abxylute M6/M5

Mobile gamers tend to face a trade-off: thumbs on glass that cover the action, or a bulky controller that has to travel everywhere. The abxylute M6/M5, presented as a Kickstarter project, tries a different route. A phone attaches to a magnetic mount on the back, and sliding the body sideways reveals the controls hidden behind it. Close it again and it tucks away compactly.

The two models share that slide design but split in character. The M5 traces back to an idea from DIY creator Jinjiang, who was dissatisfied with existing mobile controllers and taught himself electronics, product design and 3D modeling to build an ultra-thin prototype. The M6, according to the maker, has been refined over roughly three years with the goal of bringing a console-like feel to phones without giving up portability.

Magnets and a damped slide

The maker says a bidirectional damper slide rail adds resistance so the controller glides rather than snaps open. The magnetic mount is rated at up to approximately 4,098gf of holding force and can be shifted left or right to clear camera bumps or balance the phone's weight. The rail is designed for a phone plus case of up to about 300g. MagSafe and Qi2 phones attach directly; other phones can use a magnetic ring.

Wired simplicity versus wireless freedom

The M5 connects directly over USB-C, so there's no pairing and no controller battery to charge, and it supports pass-through charging to the phone. The M6 goes wireless via Bluetooth 5.3, with a 500mAh battery rated for up to about 10 hours of play. Both use a physical switch to toggle between XInput, NS and PS input modes, covering Android and iPhone games, cloud gaming, Remote Play and supported emulators.

• M6: capacitive joysticks with roughly 20° of travel and L3/R3 clicks; Hall effect linear triggers with about 5.5mm of travel and a hair-trigger mode
• M5: thinner slide-type joysticks with separate LS/RS controls and short-travel tactile-switch triggers
• Both: Turbo function, Z-axis linear motor vibration, detachable magnetic grips
• M6 only: customizable Z button with macros, four-level vibration adjustment, 6-axis gyro, ambient lighting
• Weight: M5 approx. 170g, M6 approx. 191g

Software and a limited edition

The abxy Game App acts as a launcher for games, Remote Play, emulators and cloud services, and lets users tune button layout, stick sensitivity, dead zones, trigger travel, vibration and lighting, with savable profiles. On the M6, touchscreen mapping assigns on-screen touch controls to physical buttons. The M5 also comes in a Founder's Edition limited to 1,000 units worldwide, with a translucent green shell and a badge that can carry two custom characters or the standard ABYX marking.