8BitDo has officially revealed its first dedicated mobile controller in the vein of the Backbone One and Razer Kishi V2. The cradle design coupled with the signature features of the manufacturer’s stellar Ultimate controllers for PC and Nintendo Switch makes the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Controller an eye-catching option, especially since it’s priced at only $50. Available to preorder now at Amazon, the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Controller will be available in white and black variants starting November 29.
Like its high-end controllers, the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller features triggers and joysticks with Hall Effect sensors, which prevents stick drift and generally offers a smoother feel. It also has two customizable rear triggers, a dedicated turbo button, and it’ll fit any phone between 3.93 inches (100mm) to 6.69 inches (170mm) in length. That covers the vast majority of modern phones. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple’s largest phone, is 6.42 inches in length. The controller’s design of this looks quite comfortable as well, as it adds a more traditional gaming profile to a phone.
It also supports 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software, an easy-to-use customization suite that lets you remap inputs, adjust stick and trigger sensitivity, and more.
The main, and fairly substantial, caveat here: It’s only confirmed to support Android, but other 8BitDo controllers listed with Android-only mobile support have worked on iOS just fine. GameSpot has reached out to 8BitDo to see if official support for iOS is planned and whether it will work in some capacity with iPhones at launch.
Since the controller syncs via Bluetooth, not via USB-C like the Backbone, we would be surprised if it didn’t support iOS. 8BitDo’s other controllers do work with Apple devices via Bluetooth, and its Ultimate Software app is available through the iOS Store.
If it works at all–and again, we are speculating here–the Ultimate Software app is the key feature that could be missing on iOS. If 8BitDo doesn’t or isn’t able to add the controller to the list of devices that sync with the app on iOS, iPhone users wouldn’t be able to remap inputs or make other adjustments–unless they also have an Android device or the controller is capable of syncing with the PC app to make changes. Remapped inputs and other adjustments are typically saved to the controller, so if you own an Android tablet or an old Android phone with 9.0 firmware or higher, you could theoretically make those changes on that device before using it on iPhone.
We’ll update this article if and when we hear from 8BitDo about iPhone compatibility. Considering Apple has made a push into AAA gaming on iOS with titles such as Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil 7, Death Stranding, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and more, the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller and its myriad customization features would be a boon for iPhone users.
Nevertheless, Android users have an exciting new controller option to look forward to. 8BitDo’s controllers almost always punch above their price, so the 8BitDo Mobile Gaming Controller should be on your radar. The 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless 2.4GHz Wireless is our pick for the best PC controller in 2024, and the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Wireless Controller is our favorite third-party controller for Nintendo Switch.
At $50, 8BitDo’s mobile controller is half the price of the Backbone One, the leading cradle-style mobile controller. Backbone One costs $100 and doesn’t have rear triggers or Hall Effect sticks/triggers. It does offer dedicated support for iPhone and Android via USB-C (or Lightning), including a handy app that collects your games in one console-style launcher. The USB-C connection also mitigates latency concerns, whereas Bluetooth can add a bit of latency. 8BitDo’s Bluetooth controllers typically work great via Bluetooth, but it’s worth mentioning here.
8BitDo:
Backbone One:
In related news, the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller is also available to preorder now for $40 at Amazon. Revealed alongside the Analogue 3D, a modernized take on the Nintendo 64, this controller is also compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, and Android smartphones.