The huge popularity of cloud-based gaming has spawned an entire market of peripherals and accessories designed to make our smartphones perform more like dedicated gaming consoles. RiotPWR is no stranger to this increasingly competitive landscape as it has spent the past few years producing console quality controllers made specifically for iOS and Android devices.
The latest offering — the RiotPWR Xbox Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS (Xbox Edition) — doubles this specificity, as it aims to attract Apple device owners with an affinity for Xbox gaming and hardware. The result is a third-party gamepad that attaches to your iPhone and looks — and plays — a lot like an Xbox Series X or S controller, complete with a dedicated Xbox button in the center. While the latest version of RiotPWR generally fulfills its intended purpose, it also suffers from a limited scope and overall design that competitors like Backbone and Razer can’t quite keep up with.
A good iPhone game controller
RiotPWR’s Xbox Cloud Gaming Controller is perfect for iPhone gamers who want to play mobile and cloud games with console-quality peripherals. That said, it still feels like an imperfect solution with limited scope, especially when compared to competing options from Backbone and Razer.
The mobile game market is flooded with controllers that connect to smartphones and clips designed to attach our existing console accessories to our iOS and Android devices. Unfortunately, many of these options are cheaply made and poorly designed, resulting in on-the-go gaming sessions that simply can’t match the console experience. RiotPWR’s Xbox Edition controller soars above this sea of wannabe solutions, using a solid, sturdy, adjustable clip that anchors your device firmly into the controller.
More than just not feels weak or unstable, but the clip has some added benefits. For starters, it’s removable, so whether you’re on a high-speed subway ride or traveling across the country, packing the device is a breeze. The clip can also be used as a smartphone stand when not connected to the controller, providing a second setting option for mobile gaming sessions. While clipping the controller to my phone while gaming on the couch or in bed, I actually preferred the secondary method if space allowed.
Finally, no matter how you use the clip, it has enough slack to fit in most iPhone cases. It’s a simple no-frills feature, but a welcome convenience that I especially appreciated after testing the Backbone, which couldn’t accommodate my device when it was armored in its thick OtterBox casing.
The RiotPWR trades wireless connectivity for a direct Lightning connection, so you don’t have to worry about the potential lag that can occur with a Bluetooth-enabled controller. But the more stable connection doesn’t come at the cost of your smartphone’s power, as a pass-through charging port on the bottom of the controller means even marathon gaming sessions won’t abuse your battery. There’s also a headphone jack on the right side of the pass-through so you can plug in your gaming cans while you play.
If you’re looking for a mobile option that mimics the feel of an Xbox controller, you can’t beat the RiotPWR. In addition to the identical layout of the inputs, all sticks, triggers, buttons, bumpers – and even the hard-to-replicate D-pad – perform on all fronts, with the dexterous responsiveness you’d get from an Xbox gamepad. The RiotPWR also has a dedicated social button on the left side of the D-pad, inviting you to easily share screenshots.
Microsoft enthusiasts should also appreciate the addition of a dedicated Xbox button, as well as the display and menu entries that are in the expected places. Oddly enough, these three sit flat against the controller rather than adopt the convex design of the first-party peripherals, but this was never an issue in my testing. In fact, playing in a variety of genres – from shooters and RPGs to turn-based strategy and sports – I never felt that any of the inputs were inferior to a first-party controller.
I also took the RiotPWR for a ride with Apple Arcade and PlayStation 5 games, and enjoyed an equally satisfying experience. You’ll have to rely on muscle memory for the latter’s button layout, but that’s certainly no knock against this Xbox-focused controller. I should also note that the RiotPWR gets the job done when you use your console’s remote play feature. Although it’s marketed as an Xbox Game Pass cloud partner – whether you own the Microsoft platform or not – I mostly used it in bed, upstairs, while streaming remotely from my Xbox Series X on the floor below.
While the controller inputs nicely mimic the feel, feedback, and responsiveness of an Xbox gamepad, I found the weight to be slightly lighter. Without a connected smartphone, it seems too light, without the familiar weight of a first-party peripheral. More specifically, it feels about the same as an Xbox controller with the batteries removed. Clipping a smartphone into place makes it feel sturdier, but also a bit too heavy. Not hitting the exact weight of an Xbox controller is by no means a deal breaker, but it’s worth noting for those who might be expecting a 1-on-1 experience.
While I appreciate the controller’s non-layered Lightning connection, pass-through charging port, and headphone jack, you can’t help but notice how clunky the device looks and feels when using even a few of these features at once. At 27 inches, the permanently attached Lightning cable is just too long. Using the included Velcro and built-in attachment point takes some of its unruly slack, but it’s still a sloppy solution at best.
Plugging in headphones and/or using the pass-through port only adds to the mess, potentially tethering the controller to three separate points. Even if all of these wires don’t interfere with your gaming, the tangle of wires dragging in three different directions doesn’t exactly make for the most aesthetically pleasing cloud streaming setup.
If you want to game on your smartphone without sacrificing the look of your favorite Xbox controller, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option than the RiotPWR. That said, after being spoiled by both the $99 Backbone One (pictured above) and $99 (but often discounted) Razer Kishi, I don’t even want to pair my iPhone with a more traditional gamepad.
The aforementioned competition has made significant strides in this area, creating all-in-one devices that essentially turn your phone into a dedicated gaming platform. While these more intuitive, streamlined options are akin to gaming on a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, using the RiotPWR—for all it does right—still feels like an awkward, shoehorning solution by comparison. These competing options are also more cross-platform, both offering Android variants for those not on team iPhone.
RiotPWR’s shortcomings extend to its app support as well. The RiotPWR works with Ludo Mapp, which conveniently lists controller-supported games by category. But its content and integration are behind the times, as it hasn’t embraced the growing popularity of cloud-based and remote gaming. For example, select Ludo Mapp’s PS Remote Play widget and it awkwardly takes you to a YouTube video on how to use the feature. This isn’t to say the app isn’t useful, but it’s lagging behind the competition, especially when compared to Backbone’s slick app integration.
The intentions of the RiotPWR are right on the backbone of the packaging: “Xbox designed for iOS.” While it certainly works as advertised, its limited scope diminishes its value. While I can live with the fact that it’s not compatible with Android devices and PCs, I find it a bit baffling that I can’t use it with my Xbox Series X. It’s an Xbox controller after all. Even the addition of an optional wired connection to my home console would have been welcome, making it a nice backup for busy game nights with friends and family. In contrast, my first-party Xbox Series X controllers pair with my iPhone with little effort.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Controller type: |
Full-size controller with phone clip |
Clamp controls for your phone |
Clamp controls for your phone |
| Available versions |
iOS |
iOS, Android |
iOS, Android |
| Weight |
15.2 ounces |
4.87 grams |
5.76 ounces |
| Included extras |
Xbox Game Pass |
Xbox Game Pass, Google Stadia Pro, Discord Nitro, Apple Arcade |
N/A |
| Price |
$69.99 |
$99.99 |
$99.99 |
Viewed in a vacuum, the RiotPWR Xbox Edition checks all the right boxes. It’s an Xbox controller that plugs into your iOS device, allowing players to enjoy a variety of cloud gaming services, remote play, and gamepad-supporting Apple Arcade titles. But compared to superior (albeit more expensive) options from Backbone and Razer, it looks a bit behind in both design and features.
That said, if you prefer a traditional controller over the competition’s more handheld-style builds, you won’t find a better third-party Xbox controller to slap on your smartphone. Of course, that also comes with the caveat that you don’t have an Xbox controller yet. If you do, you’d better invest in one of the more affordable, better-rated game clips on Amazon and pair it with your first-party peripheral.
With that in mind, RiotPWR’s latest is best suited for those who want to game on an Xbox controller with Xbox Game Pass and other cloud streaming services that don’t require a physical console. In that regard, the RiotPWR includes a free 30-day membership to Xbox Game Pass, so you can start your cloud gaming journey with ease.
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