Modern smartphones are gaming powerhouses, offering heaps of mobile games alongside a growing selection of cloud gaming services for PC, Xbox and PlayStation games. Unsurprisingly, a touchscreen isn’t the best option for speed and precision in competitive games like Genshin Impact, Minecraft, Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile.
Fortunately, you can help your customers stay in the game by offering a range of mobile controllers that are powerful and convenient. Let’s dig into the basics and explore a few options to help your customers unlock new achievements while catching their next flight or sitting in a waiting room.
What makes a mobile controller great?
While there are numerous controller options for mobile gaming, the best options typically stretch to wrap around a player’s smartphone. The resulting form factor is similar to a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. This keeps the phone’s center of gravity between the player’s hands, leading to a more comfortable experience during long gaming sessions.
In contrast, a smartphone mounting clip on a traditional controller moves the phone up and away from a user, meaning they need to counterbalance the weight to prevent it from falling backward — putting a strain on hand and arm muscles over time.
Another benefit of wraparound mobile controllers is that many pull power directly from a smartphone’s USB-C connection — no batteries are required. All three models on this list even feature pass-through charging to keep phones topped up throughout a play session, with the port doubling as a wired connection for computer gaming.
Customers can also benefit from a companion mobile app to organize their gaming library and tweak mobile controller settings for optimal performance. Lastly, excellent build quality ensures that the controller will last for years.
Best mobile app: Backbone One
For an outstanding mobile app, look no further than the Backbone One. As an officially licensed partner of Xbox and PlayStation, it has full access to customers’ Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Remote Play libraries from an impressive hub screen.
The Backbone app also links to GeForce Now, Apple Arcade, Amazon Luna, Steam Link, Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for a comprehensive gaming experience. Beyond the hub, players can use it for settings, Twitch streaming and multiplayer matchmaking.
Backbone One is a bit smaller than the GameSir G8 Galileo — it won’t take up as much space as the other entries on this list. This also means it’s not as comfortable, though it still feels nice for short gaming sessions.
The biggest drawback is that PlayStation Remote Play only works with the Backbone One PlayStation Edition, but at least it has the same $100 price as the base model.
Best for budget gamers: GameSir G8 Galileo
The GameSir G8 Galileo has one major advantage over the competition: a low price for a great controller. While the $100 list price is the same as the Backbone One, GameSir regularly sells the G8 Galileo for $80.
This makes the G8 Galileo a tempting option for gamers who don’t want to compromise on performance while saving cash. Better yet, the G8 Galileo supports tons of cloud streaming services, including Steam Link, Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Remote Play.
Unfortunately, the GameSir app doesn’t feel nearly as polished as the offerings from Razer and Backbone. The G8 also lacks full compatibility with iOS devices, making it difficult to update controller settings and firmware without an Android phone. GameSir hasn’t given a timeline for iOS app support on the brand’s latest controllers. Still, it’s a worthwhile option for customers on a budget.
Best ergonomics: Razer Kishi Ultra
It’s not much of a stretch to say that the Razer Kishi Ultra feels luxurious. While many mobile controllers try to balance comfort with compactness, the Kishi Ultra doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a full-size console controller.
The grips and button layout closely match a standard Xbox controller, making for an enjoyable playing experience with minimal muscle strain. Its USB-C connector supports the latest iOS and Android devices, including the iPad Mini. Razer even designed it to accommodate most phone cases.
Similarly, the Razer Nexus app is great for bringing your game library onto a single screen — though it doesn’t work with PlayStation Remote Play. It even hosts a Virtual Controller feature for touchscreen games that don’t support mobile controllers.
At $150, the Razer Kishi Ultra is the most expensive product on this list, but it’s well worth the extra cash.
Whether your customers are looking for slick app interfaces, quality performance on a budget, or high-end comfort, there’s a mobile controller for everyone.
See also: CHERRY XTRFY Introduces Its First Two Microphones For Streaming And Gaming
