We look at the Gamesir X2 Pro, a controller accessory for your Android phone that allows you to play mobile games with a controller format.

 

First Impressions

The Gamesir X2 Pro instantly won some brownie points purely due to the addition of a travel case. This case is a solid and sturdy case that would cost a decent amount on its own, so to have that as part of the product is great for customer friendliness.

Gamesir X2 Pro in travel case

Gamesir provided the controller with a small packet of alternative thumb grips in case you wanted to swap the original thumb grips for whatever reason you may have. Again, this shows that Gamesir has put thought into what the customer could want and supplied it with no extra cost.

Gamesir X2 Pro thumb grips

As for the actual controller, it reminded me of the Backbone One, but with a much thicker and wider ‘backboard’ for the phone to sit on. The sticks, buttons and feel overall was like the Backbone One or the Nintendo Switch controllers.

 

Design

The design of the Gamesir X2 Pro is standard for a phone controller accessory like this. The layout of the buttons and sticks are identical to an Xbox controller, with the interchangeable magnetic Y,X,A,B buttons, RT/LT and RB/LB bumpers, along with a Xbox button.

Gamesir X2 Pro interchangeable buttons

There is also a ‘start’ button and a ‘share’ button, again identical to that of a Xbox controller. This makes sense as the X2 Pro says it is designed for Xbox, with a nifty 1-Month long GamePass subscription included.

Gamesir X2 Pro tilted

One unique thing that I haven’t seen on controller accessories for phones is the addition of back paddles on the handle grips. This really gives the pro feel that Gamesir were trying to give off with this controller and is something that puts it above standard mobile phone controllers.

Gamesir X2 Pro back paddles

These back paddles can be programmed impulsively by pressing and holding the Menu, View, and selected back paddle for a couple of seconds, then pressing the button you want to bind to the back paddle paddle.

The thick ‘backboard’ where your Android phone sits is sturdy but soft on your phone, with a rubber pad that protects the back of your phone. In general, the design is of a high quality, whilst also keeping your phone safe and sound.

Gamesir X2 Pro backboard

The only real downside to the design is the way your phone slots in, with it being quite a struggle to hold the extendable ‘backboard’ wide whilst sliding your phone onto the USB-C connector. This connector being flexible does help in this department, however overall, it isn’t too easy to put your phone in.

There is a USB-C port at the bottom of the right side of the controller, allowing you to charge your phone whilst playing, which is handy as you aren’t limited to a certain amount of playtime.

 

Performance

The triggers and sticks are highly sensitive, with a light tap causing much movement with no stiffness whatsoever, a very smooth experience. This favours games such as Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG, as they are shooting games that require fast triggers to help players shoot quicker and smooth sticks to look around quickly.

Gamesir X2 Pro sticks

The bumpers are not stiff or flimsy at all, with a responsive feel that I think even surpasses the normal Xbox controller bumpers in my opinion. This is more of a personal preference; however, I like my bumpers to be springy and responsive as they are on the Gamesir X2 Pro.

Gamesir X2 pro triggers

Same goes for the Y,X,A,B buttons and the back paddles themselves, with a smooth and high-quality feel that gives a great experience of playing console games on your phone. Gamesir succeeded in this area, with the X2 Pro delivering in terms of button quality.

Gamesir X2 Pro with phone on

Overall, the Gamesir X2 Pro delivers in giving you an Xbox-style controller attachment for your android phone, letting you play Xbox Remote games from the Xbox app, Steam Link, Rainway, Moonlight or any mobile game from the Google Play store.

 

Gamesir App

In fact, all the buttons, sticks and triggers are mappable through the Gamesir app, which is essentially a customization hub in the form of an app (available free on the Microsoft Store and Gamesir.hk).

Gamesir app button customization screen

The App is decent, making it relatively simple to swap buttons, update firmware and view all your Gamesir products in one place. One odd element about the App is that the back paddles aren’t customizable here, which  would’ve expected to be a given.

Gamesir app hub

The app also has a ‘discover’ section, displaying a range of available games that are compatible with the X2 Pro. This acts as a handy hub for all playable games, although it has all the normal games that you can find on the Xbox App and the Android store.

Gamesir Games page

Conclusion

The Gamesir X2 Pro is undoubtedly a solid piece of kit if you’re looking for a premium feeling controller experience for your Android phone. If you compare it to something like the Backbone One, it’s buttons, sticks and triggers are better in my opinion, although something like the Backbone One or Razer Kishi series does provide a cleaner hub for gaming with their respective apps.

Pro shot of Gamesir X2 Pro

Overall though, for the price of £60, you are getting a phone controller that performs very well, with snappy buttons, sticks and bumpers, along with some decent customization options for button binding and interchangeable magnetic Y,A,X,B buttons.

Ratings

Design: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars

Performance: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Gamesir App: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars

Value for Money: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars

Overall ranking: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars – 4.5-star rating

Thanks for reading this review, please continue to support us and check out our other reviews and follow us on Social media: Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Linkedin don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below.