8BitDo, a Chinese gaming hardware company founded in 2013, is known for producing retro-inspired wireless controllers and gaming accessories. They have built up a distinct reputation among gamers by blending nostalgia with modern functionality, creating high-quality, Bluetooth-compatible controllers that incorporate the tactile feel of older versions. The company has expanded its product line to include controllers and accessories for PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, along with additional platforms.
Their most recent product reveal marks big step forward in mobile gaming. 8BitDo’s first-ever smartphone controller was announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter), boasting Hall Effect joysticks and Black and White editions.
The Hall Effect sensors within the controller’s joysticks and triggers are intended improve the user experience by preventing stick drift and offering a smoother feel, as are its two customizable rear triggers and dedicated turbo button. The 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is also compatible with 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software, an easy-to-use customization suite that lets you remap inputs and adjust stick and trigger sensitivity. 8BitDo describes the controller as fitting “mobile devices ranging from 100mm to 170mm in length,” which translates to 3.93 and 6.69 inches. According to GameSpot, the controller should cover “the vast majority of modern phones,” including the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which measures 6.42 inches in length as Apple’s largest phone.
The apparent downside to 8BitDo’s Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is that it is only promoted as supporting Android devices, 9.0 and above. Despite this fact, “other m8BitDo controllers listed with Android-only mobile support have worked on iOS,” according to GameSpot. The controller syncs via Bluetooth instead of USB-C, which also points toward the possibility of it one day supporting iOS. For now, however, it appears that the controller is only available to Android users.
8BitDo’s Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is selling for $49.99, which makes it around half the price of the current leading cradle-style mobile controller, the Backbone One. While the Backbone One does offer support for both Android and iOS mobile devices, it lacks 8BitDo’s inclusion of rear triggers and the Hall Effect. Although 8Bitdo’s controller is not for sale just yet, it is currently available for pre-order on Amazon and will arrive on November 29, just in time for Black Friday.