GameSir X2 Pro for Xbox Review

Some of you may have heard of the GameSir X2 Pro. However, I could not count myself among them. A few days ago, I became aware of this device while browsing through the first Black Friday offers. Kindly, the manufacturer provided us directly with a copy of the special Xbox variant for this test. And although the manufacturer is from Hong Kong, you can order this device from Amazon. Thus, our copy was also shipped directly from Germany, which means that you naturally get all warranty claims and wouldn't have to fear an Asian import with customs or that kind of stuff.

I have put the GameSir X2 Pro through its paces for you in the last few days and will tell you in the review whether the purchase is worth it or not.

The GameSir X2 Pro has been on the market for a while, but the special and officially licensed Xbox version has only been available for a few months. Surprising that I really didn't notice anything about it. Visually, the mobile controller naturally resembles some competitors like the Razer Kishi. But why reinvent the wheel? The design is relatively established, and since a smartphone or even a small tablet has to fit in the middle, but the device shouldn't be bulky, it has been kept relatively flat with only 37mm. The dimensions are 184x 85 x 37 mm with a weight of about 180 grams. There are the familiar Xbox buttons, including a share button for taking screenshots, as well as two freely configurable buttons on the back. RT and LT are real triggers with a good pressure and spring point and can be used well for dosing the throttle in racing games. However, there is no multi-step adjustment to make the travel shorter, as known from SCUF controllers or the Xbox Elite controller, for example. That doesn't matter, as it probably isn't necessary for the intended use.

Whats inside the Box?

The GameSir X2 Pro comes in a storage bag that should protect it well during your travels. This actually looks much more valuable than I would have guessed. In addition to the controller, the package also comes with a small pack of instructions, warranty card, stickers, a code for one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and even two rubber caps for the analog sticks. This is really great, because how quickly do the sticks on a controller get worn and played down and then offer little grip? It also allows you to use the sticks the way you prefer. I, for example, prefer inwardly curved sticks, from which you don't slip off so easily. There are two variants of these supplied. If you leave out the rubber caps, the sticks are slightly smaller and curved outwards. These rubber caps are also available separately, so you can quickly swap them.

Design of the Mobile Controller

Admittedly and as already mentioned, the design is not new. Some other mobile controllers have already used it in this way or something similar. What I really like about the GameSir X2 Pro, however, is that the build doesn't feel as fragile as the Razer Kishi. With the GameSir, we have a solid-looking and also rubberized hull, which means your smartphone should be well protected and not scratched. The USB-C port is flexible and can be folded upwards, which makes clamping the smartphone very easy. A tight elastic band works inside the device to provide a secure hold, and there are thick rubber grooves on the inner edges as well. This even allows the game sound to come out of the smartphone well. The USB-C port is both a blessing and a curse because it excludes the vast majority of iPhone users, but it is the best choice for gaming because it does without a Bluetooth connection, which would increase the input lag by a few milliseconds during streaming. I am absolutely not a fan of such devices with Bluetooth, because they only allow playing casual games, since the input lag is already noticeably too high. Thanks to USB-C, the GameSir X2 Pro does not need its own battery, which saves you planning when traveling. Furthermore, parallel charging of the smartphone is possible. There is a pass-through USB-C port on the bottom, which allows charging the smartphone during gaming. However, there is no jack socket. Thus, headphones can only be connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth. Most smartphones probably do not have a jack anyway.

Users of a flip smartphone should remember that the USB-C port is on the right side. The old version (without Xbox branding) of the GameSir X2 Pro probably had the USB-C port on the left side, so you could flip the Samsung Galaxy Flip up. If you now clamped it here, the screen would fold out downwards. That is also possible, but you have to know that.

Xbox Cloud Gaming vs. Nintendo Switch vs. Steam Deck vs. Everything

Actually, the device has Xbox branding and is primarily intended for streaming Xbox games via cloud gaming. However, that does not mean that it only works for that. Especially on the road, you do not always have the most stable connection and cloud gaming might be the wrong way to play. However, you can play pretty much every native smartphone game that supports a controller with the controller.

As far as cloud gaming or remote play is concerned, there are actually no limits. It is suitable for GeForce Now, Google Stadia (RIP), Steam Link or even Xbox Remote Play, where you stream from your local Xbox, which actually works even better than the cloud variant. In principle, you can control everything with it.

Speaking of everything. There is a quite useful Nintendo Switch emulator for Android - EggNS, which almost provides a real Switch feeling due to a funny feature. You can swap the magnetic ABXY buttons on the GameSir X2 Pro the way you want. For example, swap X and Y and A and B for a Nintendo layout. Provided you have a powerful smartphone, you can emulate Switch games pretty well with it. Some better than others, but often sufficiently good or even perfect. Parts of the code of EggNS probably come from the most famous Switch emulator yuzu, but it still hasn't made it to Android yet. According to my research, EggNS was originally only developed for the GameSir controller and could only be used with it. So if you don't want to lug all your devices around with you in the future, you can maybe leave the Switch at home for a few weeks.

In Practice

I did not notice any points of criticism for the GameSir X2 Pro while gaming, at least none that have to do with the device itself. Everything works well, the calibration of the sticks and buttons is good, pressure points and quality are excellent. Xbox Cloud Gaming is still not where GeForce Now or Google's Stadia are today. The latency is still noticeable, but Xbox Cloud Gaming is still officially in beta status. If you stream remotely from your own Xbox at home and have a good connection, you will certainly have more fun. You should also always use a 5GHz wifi on your smartphone if you have the choice. This of course reduces the latency significantly.

In short, and as with all the other devices of this type: It is rather not suitable for streaming 60FPS+ shooters if you are sensitive to latency. It is, however, significantly better than devices with Bluetooth-only connections. Limit yourself to casual games where minimal lag won't be noticeable or local content on your smartphone. Ultimately, however, this is a subjective assessment. I would classify myself as very "picky". Other people might not notice it as much.

Summary

The GameSir X2 Pro (for Xbox) is really a great device and I really have to look for points of criticism with a magnifying glass. Actually, I can only think of one. The ergonomics of the device resembles a Switch too much and is thus better suited for smaller hands in my eyes. Especially the fact that the buttons are located directly above the right analog stick is sometimes difficult to get used to if you are used to moving your thumb diagonally to the right. The grips on the side, if you can call it that, could also be thicker so that you have a firmer grip. It's actually like an Xbox controller with a smartphone in the middle. Vlt. is that something for a new revision? Otherwise, it's the best mobile controller I've been able to test so far.

More information can be found directly from the manufacturer: https://www.gamesir.hk/products/gamesir-x2-pro-xboxandroid

My personal rating for this device would be 4.5 / 5 stars!

A little tip: GameSir is currently offering a 20% discount on the X2 Pro for Xbox on Amazon (DE) for Black Friday. If you are interested, you can now buy this controller for just under 69€ - provided you have Amazon Prime. Here you can get directly to the offer*:
(European customers are able to purchase from Amazon.de without any issues)

Purchase GameSir X2 Pro for Xbox on Amazon - 69€ as a Black Friday Deal
 

* This is an affiliate link, whereby Xbox-Now receives a commission from Amazon for each purchase.