When comparing Sminiker Gamepad vs Nyko PlayPad Pro, the Slant community recommends Sminiker Gamepad for most people. In the question“What are the best third-party game controllers for Android?” Sminiker Gamepad is ranked 11th while Nyko PlayPad Pro is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose Sminiker Gamepad is:
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.
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Pros
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Cons
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.
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.
Con Face buttons small
The face buttons are on the smaller side which may cause discomfort to some.
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.