When it comes to iPhone gaming, we've come a long way since the days of Doodle Jump and Angry Birds. The iPhone is now a fully-fledged gaming device, with big-name gaming franchises available to play, services like Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass streaming to tap into, and enough power under the hood to make those games shine.
But to get the most of these experiences, you're going to want to avoid (for the most part) using the iPhone touchscreen to play. You just won't get that console-like level of control unless you're playing with one of the best game controllers for iPhone, giving you pinpoint precision whether you're playing platformers or battle royale shooters.
From Xbox pads to smart transforming case controllers, here are our picks for the best iPhone game controllers.
Quick List
Take a fast look through the best game controllers for iPhone, with choices for different needs and budget. To read more about any of them, just click to jump down to our full write-ups.
Best overall
When it comes to iPhone gaming controllers, convenience trumps all, which is why the Gamevice Flex remains our favorite. Thanks to its deep cavity and flexible back panel, it can easily accommodate iPhones of all sizes, without you having to remove your case. It's a pretty great controller too, with responsive sticks and ergonomically friendly face buttons.
Best for other launchers
The Backbone One, which was recently updated to accommodate USB-C iPhones, with or without a case, is a brilliant controller. While best known for its excellent app, which brings together all your mobile game libraries under one launcher, it's also a very well made accessory, with buttons where you'd expect them to be and even a PlayStation-specific version for streaming from your PS5.
Best for comfort
Its software can't compete with the Backbone for functionality, but if you're just after a highly portable controller that feels great in the hands, you can't go wrong with the GameSir Galileo G8. As well as being comfortable to hold for long periods, the G8 features Hall Effect triggers to eliminate the risk of drift. Older iPhone owners should back away though, as it's only available with a USB-C connector.
Best for smaller hands
The GameSir X2S is the first controller we'd recommend to iPhone games who consider their hands to be on the smaller side. You'll need to take your iPhone out of its case, but once strapped into the controller you'll be using a well-designed controller that's very easy to get your hands around. For many it will be too small, but the X2S occupies an important position at the entry-level end of the market.
Best for accessibility
Designed with players with limited mobility players in mind, the Xbox Adaptive Controller is extremely customizable and ideal for any mobile gamer seeking some extra assistance that enables them to play. You'll need a separate mount to use it with your iPhone, and adding all the required accessories can get pretty pricey, but the Xbox Adaptive Controller is an essential addition to the peripheral market.
Best on a budget
Rather than cradling your iPhone like most of the controllers on this list, the Rotor Riot looks like a traditional Xbox controller with a separate mount for your phone. This means it feels great to use, even if the low price point inevitably means that build quality isn't the best out there. You also get a companion app to help you seek out compatible games.
Best game controllers for iPhone: in depth
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The best controller overall
The Gamevice Flex for iPhone answers one of the most long-standing problems with iPhone gaming controllers: if you want to play a mobile game with a game pad, you're usually going to have to remove your phone's protective case in order for it to fit in a cradle or gaming shell.
But with the Gamevice Flex, that's no longer a problem. It includes a deeper cavity to accommodate not only all iPhone sizes, but also those phones with all manner of protective cases around them too. With a flexible back panel, the Gamevice Flex expands to fit all sizes and contracts to hold the phone in place, with numerous included inserts to pad the cavity out and give a snug, safe fit for your iPhone.
We called it a literal game-changer in our review, making for a far less convoluted play time as a result of not having to remove our cases. And, as a controller generally it's great too! Responsive sticks, good action to buttons and stacked shoulder triggers make this relatively light-weight case one you can enjoy playing with for hours. It's easily our top recommended iPhone controller.
The best controller for using different launchers
The Backbone One is one of iPhone controllers you'll see recommended a lot, and for good reason. It's very well-designed, available in both Lightning and USB-C variants, and pairs with an incredibly slick companion app that brings all your various game libraries (Apple Arcade, Game Pass, PS Remote Play etc) under one roof, even if actually launching games often requires you to jump to the required app. The Backbone app also boasts some really useful multiplayer features.
A new Backbone One was launched last year to coincide with the release of the iPhone 15. As well as a USB-C connector, the 2nd Gen Backbone One comes fresh with a brand-new design that now accommodates iPhone cases. That means you can plug and play without removing your iPhone case, a massive upgrade and improvement on the previous model. It has great build quality and a fantastic set of buttons.
The Backbone One has plug-and-play compatibility, sharp inputs, and a conventional layout. Available in two models, a standard ABXY layout and a PlayStation-inspired version in white, complete with the familiar PlayStation face buttons.
The best controller for comfort
What you prioritise with mobile controllers will determine whether the GameSir Galileo G8 is right for you. If you need a feature-heavy app then you're better going with something like the Backone One. For iPhone users, there's no app compatibility here, with it being limited to Android. And if you're rocking a pre-15 iPhone, you should look elsewhere too as there's no Lightning option.
But for comfort, convenience and smart design, the Galileo G8 excels. The plastic build is of high quality and feels good in the hands, even after a long session. The controller is equipped with both Hall Effect triggers and Hall Effect sticks, which use magnetic sensors rather than traditional components for less wear and tear and therefore little to no risk of the dreaded drift. You get responsive triggers, pleasingly clicky bumpers, ABXY face buttons and a traditional D-pad, plus start and menu buttons for games that support them.
One of our favorite design features is the USB-C connector. Unlike on other controllers, where this fixed in place, GameSir instead allows it to tilt and move, which makes it much easier to attach your phone at an angle and frankly should be an idea that other manufacturers adopt.
The best controller for smaller hands
Some iPhone game controllers have universal appeal. Others are very much suited to a particular audience, and in the case of the GameSir X2S you're going to get people for whom it's the only controller they ever use, and others who dismiss it for good after a few minutes. Why? Size, mainly. You see, the X2S is small, too small for our original reviewer, but perfect for their partner, whose hands are much smaller. It's not just the physical dimensions of the X2S that are on the smaller side, but the buttons and sticks too.
In some hands, the X2S will feel more manageable than some of the other controllers on the market. For others, its diminutive build won't be comfortable. But let's say you're in the thumbs up camp. We think you'll also appreciate the decidedly SNES-like styling of the controller, the clicky buttons, swappable layouts, Hall Effect sticks and dedicated screenshot button. The triggers are super smooth too.
Downsides include the absence of an aux, an app (for iPhone users at least), and the fact that won't fit a case in it too. But for the money GameSir is asking for this is a great little controller. Just remember the emphasis on the little.
The best controller for accessibility
While a lot of us may not like touch controls, we can't deny that there's an audience for them, especially for those with disabilities. Microsoft, seeing the need for a bridge between the two worlds, introduced the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
The Xbox Adaptive controller was created with limited mobility players in mind. The Xbox Adaptive Controller is a unified hub and works with various external devices, such as switches, buttons, mounts, and joysticks to create a custom controller. You may customize it further by adding button, thumbstick, and trigger inputs via the addition of assistive devices that connect through the 3.5mm jack or the USB ports.
Like the Xbox Controller and the PlayStation Controller, gaming on an iPhone with the Adaptive Controller requires an additional mount. Still, it's the ideal controller for any gamer who may need extra assistance while they play.
Everyone deserves the chance to game, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller ensures that many will get it.
The best controller for those on a budget
If you're looking for a dedicated mobile phone controller that feels like a traditional controller in every way, rather than a dock or a cradle, you might like the Rotor Riot, an iPhone controller with a built-in mount.
The Rotor Riot comes with everything you'd find in an Xbox or PlayStation Controller. Two analog sticks, an 8-way D-pad, and L3 and R3 functionality mean you'll be getting the full feature set found with a controller. There's even the option to charge while playing via pass-through charging. You can use the affiliated app, Ludu Mapp, to find over 1000 controller compatible games.
So what are the downsides? The Rotor Riot is the most affordable choice on our list, but the build quality, while not bad, is definitely not on par with the other options on the list. But that aside, the Rotor Riot is a pretty handy device, especially if your phone is your dedicated gaming platform.
Q & A
Take control of your games
These are our choices for the best game controllers for your iPhone. While any of these would be a good pick for your phone, our recommendation is the Gamevice Flex. Sleek and stylish, this handy device turns your phone into a portable machine that could rival the Switch itself, and with all the best iPhone games and Apple Arcade games available now, you're sure to get hours of fun from this excellent device.
The iPhone has proven itself to be a worthy gaming machine and offers gaming experiences on par with its console cousins. Considering you pair the DualSense and Xbox Controllers to your iPhone, what's not to love? Be sure to upgrade to the best iPhone you can so you can enjoy playing your games at the highest visual fidelity.
