Logitech’s PowerShell Gives iDevice Owners a Real Gamepad, Plus a Battery Extender

Gaming on a mobile platform can be rough sometimes, especially for those who demand real controls. As we discovered earlier this month, NVIDIA offers one hell of a solution on the Android side, with the powerful and flexible SHIELD, but what if you already own a device and merely want to add a gamepad to it? Well, if it’s a current iPhone or iPod touch, Logitech has got you covered.

With the PowerShell Controller + Battery, Logitech allows you to slip your iDevice into a gamepad that acts as a dock. On either side of the docked screen will be common console buttons (ABXY, D-Pad), and on top, a pair of bumpers.

PowerShell is designed with a couple of goals in mind. First, Logitech wants to offer iOS7 gamers the opportunity to enjoy their games while not having to cover the playfield with their fingers (one of the main reasons I ignore mobile gaming outside of SHIELD). At the same time, PowerShell’s built-in 1,500mAh will about double the battery-life of your iDevice (the iPhone 5S built-in battery is 1,570mAh).

When docked, you’ll still have access to the device’s power and volume buttons, and likewise, you won’t lose access to a headphone jack so that you can hear the action better.

Overall, PowerShell looks to be a great product. It’s one I could see me opting for if I had an iPhone, because once an iDevice is docked, it almost looks reminiscent of an SNES gamepad (albeit a lot wider). I have a gut feeling Logitech is going to be selling a lot of these puppies.

Want one? Prepare to shell out $100, with availability to kick-off soon.