8BitDo’s FlipPad makes a smaller Game Boy-style controller for phones
The Verge reports the plug-in FlipPad is thinner, lighter, smaller and cheaper than GameSir’s Pocket Taco phone controller.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
8BitDo’s FlipPad has arrived as a compact add-on for turning a smartphone into a Game Boy-style gaming handheld, according to The Verge. The device matters for players who want physical controls for occasional phone gaming without carrying a larger controller or using on-screen emulator buttons.
The Verge reports that 8BitDo and GameSir both showed small phone gamepads with a retro handheld layout at CES 2026. GameSir’s competing Pocket Taco reached buyers months earlier, while 8BitDo’s FlipPad took longer to arrive.
In a hands-on report, The Verge said the FlipPad is one of 8BitDo’s smallest gamepads so far. The site described it as thinner, lighter, less expensive and smaller than GameSir’s Pocket Taco, while noting that GameSir’s controller could still suit some players and devices better.
The key design difference is how the FlipPad connects. The Verge reports that it does not use Bluetooth; instead, it plugs directly into the phone and communicates through the handset’s charging port.
That direct connection also supplies power, according to The Verge’s image caption. The FlipPad draws the power it needs from the phone’s charging port, which means the controller does not depend on a separate wireless pairing process in the way Bluetooth accessories do.
The Verge framed the FlipPad as a carry-anywhere controller for people who want a quick way to play on a phone. Its smaller body appears aimed at users who may not want to pack a full-size mobile controller but still prefer a D-pad and buttons over touch controls.
GameSir’s Pocket Taco remains part of the same category. The Verge reported that both products were designed to make smartphones feel more like classic Nintendo handhelds, but the two devices take different approaches to size and fit.
The FlipPad’s appeal, according to The Verge, is portability. By making the controller smaller and using the phone’s port for both power and communication, 8BitDo has built a phone accessory meant to stay close at hand rather than live in a bag with larger gaming gear.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.