The best controllers for gaming on your iPad

The iPad, along with the rest of Apple’s product lineup, has been going through a gaming renaissance lately. With emulators now available on the Apple Watch, it’s no surprise that there’s a ton of games you can play on your iPad. Whether you’re playing your favorite games on Apple Arcade, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, or emulating your favorite retro games, a controller makes almost any type of game even more fun.

However, there are plenty of controllers available for use with the iPad. Almost any Bluetooth-enabled gamepad will work fine with the iPad. With so many controllers available, which one is the easiest to use?

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1 8Bitdo SN30 Pro: Retro and Modern

Perfect for those looking for a simple, portable option

8BitDo SN30 Pro

The SN30 Pro is a fully featured retro controller, with clickable Hall effect joysticks, rumble vibration and a full button set with motion controls.

The 8Bitdo SN30 Pro is hands down my favorite controller of all time. I’ve always loved the Super Nintendo gamepad, and the SN30 Pro is a modern take on it. With the addition of two thumbsticks, triggers, and function buttons, this controller is a great take on the classic gamepad. So what exactly is the best one to use with an iPad?

First of all, it’s super compact. The SN30 Pro is smaller than a standard iPhone and doesn’t take up much space, except for the control sticks. You can store the SN30 Pro in a backpack, purse, oversized pocket, or anywhere you’d store an iPad.

Modeled after the SNES controller, the SN30 Pro is perfect for playing classic games on emulators, but it’s also a great choice for newer titles. If the lack of grips on the controller is a problem for you, you can choose the 8Bitdo Pro 2 instead, which is nearly the same controller but with grips.

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2 Nintendo Joy-Con: A Multifaceted Choice

Perfect for carrying multiple controllers comfortably

Joy-Con Set

Whether you use one controller or two, portrait or landscape, motion controls or buttons, Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch give you maximum gameplay flexibility. Easy-to-use motion controls and HD rumble bring your games to life.

The Joy-Con are perhaps the most innovative controllers in the history of modern gaming. The ability to carry a controller that technically functions as two controllers is incredible. This concept works on the Nintendo Switch, but it also works on the iPad.

You can’t attach the Joy-Con to an iPad, so you don’t get the same level of convenience, but using a grip to carry two Joy-Con is a great option – one controller quickly becomes two. Playing multiplayer games on an iPad is arguably much more appealing than detaching the Joy-Con and playing multiplayer games directly on the Switch.

Of course, the Joy-Cons do have their downsides, the most notable being the infamous drift issue that has affected them ever since the Switch hit the market: the Joy-Cons in the grip can feel less comfortable to use than regular controllers.

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3 DualShock 4: One of Sony’s great products

Great for PlayStation owners

Sony DualShock 4

Dual analog sticks and trigger buttons have an improved feel, shape and sensitivity, giving you greater control no matter what game you’re playing.

If you have a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, you already have a great controller for your iPad. The DualShock 4 and its little brother, the DualSense, are essentially two very similar but great controllers. Sure, the DualSense has some great extra features like haptics, adaptive triggers, and most importantly, USB-C charging. But you shouldn’t ignore the DualShock 4.

Yes, the DualShock 4 charges via micro-USB, for some reason. It feels weird to have to dig out a micro-USB cable for something in 2024. But aside from the small hurdle of digging out the micro-USB cable, I don’t have any particular issues with using the DualShock 4 with an iPad. There are no adaptive triggers or haptics, but for most games you can play on an iPad, that’s not really an issue.

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4 Xbox Series Controller: Batteries not included

Perfect for asymmetric stick purists

Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller

Experience the latest design of the Xbox Wireless Controller, featuring sculpted surfaces and sleek shapes for improved gameplay comfort and up to 40 hours of battery life. Take aim with the hybrid D-pad and textured grips on the triggers, bumpers and back case.

Since the advent of modern dual-stick controllers, there have been two options: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Some people prefer the DualShock’s symmetrical layout, but many others opt for the asymmetrical. For a good asymmetrical stick controller, the Xbox Series Controller is your best bet. It’s virtually identical to the Xbox One controller, but it’s more readily available and has a slight texture on the back and triggers of the controller, making the Xbox Series Controller the better option.

The design of the Xbox controller has remained largely unchanged since the launch of the Xbox 360. There’s a reason for that – it feels great in your hand. Unfortunately, another feature of the Xbox controller has been a constant since the Xbox 360: the battery pack. Xbox controllers use 2 D batteries. A rechargeable battery pack would solve this problem, but it would cost an extra $20. The Xbox controller is great, but it’s a shame it doesn’t have a built-in rechargeable battery, especially if you plan on carrying it around with your iPad.