Cellular players rejoice, the Abxylute S9 is an reasonably priced controller that may stretch to suit your cased iPhone or iPad mini with a robust set of customization options.
A controller producer referred to as Abxylute has lastly constructed the proper cellular gaming controller for iPhone and iPad mini homeowners. If all it did was stretch to suit an iPad mini and value below $100, that will be sufficient, but it surely’s a lot greater than that.
The Abxylute S9 is a wraparound controller that connects to the iPhone or iPad mini over USB-C whereas gripping it from both facet. The tip result’s a cellular gaming resolution much like a Nintendo Change or Steam Deck.
Till just lately, these sorts of controllers solely supported the iPhone or Android smartphones. Producers are lastly adapting their controllers to suit tablets, however Abxylute has taken it a step additional with a variety of customization choices.
At this time, the Abxylute S9 is the most effective all-around controller for cellular players. It checks all of the bins, plus some I did not understand I needed in a gaming controller.
Abxylute S9 overview — Design
In the event you needed to do a double take when trying on the Abxylute S9, don’t fret, I did too. At first look, it seems to be similar to the GameSir Galileo G8 I reviewed beforehand — right down to the detachable faceplates and programmable buttons.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: Change the faceplate, joysticks, and D-pad
There are sufficient design variations that present this can be a distinctive controller that was maybe developed in parallel. It occurs so much with trendy corporations that supply elements and ideas from related sources. Take a look at Kuxiu and Lululook and their iPad stands, for instance.
The Abxylute S9 is black with purple accents on the joysticks and textured surfaces on the grips and the machine holder. The faceplate will be eliminated, and the joysticks and D-pad will be swapped out.
There are many buttons with normal ABXY face buttons, a screenshot button, a house button, an M programming button, and another app button. These all play related capabilities relying on the operate mode in use.
The grip-style controller pulls aside to suit an iPhone or iPad mini, stretching to 216mm in size. The grips and button structure make it a full-sized controller, so extra simply grippable than one thing just like the miniature Spine One.
An fascinating inclusion right here is that the USB-C port is prolonged a bit so it may possibly attain deep into iPhone or iPad instances for the USB-C port. Different controllers that lack this require customers to take away the case.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: a useful hidden sticker with shortcuts
Abxylute included a sticker with button shortcuts that matches contained in the controller that seems when the grips are separated. I really like this since each firm has its personal button mixtures to realize totally different duties, and I often discover myself looking for a handbook on-line.
Abxylute S9 overview — Options
There are loads of customization choices on the controller and inside the app. Pair that with Apple’s built-in button remapping operate, and you have every kind of choices.
Utilizing the M button, press up and down on the D-pad to regulate the haptics. “Resident Evil 4” on iPad mini helps these haptics, and so they work nice.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: management a number of options with the M button
There’s a 6-axis gyro, however I am undecided it might be used natively in any iOS video games, however there’s a setting to show it into the enter for the suitable joystick. It will probably additionally management a cursor if the sport helps it.
There are corridor impact joysticks and triggers, which suggests they’re actuated utilizing magnets and are not liable to sticking and drift points. There’s additionally the flexibility to activate fast set off within the app settings.
The face buttons are quiet however nonetheless nice to click on. It meets an excellent center between suggestions and noise degree.
Just like the Galileo G8, there are two buttons that may be programmed to repeat one of many face buttons. It is helpful in some video games the place you may want each thumbs on the joysticks however have to hit B on the similar time.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: hook up with an influence supply and use Bluetooth
The controller works nice paired to an iPhone or iPad mini, but it surely works on different gadgets. You’ll be able to enter Bluetooth mode with a double press of the M button, then pair to an iPad Professional, Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, Mac mini, or different Bluetooth-compatible machine.
The controller will not energy on with no machine inserted or cable connected since there is not an inner battery. So, so long as there is a energy supply, it may possibly pair to virtually something, eliminating the necessity for a second controller in your bag for an iPad Professional.
Because the USB-C connector communicates utilizing a regular wired communication to the linked machine, you’ll be able to all the time simply hijack that reference to an extension cable. A direct reference to an adapter or hub from the controller to a different machine works, however it’s silly-looking.
iPad mini should not be ignored
Wraparound controllers for iPhone and iPad was once a rarity — pioneered and largely bought by Gamevice at first. Then a rush of those controllers flooded the market, most notably Spine One.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: spacers let iPad mini sit extra comfortably within the grips
Nevertheless, the trendy run of controllers targeted completely on the iPhone. GameVice tried one final launch with an enormous Lightning-based controller for the bottom iPad, but it surely was too unwieldy and by no means made the transition to USB-C.
Razer Kishi Extremely was the primary to try twin help for USB-C iPhone and iPad mini, but it surely ran $150 and made some awkward decisions. I already talked about the entry from GameSir that was near being nice, however supported solely iPhone.
Then lastly, I caught wind of Abxylute S9. This controller takes the GameSir G8 Galileo design and refines it, expands it to help iPad mini, provides Bluetooth, and permits deep controller customization by an app.
I imagine that the iPad mini, particularly in its present seventh-generation iteration, is the proper cellular gaming type issue. The iPhone 16 Professional has an incredible show and chipset to make certain, however exhausting your smartphone battery for video games is not all the time sensible.
I like the thought of getting a devoted gaming machine like a Gameboy, or now the trendy Analogue Pocket. Merchandise like these have made an enormous resurgence due to gadgets just like the Steam Deck.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: deep customization choices within the app
Nevertheless, I am not a PC gamer and haven’t got a lot curiosity in going that course. As an alternative, I like cellular gaming by the App Retailer, emulators, and streaming from the PlayStation 5.
The iPad mini is ideal for that. The A17 Professional used within the iPad mini 7 makes it a terrific gaming machine able to hardware-accelerated ray tracing in video games like “Resident Evil 4” and “Demise Stranding.”
So, for the reason that Abxylute S9 can bodily hook up with the iPhone and iPad mini, it is a good all-in-one resolution. You do not want totally different controllers for every machine.
Utilizing the Abxylute S9
There’s not a lot to say that I have never already.
I want there have been extra faceplates out there past the black ones which are included or a blue set on the Abxylute web site. I hope there are extra choices after the S9 is correctly launched.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: play every kind of video games from emulators to native iPad ones
There must be a approach to change the lights and brightness from the Abxylute app. They don’t seem to be too brilliant now, however I would favor the flexibility to show them off completely generally.
The buttons really feel nice, the joysticks and triggers are responsive, and the app is definitely helpful, at the very least for settings. It fails as a launcher because it would not help many of the video games I attempt to add to it, as of publication anyway.
Abxylute put loads of thought into the controller and it appears to know what cellular players are on the lookout for. A second-generation mannequin that has a battery enabling about 10 hours on Bluetooth and I imagine it might be an ideal machine.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: enjoying DS emulators with the iPad mini as the underside display
I have been enjoying loads of Delta emulator with Abxylute S9 and iPad mini 7. The Nintendo DS choice the place the highest display is proven through AirPlay on a TV is superb, and Abxylute transforms the expertise into one thing much like Wii U.
It is a good time to be a gamer that makes use of iPhone or iPad. The transfer to USB-C made issues even higher, and I am completely satisfied to see a lot competitors within the discipline.
If Apple nonetheless used Lightning, this controller would not exist for Apple platforms.
Stretch to suit
It is thrilling to see recreation controller producers proceed to innovate for cellular gadgets. The sluggish evolution of grip controllers, their spring mechanism, and deal with model has allowed a number of nice choices to emerge.
Abxylute S9 controller overview: matches an iPad mini and choose Android tablets as much as 9 inches
Abxylute has loads of nice concepts that can usher in a brand new wave of competitors within the area. Stretching to accommodate iPhones and tablets is sweet, but it surely’s not the endpoint.
Some have ventured to change such controllers to suit even the 13-inch iPad Professional. Official help from producers ought to be the following objective, even when it’s a area of interest market.
For now, the Abxylute S9 affords the most effective vary of help, customization, and luxury for a terrific value. It is onerous to seek out fault within the controller despite the fact that potential future updates are predictable.
Abxylute S9 – Professionals
- Match iPad mini and iPhone, even with a case
- Bluetooth choice makes the controller extra common
- Changeable face plates, joysticks, and D-pad
- In-depth customization choices in app
- Small touches like additional padding to forestall iPad button presses and hidden sticker with button mixtures
- Aggressive sub-$100 value
Abxylute S9 – Cons
- Lack of alternate faceplate choices at launch
- Requires an influence supply like a cable or connected machine to enter Bluetooth mode
- The app is not a terrific recreation launcher
Score: 5 out of 5
It is powerful to get a 5 out of 5 however the mixture of iPad mini help, glorious construct, value, and Bluetooth cannot be beat. There’s nothing available on the market prefer it at present.
The place to purchase the Abxylute S9
Order the Abxylute S9 for $79.99, a brief $20 low cost from the $99 retail value. Extra vacation reductions deliver the full value right down to $71.10.
The controller can also be out there from Amazon for $84, discounted $5 through the use of the on-page coupon.
