The Gamevice for iPad is an ideal fit for iOS power users and those who play demanding, complicated games on the go, with only a few drawbacks.
The Gamevice for iPad is the latest from the company perhaps best-known previously for its work on the Razer Kishi, a mobile gaming controller that was met with positive reception thanks to its strong production quality and easy use-cases. The Gamevice for iPad is similar to the Kishi in this respect, with the technology well-suited for iOS power users or those who play some complicated games that require demanding inputs while on the go.
Part of the appeal of the Gamevice for iPad is its integration into cloud services from Xbox, with advertised support for Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass. That obviously goes a long way for a piece of hardware like this, which relies more on what its accenting to sell it than the actual product itself – not that the Gamevice for iPad is any slouch. With so many options for mobile gaming now, an iPad screen is appealing thanks to its better quality resolution and larger surface area, and the Gamevice helps that even further by providing a more comfortable layout that also supports button mashing when required.
The Gamevice for iPad is relatively simple to set up, with users being given a guide as part of the product packaging that specifies how to adjust the bands of the controller to suit specific generations of iPad. After that, it’s as easy as slotting them into their respective regions, creating a sturdy setup that never threatened to loosen its grip on the expensive hardware in the center while providing a decent amount of hand comfort, especially relative to holding the iPad horizontally without any additional tech.
The Gamevice for iPad supports 5th-to-9th gen iPads; the iPad Air 2 and 3; and the iPad Pro 9.7-inch and 10.5-inch variants. The device makes using the iPad for gaming feel a lot like Switch portability, which is an obvious plus given that console’s success and appeal. The pressure feedback on the button presses of the controller feel like they sink a little too much; it can be tough to feel confident that a softer press has registered, for instance, lacking the snappy feedback of something more mechanical. It’s a minor gripe, and not one that severely lessens the quality of the performance, as the buttons are responsive overall and the only missed inputs were the aforementioned softer touches that are just as much a user error as a flaw in the hardware.
Gamevice Live, the app that accompanies the product, is extremely straightforward, offering featured games from streaming services as well as the ability to curate your own favorites in-app. It’s not much, but it doesn’t detract from the service, and will likely be appealing to some.
In testing, the Gamevice for iPad is exactly what it looks like – good controller support for a device that has the capability to give its users some great mobile experiences via cloud-based streaming. That said, even on native iPad software – something like Genshin Impact, for instance – the addition of the Gamevice for iPad is a hugely welcome one. Swapping between characters in that game and chaining together elemental combos was far easier than the mobile controls on screen previously were, and made the game’s mobile/PC cross-save functionality that much more appealing for travel situations.
Overall, the Gamevice for iPad is a rock solid product that offers a unique functionality in a package that is well-designed and unobtrusive. It’s especially appealing for those with Xbox Game Pass or Apple Arcade, but even without, any demanding mobile game (Genshin Impact, or the more recently released Diablo Immortal) would benefit greatly from its use. At $99.95 USD on the official Gamevice website, it’s not exactly the cheapest accessory, but you get what you pay for, and the added expense has translated into a sturdy device that seems designed to last a long time.
