New iPhone gaming enclosure has fully programmable buttons, still fits in your pocket.
Razer’s revealed its new Junglecat iPhone controller earlier today, which is good news for smartphone gamers who go beyond the casual Dice with Buddies and Tappy Chicken experiences.
The Junglecat’s slide-out design is reminiscent of Sony’s Xperia Play phone from 2011, complete with a D-pad, ABXY buttons, and shoulder bumpers. The whole package is about 18mm thick (adding about 10.4mm of thickness on top of the iPhone 5S frame), and should be largely pocket-friendly.
The included software rounds out the experience, as each button is fully and independently programmable, allowing for a curated experience for each game on your phone. 20 custom profiles can be stored on the phone, which should be enough to cover your hardcore mobile gaming library.
As an MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod) device, you’ll also be able to use the Junglecat controller with larger iOS devices as a standalone controller.
One disappointing omission, however, is the lack of any sort of internal battery pack. Moga’s $49.99 iPhone-friendly Ace Power controller includes an 1,800 mAh battery pack, which can be used to charge your phone while you game. The Junglecat is a more svelte package, for sure, but if engineers could squeeze a 2,000 mAh battery pack in there? I’m sold.
And, as is usually the case, a Razer product comes with a Razer price: $99.99, and the Junglecat ships in four to six weeks.
