GameSir G8 + review: Switching it up
An impressive piece of hardware with customisable controls and robust specs, only let down by less than ideal setup instructions.
While your phone’s touchscreen is great for taking photos and scrolling through social media, when it comes to gaming, nothing beats the tactile feel and precision of a dedicated gamepad. If you're looking for a controller that can do it all, the GameSir G8+ is a serious contender.
This Bluetooth-enabled gamepad boasts compatibility with Android, iOS, and the Nintendo Switch, offering a level of versatility that's difficult to match. With hall effect joysticks and triggers, customisable rear paddles, and a long-lasting battery, the G8+ promises a premium gaming experience.
But, as with many tech gadgets, there are a few quirks to contend with. So, does the GameSir G8+ live up to its promise? Let's dive in and find out.
What is the GameSir G8+ offering?
The GameSir G8+ is designed to be the ultimate mobile gaming companion. Like the GTEK wireless gaming controller, t's a telescopic controller, meaning it expands to accommodate a wide range of smartphones and tablets.
One of the standout features of the G8+ is its use of hall effect joysticks and triggers. This technology ensures accurate and drift-free gameplay, providing a level of precision that's essential for competitive gaming.
The controller also offers a high degree of customisation. The magnetic faceplates on each side can be easily removed, allowing you to swap out the joysticks for different sizes. And the triggers can be toggled between gradual and hair-trigger modes, catering to different gaming styles.
With two mappable and programmable rear paddles, the G8+ offers even more control options. And its support for iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch makes it a true all-in-one gaming solution.
Inside, a 1,000mAh battery provides a substantial amount of playtime, ensuring you can game for hours on end without needing to recharge.
What does the GameSir G8+ do well?
The GameSir G8+ excels in its versatility and performance. It feels robustly built, and the hall effect joysticks and triggers provide a level of precision that's immediately noticeable, making gameplay feel smooth and responsive.
The ability to customise the joysticks and triggers is a welcome feature, allowing you to fine-tune the controller to your liking. The rear paddles are conveniently located right below the natural resting place for your middle fingers, giving you a way to access frequently used commands.
The controller's compatibility with multiple platforms is a major plus. While I originally organised this review for testing mobile phone controllers, the ability to pair this to the Switch to play Breath of the Wild with a more “Pro” gaming controller experience has been one of the highlights.
Of course, it still works with Android and iOS devices as well, so there are no concerns about compatibility.
The battery life is also impressive. With a 1,000mAh battery, you can expect weeks of playtime on a single charge, depending on your usage.
I also appreciate the fact you can customise the analogue sticks and ABXY buttons. While I, personally, was happy with the default layout, it’s straightforward to pop off the magnetic cover and swap around those buttons or control sticks.
That’s not to suggest that the faceplates pop off at inconvenient times, either. The G8 Plus is incredibly well-built, and you probably wouldn’t realise it was customisable apart from the fact it comes with additional analogue sticks in the box.
What could the GameSir G8+ improve?
While the GameSir G8+ has a lot going for it, there are a few areas where it could be improved.
One of the greatest challenges is the setup process. The instructions are not clear at all, and you may find yourself struggling to get the controller into pairing mode. I was on the verge of giving up, when I eventually stumbled on a buried thread on Reddit that explained the pairing process properly.
But even now, I still have troubles when trying to switch between an iPhone and an iPad for pairing, with the controller not appearing in the Bluetooth devices list every time.
Additionally, the GameSir app on both iOS and Android, while offering some useful features, can be a bit of a mess to navigate.
The lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack is also a bit of a letdown, especially for gamers who prefer wired headphones.
I have also found that occasionally, the customisability of the controls posed problems. Playing COD: Mobile, for example, I wanted the triggers to be in "hair trigger" mode, but had to spend 10 minutes experimenting to get them to behave correctly, navigating through both the controller and the game's settings.
It eventually worked exactly like I wanted it to, but did cause some frustration early on.
Verdict
The GameSir G8+ is a highly versatile and capable mobile gaming controller. Its compatibility with multiple platforms, hall effect joysticks and triggers, and customisable features make it a compelling option for gamers of all levels.
While the setup process and app could use some refinement, the overall performance and value of the G8+ are difficult to argue with.
If you're looking for a controller that can handle just about any mobile gaming scenario, the GameSir G8+ is definitely worth considering. It offers a premium gaming experience at a reasonable price point.
If it weren’t for the complicated pairing process, I think this would be my favourite mobile gaming controller. But even with those hurdles, it’s still a tough option to beat.
Buy the GameSir G8 Plus online
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