GoKawiilHandheld gaming has transformed in its shape and size in the past couple of years. The days of adding flashing lights to a phone’s back and calling it a gaming phone have been rightfully left behind. They have made way for actually useful gaming features you would want on a portable gaming machine, whether a phone or a Steam Deck–like dedicated device.
OnePlus also wanted to do something like this with its upcoming Ace 6 Ultra smartphone. It has a snap-on controller that aims to give you physical, tactile button-like feedback. While it might seem promising at first glance, I can say — without even touching the phone yet — that the approach feels futile. It’s one step forward and two steps back.
What’s your ideal mobile gaming setup? 17 votes Phone + no accessories 24 % Phone + controller attachment 29 % Phone + regular controller with mount 0 % Dedicated handheld console 47 %
The competition knows what it’s doing
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
We have seen a dedicated handheld gaming hardware boom in the last couple of years, and these devices come with a very clear idea of how they want you to experience gaming on the go. While many mainstream PC brands jumped on the bandwagon, the general design philosophy remains similar: a screen in the middle, flanked by grips with tactile joysticks, paddles, and shoulder buttons, just like a PS5 controller. It didn’t introduce a novel way of gaming, but brought the same experience you were used to on a bigger console in your living room to a portable one. That’s it.
Handheld consoles don't introduce a novel way of gaming, but bring the same experience you were used to on a bigger console to a portable one.
Smartphones, on the other hand, have tried a lot of variations of high-end gaming to deliver a similar console-like experience wherever you go. I feel the most successful and practical approach comes from the controller add-ons available for the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro. It’s a Nintendo-like, two-part controller that attaches to the phone from the sides, offering the full breadth of tactile controls you expect from a real gaming controller. It makes zero compromises to the gaming experience compared to dedicated handheld consoles.
But if carrying these extra attachments feels cumbersome and you prefer the idea of pulling out your phone and instantly gaming, Xiaomi’s POCO F4 GT pulled off a clever solution back in the day. It offers physical shoulder buttons built into the phone itself that pop out when you need them and retract when you’re done. It may not be as ideal as a full-blown controller, but it’s perfect for people sitting between casual and die-hard gaming.
Compared to these, the OnePlus Ace 6 Ultra feels like a confused mess.
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