GameSir has been working with its X2 smartphone controller for a number of years now, and the revised X2s squeezes some spectacular functionality right into a funds bundle. This controller provides up Corridor Impact joysticks and triggers alongside mechanical button switches, and it’s prepared for telephones huge and small, so long as they use USB-C. With all that coming at simply $46 USD at MSRP (earlier than any of the frequent reductions yow will discover), the X2s is a challenger and competent little sibling to the $80 X2 Professional.
GameSir X2s – Design and Options
The GameSir X2s appears very similar to the remainder of GameSir’s X2 controller household, although it carries a retro, Nintendo-esque shade scheme that harkens again to the SNES. At first look, it’d look similar to the X2 Professional with a special paint job, however this mannequin has barely trimmed dimensions and a few extra appreciable, under-the-hood adjustments.
Among the many largest adjustments is the ABXY buttons, that are diminutive on the GameSir X2s and a bit bigger on the Professional mannequin. The Professional mannequin’s buttons are modular, permitting them to be bodily rearranged quite than relying solely on software program to modify them round. The X2s has no such bodily modularity. The USB ports are additionally mirrored between the 2 controllers — whereas this possible received’t have a huge impact for many telephone customers, it should require a special orientation in the event you’re a big folding telephone consumer.
The GameSir X2s has a spring-loaded slider that lets it stretch out to wrap round telephones starting from 4.3 to six.6 inches tall after which clamp down on them with rubber grips at every finish. This could make for a good squeeze on a few of the larger telephones on the market, however nonetheless can accommodate one thing just like the Google Pixel 7 Professional. Because the slider stretches out, it successfully creates further area beneath the connected telephone that conveniently supplies extra clearance for the protrusive digicam sensors telephones pack recently, even Google’s large ones.
The USB-C plug is considerably versatile, making it pretty simple to insert right into a telephone, although it may possibly’t contend effectively with instances – you’ll should plan on eradicating your telephone case once you need to use this controller until the separation is beneath 1mm thick across the port. Because the newest iPhones use USB-C, they joined Android telephones on the listing of units appropriate with the GameSir X2s as effectively. There’s a USB-C port on the underside of the controller that may present passthrough charging for nonstop use.
The entire unit feels a bit flimsy, however not terribly so. All of the plastic is usually a bit creaky throughout setup, nevertheless it comes collectively properly when it’s clamped round a telephone. GameSir has constructed it with ergonomics in thoughts, together with rounded corners and slight humps round again of the grips to your fingers to wrap round extra simply. There are additionally rubber grips which can be useful for retaining a great buy on the controller. It’s value mentioning, nevertheless, that the small measurement of the grips and tight management structure will be cramped for bigger fingers.
The controller has an offset joystick structure and is a detailed parallel to the Nintendo Swap’s management scheme albeit with the Xbox’s ABXY configuration. Although the joysticks are very small, GameSir consists of two units of rubber caps — one concave pair and one convex — that wrap across the high of the joysticks to cater to completely different preferences.
A spotlight of the GameSir X2s is its use of spectacular particular person elements for its controls, particularly contemplating the worth. The joysticks and analog triggers use Corridor Impact sensors, which traditionally have not had drift points and will stay responsive for a very long time. That’s useful for a product which may spend lots of time free in a bag or backpack the place the controller may get roughed up. The buttons and D-Pad on the controller even have clicky microswitches which can be a transparent improve from the mushy switches I might have anticipated at this value.
GameSir X2s – Software program
GameSir has its personal app that interfaces with the controller, although you will get loads of utility even with out the app put in. With the app, you possibly can verify all of the controls are working as anticipated and make changes to the management scheme. Joystick and set off dead-zones are adjustable which provides some versatility I can admire. The D-Pad can sub in for the left joystick in instances the place binary inputs are extra helpful. The triggers may also be set as “Fast Set off” so even a slight pull will register as a 100% enter. Lastly, the ABXY buttons can change from Xbox structure to Nintendo’s structure.
The software program can learn your telephone’s app listing offering a fast solution to pull in video games and apps that it really works with. This additionally supplies choices for linking the {hardware} controls with on-screen controls for video games that don’t help exterior controllers, nevertheless this requires particular permissions — particularly the power to attract over different apps — that pose appreciable safety issues.
GameSir X2s – Gaming and Efficiency
After placing in a pair weeks of intermittent gaming, the GameSir X2s proved a wonderful gaming controller. Whether or not tapping into regionally run video games like Sky: Youngsters of Mild or taking part in by way of sport streaming companies like GeForce Now or Steam Hyperlink, the controls work splendidly.
The joysticks could also be small, however they’re delicate and responsive, dealing with nuanced inputs with out challenge. The identical will be stated of the analog triggers, which offer higher compatibility with a wider array of video games than binary triggers would — you don’t all the time need to go pedal to the metallic in racing video games, for instance. I danced across the puzzle-like maps of Ghostrunner through GeForce Now and put my fight prowess to the check in Remaining Fantasy VII Remake through Steam Hyperlink utilizing the GameSir X2s, and it didn’t let me down. Flying round in Sky: Youngsters of Mild was additionally a pleasure made a lot better by not having to depend on on-screen contact controls and thereby not having to cowl half the display with my fingers.
The rubber caps that go onto the joysticks are a pleasant contact, offering some added tactility which is useful for my hamfisted use of joysticks more often than not. However they don’t have as safe a match as I’d prefer to see, and extra intense use can shortly unseat them from the joystick.
The ABXY buttons, D-Pad, and shoulder buttons utilizing clicky little switches makes them a quick complement to the analog controls. It could have been nice to see the extra again paddle buttons of the X2 Professional present up on the X2s, however I suppose GameSir needed to make compromises someplace to place out a extra inexpensive mannequin.
I’ve giant fingers, which does make long-term consolation with the controller a slight challenge, particularly when utilizing the fitting thumbstick is required because it’s very low on the controller. This similar challenge was confronted by our reviewer for the X2 Professional, and it’s a typical one for controllers of this kind. However for smaller fingers or quick play periods, this shall be much less of a difficulty.
