Thursday, March 28, 2024

Game like a pro with these controllers for your Samsung Galaxy phones

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Why would you need a game controller for your Samsung Galaxy phone? Samsung hasn’t explicitly jumped into the world of gaming-specific smartphones, but since you’re provided with some of the best specs to go along with amazing displays, Samsung smartphones, like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, make for a perfect gaming experience. In order to make the most out of xCloud and other games on your phone, you’ll need a great game controller to pair with it.

Versatility at its finest

Razer Kishi

Staff pick

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Razer’s Kishi controller is quite impressive. It not only fits just about every smartphone, but the USB-C port ensures low-latency gaming. When not in use, the two sides slide together, making for easy portability or storage.

$80 at Amazon
$80 at Best Buy
$80 at Walmart

Not just for Android

SteelSeries Stratus Duo

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The Stratus Duo is the latest great Android gaming controller from SteelSeries. Once again, the company has designed a comfortable controller — this time 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.

$51 at Amazon
$60 at Dell
$60 at Best Buy

Traditional but custom

Razer Raiju Mobile

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When you consider everything that the Razer Raiju Mobile brings to the table — Bluetooth and wired connections, four multifunction buttons that can be remapped, a hair-trigger mode for both left and right triggers, and a phone mount with a 60-degree tilt for comfortable viewing angles — the only thing that might give you pause is the price.

$100 at Amazon
$150 at Microsoft
$100 at Walmart

For the elite

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2

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This one may be a bit overkill, but if you’re a serious mobile gamer, then you want a seriously elite controller. The Xbox Elite Controller (Series 2) offers up to 40 hours of battery life, and you can customize just about every aspect of the controller including the thumbsticks, d-pad, and more.

$180 at Microsoft
$180 at B&H Photo
$180 at Newegg

Controller add-on

GameSir F4 Falcon

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The GameVice controller attaches right to your phone and while you’ll still have to use on screen controls to move, the bumpers are perfect for first-person shooters. The F4 Falcon sports several different burst modes for the triggers at the top, and can be easily folded and thrown into your bag until the next PUBG session.

$30 at Amazon

Retro cool

8Bitdo SN30 Pro+

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This is a great controller if you love the design of the SNES controller but also want compatibility with more modern games. This is one of the more impressive designs for a Bluetooth controller we’ve seen and 8Bitdo is known for making quality products.

From $50 at Amazon
From $50 at Best Buy
From $50 at Walmart

Microsoft’s best controller

Xbox One Wireless Controller

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Provided that you have the Bluetooth version and a stand or controller clip, the Xbox One controller is the perfect companion for comfortable mobile gaming. This iconic controller is available in a wide range of colors and styles and is a great option that you may already own if you regularly game on Xbox.

$60 at Apple
$65 at Microsoft
$63 at Walmart

Built-in wireless charging

HyperX ChargePlay Clutch

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At first glance, the HyperX ChargePlay Clutch may look like nothing more than a grip for your phone, but there’s so much more once you turn it around. The Clutch offers built-in wireless charging thanks to the detachable 3,000mAh battery pack. You won’t have to worry about compatibility, as the HyperX made the clutch adjustable for an array of phone sizes.

$60 at Amazon

The best from Sony

Sony DualShock 4

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For some, the Xbox One controller is the best you can get, but others insist that Sony’s DualShock 4 is the way to go. If you fall in the latter camp, the DS4 is a great way to game on the go, while using a controller that you’ve logged countless hours with already.

$65 at Amazon
$60 at Best Buy
$65 at Walmart

Get ready for Project xCloud

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Cloud gaming is the way of the future, and Microsoft is ready to throw its hat into the ring with Project xCloud. During the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 announcement, Samsung and Microsoft announced a new partnership for the latest device.

xCloud will move out of its “project” status, and will debut on Android starting on Sept. 15. The partnership between the two companies could prove quite fruitful, as Microsoft confirmed it is developing a special version of the Xbox Game Pass app just for Samsung devices. This will give you easy access to games, along with the ability to make in-app purchase for items and DLC.

With that announcement, and the pending official launch of xCloud, a few more announcements were made. New controllers are on the horizon, which have been specifically designed for Project xCloud, and all of them will work seamlessly with your Samsung Galaxy device.

Made for Xbox

Razer Kishi – xCloud Edition

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Razer’s xCloud Kishi controller is almost identical to the standard version, but with some button change-outs. The old “left, right, and home” buttons have been replaced with View, Menu, and Xbox buttons. Everything else is exactly the same, including the flexibility to be used with different-sized devices, to go along with the built-in USB-C for low-latency gaming.

$100 at Amazon

Charge and play

PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus

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Those looking for a more-traditional Xbox gaming experience with xCloud on your Samsung device will want to check out PowerA’s offering. The MOGA XP5-X Plus includes a detachable phone clip, the ability to charge your phone while playing, and a few mappable buttons. We’re disappointed that it uses Micro-USB for charging the controller instead of USB-C.

$70 at Amazon

Retro meets next-gen

8BitDo SN30 Pro – xCloud Edition

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8Bitdo’s controllers are some of the most popular, especially for retro gamers. So if you’re someone who enjoys the older style of game controllers, then you’ll love the Sn30 Pro – xCloud Edition. The SN30 Pro features a detachable gaming clip, Bluetooth connectivity, and up to 18 hours of battery.

$45 at Amazon

Gaming is always better with a controller in hand

The possibilities of mobile gaming continue to expand as more game developers take the time to add controller support to their games. Whether you want better control while playing shooters and platformers, or are keen on checking out xCloud game streaming, Bluetooth controllers can be a real game-changer for mobile gaming.

Our recommendation is the Razer Kishi, which offers the best value for your money thanks to its ease-of-use, flexibility to be used with a myriad of device sizes, and the built-in USB-C port for low-latency gaming. There’s even a pass-through port so you can keep your Galaxy phone charged throughout those longer gaming sessions. And when you’re done, just take your phone out, collapse the controller, and stow away the Kishi for later.

Steel Series has been making some great controllers for some time now, and the Stratus Duo is a great option for gaming on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone. You’ll easily be able to pair this via Bluetooth, or you can even use it to game on your PC with the included USB Wireless Adapter. With more than 20-hours of battery life, and the ability to charge while gaming, the Duo is a Swiss Army knife for gamers everywhere.

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