Mad Catz Micro C.T.R.L.i controller for iPhone and iPad

You might have read our review of the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i controller. Well, much of the same can be said about this tiny travel-sized version.

This super small edition, which measures in at about 13cm wide and 9cm tall, is actually quite a nice size. It's more portable and practical than the full-sized pad, but still quite comfortable to hold.

It could be especially good for young children with small hands who struggle to grip controllers that are typically designed for adult mitts.

The build quality of the Micro is not quite as impressive as the full controller. It's much more light and flimsy - so much so that it will fall over on a table if it has an iPhone strapped in. I'm still not crazy about the glossy plastic, either.

It has a clip, which is always a plus. Instead of using a screw, the Micro clip snaps in with plastic teeth which makes it incredibly tough to remove. And again, it's just another bit of plastic to misplace.

Still, the clip will hold your iPhone (anything up to a 6 Plus) and refuse to let go like a grizzly bear protecting a newborn cub. But it's still going to leave your phone in an awkward position that isn't optimal for comfortable play.

The pad is Bluetooth and come with a handy app that lets you test the buttons, find (some) compatible games, check the battery life, and update the firmware.

Sadly, we have the same complaints about the controller's, erm, controls that we had with the full-sized version.

Again, it holds up perfectly well for 2D games like Traps n' Gemstones but 3D games like Neon Shadow, and BioShock, suffer from some nasty analogue sticks.

These things make it hard to make subtle camera movements, with your viewpoint jerking about at the finest tweak of the right analogue stick. It's such a different feel from, say, the SteelSeries Stratus XL. And that's a shame.

Because, the Mad Catz Micro should be easy to recommend. It's the only travel-sized controller with a clip for your iPhone, making it a nice thing to throw in your bag for some gaming on the go.

If you don't intend to play shooters, it's still a nice device. It gives you a full controller experience, with a clip for your iPhone, in a tiny package. But if you're going to use it to play Dead Trigger or its ilk, skip it.