At a glance
1. Best overall
2. Best budget pick
3. Best compact
4. Best for PlayStation fans
5. Best for Xbox fans
6. Best tabletop stand
How to choose
Foldables are quickly becoming a larger share of the mobile phone market, and the size of their screens makes them excellent for gaming. Though built-in touch controls may be difficult to use depending on the game, what works best is a good mobile controller paired up with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a 6.2-inch screen when folded and a 7.6-inch screen when unfolded. Regardless of how you use it, its full length — whether folded or unfolded — reaches 6.11 inches. That's the important number to consider when trying to find a mobile controller that supports it. It may be a large phone, but there are still several wonderful options out there when looking for a controller to use with it.
Nick has played with VR headsets since the Virtual Boy and knows what's good and what's not. He writes a weekly column called AC thVRsday covering the industry in general and the Quest 3 specifically.
At a glance
Best overall
The MG-X Pro has quickly found itself near the top of almost every mobile controller roundup for a good reason: it sports a near-perfect build with textured grips that mimic traditional console controllers. With a secure spring-loaded fit and a Bluetooth connection, it's almost like it was designed for the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Best for tabletop play
After testing out PowerA's Moga XP7-X Plus, we found it to be an excellent mobile controller with a similar build to the MG-X Pro. Where it differs is that it comes with a small tabletop stand that can be used to prop up the phone, should you prefer to play games that way. If not, its body can still stretch to fit the Z Fold 4 like any other phone.
Best budget option
This isn't a controller, but it's an excellent companion accessory for the Fold 4, especially when gaming. SUPCASE already makes some of the best smartphone accessories in the business and that includes the portable stand. It fits devices ranging from 4 to 13 inches and can adjust up to 270 degrees depending on how you want to view the screen. Considering it's compatible with such a wide range of devices, it's easy to recommend for the Fold 4.
Best compact
The Gamesir X2 removes the traditional controller grip design for one that more closely resembles the Joy-Cons on the Nintendo Switch. The thumbsticks by themselves are a little too small but thankfully, GameSir includes larger ones in the box that pop on top of the existing ones, fixing that problem immediately.
Best for PlayStation fans
If you already have a PS5, then you have one of the best controllers lying around somewhere in your home. Despite being designed for a console, it makes a great mobile controller as well, and it works with any Android system running Android 12 or later. You'll probably want to get a stand for your Galaxy Z Fold 4 while using the DualSense, but it's a small concession.
Best for Xbox fans
For Xbox users out there, it doesn't get better than the Xbox Series X controller. Its concave, eight-directional D-pad works well for platformers, and its textured thumbsticks ensure that you can use it for hours on end without any issues. Like the DualSense, you'll probably want to get a separate phone stand if you choose to use this controller for the Z Fold 4.
Best overall
When it comes to controllers, the most important factors to consider are form and function. That's exactly why it's hard to picture a more perfect controller for the Z Fold 4 than the MG-X Pro controller from Nacon. It's a sleek and stylish blend of the Nintendo Switch's design with a traditional Xbox controller. From spacious placement of the buttons and D-pad to its textured grip, everything about this controller just feels good to use.
The MG-X Pro sports a battery life of up to 20 hours, making it perfect to toss in your bag for work commutes and road trips. The major downside is that in an effort to give the controller a wide range of compatibility, there's no USB connection — you'll have to deal with a wireless Bluetooth 4.2 connection instead.
Best for tabletop play
The PowerA Moga XP7-X Plus stands out amongst other controllers on this list thanks to its integrated power bank; you'll actively be charging your phone as you use the controller. However, you can also manually disable the power bank of this controller with a quick press of a button. If your phone has a good charge level, this will help conserve battery life of the controller's power bank. Even better, an LED indicator shows the current battery life right on the front of the controller.
The textured thumbsticks help make the PowerA Moga XP7-X Plus feel like a proper console controller. There are two extra buttons on the back of the controller that can be remapped at will, which makes it extra handy for jumping between different games, especially if you're streaming from a cloud service. A removable table stand is included that makes it perfect for anyone wanting to do some serious gaming on a steady flat surface.
Best budget option
While the SUPCASE stand isn't a controller itself, it's almost certainly a necessity for anyone wanting to do some gaming on their phone. It offers compatibility for devices ranging from 4-13", making it absolutely perfect for the Z Fold 4. The viewing angle can be adjusted up to 270 degrees to give it a ton of versatility. It's a great budget option as it enables you to use just about any Bluetooth-friendly controller. If you're looking for a dependable, budget-friendly option, here are some of our favorite controllers for Android.
If you're using a Bluetooth wireless controll, you'll need a table stand like this. As an added bonus, this stand will also support tablets, laptops, and even the Nintendo Switch. The carbon fiber aesthetic might not be everyone's cup of tea but it's hard to deny how handy this stand is.
Best compact
Those who would rather replicate a proper Nintendo Switch design when using their phone will love the X2 controller from GameSir. From a visual nod to the iconic red and blue Joy-Cons to its button layout, the X2 really feels like playing the Nintendo Switch on handheld. There's even a dedicated screenshot button!
The X2 has a battery life of up to 20 hours and only takes two hours to charge back to full. The only real downside to the X2 is its lack of vibration and its face buttons. No vibration support can make it tricky to stream games that rely on them, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and the face buttons mimic an Xbox controller rather than a typical Nintendo Switch controller. Given that the overall design is so reminiscent of the Switch, the face buttons are something to be mindful of.
Best for PlayStation fans
You'll be hard pressed to find a controller as iconic than the PlayStation's. One of the reason Sony's controllers are so beloved are how comfortable they are. That's true for the DualSense as well. If you're serious about gaming on your phone, a separate controller like this is what you need. Thankfully, if you have a PS5, you don't even need to worry about buying an extra controller. And it's very easy to pair the DualSense to your phone.
The biggest disadvantage of the DualSense is that you're not going to be able to use it and hold your phone at the same time. You'll absolutely need a table stand or, at the very least, something to prop up your phone on a flat surface.
There's also the issue of its battery life; Sony says it should last 12-15 hours, but it's likely you'll be draining through the battery much quicker than that. While it does support a wired connection on PCs and the PS5 itself, you'll be required to use a wireless Bluetooth connection for any and all Android devices.
Best for Xbox fans
The Xbox Series X Controller has so much for going it. It offers a fantastic textured grip, comfortable button placement, and has a great, tactile eight-directional D-pad. If you're using Xbox Remote Play on your phone to take advantage of the streaming library offered by Xbox Game Pass, then it's only logical to game with a Series X controller. This will give you the most authentic console gaming experience on your phone.
However, the downside to this is that the Series X controller relies on batteries. Unless you have alternative methods, the only way to deal with a dead battery level is by replacing the batteries. This won't be an issue if you already have rechargeable batteries or battery packs but replacing batteries in the middle of a commute isn't exactly ideal. And, like the DualSense, you'll need a table stand to properly use the controller on your phone.
How to choose
Most mobile controllers aren't designed with foldables in mind
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Foldable smartphones are still relatively new to the scene, and while more companies are making them for consumers, accessories aren't always being designed with foldables in mind. Likewise, foldables aren't designed with controllers in mind, and that can make for some awkward use cases with mobile controllers that are technically compatible.
Take the Razer Kishi V2, for instance: Because of its USB-C connection and the fact that the USB-C port on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on the right side, using it would mean that you're essentially playing with the entire bottom half of the phone hanging out of the controller.
I tried this very thing with the Kishi V2 when I reviewed it, as you can see in the photo above, and it's quite comical to try to use. On the flip side, the GameSir X2 USB model works perfectly with the Z Fold 4 because the USB port is on the left side (pictures below).
In fact, you'll find the GameSir X2 is the best Nintendo Switch-like experience as its controllers have a very similar shape to the Switch's Joy-Cons. The positives here are that they are thicker and have a contoured grip — unlike Nintendo's Joy-Cons — and the joysticks are 100% better than the awful ones Nintendo uses on those controllers.
The GameSir X2 doesn't have analog triggers; they're just digital buttons placed on the top. This is great in some cases — when playing games like Fortnite or The Division Resurgence, for instance — as buttons for triggers make it simple to press quickly instead of having to apply pressure to an analog trigger and pull it all the way down.
When it comes to controllers for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, you can't go wrong with the Nacon MG-X Pro or the PowerA Moga XP7-X Plus. We've spent quite a while with both controllers and found them to be some of the best around. They also just so happen to support Bluetooth connections and have a wide enough build to fit the Z Fold 4.
Keep in mind that not all mobile games will feature controller support, but for those that do, it's well worth the money to invest in one. You'll find that plenty of the best Android controllers use either USB-C or Bluetooth connections. When it comes to finding the best for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it'll commonly be Bluetooth.
What makes the best mobile gaming controller?
Since we already covered what makes a great controller for the large form factor of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 specifically, I wanted to touch on what makes a great mobile gaming controller overall. In total, it's about two main things: comfort and functionality.
Comfort can mean several different things on a gaming controller. Is the controller large or small enough for your hands? Does it have a grippy surface to make it easy to hold onto if your hands get sweaty? How do the buttons feel? Are they clicky or mushy? Does the controller have analog or digital triggers? How is the D-Pad designed? Are the joysticks tall enough, or do they have enough travel to be useful?
All of these questions are taken into consideration when we review a gaming controller and eventually provide a recommendation to buy it or not. Just because a big brand name makes a nice-looking controller doesn't mean it's automatically going to be good. The Razr Kishi V2, for instance, has a poor joystick design and hard-to-reach trigger buttons, even though it's the follow-up to one of the most beloved mobile gaming controllers.
Second, you'll need to think about functionality. All mobile gaming controllers connect with a phone and support basic button inputs via the Android operating system, but not all connection types are created equal. USB is the best connection type because it powers the controller while you play and provides the fastest lag-free input.
Bluetooth controllers are more convenient and will work with a wider range of phones, but Bluetooth isn't exactly the most reliable connection in the world. Being wireless also means that there's a slight input delay, which some people might be able to perceive better than others.
Lastly, a Bluetooth gaming controller needs to be charged by itself, and there's nothing more annoying than going to play your favorite mobile game only to find the controller is dead.
