The mobile gaming industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the world today. The graphically mesmerizing Third Person Shooting (TPS) game, PUBG Mobile, has been on top of the pyramid for a while now. As great as this game may be, playing it for long hours can be a little challenging due to the cramped up nature of gaming smartphones. This prompted people to search for a mobile accessory that would compensate for that issue, and the answer came in the form of a PUBG mobile controller. Although choosing the right controller can be confusing, it is nothing that a good buying guide could solve.
What Is a PUBG Mobile Controller
Essentially, a PUBG mobile controller is the same thing as a Call of Duty Mobile controller. After all, these two share the same father in Tencent.
A mobile controller is an external device that can be connected to your gaming phone. This device immediately turns your phone screen into somewhat an external screen since the controls are brought to your hands through the controller. This method of playing closely resembles the way people play using a PlayStation or an Xbox. First-person shooting (FPS) games trace their roots to this mode of playing, which is why a lot of people still crave for the feeling of having a separate controller and a screen.
Before you get hyped, though, there is something you must know. There is actually a fundamental difference between the two most popular FPS mobile games that really affects the topic being discussed here today.
Unlike Call of Duty: Mobile where you could use the PlayStation Remote Play, the official go signal for an official PUBG mobile controller is still in the works. There are a lot of iOS or Android games with controller support out there but, unfortunately, PUBG has not made it to that list. That said, gamers who would like to use a PUBG controller would have to be more resourceful.
What Are the Best PUBG Mobile Controllers for Android and iOS
Call of Duty: Mobile officially supports PS4 and Xbox controllers, which is something that diehard PUBG fans might envy a lot. However, there is actually a workaround in order for you to play PUBG using a mobile controller.
Instead of using devices that would have to be paired with your smartphone, you can simply use accessories that mimic the feel of using controllers. After all, it really is all about the experience.
Here are some options you might consider looking into:
1. COOBILE W10 Mobile Game Controller
The COOBILE W10 Mobile Game controller never fails to make it to the list of PUBG mobile controllers. This controller’s design combines gamepads, trigger buttons, and holders into one. As you can see, it is also formed to resemble the look and feel of a gaming controller that you would often use for consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.
COOBILE W10 can support any device that has a 4- to 6.5-inch screen. It can support any phone that has a width of 3.35 inches and below. The triggers allow you to use both your index fingers for gaming. These triggers can be flipped 180 degrees to allow easier setup. To add to that, the two handles below enable you to save some screen space for your thumbs and for viewing.
This PUBG mobile controller was released back in 2018. It weighs 3.98 ounces and officially measures 5.91 x 5.12 x 1.57 inches. The W10 is actually one of the larger PUBG controller options that you can buy today. A controller with this form can be useful for long-hour gamers who might be struggling to play because of their large hands.
The COOBILE W10 can be bought on Amazon for around $10. It is definitely a good investment for those who are into FPS mobile games that cannot support official controllers yet.
2. DELAM Mobile Game Controller
If you’re not satisfied with using two or even four fingers to play, maybe six will do the trick. With the DELAM PUBG mobile controller’s four-trigger setup, you will be able to use more of your fingers to dominate the competition.
Much like the COOBILE W10, the DELAM controller resembles the design of modern console controllers. DELAM’s device is larger and significantly heavier than the previous option mentioned above. It measures 6.1 x 5.66 x 1.92 inches and weighs 4.8 ounces. However, the most noticeable difference between this and the other options in this article is DELAM’s four-trigger setup.
More triggers mean that you will be able to assign more buttons to the controller. FPS games such as PUBG and CoD: Mobile feature a lot of movements and being able to access those movements faster will result in better performance. With these dedicated buttons, you can have both of your index fingers and middle fingers on the trigger.
The DELAM controller can support Android and iOS devices with screens ranging from 4.7 to 6.5 inches. The handles on the controller can also be adjusted to fit your preferences perfectly.
You can buy the DELAM phone controller on Amazon. It is priced a little more expensive than the COOBILE W10, but that’s because it packs in more adjustment options.
3. GameSir F4 Falcon
With a name like this, you could surely brag about having a PUBG Mobile controller. The GameSir F4 Falcon was built for the gamer on the go. With a rugged and futuristic design, this phone controller is perhaps the most visually appealing option on this list.
Apart from its looks, the F4 Falcon can also boast a lot of its features. First and foremost, the device has a really cool ability called Multi-Tap Mode. This mode enables the device to continuously click your phone’s screen multiple times. Multi-Tap has three options: 3-burst, 6-burst, and 9-burst. These numbers indicate how many times the F4 Falcon can click your phone in a span of a second. Just imagine how useful this feature is for games like PUBG Mobile.
Unlike simpler mobile controllers that use analog technology to press your phone, GameSir’s pocket-sized entry to the gaming accessory industry is fully automated. With that said, buying the F4 Falcon from Amazon may require a bigger budget than the other choices here.
The device requires one AA battery to operate. Despite that, the F4 Falcon only weighs 3.84 ounces since it does not come with a protruding grip. It’s 4.7 x 3 x 2-inch frame can be folded into roughly the size of a flash drive. How cool is that?
If you are looking for a mobile controller that you can easily bring around, this is the obvious choice.
4. IFYOO Z108 Mobile Gaming Controller
The very first mobile controller was simply composed of a pair of triggers that you could place on top of your phone. That design might not have been much but it was good enough, and it still is right now. The IFYOO Z108 PUBG Mobile controller follows the same blueprint as the one its ancestors used.
This product is a pair of triggers that allows users to use their index fingers to play in addition to their thumbs. Each trigger has a pretty good grip that sticks well enough at the back of your phone so you could play more comfortably. This device can be used on any iOS or Android phone that is not more than 11mm thick.
Z108 is totally analog in terms of technology. You wouldn’t have to worry about latency or batteries in this one because it literally is a plug-and-play device. It’s already given that this is the lightest choice on this list. It weighs 0.704 ounces, and each trigger measures 2.99 x 1.77 x 1.1 inches.
Mobile controllers like this are great for simple gamers who prefer holding their phones instead of holding on to a grip like the first two options mentioned above. Also, if you have rather small hands but still want to experience playing with triggers, this would not be a bad choice.
You can get a pair of IFYOO Z108 on Amazon.
Features of a Good Controller
The features of a PUBG Mobile controller would differ from one design to another. As you may have noticed, you can either go for solo triggers or you could try out the ones with grips for a more console-esque experience.
Solo triggers are great for those with small hands – possibly those who are still young. Triggers can be attached to one of the long sides of your phone. After that, all you would need to do is to set up the game and you’re good to go. This process will be discussed in detail in the next section. In terms of features, triggers don’t really offer much apart from the basics. However, your mobile controller can either be battery-operated or running in simple analogs.
On the other hand, controllers with handles offer a lot more bonuses mainly because they have the size and weight for it. The design of the handles is a functional feature itself. If you’re used to the feel of a PlayStation controller, you can get a mobile controller that feels the same. On the other hand, if you’re used to that Xbox feel, you can get a controller with a stubbier built.
Controllers with handles always have triggers. However, unlike triggers, these bigger controllers can feature multiple trigger buttons that can serve as L1R1 and L2R2. You could also check out other designs of these handled mobile controllers because there are some more creative options.
How to Set Up a PUBG Mobile Controller
As promised, this article will also discuss how you can set up your controller. The basic setup of the usual mobile controllers is pretty simple. Unlike controllers for iOS or Android games with controller support, PUBG controller need not be linked and connected to your phone. Since the PUBG mobile controller support movement is still in the works, you would not have to worry about connecting your controllers through Bluetooth.
1. First things first, you would want to attach your mobile controller. Right after that, you need to open PUBG and wait for the game to load.
2. Next up, click on the Settings button, which is located in the lower-right corner of your screen.
3. Choose the Controls option from the tabs located on the right side of the phone. You’ll notice that you will be asked to choose between Classic or Arena. Choose the former option and click on Customize.
4. Once you reach this screen, all you would need to do is to move the buttons you would like your PUBG Mobile controller to trigger. Move them to the upper side of the screen and make sure that your triggers could fully tap them. Your screen should look something like this:
That’s about it!
Pros and Cons of Using a Mobile Controller
Our Verdict
Using mobile controllers can benefit you in a lot of ways. You can easily set it up and customize it to your liking. However, you might need to practice a lot to get used to the feeling. Also, some people might prefer isolated controllers that connect via Bluetooth to your phone. For those who like it simple though, these plug and play controllers are really great investments.
PROS
- Grips and triggers provide a more tactile and ergonomic experience.
- Involving more fingers in the game will lessen the burden for your thumbs.
- There’s faster reaction time.
- You get more screen space.
- They can be easily customized to your liking.
CONS
- Some controllers might actually get you banned from the game.
- It might take some time before you are used to using controllers.
Tips on How to Choose and Use a Controller
Four recommended options were listed earlier in this article, but the number of available PUBG Mobile controllers you can buy is far greater than that. Furthermore, the PUBG mobile controller support may come anytime — although there’s no guarantee to this. So, choosing a controller to use might be a little confusing.
With that said, before you choose and use a controller, be sure to assess your needs properly first. Would you prefer using a controller with handles? If so, how large should the handle be or what shape should it be to achieve comfortable gameplay? These are questions you have to answer beforehand.
In contrast, you might not need a handle at all, and a pair of triggers might be good for you already. Ask yourself then, do you want a battery-powered trigger or something that’s as simple as analog.
Once you’ve found out the perfect grip for your needs, you would want to practice a lot before playing ranking matches. There’s no shame in putting in the work needed to make sure you’re comfortable with your new gadget — especially if you are a streamer.
Wrap-Up
PUBG Mobile controllers provide a more ergonomic experience for casual players of the game. Although these things might not be as grand as using isolated controllers for Android games with controller support, they still get the job done. Be sure to choose wisely and to practice until you’ve gotten the hang of it.
