Rotor Riot Android controller review: A classic plug-and-play USB-C gamepad

These days, an increasing number of Android games include controller support, but choosing the right Android controller can be a tricky process. Bluetooth controllers typically lack a phone grip, require frequent recharging, and add a bit of latency to games. USB-C controllers with grips eliminate this latency but are heavy and generally incompatible for non-mobile gaming.

RiotPWR specializes in “zero latency” USB-C (or Lightning, in the case of its iOS models) controllers with a full button and trigger setup, including L3 and R3. The new Rotor Riot Controller for Android will comfortably hold any Android phone in its rigid sandwich grip, though you’ll have to be careful of side buttons or squeeze gestures when attaching it. Once you plug its cord into your phone, it’ll work straight away without any setup – assuming, of course, the game is compatible with the controller.

The Rotor Riot Android Controller works well for anyone who wants a hassle-free Game Pass or Play Pass accessory. But it has its drawbacks compared to the best Android game controllers.

The Rotor Riot Controller (RR1825A) for Android launched in July 2020 for $50. RiotPWR originally released another Rotor Riot Android controller in late 2018, and the company didn’t elaborate on what the differences between the two are. If you have an iPhone, you can buy the iOS version; it has the same schematic and controller design and comes at the same price, but uses a Lightning connector instead.

Rotor Riot Controller for Android: What you will like

RiotPWR didn’t overcomplicate things with the Rotor Riot design. You don’t have to worry about Bluetooth connectivity, mandatory app download, or phone compatibility check. Simply open the handle vertically, insert your phone inside, then plug the connected USB-C cord into your phone’s charging port. Just like that, the Rotor Riot will work by default with most gamepad compatible Android games.

The controller relies on your phone’s battery to operate, with the center button lighting up red when activated. Thanks to the slot on the bottom of the controller for USB-C pass-through, you don’t have to worry about keeping it charged separately, or your phone dying during a long gaming session.

RiotPWR chose a standard Xbox controller button map for their controller, so you don’t have to worry about buttons matching the wrong input. Personally, I prefer the left thumbs up / right thumbs down style, which made the Rotor Riot a solid alternative for me, but fans of PS5 or Switch controllers may have a different impression.

Testing the Rotor Riot over several days for both Game Pass for Android and Google Play Pass, my overall experience was quite positive. In terms of comfort, the grips may lack the texture of a more advanced controller, but at least give your hands proper spacing, where smaller controllers like the Kishi or 8Bitdo cause your hands to constrict a little .

Aside from the poor quality D-pad, the buttons and triggers had the right amount of resistance and sponginess to feel natural. I’d say the thumbsticks are slightly worse than what I’m used to with other controllers for precision aiming in Halo Infinite, but that’s by no means bad. It just took some mental adjustment, and non-FPS action games like Dead Cells felt as natural as it gets.

I have a few issues with the phone grip to address in the next section, but to give it its due credit, the Rotor Riot feels totally secure. You won’t feel like your phone has a chance of slipping unless you drop the entire controller. Plus, you can technically use this controller with an Android tablet and detach the grip if you prefer, whereas other USB-C controllers like the Kishi may only work with a phone.

Rotor Riot Controller for Android: What you won’t like

Phone grips like the Rotor Riot and Razer Raiju Mobile have a constant problem: they snap tightly to the sides of your phone, which means they’ll press the button that’s in the center of your phone. For my Galaxy S20, it was the power button, so attaching the grip brought up the power menu. With my Pixel 3a it kept increasing the volume to maximum, but when I moved the handle to the right to avoid the button, it activated the squeeze gesture instead.

I usually worry about long-term use because squeezing the grip or pulling the phone out of its vise is likely to mess up my phone’s buttons if I’m not careful.

Plus, at least the Raiju phone’s grip lets you adjust the viewing angle up to 60 degrees up and down; the Rotor Riot has a fixed position that works good enough but doesn’t give you any flexibility. I found it made my back heavy when sitting on a desk like it was ready to tip over. Since you’ll have to use the touchscreen to navigate at times when the Rotor Riot isn’t compatible, this can lead to some shaky moments.

RiotPWR recommends downloading the Ludu Mapp app to check out its list of “over 400 compatible apps” that are officially supported for plug-and-play. The app basically links you to games to buy or download, but doesn’t offer anything else like button mapping. I don’t think it’s strictly necessary, but some players prefer to have that kind of versatility.

The biggest problem is the D-pad. It’s frankly unusable, with too much squish for fast games. I stuck completely to the shifters, and you should be ready to do so too. For some 2D Android games, it’s a frustrating problem that you can’t go old fashioned.

You also won’t find any haptic feedback, which is more important for cloud gaming than Android gaming.

Rotor Riot Controller for Android: Competetion

If you like the lag-free inputs and passthrough charging of the Rotor Riot, but prefer a more compact Switch-like design, the Razer Kishi is the obvious choice. It puts your phone right inside with controls on either side, turning your phone into a kind of handheld console – taking the hassle out of pressing buttons. Make sure your Android phone is compatible first.

If you want a controller that works with more than just your phone, consider the SteelSeries Stratus Duo. It has an optional phone grip (sold separately, unfortunately) as well as a PC dongle for playing your favorite Steam games, with the name “Duo” referring to how quickly you can switch between inputs. It’s Bluetooth, which means you have to charge it.

Rotor Riot Controller for Android: Should I buy it?

You should buy it if…

• You want a controller that you can unbox and use effortlessly
• You stream games in the cloud or play many controller compatible Android games
• You don’t want to keep a controller charged
• You like the Xbox button layout

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You like to use the D-pad for games
• You want a controller you can use for PC or console gaming
• You have a large phone that weighs down the grip of a traditional phone

If the Rotor Riot Android Controller has one main weakness, it’s having to carefully attach the grip every time to avoid issues with the volume or power buttons. But once it’s attached, it’s a fully functional controller that thankfully doesn’t depend on the unnecessary binding app to function. If that sounds appealing, the controller costs a little less than many competing brands, most of which require Bluetooth connections and frequent charging.

3.5
out of 5

I enjoyed my time with the Rotor Riot, as do people who love phone grips. I think a Kishi-style gamepad that slots directly into your phone will appeal more to some gamers, but you can at least be sure that Riot will work with phones and tablets that Kishi can’t. It’s not the most attractive or high-end controller, but it gets the job done.