Upgrade iPhone games on the cheap with GameSir X5s Controller (Review)

The GameSir X5s is a great and affordable way to upgrade your mobile gaming. Your phone, whatever model you have, slides right into the middle and suddenly you have console-quality physical controls. It’s lightweight, ideal for travel and comes with a simple plastic travel case.

It even works with the Nintendo Switch – its ergonomic grips are much more comfortable than the flat Joy-Cons. There’s also a matching accessory, the FX5 cooler, which adds active cooling to your iPhone. It’s great for high performance professional gaming for long periods of time.

All in all, the GameSir X5s is a great way to take mobile gaming to the next level, whether you’re playing full 3D games or 40-year-old Delta ROMs.

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GameSir X5s review: An affordable way to upgrade iPhone games

Physical controls are a much better way to play games. You can press buttons without looking where they are, experience tactile feedback, and can rest your finger on a button until you’re ready to press it. For serious iPhone gaming, you should look into controller accessories.

You can connect any standard console controller to your iPhone, such as the PlayStation DualSense or Nintendo Switch Pro controller. But it’s a stand-alone device, so you have to put the phone on a stand – not ideal for gaming on the go. Clip-on controllers are best for holding your phone in your hand while gaming.

I tried the GameSir X5s, an affordable option at just $49.99, and I was impressed. Here is my full review.

Contents: GameSir X5s review

1. Design: Ergonomic and light
2. Controls: Joysticks with Hall effect and good buttons
3. Customizability: Swap the buttons
4. The FX5 cooler keeps your phone running at peak performance
5. Conclusion: A better and affordable way to play mobile games

Design: Ergonomic and light

GameSir X5s has an ergonomic and functional design. Your phone will slide into the middle; the controller stretches to fit any size. It expands to 8.4 inches wide, so it can fit an iPad mini or Nintendo Switch.

Each half is shaped to hug your hands. The back is slightly textured which is nice. The grips don’t extend into your palms like a typical controller. But this is a portable device; full size grips would take up a lot more space. It’s not uncomfortable – I think it’s balanced. I also have medium sized adult hands; it’s probably perfect for a younger child.

The GameSir X5s is made of dark gray plastic all around. It doesn’t feel too premium, but the construction is solid as a rock. And the light weight of the controller ultimately contributes to its portability and convenience.

It charges via USB-C on the bottom left. All the ugly regulation marks are printed inside the pull-out bridge at the back so they are always hidden. That’s a nice touch.

Controls: Joysticks with Hall effect and good buttons

GameSir X5s comes with high quality Hall effect joysticks. Hall effect rods last longer than others due to fewer physically moving parts. They are also more resistant to damage from dust and crumbs. The buttons and D-pad are fine – I prefer a clickier feel. The buttons are a bit small, but very distinctly rounded, so they’re still easy to spot. Shoulder buttons are great.

In the lower right corner is the GameSir button, which will take you to the iPhone Games app. You can also navigate it using the controls and run your favorite game smoothly. Another nice touch!

All controllers today come with two joysticks, a D-pad, four buttons, and two shoulder buttons. The only major differences are whether the left side has the joystick or D-pad on top (all but the PlayStation have the joystick on top) and whether the A button is on the bottom or right (all but the Nintendo have the A button on the bottom).

The GameSir X5s has an Xbox-style layout that’s ideal for 3D gaming, as the left thumb can rest comfortably on the left joystick.

Customizability: Swap around the button

As a lifelong Nintendo fan, the button layout threw me off. Fortunately, it’s easy to change the controls.

I’m usually very resistant to installing apps for specific hardware products, but the GameSir app is super straight forward, doesn’t do any invasive tracking, and has been running since iOS 11. And it’s great for controller customization. Just connect the GameSir X5s to your iPhone, open the app, and right there you’ll see the settings to change the layout of the controller’s buttons.

You can also easily replace the plastic buttons on the controller. Use the tweezers to grab the side of the buttons and pull them straight out.

You can also replace the rubber grips on the inside. It comes with a pair of thick rubber grips for phones with large cameras, thin rubber grips for older phones, and straight rubber grips for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Cooler GameSir FX5

The FX5 cooler is an additional accessory to the X5s controller. It snaps onto the controller rail and the metal plate secures the back of the phone. Then the magnetically attached battery module attaches to the back thatsupply energy.

If you place it right, under the iPhone Pro camera compartment, the FX5 cools the hottest part of your phone – right where the processor sits. It’s like adding a desktop cooler to your iPhone. It removes heat from the processor and blows it out with a fan. It has three speeds and of course each speed lights it up in different colors.

With an active cooling system like this attached, your phone can perform better for longer. Your phone will stay cool and won’t throttle the processor. The titanium iPhones—the 15 Pro, 16 Pro, and Air—are notoriously hot. I can notice this when playing advanced 3D games like Asphalt 8 or even just using the Camera app. Not so with the FX5 cooler.

Between the fan, flashing lights, and added weight, the FX5 a little unpleasant. But it’s great for long play with intense games.

Conclusion: GameSir X5s is agreat basic game controller for iPhone

If you’re into mobile gaming enough to be bothered by on-screen controls, the GameSir X5s is a great choice. It’s a much better way to play.

It is perfect for old Nintendo games in Delta emulator. Platform games require fast and accurate input. Nintendo 64 games simply have too many controls for the on-screen buttons to handle. The full 3D games on Apple Arcade absolutely sing with real buttons to press, and plenty of them have built-in support for controllers.

For Nintendo Switch owners, this is naturally a more comfortable design than the slim rectangular Joy-Cons. It also costs less than half the price of the Backbone Pro, making it ideal for casual gamers.

★★★★☆

Buy GameSir X5s Controller: Amazon

If you want to take your gaming to the next level, the FX5 cooler will make sure you don’t drop a single frame.

Buy GameSir FX5 Cooler: Amazon