It has built-in rumble, a solid D-pad, good battery life, and a USB-C port. The buttons and bumpers feel nice and clicky, with super-fast response times, and there's broad support for PS Remote Play, Xbox Remote Play, and Steam Link, as well as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and GeForce Now. We tested several of the top smartphone controllers by playing various games for hours at a time to find the very best performers. Get Octopus old version APK for Android Download About Octopus English Play games with Gamepad (Xbox, PS, IPEGA, GameSir, etc. To connect your phone and your PC, you need to install two apps. The Aro Home app is easy to use, but its pretty embarrassing to realize you put your phone down for only 20 minutes a day. It's much lighter, but there are solid standard Xbox buttons, grippy thumbsticks, and a couple of programmable pushers on the back. Readers like you help support Android Police. If you crave wireless PC gaming, the Stratus Duo ($60) is still a better pick, because theres no Wi-Fi support with the Stratus+, but you do get a smartphone clip in the box, and its a clever new design that folds flat for easy storage. The 8Bitdo Pro 2 has a full button set, including R3 and L3 buttons, and has companion software for firmware updates and button customizations. And it's easy to move or hide the widget. The Steelseries Stratus+ replaces the Stratus Duo as our Editor's choice and is easily one of our favorite Android gaming controllers. We have worked with partners on optimizing . The DualSense has a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as a built-in microphone for voice chat. 8Bitdos design is tried and true. This is one controller you wont want to set down. Ashutosh is a staff writer for the Android section at MUO. No root or activator required! The . Free Postage. To connect to an Android device, simply hold down the sync button on the top of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller until it starts flashing. 09. Those looking for a more advanced experience should look at the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. The PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus mobile controller is unique in many ways. With two precision analog sticks, a directional pad, menu button, and four action buttons, youre pretty well covered whatever game youre playing. I tested it with the Pixel 6 Pro, and it felt tailor-made for twin-stick shooters like Jydge. He loves trying new custom ROMs and tweaking Android phones, and he's passionate about helping readers by explaining how to master every aspect of the Android OS. From there though, you also need to seek out the best deals so that you save plenty of cash while still bagging the best phone for your needs. Any rechargeable AA batteries with a higher capacity than the average work well with Bluetooth controllers. And, as usual, Samsung has created some of the most desirable smartphones in the business. Not only do we have a selection of side-by-side clip-on controllers, but if you prefer something more akin to a console, there are controllers for that, too, including everyone's favorite Xbox controllers. Tap on the name of your desktop, and the phone will be ready to use as a gamepad. That is the biggest problem- the keyboard is pretty good, and the gamepad, while I would like it to have more buttons, and a higher button margin for the d-pad, it does the job. Officially works with Nintendo Switch and Android. Update notification to support Android 7.0/8.0+, 10162 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92840, https://sites.google.com/site/fishstixprivacy/. It's all plastic, and it's light in hand for those long gaming sessions. There's also a companion app, and you can dial in the dead zones of the controller's thumbstick. This is definitely worth the money. Developers can show information here about how their app collects and uses your data. He's a person that holds a peculiar yet deep interest in all things to do with handheld gaming and constantly pushes to advance the state of the mobile industry beyond the bounds of its predatory monetization obsession. Nevertheless, for $36, this is something were prepared to overlook. With your Android phone working like a controller, you can enjoy the tilt control on racing or driving games like Forza Horizon 5. Youll want to go wired to completely eliminate worries about power or latency. Thankfully, the GameSir X3 Type-C controller is a beast of an offering in this space. Add in a USB-C port, rumble vibrations, motion controls, and player indicator LED, and this controllers starting to look like more than just a cool retro choice. The only disappointment is the mushy D-pad and the lack of any haptics. It's certainly not flimsy, and the strong materials should mean it can withstand a fair amount of transportation and punishment an important attribute if you want to take a controller on your travels. Launch Gamepad Keyboard once to start the notification. If there's no layout for the game you're playing, then you can choose the Xbox360 controller layout instead, as it will work for most gaming titles. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. ), mouse, keyboard! Android supports Xbox controllers out of the box, as long as you connect over Bluetooth. you should be able to get this when connecting your device and checking logcat, but a little google-fu will get you an answer as well. Officially works with Android, iPhone, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. The low-latency USB-C connection is great for more competitive mobile gamers. Bluetooth controllers are more or less on the same level as wired controllers now, especially with reduced latency figures. Weve marked which platform each controller officially supports, though there may be others that unofficially work. Look for a dedicated Bluetooth button, or check the manual for the right button combination if there isn't one. It's a PlayStation 5 highlight thats highly responsive, refined, and durable. Below, we've picked out the best phone deals currently available so you can quickly find the ideal deal for you. Officially works with iPhone, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation Remote Play. While you're at it, check out our favorite gaming phones, too. If you already play on Xbox, you may as well use the Xbox Wireless Controller with your phone. The Best Budget Phone Plans to Ditch the Big Carriers. Razer has latched on to the dock form factor, and theyve made significant improvements with the V2. Enable "Game Pad" in the Android Settings->Keyboards section. Turn on Bluetooth on both your PC and your phone and open the apps on both devices. Matthew has been an Android user since the HTC Hero and has been covering roundups, reviews, and daily mobile game news coverage for over a decade. The best Bluetooth game controllers 8Bitdo Pro 2 Xbox Core Sony DualSense DualShock PS4 controller SteelSeries Stratus Duo PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus Razer Kishi V2 8Bitdo M30 8Bitdo Zero 2 Gamesir. Enjoy up to eight hours of gaming time thanks to the 600mAh lithium battery. Whether you prefer to play cordless or with the least amount of delay possible, it is an extremely capable product for an everyday device since you can connect it to Android over Bluetooth as well as USB-C. All of the features are free for the first year. Specifications Brand: GameSir Platform: Android Battery: No. You need PC Remote Receiver on your Windows computer and the companion app PC Remote on your Android phone. As mentioned above, most controllers should work with Android devices running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (or Android 3.2 Honeycomb) or newer. It's essentially using the controller support to connect the mouse and keyboard, and you configure them in the K2 Mobile Game Dock app. The D-pad is all too frequently a disappointment in phone controllers, but not here. But if you often play native Android games on your phone, you may be much better off with the GameSir X3 Type-C. The built-in headphone jack is a nice touch. 14 Great Deals on Apple iPads, Laptops, and Outdoor Gear. Plus, it has the added benefit of removable pads for phone models that are extremely thick or house large camera bumps. The Xbox Core controller is what you get with the Xbox Series X and Series S. The great news is that this will also work on other platforms. The only significant complaints were a lack of USB-C charging, an oversight in this day and age, and a slightly mushy D-pad. This unusual niche device enables you to play on an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone with a wired or wireless keyboard and mouse, but it does so in a confusing, cobbled-together kind of way. This Bluetooth controller can connect to four devices, so you can easily jump between a Nintendo Switch, MacBook, Android or iOS phone, and Windows PC, or you can connect with a cable using the. Vibration motors and a gyroscope make it a good pick for playing on the Nintendo Switch. Since the controller is a new release, we've been lucky enough to go hands on with the unit, and even though the external RGB fan may seem a little silly, it does help to keep things cool when playing demanding games. I just options to adjust size of the buttons and d-pad, and another option to move the d-pad anywhere you want on the screen. That obviously means theres no internal battery, a bonus if you dont want to keep multiple devices charged but it does mean the controller pulls power from your phone to function, which can impair your battery life. The vibrate is strong, and theres a six-axis gyroscope for Switch games. The app itself is useful enough, but the button's placement above the start button means you're likely to hit it by mistake a lot. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. If you have a gamesir they have their own app called . Even if you choose to go premium, you get more features, often enough to justify the expense. Menu. There's even macro support. What compatibility issues can you encounter with a gaming controller? Other features to look out for include mappable buttons, the ability to connect with a wide variety of devices (not just your smartphone), and a built-in stand. Our favorites are the Panasonic Eneloop Pro and EBL 2800mAh. From the Android TV Home screen, scroll down and select Settings . Yes, they are. Tap on your PC name, and the two devices will connect. It even has minimal forked prongs that avoid the power or volume buttons on the side of your phone. The Stratus+ also worked well with games in my Steam library without configuration, and its a recommended controller for Nvidias GeForce Now. Buy a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and get $100 in Samsung Instant Credit, Android's best games that offer controller support, Get a close-up look at how Motorola's rollable phone works, Galaxy Tab S9 to get feature that finally puts it on par with rest of Samsung's lineup, The USB-C port swivels for easy insertion, micro-switch buttons feel great and are incredibly responsive, USB-C in for passthrough charging as well as headphone support, Two extra buttons and they are programmable, No USB connection, only Bluetooth (causes latency), No back, slightly flimsy as two separate pieces, Versitile connectability with bluetooth, wifi, and USB-C support, Built-in battery won't be easily replaced, Center thumb sticks may not be for everyone, All four shoulder buttons are on a single row, Familiar comfort and feel for any Xbox players, Works best with Android over bluetooth, corded is hit and miss, Inherent delay with bluetooth connection. 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