Rotor Riot iPhone Controller review.
Mobile phones are now a serious platform for video games, with the likes of PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact attracting millions of players. What’s more, the ability to stream games via Xbox Cloud Gaming or handy apps like Moonlight make playing full-fledged console and PC games on a phone possible. Unfortunately, a mobile phone on its own isn’t a great gaming tool as it isn’t built with long gaming sessions in mind. Thankfully, there are third-party controller options out there like the Rotor Riot RR1850 controller to blend portable gaming with a quality pad.
Checking the boxes
The Rotor Riot iPhone controller connects via the Lightning Port, allowing for charging pass-through. This means no worrying about battery life, but also improves responsiveness by avoiding Bluetooth. The slack of the remaining cable wraps neatly around the back of the removable stand hiding it from view. It’s very well thought-out.
Another impressive feature is the L3/R3 support on iPhone, allowing for functionality in games that use the clicking-in actuation of each analog stick.
Console-like gaming
The controller itself is reminiscent of the Xbox 360 pad and that can only be a good thing, as that remains my favorite controller of all time when it comes to comfort. Build quality is also comparable to the Xbox controller, with the sticks and triggers standing out as high points.
However, the D-pad on my version is a little wobbly and very clicky. It’s not a big issue but may cause some annoyance for those who want to play fighting or racing games with the D-pad only.
The only other downside of the Rotor Riot iPhone controller is the lack of adjustability on the phone stand. Users can only really put the phone in one set angle, which is ideal for gaming in an upright position, but not so great when playing while lying down. I suppose this was a necessary sacrifice to maintain the overall stability of the stand and to assist the balance, but it’s still worth noting.
Winner, winner!
Aside from those niggles, the Rotor Riot iPhone has blown me away. I’ve played through the entirety of Aliens: Fireteam Elite via Moonlight using the controller to stream my PC and I’ve just started replaying The Witcher 3. The controller is recognized by PC games as an Xbox pad, making it perfectly compatible. The L3/R3 buttons I previously mentioned also came in clutch here, with many PC games demanding their use.
I’ve also dabbled with Call of Duty: Mobile and it’s clear that this controller also works superbly well with native phone apps. The upgrade from using the touchscreen to using a dedicated gamepad is enormous and well worth it for anyone who plays titles like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite, Genshin Impact, and (soon) Apex Legends.
The app
The Ludu Mapp app that the Rotor Riot iPhone controller uses unfortunately pops up each time I plug in the pad, but the software itself isn’t so bad. It actually proved quite useful in sorting through games in a way in which Apple’s own App Store either doesn’t have or hides them well.
I’ve now formed the habit of automatically swiping the app away whenever I plug in the controller and it’s no big deal.
Rotor Riot iPhone Controller Review: The final verdict
At $49.99, the Rotor Riot iPhone gets a huge recommendation from me. It’s become my go-to for mobile gaming and streaming PC games. Cheap, cheerful, and featured on the official Apple store. That’s a win from me!
I should also mention that Rotor Riot has a background in drone flying. This controller is listed as working well with drones, in addition to being great for games, which is a bonus feature that I hadn’t personally considered, but that will definitely be of interest to some!
