Pocket Taco looks like it comes straight out of the 1990s. It’s the new mobile controller unveiled by GameSir, an accessory whose design is an explicit tribute to 8-bit-era handheld consoles: retro gray casing, purple buttons, and a look that instantly brings the Game Boy to mind.

But Pocket Taco’s real standout feature lies in its structure. Moving away from the classic horizontal format of telescopic controllers, GameSir opts for a vertical orientation paired with a foldable “clamshell” mechanism that allows you to insert your smartphone or fold everything down into a compact, easily portable shape.

This design feels tailored to those who use their phone as an emulation platform, or to fans of vertical arcade games, turning the mobile device into a small dedicated console—closer to the original experience than standard solutions.

Beneath the nostalgic shell, however, lies modern technology. The sticks and triggers use Hall Effect sensors, designed to increase durability and reduce the risk of drift. Connectivity is handled via low-latency USB-C, with power drawn directly from the smartphone and support for pass-through charging, so you can keep playing without interruptions. In short, Pocket Taco is a compact object that shows how retrogaming can still find new forms—even on smartphones.

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