GameSir Pocket has transformed my phone into a tasty Game Boy alternative, but it's more than just a mobile controller

I’m going level with you - I originally thought the GameSir Pocket Taco was going to be a complete waste of time. I’ve tried my fair share of “Game Boy” mobile controllers over the years, and they all leave me wondering why I’m not just playing on a handheld. Yet, this cheeky little gizmo has actually wrangled into my device ecosystem, proving itself to be a great retro gamepad.

Priced at $26, it’s worth stressing that the GameSir Pocket Taco isn’t stating a claim to the best mobile controller throne, nor is it a threat to most retro gamepads. Where this Game Boy-inspired doohickey does shine is when it comes to messing around with Nintendo’s back catalogue on either a phone or one of the best retro consoles that benefits from a 16-bit era layout. Simply put, there are use cases for this compact set of buttons beyond just playing Pokémon on your doomscroller, and that ultimately saves the pad from irrelevance.

Are there better controllers out there for playing Game Boy games? Absolutely, but the Pocket Taco’s strengths are situational. By going a step further with features that are easily taken for granted, like a built-in rechargeable battery and Bluetooth support, GameSir has set expectations that upcoming rivals like the 8BitDo FlipPad could fail to meet.

Design

It’s easy to make assumptions about controllers before getting hands on, and I had pegged the Pocket Taco as yet another awkward phone add-on. I’m not particularly a fan of strapping gamepads onto smartphone handsets, and again, it leaves me questioning why I’m not using a handheld that’s free from notifications, distractions, and has the buttons already baked in. Perhaps this is all residual frustration from trying to use Hyperkin’s Smartboy, which has a very chonky housing with the buttons integrated. It also happens to use a specific app since it boasts a cartridge slot at the back, but believe me when I say the experience was too janky to enjoy.

But I digress, the Pocket Taco tries its best to feel like a controller in its own right rather than just a phone attachment. Yes, the whole design philosophy here is that your device acts like the filling, sandwiched between a front Game Boy button panel and a back slab with shoulder buttons on top. The two halves are on a hinge, which lets it slide and grip the bottom of your phone in a way that accommodates different thicknesses and case designs.

The important thing to note here is that you won’t be actually plugging anything into your phone, as the Pocket Taco uses Bluetooth for connectivity by default. There is a USB-C port at the top for charging and wired play, so you could theoretically plug it in, but you won’t be jamming connectors together a la Backbone One or the GameSir G8 Galileo. This is actually a saving grace if you have an Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro or any of the brand's previous models, as the offset port means 8BitDo’s FlipPad isn’t going to fit properly.

Rather than vice-gripping the phone or anchoring itself using the USB-C port, the Pocket Taco instead friction grips itself using a rubber pad against your screen. I was originally dubious as to whether the meat and cheese (your device) would come spilling out of the controller like when I try to eat anything at Taco Bell, but alas, the solution holds up pretty well even when using a case.

Shock horror, but the Pocket Taco aesthetically hits the same notes as the DMG Game Boy. I was going to take a cheap shot at GameSir’s tiny gamepad by saying it looks like the front of a budget emulation device like the Anbernic RG35XX, but it's actually not a bad thing in this case. The d-pad is just the right size for the gamepad’s real estate, not to mention it feels relatively like a Ninty pad under the thumb, and the face buttons provide a serviceable level of clickiness and travel. I’m not saying I’d fail a Pepsi challenge and mistake this pad for an actual handheld, but details like the ridges at the back to evoke the right feelings for the format.

I want to highlight that while the Pocket Taco is a DMG homage, its layout actually pays tribute to the Game Boy Advance, namely due to its additional face and shoulder buttons. Normally, such a layout would feel pretty cramped, and even some of my favorite devices like the Supert Pocket don’t exactly pull it off comfortably. But, you can tell GameSir has considered playability when designing the overall shape of this pad, as you’ve got a prominent front bottom for your thenar to rest.

Did I look up what the chubby bit at the bottom of my thumb is called? Absolutely, but the point is that it helps boost ergonomics in a way that benefits using the top inputs when using the Pocket Taco as a standalone pad. When it’s clamped to your phone, it ends up the same thickness as a Game Boy Color, but it’s clear to me that even GameSir views this pad as not just a mobile controller.

Features

I’ve already spoiled some of the Pocket Taco’s delicious fillings, like Bluetooth and an integrated 600mAh battery, but those are already a step above most other mobile controllers. I’m actually just impressed that there are some cells crammed into the gamepad’s back panel since it’s about the same thickness as my phone, and GameSir even added an LED indicator to the right-hand side for connectivity status and charge capacity.

The fact that the Pocket Taco also supports wired connectivity is a feature in itself, one that is absolutely valued. It means that even though you’re not directly plugging into the bottom by default, it’s easy enough to use a USB-C patch cable for when you’d rather not drain your phone battery using Bluetooth. It naturally means you can just use it as a wired PC controller where wireless connectivity isn’t an option, and Steam will instantly recognize it if you hook it up to a rig.

We are talking about a mobile controller, though, so I have to touch on the fact that there’s a GameSir app. The bad news is that while it’s required for using the controller’s macro and button mapping functionality, the software doesn’t recognize the gamepad as a Pocket Taco yet. Pre-orders aren’t set to ship until March, and I suspect the updates will be coming down the road, so I’ll have to park those tests until a later date. Just be aware that they are a thing if you have specific use-case plans, and it’s just a case of whether they’ll work seamlessly.

Performance

I’ve set a few stumbling blocks for the Pocket Taco to pass, which could result in GameSir’s gamepad being deemed tasty or nasty. The first is whether the controller can avoid upsetting my hands during extended play, and I’m not just talking about dipping into Pokémon. The second hurdle is maintaining a solid Bluetooth connection with minimal latency to both my phone and other devices, as that would ultimately shoot down the idea of foregoing a direct USB-C connection.

I’ve already alluded to this controller being surprisingly comfortable for what it is, and I can see myself using this to play my Game Boy collection. In phone mode, the gamepad stretches out to provide plenty to hang onto, but I do think longer handsets produce a bit of a see-saw effect. This isn’t necessarily Gamesir’s fault, as devices just seem to keep getting longer, but it’s worth noting if you’re sensitive to weight distribution.

The Pocket Taco also has a nice set of shoulders on it, and while they’re still cramped thanks to that GBA SP vibe going on, my digits persevered. I’m going to argue the point that if you need proper triggers, then you’re in the market for a different gamepad, as GameSir is really just covering bases for playing Game Boy era romps. Yes, plenty of Advance outings use the full stack of inputs, but you don’t need anything overly elaborate in those scenarios.

The thing that helps the Pocket Taco really win me over is its general gamepad abilities, as this little sucker can just serve as a Game Boy controller for your PC, Switch, or even more niche setups like a docked Analogue Pocket. The pad makes tons of sense for the latter since it’ll provide your thumbs with a respectably authentic d-pad and an appropriate layout for playing Ninty’s handheld back catalogue, adding to the whole vibe of actually using a Game Boy even when it’s hooked up to your TV.

The external Bluetooth nature of this pad also helps it travel extremely well, and it’s just as compact as the adorable CRKD ATOM. Okay, maybe that gamepad will look cuter attached to my carabiner, but I’d say that both are hitting the same notes from a functional size standpoint. The Pocket Taco, as the name suggests, will slip into your pocket while taking up minimal space, and it could probably live in your gaming handheld case as a stowaway too.

Of course, all that is for naught if it can’t maintain solid connectivity via Bluetooth, but it thankfully meets the mark. I only ran into one issue with my phone syncing back to it, and it was admittedly after I’d tried hooking up a patch cable for wired play. For the record, that latter method works perfectly fine, so even if you are able to sniff out any latency reasons not to use wireless (I wasn’t), you’ve still got a direct option.

I’ll round things off with a word on battery life, as the 600MaH cell within the Taco is out to impress. I haven’t charged the controller since receiving it before Christmas, and it’s still showing four LEDs' worth of capacity. I suspect this pad will soldier on for quite a while before finally needing some juice, which is a good thing since it isn’t tapping into your phone’s supply by default.

Should you pick up the GameSir Pocket Taco?

As far as mobile controllers go, the GameSir Pocket Taco makes for an excellent way to turn your phone into a Game Boy without upsetting your bank balance. It also doubles up as a compact gamepad with a layout that’ll suit a variant of 8 and 16-bit capers, not to mention it’ll work with more than just your smartphone thanks to its inherent Bluetooth abilities.

I’m actually surprised that, at least until the 8BitDo FlipPad arrives, the Pocket Taco stands alone on this specific battlefield. It’s already swinging a mighty claymore around since it doesn’t rely on USB-C, and I’d say that unless its rival pulls off tremendous moves with build quality, you’re probably better off grabbing GameSir’s version. I’ll decide on an ultimate victor upon testing both side by side, but the odds are stacked in Sir Taco’s favour.

If there’s anything that is currently holding the Pocket Taco back, it’s the app side of things. Product photos allude to a fully-fledged hub that potentially supports emulators, complete with a GameSir-branded bezel that fills the exact screen space, but it’s certainly not available yet. For the sake of more casual players who just want an easy way to play their old games and mess with different emulation options, this is something the controller maker will have to nail to earn full points.

How I tested the GameSir Pocket Taco

For two weeks, I used the GameSir Pocket Taco to play Game Boy games on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro while also testing the controller using a PC and a docked Analogue Pocket. To properly assess connectivity, I opted for both Bluetooth and wired options across all devices while comparing differences in latency and responsiveness. In addition, I also carefully considered ergonomics to ensure that the gamepad’s compact design doesn’t compromise on comfort.

For more information on how we test controllers and other console accessories, swing by our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy for more information.

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