There are several other mobile controllers we tested that just missed out on a spot up there or didn’t make the cut in the category, plus a few we’re looking forward to testing soon.
Turtle Beach Atom controller for $80: With a clever two-piece design, this controller folds away neatly, but feels unsafe without a back. The clamps on each side are a pain, especially on phones with large camera modules. I had trouble connecting and don’t like that the right side has to be turned on separately (press B and menu buttons). The right side connects wirelessly (2.4 GHz), but the controller connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It worked fine for me most of the time, but when I played Jydge, the movement was reversed on the left stick. You get about 20 hours of battery life. Charging takes approximately two hours. If portability is your main concern, then yes be able to are worth a look.
GameSir T4 Cyclone for $40: Relatively affordable, with a grippy finish and Hall Effect joysticks, this is a solid controller. There are a few programmable buttons on the back, rumble motors in the grips and a handy multi-function button. It also supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz with an optional dongle and USB-C connections. But the battery is only 860mAh, the GameSir app is flaky and the LED is annoyingly bright.
GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro for $70: Replaced by GuliKit’s new model, this controller is a little cheaper and is still a good choice for people who don’t care about back paddles. It has Hall effect sticks, a programmable button and most of the other features that the KK Max 3 mentioned above has.
Nacon MG-X Pro for $88: It feels like Nacon cut an Xbox controller in half to fit a slide-out phone holder, but if you want this type of controller, we recommend the GameSir G8 mentioned above. The MG-X Pro is slightly more spacious, but the G8 is superior in all other areas.
PowerA Moga XP Ultra for $107: I like the idea of combining a lot of options into one controller, and PowerA’s crazy Moga XP Ultra is certainly versatile. It works wirelessly with your Xbox, Windows PC or Android phone and offers solid battery life (up to 40 hours via Bluetooth or 60 hours for Xbox). But the gimmicky mini controller that extends, Transformer-style, for gaming on the go is too small and difficult to hold comfortably. The buttons, triggers and sticks are all good, and the clip works fine for holding your phone, but the D-pad is stiff. All in all, it’s a pricey mixed bag.
Razer Kishi V2 for $90: The Razer Kishi V2 is fine, but it’s slower, bigger and less polished than the Backbone One. It is an upgradeable mobile controller available in Android and iPhone versions. Both can stream PlayStation or Xbox games and also work with Windows. But ultimately, Backbone’s superior software and headphone jack make it the better choice. —Louryn Strampe
Riot PWR iOS Xbox Edition Cloud Gaming Controller for $25: An MFi-certified controller for iPhone or iPad gaming (older Lightning port devices) with pass-through charging, direct Lightning cable connection, and a 3.5mm audio port. It feels like an Xbox controller, supports Xbox Cloud Gaming or Remote play, and comes with a free month of Game Pass Ultimate. On the other hand, the cable is a bit messy. The Riot PWR MFi Controller for ($68) is virtually identical, but without the flashy green styling and colored Xbox buttons. There is also a USB-C option.
Turtle Beach Recon Cloud for $59: Here’s another Xbox-branded controller that supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play and comes with a free month of Game Pass Ultimate. It fits comfortably in the hand, has a sturdy phone clip and works with Android, Xbox and Windows. It also features some audio enhancements (when connected), programmable buttons, and a handy Pro-Aim feature that reduces the sensitivity of the right stick for aiming in FPS games. It’s a good upgrade choice over the PowerA controller mentioned above, but only if you want the extra features.
GameSir X3 for $100: On paper this is an upgrade over the X2, with refined buttons, more options for the joysticks and a cooling fan on the back. But I recommend the cheaper X2 Pro instead, listed above, because the fan adds bulk and weight and requires power via a dedicated USB-C port. (It has a separate USB-C port for charging your phone.)
PowerA Moga XP7-X Plus for $85: This controller offers everything the XP-5 It’s sturdy, offers plenty of buttons (only a screenshot button is missing) and can charge your phone wirelessly. But it’s expensive, has a micro-USB port when I prefer USB-C, and only has a 2000mAh battery, so stick with the XP-5 .
8BitDo SN30 Pro for $45: This controller is reminiscent of the SNES and works with Android, Windows, MacOS, and Switch. It has built-in rumble, a solid D-pad, good battery life, and a USB-C port.
