Gaming on the go has never been more attractive. From mobile streaming services to full-blown triple-A ports, gaming on your phone is more enjoyable than ever, but touchscreens just don't cut it. Enter the GameSir X2, a high-quality, side-mounted game controller aiming to provide premium quality without breaking the bank, but does it deliver?

Hands-on With the GameSir x2 Bluetooth

When you open the box of your GameSir X2 Bluetooth, here's what you'll find inside:

• GameSir X2 Bluetooth Controller
• Controller Carry Case
• USB-C Charging Cable
• 4 Black Thumbstick Grips
• User Manual
• GameSir Logo Sticker
• GameSir Registration Card
• Quality Control Slip

Setting Up The GameSir X2 Bluetooth

Setting up the GameSir X2 Bluetooth controller is incredibly simple. Pull gently but firmly to open the phone grip and slot your phone inside. Then it's simply a case of connecting the controller to your phone through the Bluetooth manager.

The process of connecting the controller to your phone is pretty simple and reliable. However, you should note that we did suffer from a strange connection problem on our testing phones. Once connected, the X2 has a habit of randomly disconnecting, requiring you to reselect it.

After this initial connection problem has been fixed, the controller remains connected even after extended playtime. The issue may lie more with the phone than the controller, as on our other test phone, we did not experience this connectivity issue.

GameSir X2 Bluetooth - Key Features

Before getting down to brass tacks, we should discuss a few of the key features of the GameSir X2 Bluetooth controller.

• Bluetooth 5.0 connection
• 500 mAh battery
• Quick-action mechanical switches
• GameSir App integration for controller mapping
• Ergonomic rubber grip
• Supports Phones up to 173mm tall
• Screenshot and Turbo Buttons

Gaming on the Go With the GameSir X2 Bluetooth

At first glance, the GameSir X2 Bluetooth bears a lot of similarities to a Nintendo Switch. The controller is rectangular, with slightly rounded corners and offset analog sticks. The right set of face buttons is also quite close to the right thumbstick, a mild annoyance if you have larger hands or fingers.

Related: Our Razer Kishi Review, and Why We're Returning It

One key difference here is that the X2 Bluetooth isn't completely flat on the back. There is some ergonomic molding to the back edges of the controller, making it fit the hand much more comfortably. Aiding this, there's also textured rubber to aid in keeping a firm grip during gameplay.

The buttons on the X2 use mechanical switches, and you can really tell while you're using it. Not only do the buttons have a swift and definite action to them, but they're also quite loud. Whether or not the excessive volume is a pro or a con for you is down to personal taste, but it certainly might annoy others if you plan on using the controller in public a lot.

The GameSir X2 Bluetooth is surprisingly usable for longer gaming sessions. You should find that after hours and hours, your hands don't cramp up, even if you normally suffer from cramps with other smaller controllers.

If there's one annoyance that springs from the X2's similarity to the Switch, it's psychological. Because of the similarity, you may often find yourself pressing B instead of A, thanks to the alternative button layout used by Nintendo. While this isn't really a fault with the controller, it is certainly worth bearing in mind.

There are also dedicated screenshots and turbo buttons located at the bottom of the device. The screenshot button is useful for sharing funny or interesting in-game moments, but the turbo button leaves a lot to be desired. While the turbo features are occasionally useful, configuring them is horribly unintuitive, more than once leaving us stuck on turbo mode.

Game Compatability

When it comes to mobile gaming controllers, one of the biggest issues is game compatibility. While there are plenty of mobile games out there that support controllers, not every controller will work with every game.

There are certainly ways around compatibility issues, such as 3rd party apps or the X2s touchscreen-mapping mode, but out-of-the-box compatibility is still essential.

So how does the X2 stack up? In most cases, the GameSir X2 Bluetooth worked very well. In Knight of the Old Republic 2, Stardew Valley, Dead Trigger 2, and Terraria, the controller connected and worked immediately once configured. In many cases, the controller didn't even need configuring at all, which was a nice bonus.

However, it's not all sunshine and roses when it comes to compatibility. Sheltered wouldn't recognize the controller at all, no matter what we tried. Even installing the app on another device didn't help. We had similar issues with Dead Effect 2, which worked for the most part, but didn't recognize certain buttons for some reason.

It's not unusual to find games that don't work well with certain controllers. However, games like Dead Effect 2 worked out of the box with our other test controller, and the GameSir controller wasn't recognized by 3rd-party mapping software either. Clearly, there are some compatibility issues, even if they're relatively minor.

Related: Mega Modz Custom Xbox Series X Controller Review

The GameSir App

If you want to play a game like COD: Mobile, the GameSir app does allow you to map your controller to touchscreen controls. Download the GameSir app and connect the controller in touchscreen-mapping mode, and you can make any game you connect to the app.

The touchscreen system actually works really well, and we couldn't notice any appreciable difference between native controls and touchscreen mapping. Even better, you don't typically need to map these controls yourself.

The application not only allows you to upload your own layouts, but you can download touchscreen maps for more popular games yourself. More obscure titles will probably not be available for download, but mapping the controls yourself is a simple affair.

One of the most interesting parts of this feature is that the touchscreen mapping is stored on the device itself. If you disconnect the controller from a device and reconnect it in touchscreen-mapping mode to another, it'll retain the screen mapping. Obviously, if you're connecting to a device with a different aspect ratio, the mapping will be slightly off-center, but it's still a useful feature to have.

Having said that, the app itself does leave a lot to be desired. Much of the app seems to only be available in Chinese, making it occasionally hard to use. We also experienced some issues with connecting to the GameSir servers while trying to create an account.

Does the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Match up to the Competition?

Compared to other similar controllers, the GameSir X2 Bluetooth has a lot of advantages. There's a premium feeling when holding the controller you don't find with most smartphone controllers.

The X2 Bluetooth also has a decent weighty feel without being so heavy that it becomes cumbersome. What's most surprising for a Bluetooth controller is that there's no real latency in the controls. Responses may not be quite as fast as a direct USB-C connection, but unless you're a top-tier esports player, you probably won't notice a difference.

There's also an attention to detail that is often overlooked. By default, the thumbsticks are a little small and can be hard to use, but GameSir includes thumbstick caps to solve the problem and reduce wear and tear.

Both the premium quality and the attention to detail are also found in the included carry case. It's a rigid, material-lined case that really protects your controller, and normally we'd expect this to cost extra. Finding it thrown in for free is a nice touch. Plus, the case can double as a carry case for your gaming phone, too, if it's small enough.

The final added touch comes from the design of the controller itself. As with many side-mounting controllers, you lose access to the charge port and headphone jack while using the controller. However, the ridged and segmented design prevents speakers from being muffled and allows the phone enough airflow to keep cool under extreme pressure.

Is the GameSir X2 Bluetooth Worth Your Money?

The all-important question is whether or not you should spend your hard-earned money on the GameSir X2 Bluetooth controller. If you're looking for a side-mounted controller that will work with almost any phone, then the X2 Bluetooth comes with a high recommendation.

Care and attention have been put into the design of the controller, and you can be sure that whether your emulating, streaming, or playing a native application, the X2 Bluetooth will serve your needs admirably.