In a sea of smartphone game controllers with chunky grips, obtrusive analog sticks, and rigid backplates, Ohsnap’s MCON stands out. It’s a gamepad that turns any phone into a supercharged Xperia Play, complete with Hall-effect joysticks, silent buttons, and grips that can extend out of its base. It also has bumper-style triggers and real bumpers. When attached to the back of a phone, the MCON creates a slightly thick but uniform profile that fits easily into a pocket. When you’re ready to start playing, the phone pops up from the gamepad with a satisfying click.
The MCON communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth, no cables or plugging required. It uses MagSafe to connect to iPhones, and for Androids, a MagSafe adapter will be included in the box – it’s simply a 2 millimeter thick disc that sticks to the back of your phone or laptop. hull. This covers virtually all smartphones, and it’s possible to stack multiple connector washers to create space for annoying camera bumps. Ohsnap’s goal is to support iOS, Android, Xbox, PC and Mac, with PlayStation as the quixotic platform.
Ohsnap and MCON creator Josh King showed off the gamepad at CES 2025 with a near-finished prototype. The final version will have silicone tops on the analog sticks, a cover for the spring mechanism and more finesse all around. King said he’s not quite happy with the D-pad yet either. But even in its current form, the MCON is a nice little device. It’s nice to the touch – lightweight but sturdy enough to support and launch a full-size smartphone – and it folds into a compact, easy-to-hold rectangle.
To open it, you have to press two buttons on the top of the controller, behind the connected phone, and it requires just the right amount of finger strength and angle. It took me a few tries to successfully deploy the pop, largely because I have long manicured nails, but I was able to use my real nails to make the magic happen.
When King spotted my Samsung Z Flip 6, he immediately started researching ways to make the foldable work with the MCON. All you would need to do is move the retaining washer slightly so that it can connect to the lower rear quadrant of the phone rather than the center hinge, he explained. He was confident he could make it work and said he had already made sure the Galaxy Z Fold was compatible with MCON. King’s goal is for the MCON to support absolutely all smartphones.
THE MCON Launcher went live on January 2, and four days later it raised more than $740,000 of a $25,000 goal. King’s concept benefited from a little viral fame over the years, and he eventually took the idea to Ohsnap, an established accessory maker focused on MagSafe. With their combined powers, the MCON is expected to ship in August for $150.
