Gamesir G8 Mobile Controller - Review

Over the past few years, Gamesir has slowly risen to a name to be reckoned with when it comes to high-quality, feature-packed game controllers. And this is especially true when it comes to mobile controllers. While the Razer Kishi V2 or Backbone controllers might be dominating the conversation online, Gamesir’s offerings seem to be simply miles better than the competition.

The Gamesir G8, the USB-C mobile game controller we are looking at today, is one such example. With full Hall Effect joysticks and triggers, two back buttons, swappable joystick heads, multiple modes for wide compatibility, and outstanding ergonomics, the G8 is easily one of the best and most comfortable mobile game controllers I have used so far. And for $80, which undercuts most of its competitors, this is a win for the Chinese company.

Gamesir G8 - Design and Features

Admittedly, we are a bit late to the party when reviewing the Gamesir G8. The controller released sometime last year, and exploded in popularity due to its features and comfort, and we simply had to get our hands on it to see what the fuss was about.

After using the G8 for a week, it’s abundantly clear why that was the case.

The device feels less like something you would want to use for mobile games, and more like a proper console controller. It’s big, rounded with proper grips, and with full joystick and triggers - basically an Xbox controller with a gigantic hole in the middle for your mobile devices. This does make it less portable compared to the Kishi V2 or the Backbone, but in return you get better ergonomics and near console-like feel and performance.

Speaking of performance, the Gamesir G8 packs in Hall Effect joysticks, so the dreaded stick drift issue is not much of a worry here. The joysticks can also be swapped for the three additional ones provided in the box. You get a domed-shaped joystick with circular ribs for grip, a small nub for…err, whatever purpose it serves, and a taller concave one similar to the default configuration.

Swapping them out is painless - pop out the front faceplate on either joystick (held by magnets), pull out the joystick head, punch in the new one, and you are done.

The G8 adopts the Xbox controller layout with ABXY face buttons, off-set joysticks, standard bumpers and triggers, Start and Select buttons, as well as a Gamesir home button, and screenshot and macros buttons.

On the back, you get two additional paddles that can be configured to any other button using the Gamesir app.

All of the buttons feel excellent to use - they are clicky and punchy, and the overall device feels sturdy enough for rough use. However, the triggers do feel a bit plastic-y - not in terms of how they feel, but rather how they sound. It simply sounds like you are smashing two pieces of plastic together and they can get loud and annoying if you are using it with someone else in the room. If you are used to Xbox’s more smoother triggers, these will annoy you at first.

The most impressive thing about the G8 is how the USB-C connection is implemented. Unlike the Kishi V2 or the Backbone, the USB-C jack can be tilted up or down, basically giving some wiggle room when you are placing the device in. This prevents straining the port on the controller as well as on the device itself, giving some peace of mind that you won’t break it by mistake. I wish all mobile controllers from here on implement this because it just makes so much sense.

Finally, the controller also features a USB-C passthrough for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack, placed near the bottom of the device, so you can run those cables without it interfering with the screen or the grips.

Gamesir G8 - Software, Performance and Comfort

Gamesir has its own companion app for the G8, where you can configure the controller in a way you see fit. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices, and generally works well…if it didn’t crash so often. On both of my test devices, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro and the Huawei MatePad Pro 13” tablet (more on this later), the app worked for a couple of times, allowing me to set up the controller and update the firmware, but then crashed every other time I tried to open it. And the times that it didn’t crash, it would fail to detect the controller and would require a reconnection to the device, which got annoying real quick.

When the app works, it gives plenty of options to tinker with. In the ‘Gamepad Test’ page, you can test all of the buttons on the controller to see if it’s working fine. A crucial inclusion to see if the device is safe and sound or if it requires an RMA.

The ‘Button Settings’ page allows you to change the face buttons layout from Xbox to Nintendo Switch, as well as configure the back buttons.

The ‘Joystick settings’ page lets you configure the deadzone of the joysticks, and has a range from 0 to 100 for a precise setup.

And finally, the ‘Trigger Settings’ page lets you change the range at which the trigger activates. It also lets you turn on the ‘Quick Trigger’ mode which basically changes the triggers from analog (linear progression) to digital (instant execution).

Elsewhere, the app is packed with (sort of useless) extras such as a game discovery page that lists compatible games you can play on the controller, and a storefront if you fancy buying any of other Gamesir products. They are non-intrusive and do not pester you to check them out while using the app or outside of it, so their inclusion in the app is A-okay in my books.

Comfort-wise, the Gamesir G8 is leagues ahead of the competition thanks to its console controller-like ergonomics. It’s lightweight and feels premium in the hands, and it fits right in your palms like a glove. There is no learning curve because of how similar it feels to other full-fledged controllers, and I could game with it for hours without any sort of discomfort. The handles, as well as the triggers, features small ribs for extra grip, and while they do feel a little coarse in the hands, you sort of get used to it. After using the G8, I simply cannot go back to the likes of the Razer Kishi V2 USB-C I reviewed recently, which makes me feel instantly cramped due to the lack of proper grips and the Switch-like joysticks.

The controller features three compatibility modes (triggered by pressing the Start and Select buttons) denoted by different coloured LEDs on the Gamesir button. A PlayStation mode (white LED) to make it work with the official PS Remote Play app, an Android mode (green LED) for games that natively support a controller, and a G-Touch mode (blue LED) for games that do not.

For mobile games that lack native controller support, like COD: Mobile, PUBG, etc, you can configure the button placement using the Gamesir app. Or you can simply roll with the default configuration that Gamesir has already setup for you when you launch a game using the app - a nice touch that lets you instantly play any game without spending a few minutes tinkering with it.

Besides that, the G8 worked flawlessly. I tried a bunch of Android games (COD: Mobile, Genshin Impact, and Horizon Chase) and streamed PC games using Moonlight and ran into no compatibility issues whatsoever.

The controller should be compatible with most mobile devices as it has a max bridge length of 185mm, 13mm in depth, and a camera depth of under 5mm. I tried a number of devices on it, including the Motorola Edge 30 Pro, POCO X6 and an iPhone 15 and had no problems slotting them in. You might run into trouble if you are rocking an extra thick phone case, so you might want to check on that before using the G8.

Now, I had mentioned that I had used a 13” tablet with the G8, and with only 185mm max bridge length, you must be wondering how that is even possible? But it is! Some crafty users on YouTube have found a way to ‘mod’ the G8 to host large tablets and let me tell you, this is a game changer.

Basically, the G8 includes two very long, stretchy and sturdy springs to support its bridge and it is only restricted by two plastic ‘stoppers’ that prevent it from extending beyond the length set by Gamesir. If you remove the stoppers, the springs can be extended much further and support large screen sizes without any problem. You can follow this tutorial here - it’s a simple two step process provided you have the right tools.

The only downside to doing this mod is that you will obviously void the warranty, but also expose the springs on the back at all times if you use a tablet that’s larger than 8”. The springs don’t pose any problems of breaking - I left my 13” tablet on the controller for two days and it did not affect the elasticity of the springs at all, but it could and some care must be taken. Some Reddit users have crafted 3D-printed casing to hide the springs and protect it from worldly objects, which is something you can do if you have access to a 3D printer.

The plus-side to this mod is that you are no longer limited to the small screen sizes of your phone. You can slap in an 8” or a 11” tablet and have a proper Steam Deck/PS Portal-like experience without spending a lot of money for it - especially if you already have the tablet. My experience with the G8 completely transformed using it with the 13” tablet - playing PS5 and PC games on a large screen handheld form factor was a fantastic experience, and it wasn’t too heavy either provided you support your elbows somehow.