GameSir Pocket Taco review: features, specifications, price

The GameSir Pocket Taco is an interesting single-use gaming controller designed for retro gaming on iPhone via emulation. Its low price is worth it for nostalgic people.

Ever since Apple enabled the use of emulators on iPhone, the search for the perfect emulation controller has begun. We’ve seen plenty of standard mounts, accessories, and controllers, but the Pocket Taco takes a different approach.

Instead of just being a set of capacitive buttons like Gamebaby, the GameSir Pocket Taco is a full-featured Bluetooth game controller that slides onto your iPhone. Of the two options, I like GameSir’s approach better because I don’t always want my iPhone connected to a controller.

That said, this style of controller does have some limitations. Despite its imperfections, the Pocket Taco is a great gadget that does a lot of things well for a very affordable price.

GameSir Pocket Taco review: design and features

In a world full of amazing game controller experiences, I can say that the Pocket Taco is average at best. This isn’t to criticize GameSir’s product, but the form factor itself.

The Game Boy emulated by the Pocket Taco is an amazing console for children. It’s less suitable for adult-sized hands, although I understand why they went with this form factor.

This is a proven controller setup that has worked very well for multiple consoles. I even still use this layout on some occasions thanks to the Analogue Pocket.

However, be prepared for some hand cramps after a long gaming session. The good news is that you probably shouldn’t play games on your phone for too long, even though some call for it.

Emulation is a fun thing. It brings games that were never intended for your device, whether it’s a smartphone or tablet, and makes them run in a virtualized environment.

This means that games with 40+ hour storylines meant for dedicated sockets and CRTs are suddenly being squeezed into a device with limited battery life. The funny thing is that many older games actually fit the modern gaming style of spending a few minutes at a time.

The Pocket Taco’s design principle is simple: you wait in a doctor’s office when you feel the urge to have some. Super Mario Bros.. Just grab your phone in one pocket, the Pocket Taco in the other, and off you go to the Mushroom Kingdom.

Emulators also make things easier, since you can just press a button for an instant save state, save points be damned.

The controller attaches via a nifty clamping mechanism that wakes it up when opened. Remove the controller and it disconnects from Bluetooth in seconds.

This means that GameSir expects you to only use the Pocket Taco when it is connected to the iPhone. No, don’t try to clip it onto your iPad mini or force it to open for Bluetooth use on other devices.

This is a product with a very specific use case, which I like. We need more companies to take the time to create cool and weird niche products without trying to tackle every use case.

It has a 600 mAh battery, which is really useless information. I’ve never had a problem with a dead battery, just charge it between gaming sessions and that’s it.

There’s also a cutout in the base that allows you to charge the iPhone while using the controller.

Playing with the GameSir Pocket Taco

You’ll want to stick to games with simple control schemes. In terms of emulators, these are games like those made for Nintendo DS, Game Boy, Game Boy Advanced, NES and SNES.

Some PlayStation One games will work with the Pocket Taco, but only those that don’t need analog sticks. I played Digimon World 3 without any problem.

This is also where the L2 and R2 buttons are actually used, even though they aren’t the easiest buttons to press.

It’s not like other games or emulators will ignore the controller, but you will be missing the buttons needed to make them work. While you can probably get away with some N64 games, I recommend sticking to other consoles.

The best part of most emulators is the fan base working on different skins, especially for Delta emulator. All you have to do is search for “Pocket Taco Delta Skins” and you will find some good options.

The biggest problem you’ll encounter with the Pocket Taco is that it’s only useful for a game that’s already running. Don’t bother attaching it until you’ve browsed your emulator application and launched the game.

If you want to swap games, you’ll need to remove the Pocket Taco, navigate the menus, and then reattach it once the new game launches.

Beyond emulation, there really aren’t any good game choices. There may be rare exceptions where an iPhone game has a virtual controller in the bottom half of the screen, but I don’t have any games like that.

Most iPhone games are full-screen and rely on touch controls or external controllers. They don’t expect a controller that will take up half the screen.

If you want a more tactile experience while playing emulated games, the GameSir Pocket Taco offers an authentic experience, for better or worse.

A nostalgic gadget

If you like emulation, gadgets and nostalgia, the GameSir Pocket Taco is for you. It’s the perfect little accessory that turns your iPhone into a Game Boy-like experience.

It’s far from the perfect gaming experience, but it’s not meant to be. The GameSir Pocket Taco is a throwback to the Game Boy and it captures that form factor well.

It’s small and easy to carry, so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to throw it in a mesh pocket in your bag, even if you also bring a full-size controller. It enables an authentic experience for Game Boy and Game Boy Advanced while enabling touch-based gaming for other emulators.

And seriously, you can’t beat this price.

GameSir Pocket Taco review – advantages

• Nostalgic design and clickable buttons
• Simple sleep/wake function linked to the opening of the hinge
• Emulator-specific controller with skins available for some emulators
• Price low enough to justify despite its limited use

GameSir Pocket Taco review – disadvantages

• Cramped layout, but nothing can be done about it
• Blocks the display and therefore needs to be removed when navigating apps
• Useful only for emulators, not for classic iPhone games

Rating: 4 out of 5

The price and novelty of this controller could give it a 5 out of 5 rating without the limitations presented by the form factor. It has excellent build quality and gets the job done, but it definitely isn’t for everyone.

Also, I can’t ignore the fact that this is a controller that only works on specific emulation tools.

Where to buy the GameSir Pocket Taco

Get the GameSir Pocket Taco from Amazon for $34.99, a 22% discount from the listed price of $44.99. It is only available in one color and fits any iPhone equipped with a standard case.