GameSir - G8 SE Multi-Platform Wireless Game Controller iOS, Android, PC - Black

The Gamesir G8 SE is a pretty solid smart phone controller. I immediately threw my iphone 16 plus into this clamp trap controller with ease. The first problem I had was getting it to be read by my phone correctly, easily done by a simple 2 button hold press [view & menu] (switching the green light to red for xbox/ios) onced switched to red light; I was able to log into to my xbox ultimate plan and start playing. From the point of opening the package to playing a game of Forza was about 5 minutes in setup and launch time (probably waited longer for Forza to load then it took to get everything to the point of launching a cloud game). Pros Fits multiple style phones, sizes Includes adapters to fit other devices more snug C port is slightly movable which makes quickly connecting device easier Compatible with Android, iOS & Windows Features Anti Stick-Drift Gamesir Hall Effect Sticks (has rumble [dual motor] type vibration) Remappable back buttons 3.5mm jack Works with Gamepass ultimate cloud play Pass through charging Works with Gamesir app (adjust stick / trigger dead zones, and other settings) Cons Nothing that I could find, honestly, it is a well made xbox clone controller for a phone it does what it needs to do and does it well. Overall, this controller is decent, would be great for road trips and trips in general, paired up with xbox gamepass ultimate a good internet connection and your set to go. Honestly it was a quick setup, I was up and going alot quicker than i had anticipated. No immediate firmware/software updates to deal with out of the box, just plug in and get to it. Would highly recommend!

I grew up in the 80's and 90's when video games and the controllers were simple. Today, I play a lot of these same exact games with the modern conveniences we have, including better hardware, bright and clear screens, and save states. I also enjoy a lot of the modern Indie titles. There are a ton of devices to use for this, but the one device I always have on me is my smartphone, and touchscreen controls just don't cut it. I have amassed quite a collection of controllers, but this is the first high-quality, connect-directly-to-my-cellphone model I've had, so I was excited to try out this GameSir controller that actually works with iPhones (since modern iPhones finally have USB-C ports) PROS - CONTROLLER ITSELF ------------------------------------ Out of the package, the controller feels very high quality. The handles are solid, with no give from a tight squeeze. The back side of the handles is highly textured, so even if your hands get sweaty, it should not slip. The Hall-effect sticks have an excellent range of motion and are decently sized. The d-pad is also nicely sized and it passes the "Contra test" (if you know, you know). The ABXY buttons are in the Xbox style layout, and I will say they are rather "clicky". Definitely not as quiet as some handhelds I have used from Retroid and Anbernic, but I like the travel on them. The triggers are also Hall-effect, but they lack a bit of travel, so if you are coming from an Xbox controller, or some of the modern Android handhelds, this may take a little adjustment. Overall, this controller, as a controller, is very good. CONS - CONTROLLER ITSELF ------------------------------------ However, I ran into a few problems. First, I really like the way the USB-C insert is on a pivot, meaning you can tilt it outward a bit to help you connect it to the phone, and then extend the handles to grip the phone. Unfortunately, like most of these controllers, the USB-C insert is not long enough to make contact inside the phone when I have a case on it (I have an iPhone 17). I tend to drop my phone a lot and not having a case on it is not an option, but I have to remove it to use this controller. Since having a case on a smartphone is so common, I don't understand why the manufacturers of these controllers don't make some accommodation for this. Out of the package, I also had a few other issues. These may be resolved by the time you read this, but it's worth checking first. One issue is that while an instruction manual is included, it's in the tiniest print imaginable, and again, as I played video games in the 80's and 90's, my aging eyes required a magnifying glass to read it. This was necessary because the manual is nowhere to be found online, including GameSir's website. Of course, not being able to find a manual meant that I had to dig out that magnifying glass to figure out how to make it work with iOS. I'll save you the trouble of trying to read it and then figure out which button is which on the device - the two small buttons on the top of the controller are by default Start and Select. Hold both of them down together for a couple of seconds once you attached your iPhone. The GameSir button on the bottom right will go from a green light to a red light. That's what you need to work with iOS. Unfortunately, that setting isn't sticky, so you'll have to do that every time you connect it. CONS - APP FOR CONTROLLER --------------------------------------- The other issue is that this controller is supposed to be compatible with the GameSir app. There is even a page in that teeny tiny instruction manual that states this and provides a QR code to get to it (which is also so tiny that my phone couldn't read it, so I just went to the App Store). This controller is not available as one of the options in the app. There is a G8+, but not a G8 SE. If that is important to you, I would advise downloading the app and checking it before purchasing, as it hopefully will be at a later date. I'm disappointed because it would give me a better idea of what I can do with this controller. OTHER THOUGHTS ------------------------ On the plus side, this device can also be connected via a USB-C cable, so I can connect it to my iPhone, and likewise, my iPad with that cable. That does give it some more use scenarios although defeats the purpose. You can also connect the controller to a Windows PC using this method, per the instruction manual. FOOD FOR THOUGHT --------------------------- If you want to use a controller like this for retro gaming, or even Android gaming, using an old Android phone or even a prepaid device that you purchase for only this purpose is a fantastic way of building a handheld for yourself that is not attached to your actual phone (meaning no notifications, disruptions from phone calls, or draining your phone battery. This is an excellent controller on the hardware side, especially with the Hall-effect sticks and triggers. If the controller does later on end up in the GameSir app, this is a much more affordable way of building your own portable handheld. Even if you do want to use your regular smartphone, it's still an excellent device and I would recommend it.

Ive been gaming with the GameSir G8 SE Multi-Platform wireless game controller for a few days now (that name is a tongue twister). Anywho, I'd like to share my thoughts. My first impressions out of the box were that it felt quite premium. Almost like an Xbox Series X controller. If you own an xbox then you know what I mean. The grips are just large enough for my hands, the triggers have a nice tactile feel and response. The a b x y buttons are also nice and responsive. Similar to that console controller. I like it because some third party controllers tend to have squishy buttons, not sure why but the buttons on this controller are great. The D-Pad is nice as well. GameSir has included Hall effect sticks in this controller.. they are supposed to eliminate the potential of them ever getting stick drift. Time will tell, but for now I like these joysticks. They are also very responsive and bounce back nicely when releasing them. The controller has a USB C port on the bottom of the controller for pass through charing, a nice touch. So you can charge your phone or not worry about draining the battery while you play your favorite game. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the control for connecting headphones. Very nice as well. This controller does not have a built in battery, so no need to ever charge it. It powers with the USB C port of your phone when connected. Personally I think it is convenient. No need to ever charge this thing. My only complaint about this controller is that it is easy to pinch your finger with the controller when removing the phone from it. So be careful when removing the phone and try to keep the edges of your hand and fingers away from the part that collapses when the controller retracts back to its original position. It has pinched my hand twice already lol. It didn't break skin, but it was a little painful. I could see this potentially hurting a child's hand if not used properly. The pinch point is on the left side of the controller so keep that in mind. My other complaint is that I am low key worried that my usb c port will get damaged with this controller because of the added stress onto the port from the controller clamping down on the phone. The USB C plug does kind of swivel a bit, probably to prevent USB Port damage, but it is still a little worrisome. That being said, overall I really like this controller. It is plug and play and will automatically connect to your phone and play compatible games. It is compatible with both iOS and Android even thought the box only says android on it. BUT your iPhone will have to have a usb C port as this controller is plugged via usb C. The controller also has vibration motors but not too many games support that function. All in All, I really like this controller. I do tend to like playing games on Apple Arcade as many of them support controllers and this is perfect for that. You can also play emulators with it if you are into that. Would I recommend this controller? Sure! Perhaps not for young children though, id be worried about them hurting their small hands by pinching them with this controller.

The GameSir G8 SE is the perfect travel companion. I bring this mobile controller with me when I travel daily. I didn't realize that I would like the controller as much as I do. I thought I would only bring the controller with me on long flights, but I've had with me at work and around the house. I have an XBOX ultimate game pass subscription that allows me to play games in the cloud. I have a fairly large Android phone with a harden case. After swapping out the silicon pads on controller for the slimmer pads, it made all the difference. The USB-C port is adjustable also, which makes things easier when mounting devices. I love the features of having USB-C connectivity versus wireless in this particular model. Since I play mostly cloud based games that introduces minimal latency, the wired connection is the best choice to have while gaming. I downloaded the GameSir app and was able to check out all the features and settings. Pass-through charging is probably one of the best features outside of being about to use the controller with multiple devices. Being able to charge my phone and play games made this controller top tier. My only gripe with the controller is that I would have liked the Pass-through USB-C port to be Display-port capable. This would have allowed me to use my display glasses while charging and playing games. After reviewing the booklet, I noticed that the controller has Windows compatibility. I didn’t think it would be possible since the controller is geared towards the mobile setups. To my surprise, I was able to change the mode and connected the controller to the USB-C port to my gaming pc. All the games I threw at worked well. This controller will serve as a backup in case my primary controllers suddenly start to malfunction. I love the Xbox style design with customizable buttons and triggers. The comfort and feel of the buttons, paired with hall effect sticks make this one of must haves of the year so far. If you are a gamer and want something reliable and lightweight, this controller even has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Something that phones have been without for several years. This controller has been a perfect addition to my tech bag and recommend giving this controller a serious look.

I wanna start off by saying, it's not quite "Plug & Play" as it says. I have a Galaxy S26+ for work and a iPhone 15 Pro for personal use. It works with both of those devices (as well as Windows) but I thought I had a defective unit at first because I didn't realize there's a "Platform Mode Switch" procedure by holding the 'start and select' buttons or Menu and Option buttons. Green is PC, Red is iOS, and then there's light blue and dark blue for Android. I didn't know this at first and was extremely disappointed with the controller. But once I got that figured out, I ended up loving this controller. I play a lot of games on my phone from Google Play Pass, and Apple Arcade, but I also do streaming either from GeForce Now or PS Remote Play. So a controller is needed. I unfortunately can't get it to work with my PS5 through either phone since it's forcing me to use a PS5 controller for that, but for everything else it works great! It's not all sunshine and roses though, it desperately needs a firmware update. First of all, I primarily use my iPhone for gaming as well as my Samsung Tablet for gaming on Android. My work phone is mostly used for work. The problem is this is primarily geared for Android phone users more so than iOS. The main reason I say that is because the light will always turn green on my iPhone rather than staying red. On my work phone, it recognizing it right away and it's pretty much plug and play! I wish it was more Plug and Play for iOS. Another sore spot, but very minor is the A button is a little too close to the right thumbstick. I sometimes accidentally nudge it. Lastly, I love the pass through charging, as well as how every button on my phones are reachable, and how I can use the controller on my Android tablet using just a USB cord which makes it very versatile, it's also how you use it on PC. Overall though, it's a good device. I like it. Ergnomics, and the fact it works with a lot of platforms.