Best game controllers for iPhone and Android

With the way high-end chipsets such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from Qualcomm and the A17 Pro from Apple are progressing, mobile gaming is bound to continue growing, especially now that dedicated consol-level games can be played on the latest phones such as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. There is also the world of cloud gaming, with one of the more obvious examples being Nvidia's GeForce Now platform.

No matter how capable our phones become at running high-end games, however, one simple issue remains, and that is the admittedly suboptimal touch screen controls. To be fair, some phones like the Asus ROG Phone 7, for example, try to combat this by adding a bunch of controls on the back and the frame, but it is still a far cry from the ergonomics of an actual gaming controller.

On that note, below we have compiled a list of the best gaming controllers you can get your hands on right now, so start choosing because if you are an avid mobile gamer, or an aspiring one, you deserve the best experience!

Summary

PowerA Moga XP5-X Plus

If you’re looking for a full-fledged smartphone game controller, the XP5-X Plus is a good choice. This controller comes with an adjustable smartphone holder, making for a comfortable gaming experience. A unique selling point is the built-in 3000mAh power bank which will give your phone an extra boost if its battery is running low.

On top of a D-pad, two analog sticks, four regular buttons and four shoulder buttons, the XP5-X Plus has two mappable buttons which you can assign to touch spots on the screen. Both Bluetooth and wired connectivity over USB are supported, so you can choose between convenience and zero input lag. However, you can’t use the power bank feature and the USB connection at the same time.

Note that this particular game controller is designed for smartphones and will not work with your XBOX. It will work with your PC and services like Google Stadia or XBOX Game Pass, however.

Razer Kishi Mobile V2 Game Controller

The Razer Kishi V2 will make your phone feel almost like you are playing on a Nintendo switch thanks to its expandable bridge and rubberized inserts. The controls are satisfying to operate, especially the magnetic sensors on the trigger button, which are extremely tight-feeling and precise when pressed.  When not in use, the controller is easy to carry thanks to its retractable design.

Be aware that this controller does not support wireless connections of any sort. Instead, it plugs directly into your phone’s USB-C or Lightning port. An advantage of this approach is that there is zero input lag. There’s also no battery in the controller to recharge.

There are dedicated Android and iPhone versions of this controller – with a USB-C or Lightning connector, respectively – so be sure to order the correct variant for your phone.

Backbone One

The Backbone was released in 2020, but it is still one of the best phone controllers you will find on the market. It has good ergonomics and clips to your phone via a USB-C or Lightning connector so you don't get that Bluetooth latency.

It supports thousands of games, as well as Remote Play for both Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Not only is the hardware well-made, but so is the Backbone app that comes along with it. It serves as a convenient and intuitive hub that houses all of your games and settings, which makes it feel like you are not playing on your phone, but more like on a dedicated gaming device like the Nintendo Switch, for example.

The app also serves as a place to check out all of your screen recordings and screenshots. Additionally, you can add others as friends using the Backbone app, and play together with them.