Apple is making game controllers — and they'll carry the Beats name
Apple is building its first game controllers, and they won't say "Apple" on the box. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman confirmed in his Power On newsletter that two controllers are in active development under the Beats brand — the same sub-brand that sells iPhone cases and USB-C cables at prices well below Apple's usual tier.
The story first surfaced when code in a macOS 26.7 beta revealed two unannounced devices with identifiers T6502 and T1057, both flagged under Apple and Beats vendor IDs. Gurman's Bloomberg report adds editorial weight to what was previously a code leak.
Two models, different specs
The hardware layout looks like a conventional gamepad: dual analog sticks with clickable inputs, a D-pad, four face buttons (A, B, X, Y), shoulder buttons, and analog triggers. Where the two models differ is in connectivity and features. The T6502 appears to be a wired design, while the T1057 adds Bluetooth, motion sensors, and haptic feedback — closer to what you'd expect from a mid-range console controller.
Gurman doesn't have pricing or a release window yet. But his framing is telling: Beats, he notes, now sells iPhone cases and cables that "don't quite fit Apple's normal approach to design." A controller fits that same logic — it needs to be affordable, which means stepping back from the premium materials Apple typically uses.
What it means for iPhone gamers
Right now, iOS gamers who want physical controls mostly reach for third-party options — Backbone One, the $100 Razer Prio, or Sony and Microsoft's own wireless pads via Bluetooth. All of those work, but none are made specifically for the iPhone ecosystem. A Beats controller would be the first first-party option from Apple, sold alongside MFi-certified accessories already on Apple.com.
The mobile gaming controller market is worth around $2.5 billion today and is projected to reach $7.2 billion by 2033, per Data Insights Market. Razer, SteelSeries, and GameSir currently dominate the third-party segment. Apple entering via Beats — at an accessible price, under a brand associated with headphones rather than pro hardware — avoids a direct premium fight while still putting a first-party option on the shelf.
Still early
No launch date, no price, no confirmed specs beyond what the macOS beta code revealed. Gurman's confirmation is meaningful, but this is still a product in development. Watch for more detail as macOS and iOS betas progress through the year.
