Both 8BitDo and GameSir announced tiny gamepads designed to turn smartphones into Game Boy-inspired handhelds at CES 2026. GameSir released its Pocket Taco months ago, but the longer wait for 8BitDo’s FlipPad has been well worth it. While the Pocket Taco may be a better fit for some players and devices, the FlipPad is a thinner, lighter, cheaper, and smaller alternative that’s easier to keep on hand for occasional gaming on your phone without having to rely on an emulator’s touchscreen controls.
The FlipPad is one of 8BitDo’s smallest gamepads to date, but instead of using Bluetooth, it directly connects to and communicates with your smartphone using its USB-C charging port. That approach eliminates the need for a rechargeable battery, making the FlipPad thin enough to leave attached to your phone when slipped into your pocket.
The underside of the FlipPad is covered in a thin rubbery layer to prevent scratches where it makes contact with your phone’s screen and to add some grip and stability. However, because the gamepad is only secured to your phone using its USB-C connector, it does tend to wiggle back and forth by about a quarter of an inch while you’re playing.
The gamepad’s USB-C connector isn’t adjustable or extendable, and while I had no problem connecting it to OnePlus and Google Pixel phones protected by thin silicone cases, it was a no-go for my iPhone 16 Pro while it was inside one of Nomad’s thicker folio-style cases.
I like not having to charge the FlipPad or dig into Bluetooth settings to re-pair it when moving the gamepad between multiple phones, and its USB-C connector is hinged so when connected to your device the controls can be flipped out of the way, giving you complete access to your smartphone’s touchscreen. You don’t need to disconnect the FlipPad to unlock your device or jump between apps.
8BitDo has long been known for its excellent hardware, and the FlipPad looks and feels as premium as its most expensive console controllers, with button labels etched onto most of the buttons themselves. However, while 8BitDo confirmed that the FlipPad’s D-pad and ABXY buttons use silicone membranes, they’re stiffer and have more of a clicky feel than you’ll get with the company’s other controllers.
The buttons still feel very responsive but have much less travel. It’s not necessarily bad, just different. What could prove more divisive to gamers is the FlipPad’s two pairs of shoulder buttons that aren’t located on its top edge. You’ll instead find them lined up along the top of the front of the gamepad as a single row of four round buttons. It feels like a workaround to help keep the gamepad thin, but not a good one. Using your index fingers to press the FlipPad’s shoulder buttons while your thumbs handle the rest feels awkward and unnatural.
You’ll also want to be mindful of the controller’s limitations. You can only use it with games you play vertically and that won’t be blocked while the controls cover nearly half of your phone’s screen. I tested 8BitDo’s FlipPad with Game Boy, GBA, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis games using the Delta and RetroArch emulators on my iPhone. Delta centers games vertically when you’re using a controller and they get partially obscured by the FlipPad, but it’s easily fixed by turning on touch controls and using a skin that positions the game closer to the top of the screen.
Preorders for the FlipPad are now available through 8BitDo’s online store and Amazon, and the gamepad is expected to release on July 30th. It’s available for $29.99 in black or a version inspired by the original Game Boy’s colors.
With a price that’s slightly cheaper than the $34.99 Pocket Taco, the FlipPad may seem like the obvious better option, but there are a few things the Pocket Taco does better. While I prefer the FlipPad’s slim design, I’m also more of a casual gamer who doesn’t chase high scores and sticks to classic Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. Others may prefer the larger D-pad and buttons on the Pocket Taco, which have more of a soft and squishy feel, or its shoulder buttons, which are positioned on the back of your phone where your index fingers can more comfortably reach them.
The Pocket Taco’s design makes it larger and heavier than the FlipPad, but its clamping mechanism feels more secure when attached to your phone, and it opens wide enough to accommodate devices inside a thick case. The Pocket Taco’s rechargeable battery also means it won’t drain your phone’s battery while you play, and it can function as a standalone wireless controller for a myriad of devices, including the Switch. As much as I like the FlipPad, for an extra $5 the Pocket Taco still makes a strong case for itself.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / noti.group
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
