Smartphones quickly took over the market as one of the most popular places to play games, but it's only been recently that we've seen a surge in console quality, controller-friendly titles and services. Big games like Call of Duty have a serious presence on mobile, while services like Game Pass and Google Play Pass bring AAA games to your 5-inch smartphone screen.
But if you're investing in this kind of gaming, you'll need a solid controller to go with it. There are a few ways to go about it, like using your existing Xbox controller with a clip, buying a dedicated mobile Bluetooth controller, or choosing something like the GameSir X2, which slots your phone into a Nintendo Switch-esque case for portable gaming.
And that's exactly what we're taking a look at today. The GameSir X2 clashes with the popular Razer Kishi, but with a few of its own spins on the formula. Let's see how it holds up.
Switch inspired design
- Comfortable design
- Grippy, but not too heavy
- Would be better without Switch colors
It's hard to look at the GameSir X2 and not immediately think about the Nintendo Switch. That's not a bad thing, and obviously anything in this form factor is going to draw some comparisons, but GameSir maybe went a little too obvious here.
The coincidentally Joy-Con shaped sides of the controller house all the buttons you'll need. There's an analog stick and d-pad on the left side, plus a screenshot button and multipurpose select button. A bumper and trigger sit on the top, while the power button and USB-C charging port sits on the bottom.
The opposite end of the controller houses a second analog stick, the ABXY buttons, and a start button, with another bumper and trigger but no additional buttons on the side.
You'll immediately notice that there's red plastic under the left analog stick, and blue plastic under the right analog stick, which looks incredibly Switch-y. I think a plain color would've been just fine here and would help the X2 stand on its own, instead of acting like a Switch clone accessory.
The middle of the controller where you put your phone is designed to be universal. We're using the Bluetooth model, which offers no ports to connect unlike the Razer Kishi, although the X2 does come in a USB-C variant. Instead the gripped sides and textured recess hold your phone in place, and they do an excellent job. I'm not usually a fan of just trusting some pressure to keep your expensive phone in place, but the material GameSir used is insanely grippy.
Additionally, the back of the controller has some extended grips for your palms, which I think makes a huge difference in comfortability. It's also fairly light despite packing in its own battery. You won't find a headphone jack on this model, however.
Console gaming experience
- Great analog sticks and buttons
- Grippy backside is comfortable
- Triggers are digital buttons, not analog
With the design out of the way, how does the GameSir X2 actually handle playing games? Extremely well, actually.
I like the Razer Kishi, and I think for mobile games and some casual to semi-competitive experiences, it's fine. I also like my Nintendo Switch, but have the same opinion, mostly because of the terrible analog sticks. The GameSir X2, on the other hand, feels like it could legitimately be a competitive controller.
It's not quite at the same level of just getting a full Xbox controller clipped to your phone, but it's almost the next best thing. The sticks are raised and responsive enough to offer a better Switch style control, the buttons click just a bit more than the Kishi, and the grips on the back make it much more comfortable to hold. The d-pad is also significantly better and less mushy, although you might still want to look at 8bitdo for classic platforming perfection.
Complaints are few and far between, but there are some improvements that GameSir could've made. The triggers are purely digital, for instance, which isn't a huge deal but could cause some issues if you're playing certain games via Game Pass or another service. There's also no audio passthrough, so you'll need to use Bluetooth headphones on either variant of the X2 you get. Should be fine, but some cheaper headphones struggle with gaming latency, so keep that in mind.
Worth it?
- Excellent controller
- Includes carrying case
- Expensive
As always, if you're serious gaming on the go and want to play competitively, you need to look at buying an Xbox One controller or DualShock and getting a clip. You're simply not going to beat the real thing.
But for what GameSir is offering with the X2, this package is fantastic. Not only are you getting a universal, extremely comfortable controller that'll handle 95% of the games you want to play, but you get extras like a screenshot button and turbo function that make it seem more like a real console experience. GameSir also includes a carrying case for the controller for when you travel, which is just the cherry on top.
But at $60 to $70 before any promos, they're asking basically the same price as an Xbox One controller. You get a little more function and value out of the GameSir, so that's a tradeoff decision you'll have to make. I do think this is pretty much superior to the Razer Kishi in every way, so if you're looking for that style of controller, pick the GameSir X2 and don't look back.
GameSir X2 | $59 | Amazon
