The best Xbox Game Pass streaming accessories are worth your time if you’re looking for a portable-friendly way to play your favorite Xbox games. Xbox Cloud Gaming is still relatively new tech, but is nonetheless an excellent service that lets players stream their favorite Xbox Game Pass titles on iOS, Android and Windows devices via WiFi or data. These make an excellent alternative to the best Xbox controllers and the best PC controllers if you’re interested in game streaming on your phone.
But we hear you; mobile touch controls aren’t exactly ideal for console games. Thankfully, you’ll find there’s a wealth of dedicated controllers and grips for your phone that become powerful accessories for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Purchasing one means you can play the best Xbox Series X games portably in a cost effective manner with real, physical controls.
Best for iPhone
iPhone owners will be best served with the Backbone One controller for their streaming needs.
Best for Android
Android users have more options in this area, but the Razer Kishi wins out thanks to superb build quality.
Best budget
The GameSir X2s Type-C offers excellent buttons and smart connectivity at a budget-friendly price.
Best conventional
A controller and a streaming accessory, the XP5-X Plus provides an all-in-one solution for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Best phone clip
For those after a dedicated clip, the MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 provides an affordable way to attach your phone and controller together for cloud gaming.
Best for smaller hands
8BitDo’s awesome SN30 controller is an excellent fit for those of you with smaller hands.
Best Xbox Game Pass Streaming Accessories in 2024
✅ You want a robust, all-in-one iOS controller: With iOS options being few and far between, the Backbone One offers an elegant solution with comfy build quality, great buttons and a dedicated Backbone app shortcut.
❌ You want to keep your phone case on: While it’ll fit most iPhone sizes, the controller unfortunately doesn’t take bulkier phone cases into account.
The Backbone One iOS easily stands takes our top spot for the best Xbox Game Pass streaming accessory if you’ve got an iPhone handy. There’s very little that we were able to fault this mobile controller on in our testing, as we found its overall construction to be head and shoulders above many other offerings in its price bracket.
The Backbone One iOS retails for $99.99 / £99.99 meaning it’s not quite the cheapest offering you’ll find to get rigged up to Xbox Game Pass, but we think it justifies its reasonable price tag with its excellent build quality and features. The sticks and buttons here feel on par with the latest console controllers, and we found in our testing that the iPhones of choice were held in securely but not too tightly, too.
There’s also intuitive software here that you won’t find from some similarly priced competitors either. This includes the likes of button mapping as well as screen capture and social overlays, meaning that it’s really easy to get creative if you’re someone who wants to record or take snapshots as you play Xbox Game Pass streaming games. Nothing really compares if you’re an iOS user for the money really.
Read more: Backbone One iOS review
✅ You’re after peak responsiveness: The Razer Kishi offers some of the most impressively low latency for mobile controllers – an essential feature for cloud streaming.
❌ You need customization: With a baffling lack of support for alternate button mapping, you’re stuck with the default settings.
We think that the Razer Kishi is the best Xbox Game Pass streaming accessory if you’ve got an Android phone. Even though it’s been replaced by a V2 model, the original still has a lot to offer. Arguably the most compelling reason to go with the first-generation is the price point, as it’s now entirely possible to get your hands on this Junglecat successor for just $39.99 / £64 in the US and the UK respectively.
Regardless of that substantial of a discount though, you’re likely always guaranteed to find it substantially cheaper than the original launch MSRP of $79.99 / £79.99 depending on where you are in the world. In our testing, we found that the Razer Kishi is a remarkably built and tactile mobile controller which benefitted beautifully from its sleek and small form factor.
We found that many different sizes of Android phone fit just fine inside the Razer Kishi thanks to its extendable nature, but some of the biggest ones on the market may struggle. In our opinon, we found this gamepad to be every bit as hardwearing and ergonomic as the current Xbox Wireless Controller and the DualSense models in terms of buttons and sticks as well. If you game on the go and use an Android phone, you can’t do much better at this price point.
Read more: Razer Kishi review
✅ You need peace of mind: Thanks to the adjustable Type-C connector, you can rest assured you’ll be able to slot in your phone without causing undue damage.
❌ You play with wired headphones: The X2s Type-C lacks a headphone jack, so you won’t be able to use any wired headphones with the device.
The GameSir X2s Type-C mobile controller seriously impresses as a budget device, so much so that it’s easy to recommend over pricier peers. We love its retro-inspired aesthetic that calls to mind the color scheme of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. And on top of that, design flourishes like those lovely micro switch buttons allow for satisfying and responsive play on mobile.
One of our favorite features here is definitely the Type-C connector the controller is named after. That might sound strange, but it’s easily the GameSir X2s’s unique selling point. That’s because it operates on a swivel, allowing owners to efficiently slide their phone into place without risk of damaging the device or the controller itself.
Being a budget pad, though, you can expect some minor drawbacks. Overall build quality isn’t quite up to par with the likes of the Razer Kishi or indeed the Backbone One, being instead built with rather hollow-feeling plastic. There’s also no headphone jack, so you’ll be relying on wireless headphones or earbuds. That said, these are only minor gripes and fairly feasible drawbacks given the low price point.
Read more: GameSir X2s Type-C mobile controller review
✅ You prefer the feel of a traditional controller: Shaped like the Xbox Wireless Controller, owners will feel at home with the XP5-X Plus.
❌ The wonky clip concerns you: It’s not terrible, but the included phone clip can be quite intrusive, getting in the way of some of the central function buttons.
The PowerA Moga XP5-X Plus looks like an Xbox Series X Controller, but this is 100% a pad for streaming on the go. It’s a Bluetooth controller with a clip-on phone holder that offers 220 degrees of rotation. This effectively means you can angle the screen as you like, thanks to the dual hinge mechanism in the phone stand.
With its reasonable asking price of around $55 / £51 depending on colorway, the PowerA Moga XP5-X Plus is the full package as you’re effectively paying less for a dedicated controller and a clip than you would for both together in most instances.
It accommodates phones up to 79mm wide, which covers the majority, including some housed in their cases. So why opt for the Mega XP5-X when you could pick up Xbox’s official pad and a clip-on accessory for less? Because it comes with a 3,000mAh power bank, so you can play without killing your phone’s battery.
Read more: PowerA Moga XP5-X Plus review
✅ You’d just like to play with a controller: Want to use a compatible controller you already own? All you’ll need is this clip.
❌ You’re after a dedicated device: There’s not much to say beyond that this is just the clip and doesn’t come with any additional controller or features.
In terms of the best phone clip for Xbox Game Pass streaming, the PowerA MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 is a hard value proposition to argue against. Priced at $14.99 / £9.99, this revised addon for your existing Xbox gamepad attaches to the top and holds your phone in place ready for gaming on the go.
As the name may suggest, this is the second edition of what we consider to be the best clip of its kind and that’s thanks to its durable nature and ergonomic fit for the latest Microsoft controllers on the market right now. If you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful that does the job from a reliable brand then we can wholeheartedly endorse this one for what it is.
✅ You dig symmetrical sticks and retro design: This is an aesthetically pleasing gamepad with symmetrical analog sticks.
❌ You’d prefer something with more grip: It is a smaller controller overall, and thus may not be suited to those with larger hands.
8Bitdo is a purveyor of fine third-party pads for many platforms, which bear resemblance to SNES controllers. All use the same core hardware, but hunt down the specific “for Xbox Cloud Gaming” unit to pair with Xbox Game Pass. It features the iconic Xbox button, an (almost) all-black paint job, and comes with the 2-axis clip that connects the pad to a phone.
Other than some remnants of retro charm, its size is a key appeal: the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro For Xbox Cloud Gaming is smaller than an Xbox pad. This makes it handy for portable use. In addition, it weighs just 111g, which is less than half the weight of an Xbox One Controller without batteries, and the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro For Xbox Cloud Gaming has an 18-hour lithium rechargeable battery built in.
Again, that’s great for bag-stashing, but not ideal for balancing a larger phone, which could easily weigh 200g on its own. Despite its small size, the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro For Xbox Cloud Gaming makes room for all the primary Xbox pad buttons, including dual triggers on each side.
What devices work with Game Pass streaming?
Game Pass streaming works on pretty much any device that has a display and can run through a solid internet connection. For many, this could be the smartphone in your pocket, but as there’s no processing power involved, you can also use the likes of a work laptop or a Chromebook, too.
Can I play Game Pass without an Xbox?
You don’t necessarily need an Xbox Series X or Series S to enjoy Game Pass as any device capable of streaming the service gets you access to over 300 titles. You may have the best experience from a pick up and play point of view if you’re also a console gamer, but that’s not strictly necessary here.
How fast does my internet need to be for Game Pass streaming?
Microsoft recommends a high speed internet connection of at least 10 Mbps on mobile devices and 20 Mbps on console, which is fairly average and less demanding as rates go. Of course, a faster connection is going to mean a smoother experience in a higher resolution, so if you’ve got rates far above these then you will be absolutely fine.
The best Xbox Game Pass streaming accessories we review are tested primarily by ease of use. As game streaming will be a new concept for many, it’s important to know you’re buying a relatively plug-and-play product. We also ensure to test products that support a variety of operating systems, while also keeping budget into account, too.