Bluetooth Game Controllers For Mac

12.04.2020by
Bluetooth Game Controllers For Mac Rating: 3,5/5 977 votes

Pair a Bluetooth accessory

  1. Bluetooth Game Controller For Ipad
  1. Put your Bluetooth accessory in pairing mode using the instructions that came with it.
  2. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. Your Apple TV will search for nearby Bluetooth accessories.
  3. Choose your Bluetooth accessory.
  4. If asked, enter a four-digit code or PIN. On your Apple TV, your accessory should now appear in My Devices.

Unpair a Bluetooth accessory

On your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. Select your accessory, then select Unpair Device.

Jan 13, 2020 Gaming on the Mac isn't as big as on PC, but there's still some great games out there for Apple computers. In some cases you'll be OK using a keyboard and mouse, but for a lot of people, kicking back and using a controller is the way to game. Mar 08, 2019 Console controllers don’t always work as soon as you plug them into a Windows PC or Mac. We’ve compiled a list of guides so you can learn how to make your favorite controller work with your computer. Feb 10, 2020 Best Game Controllers for Apple TV and Apple Arcade iMore 2020 Playing games on your Apple TV is always more comfortable with a controller, and since Apple Arcade released, there are a ton of games that can use a controller.

Use a Bluetooth keyboard

After you pair a Bluetooth keyboard, you can use it to sign in to apps, enter text while searching for content, and more.

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  • Connect Bluetooth devices to Apple TV You may want to connect a Bluetooth® device to your Apple TV —such as an MFi-certified (made for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad) game controller, a Sony PlayStation–compatible controller, a Microsoft Xbox One–compatible controller, Bluetooth headphones, a wireless keyboard, or another accessory.
  • Use the arrow keys to navigate menus or the Home screen.
  • Press Return to make selections.
  • Press the spacebar to play or pause content.
  • Press Escape to go back or exit an app.

Use more than one Bluetooth accessory

Your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD can support several Bluetooth accessories simultaneously, up to this many:

  • One Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote*
  • One Bluetooth keyboard
  • Four MFi (Made for iOS) Bluetooth controllers (Unless you also connect a Bluetooth audio accessory. If so, you can connect only one MFi controller).

You might be able to pair more accessories, but at some point you may need to unpair others to allow for new ones. Some apps let you use an iOS device as an additional controller, which doesn't require Bluetooth. For help using an iOS device as a controller in an app, contact the app developer.

Get help

If a Bluetooth accessory won’t connect to your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD or loses connectivity during use, follow these steps. After each step, see if you still need help:

  1. Make sure that you're in range of your Apple TV and there isn't interference in the area.
  2. Check that your accessory is fully charged and powered on.
  3. Make sure that the software on your Bluetooth accessory and your Apple TV is up to date. For example, if you have Beats wireless headphones, check for firmware updates.
  4. Move your Apple TV to a different location near your television.
  5. Look for your accessory in Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. If you see it but you can’t connect to it, use the steps above to unpair your accessory. Then try to pair it again.
  6. If you need more help connecting or using a Bluetooth accessory with your Apple TV, contact the manufacturer of the accessory.

*Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD ships with the same remote everywhere. In countries and regions that support Siri, the remote is called Siri Remote. Elsewhere, it’s called Apple TV Remote. Siri works on either remote as long as your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD is set up with a language and country or region that supports Siri.

BestGame Controllers for Apple TV and Apple ArcadeiMore2020

Playing games on your Apple TV is always more comfortable with a controller, and since Apple Arcade released, there are a ton of games that can use a controller. The SteelSeries Nimbus is the best game controller to ensure your gaming sessions are at comfortable as possible and feel like a full-blown console experience when you're playing your favorite Apple Arcade games.

Best Overall: SteelSeries Nimbus

One of the essential things in any gaming controller is how it feels in your hand, and the SteelSeries Nimbus is beyond comfortable. Extended gaming sessions are no problem, and your hands shouldn't feel cramped or sore no matter what game you're playing. It's all thanks to the ergonomic design of the controller.

While some people don't like the joysticks in the side-by-side configuration (similar to a PlayStation controller), the way the handles are designed and force you to hold the SteelSeries Nimbus make it much more comfortable. If you play a lot of games that need dual-sticks to function — so your mileage may vary.

Let's talk buttons because the SteelSeries Nimbus has a full direction pad (D-Pad), A, B, X, and Y buttons, both bumpers, and triggers on the left and right side, and a menu button in the middle. All the buttons are very responsive and are sensitive, so when you press a button, you know it.

I've had my Nimbus for over two years, and I use it multiple times a week. The buttons haven't reduced to a mushy mess, yet - which is a lot less than I can say for even my PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller. On top of the controller, you'll also find a power button and a Bluetooth button used for pairing. It's also super easy to put the controller into pairing mode to connect to a new device or turn off the controller to make sure you conserve battery power.

Pros:

  • Fantastic 40-hour battery life
  • Comfortable ergonomic design
  • Compatible with Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad
  • Lightning charging

Cons:

  • Can't 100% control your Apple TV
  • Only one Bluetooth connection at a time

Best Overall

SteelSeries Nimbus

Made for gaming on all your Apple devices

With 40-hour battery life and responsive buttons, the SteelSeries Nimbus is the best controller for Apple TV and Apple Arcade.

Source: iMore

The Horipad Ultimate is another reliable full MFi controller that will pair well with your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Its two-toned look offers a bit more of a unique look, and the thumbsticks have a slightly less concave construction, which may be more comfortable for some people.

Lory, iMore's Managing Editor, has mentioned that the Horipad Ultimate feels better in smaller hands, meaning if you have big palms, you may want to look elsewhere.

Cons:

  • Better for smaller hands

Best Battery Life

Bluetooth game controller for amazon fire tv

Horipad Ultimate

Even more playing time

Similar to the SteelSeries Nimbus, the Horipad Ultimate features all the same buttons, but it doubles the battery life!

Bluetooth Game Controller For Ipad

Source: iMore

Being cheap and small, the SteelSeries Stratus is perfect for people who like to carry their gaming controllers around or ensure they don't take up a lot of space.

The Stratus does come with a few drawbacks. It uses a much older version of Bluetooth, and it only holds about a 10-hour charge. Plus, the R2 and L2 buttons can be a tad hard to reach, making the Stratus better suited for retro-styled games that have fewer controls.

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Pros:

  • Compact
  • Lightning charging
  • Great for retro-styled gaming

Cons:

  • 10-hour battery life
  • L2 and R2 buttons hard to reach

Best Compact Controller

SteelSeries Stratus

More compact retro-inspired design

If having a full-sized controller seems like too much, the SteelSeries Stratus offers a lot in a smaller package.

Source: iMore

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? The DualShock 4 is the standard controller that comes in the PlayStation 4 box and therefore, comes with the design we've come to expect. If you like it already but wish it were a little more interesting, Sony has a range of different colors available.

One of the significant drawbacks of using the DualShock 4 with your Apple TV is never knowing exactly how much battery power you have left, meaning it can just turn off on you in the middle of a gaming session if you don't ensure you've topped up the battery.

Cons:

  • Can't check battery life on Apple TV
  • micro-USB charging

Best for PS4 users

DualShock 4

Familiar design

The DualShock 4 is the standard controller that comes in the PlayStation 4 box and therefore if you like it, it's a great choice!.

Best for Xbox One users: Xbox One Wireless Controller

The Xbox One controller is a super comfortable gaming experience, and not only works with Apple TV. But it works seamlessly with the PC, too, either wired or over Bluetooth.

If you're not a fan of dumping AA batteries inside it, there's a play and charge kit available that transforms it into a rechargeable controller. And whether it's through the Design Lab or the ridiculous amount of special edition designs, there's a color combo that's perfect for you.

Cons:

  • Needs AA batteries

Best for Xbox One users

Xbox One Wireless Controller

Super comfortable

The official Xbox One controller has a tweaked design, adding more grippy parts on the rear side, making it comfortable to hold.

Bottom line

When it comes to gaming on your Apple TV, a great gamepad can go a long way, and the SteelSeries Nimbus is the best around. Its 40-hour battery life is more than enough to keep you gaming for extended periods, and thanks to its comfortable ergonomic design, your hands won't cramp up!

The buttons on the SteelSeries Nimbus are nice and firm, and provide good tactile feedback when pressed, so you know your inputs are being received. Plus, it works with Mac, iOS, and Apple TV giving you the option to upgrade your gaming experience no matter what device you use to play your favorite Apple Arcade games.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who plays way too many video games and his hands-on experience with several MFi controllers made this guide possible.

Bluetooth Game Controllers For Mac

Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and knows her way around both an Apple TV and MFi gaming controllers. She's a believer in the SteelSeries Nimbus herself.

Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings-on at the biggest tech company in the world. He knows everything, literally everything, there is to know about Apple.

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