The Best Mobile Controllers for Gaming on the Go

There are several other mobile controllers we tested that just missed out on a place above or failed to make the grade, plus a few that we are keen to test soon.

Turtle Beach Atom Controller for $80: With a clever two-piece design, this controller folds away neatly, but feels insecure without a back. The clamps on each side are awkward, particularly with phones sporting large camera modules. I had trouble connecting, and dislike 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 mostly worked fine for me, but when I played Jydge, the movement was inverted on the left stick. You get around 20 hours of battery life. It takes about two hours to charge. If portability is your main concern, it may be 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 couple of programmable buttons around 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 860 mAh, the GameSir app is flaky, and the LED is annoyingly bright.

GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro for $70: Supplanted by GuliKit’s new model, this controller is a bit cheaper and is still a good pick for folks 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 listed above has.

Nacon MG-X Pro for $88: It feels like Nacon cut an Xbox controller in half to insert an extendable phone cradle, but if you want this style of controller the GameSir G8 listed above is what we recommend. The MG-X Pro is slightly roomier, but the G8 is superior in every other way.

PowerA Moga XP Ultra for $107: I love the idea of combining loads of options into a controller, and PowerA’s crazy Moga XP Ultra is certainly versatile. It works wirelessly with your Xbox, Windows PC, or Android phone, offering solid battery life (up to 40 hours via Bluetooth or 60 hours for Xbox). But the gimmicky mini controller that slides out, Transformer-style, for gaming on the go is too small and hard to grip 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’s an extendable mobile controller that comes in Android and iPhone versions. Both can stream PlayStation or Xbox games and work with Windows too. 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) that boasts pass-through charging, direct Lightning cable connection, and a 3.5-mm audio port. It feels much like an Xbox controller, supports Xbox Cloud Gaming or remote play, and comes with one free month of Game Pass Ultimate. On the downside, the cable is a bit messy. The Riot PWR MFi Controller for ($68) is almost identical, but without the garish green styling and colored Xbox buttons. There’s a USB-C option too.

Turtle Beach Recon Cloud for $59: Here is another Xbox-branded controller that supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play and comes with one free month of Game Pass Ultimate. It feels good in-hand, has a solid phone clip, and works with Android, Xbox, and Windows. It also features some audio enhancements (when plugged in), programmable buttons, and a handy Pro-Aim feature that reduces sensitivity on the right stick for aiming in FPS games. It’s a good upgrade pick over the PowerA controller listed 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 listed above instead, because the fan adds bulk and weight and it needs power via a dedicated USB-C port. (It has a separate USB-C port for pass-through charging of your phone.)

PowerA Moga XP7-X Plus for $85: This controller offers everything the XP-5 X does but you can also remove the stand in the center to slot in your phone (my Pixel 6 Pro fits nicely). It is sturdy, offers plenty of buttons (only a screenshot button is missing), and can wirelessly charge your phone. But it is expensive, has a Micro USB port when I’d prefer USB-C, and has only a 2,000 mAh battery, so stick with the XP-5 X unless you really want that spring-loaded cradle to fit your phone in.

8BitDo SN30 Pro for $45: Conjuring memories of the SNES, this controller works with Android, Windows, MacOS, and Switch. It has built-in rumble, a solid D-pad, good battery life, and a USB-C port.