Using a mobile controller has completely ruined my ability to game without one, and it's the perfect time to test one out

If you ever want to enjoy mobile gaming again, you probably shouldn’t buy a mobile controller. Wireless paddles like these are so useful, and make mobile gaming so much easier, that it’s impossible to go back to on-screen touch controls.

I particularly can’t recommend the Scuf Nomad, which is currently $31 off at Amazon; if any controller can transform your mobile gaming experience, then who knows what’ll happen when you buy one of our top-rated models. The discounted model is the one designed for iPhones, and it’s compatible with Apple Arcade, Steam Link, Xbox Game Pass, PS Remote and all your favorite phone games too.

This Scuf Nomad controller works on any iPhone since the iPhone 8, up to the iPhone 16 according to Scuf (and likely the iPhone 17 too, though that wouldn’t have been out when the Nomad was released).

It’s a paddle-style controller, which sits around your iPhone, offering symmetrical thumbsticks unlike many rivals. Another fairly distinct trait is the lack of any physical connector with your phone; it only pairs via Bluetooth, whereas most models I’ve tested require being plugged in.

In our 4.5-star Scuf Nomad review we praised the way it felt to play, with a useful array of buttons, and an app that offers lots of customization. We’ve since recommended it as one of the best of its kind.

Should you buy a mobile controller?

Mobile games’ on-screen controls can be a little fiddly when you’re first starting, but generally, you get used to them. That was my experience, at least, and as someone who reviews mobile phones for a living, you can rest assured I’ve spent a lot of time doing so.

However when I started using mobile controllers, any illusions I had of on-screen controls being acceptable, went straight out the window.

These accessories are great for gaming. They mean you don’t need to stretch your hand over a large phone screen to have the controls within reach, and can press buttons instantly instead of having to readjust your digits to hit a ‘fire’ or ‘attack’ button. When I used one for Call of Duty Mobile, it felt tantamount to cheating; there’s no way people with on-screen controls could stay competitive with a controllers’ reaction speeds.

The best thing about them, though, is that they’re often lightweight and portable. You can fold the Scuf Nomad down and take it on the go.

Unfortunately, I have to use on-screen controls for mobile gaming; it wouldn’t be fair to review a mobile without ever using it this way. And now I know how lovely controllers can be, and how much better I perform with them, it’s always a chore. So if you’re considering buying a controller, be warned (but do it anyway, ignore my tongue-in-cheek protests!).

The only people who genuinely shouldn’t buy the Scuf Nomad are Android gamers. There are loads of options for you, but the Nomad won’t work.

We’ll have loads of Prime Day gaming deals for you to enjoy from June 23, and our list of the best mobile controllers for gaming will help you decide which to buy. If you want a larger gaming screen, we’re also rounding up Prime Day iPad deals.