I'm a huge fan of the ecosystem of accessories that MagSafe is spawning. I'm also a huge fan of mobile game controllers like those offered by Backbone. I use them regularly when I'm on the go. Now, however, the two are combining in what could be the coolest MagSafe accessory to date. The OhSnap MCON is a gaming controller that snaps to the back of your phone with MagSafe, and is built to be portable enough to fit in your pocket.
The controller was actually first designed by 19-year-old Josh King, who documented the process on his YouTube channel and created a prototype using a 3D printer. King and OhSnap then combined forces to tweak the design a little and put the controller into production. And I have to say, I'm glad they did. The controller is awesome, and I had a chance to check it out in person at CES 2025.
Magnetic and refined
As mentioned, the MCON, available in black or white, attaches to the back of an iPhone using MagSafe, so it’s easy to attach and detach it from your phone whenever you want to. When it's not in use, the controller simply looks like a rectangle on the back of your phone. None of the buttons or joysticks are visible, except for the rear triggers, which look understated anyway.
Given the fact that the controller attaches using MagSafe, you might expect it to only work with iPhones, but OhSnap has thought of that too.
The controller comes with a MagSafe adapter that's essentially a magnetic disk that you can attach to the back of your non-MagSafe phone. On top of that, it comes with two pucks that can attach to the controller itself to space it away from the camera module and ensure a good fit no matter what phone you're using and how big its camera is. Of course, instead of using the MagSafe adapter, you could also use a third-party case that adds magnetic compatibility to non-MagSafe phones.
When you want a game, however, you simply press two buttons on the back of the controller, and your phone will essentially slide up, revealing the buttons and joysticks you're used to.
It's a similar approach to the slide-out keyboards that used to be more common on business-focused smartphones. On top of your phone sliding up to reveal the buttons, you can also extend two grips that lock into place for a more ergonomic feel. Sure, the controller isn't going to feel as comfortable as something like the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller, but we wouldn't expect it to – and remember, the MCON is built for portability.
Perhaps the biggest downside to a controller like this is that instead of being powered through your phone's USB-C port, the controller connects through Bluetooth and has to be charged separately. That said, OhSnap is including a USB-C cable in the box, and it says that you can connect it to your phone through a wired connection instead of through Bluetooth, if you prefer.
So, does the OhSnap MCON achieve its goal of being a game controller you can have at the ready all the time? Well, yes and no.
It's definitely slimmer than any mobile controller I've tested before – and I've tested quite a few of them. However, I don't necessarily think you'd have it attached to your phone all the time on the off chance that you'd want to game remotely. Instead, it's probably more likely to be useful for situations in which you think you're likely to game when you're out and about, but left at home when you don't think you will.
That's still an important use case, though – it means you don't have to carry a controller in your backpack or bag when you might not necessarily want to take a backpack for quicker trips like taking the bus across town, for example.
Pro gaming
The OhSnap MCON may be built for portability, but it's also designed for a tactile and responsive gaming experience. That, however, is one area where the company is still refining a little. When I tested the controller at CES 2025, I actually found the buttons to be quite nice, with a clicky feel. The joysticks had a good feel too, and I could easily see myself gaming on the go with the controller. When I spoke to Josh King, the creator of the controller at CES, he noted that they're still ironing out the exact feel of the buttons ahead of the August ship date.
Of course, you shouldn't expect the same feel as a controller like the Sony DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5, but the extendable grips helped quite a bit. The grips helped make the controller feel a little more natural and gave a little more leverage for tapping the buttons on the main body of the controller.
The joysticks, in particular, seem to require a lot of effort in development. They are actually full-size Hall Effect joysticks, which will help make the controller more accurate and precise. They'll also ensure that the controller is less prone to issues like stick drift, which is common on compact controllers.
All in all, while the controller didn't necessarily feel as natural as a much bulkier and bigger controller, that's not the point of this one. I found that it felt very natural despite its small and compact size, and as I said, I could easily see myself gaming it on an airplane, a bus, or simply when I want to game in bed instead of on the couch.
The perfect gaming companion
I've tested plenty of portable controllers, and this one could well be my favorite so far. That largely has to do with the convenience of being able to snap it on and off as needed, instead of trying to wedge the controller into a USB-C port as you have to do with controllers from the likes of Backbone and Razer.
The OhSnap MCON is currently undergoing Kickstarter funding, where it has already surpassed its goal of $25,000. If you're interested in one for yourself, you can pre-order it on its Kickstarter page, where you might be able to get a discount. After the Kickstarter process, the controller will go on sale for $149. It's expected to ship to backers in August 2025, so unfortunately, you'll have to wait a while to get one for yourself.
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