I recently got sucked into the world of retro gaming and began looking into a dedicated retro handheld. I quickly noticed they usually ran Android or Linux for the emulation software, and the nice ones, which are horizontally laid out and therefore more comfortable to game on, tended to be $100+. That's when I discovered this. I figured it was worth $40 to try out, and after confirming RetroArch worked well on my old Galaxy S8+ I had laying around, I ordered it.
I'm happy to report it works like a charm. I slid my phone in, the phone registered it as connected immediately, and it was seamlessly recognized by RetroArch as a controller. I tried playing a couple of GBA games and it worked perfectly. I'm glad I found this and gave it a shot; it saved me a lot of money. Plus it came with a really nice zippered carrying case! Overall, fantastic value for the price.
My only minor concerns are wearing out the mechanism that expands for the phone to fit, as well as the USB-C port, which I noticed pivots down but not up, which is disappointing since having it pivot up would make it easier to connect the phone before the mechanism is fully stretched to slide the phone in. We'll see how long it lasts. But so far so good!
Edit: I'm dumb. The USB-C port does pivot up. It just moves down very easily so that's what I noticed, and it takes a bit more effort to move up. Still a little awkward getting the phone in and out, but definitely easier than I initially thought.
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Product Description
If you want to play Call of Duty Mobile on GameSir X2 Type-C, please read the tutorials: www.gamesir.hk/pages/x2-gtouch
Moblie Gaming Controller
 GameSir X2 Type-C |  GameSir X2 Pro |  GameSir X2 Bluetooth |  GameSir X3 Type-C |  Leadjoy M1 for iPhone | |
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Customer Reviews
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2,595
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655
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1,735
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2,883
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123
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Price
| $63.38 | $79.99 | $59.99 | $99.98 | $65.99 |
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Platform
| Android | Android | Android/iOS | Android/iPhone 15 series | iPhone6S - iPhone14 series |
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Connection Mode
| Type-C Port | Type-C Port | Bluetooth | Type-C Port | Lightning Port |
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Interface Direction
| Left | Right | None | Right | Right |
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Product Size
| 178*84*37mm | 184*85*37mm | 178*84*37mm | 180*88*48mm | 178*84*37mm |
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ABXY Detachable
| ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
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Back Buttons
| ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
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Sets of Joystick Caps and Case
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
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Joystick Optional
| ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
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APP
| GameSir APP | GameSir APP | GameSir APP | GameSir APP | Vlead APP |
Videos
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Videos for this product
2:52
Click to play video
Gamesir X2 2023 Review | WATCH THIS BEFORE YOU BUY
Sunny
Videos for this product
6:34
Click to play video
REVIEW: GameSir X2 - Best Phone Gaming Controller?
OSReviews
Videos for this product
1:51
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Game on your tablet using this easter egg!
Klef's Views (Game Tech Talk)
Videos for this product
13:52
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Gamesir X2 Mobile Gaming Console Unboxing and Review
Joseph Reece
Videos for this product
1:01
Click to play video
GameSir X2 Type-C or Bluetooth Android or iOS
Shane Starnes
Reviews with images
Like a retro handheld you can actually play in sunlight!
I had no idea how much I'd enjoy this over using a modern Nintendo Switch!If you enjoy older portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo 3DS or Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), they have amazing game catalogs...but their ancient screen technology makes it difficult to impossible to play them outside. Enter the GameSir X2.PLAYING OUTDOORS IS A REALITY!I've included photos of the X2 Type-C with an LG G8X ThinQ (2018) partially in direct sunlight, just so you could see how well games can be enjoyed when using the X2 Type-C with a recent model phone. Since I moved on to another phone, I'm contemplating keeping the LG in this case indefinitely, though I'm not sure if that's a bad thing for the spring in the long run.ERGONOMICS AND CONTROLSI purchased the X2 Type-C with protective case and thumbstick covers. The thumbstick covers are necessary to just get the tiny thumbsticks to equal the diameter of the thumbsticks on a Nintendo Switch--about the size of a U.S. dime. I don't have large hands, but without those thumbstick covers, I'm sure my thumbs or tendons would be sore after gaming.As others have observed, the face buttons, D-pad, and triggers are all digital, and at least for all the games I've played, that hasn't been an issue. Each has a clean click and stop when pressed, and aren't mushy at all. I can see myself playing this in a long line without any physical consequences to my thumbs or tendons.MATERIALSThe materials the X2 is comprised of feel not quite premium, but not cheap, either. The X2 is light, which is great for gaming for longer periods, but is also light because you can feel its hollow cavities just inside each controller. Slightly thicker plastic, or more structural supports inside, could help with a more upscale feel, but I'm sure would also add to the cost.COMPARISON TO THE NINTENDO SWITCH AND SWITCH LITEI included photos of the X2 alongside the full size Switch and Switch Lite. This X2 can definitely be mistaken for a Switch OLED at a glance, though it's really closer to the size of the Switch Lite. The colors, however, are spot on compared to the Switch OLED, and it's so much easier to grip it when on the go than a Switch (which I am honestly a bit nervous to carry without a case). This is one reason why I've actually spent more playtime on the X2 than the Switch OLED it shamelessly copies!THAT PIVOTING USB-C CONNECTOR AND PASSTHROUGHThis X2 Type-C has a USB-C plug that pivots about 50 degrees, so it's easy to plug and unplug a phone from its port. There's a USB-C passthrough on the bottom of the left controller--much better than on top, like some consoles do it--and it works beautifully for charging your phone as you're gaming on it. What it won't do, however, is let you hear anything through headphones/earphones that you can connect with a 3.5mm-to-USB-C adapter. I'll just use Bluetooth devices instead.INCONVENIENCESThe slight inconveniences I've found with the Type-C design is that I will never be able to put a phone or tablet in the X2 in portrait mode, which would be great for Nintendo DS/3DS emulation. That, however, just means I need to get the X2 Bluetooth model, right? (It won't take much to convince me, based on how much I like the Type-C model!)Some emulators prefer the phone to be oriented 180 degrees from the way it's plugged into the X2 Type-C, but the ones I've used (Dolphin, for example) allow for rotating the display to match the X2 Type-C's orientation.There is some creakiness and a slightly cheap feeling when using the X2, mostly because of the thin plastic body and creaking of the left analog stick (at least in the one I purchased).The GameSir app lacks polish and seems to be put together by developers without much usability testing or quality assurance at their disposal, and it shows. You can get controls set up for various games, but it's like pulling teeth. Oh, and if you want to save your custom controller layouts, be ready to sign up for an account at GameSir's website first.I WISH THE NEXT MODEL WOULD HAVE...One wish I'd have for a future model is a wrist lanyard loop in the lower left and right corners, just to prevent possible drops and maybe a passerby with sticky fingers.CONCLUSION: A VERY SMART BUYIf you'd like to play retro or modern mobile games on the go, I highly recommend the GameSir X2 Type-C. It only comes in white, so be prepared to tell people over and over that it is NOT a Switch OLED!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023
Color: GameSir X2Verified Purchase
Personally only about 6hrs used so far, 2hrs in one session. Remains comfortable to hold, all the button presses feel good the triggers are clickier than I'd like but you get used to it. I have experienced with some games and apps A and B are reversed for some reason. But I can normally reassign and fix it but it is still annoying that it happens often enough to bring up. I like the addition of Joycon grips and the travel case makes it feel a lot safer being thrown in a backpack. With my s22 ultra the one camera seems to hit the rim keeping it from laying flush in the grip but it's still in there sturdy enough to not go anywhere so it's not a deal-breaker in any way. Overall I definitely say is a great product but I would actually recommend more the Bluetooth variation simply because I liked that it has an additional mode where you can map all the buttons and make it work with a game that normally doesn't have Gamepad support.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
The case lacks any sort of fans or places to expel heat, so be careful during long or graphically intensive play sessions as your phone may overheat. Outside of this, the hardware is excellent.
However, it falls flat when attempting to play modern mobile games on the Play Store. Many games are not supported at all, and the ones that are have small caveats that are more or less impossible to fix.
The Gamesir app is terrible, and restricts you to either broken simulated touch controls or game recognized controller use that is impossible to edit. UI elements can be dragged off the screen and are impossible to return without uninstalling and reinstalling. The app places buttons on the screen that cannot be removed. It is also very invasive and pesters you with requests to enable precise location data and push notifications. Very sketchy. Fortunately, it is not needed for games running on emulators. Avoid the app if you can.
Despite the complaints, this is an excellent controller to turn your phone into a full handheld gaming device, and beats touch controls any day. If you find yourself interested purely in retro games, this is a must have.
Color: GameSir X2Verified Purchase
Great controller for emulation, with a few caveats
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
This controller is excellent and undercuts its competition if you plan to use it to emulate games on your phone, as those apps generally give you full freedom to map the controls in whichever way works for you. The controller feels equivalent to a Nintendo Switch Lite, and the additional room that is provided for the phone enables the device to be used with some slim phone cases and be held securely from one end. Buttons are clicky, analog sticks feel good to use, about the only thing it is missing is analog triggers. This controller feels excellent to use for PSP games and GameCube games especially. My only complaint with the physical controls is that the joysticks jut out a bit and make it difficult to store in a pocket. The case is also only designed to store the controller without a phone inside it. That said, if you have a Switch case, it will fit inside it with the phone inside.Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
The case lacks any sort of fans or places to expel heat, so be careful during long or graphically intensive play sessions as your phone may overheat. Outside of this, the hardware is excellent.
However, it falls flat when attempting to play modern mobile games on the Play Store. Many games are not supported at all, and the ones that are have small caveats that are more or less impossible to fix.
The Gamesir app is terrible, and restricts you to either broken simulated touch controls or game recognized controller use that is impossible to edit. UI elements can be dragged off the screen and are impossible to return without uninstalling and reinstalling. The app places buttons on the screen that cannot be removed. It is also very invasive and pesters you with requests to enable precise location data and push notifications. Very sketchy. Fortunately, it is not needed for games running on emulators. Avoid the app if you can.
Despite the complaints, this is an excellent controller to turn your phone into a full handheld gaming device, and beats touch controls any day. If you find yourself interested purely in retro games, this is a must have.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
Color: GameSir X2Verified Purchase
For the first month or so, I had no complaints about this controller. I loved the controls, the fact that it came with a case and how it came with analog stick covers. The buttons were nice and clicky. However after just a week to a month of using the controller. (NOT BY USER ERROR) The type-c connector started coming out bent. I saw that it had implicated a swiveling connector to combat such issues, however in the end it did no good. I use the device regularly and after maybe a full month of playing with it, the device is useless. I had an issue with the connector actually about a week ago and was able to fix it. But as of tonight the bend became permanent. I just threw away 50$ on this device and some considering i paid for the expedited shipping. Im a grown man with responsibilities. Its not often i get to buy things like this for myself. And when I do I enjoy it and savor it. I purchased this for myself and I really enjoyed it while it lasted but i wouldnt but it again bc it just didnt last. Its sad bc i saw a lot of good things about this device. Especially one reason i bought it was because it paired so well with my z fold 4. But in the end tonight im just frustrated and upset bc its dead and gone and ill never get the money back i paid for it. And I cant afford to take more money out of my bills to replace it. This was the one thing I had to enjoy my free time at night before bed during the week and at lunch. But now i have nothing. Its extremely upsetting.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Emir Aranda
Un antes y un después al jugar.
Reviewed in Mexico on July 27, 2022Color: GameSir X2Verified Purchase
Stacia Jones
An amazing product!
Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2020Color: GameSir X2Verified Purchase
Don
Good controller for phones with snapdragon
Reviewed in India on April 25, 2022Color: GameSir X2Verified Purchase
