Best Xbox Cloud Gaming Controllers and Accessories in 2024
David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
Why You Can Trust CNET
Best controller for iPhones as well as iPads with USB-C ports
RiotPWR RP1950
Best multiplatform wireless controller
PowerA Moga XP-Ultra
Best universal controller for Macs and iPads
Xbox Wireless Controller
Your favorite PS4 controller
Sony DualShock 4
Premium Sony controller
Sony DualSense Controller
Best value gaming clip
PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0
Best MagSafe accessory
OtterBox Mobile MagSafe Gaming Clip
Best integrated Android controller
Razer Kishi V2 for Xbox Android
Controller with built-in battery
PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus
Wireless controller with rechargeable battery
SteelSeries Stratus Duo Wireless Gaming Controller
Value gaming clip for Android phones
PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0
Cloud gaming has come a long way since its inception. Gamers no longer need to sit in front of a PC to play their favorite video games. There are more ways than ever for you to live in fantasy worlds. It’s not just a versatile option for gamers, but cloud gaming is also a great way to play all of your favorites and the latest releases. Xbox Game Pass offers Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing you to access the entire Game Pass library on the go.
First, a little background. Xbox Cloud Gaming, formerly Project xCloud, lets you play a subset of Xbox Game Pass games on a device other than a console by streaming them from the internet. It’s similar to Google Stadia (RIP) and Nvidia GeForce Now. To use it, you need to be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, which costs $15 a month or $160 annually (with four three-month membership codes). For Windows PCs, it lets you play games your system might not otherwise have the power or space to run locally via Game Pass for PC. Navigate to Xbox Game Pass games on your console and look for games with a cloud icon, then click the “play” button.
Xbox Cloud Gaming requires a fast internet connection for smooth game streaming. I’m not reviewing it here, but I’m highlighting the best controllers and accessories to use with supported devices. As you might expect, the various Xbox controllers are the main options, but there are plenty of other controllers and accessories to choose from. Some are designed exclusively for Android phones, Windows PC and iOS devices.
Microsoft maintains a list of supported controllers, but you’ll find others that work. Initially, Microsoft said that if you’re using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller was the only “officially supported controller.” However, most controllers I’ve tried — and every controller on this list — works for cloud gaming on a browser.
If you’re an Apple user, go to the Xbox website and sign in to the Microsoft account linked to your Xbox Game Pass, then tap the share button at the bottom of the screen and select Add to Home Screen. Android users can download the Xbox Game Pass app from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store (Samsung devices only).
Below, you’ll find my picks for the best Xbox Cloud gaming controller options currently out there. And I’ll update this list as more Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers and accessories are released, and we test additional products.
Best Xbox Cloud controllers for Apple devices
Show less
The Backbone One is my favorite of the iPhone controllers that mimic the physical experience of the Nintendo Switch, although Razer’s improved second-generation Kishi V2 controller is a close second. As part of the Designed for Xbox program, it also has specific features designed to make you feel more like you’re playing on an Xbox or stand-alone device. The Backbone One is compatible with the Xbox app as well as the PlayStation Remote Play app. (And Backbone now makes a white PlayStation Edition of this controller.)
The Backbone One game pad uses a layout similar, though not identical, to that of Microsoft’s own Xbox controllers. But Backbone’s software is one of the keys to its success, and makes the controller an easy update for current owners wanting to get the new features. It’s compatible with all iPhones running iOS 13 or later.
For instance, it already has a dedicated gameplay capture button, it can tag gameplay and share as a link, it incorporates a dynamic feed and, because it’s designed for use with all mobile games, it can serve as a central hub for those titles.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
I previously had the RiotPWR Mobile Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS on this list, but it had one flaw. Because it has an integrated Lightning cable that allows for lag-free gaming — at least when it comes to button presses — you couldn’t use it with newer iPads that have a USB-C connection. The new RiotPWR RP1950 controller solves that problem by allowing you to swap out the Lightning cable module for a USB-C cable module.
Like RiotPWR’s earlier iOS controller, which is white, the black RP1950 is a more traditionally shaped Xbox-like controller that includes a mount for your phone. While there’s no built-in battery that keeps your phone charged while playing, like the Backbone and Razer Kishi V2, this model has a pass-through charging option if you want to hook up a separate Lightning cable to a battery pack or wall charger.
The controller is nicely designed and doesn’t feel cheap (the dock can accommodate a variety of iPhones, including larger iPhone Max models). Remove the dock and you can use this with any iPad that has a Lightning or USB-C port. To swap cables, you have to stick a paper clip in a hole in the bottom of the controller, which releases the cable module. It’s a little tricky the first time you do it, but once you figure out how it’s done, it’s pretty straightforward.
It’s also worth noting that even though this is called an “iOS controller,” it will work with Android smartphones and tablets that have USB-C ports.
Photo Gallery 1/1
RiotPWR
Show expert take Show less
Show less
The second-generation Razer Kishi V2 smartphone controller is similar to the Backbone and comes in both iOS and Android versions (the iOS version has an integrated Lightning connector while the Android version has a USB-C connector). Both cost more than the original models, but offer substantially improved ergonomics and more responsive buttons.
The iPhone version is MFi-certified and will work with the iPhone 6 Plus and any newer model. It has pass-through charging but no built-in battery to supply extra juice.
We prefer the companion app for the Backbone controller for iOS users, but the design of the Kishi V2 controller now measures up well against the Backbone. Alas, no Android version of the Backbone controller yet exists.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
PowerA’s Moga XP-Ultra is fairly pricey, but it works as a wireless controller for not only Android smartphones but with your Xbox Series X/S and Windows 10/11 PCs. What’s nice is that unlike the official Xbox controllers, it incorporates a 2,000-mAh rechargeable battery. On top of that, it has a modular design with a detachable full-size grip and a mobile gaming clip so you can choose whether to go with a full-size controller or a more compact controller for gaming on the go. That said, the ergonomics are much better when you go with the full-size grip.
There are two mappable “advanced gaming buttons” that PowerA says can perform any button command to “keep your thumbs on the sticks.” It’s also worth noting that the controller is equipped with dual rumble motors and impulse triggers. In fact, I slightly preferred this controller to Microsoft’s Core Xbox controller. (Sony’s PS5 controller remains the best, however.)
Photo Gallery 1/1
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Show expert take Show less
Show less
If you have access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, you probably have an Xbox system, which means you already have an Xbox controller. Any Version 2 Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth will pair wirelessly with everything from iPhones to iPads to Macs. You could also go the wired route with a Mac by plugging the controller into a USB port. Microsoft does sell a controller with a USB-C cable, so you can connect to the USB-C port on various devices, including USB-C-equipped Macs. (Make sure to update to the latest firmware on your Xbox controller.) This Bluetooth controller helps you stay on target with the new hybrid D-pad and textured grip on the triggers, and easily pair and switch between devices.
The Xbox Core controller lists for $60 but sometimes sells for $50 or less. The Xbox Elite Series controller lists for $180, but can sometimes be found for closer to $150. While the Elite Series controller includes a rechargeable battery, the Core controller does not, which is the one irritating thing about it. You can find a full assortment of Xbox controllers on Microsoft’s Xbox accessories page.
Microsoft says that iOS 14.5 or higher is required for play on all Apple devices.
Show expert take Show less
Show less
While you’re probably better off using an Xbox controller if you have one, the PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller is compatible with Apple devices, including Macs, via Bluetooth. And what’s nice about the DualShock 4 is that unlike the Xbox Wireless controller it has a built-in rechargeable battery.
It’s on Microsoft’s list of supported cloud controllers but note that Microsoft says that if you’re using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller “is currently the only officially supported controller” and, “Other controllers may or may not work for cloud gaming on a browser.” The DualShock 4 PlayStation Controller worked fine for me, though I did experience a touch of lag.
Note that the buttons are labeled differently from an Xbox controller’s, so you’ll want to check how they match up before playing.
This is how you pair your DualShock 4 with Apple devices.
Show expert take Show less