Our GameSir G8 Galileo was sent to us by GameSir at our request, with no instructions or imposed text; this origin may have influenced our appreciation. We tried it in cloud gaming (including FPS, racing and adventure games) on a smartphone and an iPad.

It is a USB-C controller for Android or USB-C iPhone smartphones, with no Bluetooth, powered by the device, in shades of grey with purple ABXY buttons. It also takes small tablets, as long as the USB-C port is on the right. It is comfortable and sturdy, with a ribbed back, a hinge that looks solid (to be checked over time) and a careful finish. The joysticks and triggers are Hall-effect: the joysticks are precise, tool-free interchangeable, with an adjustable dead zone, and we enjoyed many FPS games on it. The triggers can switch to digital mode, useful for FPS. The two rear buttons are genuinely accessible and programmable, so you can aim and jump without letting go of the stick, unlike those on the X2 Pro. The layout is Xbox-style, with a Nintendo swap by shortcut, an Android mode, a G-Touch mode (on-screen mapping for Android games without controller support) and a PlayStation mode, useful for iOS and PS Remote Play. With a USB-C extension cable we also used it on iPad, Mac and Windows. A USB-C port lets you charge the phone while playing, and there is a headphone jack.

Our reservations: no rumble, a right side a little small for large hands, a D-pad with sharp corners and no carrying case. Price €90 on Amazon at the time of the video; to date it is the smartphone controller we have preferred among those tested.

In a comparison with the Backbone One 2 (also sent by its maker, sold at about €120), we found the G8 Galileo larger and more comfortable to hold, with more precise joysticks and triggers and rear buttons the Backbone lacks. The Backbone, more compact and portable, wins on its D-pad, smoother and quieter than the GameSir’s, whose L1/R1 buttons are stiffer.

Watch the video test