As our smartphones become more and more powerful each year, they are gradually transforming into real game consoles. Many publishers do not hesitate to port their game to mobile or at least create versions for phones. And then, the cloud came to revolutionize mobile gaming by allowing everyone to play console or PC games directly from anywhere.
The only problem with our beloved smartphones is that they don't have physical buttons that allow you to play comfortably. The bravest will try to play with touch controls and the smartest will opt for gamepads specially designed for iPhone.
Having always been used to playing on PC, today I am discovering the Nacon MG-X Controller for iPhone which allows you to transform your iPhone into a real portable console.
So, ultimate gadget or accessory? That’s what I’m going to try to determine in this test!
Unpacking and getting started
The MG-X controller for iPhone is sold in a cardboard box with impressive dimensions stamped Xbox and Nacon. The dimensions of the box are rather misleading (fortunately) and when you open it you realize that it is rather compact. Indeed, once out of the box, you discover its shapes and its real dimensions. The controller measures 18 cm wide (closed) and weighs about 210 grams.
Well protected in its box, the controller comes with an 80cm USB-A to USB-C charging cable and the usual paperwork: quick start guide, safety instructions and instructions for downloading the full manual.
Sober and elegant, the MG-X for iPhone does not seem any less robust. The spring allowing to adjust the opening of the lever to place an iPhone is firm to hold the phone in position. Be careful however not to trap your fingers when it closes! It is not as painful as with a subway door, but it can hurt a little 😉!
Pimples everywhere… like on a 16 year old!
But these buttons are much more useful! We find there without much surprise – given that the product is dedicated to it – a configuration adapted to the Xbox environment!
So, on each side and positioned asymmetrically the two traditional joysticks. On the left, the directional cross is the counterpart to the 4 buttons A, B, X and Y visible on the right hand side.
Did you know : what is the origin of the letters A, B, X and Y on game controllers?
The A, B, X, and Y buttons on gamepads were first introduced with the release of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1990. Originally, the A button was used for primary actions in games, while the B button was used for secondary actions. The X and Y buttons were added to give game developers more choices for controls, allowing them to design more complex games.
These names were chosen to be easily memorable and to allow gamers to quickly recognize the buttons. They became a standard for game controllers and were adopted by many other companies for their own controllers.
Also on the back of the controller are the L1, L2 and R1, R2 triggers.
Finally, on the practical side, the controller has an Options button, a Menu button, a Home button, a Bluetooth sync button, a USB-C charging port and a status indicator made up of 4 red LEDs.
The status indicator also lets you know the MG-X's battery charge status. To do this, simply double-click the Home button:
- 4 LEDs on: full battery (100%)
- 3 LEDs on: battery almost full (≥75%)
- 4 LEDs on: average battery (≥50%)
- 1 LED on: low battery (≥25%)
- No LED on: very low battery (<25%)
- 1 LED flashing: critical battery (<10%)
Likewise when charging, the LEDs allow you to instantly know the battery level. For a full charge, it takes a little less than 2 hours and this will allow you to play for 20 hours! Charging is done using a USB-C port.
The MG-X controller turns your iPhone into a real console
Connecting and getting started
Getting started with the MG-X for iPhone is really very simple. Just press the Home button on the controller to turn it on (you have to hold down the Home button for 6 seconds to turn it off).
When you first start it up, the MG-X controller automatically enters pairing mode and all you have to do is go to the iPhone settings and start searching for a Bluetooth device.
Otherwise, pairing is activated by holding down the Bluetooth button on the lower edge of the controller for 2 seconds.
If you use it on multiple iPhones, it will be able to remember up to 5 devices and will connect first to the last connected device.
Finally, when you are not using the controller, it goes into standby mode after a few minutes, which is very appreciable for its battery life!
What are we playing?
Billed as an Xbox controller for iPhone, the MG-X still works with any gamepad-compatible game.
To find out which games on the App Store support gamepads, go to the game's page on the Apple App Store and look for the logo
controller on the line where the note is located (you will have to scroll through the icons
from right to left to see it). Too bad, Apple could have provided a category allowing you to easily find all the games playable with a controller.
I have prepared a list of best games to play with an iPhone controller which I invite you to consult to find some ideas.
Beyond iOS games, the best option to get the most out of the MG-X controller for iPhone is Cloud Gaming, and in particular Xbox CloudGaming.
This cloud gaming service offered by Microsoft is available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription holders. It allows you to play dozens of Console or PC games directly on your iPhone with perfect compatibility with Nacon's MG-X controller.
Other alternatives, streaming services like Steam Link or, Shadow !
Buttons that can be configured to suit your tastes
Interestingly enough for some, the buttons on the Nacon MG-X controller can be reconfigured from the iOS settings.
To access these settings, go to Settings > General > Gamepad and select the “MG-X MFI” controller.
It is then possible to create profiles to use on all your games, or to go into the settings to configure the profile to use for each game.
Here, you can also set gestures for the "Options" button, which is represented by 3 small dots. You can choose between double-pressing this button and holding it down to perform the following operations:
- Take a screenshot
- Start/stop screen recording
- Capturing a highlight
What does this mean in practice?
This gamepad has given me back my love of iPhone gaming. While most of the games on the App Store are pretty boring, using a gamepad opens up a lot of possibilities.
With the possibilities given by Xbox Cloud Gaming, the iPhone becomes a real game console with real games ! Sure, the iPhone screen is a bit small, but when you add the MG-X controller, it's a real pleasure.
So I was able to play different games like Forza Horizon 5, Fortnite or Hi-Fi Rus via Xbox without any difficulty!
I even played Hogwarts Legacy using Steam Link and it was great!
In short, the MG-X controller for iPhone is really great for playing on the go!
An application in the making
Good point for this device, Nacon offers an MG-X Series application for iOS! However, this application is still under construction at the time of writing since only the controller update menu is functional.
A joystick calibration tool is in the pipeline as well as a page to discover the controller… but for now they are stamped “Coming soon”.
Some criticisms however…
The MG-X controller for iPhone is not without its flaws, however.
First of all, the design of the controller does not allow the iPhone to be charged while it is positioned in the controller. This is unfortunate, because iPhone gaming is often a huge drain on battery and your gaming sessions will often end up being interrupted by a dangerously low battery.
Another criticism, but one that is probably more debatable, is that I found the R2 and L2 rear triggers particularly hard to activate. You really have to press hard to trigger them, which I find annoying for the overall handling of the controller.
Finally, we can also criticize its price (€119) which is €30 above the Android version (€89) and generally more expensive than the competition's controllers.
MG-X Controller for iPhone Features
| Compatibility | iOS | |
| Joystick Position | Asymmetric | |
| refill | USB-C (80cm charging cable included) | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| Autonomy | 20h / 600mAh | |
| Loading time | < 2h | |
| Max opening size: | 163mm / Universal compatibility up to 6.7inch | |
| Application | MG-X NACON | |
| Size | 185 x 94 x35 mm | |
| Weight | about 210 g | |
| Price | 119.90€ |
In conclusion…
The MG-X controller for iPhone is a really good accessory from Nacon. If you want to rediscover the pleasure of playing on your iPhone wherever you are, this is the controller you need!
With a reasonable size and a battery life of 20 hours, you will be able to play from anywhere, especially if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Indeed, the latter will allow you to play many real games in very good conditions (if we ignore the size of the screen). In short, when you travel, your iPhone will allow you to continue playing your favorite games! And that's really cool!
But with a slightly high price of €119.90, the MG-X is not perfect and one could criticize it for not allowing you to charge your iPhone while playing (by leaving space for a charging cable).
Highlights
- a real gamepad
- 20h of autonomy
- configurable buttons
- the phone is securely wedged into the controller
- reasonable size
Weak points
- no iPhone charging possible when in controller
- R2 and L2 triggers a little hard
- price a bit high
Article updated on January 10, 2025 by Byothe
