I've often thought about buying a mobile game controller to play emulated retro games on the go on my iPhone 17 Pro, but I've never actually picked one up because they're often bulky and cumbersome. For this type of gamepad to make sense, I need to be able to comfortably slide it in my pocket or the small bag that I often have on me.

This is why gaming accessory maker 8BitDo's FlipPad controller caught my attention at CES 2026. The ultra-thin gamepad slots into your iPhone or Android phone's USB-C port, swivels up and attaches magnetically while covering the bottom part of your phone's display.

The controller features almost everything you'd expect from a video game controller, including a d-pad, four face buttons, select, start, and six additional buttons that are likely programmable in some way. Unfortunately, there aren't any thumbsticks, and while that ensures the FlipPad is small and easy to tuck away, it's still disappointing, given it limits what games are worth playing with the controller. I'd likely stick to old school games from the 8-bit and 16-bit era before 3D gaming and joysticks became far more common.

While I didn't get the chance to try the FlipPad at CES 2026, I briefly saw it behind glass at the 8BitDo booth on the show floor, and I also watched someone else use it for a few minutes. I was surprised at how securely the gamepad attaches to your phone as well as the firmness of its buttons.

8Bitdo says the FlipPad will release in "summer 2026." It's unclear how much the tiny controller will cost.