abxylute M6 and M5 on Kickstarter: Sliding Magnetic Mobile Gaming Controllers
The controller that fits in a pocket is rarely the one your hands want an hour later. Small sticks, a thin body, nothing to hold on to. The abxylute M6 and M5 try to be both. A phone snaps onto a magnetic mount, and full-size grips clip on when the session runs long.
Since 2023, abxylute has run funded Kickstarter campaigns, among them the M4 snap-on controller. Android Authority's launch coverage said the M5 and M6 want to turn a phone into a Sony Xperia Play, the slider phone that hid a gamepad. The abxylute M6 and M5 price on Kickstarter starts at $59.
📈 Campaign: $162,693 raised from 1,725 backers, goal $1,274, 34 days left
💰 Early Bird: M5 $59 (HK$463), M6 $65 (HK$510), M5 Founder's Edition $109 (limited to 1,000) 📦 Delivery: M6 November 2026, M5 December 2026
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Quick Verdict
Our verdict: 8.4/10
Who Is It For?
It is for phone gamers who stream from Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam Link or PS Remote Play, or run emulators, and want a mobile gaming controller that leaves the house with the phone. Retro players get dedicated modes for Switch and PlayStation emulators, PSP included.
Main Strengths
The controller is pocketable on its own and slides open into a full layout with the phone in place.
Full-size magnetic grips come off for carrying and go back on for longer sessions.
The M6 adds clickable capacitive sticks, Hall Effect analog triggers and a 6-axis gyroscope for aiming by tilt.
The wired M5 needs no pairing and no charging, and it charges the phone through its USB-C port during play.
The magnetic mount is rated by abxylute at up to 4,098 gf, against 2,500 to 3,500 gf for Apple's MagSafe.
Main Limitations
The M5's published schedule puts PVT and mass production in November 2026 and delivery in December, leaving little margin.
Campaign images show prototypes, and abxylute names keeping the timeline as the risk it controls least.
Pledges are charged in Hong Kong dollars, so the US dollar prices the campaign shows are approximations.
Are the abxylute M6 and M5 Worth Backing?
Back one of the two if you game on your phone away from home. Skip the M5 if your phone has no USB-C port, since that model connects only by cable. The rail that turns a phone-mounted controller into a full layout in one slide is the reason to back the abxylute M6 and M5 on Kickstarter.
abxylute M6 and M5 Price on Kickstarter
The abxylute M6 and M5 price on Kickstarter starts at $59, against an $84.99 MSRP. That figure is the M5; the M6 is the one to take, at $65 against an $89.99 MSRP, for wireless play and analog Hall Effect triggers. The M5 Founder's Edition, green with a two-letter custom logo, costs $109 and is limited to 1,000 units.
In the abxylute M5 vs M6 choice, the M5 carries the larger discount, 31% off its MSRP against 28%, and the M6 asks only $6 more for the fuller controller. Flat-rate shipping adds $10 for one controller, $18 for two and $25 for three, collected after the campaign. A 12-month warranty starts when the controller arrives. It starts at $59 on Kickstarter.
What Are the abxylute M6 and M5 and What Problem Do They Solve?
abxylute M6 and M5: Slider Controllers That Turn a Phone Into a Handheld
The M6 and M5 are two magnetic phone controllers built on one design. The phone sits on an adjustable magnetic mount that fits different phone sizes, and the controller body carries the sticks, buttons and triggers. The two models split on connection: the M6 runs over Bluetooth 5.3, the M5 over USB-C.
The M6 weighs 191g and measures 26mm thick with its mount; the M5 weighs about 170g at 23mm. abxylute is based in Hong Kong, and the M5 began as a concept by Jinjiang, an independent creator who built his own version before the company took it to production. The M6 took nearly three years from idea to production, since March 2024. The pair follows the compact abxylute M4 we covered.
Why Pocket-Size Phone Controllers Became Their Own Problem
A small mobile gaming controller is easy to carry and hard to hold. Players of one compact snap-on pad asked for larger sticks, a fuller grip and comfort past the first hour, and some for a wired version with no battery to charge.
Picture the controller that left the house in a jacket pocket. Late into the evening it is still in your hands, and they have not asked for a break.
abxylute M6 and M5 Key Features and Specs: Slide Rail, Grips, Controls and M5 vs M6
Bidirectional Damped Slide Rail and Magnetic Mount: Built to Carry a Phone and Case
Slide rails faded with feature phones, and so did many of their suppliers. A manufacturer that once made rails for Nokia and Sony helped abxylute refine this one. Those rails carried a light screen; this one has to hold a phone and case of up to around 300g, so it needed more strength and rigidity.
The result is damped in both directions, with magnetic assistance at the fully open and fully closed positions for a clear, secure locking feel. In abxylute's comparison, the mount's up to 4,098 gf beats the 1,000 to 2,000 gf of a car phone mount as well as MagSafe.
Detachable Magnetic Grips: Pocket-Slim or Full-Size on Demand
Each grip combines magnetic force with mechanical shear support. It comes off only at one specific angle and stays put against force from other directions, which abxylute says keeps it secure even when the controller is held upside down.
With the grips off, the M5 measures 11.5mm at the grip area and the M6 13.5mm. Spare grips cost $15 each as add-ons.
M6 Controls: 20° Capacitive Sticks, 5.5mm Hall Effect Triggers and a 6-Axis Gyro
The M6's capacitive sticks were developed with K-Silver, following those of the abxylute One Pro. They tilt 20°, against 23° for a traditional full-size stick, click for L3 and R3, and switch between circular and square output. They are rated drift-free by abxylute and resistant to magnetic interference. A stepped surface around each stick leaves room for the thumbs.
The Hall Effect triggers have 5.5mm of travel and a Fast Trigger Mode for quicker actuation. A Z button takes custom mappings and macros, and diffused ambient lighting changes with the active mode. A 6-axis gyroscope adds tilt aiming.
abxylute M5 vs M6: Wired USB-C With Pass-Through Charging or Bluetooth With a 500mAh Battery
The M5 is the slimmer, simpler magnetic phone controller of the two. Its low-profile sliding sticks take after the PSP and Nintendo 3DS, dedicated LS and RS buttons replace stick clicks and accept macros, and micro-switch triggers have short travel. The M6 carries a 500mAh battery that abxylute rates at up to 10 hours of play.
Both share dual Z-axis linear motors with four vibration levels, Turbo, and a switch between NS mode for Switch emulators, XInput for Android and streaming, and PS mode for iPhone games and PlayStation emulators. The abxy Game App handles remapping, stick deadzones and virtual touch mapping. In the abxylute M5 vs M6 decision, take the M5 only if you never want to charge or pair a controller.
Should You Back the abxylute M6 and M5 on Kickstarter?
The abxylute M6 and M5 are a mobile gaming controller pair for players whose console is often a phone. Think of a PSP game in PPSSPP on the M5's low-profile sliding sticks, or a racing game on the M6 with the Z button set to nitro boost.
The brand's earlier campaigns funded the S9 controller and a streaming handheld. At $59 against an $84.99 MSRP, with the M6 the model to take, the abxylute M6 and M5 are on Kickstarter.
FAQ about the abxylute M6 and M5 on Kickstarter
Which phones work with the abxylute M6 and M5?
Both mount on MagSafe iPhones and on Android phones, using the included magnetic adhesive ring when the phone has no magnets. The M5 connects by cable, so the phone needs a USB-C port. The M6 mount fits a 7mm camera bump, the M5 mount 3.5 to 7mm. Games must support controllers.
Can you use the abxylute M6 and M5 for Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam Link or PS Remote Play?
Yes. Both work with any app that accepts standard controller input, including cloud gaming, remote play and emulators. XInput mode is set for Android and streaming, and PS mode for iPhone games with MFi support. Individual platform restrictions may still apply.
How does the abxylute M6 compare with the MCON?
Both are magnetic sliding controllers with Hall effect triggers and a gyroscope. The OhSnap MCON ships now and adds a Kickback mode for tabletop play. OhSnap rates it at up to 9 hours on 500mAh. The M6 is rated by abxylute at up to 10. The M6 is lighter, 191g against 197g, and its grips detach rather than lock open.
Is abxylute legit?
Based in Hong Kong, abxylute has run Kickstarter campaigns since 2023, including a streaming handheld, the S9 phone controller, the One Pro and the 3D One. Beyond Kickstarter, it sells its controllers on Amazon.
When will the abxylute M6 and M5 ship?
Delivery of the M6 is scheduled for November 2026 and the M5 for December 2026. The brand plans Kickstarter updates through tooling, testing, production and fulfillment, and says it will tell backers about any meaningful change to the schedule.
What warranty do the abxylute M6 and M5 have?
A 12-month warranty covers qualifying hardware issues, starting from the date the controller is received. Claims go to abxylute support with the order information and a description of the problem.
About the Author
Jonathan
Crowdfunding Strategist & Analyst at GizmoCrowd
Jonathan is Co-Founder of GizmoCrowd and a crowdfunding strategist with over 15 years of hands-on campaign experience on Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
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