• 3 min read
8BitDo FlipPad makes phone gaming actually pocketable
8BitDo’s $29.99 FlipPad is a tiny USB-C controller for vertical phone games, with preorders open now ahead of a July 30th release.
Image: The Verge
At $29.99, 8BitDo’s FlipPad is a compact, USB-C-connected controller built to turn a smartphone into a Game Boy-style handheld without adding much bulk. After both 8BitDo and GameSir showed off tiny gamepads at CES 2026, The Verge says the longer wait for the FlipPad appears justified: it’s thinner, lighter, smaller, and cheaper than GameSir’s $34.99 Pocket Taco, even if it won’t suit every player.
The FlipPad skips Bluetooth entirely and plugs straight into a phone’s USB-C port, which means there’s no rechargeable battery to manage and no re-pairing when switching between devices. Its hinged connector also lets the controls fold down, so you can still access the touchscreen to unlock your phone or move between apps without disconnecting it.
The Verge notes that the underside has a thin rubbery layer to reduce scratches and add grip, but the controller is held in place only by the USB-C connector, so it can wiggle by about a quarter of an inch during play.
That fixed connector also limits compatibility with thicker cases. The Verge had no trouble with OnePlus and Google Pixel phones in thin silicone cases, but an iPhone 16 Pro inside one of Nomad’s thicker folio-style cases would not connect.
8BitDo FlipPad buttons and game support
The hardware looks premium, in line with 8BitDo’s more expensive controllers, but the controls feel different. The company told The Verge that the D-pad and ABXY buttons use silicone membranes, though they feel stiffer, clickier, and have less travel than on its other controllers.
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The bigger compromise is the shoulder-button layout. Instead of sitting on the top edge, the FlipPad’s two pairs of shoulder buttons are arranged as four round buttons across the upper front, a position The Verge found awkward for index-finger use.
The FlipPad only works well with vertical games, and because it covers nearly half the screen, some titles may need their display repositioned. The Verge tested it with Game Boy, GBA, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis games through the Delta and RetroArch emulators on iPhone. In Delta, centered games were partly obscured, but enabling touch controls and using a skin that moved the game higher on the display fixed the issue.
Preorders are live through 8BitDo’s online store and Amazon, with release set for July 30th. Buyers can choose black or a version inspired by the original Game Boy’s colors.
Compared with the Pocket Taco, the FlipPad wins on portability. But The Verge says GameSir’s controller still has clear advantages: larger, softer buttons, more naturally placed shoulder buttons on the back, a more secure clamping mechanism, support for thick cases, and a rechargeable battery that means it won’t drain your phone while playing. It can also work as a standalone wireless controller for other devices, including the Switch.
For casual players focused on classic handheld games, the FlipPad looks like the more convenient option. For an extra $5, The Verge says the Pocket Taco still makes a strong case for itself.
Culture Editor
Maya explores gaming, streaming, and the internet as a place where people actually live. From deep-dives into creator economies to the anthropology of digital communities, she tracks platform drama and cultural shifts so you don't have to. She believes the best tech stories are fundamentally about human behavior.
via The Verge
