Manufacturer: PowerA

Colors: Black

MSRP: $39.99

Now that gaming on tablets and phones is becoming more serious and popular, companies are coming out with dedicated controllers for your devices. PowerA was one of the first ones out of the gate with their Moga series of controllers. This is the mobile version that holds your phone while you play. It’s Bluetooth, so there are no cords tethered to your device. The controller is very well designed and sturdy; it doesn’t feel cheap at all.

I love the ergonomics of this controller. The middle of the controller has a flip-up phone holder. It can hold up to 6″ phones, so everything up to the Samsung Note II. The top and bottom of the clip have rubber grips so your phone doesn’t slip out, and it keeps it from getting scratched. Getting the controller to connect is a breeze. The initial setup is done with the Moga Pivot app, which also scans your device for games that can be played with the controller. You can also navigate and launch these apps with the controller. The controller sits well in your hands and is powered by 2 AA batteries, each housed on either side of the controller. PowerA went for minimalism with this controller, and they nailed it.

The only issue with the controller is that it feels too rigid. The buttons aren’t very soft and make a loud clicking sound. The thumbstick nubs are a bit stiff, and there’s no D-pad. I like the L and R triggers, which feel great for shooting games and racing. I wish the controller had analog sticks rather than nubs. It’s really hard to adjust to these in a shooter; I had to turn the sensitivity way down in the game to make it feel somewhat normal. The controller is also lacking bumpers, which could have fit just fine. So there’s a bit of a learning curve with this controller.

At least it comes with two free games: Pac-Man and Sonic CD. It also includes a really nice leather case to hold your controller in. The biggest issue of all is that there aren’t many games that support this thing. There is a free universal driver app to use in emulators, which is probably the main reason why someone would buy this. I was able to play a GBA, SNES, PS1, and Genesis emulator with no issues. Other than this, this is well worth the $40 for anyone looking for a controller without having to buy special cables, root, or buy expensive apps.