Abxylute M5 and M6 Turn Smartphones Into Sliding Game Consoles

Abxylute’s M5 and M6 make a practical case for using a smartphone as a handheld gaming device: the screen and processing power are already in your pocket, and a sliding controller can add the physical inputs that touch controls lack. The two models take different routes. The M5 keeps its profile slim with a wired USB-C connection and compact slider sticks; the wireless M6 spends more space on clickable sticks, Hall Effect triggers and motion aiming.

Both attach magnetically to a phone and slide open to reveal a gamepad beneath the screen, recalling the sideways-opening Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. Shut, each controller sits behind the phone. Open, it provides physical sticks, triggers and vibration. Kickstarter prices are $65 for the M5 and $69 for the M6, with stated retail prices of $84.99 and $89.99. Those prices put either accessory far below the $789 Valve set for the 512GB Steam Deck OLED in May. The comparison is straightforward, though the phone remains the device doing the computing.

Designer: abxylute

Click Here to Buy Now: $65 $84.99 (24% off) Hurry! Only limited units available.

A sliding mechanism built to carry a phone

Getting the sliding form factor right meant adapting an old phone design for a heavier job. Abxylute says it found a manufacturer that had made rails for Nokia and Sony, then developed a bidirectional damped mechanism for the M5 and M6. The rail must support a phone and case weighing up to about 10.6 ounces, or 300 grams. Magnets hold the controller at either end of its travel, giving the slide a controlled feel as it opens and closes. That’s a different motion from the spring-loaded mechanism in the OhSnap MCON, which pushes the phone open when its button is pressed.

The magnetic mount is rated at 4,098 gf, equivalent to roughly nine pounds of pull. Abxylute cites 2,500 to 3,500 gf for Apple’s MagSafe as a point of comparison. The mount adjusts to different phone sizes and clears camera bumps up to 0.28 inches, or 7mm. Supported models listed by the company include the iPhone 18 series, Samsung Galaxy S26, Google Pixel 11, OnePlus 15 and Xiaomi 17. A magnetic adhesive ring is included for phones without MagSafe-style attachment.

Case choice still matters: a thick case can reduce the mount’s hold, so a slimmer one is the more dependable option. The M5 also requires USB-C, which rules out Lightning-equipped iPhones. Those constraints are worth weighing alongside the controller’s physical design, particularly for people who switch phones or prefer rugged cases.

M5: a wired controller shaped around portability

The M5 started as a do-it-yourself project by Jinjiang, an independent maker who designed its 3D models and circuit board and wrote its software. Abxylute later joined the project to prepare it for mass production. Its defining choice is a direct USB-C connection: there’s no Bluetooth setup or controller battery to maintain, and pass-through charging lets the phone charge during play.

To keep the body thin, the M5 uses low-profile carbon-film slider sticks inspired by the PSP, PSP Go and Nintendo 3DS. They sit nearly flush with the controller, but their limited travel makes them a less natural fit for games that depend on precise, fast stick movement. Since the sliders can’t be clicked, separate LS and RS buttons provide those inputs. They can also serve as programmable macro keys. Short-travel micro-switch triggers add a crisp click.

The M5 weighs about 6 ounces (170g). With its mount, it measures 0.91 inches (23mm) thick; at the grip area, that drops to 0.45 inches (11.5mm). Its 5.9-inch (149.5mm) width is close to that of a large phone, making the portability argument tangible: this is a controller intended to fit into a jacket pocket. The compact sticks should suit retro games and platformers well, while players focused on twitch shooters may prefer the M6’s more capable controls.

A limited Founder’s Edition is capped at 1,000 units and uses translucent retro green plastic, with a customizable two-letter badge in place of the abxylute logo. It’s a cosmetic variation on the same portable approach rather than a different control setup.

M6: more control options in a slightly larger body

Abxylute spent nearly three years developing the M6, which the team nicknamed “little Nezha.” Much of that work went into its capacitive sticks, developed with component maker K-Silver. They tilt 20 degrees, compared with about 23 degrees for a full-size controller stick, and can be pressed for L3 and R3. The company says the sticks resist magnetic interference from the mount above them.

A stepped surface around each stick leaves room for thumbs without placing the controls in deep wells. Players can also switch stick output between circular and square modes, a choice that may be useful across racing games and emulators. Those options give the M6 a broader control range than the M5, while its sticks remain smaller in travel than those on a standard full-size gamepad.

The M6’s Hall Effect linear triggers have 0.22 inches (5.5mm) of travel for racing games. Fast Trigger Mode shortens actuation for shooters. A Z button on the face of the controller supports remapping and multi-button macros, allowing commands such as a fighting-game special move or a jump-and-shoot combination to be assigned to one button. A six-axis gyroscope adds motion aiming.

Bluetooth 5.3 connects the M6 to the phone, and a 500mAh battery is rated for up to 10 hours of use. Lighting is diffused across the controller’s surface, and its color changes with the selected mode. At 6.7 ounces (191g) and 1.02 inches (26mm) thick, it adds some weight and thickness over the M5 in exchange for wireless operation and a deeper set of controls.

Shared software, modes and pricing

Both models have a physical switch for NS, XInput and PS layouts, covering Nintendo Switch emulators, Android and cloud gaming, and iPhone titles. Each also includes dual Z-axis linear vibration motors with four intensity levels and a Turbo function assigned to the M button.

Abxylute’s free abxy Game App serves as a launcher for emulators and cloud services, while providing settings for button remapping, stick dead zones, macros, lighting and vibration. Virtual touch mapping addresses mobile games that lack controller support by letting players assign on-screen controls to physical buttons. Detachable magnetic grips add larger handles for extended play. They attach with magnets and a mechanical shear lock, though the source doesn’t list them as included in either model’s box.

Kickstarter pricing is $65 for the M5 and $69 for the M6, compared with listed retail prices of $84.99 and $89.99. A two-controller bundle costs $119, down from $174.98. The M6 is estimated to ship in November 2026, followed by the M5 in December 2026; worldwide delivery is planned. The shared box contents include the controller, adhesive ring and manual, while the M5 package also includes a USB-C cable.

The choice comes down to the kind of gaming setup a buyer wants to carry. The M5’s wired connection and slim body make it the pocket-first option; the M6’s clickable sticks, gyro and Hall Effect triggers target players who want more input flexibility. Both rely on the phone already in hand, making their appeal less about replacing a dedicated handheld than adding physical controls to mobile play.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65 $84.99 (24% off) Hurry! Only limited units available.

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