An attractive addition to your iPhone or iPod Touch, the Moga iOS game controller offers a lightweight and highly portable solution for mobile gaming.
The Moga shrinks down to a size that makes it easy to toss into a backpack or large pocket.
When you're ready to use the Moga, it easily expands to its full width to accommodate your iOS device.
The Moga's headphone jack is perfect for Apple's earbud headphones, but it may be a tight squeeze for some audiophile headphones.
The Moga's adapter pieces are a hassle to use, and don't provide much more stability.
Those who just upgraded to the iPhone 5S will be happy to know that the Moga is compatible with Apple's latest smartphone.
Although reminiscent of a standard console game controller, the Moga has a slim form when paired with your iOS device.
Mobile gaming has taken off as the next frontier for immersive gameplay, and several companies are offering accessories to make the experience even more enjoyable.
Compatible with the iPod Touch (5th generation), iPhone 5C, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, the Moga Ace Power controller is a new add-on that aims to become a permanent part of your mobile-gaming tool kit.
Housed in lightweight black plastic and shaped like a mini-version of console controllers that gamers are already familiar with, the Moga easily slides open to reveal its cradle, which is designed to hold your iPod Touch or iPhone.
One side of the cradle offers a Lightning connector, and in the middle of the device, there's a small, raised design element that lets you connect to an adapter, ensuring a snug fit for your mobile device inside the cradle.
One thing that worried me about the Lightning port design is the process of removing devices. When you expand the Moga to release a device and lift the iPhone or iPod Touch up, it seems like it might be easy to snap off its Lightning connector if you do it too quickly or carelessly.
Equipped with four action buttons, both L1/R1 and L2/R2 buttons, dual analog sticks and a D-pad, the Moga offers all the precision control you could possibly want. From flying first-person shooter-style games such as Galaxy on Fire 2 HD, to quirky titles like Otto Matic and Bugdom 2, the Moga performed perfectly, offering precise real-time control and responsiveness.
Unfortunately, after two days of fun, the iPod Touch I used to test the device no longer recognized the device on the third day. I tried restarting both the iPod Touch and the Moga several times, but the former no longer recognized the latter for gameplay.

The games and their onscreen controls still worked well, but there was no Moga interaction. Oddly, although the iPod Touch stopped recognizing the Moga in terms of gameplay, the device did sound off the now familiar tone that signals that a Lightning connector has been accessed.
After poring over its manual and running out of my own ideas, I finally broke down and contacted the company. A Moga developer suggested that I reset the device via its reset port using a paperclip; although this sounded like an unattractive solution, it actually worked. Once I inserted the paperclip and held it down in the reset slot, the battery indicator lit up, and I was immediately able to resume normal gameplay using the Moga.
While this was a relief, it left me wondering if the Moga is not as sturdy as it needs to be for the average mobile gamer. I didn’t put it through any particularly rough treatment during the three days I used the device, so the minor glitch was surprising.
I also tested the device with an iPhone 5S, which fit into the cradle perfectly, even without the adapter. Although the manual recommends using the adapter attachments for both the iPod Touch and the iPhone, I had no problems using the Moga without them.
That said, if you do decide to use the adapters, be patient. In addition to being a bit unwieldy when trying to place them in the cradle along with an iPod Touch or iPhone, there’s no obvious way to store or carry the adapters with you, making them easy to lose if you do a lot of traveling. My guess is that most people will probably avoid using the adapters altogether, just to avoid any hassle.

Another design quirk that threw me off was the Moga's headphone jack. If you’re using the standard iPod Touch or iPhone headphones, then you’ll be fine. But if like many mobile gamers, you like to boost your audio with a pair of expensive, non-Apple headphones, you may find it difficult to connect to the Moga's recessed headphone jack.
While using the Moga I was constantly reminded of my first time picking up the PlayStation Portable, a device I still consider one of Sony’s most attractive products in recent memory. The Moga is definitely not on the same level as the PSP in terms of quality and overall finish, but if you’ve migrated over to iOS games and are an old-school PSP fan, it will feel familiar in a good way.
For $99.99, the Moga seems to be priced just a bit above what it should be, given its build quality. But if you primarly play games on the iPhone or iPod Touch, you may be willing to pay a premium.
What's Good:
Cool design goes well with iPhone and iPod Touch
Lightweight, very portable
Precision controls
What's Bad:
Buggy performance, needed reset
Build quality feels cheap
Precarious Lightning connector port
Bottom Line: If you're addicted to iOS games, but sometimes frustrated by the limitations of onscreen touch controls, the Moga Ace Power will suit your needs just fine. Lower your expectations in terms of durability, keep a paperclip handy and this device just might be what you’re looking for until a stronger alternative comes along.
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