Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
Ever since I adopted the dogma of Android gaming handhelds, my smartphone has been mostly free of games. I still keep a few touch-oriented titles around, but anything that needs a controller has migrated to dedicated handhelds of various shapes and sizes. Recently, though, a new category of smartphone controllers has proven surprisingly attractive — literally. These new magnetic controllers stick to the back of your phone, and the Abxylute M4 is small enough that I actually want to carry it with me. It’s so compact compared to telescopic controllers that, for the first time in years, I’ve started gaming on my phone again. Will it replace a dedicated handheld? Not a chance. But it’s perfect for a microdose of retro gaming during short breaks when I’d normally be mindlessly doomscrolling through social media.
Magnets make everything better
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
At first glance, the Abxylute M4 looks more like a headphone case than a Bluetooth controller. It’s super compact and fits in the palm of my hand, but somehow manages to cram in a full set of controls. There are four shoulder buttons, which is great for emulation hotkeys, as well as two Nintendo 3DS-style slider sticks.
The big innovation, like many recent smartphone accessories, is magnets. There’s a large magnetic ring that attaches to any MagSafe-compatible phone or case, keeping the controller securely in place. When you’re ready to game, you just swing it around, slide the controller down, and enjoy some widescreen gaming.
The Abxylute M4 has full-size controls in a tiny form factor.
Or at least, that’s the idea. There are a few extra steps, like connecting the device via Bluetooth, which has different modes for Nintendo Switch/smartphones, PS Remote Play, and HID. You switch between each mode using a combination of button presses.
The sliding mechanism also isn’t as smooth as those found in devices like the PSP Go or the ANBERNIC RG Slide. It’s essentially just two different snapping points for the magnets to attach to. The prototype unit I tested worked well enough, though, and Abxylute has already improved the design for the final run.
In addition to those two snapping points, you can also remove the controller from the ring entirely and use it in wireless mode. The magnetic ring then serves as a kickstand, which I found to be much more comfortable to play with when sitting at a desk or table. It doesn’t work when gaming on a bus or in a dentist’s waiting room, but it’s a nice extra feature.
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