Since playing Resident Evil Village on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I’ve been in awe at what Apple's newest smartphone can already achieve. Realistic textures, great sounds, and speedy storage give the iPhone a fighting chance at being just as good, or better than many consoles, such as a PS4 or Nintendo Switch from a technical standpoint.
However, part of what consoles get right is how easy they are to use, especially with their controllers. This is why clunky touch controls can stop the iPhone from feeling quite as good when playing a game.
With Black Friday coming up on November 24, I plan on picking up some great upgrades to make it the best possible gaming machine it can be. With some smart purchases, you can get a truly excellent experience on the go, beating out anything available on Xbox Game Pass streaming and Amazon Luna. With this in mind, here are some of the best choices to make that possible. Haven't got an iPhone to game on? Check out our roundup of the best Black Friday iPhone deals first!
Controller Grip
Having a controller that connects to your iPhone 15 Pro Max through its USB-C port can be fantastic, as it gives you the ability to hold the screen in your hands and curl up with some of the best Apple Arcade games. For price, comfort, and versatility, our choice is the BackBone One.
Controller deals: Best Buy | Dell | Amazon | Razer | Walmart
Bluetooth Controller
Though a wired controller can be great if you want to hold it close like a Nintendo Switch Lite, a Bluetooth controller can work a little better in some situations, depending on your setup. If you have a desk you’re sitting at or plan on mirroring your iPhone’s display to a Monitor, a detached controller is an excellent choice.
Xbox controller deals: Amazon | Razer | Dell | Best Buy | Walmart
Power Bank
You could opt to keep your iPhone plugged in as you play but a nice chunky power bank means you can play on the go without worry of losing your progress to your phone suddenly shutting off.
Audio
The entire iPhone 15 line features impressive speakers but there’s nothing quite as immersive as a nice set of earbuds – plus it has the added benefit of not annoying the person sitting next to you on the bus. Don't forget to check out some of the best AirPods Black Friday deals as well.
Earbuds deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon | Samsung | Dell
If you can combine all of the above, you will get an excellent gaming handheld capable of console-level experiences like Resident Evil Village that does them justice without having to use touch controls.
Given that Resident Evil 4 Remake now has a release date of December, now is the perfect time to invest in a great gaming setup for your iPhone, just like me.
Grab bargains on Apple devices this Black Friday
If you're looking for the best Black Friday Apple deals as the annual sales season kicks off, we've got you covered. From now right through to Cyber Monday on November 27, we'll be serving up the best offers on iPhone, MacBook, Apple Watch, iPad, HomeKit smart home devices and more. Save a small fortune by checking back on our daily deals coverage.
