Ahead of CES 2026, 8BitDo revealed the FlipPad controller, a compact mobile controller that attaches to an iOS or Android phone via USB-C. During CES 2026, I made my way over to the 8BitDo booth and managed to get some hands-on time with this innovative take on the mobile controller attachment.
Unlike clamp-style mobile controllers that focus on widescreen gaming, the 8BitDo FlipPad takes a vertical, Gameboy-inspired approach aimed squarely at retro and emulation fans.
As you would expect, attaching a vertical controller to the bottom of a smartphone does take away some screen real estate, but it works perfectly for games that use a 4:3 aspect ratio. That makes it ideal for emulated titles from the NES, SNES, Gameboy, and Sega Genesis-era. It also feels like a good fit for fans of top-down shooters.
During my hands-on time, I was playing the NES version of Super Mario Bros. and was doing pretty well, right up until I remembered I was there to work, leading me to force myself to end the game as I was having too much fun. The staff member helping me mentioned that I did better than...
