Evaluate writing conventions be damned — I’m going to begin this with the conclusion. If you need the very best Android telephone gaming controller proper now, get the GameSir X3.
The iPhone gaming house has been locked down by the BackBone One, which leaves the Android trophy able to be collected by GameSir, due to a few key enhancements over the GameSir X2 that make this important to any cell gamer on Android.
So, why is it that good? What makes this a great companion for each cell gaming and hours of Xbox Cloud Gaming? Let’s get into it.
GameSir X3 value
The GameSir X3 is available in only one configuration: an Android solely USB-C mannequin at $99 (opens in new tab).
That’s the identical territory because the Spine One, which, with the corporate lastly asserting an Android model of its controller (opens in new tab) (launching in November), means the GameSir X3has a five-month head begin earlier than the Android gaming controller house will get a complete lot extra aggressive.
GameSir X3 design
Upon first impressions of the entrance, you’ll see the GameSir X3 has not modified that a lot because the X2: identical satisfyingly tactile buttons, identical easy analogue sticks, and the identical sturdy case with all of the consumer-friendly added integrations such because the 50-degree versatile angle of the connector.
When you get it in your fingers and take a look at the again, although, you’ll begin to see the important thing variations. Particularly, the entire machine is sort of a bit thicker — warmly welcomed to really get grasp of the controller for lengthy play classes.
Whereas ergonomically helpful, that added thickness is to deal with the brand new cooling fan. The seven-blade fan with RGB lighting whirs and retains a copper plate tremendous cool to the contact, which supplies temperature aid to your Android telephone in even essentially the most processor-intensive video games.
Given how scorching some Android telephones can get throughout gameplay, it is a important improve for the kind of devoted cell players that will search out a controller.
There’s one other secret weapon to the X3, which is modular analogue sticks and buttons. For the sticks, you could have some longer choices for extra finite management, and the face buttons are magnetic, which suggests you might swap them spherical based mostly on the default structure. It’s a lot extra handy than simply remapping total video games.
That’s to not say it’s good. The set off buttons nonetheless don’t have any journey to them and the fan has no related battery, which suggests it will probably solely be operated by being plugged into some type of energy. There are two USB-C ports on right here: one that gives energy passthrough to your telephone and the opposite that operates the fan.
However as soon as once more, GameSir has crafted a thoughtfully designed piece of equipment for players that feels nice to make use of over longer durations of time and helps you elevate your gaming efficiency on the go whereas being a lot extra moveable than sticking a clip in your favorite sport controller.
GameSir X3 connectivity and help
The X3 sports activities solely USB-C connectivity, which suggests roughly 100% of Android telephones are supported (until you like the chaos of a 10-year-old telephone with micro USB). And as soon as once more, the stretch of the GameSir exceeds the 6.5-inch declare, as I used to be in a position to make use of the OnePlus 10 Professional (6.7 inches) and RedMagic 7 (6.8 inches) with no issues in anyway.
Whereas this ensures controller inputs are latency-free, audio is a barely totally different story as a result of there isn’t a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio passthrough. I get that we stay in a world of true wi-fi earbuds — a few of which have low-latency gaming modes — however it can by no means be really lag-free.
Please, GameSir. Simply give me a headphone jack.
GameSir X3 software program
The GameSir app expertise is getting a little bit higher, but it surely’s nonetheless nowhere close to the whole expertise you get from Spine One. If this was an iOS controller too, that will be an issue, however Android is a special story.
Spine affords a wealth of app choices that remodel your telephone right into a sport UI match for the controller (a few of which requires a paid subscription), whereas the 100% free GameSir companion app acts extra as a method to edit controller mapping — flipping what’s the choose button between the “Xbox” structure (A on the backside) or the “Swap” structure (B on the backside).
Backside line
The GameSir X3 ups its sport to grow to be the very best Swap-esque Android telephone gaming controller you should buy proper now.
A sturdy, snug construct homes buttons and analogue sticks that really feel nice and are swappable, the cooling system works a deal with and the extra case preserves your buy when throwing it in your baggage for long-haul flights.
However the identical small-but-impactful omissions are current: shoulder buttons that don’t have any journey, the dearth of a 3.5mm headphone jack pass-through for latency-free audio and the companion app doesn’t actually be part of issues up with a centralized sport UI.
Within the Android-specific GameSir X3,nonetheless, these points are simply forgiven. You’ll battle to discover a higher controller for moveable gaming than this.
