Six accessories for hardcore mobile gamers

Smartphones have come a long way over the years. They have progressively become better at each and every feature they carry, whether you're talking about audio quality, high-end graphics, or touch-screen responsiveness, and this has also made them pretty interesting gaming machines.

Users buy smartphones based on features that suit their needs. An audiophile will look for the best sound performance, and a movie buff will pick the phone with the best screen. This reporter wants a better gaming experience in his hands.

But there's still room for improvement in our phones, and that's why there are plenty of gamers who aren't satisfied with the experience of playing on our phones. If you are tired of watching those tiny characters under your thumbs while playing a game, then buying the right smartphone gaming accessory can make a big difference.


We looked at some affordable, yet eye-catching, smartphone accessories that aim to revamp the gaming experience for gamers. We looked at not just gamepads but extras like headphones and battery chargers, because there's more to the experience than just buttons.

Controllers
Touchscreens are great, and some really unique games have come up with these new control schemes in mind. But when you want to play an old school game - there's nothing better than a controller you can hold. Here are our picks.
Logitech Powershell Gaming Controller + Battery for iPhone
Logitech, a firm better known for its PC mouse and keyboard accessories, launched its Logitech Powershell Gaming Controller a while ago. The device costs around Rs. 6,300 online and aside from delivering a superior gaming experience, it also acts as an extended battery for the smartphone, delivering an extra 1500mAh (almost the same as the iPhone 5s whose battery is 1570mAh).

Logitech is using Apple's new Bluetooth protocol, and this gamepad can only be used with the iPhone 5 onwards, and the iPod Touch 5th generation.

The Logitech Powershell Gaming Controller looks like a stretched version of an iPhone 5/5s, or a squarer version of Sony PSP. While one side includes the navigation keys, the other side comes with different 'X', 'Y', 'B' and 'A' function keys. The iOS device (iPhone 5/5s or iPod Touch 5th Generation) is placed in between acting as the screen, and connects to the gamepad using the lightning port.

The gamepad also includes a 3.5mm headphone slot so you can connect your headphones without removing the controller. One can even make a call and access other functionalities of the smartphone like listening to music or snapping images, lock/unlock the phone and more, all while keeping the gamepad installed.
MOGA Pro Controller for Android 2.3+
MOGA is a brand that this reporter believes most gamers should be aware of thanks to the MOGA Pro Controller for Android 2.3+. While the Logitech Powershell is iOS only, Android users can try the MOGA Pro Controller, which easily justifies the price tag it comes with.

Costing around Rs. 3,700, the MOGA Pro Controller for Android is a console-type controller, with a flexible smartphone stand that you use to attach your phone horizontally on top of the controller.

The stand can accommodate devices with up to 3.2-inches width. For reference, a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is 3.12 inches wide, while a Micromax Canvas 4 is 2.87 inches wide.

The controller looks like the Microsoft Xbox One controller, and looks comfortable for long gaming sessions and gives a better hold, thanks to its rubberized grip. Besides a comfortable grip and buttons, the MOGA Pro Controller is also wire free as it connects to smartphones via Bluetooth; and not only smartphones but tablets also. A tablet stand comes included with the device package.

Talking about the batteries, the MOGA Pro Controller for Android comes with internal rechargeable batteries and can be charged via a USB connection. The controller can however prove to be a drawback for those smartphones which run on Android OS versions lesser than 2.3 Gingerbread.
Also, while one could carry the Logitech Powershell Controller literally everywhere as it is truly portable it would be a bit difficult to carry the MOGA Pro Controller because of its bulky design.

Sound
Mobile displays have become bigger and better steadily over time, but those loudspeakers are still pretty tiny. If you're really trying to enjoy a game, then you need to have headphones. Our picks are balanced to let you wear them comfortably for long, enjoy every bit of gunfire, and still not cost a bomb.