Earlier this year, I had the fun of testing GameSir’s Pocket Taco, a compact phone controller that worked exceptionally well for retro game emulation—something I thoroughly enjoy playing on a regular basis. While it was a great device, it had its share of cons, such as being yet another piece of tech to keep charged, it clamped around my phone, leaving it less than ideally secured to my phone, and despite being smaller, it still took up valuable pocket space when I carried it.
8BitDo recently released their “FlipPad”, a similar style controller for retro gaming with many of the same features and some new ones that might intrigue users to try it instead. Coming in either retro grey or black, mine being the latter, colour options are limited although my black unit is quick and stealthy looking. Coming in at only $29.99 (USD), the 8BitDo FlipPad is easily affordable for anyone looking for this style of controller.
“Coming in a very slim profile, the 8BitDo FlipPad easily slips into my pocket without taking up any noticeable space, making this something I could take along with me on the go without worrying about it being obtrusive.”
Unlike the GameSir Pocket Taco, the 8BitDo FlipPad inserts into your phone’s (or tablet’s) USB Type-C port to connect to your device—no charging required, which immediately mitigates my worry about making sure all my stuff is charged up. However, the USB tip connector is quite short, meaning I had to often remove my phone’s case if I wanted to use it. This may be due to my phone cases being slightly thicker and more durable than some slimmer-style cases; however, this was something I experienced with three different case manufacturers, so open-bottom style or thinner cases would likely work perfectly fine.
Coming in a very slim profile, the 8BitDo FlipPad easily slips into my pocket without taking up any noticeable space, making this something I could take along with me on the go without worrying about it being obtrusive. As per the name, the 8BitDo FlipPad can flip down and out of the way, almost like the cover on old-style cell phones, and gives you full access to your phone screen without having to remove the controller from your phone. I often found myself appreciating this small feature, as I didn’t have to keep putting the controller in my pocket while using my phone and reconnecting it after I finished what I was doing.
Using the 8BitDo FlipPad with my iPhone 17e, no setup was required to use it, although I am unable to confirm whether that is the same for use on Android, as I did not have a device I could test this on. Assuming the process is as seamless, this makes the 8BitDo FlipPad a truly plug-and-play controller, making it great for everyone from kids to adults to use on their devices.
“Overall, the 8BitDo FlipPad is an excellent first attempt by 8BitDo at making this style of controller. “
Where the 8BitDo FlipPad differs compared to the Pocket Taco is primarily in the button layout. While the trigger and shoulder buttons feel more natural and similar to that of a handheld game console, all the buttons on the 8BitDo FlipPad are on the front of the unit itself. This made some situations where I had to hit a trigger or shoulder buttons more awkward feeling, and might not work so well in some games where frequent presses are required. “
Thankfully, in the games that I normally play, such as Tetris or Pokémon, gameplay felt as it should and I never had a problem with navigating in‑game or scrolling through menus. The ABXY and D-Pad plus L1/L2/R1/R2 buttons all have a slight click to them, while the Start and Select buttons use a softer membrane feel, something I didn’t mind—although the slight click could get slightly irritating in a quieter room, especially in games where you find yourself mashing buttons rapidly. In most cases, this wasn’t too big of a deal for me, though.
Overall, the 8BitDo FlipPad is an excellent first attempt by 8BitDo at making this style of controller. In a V2 model, I would potentially like to see a longer USB tip for those of us with thicker cases, maybe with removable pads to make it fit better on phones with slimmer cases—or no cases at all. All in all, this is a very affordable and extremely portable little controller that makes retro game emulation a seamless experience and it has earned its place in my laptop bag for days when I am on the road and need a quick break.
- Flip Into Play – Flip down, ready to play. Take a call or reply to a message mid-game—just flip it open without unplugging. The hinge is rated for over 6,000 open/close cycles, built to last.
- Vertical Mobile Gaming – Designed around portrait play, FlipPad brings a classic handheld feel to your phone. Perfect for retro games and controller-supported mobile titles.
