A few weeks ago, 8BitDo announced the launch of a new “pro” controller at CES 2026 at CES 2026. While this controller should be unveiled during the technology event which begins on January 6, 8BitDo surprised us by revealing another controller, which it calls FlipPad.
The 8BitDo FlipPad is designed specifically for smartphones, but while it is not 8BitDo’s first smartphone controller, the FlipPad is designed to play games in portrait mode, unlike the 8BitDo FlipPad, which is not a smartphone controller, but an 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller (available on Amazon for $49.99), which requires owners to use their phone in landscape mode.
The FlipPad has a Type-C connector that plugs into your phone’s USB-C port; it then flips over the bottom half of the screen, like old-school flip cell phones. The controller is made up of a black D-Pad, burgundy ABXY buttons, gray Start and Select buttons and six white buttons whose functions are currently unknown.
As shown in the overview video above, the 8BitDo FlipPad carries over the G Classic design theme that 8BitDo frequently uses for its controllers, such as the 8BitDo Pro 3, but we expect there to be other colors.
8BitDo claims that the controller works with Android and iOS devices and is officially supported by Apple. However, there is no information on pricing, although that may change soon when the company makes a full announcement at CES later this week. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a bit before you can get your hands on the FlipPad, since 8BitDo says it will arrive this summer.
When 8BitDo’s FlipPad launches, it will face stiff competition from rivals, such as the Abxylute M4 Snap-On Controller and MCON Magnetic Controller.
