Before this review, I never had any interest in playing games on my phone. My phone is pretty much a camera, and a way to stay in touch with friends and family on WhatsApp and Messenger. However, when Nacon sent me one of their new MG-X mobile controllers things changed, and it really opened my eyes. Let me tell you, if you’re a commuter, this is going to be a game-changer for you.
The Nacon MG-X is a small, lightweight Bluetooth controller for mobile that doubles as a phone holder too. It turns your phone into a Nintendo Switch-esque handheld device. On the box, it specifically says its use is for Xbox, but don’t pay too much attention to that, it’s just a branding thing. Though it has the intention of being an Xbox controller and is styled like one, it connects to your phone via Bluetooth 4.2 so can be used on a number of titles. As long as your phone or small tablet uses Android 6 or newer it’ll work. It measures around 19 centimetres wide and 9 centimetres tall. There’s a built-in battery that’ll last for around 20 hours worth of game time. There’s a USB Type-C cable included to recharge the device.
The device is made from plastic and is tough to hold and there was no audible creaking. Button presses are firm and it all feels very solid. The only buttons I wasn’t too keen on were the rear triggers. I know they’re designed to work well with racing titles, like F1 2020 or Forza Horizon 4, but they just felt a little stiff to me, especially when playing more adventure and first-person titles. It feels very comfortable to hold in the hand, though if you’ve got big giant hands, the right trigger is going to be a bit of a scrunch. There’s a rubber pad on the back though which will help with grip and there’s a couple of bumps on the rear for your fingers to rest against.
Sliding the phone into the controller is a smooth mechanism, and grips the phone nice and tight. I used it with a Google Pixel 4 XL and it was completely fine, and that’s classed as more of a phablet than a phone. Anything similar sized I’ve got no doubt it’ll work. Even small tablets might fit too although this wasn’t tested ourselves. The box claims the max size device that’ll fit the controller is 6.7-inches.
I downloaded the Xbox Games Pass app, played a bit of Back4Blood and I must say the controller worked a treat. Everything felt super responsive and hands down beat playing games using the touch screen. Despite a few issues with the framerate of my phone and the capabilities that has playing games, the controller was absolutely superb. I’m definitely a convert to mobile gaming if devices like this are enabling gamers to successfully play games on the go. The Nacon MG-X can be found from UK retailer Argos and more information can be found on the Nacon website. Now, I’m off to play some more games.
