The FlipPad from 8BitDo is the most convenient way to turn your phone into a Game Boy

both of them 8bitdo and GameSir announced Mini gamepads designed to turn smartphones into handheld devices inspired by the Game Boy debuted at CES 2026. GameSir has released Pocket Taco Months ago, but waiting longer 8BitDo’s FlipPad It was worth it. While the Pocket Taco may be a better fit for some gamers and devices, the FlipPad is a thinner, lighter, cheaper and more compact alternative that’s easier to keep on hand for casual gaming on your phone without having to rely on the emulator’s touchscreen controls.

The FlipPad is one of 8BitDo’s smallest gamepads yet, but instead of using Bluetooth, it connects directly to your smartphone and communicates with it using the USB-C charging port. This approach eliminates the need for a rechargeable battery, making the FlipPad thin enough to leave connected to your phone when you put it in your pocket.

The bottom of the FlipPad is covered in a thin rubber layer to prevent scratches when it comes into contact with your phone’s screen and to add some grip and stability. However, since the gamepad is only secured to your phone with a USB-C connector, it tends to wiggle back and forth by about a quarter of an inch while gaming.

The gamepad’s USB-C connector isn’t adjustable or extendable, and while I had no trouble connecting it to OnePlus and Google Pixel phones protected by thin silicone cases, it was prohibitive for my iPhone 16 Pro while inside one. Nomad’s thicker leaf-style cases.

I don’t like having to charge the FlipPad or dig through the Bluetooth settings to re-pair it when moving the gamepad between multiple phones, and its USB-C connector is hinged so that the controls can be flipped out of the way when connected to your device, giving you full access to your smartphone’s touchscreen. You don’t need to detach your FlipPad to open your device or navigate between apps.

8BitDo has long been known for its excellent hardware, and the FlipPad looks as premium as the console’s most expensive controllers, with engraved button markings on most of the buttons themselves. However, while 8BitDo confirmed that the FlipPad’s D-pad and ABXY buttons use silicone membranes, they are stiffer and have a clickier feel than you’ll get with the company’s other controllers.

The buttons are still responsive but have much less movement. It’s not necessarily bad, just different. What may be most divisive among gamers is the FlipPad’s two pairs of shoulder buttons that aren’t located on its top edge. You’ll instead find them arrayed along the top of the front of the gamepad as a single row of four round buttons. It seems like a workaround to help keep the gamepad thin, but it’s not a good idea. Using your index fingers to press the FlipPad’s shoulder buttons while your thumb handles the rest feels weird and unnatural.

You’ll also need to keep in mind the console’s limitations. You can only use it with games you play vertically and it won’t get blocked while the controls cover almost half of your phone’s screen. I tested 8BitDo’s FlipPad with Game Boy, GBA, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis games using the Delta and RetroArch emulators on my iPhone. Delta centers games vertically when using a controller and is partially obscured by the FlipPad, but can be easily fixed by operating the touch controls and using a theme that brings the game closer to the top of the screen.

Pre-orders for the FlipPad are available now through the 8BitDo online store and Amazon, with the gamepad expected to be released on July 30. It’s available for $29.99 in black or a version inspired by the original Game Boy colors.

Priced a little cheaper than $34.99 Pocket TacoThe FlipPad may seem like the obvious better choice, but there are some things the Pocket Taco does better. Although I prefer the FlipPad’s slim design, I’m also a casual gamer who doesn’t chase high scores and sticks to classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. Others may prefer the larger D-pad and buttons on the Pocket Taco, which have a soft, squishy feel, or the shoulder buttons, which are placed on the back of your phone where your index fingers can reach them more comfortably.

The Pocket Taco’s design makes it larger and heavier than the FlipPad, but its clamping mechanism feels more secure when attached to your phone, and it opens wide enough to accommodate devices inside the thick case. The Pocket Taco’s rechargeable battery also means it won’t drain your phone’s battery while gaming, and it can act as a standalone wireless controller for countless devices, including the Switch. As much as I love the FlipPad, for $5 more, the Pocket Taco still makes a strong case for itself.

Photography by Andrew Leszewski/The Verge