Best game controllers for Android 2021

Best
game controllers for Android
Android Central
2021

Best Android controller overall: Razer Kishi

Many game developers took over the Play Store with phones that feature better specs than many computers. Call of Duty and Fortnite are great examples, for starters. You shouldn’t have to deal with a third-party plastic clip, though, if you want to play your phone like a real controller. With the Razer Kishi, you can turn just about any smartphone into a Nintendo Switch, and you don’t have to worry about Bluetooth connectivity slowing you down.

In our review of the Razer Kishi, we found that the Kishi hits just about every mark you could want in a game controller for Android. With cloud gaming becoming increasingly popular, you’ll be happy to know that the Kishi is one of the recommended controllers to use with NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW streaming service. Perhaps the best part is that you’ll never have to charge the Kishi as it plugs right into your smartphone. There’s even a pass-through USB-C port available if you start running out of juice.

While there aren’t many gripes with the Kishi, Razer did miss the mark in several places. Notably, you won’t be able to use the Kishi to play games on your computer. Plus, the USB-C pass-through port can only be used for charging, so there’s no way to plug in some headphones unless your phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

When you consider everything that the Razer Raiju Mobile brings to the table: dual Bluetooth and wired connections, four multifunction buttons that you can remap to fit your needs, a hair-trigger mode for both left and right triggers, and a phone mount with a 60-degree tilt for comfortable viewing angles. With all these great features, the only thing that might give you pause is the price.

The Razer Raiju Mobile is a pro controller that feels perfectly balanced in your hand, even with a phone mounted. That makes this a great controller for extended gaming sessions, in addition to the 20-plus hour battery life and the extra-long braided USB-A to USB-C cable that you can use to charge the controller as you game. The only issue I’ve had with it is sometimes the grip will block the volume controls or, in worst cases, put pressure on the power button.

Released as a premium accessory for the Razer Phone 2, the Raiju Mobile also works with two Android phones at once. That’s one of my favorite features about this controller. There’s a physical switch that lets you pair and connect to two different phones. It’s perfect if you intend to share this controller with other gamers.

SteelSeries has been delivering the best Bluetooth gaming controllers for Android, and the Stratus Duo is its latest and greatest. Once again, the company has designed a comfortable controller to hold. However, this time it’s with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a Wi-Fi dongle that allows you to just as easily connect it to a PC to play your favorite Steam games.

The Duo has replaced the Stratus XL as my favorite SteelSeries controller for Android. To start, the controller is redesigned to be more ergonomic, especially around the top. The shoulder buttons are comfortable, and the only thing missing is a phone mount (sold separately). Best of all, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery means I’m never left searching for AA batteries like I was with the XL.

If your childhood involved spending countless hours playing SNES, the 8bitDo SN30 is going to give you all the nostalgic feels.

The iconic Nintendo controller design is updated with Bluetooth connectivity that lets the 8BitDo SN30 Pro work with Android, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and even the Nintendo Switch. Such versatility will be especially valuable if you happen to have a collection of retro games you love to revisit. Not so good is the lack of a dedicated power switch or button for pairing — instead, you use the Start and Select buttons, and that can result in unpairing by accident.

The SN30 Pro does a great job delivering all the modern features we’ve come to expect from a quality wireless controller. Not only do you get the familiarity and comfort of the beloved SNES controller, but it’s also available in all the classic colors of the GameBoy Color. A rechargeable 480mAh battery powers everything, and pairing and resetting are accomplished using the Select button.

Microsoft and Sony’s next-gen consoles are finally here, and with it, Microsoft has introduced a slightly redesigned controller. The Xbox Series X controller is compatible with all of your devices (minus iOS), making this the perfect way for you to jump into Xbox Game Pass and play some games. Or, you can just use this as a regular controller to play your favorite compatible Android games.

The trigger and bumpers sport a new soft and textured grip, ensuring you click the bumper when you need to and not accidentally slip onto the bumper. The new “hybrid d-pad” looks like it was brought down from the Xbox Elite Controller, but this is not interchangeable like the more expensive version. Even still, Microsoft has made it so that you can customize and map a few of the buttons to your liking, depending on which game you are playing.

Battery life is kind of a moot point with the new Series X controller, however, as you will need to rely on AA batteries for power. The older Play and Charge kit is compatible with this, so you can always pick one of those up after the fact if you don’t already have one. And while there is a 3.5mm headphone jack on board (like the old version), Microsoft still has opted not to include a built-in microphone, so you’ll need a good headset if you plan on jumping online with your buddies.

In theory, any controller that offers physical buttons has to be better than touchscreen controls, but this is not always the case. I’ve dealt with plenty of frustrating Bluetooth connectivity issues or laggy inputs when all I want is a more comfortable thing to hold in my hand than my flat smartphone.

That’s where I’ve come to appreciate the GameSir F2 Game Grip. You can use it on practically any sized phone to provide your palms with something to rest on. Of course, it takes a little while to get used to where your thumbs naturally fall holding the grip versus just holding your phone. But it does wonders if you frequently deal with hand fatigue after playing games for multiple hours.

It also includes a conductive joystick that rests on the screen and lets you control your character’s movement with a more tactile response. It’s a simple snap to change its orientation or remove it altogether. And the grip can also be used as a kickstand for watching media or gaming with a Bluetooth controller.

Google’s Stadia Controller had a rough start because it required you to use it wired at launch unless playing with the Chromecast Ultra as part of the Stadia Founders Edition bundle. All of those issues have finally been straightened away, and recent updates made it possible for you to leave the wires behind. This is the only way to play Stadia on your Chromecast, but it’s also just a great game controller for the service overall.

Coming from Google, you knew that there would be some Assistant-centric features in-tow. There’s not only a dedicated button for accessing Assistant but another that makes it easy to share a clip to YouTube quickly. And you don’t have to worry about dealing with a funky design, as Google kept things simple, and the Stadia Controller has a familiar and comfortable feel.

Outside of the Google Assistant integration, the price tag could be a bit steep for some. Plus, if you want to game from your phone and not on a Chromecast, you’ll need a smartphone clip to complete the ensemble. Finally, you may run into issues finding this controller, as it’s only available from Google and can’t be picked up from your local big-box store.

When the Galaxy Note 20 lineup was unveiled, Microsoft and Samsung took to the stage to announce that “Project xCloud” was graduating from beta status. Xbox Game Pass is now here in all of its greatness and PowerA was one of the announced partners to bring a new controller to the masses.

The PowerA Moga XP5-X was designed with Xbox Game Pass in mind and was designed with Microsoft’s help. Two buttons can be customized and reassigned, along with sporting a dedicated power bank to help keep your smartphone chugging along for those longer gaming sessions. And if you are worried about being able even to use your smartphone with the XP5-X, you can throw those concerns aside, as PowerA includes the best game controller phone mount, which features up to 220-degrees of articulation, providing the…