{"id":428,"date":"2022-02-09T14:55:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T14:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/engadget.vip\/?p=428"},"modified":"2022-02-09T14:55:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T14:55:15","slug":"the-best-mobile-gaming-controllers-you-can-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/?p=428","title":{"rendered":"The best mobile gaming controllers you can buy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mobile gaming is serious business now. The biggest titles out there are games like Fortnite<\/em> and Genshin Impact<\/em>, helped along by legions of kids getting their first smartphone. Lots of game publishers are putting out console-quality experiences on mobile, and it\u2019s taken time for gaming accessories to catch up. But they have, and now players have a number of controller options to suit their play style. We\u2019ve sorted through the leading options to highlight the pros and cons of each, so you can decide which one is the best for getting your game on (the go).<\/p>\n

For players who prefer PlayStation-style controllers: 8BitDo Pro 2<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Kris Naudus \/ Engadget<\/figure>\n

8BitDo has built itself a reputation for versatile gamepads that can work with multiple systems, from the Nintendo Switch to the Raspberry Pi. And while the Pro 2 is one of our top controllers for the Switch, it’s also a pretty great option for Android and iOS as well. The advantage to using these with your phone is also the free 8BitDo software that gives you extensive customization options for the buttons; it even has more options than you\u2019ll find on Nintendo\u2019s system. Of course, being a Bluetooth gamepad means it\u2019s easy enough to jump back and forth, making this a good investment for people who own multiple portable devices (like a Switch).<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong> PlayStation-like design is comfortable; configuration software is robust; controller is available in multiple colors<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong> Not small and would be best carried around in a case<\/p>\n

Buy 8BitDo Pro 2 at Amazon – $50<\/p>\n

For players who like Xbox-style controllers: SteelSeries Nimbus+ and Stratus+<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Kris Naudus \/ Engadget<\/figure>\n

While the PlayStation\u2019s DualShock design has gained its share of devotees over the years, the Xbox gamepad is the stereotypical image of the gamepad in many people\u2019s minds (as well as the Discord logo). So it makes sense that there are a lot more mobile gaming options with that shape, and the best ones come from SteelSeries: the Nimbus+ for Apple-made devices and the Stratus+ for Google-based devices (Android and Chromebook).<\/p>\n

The two controllers are, for the most part, identical. They have shoulder buttons and triggers, the d-pad is the same, and they both include sturdy phone mounts for attaching your device at the top \u2014 the type that clamps in place automatically. Unlike a clamp from a more generic company, the one SteelSeries provides with both controllers won\u2019t fight you during the process of mounting your phone.<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong> More players are likely to be familiar with Xbox-style controllers; both models include sturdy clamps for clipping your phone to the controller.<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong> You have to buy a different controller based on what OS you\u2019re using; the controller with the clamp attached is unwieldy<\/p>\n

Buy Nimbus+ at Amazon – $70
\nBuy Stratus+ at SteelSeries – $60<\/p>\n

For players who want to turn their Android phone into a Switch or Steam Deck-like device: Razer Kishi<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Kris Naudus \/ Engadget<\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s be honest, the form factor is a big reason that devices like the Switch are so popular. They\u2019re comfortable to hold, well-balanced and really put the screen front and center. You don\u2019t really get that with a phone clamp or table stand. Luckily, Razer\u2019s Kishi is a super affordable option that\u2019s easy to slide your phone into \u2014 though the setup admittedly wasn\u2019t as quick for me as the SteelSeries options. But at least the direct connection it forms with the phone using USB-C (or Lightning if you’re on an iPhone) is faster than Bluetooth.<\/p>\n

The Kishi\u2019s biggest advantages \u2014 besides Razer\u2019s high-end build quality \u2014 are its passthrough charging, so you never need to detach it to charge your phone, and the size it folds down to when you do take it off your device. It\u2019s smaller than the SteelSeries controllers, making it ideal for throwing into a small bag.<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong> Provides a direct connection to a phone instead of relying on Bluetooth; folds up compactly when not in use<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong> Phone with Kishi attached may feel bulky<\/p>\n

Buy Razer Kishi at Amazon – $90
\nBuy Razer Kishi (iOS) at Amazon – $100<\/p>\n

For players who want to turn their iPhone into a handheld console: Backbone One<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Kris Naudus \/ Engadget<\/figure>\n

The new Backbone One is similar to Razer’s Kishi and made specifically for Apple devices, though at a higher cost (due to being newer and from a smaller company). My colleague Mat Smith was a Buy Backbone One at Amazon – $100<\/p>\n

For players who want the most portable controller possible (or the cutest): 8BitDo Zero 2<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Kris Naudus \/ Engadget<\/figure>\n

If you have big hands, the 8BitDo Zero 2 is definitely not for you, and your hands will likely cramp if you spend too long playing with this diminutive Bluetooth controller. But for everyone else, it\u2019s definitely worth a look, if only because it\u2019s so small there\u2019s no reason to keep it on you at all times in case of an emergency. Not that we could tell you what constitutes a gaming emergency, but if one does come up you\u2019ll be glad to have this on hand. It truly is keychain-sized, so you can clip it on your backpack or slide it into a Switch carrying case with ease. And we love the bright colors, which are based on the Switch Lite design and should blend in with your spring and summertime apparel.<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong> Cute and tiny; comes with a strap for attaching to a bag<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong> Too small for gamers with big hands<\/p>\n

Buy 8BitDo Zero 2 at Amazon – $20<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mobile gaming is serious business now. The biggest titles out there are games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, helped along by legions of kids getting their first smartphone. Lots of game publishers are putting out console-quality experiences on mobile, and it\u2019s taken time for gaming accessories to catch up. But they have, and now players […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[185,604,104,148,143,92,125,130,115,65,444,447,80,603,40,87,252,96,82],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}