Trusting your cellphone to Abxylute’s cell controller requires an enormous leap of religion

As a retro gaming fan, I used to be thrilled when Apple opened its App Store to emulators in 2024, however I’ve but to discover a controller that makes me need to totally embrace retro gaming on my cellphone.

Clamp-on controllers just like the Backbone Pro are a bit too cumbersome, and I don’t need to prop my cellphone up someplace to make use of a standalone gamepad. The Abxylute M4 appeared precisely what I used to be on the lookout for when it debuted a number of months in the past. It’s a compact wi-fi gamepad that makes use of a magnetic mount to connect to my iPhone. It’s a intelligent design, however one which’s let down by stiff thumbsticks and a magnetic mount that doesn’t all the time really feel prefer it’s securely supporting my cellphone.

There are two parts to the Abxylute M4: a retro-looking rectangular gamepad that connects to your smartphone over Bluetooth, and a Q-shaped mount that attaches the controller to your cellphone so it feels such as you’re taking part in a handheld console. The mount is appropriate with MagSafe iPhone fashions and the Google Pixel 10 Series. I primarily examined it with an iPhone 16 Pro, however Abxylute consists of an adhesive steel ring you’ll be able to stick with the again of any cellphone to make it appropriate.

The ring of magnets on the M4’s mount caught to the again of my iPhone as securely as any MagSafe accent or Qi2 charger I’ve ever used. It’s not going to come back off till you need it to. It additionally contains a easy end, permitting you to rotate the mount and fix the gamepad in order that it utterly hides behind your cellphone as an alternative of hanging off the aspect. But the entire thing finally ends up being too cumbersome and thick to slide right into a pocket, so I’ve been eradicating it fully when not taking part in.

One limitation of the M4’s design is that when hooked up, it could actually solely be used to play video games in a panorama orientation. In a vertical mode, the controller doesn’t protrude far sufficient for all its controls to be accessible. That’s not essentially a foul factor, however as a decades-old Game Boy fan, I are likely to want taking part in video games vertically. Recently introduced cell controllers just like the GameSir Pocket Taco and the 8BitDo FlipPad help that.

A far greater difficulty with the M4’s design, and a possible deal-breaker, is the connection between the mount and the controller. It additionally depends on a robust magnet that makes the controller snap into place when hooked up to the mount. But the connection doesn’t really feel sturdy sufficient to all the time maintain the mount securely related to the controller whereas your cellphone’s hooked up.

The connection between the mount and controller feels safe sufficient once I’m holding the M4 and my cellphone up in entrance of me whereas taking part in a sport. But at some angles, or once I unintentionally bump my cellphone, the mount can separate from the gamepad. The two may even persistently disconnect for those who absentmindedly flip the entire thing the other way up, sending the cellphone and the hooked up mount falling. Thankfully, all my testing was achieved on a mushy couch.

I’m not the one one to expertise this conduct. Retro Dodo’s Brandon Saltalamacchia did, too. The connection would possibly fare higher with a lighter cellphone, just like the iPhone Air, however given smartphones at the moment are a major funding (my iPhone 16 Pro price simply shy of CA$1,500 right here in Canada, or round $1,100 US), I’m not comfy utilizing the M4 because it’s designed.

The M4 isn’t fully depending on its magnetic mount. It can be utilized as a standalone controller with telephones, consoles, or any system that helps Bluetooth gamepads. I used to be shocked at how comfy it was to make use of with my gigantic palms. Its square-shaped design lets me attain the M4’s shoulder buttons with out contorting my index fingers, and the construct high quality feels strong.

The controller’s 4 motion buttons are small however have a satisfying quantity of resistance. They’re paired with a big D-pad that’s a bit mushy and liable to registering inputs from a number of instructions, however satisfactory for pick-up-and-play gaming periods. Choose a distinct controller for those who’re chasing excessive scores.

Abxylute consists of two analog joysticks, a characteristic hardly ever discovered on controllers this dimension. They use a sliding disc design much like what Nintendo used on the 3DS — however much less efficient. The sliding joysticks on the M4 are stiff and uncomfortable, making delicate actions almost inconceivable. My thumb ached after only a handful of races in Mario Kart World, and I can’t see myself utilizing both of the joysticks once more.

As compact controllers go, the $49 Abxylute M4 is nice, however removed from nice. But that’s not why persons are going to purchase it. Its promise of turning a smartphone right into a handheld console helped the corporate elevate over $300,000 from almost 6,000 backers on Kickstarter — loads of whom I believe will probably be annoyed or upset in the event that they’re not additional cautious whereas utilizing it. Trusting your $1,000 cell system to the M4 requires a leap of religion that’s a bit too far for me.

Photos by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge