Cell phones are almost a requirement in today’s world, and unsurprisingly, they have also become the largest gaming platform. With that growth came cell phone gaming peripherals, controller attachments, and more. LV1 Gaming had the opportunity to spend some time with a cloud gaming controller, the Serafim S3.

Let’s review the basic features of this controller; we received the USB-C Android version of the Serafim S3. It features drift-free Hall Effect joysticks, which was a giant plus; has a USB-C port that allows you to charge while playing; fits thousands of phone cases (but not mine; I’ll get to that later); and has a wonderful console companion app that has a screen record and capture function. It boasts ergonomic interchangeable grips that adapt to various hand sizes and supports live streaming services like Twitch. The price point of $79.99 is reasonable considering the quality and features offered.

The Cons

I’ll address the minor issues of the Serafim S3 first, as they didn’t pose a significant obstacle. One issue that I ran into was using the controller while my phone was in its case. The packaging said it fits thousands of cases, but mine isn’t one of them. But let me be clear: I have an older phone, the Samsung Galaxy S21, that was released in 2021, so any time I wanted to use it, I had to remove my case, which was not difficult but was a bit annoying. Furthermore, I struggled accessing Game Pass within the console app, so I always had to use the official app while streaming Xbox titles. Once again, these issues were far from deal breakers.

The Pros

Being able to quickly grab a screenshot, capture gameplay, and even edit gameplay without having to disconnect my phone from the controller was legendary. I spent most of my time playing Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) and Balatro while using the S3, and it was beyond comfortable for long sessions of play. The latency was not noticeable enough for me to have any complaints; I was able to successfully fulfill my duties to the Thieves Guild without being caught… too often. The fact that my phone often had a full battery after playing for a few hours was refreshing; the USB-C port was definitely a heavily utilized feature. The comfort of the grips alongside the lightweight design made for a comfortable experience regardless of the type of game I was playing. Fast-paced action games did not leave my hands feeling cramped or tired.

Overall Thoughts & Who is the Serafim S3 For?

Clearly designed for long-term play and heavy use, the Serafim S3 caters to mobile gaming enthusiasts. With the Hall Effect joysticks, which dramatically decrease the chance of drifting sticks, the ability to go live from the app, and being able to charge your phone while playing, it shows that this controller was designed to be a complete console-esque experience. Even though I had to take my phone case off and log into the official Xbox app to utilize most of the features of the controller, I would recommend the Serafim S3 to any of my mobile gaming friends. The game recording and video editing make creating gaming content on the go so much simpler.

Android Version Key Features

USB Type-C port, OTG (On-The-Go) support
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or higher
Memory: 4GB or higher
GOOGLE Devices
- Pixel 9/8/7/6/5/4/4XL/3/3XL/2/2XL
SAMSUNG Devices
- Galaxy Note22/Note21/Note20 Ultra 5G/Note10/Note10+/Note9/Note8
- Galaxy Z Fold6/Z Fold5/Z Fold4/Z Fold3/Z Fold2/Z Fold
- Galaxy Z Flip6/Z Flip5/Z Flip4/Z Flip3 5G/Z Flip
- Galaxy S25/S24/S23/S22/S21/S20/S10/S10+/S8/S8+

iOS Version Key Features

iPhone with USB-C connector
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max