Ideal for Xbox Remote Play, this controller feels instantly familiar to Xbox owners and even has an Xbox button in the middle, just like the official model. It’s much lighter, but there are solid standard Xbox buttons, grippy thumbsticks and a pair of programmable pushers on the back. The only disappointment is the mushy D-pad and the lack of any haptics. The clip design is smart, with two adjustable joints and a cradle that expands to accommodate most phones. It even has minimal prongs that avoid the power or volume buttons on the side of your phone. The connection to your phone is a choice of cable or Bluetooth.
With a 3,000mAh rechargeable battery inside, the Moga XP-5 X boasts long battery life and can even double as a portable battery pack. It charges via a MicroUSB port at the top, and there’s a USB-A port that can be used to connect a cable to your phone’s USB-C port (the included cable fits both). Oddly, there’s no Xbox support, so you can stream Xbox games from your console to your phone with Remote Play, but you can’t play on the Xbox itself with this controller.
Officially works with Android, Xbox Remote Play and Windows
★ Upgrade options: That PowerA Moga XP7-X Plus ($100) offers everything the XP-5 X does, but you can also remove the stand in the middle to make room for your phone (my Pixel 6 Pro fits just fine). It is robust, offers plenty of buttons (only missing a screen button) and can wirelessly charge your phone. But it’s expensive, has a MicroUSB port when I prefer USB-C, and only a 2,000mAh battery, so stick with the XP-5 X unless you really want the spring-loaded cradle to fit your phone.