An iPhone console? The MCON controller makes it possible

One of the many perks of the iPhones include some unique accessories that cross our eyes once in a while. We already saw accessories like the Clicks keyboard give our iPhones the physical keyboards some of us have wanted for years. Now, a new accessory can turn your iPhone into a full-fledged pocket console.

Meet the MCON controller – a gaming controller that comes with a bunch of buttons and analogue joysticks, but also a couple of key additions – MagSafe support, and a sliding design.

The MagSafe support lets you snap the controller on the back of any newer iPhone with MagSafe (iPhone 12 and above) and then one can use the sliding mechanism to pull the gamepad out whenever they want.

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This lets you keep the controller attached to the phone at all times, so you always have it one slide away when required. It even works with MagSafe cases.

The MCON connects wirelessly to your iPhone, just like other controllers like the Sony DualSense. Buttons include a set of A, B, X and Y buttons, along with a D-Pad, two Hall-effect joysticks, function buttons and two trigger buttons on the left and right. The MCON also sports two fold-out hand grips which make holding it even easier when you get into more serious gaming sessions.

Why the MCON makes sense for newer iPhones

While there are a bunch of gaming accessories available for smartphones these days, ranging from full-fledged controllers to clip-on triggers, the MCON presents a unique solution, its biggest USP being the always-available element.

But the controller is also being launched at just the perfect time. Apple has been aggressively pushing its initiatives in gaming for a while now. From a lot of casual titles added to Apple Arcade, to the newer chipsets on the iPhone 15 series and above which can run console-grade AAA titles right on your phone.

As long as the MCON universally supports them, you could make the most of it with titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil Village, and Death Stranding Director’s Cut, all of which are currently natively available on the iPhone 15 Pro series and iPhone 16 series phones.

If you don’t have an iPhone, the MCON also ships with two MagSafe rings that can be attached to the back panel of Android phones (or their cases) for the same effect.

The MCON costs $149 (about Rs 12,700) and is available on Kickstarter in select regions like the US. While there’s no India availability just yet, we do hope we see controllers like these here soon.