Nacon, now each a video games writer and peripheral maker, has been making gamepads for consoles for some time. It was one of many corporations that Sony selected to make its wired ‘professional” PS4 controllers earlier than Sony introduced its personal ‘professional’ controller for the PS5.
Not that it stopped Nacon. It has launched two cell controllers, together with, most not too long ago, an iPhone-compatible mannequin that lands in the course of smartphone gamepad pricing. It’s cheaper than Spine and Razer’s technically spectacular gaming peripherals, and sadly, Nacon made some sacrifices to get to that worth.
The MG-X Pro is gentle, even with its built-in battery. In comparison with some smartphone controllers, the grips are extra substantial and nearer to typical console gamepads. That is probably the most snug smartphone gamepad I’ve ever tried by a large margin. It feels controller-sized, with related spacing between the d-pad and analog controls and full-sized set off buttons on the again, making it much more snug throughout lengthy gaming classes.
Picture by Mat Smith / Engadget
The buttons are responsive however somewhat too squishy. I couldn’t discover any latency distinction between wi-fi and wired smartphone controller choices when enjoying by means of a number of Apple Arcade titles, Into The Breach, and a few Overwatch 2 streamed on PS Distant Play. The buttons don’t wobble round of their housing, however the d-pad feels somewhat doughy and unfastened. The 2 analog sticks are manufactured from sturdier stuff, thankfully.
Between the 2 controller halves, the vice a part of MG-X Professional has a ridged rubberized floor to maintain your iPhone locked in, with somewhat lip on each side to maintain every thing in place. The vice works on each iPhone I’ve, from the Mini to the Max fashions. And, in contrast to another vice controllers, even with a protecting case, my iPhone 14 Professional suits in fantastic.
It’s simple to whereas away the hours with the MG-X Professional – till your cellphone battery runs out. Not like costlier choices just like the Spine, it is a wi-fi mannequin. There’s no lighting cable plug to attach your iPhone into) which suggests there’s no energy throughput.
This downside is compounded if you’re utilizing cloud gaming providers, like Xbox Cloud and PS Distant Play, which want a variety of energy to stream video games. If you wish to play for prolonged intervals, you’ll must be ready to take equally prolonged breaks. Different shortcomings embrace a companion app that doesn’t supply sufficient to warrant its obtain. There’s the flexibility to calibrate the 2 analog sticks – which makes me fear that they may drift sooner or later – and walkthroughs of what the MG-X Professional is able to. That’s not all that a lot.
Picture by Mat Smith / Engadget
The MG-X Professional is probably the most snug smartphone gamepad I’ve ever used. Nonetheless, the flexibility to supply snug gaming over time is proscribed by its lack of ability to maintain your smartphone powered up. For extra money, you possibly can go for the Spine or the Razer Kishi, which supply pass-through charging. Or, somewhat extra inelegantly, you possibly can swap the vice-style controller for a extra snug Bluetooth controller (I fee the 8bitdo controllers) and preserve your cellphone propped up, however plugged in.