The abxylute M4 takes a clearly different approach to mobile gaming controllers by placing extreme portability above feature depth. Weighing just 56 grams and built around a credit-card-sized footprint, it makes intentional tradeoffs that set it apart from full-featured options like the Backbone One or even abxylute’s own S9.

Many buyers approach the M4 expecting a smaller version of a premium controller, when in reality it is designed for an entirely different purpose: making spontaneous gaming possible throughout your day rather than replacing long, dedicated gaming sessions.

To understand the M4 properly, you have to look at what it truly delivers and what it consciously gives up in order to achieve genuine pocket portability. This guide explains exactly what you should expect, helping you make a purchase decision grounded in reality rather than assumptions that do not align with the product’s intended philosophy.

This is Not a Miniature Premium Controller

The most common expectation mismatch comes from assuming the M4 delivers premium controller features in a smaller shell. The reality is that the physics and economics of controller design simply do not allow that at the M4’s size and price point. When you compare specifications directly, the distinction becomes clear. These differences are not oversights or cost-cutting mistakes. They are deliberate design decisions that make the M4’s defining feature possible: true pocket portability that you will realistically carry every day.

The slider joysticks deserve focused discussion because they depart most noticeably from traditional controller expectations. If you are used to full thumbsticks with deep travel and high precision, the M4’s flat circular pads will understandably feel more limited. However, the slider design sits flush with the controller body, eliminating the bulk that prevents conventional controllers from fitting comfortably in pockets.

Magnetic Attachment Works Best for Stationary Gaming

The M4’s MagSafe magnetic attachment system only makes sense when you understand the situations it was built for. The magnetic connection allows instant attachment and removal. You can snap the controller onto your iPhone in under two seconds and detach it just as quickly. That speed and simplicity come with a clear tradeoff. Magnetic attachment does not provide the rigid mechanical lock of clamp-style controllers. If you bump your phone while gaming or move it aggressively, the connection can shift or detach. This is not a defect. It is a conscious design choice that prioritizes everyday convenience over permanent physical locking.

The magnetic system is designed for specific, realistic gaming scenarios. It works best when you are sitting on a train during your commute, waiting in an airport lounge, playing at your desk during lunch, or using the kickstand for tabletop gaming. These situations involve minimal movement and no intense controller motions that would stress the magnetic hold. If you plan to play while walking through crowded areas, running, or constantly moving in tight spaces, the M4 is not the right tool. In those cases, a clamp-style controller like the S9 that mechanically locks onto your device is the better option.

The magnetic ring also serves a second purpose that reinforces the M4’s portability focus. When you are finished gaming, you can flip the ring over the controller buttons and turn the M4 into a sealed unit. This prevents accidental button presses while it sits in your pocket or bag.

Design Optimized for Short Sessions Throughout Your Day

The M4’s compact size comes with natural limitations in long-session comfort, and that is something you should expect and plan around. At 56 grams with a footprint close to a credit card, it simply cannot include the palm grips and curved contours that make larger controllers comfortable for hours at a time. If you have medium to large hands, it will likely feel cramped after 15 to 20 minutes of continuous play. That is not a flaw in manufacturing. It is the direct result of prioritizing true pocket portability over extended ergonomic support.

Think about how mobile gaming actually fits into real schedules. If your normal pattern involves sitting down at home for long, focused gaming sessions, the S9 or another full-size controller makes more sense. If your gaming happens in short, opportunistic windows, the M4 makes those moments possible because you will actually carry it with you.

The tradeoff becomes simple and practical. Would you rather own a controller comfortable enough for three-hour sessions that stays in a drawer most of the time, or a slightly cramped controller that lives in your pocket and gives you thirty to sixty minutes of total gaming across several short sessions each day? The M4 clearly chooses the second path on purpose.

Battery Life Designed for Daily Charging Habits

The M4’s 300mAh battery delivers 10 to 13 hours based on official specifications, with real-world usage typically landing around 9 to 10 hours depending on brightness levels and game intensity. That may sound modest next to controllers claiming 20-plus hours, but battery capacity always comes down to physical size.

Battery cells have fixed energy density, which means longer battery life requires a physically larger battery. If the M4 increased capacity to 900mAh for 30-plus hours of runtime, the weight would jump from 56 grams to roughly 90 to 100 grams, and the thickness would increase by 40 to 50 percent. At that point, it would no longer be a controller you casually slip into your pocket, and the entire product concept would fall apart.

Retro Gaming Represents the Primary Use Case

The M4’s control layout performs best with retro game emulation through Delta, RetroArch, and PPSSPP, where most titles were originally built around D-pads and face buttons instead of dual analog sticks. Super Mario World, Pokemon Fire Red, Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy Tactics, Metal Slug, Street Fighter II, and thousands of 8-bit, 16-bit, and early 3D games feel natural on the M4 because they rely heavily on the elevated D-pad and responsive face buttons while placing minimal demand on the slider joysticks.

The slider joysticks handle 3D games at a casual level, including menu navigation in Dead Cells, character movement in Stardew Valley, building in Minecraft, and exploration in older 3D titles. However, they do not offer the same range or fine control as full analog sticks, which becomes noticeable in shooters that require accurate aiming or action games that depend on detailed camera control.

Kickstand and Split Mode Transform the Experience

The M4’s versatility extends beyond standard handheld use through its split mode and included kickstand. The magnetic ring detaches from the controller body and converts into a multi-angle kickstand that props your phone at a stable viewing angle for tabletop gaming.

This setup significantly improves ergonomics by removing the need to hold your phone, which makes longer sessions more comfortable than traditional snap-on use. Boss fights in Dead Cells feel more controlled when your phone rests firmly on a desk and your focus stays entirely on the inputs.

Split mode also opens up social gaming situations that are less practical in snap-on configuration. This flexibility shifts the M4 from being strictly a handheld accessory to a hybrid controller that adapts to different parts of your day.

For sessions that extend beyond 15 minutes, split mode should be viewed as an essential feature rather than an optional extra. The kickstand setup reduces strain by eliminating the weight of your phone from your hands, minimizes cramping, and offers a better line of sight to the screen.

Understanding Early Adoption and Product Evolution

The M4 launched through Kickstarter in late 2024, with retail units shipping in January 2026. That timeline is important because products often change between announcement and full production.

Early feedback can shape final design tweaks, firmware updates fix software issues, and manufacturing improves as larger batches roll out. The M4 you buy today may include refinements that were not present in the very first production units. abxylute has publicly acknowledged user feedback about certain design elements and confirmed that an upcoming M6 model will reflect lessons learned from real-world M4.

Conclusion: Matching Controller to Gaming Reality

The abxylute M4serves a very specific purpose, and that becomes obvious once you take an honest look at how you actually game on your phone. If what you need is a 56-gram controller that fits in your pocket, lets you play retro titles and casual mobile games in short bursts, and values convenience over perfection, then the M4 fits that role perfectly. It solves the real problem most mobile gamers face: not performance, but the fact that they rarely carry a controller with them in the first place.

The M4 is built around those small windows scattered throughout busy days when opportunities appear unexpectedly. Waiting for an appointment, taking a lunch break, riding a commute, or dealing with travel delays all create short pockets of free time which the M4 is perfect for.