Best Games For Ipad Controller
Hermila Farquhar
The Backbone One (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a delight. Plug the Lightning connector into your iPhone (get the USB-C version if you have one of the newer iPhone 15 range or an Android phone), stretch the controller over it, and play. 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. Even if you don't love mobile gaming, this little controller can turn your phone into a console or PC. The experience might even change your mind about mobile games; I played Stardew Valley for so long I forgot I was playing on my phone. The built-in headphone jack is a nice touch.
I also tested the newer and cheaper GameSir X2s ($46). It feels very similar to the X2 Pro, but the design is inspired by the Nintendo 2 DS, the USB-C connector is on the left, and the buttons are non-swappable.
Ideal for Xbox Remote Play or Cloud Gaming, this controller will feel instantly familiar to Xbox owners, and it even has an Xbox button in the center, like the official model. It's much lighter, but there are solid standard Xbox buttons, grippy thumbsticks, and a couple of programmable pushers on the back. The only disappointment is the mushy D-pad and the absence of haptics. The clip design is smart, with two adjustable joints and a cradle that expands to accommodate most phones. It even has minimal forked prongs that avoid the power and volume buttons on the side of your phone. The phone connection is a choice between cable and Bluetooth.
The dock is a little flimsy, but it managed to hold my iPad in place, with ports in the side and back for plugging everything in. I struggled to get it all working, as the instructions are not the clearest, but once it was hooked up and configured, playing Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Minecraft was a breeze. The Keymander 2 Mobile could also work well for remote play on PlayStation or Xbox or for a streaming service like GeForce Now. Just be aware that only games with controller support work well, and you do need to tweak settings frequently for best results.
Turtle Beach Atom Controller for $80: With a clever two-piece design, this controller folds away neatly, but feels insecure without a back. The clamps on each side are awkward, particularly with phones sporting large camera modules. I had trouble connecting, and dislike that the right side has to be turned on separately (press B and menu buttons). The right side connects wirelessly (2.4 GHz), but the controller connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It mostly worked fine for me, but when I played Jydge, the movement was inverted on the left stick. You get around 20 hours of battery life. It takes about two hours to charge. If portability is your main concern, it may be worth a look.
GameSir T4 Cyclone for $40: Relatively affordable, with a grippy finish and Hall Effect joysticks, this is a solid controller. There are a couple of programmable buttons around back, rumble motors in the grips, and a handy multi-function button. It also supports Bluetooth, 2.4-GHz with an optional dongle, and USB-C connections. But the battery is only 860 mAh, the GameSir app is flaky, and the LED is annoyingly bright.
Nacon MG-X Pro for $88: It feels like Nacon cut an Xbox controller in half to insert an extendable phone cradle, but if you want this style of controller the GameSir G8 listed above is what we recommend. The MG-X Pro is slightly roomier, but the G8 is superior in every other way.
Turtle Beach Recon Cloud for $59: Here is another Xbox-branded controller that supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play and comes with one free month of Game Pass Ultimate. It feels good in-hand, has a solid phone clip, and works with Android, Xbox, and Windows. It also features some audio enhancements (when plugged in), programmable buttons, and a handy Pro-Aim feature that reduces sensitivity on the right stick for aiming in FPS games. It's a good upgrade pick over the PowerA controller listed above, but only if you want the extra features.
GameSir X3 for $100: On paper, this is an upgrade over the X2, with refined buttons, more options for the joysticks, and a cooling fan on the back. But I recommend the cheaper X2 Pro listed above instead, because the fan adds bulk and weight and it needs power via a dedicated USB-C port. (It has a separate USB-C port for pass-through charging of your phone.)
The best way to narrow down what iPad gaming controller is best for you is foremostly to identify which other consoles or devices, if any, you'd want support for. If you own multiple different devices from different ecosystems, you might want something with more versatility like the SteelSeries Nimbus+. Or, if you're a loyal PlayStation or Xbox player, you'll want something more attuned to those ecosystems.
If you're still stuck, the next best thing is add budget into the mix. Since many of these controllers have features incompatible with the iPad, rather intended for traditional gaming devices, you might be better off just going for the most budget-friendly option.
As with any gaming controller test, there are some features at the top of our list; ergonomics, features, build quality, and compatibility, to name a few. We look at how comfortable the controller is to hold and use over long periods of time, and if the build quality is robust enough to see you through the years.
We'll also test all of the marketed features for functionality and how well they work in the given ecosystem; however, in the case of iPad gaming controllers, many won't offer things like haptics or touch control on account of compatibility issues.
If you want to use your Apple tablet for gaming, you'll absolutely want to snag one of the best iPad gaming controllers to get the most out of your slate. While they're certainly not gaming-first devices, there are an abundance of mobile games available, as well as the option to leverage features like GamePass and Remote Play on your consoles.
While there aren't too many bespoke iPad gaming controllers like we see for mobiles and other handheld devices, plenty of popular PC and console controllers can connect to iPads via Bluetooth. It's certainly a lot easier than using touchscreen controls, which are the bane of many a mobile gamer, meaning you can still have a competitive edge in multiplayer games while on your non-gaming device.
This more affordable alternative to the Elite Series 2 is the gamepad to buy if you want the final word in competitive controllers for iPad, especially if you own an Xbox as well. Hands down, there is no better tool to explore Game Pass's library with on an iPad.
The DualShock 4 is still one of the best gaming controllers ever made, and thanks to an easy Bluetooth pairing system, it'll connect very easily. It's available in a plethora of colours, has a reliable build quality, and hardly ever suffers from drift issues. Battery life can sometimes be a problem, though.
If you want something that can serve you across iOS, Android, PC, and Nintendo Switch, this is a superb option from a reputable controller brand. And the best part? It's very reasonably priced too. We've found this to be an exceptionally versatile controller that has a slew of premium features.
As with the DualShock 4, the newer DualSense is an easy option for playing games on an iPad. It does have fairly poor battery life, and it's far more expensive than the DualShock 4. Still, if you own or are looking to buy a PS5, it's an absolute no-brainer.
Duncan is the Hardware Editor over at GamesRadar. Before that, he was an editorial intern at Expert Reviews and a freelancer for The Scottish Games Network. Duncan has over five years of experience writing about the video game industry and its various technologies. When he attended Edinburgh Napier University to read Journalism, he tilted as much of his education into covering those areas as possible, honing his digital content creation experience through articles, videos, podcasts, live streams, and student radio. In his spare time, you can either find him dissecting game design, testing out the latest pro controllers, or playing tennis.","contributorText":"With contributions from","contributors":["name":"Josephine Watson","role":"Managing Editor for Lifestyle","link":"href":"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/author\/josephine-watson"]}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Duncan RobertsonSocial Links NavigationFreelance WriterDuncan is the Hardware Editor over at GamesRadar. Before that, he was an editorial intern at Expert Reviews and a freelancer for The Scottish Games Network. Duncan has over five years of experience writing about the video game industry and its various technologies. When he attended Edinburgh Napier University to read Journalism, he tilted as much of his education into covering those areas as possible, honing his digital content creation experience through articles, videos, podcasts, live streams, and student radio. In his spare time, you can either find him dissecting game design, testing out the latest pro controllers, or playing tennis.
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