In a sea of smartphone game controllers with minimal grip, distracting analog sticks and stiff backs, Ohsnap’s MCON stands out. A gamepad that essentially turns any phone into a supercharged Xperia Play, complete with Hall effect joysticks, silent buttons and handles that extend out of its base. It also has bumper style triggers and real bumpers. When attached to the back of the phone, the MCON creates a small but uniform profile that slides into the pocket without fuss. When you’re ready to start playing, the phone appears on the gamepad with a satisfying blink.
MCON communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth, no wires or connections required. It uses MagSafe to connect to iPhones, and for Androids, there will be a MagSafe adapter included in the box – this is just a 2mm thick thing that sticks to the back of your phone or case. That includes every smartphone out there, and you’ve likely piled on a lot of connecting pucks to make room for the odd camera bump. Ohsnap’s goal is to support iOS, Android, Xbox, PC and Mac, with PlayStation as the platform’s dream pipeline.
Ohsnap and MCON creator Josh King showed off the gamepad at CES 2025 with a nearly finished prototype. The final version will have silicone tops on the analogue sticks, a spring mechanism cover and more finesse all around. King said he wasn’t satisfied with the D-pad either. But even in its current form, the MCON is a nice little peripheral. It feels great — lightweight but strong enough to support and toss a full-size smartphone — and it folds into a compact rectangle that’s satisfying to hold.
Opening it involves pressing two buttons on the top of the controller, on the back of the attached phone, and requires the right amount of finger strength and hang. It took me a few tries to successfully post the pop, mostly because I have long manicured nails, but I was able to use my actual nail tips to make the magic happen.
When King saw my Samsung Z Flip 6, he immediately started troubleshooting methods to get the foldable to work with MCON. You’ll just have to move the attachment puck a little more, so that it connects to the lower back quadrant of the wire rather than the center hinges, he explains. He was confident he could make it work, and said he had already confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold was MCON compatible. King’s goal is for MCON to fully support all smartphones.
The MCON Kickstarter went live on January 2nd and, four days later, has raised more than $740,000 of the $25,000 goal. King’s idea has enjoyed a bit of popularity over the years, and he eventually took the idea to Ohsnap, a MagSafe-focused accessory manufacturer. With their combined power, the MCON is on track to ship in August at a price of $150.