UCWeb’s 1st hardware product turns your phone into a Game Boy

UCWeb, the Chinese company best known for making the most popular third-party mobile browser in the world, launched its first ever hardware product this week (h/t 36kr).

The "Xiaoqi" gamepad is now on sale for RMB 99 (US$16) in batches of 2,000 via flash sale on its official website. With a button layout similar to an Xbox 360 controller, a phone mount folds out from the center of the gamepad to hold your Android phone or tablet securely in place.

The gamepad works exclusively on Android devices connected through either Bluetooth 4.0 or the microUSB port, which also charges the phone. Unfortunately, it won’t double as a USB controller for your game console or PC.

The device is rechargeable and is equipped with a 2,400 mAh battery. It’s designed to give the player a better experience when playing shooters, racing games, sports games, and some adventure titles. So while it could enhance your aim in Killshot, it probably isn’t a great addition to Candy Crush.

Unlike some similar models on the market, UC’s gamepad doesn’t require the user to root their phone to use it thanks to "unroot" technology.

As game consoles like the Xbox One and Playstation 4 take their first steps into the Chinese market, mobile games are widespread and popular. Bridging the two worlds, many companies have started including Android games on their web-streaming set-top boxes and smart TVs. As a result, gamepads are growing in popularity. Last year, Xiaomi released a Gamepad designed to be use with its tablet and smart TVs.

See: This handheld game console crossed with a smartphone could be the future of gaming in China