The games on Android devices become more and more spectacular from the graphic point of view, to the point of having nothing to envy to the portable consoles still on the market. The only real limit of games on Android is related to gameplay, inevitably linked to the limits of the touchscreen in being able to emulate the buttons and features required to play. If we wanted to make the most of the new gaming games on Android, all we have to do is connect a classic controller and start playing as if we were in front of the TV or PC monitor. We see in this guide how to connect a controller to the Android smartphone to play ; we will show you how to connect controllers for classic consoles and dedicated controllers.
READ ALSO -> 35 best Android games of the year on the Play Store
1) Connect Xbox One controller
If we have an Xbox One controller with Bluetooth technology (we can recognize it because it does not have the cover mask around the X button) we can connect it to recent Android devices (at least Android 6.0) using the Bluetooth connection, as if we were adding a pair of headphones or earphones! First of all we turn on the controller by pressing the X button, then we hold the association button (present in the middle of the rear buttons) for at least 3 seconds.
The X button will start to flash quickly, ready to be associated with a new device. Now we take our Android smartphone, activate Bluetooth from the Settings menu and check that the controller is displayed among the paired devices (make sure that the smartphone and controller are less than 2 meters away). Just tap on the Xbox Wireless Controller item to associate it with the Android device.
The controller will stop flashing (the X light will remain steady) and we can immediately use it in games compatible with controller inputs (car games for example). Note : Not all smartphones are compatible with the Xbox One controller, resulting in connection errors or PIN association errors. Make sure you have at least Android 6.0 and Bluetooth 4.2 to be able to use the controller correctly.
2) Connect PlayStation 4 controller
The controller of the PlayStation 4 is definitely more compatible with Android smartphones, since the procedure for pairing it is very simple. We turn on our controller and turn on Bluetooth on our Android smartphone, then simultaneously press the PS button (in the center) and the Share button (top left) for a few seconds.
The controller will light up ready to be paired; now we open the Bluetooth menu from the Settings and tap on the item related to the PS4 controller. The two devices will immediately communicate and it will be possible to wirelessly play all the games compatible with the inputs from the controller.
3) Connect controller via cable
If we have an old Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 controller or one of those sub-brand controllers that are cheap, we can use them on Android smartphones via USB cable and OTG adapter. Let's get a USB OTG cable for our smartphone, like the one available here -> Rankie USB OTG adapter (6 €).
If we have the new smartphones with USB Type-C socket, we can buy the USB OTG adapter present here -> USB Type-C OTG adapter (12 €).
Once the right USB OTG adapter is connected, simply use a USB cable compatible with the controllers we have to be able to use it on our smartphone, without any problem. For sub-brand controllers, the cable offered in the package or any USB cable in our possession is fine, while for the Xbox 360 or PS3 controllers we must use the connection cables provided or use the cables available below.
- Neuftech - USB cable for Xbox 360 (€ 5)
- UGREEN Mini USB Cable for PS3 Gamepad (8 €)
In the case of the PS3 controller, we will also have to use the free app downloadable from here -> Sixaxis Enabler .
4) Connect the dedicated controllers to Android devices
In addition to connecting the controllers of the consoles, in order to play on Android we can rely on the dedicated controllers for mobile devices, which support the device in one shell and offer Bluetooth connectivity with maximum compatibility, so that we can play outside the home as if we had a real console portable. The best dedicated smartphone controllers are available below:
- EasySMX ESM-9013 (20 €)
- Wrcibo Game Controller Gamepad (24 €)
- PowerLead PL184CN (€ 25)
- GameSir T1 (€ 30)
- Docegaer ipega PG-9083 Bluetooth Gamepad (32 €)
- GameSir T1s (€ 37)
- GameSir G4s (45 €)
The structure of these controllers is very similar among all models; there are the classic controller buttons and, at the top, there is a small adjustable bracket where you can fix the smartphone, as if it were the controller display.
The connection takes place via Bluetooth (in a very similar way to when already seen for the PS4 controller) and the internal battery will allow you to play your favorite titles for hours on your smartphone without having to use the touch controls. Another variant of these dedicated controllers allows you to place your smartphone at the center of the controller commands, so you can get a sort of cutting-edge portable console even with wide display devices. It's up to us to choose the variant we like best to play!
READ ALSO: The best Joypads to play on PC with any game
5) Use controllers in incompatible games
It may happen that, using one of the controllers indicated above, some games do not work correctly or are not compatible with the physical buttons. In that case we can solve with a free app for Android like Tincore Keymapper, available here -> Tincore Keymapper .
With this app we can map all the buttons of the controllers to make them coincide with the pressure of the button on the screen or to emulate the gyroscope effect, so as to make compatible any game in the Play Store even those that natively do not support the controller buttons.
READ ALSO -> 25 3D racing car games, car and motorbike races .
