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Best portable controller for emulation on Android?

Imru’ al-Qays

Imru’ al-Qays

Member
Looks like work from home is drawing to a close, so I'll be commuting by train again. I was considering getting a Vita or a 2DS XL to use as an emulation machine, but I figured it'd be a lot more cost effective to just get some sort of controller for my phone.

I'm looking for something that is portable enough for me to slide in and out of a suit jacket pocket. A Vita or Switch style form factor where the phone fits in the middle seems ideal, but I'm open to other suggestions. Something that will let me output audio to headphones via USB-C would be ideal as well.
 
A wired one.
BT is ass on android.
Latency-city.

i got the poco f2PRO basically for emulation on the go. Not to use it as an actual phone.
But i returned it. The latency was a complete joke.

i heard razer kishi was a good one because it has a usb c port.. but it's 120 euro's so f that xD.

right now i am just waiting until something get's done about this.
i will prolly try to get the analogue- pocket around summer
 
Spukc said:
A wired one.
BT is ass on android.
Latency-city.

i got the poco f2PRO basically for emulation on the go. Not to use it as an actual phone.
But i returned it. The latency was a complete joke.

i heard razer kishi was a good one because it has a usb c port.. but it's 120 euro's so f that xD.

right now i am just waiting until something get's done about this.
i will prolly try to get the analogue- pocket around summer
Click to expand...
Just looked up the Kishi, it looks good. . .except it's $80 and I'd need to buy a Bluetooth headset since it doesn't output audio via USB-C. Damn. Might have to get a Vita or a 2DS after all. Part of the reason I was going for the Android option is that I didn't want to have to decide between those two
 
When I was researching this, most recommendations were ~$100 so I decided I'd get a vita, DS, PSP, or even GBA. Spent like an hour on eBay then ended up watching a movie.

Let me know what works out for you.
 

I have this with my Note 9 and it has a possibility to use a headphone jack while playing. It has terrible thump sticks but input lag wasn't bad in my opinion. However I use Retroarch with "Run ahead" feature and without it latency was noticeable but playable.

If you want best thumb sticks and IMHO best wireless controller for phone, I recommend Glap Play p/1

It is a really solid controller all in all. Only one minor gripe is the placement of shoulder buttons but I got used to those pretty quickly. It might a bit bulky for your usage and it won't let you use headphone jack while playing. Despite that I really love this thing and I have literally tried dozens of gamepads for Android.
 
VHSamurai said:
When I was researching this, most recommendations were ~$100 so I decided I'd get a vita, DS, PSP, or even GBA. Spent like an hour on eBay then ended up watching a movie.

Let me know what works out for you.
Click to expand...

Had the exact same stuff happen to me a while ago.

I really should just mod my switch at this point.
 
VHSamurai said:
When I was researching this, most recommendations were ~$100 so I decided I'd get a vita, DS, PSP, or even GBA. Spent like an hour on eBay then ended up watching a movie.

Let me know what works out for you.
Click to expand...
Most depressing part is that non of these 100 dollar Android gamepad can match 50 dollar Xbox One and DS4 controllers.
 
CobraXT said:
Any mod pls i want a permanent ban .. this place is a joke
Click to expand...
5VN9xGU.png
 
If 8bitdo have any android compatible pads I'd go with them. I own the SF30 Pro for my Switch, the box (picture taken from Google) says it works on Android. It's an incredible pad with first party build quality.

28225010589_d2cfdd0885.jpg
 
Banjo64 said:
If 8bitdo have any android compatible pads I'd go with them. I own the SF30 Pro for my Switch, the box (picture taken from Google) says it works on Android. It's an incredible pad with first party build quality.

28225010589_d2cfdd0885.jpg
Click to expand...
This is a great controller and works just fine with Android but OP wanted a "telescopic" controller where the phone sits in between the gamepad. SF30 Pro is very light controller where the phone sits on top of it and becomes very top heavy. I found this one very uncomfortable with phone usage but great with Switch and phones in tabletop mode.
 
I've used this and its excellent. Really good build quality, responsive buttons, triggers and analogue sticks and has a very premium feel to it. Which it must be said is reflected in the price. Its not exactly cheap. It also draws power from the phone's battery so doesn't require charging.

GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Game Controller for Android Phone - Cloud, Stadia, Vortex Gaming Supported, 51° Movable Wired Joystick, Plug and Play E-Sports Gamepad No Battery, Clickable Analog Thumbsticks: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Game Controller for Android Phone - Cloud, Stadia, Vortex Gaming Supported, 51° Movable Wired Joystick, Plug and Play E-Sports Gamepad No Battery, Clickable Analog Thumbsticks at Amazon UK.
www.amazon.co.uk

6180%2BwrmonL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
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Imru' al-Qays said:
Looks like work from home is drawing to a close, so I'll be commuting by train again. I was considering getting a Vita or a 2DS XL to use as an emulation machine, but I figured it'd be a lot more cost effective to just get some sort of controller for my phone.

I'm looking for something that is portable enough for me to slide in and out of a suit jacket pocket. A Vita or Switch style form factor where the phone fits in the middle seems ideal, but I'm open to other suggestions. Something that will let me output audio to headphones via USB-C would be ideal as well.
Click to expand...
Those 8bitdo controllers look pretty damn sweet. I think they have different styles as well.
 
I have a Kishi and it really is a great controller. I was at first using the SF30 Pro attached to an 8Bitdo phone clip, didn't notice any lag but it was just too small and uncomfortable with my S9+. I then got an S20 Ultra and it was even worse, too much of an imbalance of weight. Tried an XBox One Elite 2 pad and clip, it's a lovely pad to game with, my favourite pad ever, but again just not balanced enough for long play on a mobile phone, especially a large one.

After getting blown away with the amazing emulation of a ton of formats on Android plus Xcloud becoming awesome I decided to try the Kishi. It's by far the most comfortable way to play on a mobile. Love it.
 
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Orta said:
I've used this and its excellent. Really good build quality, responsive buttons, triggers and analogue sticks and has a very premium feel to it. Which it must be said is reflected in the price. Its not exactly cheap. It also draws power from the phone's battery so doesn't require charging.

GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Game Controller for Android Phone - Cloud, Stadia, Vortex Gaming Supported, 51° Movable Wired Joystick, Plug and Play E-Sports Gamepad No Battery, Clickable Analog Thumbsticks: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Game Controller for Android Phone - Cloud, Stadia, Vortex Gaming Supported, 51° Movable Wired Joystick, Plug and Play E-Sports Gamepad No Battery, Clickable Analog Thumbsticks at Amazon UK.
www.amazon.co.uk

6180%2BwrmonL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
Click to expand...
Actually been tempted to buy this, reviews look good. Only issue is the X and B button are reversed.
 
Orta said:
I've used this and its excellent. Really good build quality, responsive buttons, triggers and analogue sticks and has a very premium feel to it. Which it must be said is reflected in the price. Its not exactly cheap. It also draws power from the phone's battery so doesn't require charging.

GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Game Controller for Android Phone - Cloud, Stadia, Vortex Gaming Supported, 51° Movable Wired Joystick, Plug and Play E-Sports Gamepad No Battery, Clickable Analog Thumbsticks: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy GameSir X2 Type-C Mobile Game Controller for Android Phone - Cloud, Stadia, Vortex Gaming Supported, 51° Movable Wired Joystick, Plug and Play E-Sports Gamepad No Battery, Clickable Analog Thumbsticks at Amazon UK.
www.amazon.co.uk

6180%2BwrmonL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
Click to expand...
great tip it's less stupid expensive then the kishi too !
 
Err they're the same price in that link you quoted. Whether one is better than the other I couldn't say but at such similar pricing I'd go for the Kishi, better brand/support, being Razer and all.
 
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Rudius said:
Not the most portable, but in my opinion the best: a Dualshock 4 with a clamp connected by a very short cable. That's what I use.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41JXz3zRJcL._AC_SY1000_.jpg
Click to expand...

My worry is that this will just be too much of a hassle on the train, since I'll have to put the controller in a bag rather than my suit pocket. Also seems like I wouldn't be able to stealthily take it into the bathroom with me if I want to surreptitiously waste time at work.

I'm currently considering the RG351P: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J4BH4C1/?tag=neogaf0e-20 . Seems like it can emulate everything a Vita can emulate, with the addition of DS games. Anyone have any experience with this?
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
My worry is that this will just be too much of a hassle on the train, since I'll have to put the controller in a bag rather than my suit pocket. Also seems like I wouldn't be able to stealthily take it into the bathroom with me if I want to surreptitiously waste time at work.

I'm currently considering the RG351P: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J4BH4C1/?tag=neogaf0e-20 . Seems like it can emulate everything a Vita can emulate, with the addition of DS games. Anyone have any experience with this?
Click to expand...
I see. First I tried a device like this one below, but found it to be too small and uncomfortable:

SUvgW4T.jpg


So if you really want to carry it in your pocket for emulators, I'd suggest those android devices like this one. They cost less than a 100 dollars and are more comfortable to use. They also don't have Bluetooth lag.

 
Rudius said:
I see. First I tried a device like this one below, but found it to be too small and uncomfortable:

SUvgW4T.jpg


So if you really want to carry it in your pocket for emulators, I'd suggest those android devices like this one. They cost less than a 100 dollars and are more comfortable to use. They also don't have Bluetooth lag.

Click to expand...


I have the RG351P from Ambernic and its been great so far.

 
Last edited:
MasterCornholio said:
I have the RG351P from Ambernic and its been great so far.

Click to expand...

How is it for playing DS JRPGs? I've basically narrowed it down to the RG351P or a 2DS XL at this point. It seems like most DS JRPGs don't use the second screen for much, so the RG351P should be fine for that? Or do you find yourself having to toggle screens a lot?

Leaning towards the RG351P since PS1 emulation on 3DS seems shaky (plus there's no PSP emulation at all). On the other hand, the 3DS library is impressive in its own right, and if the DS experience on the RG351P is a pain that might incline me more towards a 2DS XL. . .
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
How is it for playing DS JRPGs? I've basically narrowed it down to the RG351P or a 2DS XL at this point. It seems like most DS JRPGs don't use the second screen for much, so the RG351P should be fine for that? Or do you find yourself having to toggle screens a lot?

Leaning towards the RG351P since PS1 emulation on 3DS seems shaky (plus there's no PSP emulation at all). On the other hand, the 3DS library is impressive in its own right, and if the DS experience on the RG351P is a pain that might incline me more towards a 2DS XL. . .
Click to expand...

Unfortunately since I replaced the firmware on my device DS games dont seem to work anymore. I'm currently working on finding something that will play them in the device. I'm relatively new to emulation on this handheld so it might take a while.

As for PS1 games they work great on it. So far I'm not having any issues with games like Final Fantasy IX and other titles like the Misadventures of Tron Bone seem to work pretty well. N64 emulation seems pretty good for the games that I've played but I would stay away from complex Dreamcast and PSP games.
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
[...] I was considering getting a Vita [...]

[...] A Vita [...] seems ideal [...]
Click to expand...
Bingo!
I own a few ps vitas myself, 2 of them are modded and there are numerous emulators running on them. Apart from the fact that Sony has buried the ,IMO, best handheld, the modding community keeps the device alive.
Apart from some really good exclusives (Gravity Rush, Uncharted:GA, Tear Away ... ) and official ports (GoW Collection, Metal Gear Solid HD ... ), there are plenty of emulators and ports that benefit from the handheld factor of the console. You also have to remember that in the Vita is a full-fledged PSP, which can be launched in the (modded) Vita dashboard.
You can get a Vita here (Central Europe) for about 100€ (~120$) and that's all you really need. You can replace the expensive memory cards with micro sd cards via plugin and a 2€ adapter.
Sorry that I don't recommend a controller, but I'm a fan of dedicated hardware, a cell phone with controller wouldn't give me the same feeling of value as a "real" game console.
Attached 2 screenshots of my vita, on which I play the PC port of GTA3 at the moment and which also has some classics (Half Life, Diablo, Doom, Quake I / II, Wolfenstein3D ... ) installed. And that's not the end, there are regularly new projects from the community.

VJ1N4R9.png


lJY9LTQ.png

Just some days ago, Rinnegatamante (one of the main Vita homebrew suppliers) released "flycast-vita" - a Dreamcast emulator - which is more like a PoC, but this in insane.
Also, TheFlow is working on a port of GTA:SA ... everytime these dudes drop some of their work I feel like a kid again and I have to try it immediately.
 
Last edited:
Kupfer said:
Bingo!
I own a few ps vitas myself, 2 of them are modded and there are numerous emulators running on them. Apart from the fact that Sony has buried the ,IMO, best handheld, the modding community keeps the device alive.
Apart from some really good exclusives (Gravity Rush, Uncharted:GA, Tear Away ... ) and official ports (GoW Collection, Metal Gear Solid HD ... ), there are plenty of emulators and ports that benefit from the handheld factor of the console. You also have to remember that in the Vita is a full-fledged PSP, which can be launched in the (modded) Vita dashboard.
You can get a Vita here (Central Europe) for about 100€ (~120$) and that's all you really need. You can replace the expensive memory cards with micro sd cards via plugin and a 2€ adapter.
Sorry that I don't recommend a controller, but I'm a fan of dedicated hardware, a cell phone with controller wouldn't give me the same feeling of value as a "real" game console.
Attached 2 screenshots of my vita, on which I play the PC port of GTA3 at the moment and which also has some classics (Half Life, Diablo, Doom, Quake I / II, Wolfenstein3D ... ) installed. And that's not the end, there are regularly new projects from the community.

VJ1N4R9.png


lJY9LTQ.png

Just some days ago, Rinnegatamante (one of the main Vita homebrew suppliers) released "flycast-vita" - a Dreamcast emulator - which is more like a PoC, but this in insane.
Also, TheFlow is working on a port of GTA:SA ... everytime these dudes drop some of their work I feel like a kid again and I have to try it immediately.
Click to expand...
Can you do this with a Vita tv? I had something in it before but it was kind of disappointing and finding software was tough too.

I'm not well versed in this stuff.

Is there a real reason to put custom firmware on a PS3 or pstv? Both are on the latest firmware. It would need to be a fairly simple process as I'm not overly familiar with the scene. It wouldn't be going online in either case
 
Last edited:
Spukc said:
i have this one.. it's sheit. i like ETA prime's channel.. but he is DEAD wrong on this one.
Click to expand...
I think it may be hit or miss with these. I got me and my brother one of these and we have had no problems so far. I noticed that despite them looking the same, they may be completely different in functionality. So basically if you get the right one its great. Also depends on your phone too.
 
Kupfer said:
Bingo!
I own a few ps vitas myself, 2 of them are modded and there are numerous emulators running on them. Apart from the fact that Sony has buried the ,IMO, best handheld, the modding community keeps the device alive.
Apart from some really good exclusives (Gravity Rush, Uncharted:GA, Tear Away ... ) and official ports (GoW Collection, Metal Gear Solid HD ... ), there are plenty of emulators and ports that benefit from the handheld factor of the console. You also have to remember that in the Vita is a full-fledged PSP, which can be launched in the (modded) Vita dashboard.
You can get a Vita here (Central Europe) for about 100€ (~120$) and that's all you really need. You can replace the expensive memory cards with micro sd cards via plugin and a 2€ adapter.
Sorry that I don't recommend a controller, but I'm a fan of dedicated hardware, a cell phone with controller wouldn't give me the same feeling of value as a "real" game console.
Attached 2 screenshots of my vita, on which I play the PC port of GTA3 at the moment and which also has some classics (Half Life, Diablo, Doom, Quake I / II, Wolfenstein3D ... ) installed. And that's not the end, there are regularly new projects from the community.

VJ1N4R9.png


lJY9LTQ.png

Just some days ago, Rinnegatamante (one of the main Vita homebrew suppliers) released "flycast-vita" - a Dreamcast emulator - which is more like a PoC, but this in insane.
Also, TheFlow is working on a port of GTA:SA ... everytime these dudes drop some of their work I feel like a kid again and I have to try it immediately.
Click to expand...
A Vita is absolutely what my heart wants me to get, but my main concern is the (supposedly) poor or nonexistent DS emulation. Is that still the case, or can Vita now emulate DS at the level of the RG351P?
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
A Vita is absolutely what my heart wants me to get, but my main concern is the (supposedly) poor or nonexistent DS emulation. Is that still the case, or can Vita now emulate DS at the level of the RG351P?
Click to expand...

One question.

How powerful is the Vita for emulation when compared to something like the RG351P?
 
MasterCornholio said:
One question.

How powerful is the Vita for emulation when compared to something like the RG351P?
Click to expand...
I'm not expert and I've only been researching this question for the last two days, but from what I've understood the RG351P can emulate DS acceptably whereas the Vita can't. I'm not sure if that's because of a spec difference or simply because the Vita emulator hasn't been worked on as much. The main advantage of the Vita is that you can play PSP games natively, but it seems like the RG351P has a serviceable PSP emulator. Someone can hopefully correct me if I'm wrong, since as I mentioned I'd really like to buy a Vita - but it just doesn't seem like it's the best choice.
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
I'm not expert and I've only been researching this question for the last two days, but from what I've understood the RG351P can emulate DS acceptably whereas the Vita can't. I'm not sure if that's because of a spec difference or simply because the Vita emulator hasn't been worked on as much. The main advantage of the Vita is that you can play PSP games natively, but it seems like the RG351P has a serviceable PSP emulator. Someone can hopefully correct me if I'm wrong, since as I mentioned I'd really like to buy a Vita - but it just doesn't seem like it's the best choice.
Click to expand...

From what I understand with PSP emulation on the RG351P you get the best results with either ArkOS or 351Elec. The stock operating system does work for PSP but you get much better results from the other two pieces of software. I also read that Batonera is also good.

However the PSP game performance is pretty bad in games like God of War. They say you can make it playable by using a framerate mod but that really ruins the audio.
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
Looks like work from home is drawing to a close, so I'll be commuting by train again. I was considering getting a Vita or a 2DS XL to use as an emulation machine, but I figured it'd be a lot more cost effective to just get some sort of controller for my phone.

I'm looking for something that is portable enough for me to slide in and out of a suit jacket pocket. A Vita or Switch style form factor where the phone fits in the middle seems ideal, but I'm open to other suggestions. Something that will let me output audio to headphones via USB-C would be ideal as well.
Click to expand...
Please get a Vita or new3DS (the smaller one). I've tried making my phone as an emulation machine using these "controller" and it's just not worth the compromises.

Battery and heat (phone)
Lag
Weight (some of them with controller when attached)
Price (for the good ones)
Buttons and sticks quality

Those china ripoff are kind of hit and miss too, at the end you're just gambling for what that sticks. I've stopped dabbling on them after a couple of buys. Then again
buying Vita/3DS means you can also access their respected exclusive titles (Vita, 3DS and DS catalog).
I've also tried playing DS games on the phone and it's just satisfactory at best, miserable most of the time. DS/3DS games are not meant to be played on single screens, period.

iHaunter said:
Has anyone found something that works for Genshin Impact?
Click to expand...
Tried using Ipega once where they could simulate touch controls mapped to their controller buttons, they have a dedicated app for that with presets on other popular games too. It's okay for the most part, it's just that their buttons sucks with what I'm using.
 
Last edited:
MagnesG said:
Those china ripoff are kind of hit and miss too, at the end you're just gambling for what that sticks. I've stopped dabbling on them after a couple of buys. Then again
buying Vita/3DS means you can also access their respected exclusive titles (Vita, 3DS and DS catalog).
I've also tried playing DS games on the phone and it's just satisfactory at best, miserable most of the time. DS/3DS games are not meant to be played on single screens, period.
Click to expand...
How is PS1 emulation on the New 3DS/2DS XL? That's the one thing that's stopping me from getting one. I'm fine with no PSP emulation, but giving up PS1 emulation is a bridge too far.
 
Imru' al-Qays said:
How is PS1 emulation on the New 3DS/2DS XL? That's the one thing that's stopping me from getting one. I'm fine with no PSP emulation, but giving up PS1 emulation is a bridge too far.
Click to expand...
You need a Vita for that, perfect ps1 emulation as far as I'm concerned. I'm tripping right now but it's better to get Vita and New3ds to cover all the bases rather than getting something else.

Yes, I've come to the conclusion that you just need to get both. Lol.
 
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Another vote for Razer Kishi. Played some Final Fantasy VI on my phone for a few hours today, absolutely cracking controller.
 
Dunno man... I don't usually play games on my phone but since i have an XBOX One controller i though, hey, that thing has bluetooth so i might as well try play some Sonic with it. And the input lag was MASSIVE. Like, at least 8-9 frames of lag. To the point where the game is just barely playable (unplayable for my standards). Of course, touch controls are not even that. So what's the 3rd option?

I wonder, people who game on smarphones really put up with this shit?
 
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