ELO Vagabond (Image: Joshua Boyles)
As consoles continue to get more expensive, more and more gamers are starting to turn to the hardware that they already own rather than investing in new devices. As such, the already popular mobile gaming is having a bit of a moment, especially with cloud gaming technology that allows us to stream console-quality titles to the devices in our pocket.
For those that are serious about using their mobile phone to game on the go, it’s worth picking up a dedicated mobile controller that adds all the creature comforts of a gaming pad to your mobile device. I’ve been testing out one such model from ELO over the last few weeks – the Vagabond – and if you’re in the market for a mobile gaming controller, this could be the one to get.
The ELO Vagabond looks like a traditional gaming controller chopped in half right down the centre, pulled apart and joined together with an extendable plastic strip. Pull the two halves apart and it’s easy to slot a mobile phone or small tablet into the device – my iPhone 15 Pro Max was ready to go without even installing the companion app.
While the Vagabond is primarily designed for both Android and iOS phones, it extends wide enough to hold small tablets like the iPad Mini, too. The USB C connector pivots slightly to make dropping a device in it super easy.
Once you’ve connected a device, the controller draws its power directly from it with RGB lights around the joysticks bursting into life. It’s a certified gamer look, but one that manages to stay premium without looking too gaudy.
ELO Vagabond. (Image: Joshua Boyles)
Speaking of joysticks, the pair here use Hall Effect technology, which ensures they’re unlikely to gain any sort of drift over time. This bodes well, especially as a device that’s likely to get carried around loose in a bag unless you invest in the case that’s sold separately.
Each of the face buttons on the Vagabond are mechanical, which delivers a satisfying ‘click’ with every press. I found these to be a major upgrade over the traditional Xbox Series X controller I’m used to.
Around back, there are a couple of triggers that have linear travel, unlike the buttons found on some other mobile controllers. This makes the Vagabond great for racing games where you need that throttle control.
Sadly, there’s no rumble support on this pad, although this is pretty standard for a product of this category.
ELO has also included two paddle buttons on the back of the pad, which is a really premium addition compared to other controllers of the same ilk. I always map these to pressing the left and right sticks in, and I was able to do so easily within ELO’s easy to use app.
ELO Vagabond. (Image: Joshua Boyles)
Around bottom, there’s an additional USB C passthrough port to allow for charging while playing, as well as a 3.5mm output jack. This means you can plug in a pair of wired earphones – something you can’t normally do with most smartphones today.
The ELO Vagabond has a nice shape in the hand, emulating that feel of a traditional controller well. Its sturdy yet lightweight design makes it comfortable to hold for long periods of time, with my entire mobile gaming setup weighing less than my tried and true Steam Deck.
My testing primarily consisted of streaming the odd game from my gaming PC to my phone while on the sofa, as well as a bit of Xbox Cloud Gaming. Aside from the usual network latency, there was no discernable delay between me pressing the buttons on the pad and it registering in my game.
ELO Vagabond. (Image: Joshua Boyles)
The Verdict
Overall, I found my experience with the ELO Vagabond to be a fantastic way to take my games on the go with me. While I won’t be selling my Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2 just yet, it certainly made the idea of mobile gaming more viable, and a great way for my phone to pull double duty as a primary gaming device.
4.5/5
Unit provided by ELO for review purposes only.
