- 8BitDo has announced the FlipPad mobile controller
- It is designed with retro gaming on your phone in mind.
- It will be compatible with iPhone and Android devices and will be released this year.
Controller maker 8BitDo has just announced a new gamepad tailor-made for your smartphone.
Known as 8BitDo FlipPad, it was revealed by the brand on its official X/Twitter account through a short teaser video.
Compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones, the FlipPad plugs into your phone’s USB-C port. You can then move your twist to magnetically attach the controller to the bottom of your device’s screen.
8BitDo says the FlipPad will launch in “summer 2026,” likely between June and September, and will be showcased for the first time in CES 2026, which will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6-9.
Where the mobile game is developed. Introducing 8BitDo FlipPad, a foldable style gamepad designed for mobile gaming. Compatible with iOS and Android devices. Officially supported by Apple. Coming Summer 2026. Experience it for the first time at @CES 2026. LVCC Central Hall · Booth #15641#FlipPad… pic.twitter.com/snddY5OaMxJanuary 4, 2026
The FlipPad appears to be a fairly simple controller, with a d-pad, four main face buttons, home and select buttons, as well as six auxiliary buttons, which will likely be for screenshots, quick menu access, or remappable secondary inputs.
The lack of joysticks of any kind positions the FlipPad as a retrocentric controller. As such, you’ll probably want emulation apps like Delta to take full advantage.
There’s no word yet on pricing, but some of the brand’s best gamepads, like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2, tend to have an affordable mid-range price tag. It seems reasonable to expect something similar for the FlipPad, although we’ll have to wait and see.
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