As manufacturers continue to improve gaming-focused smartphones, so do the needs of gamers for better experiences. Input is always a critical area, and for the dedicated gamer, using a physical controller is a smart investment.
I’ve spent time with the new Gamesir X2s controller to find out if the choice to raise the price a little has led to a larger gain in potential.
Connecting your handset to the controller is an easy two-part process. The first is to expand out the two sides. This is sprung to help grip the handset when in use, although an extra squeeze helped keep everything secure.
The second is the USB-C port. This pivots up from the Centreline so you can connect your handset at an angle, then lever it into place as you pull on the sprung sides. It’s practical, although the first few times, it feels ungainly like you need to push your phone in ways it wasn’t designed to.
Because this port is designed to cover as many phones as possible, you don’t always get a snug fit between the back of your phone and the back plate of the controller. That can’t be helped because, unlike the iPhone version, which fits with a very small pool of designs, the Android ecosystem is far more varied and esoteric. What could be improved is the depth of the USB-C connector. Most phones must be outside of any protective case for the USB-C port to connect to your phone securely, and a longer fixture would compensate for the extra thickness found when using a case.
If there’s one keyword in describing the Gamesir X2s, it’s small. This might seem comical when you see the likes of a Pixel 8 Pro or Redmagic 9S Pro strapped between either side of the controller, but the comparison is not the phone in your pocket; it’s the gaming console that you’ve slipped into your tote bag while travelling; the Steam Decks and Asus ROG Ally styled modern consoles are classed as portables but are bulky. That’s not the case here, although it does mean the buttons are smaller, there’s less travel on the sticks and triggers, and larger hands may find the layouts cramped.
Every game controller designer has to choose which layout to use. While the smaller buttons have a lot of leeway, deciding whether the two analogue sticks will be at the bottom of the controller or in the diagonal top-left and bottom-right corners goes a long way to setting the tone of the device.
Gamesir has decided on the Nintendo Switch-style diagonal layout. This is seen as the layout of choice for modern gaming, including many Android titles, so the X2s has confidently declared its target market before the box is opened (although I would love it if a second model offered the alternative control stick layout).
The other choice can be changed in software, namely which face button will be the action key – the middle right is broadly speaking the Nintendo way, and the bottom centre is the Xbox way. This can be set in Gamesir’s Android app and downloaded from the Play Store. The Apple allows you to set several controller options, such as the sensitivity of the analogue triggers, the dead zones on your sticks and triggers, and different layouts depending on what you play.
The Gamesir X2s controller is small, but I have never found that to be a problem in shorter gaming sessions. Play for a longer time, and it can start to feel cramped, but unless you are working on a home-based controller with decent heft and bulk, that’s going to be something that you’ll have to deal with most controllers.
The grips below the trigger have more texture and friction than the rear plate. There’s just enough swell to allow your fingers to wrap over the surface to help the grip of the controller/smartphone combination, and you can partially rest the rear of the trigger housing on the side of your fingers. It all feels secure and effortless.
The buttons and sticks are all within reach for my hands without feeling that I will drop the controller/handset combination. The same is true when using the analogue sticks. The two sticks use the hall effect rather than physically connected sensors to determine their location. That reduces the possibility of ‘’stick drift’ as components slip over time, allowing for a more accurate measurement of inputs. It’s a stand-out specification for the X2s controller; for many, this is the one addition that makes the X2s worth considering.
Using a good game controller on your smartphone can be a revelation. Where you once had a touchscreen with no feedback and no precision, you now have a physical guide to where your hands need to be, tactile responses to know you’ve pressed a button, and the precision in the sticks to have fine control over small movements.
Driving games that were compromised by needing auto-accelerate and either a tilting steering action or basic left/right on the screen now have an analogue accelerator and brakes, steering that can be tweaked in the corner, and a far easier experience. You have the classic first-person setup of a stick to look, a stick to move, and triggers and shoulder buttons for actions, combat, and inventory control.
And if retro gaming is one of your passions, you’ll have a controller setup that echoes the machines you want to play on your mobile device.
Gamesir has priced the XS2 a touch higher than the competition, and it shows. The Hall Effect sticks are the big win from the price increase, and the mechanical switches offer great feedback with robust construction. Yet this is a controller that still needs to meet a budget. The texture on the controls helps guide your fingers to the right location, but the plastic feeling remains.
Gaming done to a high level on Android draws more battery power than basic browsing and social media interaction. The X2s also needs power and draws what it needs from the phone’s battery; resulting in a double-hit when gaming. Thankfully, the X2s has pass-through power, so you can plug your USB-C charger into the controller and, therefore, the phone, but if you’re away from power, be aware you’ll need a power bank sooner rather than later.
I have concerns over the permissions demanded by the companion application, and too many $1000 phones will need their protective case removed to work with the USB-C connector. Gamesir has found a good balance between capability and cost. The X2s is not a product for everyone; it’s for people who already know they are gamers, both on mobile-specific apps and streaming games from the likes of Steam and XBox, but need a little bit more than a basic controller.
You probably know if you’re a controller/smartphone combo kind of player, in which case the question becomes about the value for money of the X2s. It is small, and the construction is solid but not outstanding, yet the Hall Effect sticks, and the secure feeling in the hand goes a long way to making this a good choice for those who want a little bit more than the average smartphone controller.
Disclaimer: Gamesir provided an X2s Type-C Wired Mobile Gaming Controller for review purposes.
Now read more about retro gaming on Nubia’s latest Redmagic smartphone…
