The RiotPWR RP1950 Cloud Gaming Controller solves an issue for iPhone avid gamers: the controller plugs into the Lightning port in in the present day’s fashions, but additionally into the USB-C port that might be within the iPhone 15. In the interim, the controller may also be used with the numerous iPad fashions that use USB-C.
I field-tested RiotPWR’s newest controller and its detachable iPhone mount. I perceive why Apple likes it sufficient to place within the on-line Apple Retailer.
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RiotPWR RP1950 Cloud Gaming Controller evaluate
Easy video games like Indignant Birds get a lot of the consideration, however an iPhone can deal with some actually refined video games. That features PUBG Cell, Name of Obligation Cell and lots of extra … particularly when you think about all the nice choices in Apple Arcade. After which there are cloud gaming providers like Xbox Cloud and Amazon Luna that permit gamers take pleasure in console-quality titles.
On iPhone or iPad, these high-end video games are playable with on-screen controls however an exterior recreation controller makes them rather more pleasurable. Happily, iOS and iPadOS assist one of these accent proper out of the field — no further software program mandatory.
Plug the RiotPWR RP1950 Cloud Gaming Controller into your gadget and also you’re able to go. And you’ll be assured you’ll nonetheless have the ability to plug into your future iPhone, too.
It’s not wi-fi so that you don’t should pair it or cost it. Plug and play all the best way.
And iPhone video games will respect the detachable mount that holds the handset up can see the display whereas enjoying.
Excellent Xbox-like recreation controller
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The RiotPWR RP1950 mimics the design of an Xbox controller, and does an excellent job of it. I’ve spent just a few hundred hours holding a Microsoft controller through the years, and this third-party product feels remarkably like a normal one. All of the buttons, sticks, bumpers, triggers, and many others., are proper the place they’re imagined to be.
They usually really feel very almost the identical. Whereas there are very, slight variations in really feel, the official buttons, sticks, and many others. don’t really feel higher, simply barely totally different. And I wouldn’t discover in any respect if I wasn’t doing an in depth comparability.
There is a distinction I seen instantly: RiotPWR’s controller is far lighter than my wi-fi Xbox one. That’s as a result of the third-party choice doesn’t want an inner battery. It’s wired to your iPhone or iPad, and will get its energy from the gadget.
Swap between Lightning and USB-C
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Some avid gamers desire the liberty of motion that comes with a wi-fi controller, however others desire staying wired. I like that wired controllers by no means run out of battery energy. And there’s additionally the reassurance that there’ll by no means be any lag from a Bluetooth connection.
The RiotPWR RP1950 comes with each a Lightning cable and a USB-C one. Plug one or the opposite into the highest of the controller. Swapping them out is straightforward, however don’t fear about them by accident coming unfastened — you want a paper clip, needle or pin to release the cable.
Plug the Lightning cable into your iPhone and also you’re instantly able to recreation. The handset acknowledges the controller with out you having to do something. The one slight complication is you must have the controller linked earlier than you open the sport.
Swap to the USB-C cable to plug the RiotPWR RP1950 right into a present iPad. And when the iPhone 15 launches in 2023 with a USB-C port, as everybody expects, plug this cable into that handset.
As I’ve alluded to, the controller makes use of the cable to get energy from the iPhone or iPad. You by no means must cost it, or fear about working the battery down throughout an extended gaming session. And RiotPWR additionally included a Lightning pass-through charging port so you may juice up your gadget whilst you recreation.
Sport controller with helpful iPhone mount
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A distinction you’ll discover instantly when evaluating the RiotPWR RP1950 to a Microsoft or Sony one is the built-in iPhone mount.
It holds your iPhone the place you may simply see it. A padded, adjustable clamp can deal with iPhones in quite a lot of sizes. And also you don’t should take away your handset’s protecting case to play.
A hinge within the mount lets you change the angle the iPhone display is pointing. It really works wonderful. However rival mounts have two hinges giving extra flexibility in how the hand held is positioned when gaming. It’s not a serious flaw, however I did miss the second hinge.
The mount plugs right into a slot on the entrance of the controller. It’s simply detachable when carrying the gadget round, or if you wish to put to your iPhone on a desk notepad.
Let’s begin gaming
The RiotPWR RP1950 can deal with each common video games and cloud-gaming providers. I examined it with each, in fact.
I began with considered one of my all-time favorites, the traditional Lego Star Wars: TCS. It’s a recreation I’m very accustomed to, making it excellent for testing equipment. Subsequent, I went to Oceanhorn 2, the very best RPG on Apple Arcade. Then I performed some Diablo Immortal. The sport controller carried out each bit in addition to I may hope in all of those. There’s completely no lag, simply as one would count on with a wired controller like this one.
To see how effectively the RP1950 handles cloud gaming, I examined it with Amazon Luna.
I don’t need every little thing I check to be an RPG, so I fired up Horizon Chase Turbo. And I like traditional video games, so I attempted the controller with Earthworm Jim. There’s very, little or no lag when utilizing a wi-fi controller with Luna+, however it was even much less with this wired one. It’s virtually the identical as utilizing Amazon’s personal controller designed particularly for this on-line service.
There’s a model of this product referred to as the RiotPWR Controller for iOS (Xbox Version) that I reviewed in 2022, and I examined that extensively with Microsoft’s cloud-gaming service. It carried out very effectively, and I’m assured the identical is true for all variations of the product, contemplating the most important distinction between them is the colour of the casing.
If you happen to don’t like the usual button format. iOS/iPadOS permits you to change it. Every button, set off, and many others. will be reconfigured. Go to Settings > Normal > Sport Controller to get began.
RiotPWR RP1950 Cloud Gaming Controller last ideas
Photograph: RiotPwr
I like plug-and-play units, and that describes this recreation controller completely. Simply plug it into your iPhone or iPad and begin enjoying. It simply swaps between handsets, and can work with future iPhones, too.
The RP1950 does an excellent job of mimicking an Xbox controller, and it has options Microsoft’s doesn’t.
I perceive why Apple likes this accent sufficient to record it in its on-line retailer.
★★★★☆
Pricing
The brand new RiotPWR RP1950 controller is accessible at completely from Apple.
Worth: $69.99.
The place to purchase: Apple
I already talked about RiotPWR Controller for iOS (Xbox Version). That’s basically this identical product, besides in white and inexperienced. But it surely comes with solely the Lightning cable, with the USB-C one bought individually.
Rival recreation controllers
Certain, you may play video games with Microsoft’s personal Xbox wi-fi controller. Or use one of many Sony wi-fi controllers. These are additionally supported by iOS. However as a result of they use Bluetooth, you need to pair them and cost them. And also you’ll want to purchase a separate mount for them, too.
There are different rival third-party choices, too. Don’t miss my record of the very best iPhone recreation controllers.
RiotPRW supplied Cult of Mac with a evaluate unit for this text. See our critiques coverage, and take a look at different in-depth critiques of Apple-related objects.
