Abxylute launches M5 and M6 phone gamepads on Kickstarter
Abxylute has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the M5 and M6 mobile gamepads, which attach to Android and iPhone handsets to give them console-style controls, with early-bird prices starting at $59.
According to Abxylute, the M5 and M6 were designed in response to feedback received after the launch of its earlier M4 controller, with players asking for larger joysticks, a fuller grip and more comfort during long sessions. Like the M4, the M6 attaches magnetically to the back of a phone, but the body is now considerably larger and shaped to sit more comfortably in the hands. Abxylute also offers an optional magnetic grip attachment intended to improve ergonomics further.
The M6 uses a sliding rail that opens to expose its face buttons, a mechanism the company compares to the Sony Xperia Play, which similarly slides open to reveal a full gamepad. Controls include a D-pad, XYAB buttons, capacitive thumbsticks and linear Hall Effect triggers with a hair-trigger mode for shorter travel. A customizable Z button sits toward the right corner; it defaults to L3 or R3 and supports multi-step macros so a single press can carry out a complex in-game action. The controller adds six-axis gyro control for motion-based games and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless play, though it can also be connected directly to a device. A 500mAh battery provides up to 10 hours of gameplay.
The M5 is aimed at players who want something more pocketable. Abxylute said it is lightweight and measures 8.5mm at its thinnest point, and the focus on portability comes with omissions: the M5 has no ambient lighting, no motion controls and no battery, so it must be physically connected to a phone to work. It also drops the capacitive thumbsticks and Hall Effect triggers found on the M6. It does add two features the M6 lacks, pass-through charging and dedicated L3 and R3 buttons.
Both controllers work with the Abxy app, which Abxylute describes as a hub for launching emulators, starting games and playing in the cloud. The app also allows users to customize control layouts and adjust thumbstick sensitivity, and on the M6 it lets players drag individual on-screen controls to assign them to a physical button.
The Kickstarter campaign is live now. The M6 carries a standard price of $89.99 and the M5 $84.99, reduced to $69 and $65 at regular Kickstarter pricing. An early-bird deal lowers those figures to $65 and $59. Abxylute is also offering backers an M5 Founder's Edition with a translucent green shell. The company has not announced a retail release date for either controller.