Nacon, now each a video games writer and peripheral maker, has been making gamepads for consoles for some time. It was one of many firms that Sony selected to make its wired ‘professional” PS4 controllers earlier than Sony introduced its personal ‘professional’ controller for the PS5.
Not that it stopped Nacon. It has launched two cell controllers, together with, most not too long ago, an iPhone-compatible mannequin that lands in the midst of smartphone gamepad pricing. It’s cheaper than Spine and Razer’s technically spectacular gaming peripherals, and sadly, Nacon made some sacrifices to get to that value.
The MG-X Professional is mild, even with its built-in battery. In comparison with some smartphone controllers, the grips are extra substantial and nearer to typical console gamepads. That is essentially the most comfy smartphone gamepad I’ve ever tried by a large margin. It feels controller-sized, with comparable spacing between the d-pad and analog controls and full-sized set off buttons on the again, making it way more comfy throughout lengthy gaming periods.
Picture by Mat Smith / Engadget
The buttons are responsive however a bit too squishy. I couldn’t discover any latency distinction between wi-fi and wired smartphone controller choices when enjoying by means of a number of Apple Arcade titles, Into The Breach, and a few Overwatch 2 streamed on PS Distant Play. The buttons don’t wobble round of their housing, however the d-pad feels a bit doughy and unfastened. The 2 analog sticks are made from sturdier stuff, luckily.
Between the 2 controller halves, the vice a part of MG-X Professional has a ridged rubberized floor to maintain your iPhone locked in, with a bit lip on each side to maintain every thing in place. The vice works on each iPhone I’ve, from the Mini to the Max fashions. And, in contrast to another vice controllers, even with a protecting case, my iPhone 14 Professional matches in effective.
It’s straightforward to whereas away the hours with the MG-X Professional – till your cellphone battery runs out. Not like costlier choices just like the Spine, it is a wi-fi mannequin. There’s no lighting cable plug to attach your iPhone into) which suggests there’s no energy throughput.
This drawback is compounded once you’re utilizing cloud gaming companies, like Xbox Cloud and PS Distant Play, which want lots of energy to stream video games. If you wish to play for prolonged durations, you’ll must be ready to take equally prolonged breaks. Different shortcomings embrace a companion app that doesn’t supply sufficient to warrant its obtain. There’s the power to calibrate the 2 analog sticks – which makes me fear that they might drift sooner or later – and walkthroughs of what the MG-X Professional is able to. That’s not all that a lot.
Picture by Mat Smith / Engadget
The MG-X Professional is essentially the most comfy smartphone gamepad I’ve ever used. Nonetheless, the power to supply comfy gaming over time is restricted by its incapability to maintain your smartphone powered up. For more cash, you can go for the Spine or the Razer Kishi, which supply pass-through charging. Or, a bit extra inelegantly, you can swap the vice-style controller for a extra comfy Bluetooth controller (I price the 8bitdo controllers) and hold your cellphone propped up, however plugged in.
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