8BitDo FlipPad mobile gamepad finally gets a release date and price

At CES 2026, 8BitDo showcased a mobile gamepad that practically turns smartphones into vertical gaming handhelds. Called the FlipPad, 8BitDo announced that the controller would be released this summer. Now, new info has surfaced revealing its exact release date.

The info doesn't come from 8BitDo, but from the newsletter of Russ Crandall of the Retro Game Corps YouTube channel. According to him, the 8BitDo FlipPad will be available to pre-order on July 15 and will begin to ship on July 30.

The newsletter also revealed that the 8BitDo FlipPad will cost $30, making it cheaper than its closest rivals, the GameSir Pocket Taco, which launched for $34.99 (curr. available for $29.99 on Amazon), and the $49.99 Abxylute M4 Snap-On. Although, it is important to mention that GameSir and Abxylute's controllers connect via Bluetooth, while the 8BitDo FlipPad connects via USB-C.

8BitDo doesn't have a product page for the FlipPad yet, but based on details shared at CES, the controller plugs into the USB-C port of a phone and folds on top of the screen like the receiver of a flip style cellphone. The controls include a D-pad, ABXY buttons, Select and Start buttons, and six white buttons.

The controller, which is compatible with Android smartphones and iPhones, is available in a single retro color, but we won't rule out the possibility of other colors launching later.