Ahead of CES 2026, 8BitDo revealed the FlipPad controller, a compact mobile controller that attaches to an iOS or Android phone via USB-C. During CES 2026, I made my way over to the 8BitDo booth and managed to get some hands-on time with this innovative take on the mobile controller attachment.
Unlike clamp-style mobile controllers that focus on widescreen gaming, the 8BitDo FlipPad takes a vertical, Gameboy-inspired approach aimed squarely at retro and emulation fans.
As you would expect, attaching a vertical controller to the bottom of a smartphone does take away some screen real estate, but it works perfectly for games that use a 4:3 aspect ratio. That makes it ideal for emulated titles from the NES, SNES, Gameboy, and Sega Genesis-era. It also feels like a good fit for fans of top-down shooters.
During my hands-on time, I was playing the NES version of Super Mario Bros. and was doing pretty well, right up until I remembered I was there to work, leading me to force myself to end the game as I was having too much fun. The staff member helping me mentioned that I did better than most people who tried it, which made me laugh. I replied, “Well, I do enjoy video games, and I grew up on this.”
It is a nice little controller and feels great in my hands, though it may be less comfortable for those with larger hands. The D-pad felt a bit stiff, but that did not bother me much, and it could be due to this not being the final retail version. You also don’t need to worry about missing phone calls, as the controller flap can be positioned downward, providing full access to the phone.
According to the person I spoke with at the booth, the FlipPad was created in response to customer requests. People wanted a smaller, more affordable controller that was simple to use and made it easy to enjoy emulators on their phones. That feedback ultimately led to the creation of the FlipPad.
The 8BitDo FlipPad Controller is expected to launch in Summer 2026 with a possible $30 MSRP, according to the 8BitDo representative at CES 2026.
