The Gamevice Flex, a new gaming controller for iOS and Android that seeks to fit almost any phone while keeping your protective cover on, has been provided to us in an exclusive first look.
Gamevice has been manufacturing attachments that you can attach to your phone or tablet to turn it into a portable gaming device for quite some time. These first began as choices developed specifically for a given phone’s need. The Gamevice, for instance, differed between those for Google Pixel phones and Samsung Galaxy phones.
Then the business was able to make their concept more customizable with the Kishi, which was produced by Gamevice but sold under the Razer name. But since smartphones, and particularly Android smartphones, have become bigger, there is now a demand for a controller that is even more adaptable.
The staff at Gamevice were kind enough to provide us with a preview of their upcoming premium controller for iPhones and Android devices before its introduction this fall. You’ll notice some jagged edges and unfinished designs because this controller is still in its early prototype stages and won’t be included in the final version that will be released this fall.
The Gamevice Flex initially has many similarities to the well-known Razer Kishi controller, but closer examination reveals significant improvements. I met with Phillip Hyun, CEO of Gamevice, to better understand what is changing. He said that Gamevice concentrated on three fundamental ideas when creating this new generation of mobile controllers: portability, compatibility, and muscle memory.
The Gamevice Flex maintains the previous models’ collapsible design for portability, making it simple to store the controller in a bag until you need it. It’s still a bit too big to fit in your pocket, unless you like cargo shorts, but it’s still much more portable than many rival controllers.
The concept of muscle memory, or the capacity to play on your mobile device at the same degree of proficiency you would with a standard console controller, is at the heart of the Gamevice Flex’s design. It has never been more important to have your mobile controller feel the same as your primary one with the development of cloud gaming, which enables players to start a game on their Xbox at home and finish it on their phone via Game Pass Streaming.
To that aim, the Gamevice Flex has a somewhat broader and more rounded form that gives you room to wrap your hands around it and grip it comfortably. Additionally, the designers took great care to make the D-pad and buttons feel less mushy and clicky.
The new hall effect triggers, which are now considerably smoother to pull and feel like those on an Xbox controller, follow the same principle. The Gamevice Flex has a full 3.5mm port where you can connect your preferred headset, so your games will even sound the same as they do at home.
These adjustments, along with a number of others, greatly improve the controller’s portability, transforming your iPhone or Android into a device similar to a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, or Steam Deck. I found the Gamevice Flex prototype to be precise and comfortable during my initial testing, just like using a regular Xbox controller.
But the way this controller can be customized to fit your phone and its case is what makes it stand out from the crowd and gives it the Flex moniker. The fact that most mobile gaming controllers are made and optimized for uncased phones is a fundamental problem in this technology. It usually won’t fit well inside a gripping controller while still in its case unless you’re using a phone that is noticeably smaller or has an ultrathin case.
Although every person’s experience will be unique, I personally found that using it on and off for various controllers caused the case for my Pixel 6 Pro to wear out in less than a year. Even if you ignore the risk of damage to the case, using the controller increases the risk of harm to your phone, and you must store your case when playing games.
Gamevice’s developers have come up with a solution, but one that could be a little too clever. Several specifically made spacers will be included with the Gamevice Flex. You will place two spacers, one on the left and one on the right, into the controller, depending on your phone of choice and the thickness of the case you’re using. For individuals who would rather not use a case, there are also softer protective spacers included.
These spacers basically make sure that the Gamevice Flex can hold your phone securely with little to no wiggle room and that the Lightning or USB-C connector is positioned correctly. The business will provide a list of suggested spacers for the most well-liked cases for various iPhone and Android device models to assist you in setting up your preferred case. And if your phone and its case haven’t been tested yet, finding the proper fit should only take a few seconds of trial and error.
Additionally, the Gamevice Flex only needs to be set up once, unless you’re the type of person who constantly changes cases. Every time after that, your phone will just slot into position and you’ll be ready to start gaming in a matter of seconds.
However, because of the structural design of the controllers, wide foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold will not fit in the Gamevice Flex. The corporation is instead concentrating on the conventional smartphones that the majority of people own today.
Pre-orders for both the Android and iPhone versions of the Gamevice Flex are now available now . The price of the (MFi certified) iPhone variant is $109.95, while the price of the Android model is a little lower at $99.95.
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