In many ways, the iControlPad is the smartphone gamepad that started it all. It was conceived back in 2008 by a group of console emulator enthusiasts who’d gained notoriety in the scene surrounding the GP32 (one of the first open gaming handhelds), but the actual device wasn’t released until early 2011. Like the Pandora – which was also being made by members of the iControlPad group – the difficulty of bringing a product to market without Kickstarter meant a very slow development cycle.

At $69.99, the iControlPad is a bit pricey compared to the other options out there. The device consists of two parts: the gamepad itself, and the retention bracket. For its part, the gamepad is well made – it feels very solid, and the matte plastic and rubber grips make the iControlPad comfortable to hold. Both the directional pad and the buttons on the unit’s face feel very similar to those of early Game Boy handhelds, no surprise given the the iControlPad team’s dedication to console emulation.

Like the PSP and the 3DS, the iControlPad uses analog sliders that glide horizontally over the gamepad’s surface rather that tilting like true analog sticks. They work well and perform far better than the one included on the original PSP, but they aren’t as smooth as the one on Nintendo’s 3DS XL. Their low profile keeps the iControlPad slim and pocketable, which is understandably important for a smartphone gamepad. The back features two triggers, each with a small depression that helps balance the whole ensemble when a phone is attached to the top. These generally work well, but their position in the center of the unit takes a moment to get used to.

The whole assembly is very sturdy once you’ve gotten everything just right

Of all the gamepads we tried, the iControlPad’s retention bracket offered the most awkward and unattractive way to attach a controller to a phone. The company used to offer rubber guards that wrapped around 3.5-inch iPhones, but those have been sold out for some time. Instead, the iControlPad is sold with a metal "L" bracket, double-sided tape, and a handful of plastic rivets that hold the whole thing together. You’ve got to find the hole in the bracket that corresponds to the width of your phone, then push a rivet through the bracket and into the iControlPad, then depress the little plastic pin in the center of the rivet to make the bond (semi)permanent. Still with us? It’s just as awkward in practice as it sounds, but we have to admit – the whole assembly is very sturdy once you’ve gotten everything just right.

The iControlPad is compatible with both Android and iOS, and can be charged and updated via its Mini USB port. While it’s expensive and crude in some ways, its attention to detail and superb buttons make it worth considering. Coming soon is the iControlPad2, which will have a better clip design and a smaller footprint when it’s officially released.

Compatibility: iOS and Android

6.8/10