★★★★☆
The Jsaux VoidJoy SkyLark S1 Pro game controller packs an impressive assortment of features into a portable and lightweight design.
A highlight is extreme flexibility. It connects to Mac, iPad and iPhone, as well as a Nintendo Switch 2, Android or PC. And connections can use Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless or USB.
I put the very affordable gamepad to the test and came away generally pleased. Here’s what I like and what I don’t.
★★★★☆
The Razer Prio is a new mobile game controller that’s small enough that you might actually carry it everywhere.
For travel, the accessory folds up to be not much larger than a deck of cards. When it’s time to play, unfold it then clip it to on either side of your iPhone to add physical buttons, triggers and sticks.
I tested the Prio with my iPhone 17 and came away impressed with how easy it is to carry around. It’s fun wherever you need it.
Apple could finally be making a game controller. Buried code in a recent macOS beta points to two unreleased designs, and they seem to be built for very different kinds of players.
The references showed up in a test build of macOS Tahoe 26.7 before Apple pulled them. One points to a bare-bones wired controller. The other looks like a full-featured wireless model packed with sensors no third-party controller offers on the Mac today.
The new Serafim S3 Universal Mobile Game Controller is an Apple MFi-certified accessory that aims to bring console-level gaming to iPhone users with Hall effect magnet-based joysticks and more, the company said Monday. Priced at $89.99, S3 is available now on Amazon and the Serafim website.
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The “special Apple Experience” planned for March 4 doesn’t sound like a typical Apple event. What could it be? And what new hardware will we see?
It definitely doesn’t look like Apple CEO Tim Cook will be hitting us with his standard “good mooooorning” … we go over the possibilities.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
★★★★☆
The GameSir X5s is a great and affordable way to upgrade your mobile gaming. Your phone, whichever model you have, slides right in the middle, and suddenly you have console-quality physical controls. It’s lightweight, ideal for traveling, and comes with a simple plastic travel case.
It even works with the Nintendo Switch — its ergonomic grips are far more comfortable than the flat Joy-Cons. There’s also a matching accessory, the FX5 cooler, that adds active cooling to your iPhone. It’s great for high-performance pro gaming over long periods of time.
All in all, the GameSir X5s is a great way to take mobile gaming to the next level, whether you’re playing full 3D games or 40-year-old ROMs in Delta.
★★★★★
The Ohsnap Mcon doesn’t just rethink the mobile gaming controller — it practically throws the old playbook in the trash, delivering one of the most flexible and genuinely portable ways to play on the market today.
Even better, you can easily use it with your iPhone, but also your iPad and Mac.
I spent many hours playing games with the innovative controller — here’s why I love it.
The OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller magnetically attaches to an iPhone to add joysticks, buttons, triggers and a D-pad. It’s very portable and uses an innovative design that includes flip-out grips for more comfortable play.
OhSnap unveiled the Mcon a year ago, and it finally reached customers on Tuesday.
The GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron is the world’s first fully modular mobile game controller. A variety of buttons and sticks in removable modules can be swapped in and out from either side. Plus, the device telescopes to fit around your iPhone, iPad or Android.
It offers innovation that stands out in the market for side-mounted controllers.
★★★★☆
The Abxylute M4 game controller is genuinely pocket-size, but clip it to your iPhone and you’ll have all the buttons and sticks you want to play retro and modern games.
It clings to your iPhone’s MagSafe connector, plus it includes a stand for detached gaming.
I enjoyed testing out the pint-size game controller with my iPhone 17, as long as I accepted the reasons for its necessary limitations. The affordable price helped a lot, too.
Nothing makes playing advanced games on an iPhone better than a Backbone game controller. Clip one to your phone, and it basically turns the handset into a mobile gaming console, ready to play wherever you go.
There are many top-quality first-person shooters and RPGs available for iPhone. Don’t waste your time playing these great games with just a touchscreen. Get a Backbone One or a Backbone Pro controller and snap it onto your iPhone. You’ll be glad you did.
Wrap the brand-new GameSir X5s around your iPhone to play high-end games. But that’s only the start — the controller also works with iPad, Nintendo Switch, PC and Android.
It’s lightweight with a portable design but includes Hall Effect sticks and triggers, a gyroscope and rumble motors.
Even better, the GameSir X5s costs under $50.
A deal on the Backbone One (USB-C), which ranks among the absolute best clip-on game controllers for iPhone, cuts 40% off the usual cost. It’s also on sale at Amazon, though the deal isn’t quite as good.
Can’t take the family Playstation or Xbox to university? Game on your iPhone instead with this controller.
★★★★★
The Backbone Pro game controller that launched Tuesday wraps around your iPhone and connects via USB-C, but it can also connect to your Mac or iPad via cable or Bluetooth. Plus, it adds remappable rear buttons to the standard mix of sticks, triggers, D-pad and more.
Backbone already makes the best iPhone game controller, and my hands-on experience with this new premium version found that it takes mobile gaming to a whole new level.
★★★★★
The GameSir X5 Lite is the game controller for those who’ve hoped for a truly affordable way to add physical buttons and sticks to their iPhone. It costs a fraction of the price of its chief rival.
But don’t call it cheap. The accessory includes Hall Effect sticks plus a full set of the buttons and triggers needed for cloud gaming or on-device apps.
I enjoyed my time testing the GameSir X5 Lite — read the full review to find out why.
★★★★☆
GameBaby from Bitmo Lab is both an iPhone case and a game controller. Combined with the Delta retro game emulator, the accessory’s clever design allows you to play classic games on your phone with real buttons. And there’s nothing wrong with a new way to have fun.
For my GameBaby review, I tested it with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, and it’s the closest thing to a Game Boy I’ve played in much too long.
Plus, it’s available at a huge discount right now — 38% off. But the deal only lasts a few more days.
Clip the latest Backbone One iPhone controller to your iPhone to assemble what’s essentially an Xbox you can take anywhere. Press a dedicated button on the controller to dive into Xbox Cloud Gaming or Remote Play.
The gaming accessory launched Thursday.
Only about 0.1% of Kickstarter campaigns bring in over $1 million. The latest to pass that lofty mark is the OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller, which magnetically attaches to an iPhone to add joysticks, buttons and a D-pad.
A prototype of the accessory was on display at CES 2025 where it earned loads of compliments. It “may set a new standard for mobile gaming,” said Engadget, for example.
The newly launched GameSir X3 Pro Mobile Gaming Controller packs Hall Effect sticks, dual rumble motors, micro switch triggers and detachable grips. And its USB-C connector and telescoping design means it fits a range of iPhone and Android models.
A stand-out feature is a cooling plate designed to prevent the handset from overheating while playing very demanding games.
★★★☆☆
The CRKD Atom looks small enough to be a game controller for a doll, but it’s designed to clip on your keychain for gameplay wherever you go. It’s a way to have some fun with your iPhone when you find yourself with some unexpected time to kill.
I played with it, and while the complete lack of sticks greatly limits the controller, it’s possible to have fun with retro games.
The new Vagabond Mobile Gaming Controller transforms iPhone, iPad mini and Android devices into full-fledged gaming consoles, Elo Gaming Limited said Tuesday. It called the device suitable for casual and pro gamers alike.
★★★★☆
The new Scuf Nomad makes playing advanced games on your iPhone much more fun by adding physical buttons, triggers and sticks. It’s designed to go where you go, and works on nearly every iPhone.
The controller emphasizes customization, allowing you to change what the buttons do even if the game itself doesn’t support that. And there are rear paddles in addition to all the usual controls.
I happily played hours of games on the Nomad — here’s what it’s like to use.
★★★★★
Backbone One USB-C game controller adds real buttons, sticks and triggers to the newest iPhone models, and Androids too.
This is  second-generation version of the wrap-around gaming accessory that’s beenupdated, to better fit handsets in protective cases.
I really enjoyed testing the controller out with the iPhone 15 Plus. It lived up to my high expectations.
Backbone updated the Lightning version of its popular game controller for iPhone with new magnetic adapters, a reshaped D-pad, and more. The goal of the second generation Backbone One is “better, faster, and longer gaming,” according to the company.
It now matches the updated USB-C version that Backbone introduced in autumn 2023.
★★★★☆
The GameSir X2s Type-C Mobile Controller is ready to make your mobile gaming so much better. Wrap the telescope design around your iPhone 15 to be ready for your favorite RPG, FPS and other advanced games.
It boasts Hall Effect sticks and triggers in a familiar arrangement, but is always ready for you to pick it up and go.
I tested it with my iPhone 15 and had quite a lot of fun. It also works with Androids. And if you’re still rocking a Lightning-enabled iPhone, don’t feel left out — GameSir has a version for you, too.