8BitDo has announced the FlipPad, a USB-C game controller that plugs into the USB-C port of an iPhone (and Android phones). The controller provides a directional pad and face buttons (ABXY), as well as buttons that would usually serve as shoulder buttons on a typical handheld controller.
The FlipPad has a unique design that is reminiscent of Nintendo’s Game Boy. It’s very small and compact, and seemingly meant to be attached for long periods, as the flip function allows you to use the whole phone screen when not in use. However, the design also forces you to play games in portrait mode, unlike most other iPhone gamepads.
When gaming, the FlipPad covers the lower portion of an iPhone display, which pushes the content to the upper part of the display in a much smaller area than it would be if you held the phone in landscape mode. It’s not clear whether games automatically shift or if developers need to specifically support the accessory. We also don’t know if the USB-C connector has enough clearance to work with an iPhone in a case, though 8BitDo says it is “officially supported by Apple.”
8BitDo is showing the FlipPad at the Consumer Electronics Show, which is currently happening in Las Vegas. The company is at booth 15641 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall. The FlipPad will be available this summer.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor, Macworld
Roman is a Macworld Senior Editor with over 30 years of experience covering the tech industry, focusing on the Mac and other products in the Apple ecosystem. He is also the host of the Macworld Podcast. His career started at MacUser, where he received Apple certification as a repair technician (when Apple did that kind of thing). He's also worked for MacAddict, MacLife, and TechTV.