GoKawiilis a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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Both 8BitDo and GameSir announced tiny gamepads designed to turn smartphones into Game Boy-inspired handhelds at CES 2026. GameSir released its Pocket Taco months ago, but the longer wait for 8BitDo’s FlipPad has been well worth it. While the Pocket Taco may be a better fit for some players and devices, the FlipPad is a thinner, lighter, cheaper, and smaller alternative that’s easier to keep on hand for occasional gaming on your phone without having to rely on an emulator’s touchscreen controls.
The FlipPad is one of 8BitDo’s smallest gamepads to date, but instead of using Bluetooth, it directly connects to and communicates with your smartphone using its USB-C charging port. That approach eliminates the need for a rechargeable battery, making the FlipPad thin enough to leave attached to your phone when slipped into your pocket.
The FlipPad is a big upgrade over an emulator’s touchscreen controls.
The underside of the FlipPad is covered in a thin rubbery layer to prevent scratches where it makes contact with your phone’s screen and to add some grip and stability. However, because the gamepad is only secured to your phone using its USB-C connector, it does tend to wiggle back and forth by about a quarter of an inch while you’re playing.
The gamepad’s USB-C connector isn’t adjustable or extendable, and while I had no problem connecting it to OnePlus and Google Pixel phones protected by thin silicone cases, it was a no-go for my iPhone 16 Pro while it was inside one of Nomad’s thicker folio-style cases.
The FlipPad’s USB-C connector isn’t extendable and may not be able to connect to some phones while they’re inside thicker cases. The USB-C connector is hinged, allowing the FlipPad’s controls to be flipped down to give you full access to your phone’s touchscreen.
I like not having to charge the FlipPad or dig into Bluetooth settings to re-pair it when moving the gamepad between multiple phones, and its USB-C connector is hinged so when connected to your device the controls can be flipped out of the way, giving you complete access to your smartphone’s touchscreen. You don’t need to disconnect the FlipPad to unlock your device or jump between apps.
8BitDo has long been known for its excellent hardware, and the FlipPad looks and feels as premium as its most expensive console controllers, with button labels etched onto most of the buttons themselves. However, while 8BitDo confirmed that the FlipPad’s D-pad and ABXY buttons use silicone membranes, they’re stiffer and have more of a clicky feel than you’ll get with the company’s other controllers.
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