At the moment I use an 8bitdo Bluetooth controller for those tasks (and TG-16) and I find it great with my iPad but not great with my iPhone: I need to snag myself a tripod again, perhaps… or this controller. Looking forward to your update(s)!
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iPad mini USB-C game controller for iPad mini 6
- Thread starter Barsal
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You can also consider this.
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Whoops, didn’t realise it had already been recommended above.
GameSir G8+ iPad mini and iPhone Controller Walkthrough
The new iPad mini is the first model with Wi-Fi 6E support, which makes it the best mini for game streaming yet. Of course, it’s a great size for playing App Store and Apple Arcade games too. Last weekend, I did an in-depth review of the GameSir G8+ for Club MacStories Weekly, which included an
www.macstories.net
Whoops, didn’t realise it had already been recommended above.
Appleinsider has a good review of the Abxylute S9 controller today. It looks like this is the one to beat for a wired iPad Mini controller under $100.
I tried the Galileo G8 modded to open up wider for the iPad Mini, it's not ideal. It's physically awkward to get on/off the iPad without feeling like I'm going to break something. It works but I don't love it. Also, the headphone jack worked initially, but didn't work after modding. Really weird and disappointing, have to use bluetooth headphones now. The wider G8+ bluetooth model looks good if you want a bluetooth controller.
Abxylute S9 doesn't have a headphone jack either, so it's a draw there. I don't have a USB-C iPhone yet, but on the original Backbone I have yet to find a phone case that works with its lightning port, so the deeper USB-C port on the Abxylute should be helpful for phones with cases on.
EDIT: slu9 confirms Abxylute S9 does have a headphone jack, fantastic! Sounds like the perfect low-latency controller then.
I tried the Galileo G8 modded to open up wider for the iPad Mini, it's not ideal. It's physically awkward to get on/off the iPad without feeling like I'm going to break something. It works but I don't love it. Also, the headphone jack worked initially, but didn't work after modding. Really weird and disappointing, have to use bluetooth headphones now. The wider G8+ bluetooth model looks good if you want a bluetooth controller.
EDIT: slu9 confirms Abxylute S9 does have a headphone jack, fantastic! Sounds like the perfect low-latency controller then.
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Just for the record the S9 actually does have a headphone jack, it's on my unit from the campaign and you can see it on the bottom of the right grip in the review photos. I haven't even tried it though, I'll come back and edit this if I do.
New GameSir X5 Lite controller looks like a great budget option, I think I’m going to pick one up.
FINALLY a GameSir USB-C controller that opens wide enough for an iPad Mini, no modding required! And only $35! Hall effect joysticks, but no headphone jack. Triggers are not hall effect unlike nicer GameSir models.
Available from GameSir as well as Best Buy and all the other usual sources.
https://gamesir.com/products/gamesir-x5-lite
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I picked up the GameSir X5 Lite from Best Buy this week, first impression: it's a bit of a mixed bag.
To start, the iPad doesn't even recognize it out of the box. It took a while to realize it ships in "Android mode", and tiny print in the manual reveals it has to be changed to "Switch mode" to work on iOS. Hold down "select" and "start" buttons for 5 seconds, GameSir logo button goes from blue to red, and then the iPad will see it.
The good part of the X5 Lite is the device fit, it feels like the exterior design is a perfect match for the iPad Mini 6. It wraps around the iPad easily, and it avoids smashing any of the iPad's buttons when it's clamped on. Unlike their Galileo G8 (modded) which is way more precarious to get on or off, and it hits the iPad's volume button when clamped on, needing additional modding of the clamp pads to work around it.
What's disappointing are the X5 Lite's controls. The Galileo G8's buttons and grips are close to a full size console controller and are comfortable to use for a while. But the X5 Lite's buttons and grips are much smaller and closer together. Compared to the similar sized Backbone One controller (I have lightning 1st gen) the X5's controls are about the same size, but on the X5 they are a little closer together than Backbone's. It feels cramped.
The Backbone's grips are taller and flatter than the X5, but the X5 is thicker and bulbs out more in back. The Backbone and the G8 rest more naturally in my palms, but the X5 doesn't find a natural place to sit. I haven't figured out a very comfortable way to hold it.
The other problem with the controls - in Switch mode on iPad, there is no "home" button. (Like the PS or Xbox buttons on those consoles, or the Switch's home button.) None of the X5 Lite's buttons will bring up the Apple Game Center menu for example, and I don't see any way in iPadOS Game Controller settings to remap anything to that function.
Same story in the PS Remote Play app, on the Galileo G8 the GameSir button acts as the PS button. But on the X5 the GameSir button does nothing. The only way to bring up the PS button's menu is to tap the on-screen PS button icon. (At least the X5 works in PS Remote Play at all.)
Playing a game in the Delta emulator, likewise there isn't an extra "Menu" button on the X5 Lite that will open up the Delta menu rather than the emulated game's menus. But at least in Delta if there is a button that's not used for a particular console, you can remap it to the Menu button.
That last Menu button flaw feels like it could be fixed in firmware, if GameSir cared to... a big "if." Of course the GameSir iPad app doesn't recognize the X5 Lite controller, or list it as a supported model, so a hypothetical firmware update might have to be done on another device.
The poor ergonomics and the lack of Menu button might be forgivable since the price is less than half of the Galileo G8 or Backbone One. But at least now you'll be warned. Not sure yet if I'll be taking mine back to Best Buy.
Looks like that Abxylute S9 is probably still the best option under $100. $66 right now on Amazon or $69 direct.
(EDIT: I decided to return the uncomfortable X5 Lite and order the Abxylute S9 instead. If it works out then I'll probably sell the Galileo G8 too.)
To start, the iPad doesn't even recognize it out of the box. It took a while to realize it ships in "Android mode", and tiny print in the manual reveals it has to be changed to "Switch mode" to work on iOS. Hold down "select" and "start" buttons for 5 seconds, GameSir logo button goes from blue to red, and then the iPad will see it.
The good part of the X5 Lite is the device fit, it feels like the exterior design is a perfect match for the iPad Mini 6. It wraps around the iPad easily, and it avoids smashing any of the iPad's buttons when it's clamped on. Unlike their Galileo G8 (modded) which is way more precarious to get on or off, and it hits the iPad's volume button when clamped on, needing additional modding of the clamp pads to work around it.
What's disappointing are the X5 Lite's controls. The Galileo G8's buttons and grips are close to a full size console controller and are comfortable to use for a while. But the X5 Lite's buttons and grips are much smaller and closer together. Compared to the similar sized Backbone One controller (I have lightning 1st gen) the X5's controls are about the same size, but on the X5 they are a little closer together than Backbone's. It feels cramped.
The Backbone's grips are taller and flatter than the X5, but the X5 is thicker and bulbs out more in back. The Backbone and the G8 rest more naturally in my palms, but the X5 doesn't find a natural place to sit. I haven't figured out a very comfortable way to hold it.
The other problem with the controls - in Switch mode on iPad, there is no "home" button. (Like the PS or Xbox buttons on those consoles, or the Switch's home button.) None of the X5 Lite's buttons will bring up the Apple Game Center menu for example, and I don't see any way in iPadOS Game Controller settings to remap anything to that function.
Same story in the PS Remote Play app, on the Galileo G8 the GameSir button acts as the PS button. But on the X5 the GameSir button does nothing. The only way to bring up the PS button's menu is to tap the on-screen PS button icon. (At least the X5 works in PS Remote Play at all.)
Playing a game in the Delta emulator, likewise there isn't an extra "Menu" button on the X5 Lite that will open up the Delta menu rather than the emulated game's menus. But at least in Delta if there is a button that's not used for a particular console, you can remap it to the Menu button.
That last Menu button flaw feels like it could be fixed in firmware, if GameSir cared to... a big "if." Of course the GameSir iPad app doesn't recognize the X5 Lite controller, or list it as a supported model, so a hypothetical firmware update might have to be done on another device.
The poor ergonomics and the lack of Menu button might be forgivable since the price is less than half of the Galileo G8 or Backbone One. But at least now you'll be warned. Not sure yet if I'll be taking mine back to Best Buy.
Looks like that Abxylute S9 is probably still the best option under $100. $66 right now on Amazon or $69 direct.
(EDIT: I decided to return the uncomfortable X5 Lite and order the Abxylute S9 instead. If it works out then I'll probably sell the Galileo G8 too.)
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The Abxylute S9 is AWESOME for iPad mini, I highly recommend it!
It works out of the box on iPad mini, detected as a PS5 DualSense controller. It works perfectly with PS Remote Play app, and I am astounded it even has a physical button which acts like a “touchpad click” on a PS4/5 controller! I have never seen this feature on any other mobile controller before — I don’t think the PS Portal even has that physical button! The touchpad click is used in many PS games, and previously I had to take my hands off the controls and tap the middle of the iPad screen to act as a touchpad click on PS Remote Play games, this is so much better. It’s the button marked with a square that’s just underneath the D-Pad.
The headphone jack works on iPad / iOS in Playstation mode too, including the mic on TRRS iPhone style headsets. Love it. Inline volume control buttons on Apple EarPods headphones are not detected though.
The “home” button works as it should, opening iOS Game Center or acting like the PS button during remote play. Unlike that crappy GameSir X5 Lite. This is good news since the next iOS is supposed to launch an all new Games app launcher to replace the current Game Center, I imagine that Home button will launch it.
The ABXY Game app is miles ahead of GameSir’s app on iOS - meaning it actually functions correctly on iPad with this controller. What a concept! You can upgrade the controller firmware, remap the buttons, tweak various settings, and it also works as a game launcher.
If you want to use it detached from the iPad, you can use a USB-C extension cable, although it might be a little wiggly. Probably not ideal for heavy use that way. Or you can attach a phone-sized USB-C power bank where the iPad would go, to power the controller, and use it in bluetooth mode.
Physically it needs the use of included spacer pads to fit the iPad Mini properly. It comes with 3 thin and 3 thick self-adhesive pads, and 3 pre-cut holes on the clamps where the pads can be mounted. For an iPad mini 6 without a case, I used 1 thin pad on the left and 2 thick pads on the right USB port side. Without the left side pad it just barely catches the edge of the volume button, and without the right side pads the USB jack would bear all the load.
The other thing about fit, a bare iPad mini feels thin in this, it can take thicker devices and cases. So there is some gap on the backside. Maybe some extra pads could snug that up, with a case on the iPad I’m sure it would fit great. Actually I just tried it with the Apple folio case (front side folded back, double-thick) and it’s a very snug fit that way.
Mounting the iPad Mini is very smooth and simple, so much easier than on a modded GameSir. It fits well in my hands, feels like a normal console controller, not cramped like that X5 Lite. I’m not highly opinionated about controller buttons, they seem good to me. What else… it has rumble! And it rumbles on PS Remote Play. I ordered mine from Abxylute’s website and it came in about 4 days, shipped from Los Angeles.
I finally feel like the Abxylute S9 is THE controller to get for iPad Mini. Even the matte black color with purple accents is very cool. The modding days are OVER. Good riddance!
It works out of the box on iPad mini, detected as a PS5 DualSense controller. It works perfectly with PS Remote Play app, and I am astounded it even has a physical button which acts like a “touchpad click” on a PS4/5 controller! I have never seen this feature on any other mobile controller before — I don’t think the PS Portal even has that physical button! The touchpad click is used in many PS games, and previously I had to take my hands off the controls and tap the middle of the iPad screen to act as a touchpad click on PS Remote Play games, this is so much better. It’s the button marked with a square that’s just underneath the D-Pad.
The headphone jack works on iPad / iOS in Playstation mode too, including the mic on TRRS iPhone style headsets. Love it. Inline volume control buttons on Apple EarPods headphones are not detected though.
The “home” button works as it should, opening iOS Game Center or acting like the PS button during remote play. Unlike that crappy GameSir X5 Lite. This is good news since the next iOS is supposed to launch an all new Games app launcher to replace the current Game Center, I imagine that Home button will launch it.
The ABXY Game app is miles ahead of GameSir’s app on iOS - meaning it actually functions correctly on iPad with this controller. What a concept! You can upgrade the controller firmware, remap the buttons, tweak various settings, and it also works as a game launcher.
If you want to use it detached from the iPad, you can use a USB-C extension cable, although it might be a little wiggly. Probably not ideal for heavy use that way. Or you can attach a phone-sized USB-C power bank where the iPad would go, to power the controller, and use it in bluetooth mode.
Physically it needs the use of included spacer pads to fit the iPad Mini properly. It comes with 3 thin and 3 thick self-adhesive pads, and 3 pre-cut holes on the clamps where the pads can be mounted. For an iPad mini 6 without a case, I used 1 thin pad on the left and 2 thick pads on the right USB port side. Without the left side pad it just barely catches the edge of the volume button, and without the right side pads the USB jack would bear all the load.
The other thing about fit, a bare iPad mini feels thin in this, it can take thicker devices and cases. So there is some gap on the backside. Maybe some extra pads could snug that up, with a case on the iPad I’m sure it would fit great. Actually I just tried it with the Apple folio case (front side folded back, double-thick) and it’s a very snug fit that way.
Mounting the iPad Mini is very smooth and simple, so much easier than on a modded GameSir. It fits well in my hands, feels like a normal console controller, not cramped like that X5 Lite. I’m not highly opinionated about controller buttons, they seem good to me. What else… it has rumble! And it rumbles on PS Remote Play. I ordered mine from Abxylute’s website and it came in about 4 days, shipped from Los Angeles.
I finally feel like the Abxylute S9 is THE controller to get for iPad Mini. Even the matte black color with purple accents is very cool. The modding days are OVER. Good riddance!
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