Revisit the OhSnap MCON, the innovative magnetic game controller for mobile. See how this compact accessory transforms your phone into a portable gaming rig.
OhSnap captured our attention—and a “Best of CES” award 🏆—last year with the MCON, a compact Bluetooth gamepad that snaps magnetically to your phone 🧲. At the time, we tested a pre-production unit, but the finalized version officially went on sale last month 🛒. After getting hands-on with the retail model here at CES 🏢, I’m convinced the team has made significant refinements over the past year ✨.
Just as we saw last year, the MCON connects magnetically to iPhones 🍎 or any compatible Android device 🤖 (OhSnap includes a magnetic ring for Androids that lack Qi2 support). It features a full control layout: four face buttons, a D-pad, dual joysticks 🕹️, plus index buttons and full bumpers. The device feels significantly sleeker and more solid than the previous prototype 🦾. While mounting the phone does make the setup feel slightly top-heavy, it wasn’t awkward enough to impact gameplay 🎮 during my brief demo.
The controller also features unfolding grips to improve balance, and the mounting plate doubles as a kickstand 📐. This means you can easily prop your phone on an airplane tray table ✈️ and play comfortably with the controller in hand. All told, the MCON feels like a flexible, high-quality accessory that justifies its $150 price tag 💰.
OhSnap also introduced several new accessories 🎒. There is a $70 TV dock 📺 that charges your phone ⚡ while outputting video from USB-C to HDMI 🔌, which works with any Bluetooth controller setup, not just the MCON. Additionally, they showcased a tiny $30 keychain adapter 🔑. You can plug its USB-C end into your phone and connect an HDMI cable to the other, allowing you to broadcast your games to any TV on the go 📡.
It’s a clever ecosystem of products 🌐. While the market is flooded with mobile game controllers, the MCON stands out as one of the sleekest and most portable options available. However, OhSnap is aiming even smaller 🤏. The company revealed two new prototype controllers: the MCON Lite and MCON Slim.
As their names suggest, these new models are even more compact than the original 📏. The Lite swaps full joysticks for concave joypads, while the Slim utilizes concave touch pads to reduce bulk further. You aren’t going to get quite the same tactile experience as the flagship model, but they are noticeably thinner and expected to be more affordable. The MCON Lite is scheduled to arrive this summer ☀️, while the Slim should launch in the fall 🍂, likely coinciding with the iPhone 18 release 🗓️.
