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This article was first published in the June 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online
The iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch weren't designed to be gaming devices, but that hasn't stopped them becoming one of the biggest games platforms ever. Games are by far and away the most popular category on the App Store, accounting for 21 per cent of all downloads. That's double what the second-biggest category, education, manages. There's just one problem: although touchscreen input is great for games such as Monument Valley, Kiwanuka and Fruit Ninja, many games play better on an old-fashioned console-style controller. Some of the biggest games on the App Store are ones that were originally designed to be played with traditional joypads, such as Scribblenauts Remix, Sonic the Hedgehog and Terraria. Thankfully, Apple has cottoned on, and unlocked third-party controller support. Game-hardware manufacturers have risen to the challenge, and have come up with quite different offerings. WIRED took four out on the road to find out which is the definitive iOS controller.
Each of these four controllers share some basic features. They all have four action buttons, colour-coded and laid out in an "A, B, X and Y" configuration similar to the Xbox One controller's. Each also has a digital direction pad, a pause button and two shoulder buttons. Beyond that,each one differs wildly on the whim of its manufacturer. Some have analogue sticks and extra buttons. Some connect over Bluetooth, whereas others are shells that fit around the device. And some will work on Android devices as well. Regardless, WIRED tested each of them during a flight from London to San Francisco to test portability, battery life and comfort.
Everything about the Mad Catz CTRLi screams "gamer". The controller is modelled on the Xbox design, so console gamers will feel right at home as soon as they pick it up. However, design-wise the CTRLi is desperately ugly. It uses two AAA batteries (included), which last up to 40 hours. This is much longer than the other controllers in this test, but you lose the convenience of having an internal rechargeable battery. The CTRLi comes with a detachable arm that will hold your phone in place while you play. It works well unless you have an iPhone 6 – Apple's larger phone needs to be clipped slightly off-centre so the volume button isn't depressed. Mad Catz's iOS app allows you to update the firmware on the controller, keep an eye on battery level and view compatible games, but it's poorly laid out and unintuitive. A much bigger concern is that the controller's D-pad is rubbish, feeling cheap and nasty, and often doesn't register when pressed in certain directions. Despite these issues, once playing games WIRED found it the most comfortable controller on test. The thumbsticks and face buttons are great, it feels well built, and is reasonably priced. 6/10 £49.99
Battery 40 hours Weight 295g Height 11cm Width 4cm Length 14.5cm What's in the boxCTRi Mobile Gamepad; adjustable smartphone clip; 2x AAA batteries
The Stratus is incredibly tiny. However, it packs in more features than the larger controllers here, such as dual analogue sticks and four shoulder buttons, which means the pad is suitable for first-person shooters. It connects via Bluetooth, so it's also compatible with iPad and iPhone 6. Up to four pads can be connected to one machine. The downside is the lack of games for the extra sticks and buttons, and its size meant it was uncomfortable to play with for long periods. Another annoyance is that it charges using micro-USB, rather than Lightning. But it's still the best option if you game on both an iPhone and an iPad. 7/10 £60
Battery Ten hours Weight 75g Height 3.3cm Width 6cm Length 11cm What's in the box SteelSeries Stratus controller with four pressure-sensitive-face-buttons, four pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons' dual analogue sticks and four-way D-pad
MOGA made one of the best Android game controllers with its MOGA Pro, and the REBEL is a comparable device for iOS. It's a similar size to a controller for a home console such as the Xbox One or PS4. The main difference is that it has a clasp that folds out to hold any iOS handheld. The controller is comfortable, with responsive buttons and great thumbsticks (but avoid the D-pad, which is awful). Its 680mAh battery lasted far longer than the other controllers here, but when it needs charging, you have to use micro-USB. This is the best iOS controller we've used -- it's less portable than the others in this test, but if it's a console-like experience that you're after, the REBEL is for you. 7/10 £49 mogaanywhere.com/rebel
Battery 12 hours Weight 372g Height 6.1cm Width 16cm Length 11.2cm What's in the box MOGA REBEL wireless controller; micro-USB cable (0.91m); quick-start guide
The game controller included in Skylanders is cheap, plasticky and most suitable for smaller hands (the intended audience). What should be commended is how everything works wirelessly over Bluetooth. Also, the controller snaps into the base of the portal unit for easy transportation. It was also the only controller in this test to work across a number of different platforms – iOS, Android and Amazon Fire tablet users can all play. 6/10 £35
Battery Six hours Weight 100g Height 3cm Width 12.7cm Depth 7cm What's in the box Game; wireless Traptanium portal, wireless controller, two Skylanders figures, two traps
Bastion
A great action role-player. It looks stunning, has an excellent story, and is told through a captivating voiceover. But it's meant for a controller. £3.99 Universal App
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The biggest-selling PS2 game of all time when it was released in 2004. A nightmare to play using touchscreen but with a controller, it's a joy. £4.99 Universal App
Scribblenauts Remix
A puzzle-platforming game that revolves around the genius idea of "if you think of it, you can put it in the game". Easier with a controller. £0.79 (in-app purchases)
LIMBO
A platform game, albeit one drawn in stark black-and-white visuals, and making those tricky jumps is so much easier using a controller. £3.99 Universal App
The Wolf Among Us
This needs the controller the least, thanks to the fact that it's essentially an old-fashioned point-and-click adventure game. £3.99 (with in-app purchases)
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
