Phone game controllers

What phone game controllers are

A gamepad is a controller held in two hands and worked mostly with the thumbs. A phone controller is a gamepad built around the phone, so the screen sits between your hands.

• Physical controls: Sticks, a D-pad, face buttons and triggers replace touch controls in games that support a controller.
• Plug-in models: The Backbone One and Razer Kishi V3 Pro plug into the phone’s USB-C port and stretch to fit it.
• Wireless models: The GameSir G8 Plus and X5s connect over Bluetooth and run on their own battery.
• What you can play: Backbone lists controller-ready App Store and Google Play games, Apple Arcade, cloud gaming, and remote play from an Xbox, PlayStation or PC.
• Who makes them: Backbone, Razer, GameSir, 8BitDo and Turtle Beach all sell controllers for phones.

How they work

Most use a sliding bridge between the two grips. You stretch it, set the phone in, and a connector on one side meets the phone’s port.

• A direct USB-C link: Plug-in models take power from the phone, so there is nothing to pair or charge; Backbone cites the low latency of the wired link.
• Bluetooth Low Energy: Wireless models pair like earbuds and carry a battery; Backbone rates the Pro at up to 40 hours.
• Pass-through charging: A second USB-C port on the controller lets you charge the phone while you play.
• Hall effect sticks: A sensor reads a magnet’s field, so stick position is measured without contact and the sensor does not wear.
• TMR sticks: Tunnel magnetoresistance sensors also read a magnet; Razer says its TMR sticks outperform Hall effect designs.
• Companion apps: Backbone, Razer and GameSir apps remap buttons, update firmware and launch games; Backbone says its app is not needed to play.

Types

• Telescopic USB-C: The phone plugs in between two grips; the Backbone One, Razer Kishi V3 Pro and GameSir G8 Galileo work this way.
• Telescopic Bluetooth: The same shape with a battery and a wireless link; GameSir’s G8 Plus and X5s also work with a Nintendo Switch.
• Hybrid: The Backbone Pro plugs into the phone or works as a wireless controller for a tablet, PC or TV.
• Lightning models: iPhone 14 and earlier need a Lightning version; Backbone still sells one.
• Tablet size: Razer’s Kishi V3 Pro XL is built for full-size tablets rather than phones.
• Console controllers: Apple says Xbox, PlayStation and other Bluetooth controllers pair with an iPhone in Bluetooth settings.

What to look for

• The right connector: USB-C fits iPhone 15 and newer and most Android phones; Backbone says foldable phones are not yet confirmed.
• Phone and case fit: Check the length range, 105–213 mm on GameSir’s X5s; Razer says the Kishi V3 Pro fits cases up to 16 mm thick.
• Pass-through charging: Keeps the phone charging during long sessions; the Backbone One, Kishi V3 Pro and G8 Galileo have it.
• A headphone jack: A 3.5 mm jack takes wired headphones; GameSir lists no audio on the G8 Plus.
• Drift-resistant sticks: Hall effect and TMR sticks aim to prevent drift, where a stick registers movement when no one touches it.
• Weight in the bag: GameSir lists the X5s at 174.1 g and the G8 Plus at 314 g; Razer lists the Kishi V3 Pro at 268 g.
• Battery or none: Plug-in models never need charging; Bluetooth models must be charged before you leave.

On the plane and on the trip

• Security screening: TSA allows devices with lithium batteries of 100 Wh or less in carry-on bags, and in checked bags with conditions.
• Best in the cabin: The FAA says battery-powered devices should ride in carry-on bags; checked ones must be fully off and protected from switching on.
• Power banks: Spare lithium batteries and power banks go in carry-on only and must come out of a bag checked at the gate.
• Bluetooth in flight: Since the FAA’s 2013 ruling, passengers may use short-range Bluetooth accessories, with the phone in airplane mode; each airline sets its own policy.
• Takeoff and landing: Under the same guidance, handheld devices must be held or kept in the seat-back pocket during the takeoff and landing roll.
• Streaming abroad: Sony requires at least 5 Mbps for PS Remote Play and recommends 15 Mbps; on mobile data it counts against your plan.
• Charge while you play: With pass-through charging, a power bank plugged into the controller keeps the phone charging as you play.

Limits and care

• Thick cases: Backbone says very thick or rugged cases may not fit, because a deep lip can block the USB-C connector.
• Stick drift: Analog sticks can register movement no one made; Backbone’s 1-year warranty covers joystick drift.
• iPhone gaps: Razer’s Sensa HD haptics need Android 12 or Windows 11 and are not supported on iOS.
• Fewer features wireless: Backbone says button mapping and profiles are not available over Bluetooth.
• Games must support it: A controller works only in games with controller support; Backbone’s TouchSync adds it to some Android games.
• Paid extras: Some Backbone app features need a Backbone+ subscription; the controller plays without it.

A short history

iOS 7 opened the iPhone to MFi-certified game controllers in 2013. Among the first was a case-style pad that held the phone in a slot between two grips.

• November 2013: Logitech announces the PowerShell for the iPhone 5 and 5s, with a D-pad, buttons and a battery but no thumbsticks.
• June 2019: Apple says iOS 13 will support Xbox One and PlayStation 4 controllers over Bluetooth.
• January 2020: Razer shows the Kishi at CES; it plugs straight into the phone’s port for lower latency.
• October 2020: The Backbone One goes on sale for iPhone; an Android version follows in November 2022.
• September 2023: Apple moves the iPhone 15 models from Lightning to USB-C.
• May 2025: Backbone launches the Pro, which plugs into the phone or works as a Bluetooth controller.