Gamevice has brought the big guns this year with their release of the world’s first and only mobile game controller that is compatible with thousands of phone cases, both official and third-party! If this seems like a very ambitious project, well, that's because it is! The Gamevice Flex aims to be your final frontier for your mobile gaming needs and is destined to satisfy your mobile gaming needs for years to come. The device is designed to be flexible to your needs, whether you change phones every year or every few months. Maybe you go through phone cases multiple times a year? Either way, the Gamevice Flex is designed for ultimate compatibility, and it surely delivers on all fronts. I really enjoyed my time with this controller and plan to use it as my main mobile gaming unit. Alright, let's get into the specifics.
What’s In The Box
Before we get started, it's worth mentioning that although the Gamevice Flex is designed for Xbox Cloud Gaming, it is still fully compatible with PlayStation Remote Play, Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, and Apple Arcade (iPhone Unit), along with many others. Gamevice has mentioned that they will continue to update the Gamevice Flex as other cloud gaming services are released, in order to maintain universal compatibility.
Opening the box you will find the expertly crafted controller (iPhone or Android), user guide, Case Adapter Selector, 2 pairs of interchangeable phone adapters, and 16 interchangeable case adapters. The box also includes one month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, that way you can enjoy everything the controller has to offer right out of the box.
You will probably notice that I did not mention a charging cable, and that is because there is no need for one! The controller has a built-in lightning connector for iPhone and USB C for Android. The controller uses this for a direct low-latency connection and utilizes minimal battery consumption from your phone.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
This is truly the closest I have seen and felt to an Xbox controller for mobile gaming. The thumbsticks are usually a huge turnoff from other mobile game controllers because they are either too small or too stiff and feel “cheap.” This is not the case for the Gamevice Flex. These thumbsticks, along with all of the buttons, feel like console quality. The movement is smooth and the tension feels similar to Microsofts very own. Gamevice did an excellent job at emulating the console experience and that goes a long way.
The triggers have a hall effect, meaning they have depth. You won't find short “back” buttons, no, you truly have “triggers” that feel close to the real thing. The controller is also surprisingly light even though it delivers on these console-quality buttons and sticks. I was very impressed all around at how well this controller felt in my hands, I honestly was contemplating how I can use it as a second controller for my Xbox. The controller looks sleek, with no fancy colors, just basic black which gives it a very attractive look. It is extremely compact and is easy to store when on the go, just a tad smaller than its official Xbox counterpart.
The ease of use blows my mind and really makes this a must-have. There is no need to remove your phone case with the included plastic adapters. I must say, I was a little apprehensive at first about having to use plastic adapters in order to fit the phone with the case on. I was worried that the adapters might be flimsy and easily break but those concerns were quickly shot down. These adapters are not brittle and once you find your phone’s proper fit with its case you won't have to remove the adapters until you change phone cases. This is the epitome of convenience and I’m all for it.
The box includes 16 different adapters and there are a ton of different combinations that can be used to ensure that you find the right fit for your phone case. The brilliant thing is that it is super simple to determine which combination you need. Gamevice has a quickstart video to help guide you on how to find the perfect fit and there is an included Case adapter selector guide in the box that helps you measure the width of your phone in its case. I was expecting frustration but instead was extremely pleased and surprised at the ease of use.
It is also important to note that although the Gamevice Flex is compatible with thousands of phone cases, it is not compatible with all. Some third-party or after-market cases are very thick near the charging port. These cases tend to have a hard time being compatible with the flex since it needs a direct connection in order to function. If the case is too thick in this area then the controller will not connect. This did happen to me, but luckily I did have another phone case handy to try it out.
Gaming on the Gamevice Flex felt great and seemed like an extension of my Xbox and PlayStation. I appreciated the Gamevice app, serving as a hub for most of my game streaming services, but to be honest the app was my least favorite aspect of the Gamevice Flex. It really just serves as an advertisement for games that can be played, but ultimately you will need to open the individual game streaming app to play the game.
Specs and Special Features
iPhone - Compatible with iPhone 7 and higher, requiring iOS 14 or better.
Android - Fully compatible with most Android models with the exception of the Samsung Z Fold series and the Republic of Gamers phone series.
The controller can be used on phones with or without a phone case.
The Gamevice Flex delivers console-quality buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks.
One month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included.
Compatible with thousands of phone cases. You can check the site here for compatibility.
3.5mm headphone jack compatibility.
Uninterrupted gaming on the go - Lighting (iPhone) or USB C (Android) pass-through charging if your phone needs to charge.
Plug-and-play functionality, compatible with nearly all cloud gaming services.
The simplicity here is what truly makes this controller a step above the rest. Using the included Case Adapter Selector to help pinpoint which combination of adapters will properly fit your phone case, the rest is history. No need to mess with adapters every time you want to play. The adapter fits snugly in the controller at all times until you change cases or decide to remove your case from your phone. It's a genius system that solves an age-old issue of having to constantly remove your phone case just to game. That is no longer a problem with the Gamevice Flex. Not only are you getting convenience here, but you are also getting a rock-solid console-quality controller that's truly hard to beat.
What It Could Have Done Better
I really love the way this controller feels in my hands and I appreciate the hall effect triggers along with the precision thumbsticks. However, I do wish the D-Pad was a bit more clicky than what's being offered. By no means is the D-Pad bad, it's fine, but since everything else mimics the Xbox gamepad so well, the D-Pad is blatantly the most different. Again, the D-Pad is good quality, but comparing it to the console before it, this would be the one minor thing I would like improved in the next model.
There are no wireless options here so using this with a tablet is probably not going to happen. This controller is clearly meant for phones only, which is fine. I just think that including a Bluetooth option would have made the deal that much sweeter. The controller collapses into the perfect size for tablet gaming. Having the best of both worlds, wired and wireless, would have been killer.
Verdict
This is hands down one of the best mobile game controllers we have ever had the pleasure to use. We absolutely recommend the Gamevice Flex whether you are on team iPhone or team Android, it is one of the smartest gaming peripherals on the market. Convenience, console quality ergonomics, and portability. This is literally all you need and the Gamevice Flex delivers all of that.
The Gamevice Flex is available now for iPhone and Android and can be purchased on their website and at major retailers, like Amazon.
