The Best Game Controllers for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

We’ve reviewed and selected some of the best gaming controllers for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

A few years ago, Apple finally acknowledged that the touchscreen isn’t always the best way to play video games, even on a mostly touchscreen device. To that end, they’ve updated iOS to support third-party controllers, similar to the kind you might find bundled with the Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

Generally speaking, iOS game controllers come in one of two camps: phone-focused and standalone controllers that don’t physically connect to your phone at all, which usually includes a large wraparound case to cover your phone. The advantages of the mobile game controller’s case style include not having to worry about Bluetooth connections, which can often be intermittent, and a small battery that often helps reduce the battery drain you can expect after playing a graphically intensive game. your iPhone for a few hours.

Where wireless controllers tend to win is in freedom of use – you don’t load your phone with an add-on box that can be difficult to remove, and you can use it with multiple devices: the controllers’ Bluetooth connections are often very hard to find on the iPad or the new Apple TV as it now has its own app store. They lend well.

The SteelSeries Stratus wireless controller actually premiered at CES a few years ago, so it’s definitely not a new entry into the world of iOS controllers. Still, we love it mostly because of how obscenely portable it is. Thicker in size (though thicker) than the iPhone 5 / iPhone 5S, the SteelSeries Stratus can easily fit in your pocket for on-the-go gaming wherever you are. One of its best features is its protective cover – a small plastic tray sits on top of the controller to protect the buttons when in your pocket or purse, and you can flip it over the back of the controller to make it more comfortable. to hold. This is smart design.

When it was first released, the Stratus was crippled by a nasty case of button lag, but that was cleared up in a later firmware update and now the controller is pretty responsive despite using Bluetooth v2.1. The rechargeable battery is good for about ten hours, which is enough to complete almost any gaming session, especially on a mobile device, but you’ll want to recharge it regularly or you’ll find yourself stranded with a dead controller. You can do Get the SteelSeries Stratus for $45 on Amazon.com.

The PXN-6603 or ‘Speedy’ controller will be familiar to any Xbox 360 gamer – the manufacturer essentially cloned the design. However, this is by no means an attack against them, as the Xbox 360 has extremely comfortable controllers and so does the PXN. Despite coming from a generally unknown company, the Speedy has pretty good build quality; One thing I particularly like is the soft-touch rubbery plastic on the back of the controller. It allows you to hold the controller firmly even if your hands are a little sweaty.

Besides being ‘full size’, the other obvious difference from the Stratus controller comes in the form of a screw clip. Designed to hold your iPhone on the go, Speedy’s clip is versatile enough to hold both iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus models even with the case on. It has a rechargeable lithium battery that takes a micro USB cable – so you’ll have no trouble finding a cable that will charge it for you. Additionally, it’s the only controller available in both black and white, so you can match any iPhone faceplate you have. available on Amazon.com both black aspect besides white, for $59.99.

The HORIPAD ULTIMATE comes from the Japanese company HORI, a well-known manufacturer of high-end gaming peripherals, and brings a lot to the iOS controller line that isn’t available in other offerings. First, the build quality is top notch – everything feels well-structured with a decent d-pad as well as good analog joysticks, secondly it’s a well-known issue in the MFi controller space.Like the Speedy, it has a built-in rechargeable battery, but unlike the Speedy, it can be easily recharged using a charger. Lightning cable – perhaps absurdly sold separately. HORI claims Mac compatibility as well as iOS, and the battery inside the HORIPAD ULTIMATE promises an astonishing 80 hours of gameplay. The quality on this controller is exceptionally good despite the lack of a phone clip or stand. and an easy suggestion at $50.

These two offerings from Mad Catz are more similar than they’re different, so they share an entry. Mad Catz was originally known in the ’90s for making cheap third-party controllers, memory cards, and the like. In the 2000s, and especially in the last five years, the company really stepped up their game and produced some pretty cool equipment. Fortunately, CTRLi controllers tend to fall into the latter category. Similar to the Speedy, both of Mad Catz’s controllers come with a handy clip for your mobile device and will fit any iPhone, even if both are in a (reasonably sized) case. The CTRLi is the larger and heavier of the two and has a higher quality phone clip. However, its size and weight are a downside for on-the-go gamers, so the slightly smaller and lighter (but still full-size) Micro CTRLi steps in to fill the void.

The biggest difference from the other controllers on our list comes in the way they charge them – unlike the others, these controllers do not use rechargeable batteries; instead they rely on AAAs like your TV remote control. I usually find this a negative, but it does mean that if you’re out and about, you can get some extra battery for gaming without trying to find a place to charge your controller. This also means that these controllers are more cost effective than others: CTRLi is available for $45 to $60 in black, blue, orange, red, or white.while Micro CTRLi available in same colors for just $50.

Rounding out our list is another SteelSeries controller, this time clearly made to be compatible with the new Apple TV – but it will work with your other iPhones and iPads as well. Nimbus replaces the Stratus XL in the SteelSeries iOS lineup; The addition of Bluetooth 4.0 means it uses less power and has less lag, according to the company. The slim, matte black color scheme makes it less flashy than some controllers, and a center-mounted array of LEDs lets you know which player you’re controlling in the middle of heated multiplayer matches.The Nimbus includes a rechargeable battery, which SteelSeries says is good for up to 40 hours of gaming. When you’re ready to recharge, simply unplug a Lightning cable; You’ll soon be up and running again – like the HORIPAD, there’s no Lightning cable in the box, and with Apple’s notorious cable reputation, this is a cheap thing to add. Still, it’s a high quality controller with a number of attractive features and you can get one for just $50.