Obtaining one of the top mobile gaming controllers is necessary if you want to be able to play your favourite games while on the go. Below, we’ve compiled the greatest options, ranging from nostalgic selections that will transport you back to the early days of gaming to feature-rich controllers with RGB backlighting.
Many excellent Android games enable controllers, providing knowledgeable players with accurate controls while others find it difficult to use touchscreens.
We have the top Android controllers for you to choose from, starting with the Nacon MG-X Pro, if you’re looking to upgrade your mobile gaming experience.
With the MG-X Pro mobile controller, Nacon combined the ergonomic grips of a console controller from Xbox or PlayStation with the greatest features of other controllers available to create a force to be reckoned with. Since it’s not broken, why fix it? That design has been validated as effective, and it functions flawlessly with the Nacon MG-X Pro.
Its weight distribution seemed well, which is a benefit of clamping around your phone rather than utilising a phone clip, as we mentioned in our review. In contrast to other comparable models, however, the ergonomic curve of the triggers and bumpers makes them simpler to grip and tap, while the face buttons, thumbsticks, and D-pad are all naturally spaced apart to prevent hand cramping. It doesn’t feel like a mobile controller in use, which is a major plus in our opinion.
Compared to controllers that use USB-C connectivity, the MG-X Pro can also handle a larger range of phones thanks to its Bluetooth connection. One drawback of Bluetooth is that it might occasionally lag slightly behind direct connections. In our comparison of the Nacon MG-X Pro vs. GameSir X3, , our two best Android game controllers, the latter has an advantage in this regard. However, we think the MG-X Pro is superior because of its longer battery life (20 hours) and more comfortable grip.
Although there are a number of 8Bitdo controllers on this list that resemble SNES controllers, they aren’t the most ergonomic. Examine the 8Bitdo Pro 2 carefully if you’re looking for a hybrid controller with a similar look and feel but a more contemporary design with appropriate hand grips.
With ‘longer grips for each hand to assist your hands rest easily’, as our reviewer puts it, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 is designed more in line with the Xbox or DualSense controllers, making it considerably more ergonomic for extended gaming sessions.
It contains a 1,000mAh replaceable and rechargeable battery with a 20-hour maximum runtime. Although our reviewer hoped 8Bitdo supplied a replacement battery pack so you could replace the dead one, you can at least rely on it to survive the duration of a gaming session or use the USB-C port to quickly top it off.
You have even more flexibility over how you play your games by being able to map any button on the controller to another function with the 8Bitdo app that goes along with it. This includes the two new remapable back paddle buttons, which may be useful for certain users but may cause obstructions if you never intend to use them. You can use this on almost any device, with the exception of an iPhone or iPad, and it features a four-way toggle to make switching between profiles and devices easier than previously.
The fact that phones can get quite hot very quickly is one of the main grievances that many people have with Android gaming. If you can use a controller while ignoring the heat, it might not be too much of an issue, but that doesn’t fix the issue. Introducing the Gamesir X3 reviewer, a device with a built-in cooling unit on the back that produces a noticeable impact with very little noise.
The quiet fan “actually helps cool down whichever phone you’re using to a noticeable degree,” according to our Gamesir X3 reviewer, who also highlighted why you shouldn’t view it as a “gimmick.” The only drawback is that you have to plug the fan into a power source other than your phone. As a result, even while you can utilise the controller throughout your daily commute, you’re probably going to take advantage of the greatest benefit at home.
This controller lacks Bluetooth functionality and just has a USB-C connector, in contrast to the Gamesir X2. This reduces input lag by improving its connection reliability, but it also restricts the range of phones that it can be used with cases. Fortunately, our reviewer discovered that the clamp can be moved up or down by around a centimetre to accommodate thicker or larger phones.
We adore the tactile feedback provided by the buttons, and we found it intriguing that you could swap them out magnetically to match your preferred controller. Although we didn’t like how small the thumbsticks were, the package does provide textured thumbstick covers that can help somewhat address the problem. Although the X3 isn’t as pleasant to grip as the MG-X Pro overall, advantages like the fan could convince you otherwise.
With Bluetooth connectivity, the 8BitDo SN30 Pro updates the classic Nintendo controller design and can be used with Android, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and even the Nintendo Switch. This adaptability will be quite useful if you have a collection of old games that you enjoy playing again.
According to our 8BitDo SN30 Pro tester, you’ll love the clickable joysticks, rumble vibration, and other contemporary additions to the timeless design. After using it for more than a year, he observed that the rechargeable 480mAh battery, which has an 18-hour maximum runtime, had largely held onto its longevity. Neither stick drift nor the mushiness of other controllers bother him with the D-Pad.
The absence of a specific power switch or button for pairing is a drawback as it necessitates using the Start and Select buttons, which may accidentally cause unpairing. For people with larger hands, it can feel a touch tight, and the phone’s weight on the clip might seem a little off. Nevertheless, the 8BitDo SN30 Pro, which comes in all the traditional GameBoy Colour colours, continues to be one of our favourites.
The classic look of the Xbox Series X controller hasn’t altered much over the years, despite Microsoft adding a new button, which is a good thing. The majority of our favourite compatible Android games use the Xbox controller’s button configuration by default because it’s the most comfortable and well-liked gaming controller among the staff’s players.
The bumpers and trigger have a textured, supple grip that keeps you from slipping. Though it isn’t replaceable like the more costly model, the hybrid d-pad is modelled after the Xbox Elite Controller. Even so, depending on the game you are playing, Microsoft has allowed you to personalise and rearrange the mapping of a few of the buttons.
With the Series X controller, battery life is somewhat irrelevant because AA batteries are required for operation. If you don’t already have one, you can always buy the earlier Play and Charge kit after the fact as it is compatible with this one. Additionally, Microsoft has decided not to add a built-in microphone, so even though the device includes a 3.5mm headphone connection (just like the previous edition), you’ll still need a good headset if you intend to go online with your friends.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase a phone holder, but there are plenty available given the popularity of Xbox controllers. The PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 or the 8Bitdo Mobile Gaming Clip for Xbox are good places to start your search.
We discovered in our study of the Razer Kishi that it satisfies nearly every need for an Android game controller. With the Razer Kishi V2, Razer improved upon their already fantastic controller by incorporating user input and lessons gathered over the years to create a far more comfortable and ergonomic device.
The spring-loaded design makes mounting phones and remapping buttons with the new Razer Nexus app much easier than before. Our Razer Kishi V2 review highlights the textured grips that are comfortable and make this generation much easier to hold, as well as the “essentially perfect” D-Pad and the triggers with tonnes of travel that you’ll “adore.”
There are undoubtedly flaws with the Kishi V2. For better or worse, the joysticks are exact replicas of the Nintendo Switch Joy-con sticks, and you have to constantly adjust your grip to reach certain buttons. It’s still a great model though, and a significant improvement over the previous one.
The GameSir X2 Bluetooth has long been one of our best Android controller choices, but in the age of excellent USB-C controllers that eliminate battery life concerns, Bluetooth has becoming more difficult to recommend.
In addition to its USB-C port, the updated GameSir X2 Pro offers a few more quality-of-life enhancements that are detailed in our review. Firstly, it incorporates remapable back buttons on the bottom-back, which increases your adaptability by allowing you to squeeze them with your middle fingers without taking your hands off the joysticks. Additionally, the built-in resistance prevents inadvertent pressing.
The Kailh microswitch bumpers offer a nice tactile sensation, while the GameSir X2 Pro Hall Effect triggers measure different levels of pressure, modernising where the X2 could only register one level (pressed or unpressed). These “buzzwords” do affect how the X2 Pro feels and functions, our reviewer emphasised.
You may switch out the magnetically attached buttons to match your preferred configuration (Xbox or Switch), much as with the GameSir X3. You’ll have to accept that the grip is a little less organic and more claw-like than with most Switch-style controllers. Apart than that, this is unquestionably among the greatest Android controllers available.
We’ve mostly concentrated on two types of Android controllers for our list of the best: controllers with integrated phone clips and switch-style controllers that encircle your phone. On the other hand, the GameSir T4 Kaleid is a very good alternative for those who want a controller that is compatible with a variety of devices, including but not limited to Android gaming consoles.
Our evaluation of the GameSir T4 Kaleid highlights its ergonomic design, which has “well-positioned” triggers with ample of tension and “easy-to-reach buttons” with pleasant click travel. Its weight is just right—not too light, nor too heavy—and it comes equipped with features that most of our other recommendations don’t, like a vibration motor and a 3.5mm headphone connection.
We commended the T4 for having a more comfortable design and the same low latency and good customisation possibilities as the X3 and X2 Pro. Additionally customisable and quite nice, the RGB lights can also be irritating at times.
The T4 Kaleid is a wired-only USB-C controller that can be quickly connected to an Android phone, albeit it won’t be very convenient to use because of the hanging cord. According to GameSir, it’s a good choice for PC, Switch, and Android TV.
Although it isn’t the first controller that springs to mind when someone wants to play games on their Android device, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is functional. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can utilise Nintendo’s high-end controller in the same manner as you would any other controller available.
Get one to improve all of your favourite Android mobile games if you enjoy playing games on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED, or just because you like this specific controller and find it comfy.
With one charge, the robust battery can run for up to 40 hours. You’ll find this controller to be somewhat comparable to Microsoft’s controllers if you’re used to their designs because it features asymmetrical sticks, just like the Xbox controller. The primary need is that you purchase your own phone clip, which you can get on Amazon for a reasonable price and which will turn your Switch Pro controller into an Android controller.
What are the best Android controllers?
Why you should trust Android Central: Our knowledgeable reviewers test and compare products and services for hours on end to help you make the best decision possible. Learn more about our testing procedure.
With game streaming services like Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, the utility of a Bluetooth controller for gaming will only increase, allowing us to play more games while on the road. Not to mention the popularity of some of the best Android games available and massively popular premium mobile games like Genshin Impact.
You will mostly have to decide between USB-C and Bluetooth, as well as between Switch-style controllers and more conventional ergonomic controllers with phone clips, if you don’t already own a high-end Bluetooth controller like the Xbox Wireless Controller.
Our top picks are the Nacon MG-X Pro and Razer Kishi V2, each with a unique focus. The Nacon is easier to hold, while the Razer offers the advantage of passthrough phone charging and USB-C low latency.