Best controllers for retro handhelds and phones: six picks

For an Android handheld or phone, the 8BitDo Pro 2 lists the widest platform support here, the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is the Bluetooth grip built for phones, and the Razer Kishi Ultra is the clip-on that charges. All six picks rest on maker pages only, with no testing and no ratings.

The six picks come from 8BitDo, Razer and GameSir, and every figure below is taken from the maker's own product page (see how we research). We have not used or measured any of these controllers, and where a maker is silent we write "not stated". Prices are given only where a maker's store shows one, in the maker's own currency.

At a glance

How were these picked?

We kept to controllers whose makers publish connection, platform and feature lists. Makers whose pages we could not access are not included, which leaves out some well-known names, because we can only quote what we can source. Within the remaining pages we looked for a spread: a Bluetooth pad built for phones, two clip-on designs, a pocket-sized pad, a full-size pad and one clip-on that fits tablets. Details of how each connection works are in Bluetooth vs 2.4G vs wired, and the clip-on versus Bluetooth decision is in mobile controllers: clip-on vs Bluetooth pads.

1. 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller: suits a Bluetooth grip for phones

8BitDo's Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller page lists Bluetooth as its connection and says it fits mobile devices from 100mm to 170mm in length. It states a 300mAh rechargeable battery, 13 play hours and 1.5 hours of charging. Compatibility is listed as Android 13.0 and above, iOS, iPadOS and tvOS 18.5 and above, macOS 15.5 and above and visionOS 2.4 and above. The page lists Hall Effect joysticks and triggers, two back paddles, a profile button and turbo. It also lists 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 on mobile for button mapping, per-stick adjustment and trigger range changes, and metal joystick rings described as wear-resistant. The box holds the controller, a USB cable and a manual.

Stated limits: it weighs 236g at 198.0 x 103.0 x 53.5mm, which is larger than a pocket pad. The page states no price, no firmware information and no warranty terms; it points buyers to a retailer to order.

2. Razer Kishi Ultra: suits clip-on play with charging

The Razer Kishi Ultra page describes a direct USB-C connection and 15 W passthrough charging, so the phone charges while attached. It lists iPhone 15 and 16 series, iPad mini (6th generation and A17 Pro), Android 12 or higher, Android tablets up to 8 inches and PC. It also lists Hall Effect triggers, L4 and R4 bumpers, a 3.5 mm audio passthrough, and Razer Sensa HD Haptics on Android 12 and above or Windows 11 (not iOS). The page says it works with many popular phone cases, advises removing or swapping the attached rubber cushions for the most secure fit, and warns that cases which cover the phone's USB port may not be compatible. Razer Nexus is described as free, with some apps inside it needing a fee or subscription, and the page offers up to one year of warranty.

Stated limits: battery capacity, dimensions, weight and price are not stated on the page. The page names Hall effect for the triggers only. Our stick sensor guide covers why that distinction matters.

3. Razer Kishi V2: suits older phones with a USB-C or Lightning port

The Razer Kishi V2 page lists a direct USB-C connection for Android and a direct Lightning connection for iPhone. PC and iPad use a USB-C connection that supports 3.5 mm audio, with the cable sold separately. Passthrough charging is stated for the USB-C and iPhone versions. The page says the bridge is extendable and fits modern smartphones, and that Virtual Controller Mode is Android only.

Stated limits: the page says the Android version supports iPhone 15 gameplay but is not compatible with Razer Nexus on iOS. Battery, dimensions, weight and price are not stated.

4. GameSir G8 Plus (Fortnite Edition page): suits larger phones and tablets

GameSir's G8 Plus Fortnite Edition page says it fits 110 to 215mm (4.33 to 8.46 in) phones, tablets and the Switch. It lists Hall effect sticks and triggers with a quick trigger mode, two remappable back buttons, a built-in 6-axis gyroscope, dual vibration motors and swappable faceplate, caps and ABXY buttons.

Stated limits: connection, battery, latency, dimensions and weight are not stated, The maker's store lists $89.99 for the G8 Plus Fortnite Edition (checked Oct 2026).

5. 8BitDo Micro: suits a pocket-sized spare pad

The 8BitDo Micro page lists Bluetooth and wired USB, a 180mAh battery and 12 play hours with 1 to 2 hours of charging. It measures 72 x 40.7 x 14.1mm and weighs 24.8g, with 16 buttons and a wrist strap in the box. It lists Android 9.0 or above, Switch 3.0.0 and above and Switch 2 20.1.1 and above.

Stated limits: for Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS and Windows the page says keyboard mode only, and it does not support vibration or motion sensing. Keyboard mode maps buttons to keys, which matters for games that expect a gamepad. The page states no price.

6. 8BitDo Pro 2: suits a full-size pad across many systems

The 8BitDo Pro 2 page lists Bluetooth 4.0 and USB-C, a 1000mAh battery and 20 play hours with 4 hours of charging. Compatibility spans Switch, Windows 10 (1903) and above, SteamOS 3.7.13 and above, Android 9.0 and above, Apple platforms and Raspberry Pi models 2B, 2B+, 3B and Zero. It lists Hall Effect joysticks, two back paddles and three profiles. A four-way mode switch selects Switch, Android, D-input or X-input, and Ultimate Software for PC and mobile handles mapping, sticks, triggers, vibration and macros. Extra system support needs a firmware download from 8BitDo's support site, and the Mobile Clip and carry case are sold separately.

Stated limits: it measures 153.6 x 100.6 x 64.5mm and weighs 228g, so it is a desk or sofa pad, not a clip-on. It uses regular rumble, not HD Rumble, and the page states no price.

How do the stated figures compare?

Setting the maker figures side by side shows trade-offs that the single-pick paragraphs hide. These are arithmetic on stated numbers only, not measurements, and each maker states its play hours under conditions the page does not describe.

Three readings follow from the numbers. First, the Micro weighs 24.8g against 236g for the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller, roughly one tenth of the weight, which is why it is the spare you can carry without noticing. Second, the Pro 2 states 1000mAh for 20 hours, while the Ultimate Mobile states 300mAh for 13 hours; the larger cell sits in the shorter pad (153.6mm against 198.0mm long) that is also slightly lighter at 228g, though deeper at 64.5mm against 53.5mm. Third, the Razer clip-ons state no battery capacity, only passthrough charging, and the GameSir page states neither, so there is no stated figure to compare for them.

Will the controller work with your handheld's Android version?

Operating system floors are the quickest way to rule a pad out. The 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller lists Android 13.0 and above, the Pro 2 and Micro list Android 9.0 and above, and the Kishi Ultra lists Android 12 or higher. Set against the Android versions makers list for their handhelds, the result is uneven:

The RG405M row is the useful catch: on the makers' own figures it sits below the 13.0 floor the Ultimate Mobile page names, while the Pro 2 and Micro floors of 9.0 are met by every handheld above. The pages do not say what happens below a stated floor, so treat it as unsupported rather than broken. Each handheld also has its own controls, so a pad is for docked play, sharing, or a phone.

Does the phone length fit?

Fit is a range check, and a short worked example shows how. The 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller states 100mm to 170mm, a 70mm window. GameSir states 110 to 215mm (4.33 to 8.46 in), a 105mm window that also reaches tablets. A phone 175mm long is therefore outside the 8BitDo range by 5mm but comfortably inside the GameSir one. Check the length of your phone with its case on, since the Razer page itself says cases can interfere with the connector. If a maker gives no range, as Razer does not for the Kishi V2, rely on its compatibility list rather than guessing.

Which suits which device?

For an Android handheld, a Bluetooth pad is the practical route, so check the Bluetooth version the handheld's maker lists: 5.1 on the Retroid Pocket 5, 5.0 on the Anbernic RG556 and 6.0 on the AYN Odin 3. A handheld already has controls, so the likely uses are docked play or sharing. For a phone, clip-ons from Razer and GameSir put the controls around the screen; for a Bluetooth pad, the 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is the one built for that job.

Two cautions apply across the list. Maker pages describe features, not outcomes: a stated 13 play hours or a stated 15 W passthrough rate is the maker's claim for its own conditions, and we cannot confirm either. And operating system lists change as makers update firmware and apps, so treat the versions above as what the pages stated in Oct 2026 and re-check the maker's page before you buy.

What should you check before buying?

• Operating system versions: Razer lists Android 12 or higher, 8BitDo lists Android 9.0 or 13.0 depending on the model.
• Phone fit: lengths, thickness and case limits are stated for some pages and not others.
• Battery: Razer's clip-ons state passthrough charging, not a battery capacity.
• Stick and trigger sensor type, which makers state separately.
• Price: the 8BitDo and Razer pages cited state none, so check the maker's store.
• Software and firmware: 8BitDo's Pro 2 needs a firmware download for extra system support, and the Ultimate Mobile page states no firmware information.
• Warranty: Razer's Kishi Ultra page offers up to one year; the 8BitDo pages cited state none.

How to choose

Start with the device you play on. If it is a phone with a USB-C port, the Kishi Ultra suits a clip-on grip, with Razer stating a 15 W passthrough charging figure; the G8 Plus page does not state its connection. If you want a Bluetooth pad that works with several devices, the Pro 2 lists the widest platform set here. If you carry a controller as a spare, the Micro is the smallest, but its keyboard mode restriction limits what it does on phones. See the controllers hub, the 8BitDo range compared, our guides and how to choose a retro handheld for the next step.