Apple is developing game controllers for the iPhone, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, and the company will likely market them under the Beats brand. The controllers are being designed for the iPhone even though evidence of them was found in Mac software, Gurman said. Beats executives are leading the effort, he added.
Rumors that Apple might enter the game controller business have been circulating for some time. Last week, MacRumors reported finding two references in the code of macOS 26.7 to two game controllers identified as first-party devices. The code was found in macOS rather than iOS, but Gurman says the controllers are intended for the iPhone.
Apple sometimes uses subsidiary brands to test new product categories and to compete at lower price points without affecting its premium Apple lineup. Beats, for instance, now sells a range of iPhone cases and USB-C cables that do not necessarily match Apple's usual approach to design. Gurman suggested a game controller fits that same pattern in the Beats portfolio.
To reach a broad audience, a Beats controller would need to be relatively affordable, according to Gurman. That would mean avoiding some of the more expensive materials and finishes typically associated with Apple products. The culture and lifestyle surrounding gaming controllers could also fit naturally under the Beats umbrella.
The report follows a period of speculation about Apple's ambitions in gaming hardware. Neither Apple nor Beats has confirmed that the controllers are in development. There is no announced release date or pricing information for the products at this time.
More gadget news from TechManNews.
