extra-long braided USB-A to USB-C cable that you can use to charge the controller as you game. Sometimes the grip will block the volume controls or put pressure on the power button, which is the only issue I have had with it.
The Raiju Mobile is a premium accessory that works with two phones at the same time. That is one of the best features of this controller. You can pair and connect to two phones with a physical switch. If you want to share this controller with other people, it is perfect.
SteelSeries has been delivering the best gaming controllers for years, and the newest one is the Stratus Duo. The company has designed a comfortable controller before. This time it has a battery with a Li-ion battery and a wi-fi accessory that will allow you to connect it to a PC to play your favorite games.
The Duo is my favorite SteelSeries controller. The controller is more comfortable around the top. The phone mount is not included, but the shoulder buttons are comfortable. I was never left searching for AA batteries like I was with the XL because of the rechargeable battery.
The 8bitDo SN30 is going to give you all the nostalgia of your childhood.
The Nintendo controller design has been updated with a new design that allows it to work with a variety of devices. If you have a collection of retro games that you love to revisit, this will be especially useful. The lack of a dedicated power switch or button for pairing is not good and can result in unpairing by accident.
The SN30 Pro does a great job of delivering all the modern features we have come to expect from a quality controller. You can get the familiarity and comfort of the beloved SNES controller, but it is also available in all the classic colors of the GameBoy Color. The Select button can be used to reset everything, and a 480mAh battery is enough to power everything.
Next-gen controllers are here.
Microsoft has introduced a slightly redesigned controller for its next-gen consoles. The Series X controller is compatible with all of your devices, making it the perfect way to play some games. You can use this as a regular controller to play your favorite games.
The bumpers have a soft and textured grip, so you don't accidentally slip onto the bumper. The hybrid d-pad looks like it was brought down from the Xbox Elite Controller, but it is not interchangeable with the more expensive version. Microsoft has made it possible for you to personalize and map a few of the buttons in your favorite game.
The battery life of the new Series X controller is not that important as you will need AA batteries for power. If you don't already have a Play and Charge kit, you can always pick one up after the fact. Microsoft has opted not to include a built-in microphone on the new version, so if you plan on jumping online with your friends, you will need a good headset.
Get a grip!
In theory, any controller that offers physical buttons has to be better than a touchscreen one, but this is not always the case. When I want a more comfortable thing to hold in my hand than my flat phone, I have dealt with a lot of frustrating issues.
I have come to appreciate the GameSir F2 Game Grip there. It can be used on almost any phone to give your palms something to rest on. It takes a little while to get used to where your thumbs fall holding the grip instead of just holding your phone. It wonders if you deal with hand fatigue after playing a lot of games.
It also has a screen that rests on the ground, which allows you to control your character's movement with a more physical response. It is possible to change its orientation or remove it completely. The grip can be used as a kickstand for watching media or gaming with a controller.
The Stadia controller required you to use it wired at launch unless you were playing with the Chromecast Ultra as part of the Stadia Founders Edition bundle. Recent updates made it possible for you to leave the wires behind, since all of those issues have been fixed. This is the only way to play Stadia on your device, but it is also a great game controller.
You knew that there would be features for the Assistant. One of the things that makes it easy to share a clip to YouTube is the dedicated button for accessing Assistant. The Stadia Controller has a familiar and comfortable feel, and you don't have to worry about dealing with a funky design.
The price tag could be a bit steep for some. If you want to game from your phone and not on a Chromecast, you will need a clip on your phone. You can't pick up the controller from your local big-box store, as it is only available from the search engine.
When the Note 20 lineup was announced, Microsoft and Samsung took to the stage to announce that Project xCloud was graduating from the public stage. PowerA was one of the partners that was going to bring a new controller to the market.
Microsoft helped design the PowerA Moga XP5-X, which was designed with the Xbox Game Pass in mind. Two buttons can be reassigned and a power bank can be used to keep your phone powered up. If you're worried about being able to use your phone with the XP5-X, PowerA has the best game controller phone mount, which features up to 220-degrees of articulation, so you'll be able to use your phone with ease.
The XP5-X is compatible with your PC, even though it's designed to be used with your phone. You must use a wired connection to use the XP5-X, so make sure you have a cable that is long enough. MicroUSB has become the de-facto choice for charging for many accessories and phones, and we would have liked to see a different choice. If you want to use wired headphones, you need to plug them into your phone, as there is no 3.5mm jack on the controller.
The next controller is nothing more than a redesign of the SN30 Pro from 8BitDo. 8Bitdo collaborated with Microsoft to create a controller for the Xbox Game Pass.
The Xbox button in the middle of the controller is a sign of the partnership with Microsoft. The new version is a bit more flexible than the standard one. You will be able to reassign the buttons, as well as adjust the thumbtacks for better precision and thetrigger to react to how far you are pushing them.
16 hours of battery is not bad, but it is less than we would have liked. If you are used to playing mobile games with a bigger controller like the Xbox One option, then 8Bitdo's controller may be too small.
Add features and more to get that retro look.
There are a couple of different 8Bitdo controllers that make great Android controllers on this list. The two options you see are more similar to the classic controllers. The new 8Bitdo Pro 2 replaces the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro+ that was available until earlier this year.
The Pro 2 has a replaceable 1,000mAh battery, which is rated for up to 20 hours of battery life. The controller is similar to the one you would expect to see in 2021, but it is more comfortable. There is a four-way switch to switch between profiles and devices, as well as the ability to use this on practically any device save for an iPad.
With the accompanying 8Bitdo app, you can map any button on the controller to something else, giving you even more controls over how you play your games. The two new back paddle buttons that can be remapped are useful for some, but they could end up in the way if you never plan on using them. If you want to game on the go without using a stand, you will have to pick up 8Bitdo's phone holder.
The problem with some of the best game controllers is that they don't offer a one-size-fits-all approach. They can work with most traditional candy bar phones, but what about the best foldable phones? There are other options, like the Microsoft Surface Duo and theSamsung Z Fold 2.
The GameSir X2 can be entered with the app. The GameSir X2 has several versions, but the latest one has a built in wireless connection. Up to 20 hours of battery life can be provided by the buttons. When trying to outduel an opponent in a game like Call of Duty: Mobile, the Trigger is more sensitive than ever.
The GameSir X2 is a great companion for all cloud game streaming services. You will not be able to use wired headphones and you will have to use the best headsets for the game. Some GameSir X2 owners have reported some issues with the software, but this is not widespread, so your mileage may vary.
The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is not the first controller that comes to mind when someone thinks of playing games on their phones, but it does work. You can use the premium controller the same way you would any of the other controllers.
If you enjoy playing games on your Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED, or if you just enjoy the controller and feel comfortable, then grab one.
The battery can last up to 40 hours on one charge. If you're used to Microsoft's controllers, you'll find this fairly similar.
The value of a controller for gaming will continue to grow with game streaming services like Stadia and Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming. Huge premium mobile games like Genshin Impact and some of the best Android games have risen in popularity. If you don't already have a premium controller, you should look at something like the Razer Kishi, which is part of the mobile gaming scene.
The Kishi slides out and fits just about every phone you can think of. The built-inusb-c port ensures that you won't end up lagging in the middle of an intense gaming session when your teammates need you the most. You can use the built-in port to charge your phone.
There are only a few minor concerns with the Kishi. You won't be able to take this controller with you to your PC or Xbox, as there isn't a wireless connection onboard. It is our favorite game controller.
Andrew Myrick is a regular freelancer. He has been a tech enthusiast since the original iPhone was released. You should hook him up to an IV to get him through the day. He will get back to you if you have any questions.
Samuel Tolbert is a writer who covers gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews, and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on the PS3 game. You can find him on social media.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
