video games

Best Mobile Gaming Controllers for iPhone and Android (2026)

Best Mobile Gaming Controllers for iPhone and Android (2026)

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The finest mobile gaming controllers are ideal for prolonged gaming sessions on compatible titles. Whether you’re in search of an iPhone or Android controller, we’ve evaluated the leading options and have opinions on each. Backbone provides the best overall selection for the majority of users, with suggestions for particular requirements such as compatibility with smart glasses or tablets.

Be sure to check out our purchasing guides including Best Affordable Phones, Best Android Devices, Best Gaming Controllers, and Best MagSafe Accessories.

Our Selections:

1. Best Mobile Gaming Controller: Backbone One
– Connect the adapter to your phone, and experience enjoyable gameplay with sensitive buttons and triggers. It features pass-through charging, a screenshot function, a mute option, and a headphone port.

2. Best Enhanced Mobile Gaming Controller: Backbone Pro
– Delivers improved comfort with customizable back buttons, Hall-effect rear triggers, and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless device transitions.

3. Best Magnetic Mobile Gaming Controller: ohsnap! Mcon
– Showcases a magnetic design that works with MagSafe and comes with a detachable controller and an integrated kickstand for multifaceted play. Additional accessories like the Key Cast and Dock enhance functionality.

Specifically designed to be compatible with iPhone, Android, Nvidia GeForce Now, Xbox and PlayStation Remote Play, Amazon Luna, and Steam Link.

'Saros' Highlights PS5's DualSense Capabilities

‘Saros’ Highlights PS5’s DualSense Capabilities

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**Spoiler Alert for the Opening Scene of the Upcoming Game Saros:** The game kicks off by showcasing a sequence of words. These characters materialize on the screen one at a time, presenting certain world-building aspects to lay the groundwork for the narrative. The exact details are easy to miss because of the strong tactile experiences prompted by the controller. Each letter evokes a sharp haptic buzz, creating a clicky-clacky sensation. From the very beginning, Saros emphasizes its commitment to immersive storytelling through physical experiences.

Since the launch of the PlayStation 5, its DualSense controllers have enabled developers to harness haptic feedback, allowing the controller to vibrate in targeted ways. This innovation can replicate various on-screen sensations, such as typing letters, the sound of rain, or the powerful tremor when discharging a weapon or executing a melee strike. The adaptive triggers offer varying levels of resistance, clarifying the difference between a light pull and a full press.

Saros, scheduled for release on April 30, is crafted by Housemarque, a Finnish studio under Sony’s ownership. The studio previously introduced the widely praised PlayStation 5 title Returnal in 2021. As a launch title for the console, Returnal highlighted the newest advancements in Sony’s hardware, particularly the haptic and adaptive features of the DualSense controller. Gregory Louden, the creative director at Housemarque, managed the development of both titles and felt a distinct pressure to showcase the console’s potential.

“Releasing Returnal, there was a feeling of obligation since it was a launch title for PlayStation 5. We aimed to explore what the hardware could accomplish,” Louden revealed to WIRED. “We develop for the audience, but we also seek to advance the gaming medium and inspire others.”

Similar to Returnal, Housemarque’s new installment takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controllers. It also incorporates 3D audio to enrich the game’s atmosphere. Although both titles operate on the same hardware, Louden is confident that the integration and experience are now more fluid.

“We pushed the graphics and hardware boundaries,” Louden articulated. “Our ambition was to provide something exceptional to players and fully leverage the potential of the DualSense.”

After several hours of gameplay, Saros emerges as a captivating experience. This dark sci-fi roguelike features intense confrontations where players fend off swarms of ominous aliens with dynamic, tactile action. The immersion is amplified by the synergy between what is displayed and the feedback from the controller. Clear mechanics like firing weapons or absorbing hits with a shield through haptic feedback are augmented by subtler techniques, such as during cinematic moments, where steady haptic pulses heighten the tension and emotions conveyed by the characters.

Meta Is Shutting Down Horizon Worlds on Meta Quest

Meta Is Shutting Down Horizon Worlds on Meta Quest

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Meta has revealed the closure of its virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds. An email sent to users indicated that the social VR universe will cease operations on Quest VR headsets, with Horizon Worlds being taken off the Quest store on March 31. By June 15, the VR environments will be fully discontinued, shifting the service to a mobile-only platform. This move comes after substantial reductions to Meta’s Reality Labs division earlier this year, which experienced a 10% decrease in VR department personnel.

Horizon Worlds was Meta’s bold initiative to create the metaverse, inspired by Neal Stephenson’s “Snow Crash.” The project was pivotal to Meta’s rebranding from Facebook to concentrate on virtual reality pursuits. However, Horizon Worlds encountered backlash and tepid popularity, evident in the reactions to its termination on the r/oculus subreddit. It was frequently ridiculed for its initial flaws, such as avatars without legs and their “blank-eyed” look, spawning viral memes featuring CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s avatar.

At first, Horizon Worlds mainly attracted younger users, resulting in an inconsistent user base, despite Meta’s significant financial backing and initiatives, including virtual concerts with famous artists like Imagine Dragons and Coldplay. Still, Meta’s platform was less favored than alternatives like VRChat, which cultivated communities through virtual parties and events.

As Meta redirects its attention to AI and products like Ray-Ban smart glasses, it has notably curtailed investments in its metaverse initiatives, including offerings like Supernatural Fitness. Mike Proulx from Forrester noted that this shift was anticipated and emphasized the challenges of constructing a mass social platform dependent on specific hardware that lacks broad user adoption.

Ultimate MicroSD Cards for Your Camera, Switch, and More

Ultimate MicroSD Cards for Your Camera, Switch, and More

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When selecting a MicroSD card, the array of figures, brands, and terms such as Pro, Extreme, and Express can be daunting. Generally, if you’re not a semi-professional photographer or videographer, it’s advisable to buy from reputable brands like PNY, SanDisk, and Lexar. Look for the “U” symbol with a 3 inside or a “V30” which offers a solid balance of speed and cost. There are exceptions:

For those using a high-end camera, you might consider a V60 MicroSD card if it fits your budget, as certain cameras can take advantage of enhanced video features with faster cards.

If you’re using a Nintendo Switch 2, a more expensive MicroSD Express card is necessary for playing games, although standard cards are adequate for transferring images and videos.

**Capacity**

Your storage requirements may differ, but when comparing 128 GB to 1 TB, be aware of the challenges of swapping cards on the move with increased capacities, as well as the sharply rising prices for 1 TB and 2 TB cards. The cost gap between 256 GB and 512 GB is narrower, so it might be worthwhile to opt for slightly larger sizes. Confirm that your device supports higher capacity cards above 64 GB, recognized as “SDXC” (Extended Capacity), which is currently the most common type.

**Speed**

For further information on MicroSD speeds, a detailed explanation is available, but here’s a brief summary. The minimum write speed of each card is indicated by a letter and number, where the number represents MB/s and the letter signifies the generation. C10, U1, and V10 represent equivalent speeds, merely labeled differently. Cards often display multiple symbols. For comprehensive details, the SD Association’s website provides a chart that compares speeds. Typically, cards that are slower than V30/U3 are rare in most shops, although they may be included with electronics that don’t require higher speeds.