The Best Controllers For Phones And Tablets

Tom's Guide

In this video, ‪@PaulAntill‬  shows you the best way to play iPhone and Android games with the top seven mobile controllers of 2025. He has several affordable options and premium, customizable controllers with console-style ergonomics and pro features, including hall effect thumbsticks and underside buttons. They’re perfect for travel and let you take advantage of everything cloud gaming, Apple Arcade, and Netflix Mobile games have to offer!

Transcript

00:00Want a better way to play games on your phone or tablet?

00:02I've got seven of the best mobile controllers

00:05that you can buy today.

00:06From budget picks to premium or the most portable

00:09and most ergonomic, I've got something for everyone here.

00:12And you'll find the best deals for everything

00:14that I'm sharing linked down below.

00:15So let's get into it.

00:18I read your comments.

00:19This is the controller most of you guys actually recommend.

00:22And you didn't steer me wrong.

00:24If you want the best mobile controller

00:25that works with pretty much everything you own,

00:28the GameSir G8 Plus is the one to get.

00:31Phones, tablets, and even the Nintendo Switch,

00:34this controller supports it all.

00:36It has Bluetooth and wired modes,

00:38so you get a lot of flexibility

00:40and it can handle devices up to 8.45 inches wide.

00:44The controller even powers on automatically

00:45when you extend it, so you're ready to play.

00:48But what makes the G8 Plus so special

00:50is that you can swap out the analog sticks

00:52with any of the three extra sets included in the box,

00:56each with its different height, shape, or feel.

00:58You can also rearrange the face buttons around

01:01if you prefer a different layout like Nintendo's.

01:03You just pull off the magnetic face cover

01:06to access everything.

01:07The D-pad also feels great.

01:09Listen to that clicky response.

01:13The ergonomics are also solid with a textured surface

01:16right where your palms and pinkies rest.

01:19The sticks and triggers use Hall Effect sensors,

01:21and you can switch the triggers into hair trigger mode

01:24for a faster response.

01:25Combine all that with the individual left

01:27and right rumble motors, a six-axis gyroscope,

01:30and you pretty much have the most full-featured,

01:32customizable mobile controller money can buy.

01:36If you take mobile gaming as seriously as I do,

01:39then you gotta check out the Razer Kishi V3 Pro.

01:42This is the best pro mobile controller out there.

01:46You may have already seen this

01:47in my best Xbox controller video because seriously,

01:49the build quality and ergonomics are incredibly close

01:52to a full-size Xbox controller.

01:55The larger grips and button spacing make this feel

01:57like you're holding an actual pro controller,

01:59and it's officially my current standard for ergonomics

02:02when it comes to testing out mobile controllers.

02:05Razer also loaded the Kishi V3 Pro

02:07with lots of high-end features.

02:09Silent hall sensor triggers,

02:11swappable thumbsticks with Razer's

02:12tunnel magnetic resonance tech for stronger drift resistance,

02:16plus two mouse click buttons on the back,

02:19two claw grip bumpers at the top,

02:21and USB-C pass-through charging

02:23along with 3.5 millimeter audio jack.

02:26The Kishi V3 Pro supports smartphones

02:29and tablets up to eight inches,

02:30and it even works as a wired game controller for PCs.

02:34It's not cheap, but if you want the closest experience

02:36to playing your Xbox on the go,

02:38it's gotta be the Kishi V3 Pro.

02:40The GameSir X5 Lite is my pick for best-budget mobile controller,

02:47and it's shockingly affordable.

02:49Not only is it lightweight,

02:50but the textured grips are still a good size for my hands

02:53and surprisingly ergonomic for gameplay.

02:56We've got Hall Effect joysticks and shoulder buttons,

02:58and you can even switch the shoulder buttons

03:00to hair trigger mode by holding the M

03:02plus the left trigger or right trigger.

03:05The GameSir X5 Lite stretches to fit devices

03:07up to 8.39 inches wide,

03:09so pretty much every iPhone and Android,

03:12but it even supports iPad Mini with a case installed.

03:15There are two versions to choose between,

03:17a plug-in model with USB-C or a Bluetooth model.

03:21The Bluetooth one costs about $10 more,

03:23but it gives you the freedom to go completely wireless

03:25if you'd like.

03:26It may not offer as many bells and whistles

03:28as other mobile controllers,

03:30but the X5 Lite's value is hard to beat.

03:35If you're looking for the best mobile controller for iPhone,

03:39the SCUF Nomad stands out.

03:41The build quality feels just as premium

03:43as SCUF's console controllers

03:44with a soft touch top shell

03:47and rubberized textured grips

03:48that give it a surprisingly high-end feel.

03:51Then we've got the Hall Effect joysticks,

03:53which are concave just like on an Xbox controller,

03:56but they're actually placed symmetrically at the top,

03:58more similar to a Steam Deck.

04:00SCUF's free iOS app gives you a lot of customization.

04:04You can remap just about every button,

04:06adjust the dead zones for each joystick,

04:08and even change the movement curve for finer control

04:11depending on the game that you're playing.

04:13Because it doesn't use USB-C connections,

04:16it actually can fit the thickest phone cases easily.

04:20One downside though,

04:21you won't find pass-through charging,

04:22meaning that you're gonna have to keep an eye

04:24on your phone battery life.

04:26If you want a polished premium controller

04:28built specifically for iPhone with symmetrical sticks,

04:30the Nomad is one of the best options out there.

04:35The Emcon Magnetic Controller is easily the most unique

04:39mobile controller out there.

04:40I know a lot of you guys were curious about this

04:42leading up to the launch, so let's talk about it.

04:45Unlike every other mobile controller I've tested,

04:48it uses MagSafe, no clamps needed,

04:50to snap your phone on, slide up the controller

04:53to reveal the buttons and thumbsticks,

04:54and deploy the folding handles for a better grip.

04:58You can also rotate your phone for retro or vertical games,

05:01or use the built-in kickstand for tabletop play.

05:03And since it connects via Bluetooth,

05:05you can also use this completely wirelessly,

05:07and it even works great with Switch.

05:10Truly the ultimate convenience.

05:12The layout is similar to a PlayStation controller

05:14with symmetrical sticks at the bottom,

05:16and it uses Hall Effect triggers

05:18and joysticks from GameSir.

05:19It gives a very modern Game Boy-like experience,

05:22though it can be pretty top-heavy

05:25with larger devices attached.

05:26Now, not gonna lie, this is a little bit pricey,

05:29and it's not the most ergonomic choice,

05:31but the trade-off is portability.

05:34It folds up completely,

05:35and can even stay attached to your phone

05:37when you're not playing.

05:38If you want a deeper dive into the Emcon,

05:40I could do a whole video on it,

05:42so just let me know in the comments.

05:47If you guys have been watching any of my videos

05:49here on the channel lately,

05:50you're probably shocked that I haven't talked

05:52about the Backbone One yet.

05:54This is easily one of the most popular options out there,

05:56but I specifically recommend it for playing console

05:59or PC titles on mobile.

06:01The Backbone gaming app sets this controller apart.

06:04It pulls together all your games from the App Store,

06:07Google Play, Xbox Game Pass,

06:09NVIDIA GeForce Now, and even PS Now,

06:12and it can even organize your captured gameplay.

06:14It basically transforms your phone

06:16into a full-fledged gaming console experience,

06:18though keep in mind you only get a one-month free trial

06:21of the full app experience,

06:23which includes the unified game hub and game capture

06:25before it's locked behind a subscription.

06:28And after that, it'll cost about $40 per year.

06:31The Backbone One also comes in licensed designs

06:33for Xbox and PlayStation,

06:35and even has special editions

06:36like Death Stranding and Halo.

06:39It's pricey, but it hits a great balance

06:41between build quality and portability.

06:43There's no battery to charge,

06:45and it has USB-C passthrough for charging your device,

06:47along with a 3.5 millimeter jack.

06:50It's lightweight, and while the ergonomics

06:51aren't the best perhaps,

06:52they're fine for more casual gaming sessions.

06:56If you do happen to side on the Backbone,

06:58you have your choice of the One or the One Pro.

07:01The Pro adds Bluetooth, so you could use it

07:03as a standard wireless controller.

07:05I personally think it's worth the premium

07:06over the basic One,

07:08but this is still perfect for mobile gaming.

07:12The GameStar X2S is the cutest mobile controller.

07:15I mean, look at the retro Nintendo-inspired color scheme

07:18that clearly nods to the SNES.

07:20It's awesome, and it's also pretty low cost, too.

07:24The controller offers hall effect joysticks and triggers,

07:26along with mechanical buttons and switches,

07:29giving you a satisfying tactile feel.

07:32It supports phones up to 6.6 inches tall,

07:34and the compact design makes it great for smaller hands

07:37or more casual gaming.

07:39The one thing to note, though,

07:40is the right sticks sit quite close to the buttons,

07:43and it can feel a little bit cramped,

07:45depending on your hand size.

07:46But for fans of its retro looks

07:48or anyone with smaller hands,

07:49the X2S is a fun, compact, and affordable option,

07:52and probably a really cool stocking stuffer.

07:56So, which mobile controller are you getting?

07:58Don't forget to check out

07:59the best deals for everything linked down below.

08:01But if there's a mobile controller that you love

08:03that you think I should check out for next time,

08:05let me know in the comments.

08:07If this video helps you out,

08:08make sure you're staying subscribed for other buying guides,

08:10and you can follow me

08:11to see what other cool tech that I'm reviewing.

08:13And until the next one, I'll catch you later.

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