With powerful smartphones and tablets, high-speed cellular data networks, and thousands of quality game titles to choose from, playing games on our mobile devices is more immersive and enjoyable than ever.
As mobile gaming technology continues to advance, more and more accessories are coming onto the market to enhance your mobile gameplay. From controllers to cases to headsets, mobile accessories can take your gaming experience from standard to premium. Here are some of the latest must-have gadgets for mobile gamers.
Controllers
While tapping and swiping on glass screens works fine for casual gaming, those who take their mobile games more seriously need real physical controls. Luckily, plenty of attachable controllers now allow you to get console-quality input on Android and iOS games.
Mobile Console Controllers
These controllers from brands like Razer and SteelSeries turn your phone into a handheld game system. They feature full button and joystick layouts modeled after PlayStation and Xbox controllers. Mobile console controllers utilize Bluetooth to connect to your device and often include smartphone clamps or docks. High-end models feature premium components, ergonomic designs, and software for remapping controls. With one of these controllers in hand, playing complex action, fighting, or racing games feels natural rather than awkward with touchscreen controls.
Compact Bluetooth Controllers
For gamers who want a more portable control option, compact Bluetooth controllers offer a simplified experience focused on essential inputs. These lightweight and transportable controllers connect wirelessly to phones just like their console counterparts. They include action buttons on the front and triggers on the back without full directional pads or joystick nubs. Compact controllers work especially well for 2D platformers, RPGs, and arcade-style games. Their diminutive size makes them easy to toss in a bag and use on the go.
Gaming Cases
The powerful processors in modern smartphones produce a lot of excess heat when gaming. All that heat can impact system performance and become uncomfortable during lengthy play sessions. Specialized gaming phone cases help dissipate heat and prevent device thermal throttling. They also provide extra grip and ergonomic shaping tailored to gaming needs.
Cooling Cases
Excess heat is one of the biggest issues facing mobile gaming. Cooling cases utilize heat-conducting metals like aluminum or copper within their case construction to direct heat away from a phone’s chipset and disperse it faster. This cooling technology allows phones to run at peak speeds without overheating during processor-intensive gaming. Premium cooling cases go beyond metals with built-in electric fans to actively move hot air away from devices. With a cooling gaming case protecting it, your phone can handle the hottest Android or iOS games without disruption.
Grip Cases
Effective cooling isn’t the only benefit well-designed gaming phone cases offer. Extended gaming sessions can make a metal-and-glass smartphone slippery in the hand. Mobile grip cases use materials like rubberized or textured plastics to create enhanced friction on contact surfaces. This improved grip gives you added control and more confident handling of your mobile device. Grip cases also employ ergonomic shapes with angles, curves, and finger rests made specifically for gaming use. Such tailored ergonomic designs allow for comfortable long-term play and reduced hand fatigue. With loads of insulation and anti-slip reinforcements, gaming phone cases let you game harder for longer.
Audio Upgrades
Serious gaming requires serious sound. Just as gamers upgrade TV speakers and PC audio setups to experience immersive console and computer games fully, mobile gamers need equipment capable of capturing subtle audio details in their pocket powerhouses. Next-level sound accessories let mobile gamers hear gaming worlds come alive.
Gaming Headsets
For private, distraction-free audio that won’t disturb those around you, over-ear gaming headsets reign supreme. Modern mobile headsets connect via Bluetooth and use the latest wireless codecs for minimal latency. Their large-aperture speaker drivers and tuned chambers produce expansive soundstages not possible in smartphone speakers. Plus, built-in microphones make communication with multiplayer teammates a breeze. For ultra-responsive competitive play, higher-priced gaming headsets feature aptX Low Latency codecs and super fast RF wireless connectivity. With tournament-ready sound isolation and surround spatialization immersed over your ears, gaming headsets make you feel inside the action.
External Speakers
If passively listening alongside is more your preference, compact Bluetooth speakers amplify mobile gaming audio for group enjoyment. Designed for portability, these wireless speakers employ the latest-gen driver components and audio technologies within a miniaturized chassis capable of filling smaller spaces with layered, room-filling sound. Wider stereo separation and enhanced bass response make gameplay more impactful and cinematic. External speakers still capture gameplay nuances lost in TV or home stereo speaker playback. Paired with a phone mount, portable Bluetooth speakers provide a plug-and-play big-screen gaming experience on your mobile device.
With mobile games matching handheld consoles in scope and rivaling PC/console releases in graphical fidelity, transforming your smartphone into a premier handheld gaming system has never made more sense. This overview gets you excited about accessorizing your mobile games with cooling cases, tactile controls, and immersive audio. Any one of these gaming gadgets can upgrade standard mobile play to a truly premium experience.