The best Bluetooth gaming controller for iPhone and iPad (MFi): Squeezing our mobiles to the maximum and solving some doubts.
Video game studios invest more and more money and effort in developing games for smartphones. You just have to shop around the iOS App Store to verify that there is a large catalog of titles available, both paid and free. From platforms to shooters, through puzzles, logic, and graphic novels. You need a Bluetooth gaming controller to play those games.
iPhones, like the vast majority of smartphones, have almost no buttons, so controls for interacting are displayed on the touchscreen. In titles that do not require great skill, it is usually more than enough, but in others, it is not the most comfortable option.
But there is the Bluetooth gaming controller. If the video game allows it, we can connect via Bluetooth to the iPhone controller to play as if we were on a desktop or portable console. However, not all are compatible with Apple terminals, so you have to find that they are certified for them.
What is an MFi device and compatibility with the PS4 and Xbox One controllers?
Due to the great popularity of iOS devices, there are plenty of accessories on the market, such as covers or cables, whose manufacturers assure that they work with them, and most likely they do, but their quality may be much lower than desired and that this poses a danger to user safety, as is the case with chargers.
That is why Apple started the MFi (Made For iPhone) program, an initiative that guarantees that certified products have the company’s approval in terms of quality safety, and compatibility. Acquiring an MFi accessory is a safe bet in terms of durability for the future, because we will know that they will not stop working after a software update (Apple prevents accessories of dubious origin from working in the latest versions of iOS).
Fortunately, there are several MFi remotes available, each with different characteristics and shapes so consumers can choose the one they like best. But they are not the only controllers that can be used with the iPhone or iPad since, in iOS 13, which will be officially released in the coming days, we will have the possibility to pair those of PS4 (DualShock) and Xbox One, so if we have any of these two consoles we would not need to acquire a new one.
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The top 6 best Bluetooth gaming controllers for iOS devices with MFi certification
The arrival of Fortnite and PUBG to mobiles for free is a clear sign that the smartphones that we carry in our pockets are machines capable of moving games with graphic power that is hard to believe.
The way to enjoy video games to the fullest is well known that it is through our most loved peripheral devices; Gamepads. For this, we have created this guide on the best Bluetooth gaming controller for iPhone and iPad.
SteelSeries Nimbus – A high-quality controller
The SteelSeries Nimbus is the highest quality and best compatibility for iPhone and iPad according to users who have left their opinion. For me, it is the safest bet without a doubt.
The only disadvantage, compared to its competitors, is that it lacks an adapter for the mobile screen. Otherwise, it is the best gamepad, with a more professional finish and higher quality of its components.
The controller comes with its crosshead, 2 joysticks, 4 interaction buttons, 4 top buttons including the triggers, a menu shortcut button, and 4 LEDs that indicate the number of active players in the game.
The rechargeable battery has more than 40 hours of autonomy, passing over its competitors. In addition, to show its compatibility, it is charged through a Lightning connector like Apple devices. Its Bluetooth 4.1 connection also surpasses that of its competitors.
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IPega PG-9023S – The best-selling iPhone remote
This is another best Bluetooth gaming controllers for iPhone & iPad to buy. This controller has a different design from the rest, it could be defined as futuristic, something daring but very beautiful. The controls are on the sides and the screen is in the central area. In this case, the gamepad itself is extendable, being able to adjust the distance between the two parts of the controller until you find the right position for your device.
The remote has 2 joysticks, a crosshead, 4 interaction buttons, 4 buttons in the upper area (including the triggers), and 8 shortcut buttons to go to the home, replicate the select, and start buttons, and playback control for video or music.
The product is available in black, combined with the red interior of the joysticks and interaction buttons, which makes it a very attractive and attractive controller.
The battery is 380 mAh with up to 20 hours of autonomy and 100 hours of standby autonomy. The technology it uses to connect to the mobile is Bluetooth 4.0.
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Rotor Riot Mfi Certified Gamepad Controller for iPhone
If you want an Xbox-style premium gamepad for your iPhone or iPad, then you should check out the Riot Rotor mobile gaming controller. It has the same button configuration as an Xbox controller (the D-Pad, too), and it also has L3 / R3 buttons (the joystick click). Like SteelSeries Nimbus, the Riot Rotor, clickable buttons, and its joystick are responsive and reliable.
As you can imagine, the Riot Rotor gamepad is great for on-the-go gaming, but it also acts as a controller for drones. It works with some famous drones, such as the Parrot Bebop, the DJI Scintilla, and the Aqua Green.
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EVO VR Gamepad Pro Flip Bluetooth Controller
This is another best Bluetooth gaming controllers for iPhone & iPad to buy. Premium mobile gamepads are a bit expensive. If you want to play Fortnite on the go, without breaking the bank, you should check out the EVO VR Gamepad Pro. It’s an inexpensive Xbox-style controller with a phone flip-up. It has all the keys you’d expect from a modern game controller. It also has a button to switch between iOS and Android devices. In addition, the EVO VR Gamepad works with standalone VR helmets such as the Occulus, so it gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
Of course, the EVO VR Gamepad type gives off an early 2000 3rd party vibe controller. In form and function, it can be said that it is an expensive piece of hardware. That said, any controller is better than no controller, and the EVO VR Gamepad is miles ahead of most other sub-$ $ 20 mobile gamepads.
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SteelSeries Stratus Bluetooth Game Controller
You know, for whatever reason, most mobile gaming controllers are kind of bulky. They can take up a lot of space in a bag, and that won’t fit in your pocket. That’s why the SteelSeries Stratus is so attractive. It has the same layout button as the SteelSeries Nimbus but is small enough to fit in a pocket.
You might think that the SteelSeries Stratus’ ultra-portable form factor would be an obstacle, but it isn’t really. This is a comfortable and easy-to-use controller with sensitive and reliable joystick buttons. It works with all iOS devices, including Apple TV, and costs only $ 39. It’s not a bad deal.
The only disadvantage of the Stratus is the lack of a telephone holder. And since it’s so compact and rounded, it’s not a candidate for a clip-on holder. But if you’re playing at a table, you can always use a tripod, and if you’re playing in the back of a car, you could use a phone headrest.
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Gamevice Bluetooth Gamepad
This is another best Bluetooth gaming controllers for iPhone & iPad to buy. Wireless mobile gamepads are great, but they all have the same problem. Where do you put the phone? Yes, controllers like the Riot Rotor have built-in phone holders, but these aren’t the ideal solution. That forces you to keep the controller in strange angles and can add a lot of the most useless (and fragile parts) of a product dedicated to mobile gaming.
If the mobile gamepad with a built-in phone holder isn’t the thing for you, then you should check out the omnipresent Gamevice. It is truly a nice controller that turns your iPhone into a Nintendo Switch-like gaming machine. It features a simple layout button, satisfaction trigger buttons, and joysticks. For $ 75, you can only expect the best.
Keep in mind that this controller requires a connection disk and works only with the iPhone X, 8, 8+, 7, 6, and 6S. Yes, almost all iPhones, but there is a possibility that it will not be able to use Gamevice when updating a future iPhone, especially if Apple swaps out the Lightning USB-C port.
If you like the concept, but play on the iPad, you’re in luck, there are Gamvice versions for iPad Mini, iPad, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
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It’s annoying to have to buy a completely separate Bluetooth gaming controller for iPhone or iPad but trust us, it’s worth it. Many games support these controllers, so with a good gamepad in your hands, you won’t have to use terrible touch controls almost as often.