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GamingAndroidElectronicsCouch Gaming

What are the best third-party game controllers for Android?

27

Options
Considered

164

User
Recs.

Feb 7, 2020

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

24 Options Considered

Best third-party game controllers for Android	Price	Size	Phone holder
-- Microsoft Xbox 360 Wired Controller	$28	Full sized	None
-- Moga Pro Power Controller	$49.99	Full sized	Holds phones up to 3.2" (82mm) wide
-- iPega PG-9025	$17.93	Full sized	-
-- Nintendo Switch Pro Controller	$69.99	-	-
-- 8bitdo SFC30	$27.99	-	-

Microsoft Xbox 360 Wired Controller

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Top Con

Requires a USB dongle for wireless

In order to use the controller wirelessly, you will need the Xbox 360 wireless dongle adapter, although it doesn't work while charging. A USB OTG cable will still be needed. See More

Top Pro

Great design

XBox controllers have inimitable quality and design. XBox controllers feel substantial in the hand, and are comfortable to hold onto for hours on end. See More

Specs

Size:Full sized

Phone holder:None

Battery:N/A (wired connection)

Top Con

USB OTG support required

In order to use this xBox 360, you will need a third party OTG cable to connect to an Android device's micro USB port. Some devices won't have USB OTG support - to see if your device has USB OTG support check this out. See More

Top Pro

Plug and play

Works out of the box as Android recognizes USB peripherals. You will need a USB OTG cable (can be found online for $2-3 usually) to power the controller, but once you have that it's just plug and play. See More

Top Con

Lacks a foldable arm

The controller lacks a foldable arm to put your phone on, when playing on the go. See More

Top Pro

Good value for money

The wired controller is often sold under $30, but feels solid. See More

Top Pro

Good availability

You can find it almost everywhere. Easy to find and purchase. See More

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Moga Pro Power Controller

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Top Pro

Foldable arm lets you game on-the-go

The front part of the controller folds out into an arm. This makes gaming on the go extremely convenient. The arm can fit a phone with a maximum width of 3.2" (82mm). Your phone will most probably fit in there even with a case on. See More

Top Con

Removed rubber grips

The older model of the MOGA Pro had rubber grips in the back, sadly they have been removed from the MOGA Pro Power controller. This makes the controller a bit more slippery. See More

Specs

Size:Full sized

Phone holder:Holds phones up to 3.2" (82mm) wide

Power:Rechargeable 2200mAh (can charge phone as well)

Top Pro

Internal battery can charge your phone while playing

The internal 2200mah battery of the MOGA Pro Power is capable of charging your phone via USB while playing. This will reduce the battery life of the controller, however it's a convenient option to have when gaming on the go. See More

Top Con

Not very portable

The controller is as large as a console controller. You need a bag to carry it, since it's too big to fit in your pocket. See More

Top Pro

Convenient, and free to recharge

There is an internal 2200mah battery that can be charged through USB. You won't need to worry about having batteries on hand, or have the added cost of purchasing batteries for the controller. See More

Top Con

Connection can be flaky at times

Users have reported that the controller sometimes disconnects when other bluetooth devices are active at the same time, or when playing for extended periods of time. See More

Top Pro

Very comfortable to hold and well balanced

The MOGA Pro Power is a full sized controller, just like a PS3 or XBox gamepad. Most Android controllers are smaller, which makes them more cramped and uncomfortable for longer use. A larger controller fits your hands better, making it more comfortable. Since you can place your phone on the unfoldable arm, it helps balance the phone's weight better so it isn't as top-heavy. See More

Top Pro

Good quality analog sticks

The analog sticks are on par with any top of class controller. They feel solid, comfortable and give you great control. See More

Top Pro

Dual wireless profiles

It has both the MOGA profile and the generic HID profile for greater overall support. See More

iPega PG-9025

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Top Pro

Built-in rechargable battery (380mAh)

The built in battery provides 6 hours of gaming, which can easily be recharged through a USB adapter as the battery is rechargeable. You won't have to buy batteries, or worry about having batteries on hand. See More

Top Con

Cheap-feeling build

The controller is lightweight and gives a feeling it may break when dropped due to the flimsy design. While this is a cheap controller it would have been nice to have a sturdier build to it. See More

Specs

Size:Full sized

Power:Rechargeable 380mAh battery

Phone Holder:Holds phones up to 9cm (3.54") wide

Top Pro

Includes retractable phone holder

The phone holder really helps out, as when playing games you'll have both hands on the controller and won't be able to hold your phone. You would need to prop it up somewhere (if you could find a spot). The arm can fit phones up to 9 centimeters wide. This means anyone with a device that size or smaller can clip it into the controller, making for a convenient form factor while gaming. Because of the width, it can even fit small phones with a case on it. See More

Top Con

Instructions are written in Chinese

The in-the-box instructions are all in Chinese. In order to read them in English, you need the online English PDF manual. See More

Top Pro

Supports many operating systems

Supports Android 4.3+, iOS, WinXP/Win7/Win8 and Android TV. See More

Top Pro

Has L2 and R2 buttons

Has ergonomically placed L2 and R2 buttons on the back. See More

Top Pro

5 multimedia keys

There are multimedia keys on the device that allow control while using multimedia apps such as movie players or music players. This can be convenient for when the controller is in ones hands instead of their device. See More

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

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Top Pro

Very high build quality

Top Con

Expensive

The controller is generally sold at around $70, while most controllers for Android cost under $50. See More

Top Pro

Great battery life

The switch pro controller uses a 1300mah battery, which gives a total of 40 hours of play time. See More

Top Con

Not very portable

This is a very large and heavy controller for playing on the go, and it doesn't have a phone holder. See More

Top Pro

Durable USB-C cable

USB-C is a lot more durable than a micro-USB, which tends to break rather easily. See More

Top Con

Take a long time to charge

Due to the large battery inside, the controller can take up to 6 hours to charge. See More

8bitdo SFC30

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Top Pro

Nostalgic design

This controller has exactly the same design as a Super Nintendo/Super Famicom controller. See More

Top Con

Has issues pairing

No matter which device you try to pair the controller with, it ends up losing the pairing, forcing the player to go through the pairing process frequently enough to be annoying. See More

Top Pro

Light and portable

The 8bitdo SFC30 fits in your pocket easily. Dimensions are 61mm (2.4") tall, 144mm (5.66") wide, and 24mm (0.94") thick. See More

Top Con

No analog sticks

Only really useful for 2D games as there are no analog sticks. See More

Top Con

Not ergonomically designed

There aren't any grips, and the button layout is designed to be functional instead of comfortable. See More

SteelSeries Free

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Top Pro

Built in rechargeable battery

The SteelSeries Free has a built in rechargeable battery that is charged through a USB cable. This makes it more convenient than a AA or AAA battery powered controller, as you won't have to worry about always having extra batteries on hand. Also, a rechargeable battery is cheaper in the long run. See More

Top Con

Only two shoulder buttons

Many ports and games utilize four shoulder buttons, meaning some games will not work with this controller. See More

Specs

Size:Ultra-portable

Phone holder:None

Battery:Rechargeable via micro USB

Top Pro

Small and portable

The SteelSeries Free is pretty small and only weighs 1.91 ounces, meaning it is very pocketable and easy to carry around. See More

Top Con

First party app is useless

Apparently the SteelSeries Engine app does not work as advertised and is pretty much useless. See More

Top Pro

3rd party app support

Luckily there is a third party app that allows for customization of the inputs on this device. It is called Game Controller 2 Touch and has full support for the SteelSeries Free. See More

Top Con

The tiny size makes your hands feel cramped after a while

While it's very portable, your hands are going to be squished after playing on it for a few hours. See More

Top Pro

First party app available

SteelSeries provides a free app on the Google Play Store to set up ones device. See More

Sony Playstation Dualshock 4 Controller

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Top Pro

Great design

The Playstation 4 controller is comfortable to hold due to its ergonomics. It's comfortable enough to hold for long gaming sessions. See More

Top Con

Lacks native Android compatibility

Playstation controllers need unofficial software to pair with devices, which requires root access. This puts the Dualshock controller out of reach for many users who don't want to root their phone. See More

Specs

Phone holder:None

Power:1000mAh rechargeable battery

Top Pro

Windows compatible

Windows is compatible with Dualshock 4 through 3rd party drivers. See More

Top Con

Controls aren't always spot-on

Most apps need button reassignment through the third party app as default button placement does not always match. See More

Top Pro

Official support for PlayStation Remote Play app

You can play remotely to your PS4 console with PS4 controller and the Remote Play app. See More

Top Pro

Quality build

The controller feels solid with great build quality. It doesn't creak, and they are durable enough to last a few years at least. As a brand-name controller, they have a reputation to uphold and they certainly do that. See More

Top Pro

USB wired mode

The controller can be used as a wired controller, with the provided USB cable and a third party OTG cable. This allows you to play while charging, just in case you forgot to charge your controller. See More

Phonejoy

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Top Pro

Portable

The way the device folds in on itself allows the device to become pocketable and portable. See More

Top Con

Overpriced

At $70 the Phonejoy is a bit overpriced when compared to it's competitors. See More

Top Pro

Phone sits firmly between both sides

Unlike a lot of gamepads the Phonejoy allows the phone to sit in the middle of the device, making it easier to touch the screen as well as act more like a traditional portable gaming device. See More

Top Pro

Built in rechargeable battery

The Phonejoy has a built in rechargeable litiun-ion battery See More

Top Pro

First party app available

Phonejoy offers a first party app to is used to customize controls and find compatible games. See More

XiaoMi Mi GamePad

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Top Pro

Comfortable to use for hours on end

The Xiaomi Mi GamePad feels great in the hand with its ergonomic design, and it almost feels like a mix between PS4 and Xbox One controllers. See More

Top Con

No USB support

There is no way to connect through USB. This means you can't use it without batteries, which effectively increases the long-term cost of the controller. See More

Specs

Size:Full sized

Phone holder:None

Power:2XAA batteries

Top Pro

Affordable without significant compromises

This controller can often be found for $10 cheaper than other similar controllers, but doesn't have any major sacrifices. See More

Top Con

Difficult to find in brick & mortar stores

Very few storefronts carry the controller making it difficult to find. Many people like to be able to see what they buy in person before putting their money forward, but that isn't the case here. See More

Top Pro

Fully compatible with Android devices

This controller works with PC and most Android devices via Bluetooth. No additional apps or configuration is needed on Android, however some games on Windows need the Xoutput program to detect it as a Xbox controller. See More

Top Con

Only uses AA batteries

No internal rechargeable battery, only uses AA. See More

Top Con

No phone holder

The device has no way to attach a phone like many other popular bluetooth controllers. This means you'll need to find a place to prop your phone up. See More

Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R Mobile Gamepad

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Top Con

Mad Catz A.P.P. is useless

Apparently the first party app available for the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R is just a bunch of pictures of products and offers zero functionality to the device. See More

Top Pro

Good build quality

For a device in its price range, the build quality is pretty darn good. See More

Top Con

Dead space in the joysticks

You can push the joysticks a bit in any direction without any in-game response. This makes it harder to play fast paced games that require accuracy (such as FPS games). See More

Top Pro

3rd party app support

There is a third party app that allows for customization of the inputs on this device. It is called Game Controller 2 Touch, and has full support for the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R Mobile Gamepad. See More

Top Con

Only pairs to one device at a time

You can't - for example - have it paired to both your phone and tablet. Whenever you want to switch devices, you will need to re-pair it. See More

Top Pro

3 modes of use for varied use

There are three different modes for this controller, the first is a mobile Bluetooth mode for Android devices, the second is mouse mode that turns the analog sticks into vitual mice and the third is PC mode which is compatible for PC games. See More

Top Pro

Uses replaceable AAA batteries

There is a user openable compartment in the back that holds the 2 AAA batteries. These should offer up to 40 hours of continuous game time before they need to be changed out. See More

Top Pro

First party app available

There is a first party app available for the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R and all other Mad Catz GameSmart enabled devices. See More

Sminiker Gamepad

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Top Con

Only works with Android

Many of the other controllers can work with either Windows, iOS, or both...however the Sminiker Gamepad only works with Android phones. See More

Top Pro

Holds your phone for you

There is a detachable phone holder which can be mounted to the controller. When on the go, it can be hard to find a place to prop your phone up, which makes a phone holder like this very useful. See More

Top Con

Cheap components

The build quality of the Sminiker isn't great, and the included charging USB cable is short and can break easily based on numerous reviews. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable for long gaming sessions

The controller is full sized, which means that your hands aren't cramped trying to hold onto a miniature controller. See More

Top Pro

Stores 4 device's info for easy switching

The Sminiker Gamepad can hold onto 4 device's pairing status and switch between them with the click of a button. Most controllers need to be un-paired, and then re-paired each time you switch devices. This helps make the Gamepad more attractive if you have both a phone and a tablet, or wish to share your controller with your kids/friends, or anyone else. See More

SteelSeries Stratus XL

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Top Con

Bulky

Unlike many of the other controllers mentioned here, this one doesn't fold, and it isn't flat so it can't easily fit into a pocket. You'll need a purse, murse, backpack or satchel to carry it around which makes this a less attractive option if you'll be gaming on the go. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable to hold

This is a full sized controller, and feels similar to the Xbox controllers. Its curves help it fit comfortably in your hand, and the controller doesn't become uncomfortable to hold even for extended periods of time. See More

Specs

Size:Full sized

Phone holder:None

Power:2XAA batteries

Top Con

Uses AA batteries

Instead of an incorporated battery which can be recharged via a cable, this controller uses disposable batteries. You'll need to keep some on hand, and this will add to the overall cost over a length of time instead of simply being able to recharge the controller. See More

Top Pro

Simple setup for both Android and Windows

Setup on Android is as simple as pressing the pairing button on top, and pairing it to your Android device like any other Bluetooth accessory. Windows setup is slightly trickier, but still easily manageable for nearly anyone. See More

Top Pro

Great joysticks

The joysticks are indented on top, giving your thumb extra grip. The texture is also grippy, making the grip that much better. In addition, these joysticks can be pushed in like on console controllers which acts like an additional button. See More

Top Pro

40 hours of gameplay per 2xAA battiers

On a single pair of AA batteries you can expect 40 hours of game time. There are 4 lights on the front that indicate the battery life which will blink when there is about 20 minutes of battery life left. See More

Top Pro

LED status lights

The 4 dots in the bar near the top of the controller are 4 LED lights which give you pairing information, as well as indicate battery life. See More

PDP Afterglow / RockCandy AX.1 wired Xbox 360 controller

Top Pro

Good value for money

The wired controller is often sold under $30. See More

Top Con

USB OTG support required

In order to use this controller, you will need a third party OTG cable to connect to an Android device's micro USB port. Some devices won't have USB OTG support - to see if your device has USB OTG support check this out. See More

Top Pro

Good availability

You can find it almost everywhere. Easy to find and purchase. See More

Top Pro

Plug and play

Works out of the box as Android recognizes USB peripherals. You will need a USB OTG cable (can be found online for $2-3 usually) to power the controller, but once you have that it's just plug and play. See More

Nyko PlayPad Pro

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Top Con

Face buttons small

The face buttons are on the smaller side which may cause discomfort to some. See More

Top Pro

Different modes expand the utility of the controller

Typically, you will want to stay in Game/HID mode - this is the standard Bluetooth controller mode. iCade mode can be used for games that don't support Bluetooth controllers, although the Android recognises it as a keyboard instead of a gamepad. This trick allows you to use the controller where you wouldn't be able to use other controllers, however you will be missing out on the full experience as some of the controls may be wonky or simply not usable depending on the app. Mouse mode doesn't help much as far as gaming goes, but for navigating the UI it works well. The last mode is App mode which allows remapping of the buttons (requires root access). See More

Top Con

Nyko Playground app is inconsistent

You can map some buttons, but you can't outright switch the controls (if you are left handed and want to switch the D-pad and 4-buttons actions you can't). Also, syncing the controller through the app often doesn't work. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable to game on for hours at a time

The Nyco Playpad Pro is a full size controller comparable to a PS3 or XBox controller. Because of its size, it's a bit less portable, but much more comfortable to game on as your hands aren't wrapped around a tiny controller. See More

Top Pro

Internal rechargeable battery

The Nyko PlayPad Pro lasts about 30 hours of gameplay per charge, and uses an internal rechargeable battery that is charged through a USB port. This is cheaper in the long run, and also generally more convenient than worrying about disposable batteries. See More

Top Pro

First party app available

Nyko offers a first party app to is used to customize controls (Android 4.0+ required) and find compatible games. See More

Drone Evolution Controller

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Top Con

Limited selection

It may be difficult to find as the controller does not seem to be on stock on the manufacturers site other than in one color (white high-gloss). It is also out of stock on Amazon. See More

Top Pro

Small and portable

The Drone Evolution Controller is small and lightweight making the device portable and pocketable. It does this while not sacrificing any buttons - it still features a D pad, two analog sticks, four buttons (ABXY), and shoulder as well as trigger buttons. See More

Top Con

Buttons don't always register when pressed lightly

Unless you constantly press down hard, the controller will miss about 1 in 5 button presses (for both the D pad as well as the ABXY buttons). See More

Top Pro

Built in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery

There is a built in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery that is charged through USB. See More

Top Con

Confusing settings

Settings may be confusing or difficult to use. See More

Ipega PG-9087

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iMpulse controller

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Top Pro

Works great with emulators

The iMpulse works great with emulators in that the controls can be programmed from within the emulator application, thus creating no need for the iMpulse application. See More

Top Con

No analog sticks

Without the inclusion of analog sticks playing 3D games may be troublesome. See More

Top Pro

First party apps

There are three different apps for use on the iMpulse that add functionality to the device such as button mapping or a key finder. See More

Top Con

Apps do not work that great

There does seem to be a multitude of problems with the first party apps available for this device including a horrible UI and non working functions. See More

Top Pro

Rechargable battery

The iMpulse controller uses an in built rechargable battery that is charged through a USB port. See More

UNBRANDED 2.4G Wireless Gaming Controller Gamepad

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Top Pro

Cheap & works

Seems to work fine: android OTG - a bit of key mapping / game controller settings may be required. See More

Specs

Platforms:Android, Android OTG, Windows, PS3, WIndows 10?

Connectivity:2.4Ghz RF

Connections:USB / OTG-

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