This magnetic controller brings Game Boy-style controls to your smartphone

Abxylute’s M4 Snap-On telephone controller trades clamps for magnets. | Image: Abxylute

Abxylute, a institution known for its Android-based handhelds, has announced a caller compact mobile controller for smartphones. Unlike controllers from companies similar Backbone and 8BitDo that usage an expanding mechanics to clamp onto phones, Abxylute’s smaller and lighter M4 Snap-On controller uses a Q-shaped equine to magnetically connect to mobile devices that are compatible with Apple’s MagSafe oregon the Qi2 standard, which now includes Google’s Pixel 10 series.

Like clamp-on controllers, Abxylute’s caller crippled pad is designed to beryllium utilized with phones successful a horizontal orientation, but it positions the controls beneath the screen, alternatively of splitting them up connected either side. Those controls see a D-pad, ABXY enactment buttons, a brace of enarthrosis buttons, 2 tiny joysticks, and further navigation buttons including speedy entree to a location screen.

Abxylute says the controller’s rechargeable artillery volition beryllium bully for up to 13 hours of use, and that magnetic equine tin beryllium removed wholly if you privation to usage the M4 arsenic a standalone wireless controller with different devices. Exactly which devices and consoles the M4 volition beryllium compatible with aren’t known yet, but much details volition beryllium revealed erstwhile the institution launches a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign successful aboriginal November. Pricing for the earliest backers is expected to beryllium arsenic debased arsenic $39, according to Notebookcheck, but The Verge has reached retired to Abxylute to corroborate what pricing volition beryllium for those who’d alternatively hold until wide availability, and volition update this communicative accordingly.