I found this MagSafe accessory hidden in the CES halls, and am so glad I did

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Ohsnap is finally shipping its $150 Mcon controller after a year of tweaks.
• The Bluetooth controller magnetically mounts an iPhone or Android phone.
• Optional add-ons include a new $70 docking station.

When you spend the first couple of days at CES staring at massive Micro RGB TVs and toying with a tri-foldable phone, you’d think there’s little left that can impress you. Then I picked up Ohsnap’s Mcon controller, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

Thoughtful touches

Using Ohsnap’s Mcon controller is as simple as plopping an iPhone or Android device onto the magnetic pad and flicking outward to reveal an assembly of joysticks and control keys underneath. It’s like a Sidekick meets PSP Go, but better, because the technology driving the whole concoction is your phone.

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What’s unique about the Mcon, and why I’m more bullish on it than competing Bluetooth wireless controllers, is the thoughtful touches that have gone into the design.

There are grips that extend from both sides to give you better ergonomics, a kickstand that keeps your phone upright should you decide to remove the top plate from the controller, and even a new $70 dock accessory that lets you mirror your phone screen onto a monitor or TV to game at a distance.

Peaking at just the right time

In many ways, the Mcon reminds me of a Nintendo Switch, except that this entire device can fit into your pocket or sleeve. 

Considering the popularity of running emulators and cloud gaming on phones nowadays, and the influx of Qi2-enabled Android phones, the Mcon feels like it’s peaking at just the right time. You can buy an Mcon today for $150, with deliveries expected to ship in late January.

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CES is a treasure trove of mysterious tech products, and the best ones for me should just work. You don’t need a fancy keynote to explain things for you, or a celebrity guest appearance to capture your attention. Give me tech that solves a real problem and makes sense in seconds. No fluff, just function. In this case, it’s a pocketable controller that makes mobile gaming so much better.