In a sea of smartphone game controllers with chunky grips, intrusive analog sticks and stiff backs, Ohsnap's MCON stands out. It's a gamepad that essentially turns any phone into a supercharged Xperia Play, featuring Hall effect joysticks, silent buttons, and handles that can be pulled out from the base. It also has bumper style triggers and real bumpers. When attached to the back of the phone, the MCON creates a slightly chunky but uniform profile that fits into a pocket without issue. When you're ready to start playing, your phone pops out from under the controller with a satisfying click.
MCON communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth, no cables or connection required. It uses MagSafe to connect to the iPhone, and for Android it comes with a MagSafe adapter – it's just a 2mm thick disc that sticks to the back of the phone or case. This goes for just about any smartphone, and you can stack some of the connecting washers to make room for awkward camera bumps. Ohsnap's goal is to support iOS, Android, Xbox, PC and Mac, and PlayStation is an unrealistic platform.
Ohsnap and MCON creator Josh King showed off the gamepad at CES 2025 with a nearly completed prototype. The final version will have silicone analog stick covers, a spring mechanism cover and even more refinement. King said he, too, isn't entirely happy with the cross yet. But even in its current form, MCON is a small peripheral device. It has a nice feel to it—light but strong enough to support and sling a full-size smartphone—and folds into a compact rectangle that's nice to hold.
Opening it requires pressing two buttons on the top of the controller, behind the connected phone, and requires a fair amount of finger strength and tilt to do so. It took me a few tries to successfully apply the effect, mainly because I have long, manicured nails, but I was able to use my real nail tips to work the magic.
When King noticed my Samsung Z Flip 6, he immediately started looking for ways to make it work with MCON. “You'll just need to move the mounting washer slightly so it can attach to the bottom of the back of the phone rather than the center hinge,” he explained. He was confident he could make it work and said he had already made sure the Galaxy Z Fold was compatible with MCON. King's goal is to provide MCON support for absolutely every smartphone.
MKON Kickstarter was launched on January 2, and four days later it had raised more than $740,000 of its $25,000 goal. King's concept has received some recognition viral fame over the years, and he eventually shared the idea with Ohsnap, an established maker of MagSafe-focused accessories. With their capabilities, MCON will be ready to ship in August for $150.