The Gamesir G7 Xbox controller is certainly one for the fans of personalization, but is it worth your money at around £49.99?
First Impressions
Straight off the bat, I could see many similarities to the standard Xbox controller that you get when buying your Xbox. With most buttons being in the same place as a standard Xbox controller, there is a clear idea that Gamesir did not want to stray too far from the familiar Xbox silhouette.
The accompanied white cover caught my attention, as I have not seen a controller with a removeable shell before, so swapping the shell cover from black and white was a instant hit for me.
These magnetic covers being suitable for paint also is a big personalization plus, allowing you to create your own designs on your blank canvas that is your controller’s cover, a concept that I personally have not seen before.
Design
Rating: 4/5
As for the actual design elements of the Gamesir G7 Wired Controller for Xbox, the fact that it does resemble the standard Xbox controller has its pros and cons. Obviously, one big pro is it feel natural and easy to switch to the Gamesir G7 from a normal Xbox controller, skipping any ‘getting used to it’ stage.
On the other hand, I think with any controller that isn’t a standard issue Xbox controller, you instantly expect some more differences and reasons as to why you should choose it over just sticking with your standard Xbox controller, however with both the Xbox standard controller and the G7 being £49.99, you have to say any differences from the G7 is a big plus.
The Gamesir G7 does have a good number of features, don’t get me wrong. With two mappable back paddles on the underside of each hand grip that are very similar to the PDP Afterglow Wave’s paddles, some great grip patterns on the triggers and bumpers, and hand grips that are much more effective than that of a standard Xbox controller.
In fact, all the buttons, sticks and triggers are mappable through the Gamesir Nexus Software, which is essentially a customization hub in the form of an app (available free on the Microsoft Store and Gamesir.hk).
The App is very easy to navigate, making it extremely simple to swap buttons, adjust trigger and stick sensitivity, and edit the vibration intensity.
You can have up to 3 profiles that you can mould for each type of game, which can be cycled through by simply pressing the ‘M’ master button located between the d-pad and right joystick. There is also a convenient mic button on the bottom of the device next to the 3.5mm headphone jack to turn on/off your microphone quickly.
This combined with the shell covers that are suitable for painted designs, you can really see that they want the G7 to be personalized and customized by the customer themselves.
Performance
Rating: 4.5/5
As for the performance of the Gamesir G7 for Xbox, I must say that I enjoyed using this controller for the most part. As I previously mentioned, it’s familiar silhouette was handy as the feel of the controller in my hands didn’t feel too unnatural or different to what I’m used to.
The buttons are all located exactly where they are on any other Xbox controller, with the only exceptions being the ‘start’ and ‘share’ buttons, which are higher than usual, placed almost parallel to the Xbox logo.
Obviously, the other differences are the two paddles and the master button. This ‘master’ button has multiple functions, such as turning on/off the Hair Trigger mode, configuring buttons, changing profiles and even control the volume and game-chat mix using the D-pad.
As for the paddles, I quite liked them. They were just like the PDP Afterglow Wave’s paddles, with them being in a slightly awkward position of being on the instep of the grip handles right where I rest my fingers, so the occasional accidental click did occur.
However, the paddles are flatter than the PDP Afterglow Wave and don’t feel in the way, whilst also being smooth to press and rather rapid in performing their required action. They had a good showing in my eyes, although be wary of the awkward positioning, especially if you are someone who has a tough grip on the controller.
The sticks, buttons, triggers, and bumpers were also very smooth, with the sticks and bumpers feeling exactly like a standard Xbox controller, whereas the buttons and the triggers felt a bit quicker and more urgent than a normal Xbox controller.
The wired element is a slight downside, with wireless really being the standard these days, however I suppose it means you don’t need to spend a fortune on batteries, so there’s a silver lining here. Additionally, many other ‘custom’ controllers do still use wires, such as Hori with their HoriPad, or PDP with their Afterglow Wave controller, so I can’t be too critical about the wires.
Conclusion
Rating: 4.5/5
My final thoughts on the Gamesir G7 wired controller for Xbox are mostly positive, with a smooth and comfortable feel, very responsive buttons and a multitude of customization features that let you really make this controller your own.
The wired connectivity and slight lack of difference from a normal Xbox controller should be noted. However, I also expect the familiarity to be welcome to many people and the fact that the G7 and the normal Xbox controller are the same price means you get the familiar feel, but with some cool add-ons.
Overall, the Gamesir G7 wired controller for Xbox is a very solid controller. If you want what feels like a controller that’s in between a Xbox Elite controller and a standard Xbox controller, at a price point of £49.99 which is the exact same that you would pay for a standard Xbox controller, then the Gamesir G7 is the controller for you.
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