Gamesir X2s Controller Review – Upgrade your mobile gaming experience

thesixthaxis.com:

I’ve enjoyed handheld gaming ever since playing the original Game Boy while in secondary school – yes, I’m old – but I’ve never really engaged with mobile games outside of the occasional game of Candy Crush during a boring commute. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main problem I have is the clunkiness of on-screen controls for any kind of traditional game. Unless a game is specifically designed for a touchscreen (Monument Valley for example) it’s generally a no from me. This blind spot in my gaming is increasingly unfortunate as modern phones can be capable of standout experiences, whether through ports, streaming, or emulation. With this in mind I was excited to try out the Gamesir X2s, the latest in an increasingly competitive range of devices that can turn your phone into something more closely resembling a standard controller.

With most modern controllers working via Bluetooth connection, it’s relatively easy to use your Xbox, PS5, or Switch gamepad with your phone, but the ergonomics of such a solution offers its own set of problems, as you either need to prop up your device or have a cumbersome phone holder that totally throws off the weight balance of the controller. It’s for that reason that companies like Gamesir, Razer and Backbone have produced wrap-around controllers to transform a phone into something closer to a Switch or Steam Deck. The Gamesir X2s is the latest of these – iterating on the Gamesir X2 and X2 Pro – and offers some great features and performance for a very affordable price of £59.99.

Unboxing the X2s reveals a well designed piece of kit. The pastel grey/violet colour scheme is nice and distinctive, paying just the right amount of homage to retro consoles, but most importantly, the buttons are all well placed, have the contemporary Xbox layout and ABXY labels, and feel responsive. The asymmetrical analogue sticks also use Hall Effect sensors to avoid the stick drift that has come to plague many modern controllers. These