GameSir just opened preorders for what might be the most endearingly named gaming peripheral of 2026: the Pocket Taco. If you’ve been scrolling through mobile controller options lately and thinking “what if phone, but game boy?,” this clamp-on controller is basically them saying “we heard you”.

The Pocket Taco clips onto the bottom half of your phone, turning your device into a bonafide retro handheld. Unlike 8BitDo’s recently announced FlipPad that uses USB-C, the Pocket Taco (Paco?) runs over Bluetooth and there are two function buttons and four shoulder buttons thrown in for good measure.
​
At around 60 grams, it fits in your pocket, comes with a storage case, and doesn’t require you to awkwardly hold your phone sideways while playing classic platformers or scrolling shooters. There’s a hollow bottom for charging while playing, soft silicone pads to protect your phone, and a sizeable 600mAh battery for long sessions of BopIt! GB. The GameSir app lets you remap buttons, enable turbo functions, lock diagonals on the D-pad, and even switch to what I can only imagine is a sort of awkward keyboard mode.

​
At $34.99, it undercuts the Abxylute M4 ($49.99 MSRP), though pricing for the directly competing 8BitDo FlipPad remains to be seen. Preorders are live now on GameSir’s website, with units shipping March 15th, and there’s apparently a transparent version coming to Kickstarter soon for those who prefer their toys see-through.
​
Is it a gimmick? Totally. But it’s exactly the kind of gimmick that makes sense when you’re three levels deep into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on your lunch break and your thumbs aren’t hitting that “Down->Right->Circle” button combo you need to game the multiplier.

Source: GameSir

What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!

This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.