Gamesir X2s Review

About the Gamesir X2s

• Price: $46
• Connectivity: USB-C (smartphone dock), USB-C in (charging passthrough)
• Dimensions: 6.4 inches x 4.2 inches x 2.5 inches
• Weight: 6.08 ounces (172 grams)
• Colors: Gray/purple
• Device compatibility: Android, iOS (iPhone 15 and up)
• Material: Plastic
• Special features: Hall effect joysticks, trigger stops, Turbo button, adjustable USB-C port

The Gamesir X2s Type-C docks to smartphones via an adjustable tension mechanism. Simply pull one side out, slot your phone into the controller’s grippy rubber interior, and then allow the controller’s tension to hold your phone in place. It’s less complicated than alternatives like the Razer Kishi that use elaborate hinged mechanisms.

Device support includes smartphones that measure up to 6.6 inches horizontally, which is enough to handle most phones but may exclude a few larger devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The controller is meant for use with Android phones and the iPhone 15. Future iPhone models with USB-C ports should also work.

The USB-C port used to dock a smartphone to the controller is hinged and can swing roughly 35 degrees up or down. Keep that in mind if you want to dock and undock frequently. I found connecting a phone to the Gamesir X2s a tad easier than a Razer Kishi or Backbone One.

That simplicity is not without issues. The Gamesir X2s feels flexible and the plastic body wiggles a bit when twisted or forced. Fortunately, that was never a serious issue. Though the controller flexes if it twists in certain directions, the tension of the smartphone grip stabilizes it once a smartphone is docked, and it isn’t a problem while gaming.

I was immediately at home with the Gamesir X2s’ layout. Despite the SNES-inspired look, the controller has a standard Xbox-style XYAB face button layout instead of Nintendo’s YXBA layout. The face buttons are relatively small due to the controller’s size but activate with a short through and satisfying click. The analog triggers and Hall effect joysticks feel smooth to actuate.

There is one potential downside, and that’s the D-pad. Gamesir uses a cross-style D-pad instead of a radial design, which makes diagonal input more awkward (you’ll have to simultaneously press right and down to input control in that direction, for example). It can prove annoying if you’re playing games from the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 generation or newer.

The Razer Kishi, Backbone One, and Gamevice Flex all take a similar approach and use a similar layout. Gamesir’s inputs all have a relatively shorter throw, so they feel more immediate and direct than competitors.

While the buttons are comfortable, the controller layout too often feels cramped. The Gamesir X2s is relatively shallow and requires a claw grip that becomes uncomfortable when gaming for an hour or more. Competitors like the Backbone One and Razer Kishi are more comfortable since they use a more sculpted design (with that said, they can still lead to hand cramps eventually).

Gamesir throws in a few extras including a Turbo button, a trigger stop to shorten the throw of the analog triggers (important for games that use input sensitivity), and a smartphone app that allows customization of joystick dead zones, among other details. There’s also a USB-C port on the lower left lip that can be used to charge a phone while docked to the controller.

These features are appreciated, and in some cases more than what competitors offer (the Turbo button is far from ubiquitous), but they don’t make or break the controller.

Should you buy the Gamesir X2s?

Yes, it’s a good smartphone controller at the right price

The Gamesir X2s is a competent smartphone controller. It’s not the most rigid, durable, or attractive, but it feels strong enough to hold up to typical use. The layout is similar to competitors, albeit with some SNES-inspired flair. Docking and undocking a phone is easier than most competitors, but I wouldn’t say those competitors are difficult to use, either.

But the Gamesir X2s Type-C has one obvious advantage: the price.

You can pick up the controller for just $46. That’s less than Gamesir’s previous X2, which has similar features but adopts an Xbox-style look. It’s also far less than the Razer Kishi, which typically retails between $60 and $100 (depending on the model), or the Backbone One, which is $100. It also undercuts similar controllers from Gamevice, PowerA, and Leadjoy, among others.

To be frank, I’m not sure why you’d pay more for those alternatives. Do they look and feel a bit nicer? Yes, but only a bit—and they all have similar layouts with similar, or sometimes fewer, features. That puts the Gamesir X2s in a comfortable spot. It simply does the job for less.

GameSir X2s

The Gamesir X2s uses Hall effect sticks and triggers and an intuitive docking mechanism for under $50.

BUY NOW

at Amazon

Meet the tester

Matthew S. Smith

Contributor

@Matt_on_tech

Matthew S. Smith is a veteran tech journalist and general-purpose PC hardware nerd. Formerly the Lead Editor of Reviews at Digital Trends, he has over a decade of experience covering PC hardware. Matt often flies the virtual skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator and is on a quest to grow the perfect heirloom tomato.

See all of Matthew S. Smith's reviews