{"id":251295,"date":"2026-01-25T16:57:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T16:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/251295\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T16:57:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T16:57:10","slug":"trusting-your-phone-to-abxylutes-mobile-controller-requires-a-big-leap-of-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/251295\/","title":{"rendered":"Trusting your phone to Abxylute\u2019s mobile controller requires a big leap of faith"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a retro gaming fan, I was thrilled when Apple opened its App Store to emulators in 2024<\/a>, but I\u2019ve yet to find a controller that makes me want to fully embrace retro gaming on my phone.<\/p>\n

Clamp-on controllers like the Backbone Pro<\/a> are a bit too bulky, and I don\u2019t want to prop my phone up somewhere to use a standalone gamepad. The Abxylute M4 seemed exactly what I was looking for when it debuted a few months ago<\/a>. It\u2019s a compact wireless gamepad that uses a magnetic mount to attach to my iPhone. It\u2019s a clever design, but one that\u2019s let down by stiff thumbsticks and a magnetic mount that doesn\u2019t always feel like it\u2019s securely supporting my phone.<\/p>\n

There are two components 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 phone so it feels like you\u2019re playing a handheld console. The mount is compatible with MagSafe iPhone models and the Google Pixel 10 Series<\/a>. I primarily tested it with an iPhone 16 Pro, but Abxylute includes an adhesive metal ring you can stick to the back of any phone to make it compatible.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The M4\u2019s magnetic mount can double as a smartphone stand using a ring-shaped kickstand.<\/p>\n

The ring of magnets on the M4\u2019s mount stuck to the back of my iPhone as securely as any MagSafe accessory or Qi2 charger I\u2019ve ever used. It\u2019s not going to come off until you want it to. It also features a smooth finish, allowing you to rotate the mount and attach the gamepad so that it completely hides behind your phone instead of hanging off the side. But the whole thing ends up being too bulky and thick to slip into a pocket, so I\u2019ve been removing it entirely when not playing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The M4 controller doesn\u2019t protrude far enough from the bottom of a phone to play games in a portrait orientation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The M4 can be attached so it completely hides behind your phone. But you\u2019ll need giant pockets to carry it around like this.<\/p>\n

One limitation of the M4\u2019s design is that when attached, it can only be used to play games in a landscape orientation. In a vertical mode, the controller doesn\u2019t protrude far enough for all its controls to be accessible. That\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing, but as a decades-old Game Boy fan, I tend to prefer playing games vertically. Recently announced mobile controllers like the GameSir Pocket Taco<\/a> and the 8BitDo FlipPad<\/a> support that.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n

The mount attaches to the M4 controller using one of two magnetic connectors.<\/p>\n

A far bigger issue with the M4\u2019s design, and a potential deal-breaker, is the connection between the mount and the controller. It also relies on a strong magnet that makes the controller snap into place when attached to the mount. But the connection doesn\u2019t feel strong enough to always keep the mount securely connected to the controller while your phone\u2019s attached.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The mount\u2019s connection to the M4 controller feels strong, but it doesn\u2019t take a lot of force for it to accidentally disconnect.<\/p>\n

The connection between the mount and controller feels secure enough when I\u2019m holding the M4 and my phone up in front of me while playing a game. But at some angles, or when I accidentally bump my phone, the mount can separate from the gamepad. The two will also consistently disconnect if you absentmindedly turn the whole thing upside down, sending the phone and the attached mount falling. Thankfully, all my testing was done on a soft sofa.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not the only one to experience this behavior. Retro Dodo\u2019s Brandon Saltalamacchia<\/a> did, too. The connection might fare better with a lighter phone, like the iPhone Air, but given smartphones are now a significant investment (my iPhone 16 Pro cost just shy of CA$1,500 here in Canada, or around $1,100 US), I\u2019m not comfortable using the M4 as it\u2019s designed.<\/p>\n

The M4 isn\u2019t entirely dependent on its magnetic mount. It can be used as a standalone controller with phones, consoles, or any device that supports Bluetooth gamepads. I was surprised at how comfortable it was to use with my gigantic hands. Its square-shaped design lets me reach the M4\u2019s shoulder buttons without contorting my index fingers, and the build quality feels solid.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The M4 controller\u2019s action buttons are small, but the D-pad feels comfortably sized, even for my large thumbs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s two pairs of shoulder buttons atop the M4 controller, which I found easy to reach without having to overstretch my fingers.<\/p>\n

The controller\u2019s four action buttons are small but have a satisfying amount of resistance. They\u2019re paired with a large D-pad that\u2019s a bit mushy and prone to registering inputs from multiple directions, but adequate for pick-up-and-play gaming sessions. Choose a different controller if you\u2019re chasing high scores.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The M4\u2019s analog joysticks feature a sliding disc design similar to what the Nintendo 3DS offered. But on the M4 they\u2019re stiff and uncomfortable to use.<\/p>\n

Abxylute includes two analog joysticks, a feature rarely found on controllers this size. They use a sliding disc design similar to what Nintendo used on the 3DS \u2014 but less effective. The sliding joysticks on the M4 are stiff and uncomfortable, making subtle movements nearly impossible. My thumb ached after just a handful of races in Mario Kart World, and I can\u2019t see myself using either of the joysticks again.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

For $49 the Abxylute M4 is one of the more affordable ways to turn your smartphone into a handheld console, but the risks don\u2019t feel worth it.<\/p>\n

As compact controllers go, the $49 Abxylute M4 is good, but far from great. But that\u2019s not why people are going to buy it. Its promise of turning a smartphone into a handheld console helped the company raise over $300,000 from nearly 6,000 backers on Kickstarter<\/a> \u2014 a lot of whom I think will be frustrated or disappointed if they\u2019re not extra cautious while using it. Trusting your $1,000 mobile device to the M4 requires a leap of faith that\u2019s a bit too far for me.<\/p>\n

Photos by Andrew Liszewski \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

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