The Cooling Is Not A Gimmick It Actually Works .
Ive reviewed a number of GameSir controllers here on Coolsmartphone and Ive been pretty impressed with every iteration of controller sent through. So when GameSir asked me if I was interested in reviewing the latest controller the X3 USB Type with cooling I jumped at the chance.
Good Points:-
- Swappable buttons and thumb sticks.
- Good feel in the hand.
- Fits almost any Type-C smartphone.
- Wired connection with zero latency.
- Powerful built-in cooling fan.
Bad Points:-
- Only compatible with USB Type-C phones.
- Cooling fan requires a separate power supply.
- Some phones need the case removed.
Following on from other GameSir’s products, the X3 USB Type C controller is initially being released via a Indiegogo campaign. But worry not about it not reaching its goal, its already hit 558 % of its £4115 goal now at £22,978. and devices are being shipped out to backers. Its currently available from Amazon for £59.99
Design:-
The controller comes with a zippered carrying case that offers both protection and storage, it has a semi-rigid, tough nylon outer shell that’s black in colour, with a red accented zipper and white GameSir logo. also the controller comes with spare thumbstick buttons, charging cable paperwork and stickers, which is a nice added touch.
The controller comes in a two-tone black and white housing, the front is white, with a black back and frame. In total, the controller weighs about 220 grams and even when my S22 Ultra was in the controller it wasn’t heavy in the hand. With its overall shape means its comfortable to hold with contoured, rubberized grips on the backs of both sides.
The spring-loaded, frame and is designed to extend and then clamp over your phone, the centre recess is lined with rubber, which prevents it from scratching your phone’s case or damaging the finish, at one end of the recess, is a male USB Type-C plug. Sitting on either side of the rubber lined centre recess are the controls themselves.
The layout is similar to what you’ll find on an Xbox or Nintendo Switch. There’s a pair of offset thumbsticks, with the one on the left higher than the one on the right. Below the left thumbstick is a directional pad. Above the right thumbstick, there’s a set of X, Y, A, and B buttons. They have an Xbox layout out of the box. There is also four function buttons located on the front of the controller closer to the phone, these include a home button and a menu button, there are four shoulder triggers, two on either side, all the triggers and switches are rated for three million clicks.
Setting up the controller is as easy as pop your phone into the recess, and slide it onto the USB plug, although with the 3 different devices I tried they all needed to be out of their cases, as the case stopped them seating on the USB plug correctly, a slightly longer plug would have fixed this.
Next, pull on the sides of the controller to stretch it out to the right width, (phones of between 4.3 and 7 inches in length, can be accommodated within the recess) ensure your phone is lying flat, and slowly let the controller clamp down onto the sides, your device is held securely in place, even if you’re holding the controller from one side.
On the back of the frame, is the X3’s party piece a circular cooling fan, this fan is vented to allow for plenty of air flow, and spins at up to 7,500 RPM. Despite its small size it pushes a considerable air flow over the back of your phone, which keeps it as cool as possible. I had my S22 Ultra running Call Of Duty Mobile with max settings and downloading all the map packs, this was making the back of the phone somewhat hot to the touch, so I spun up the fan, after a few moments the phone had cooled to the point it actually felt cold to the touch.
This is due to X3’s heat sink system, behind your phone is a silicone pad, which separates your phone from a copper back plate. This plate has a special heat-transferring membrane on the back, and contacts an aluminium heat sink. The heat sink itself sits directly behind the fan, and continually cools your phone. It’s claimed to cool your phone by up to 24 degrees Centigrade, which is a considerable amount.
So the cooling feature is certainly no gimmick and actually works, despite the high speed, the fan is very quiet, and you won’t hear it over your game’s audio. The only drawback is the controller needs to be plugged in to operate the cooling fan which somewhat limits it mobility.
Power and Connectivity :-
The GameSir X3 has no internal battery, which keeps the controller lightweight, instead, it draws its power directly from your smartphone. This is mot a major drawback, in fact, the controller only draws 2mA of power, or 2mAh of power per hour. So to be honest it might as well not be drawing any power at all whatsoever, it might knock five minutes off of your phone’s battery life.
In terms of compatibility, this controller will work out of the box with most USB Type-C Android phones. It’s compatible with all versions of the Android operating system, starting with Android 9.0. Android 9.0 came out in August, 2018, so we’re talking about any current phone. As long as yours uses USB Type-C and not Micro USB, you’ll be good to go.
The X3 will support pass-through charging on many, but not all smartphones. Supported models include Samsung’s product line, as well as the Google Pixel. You can check GameSir’s product listing for a more complete overview. With pass-through charging, the cable supplying power to your fan also charges your phone. This allows you to keep gaming more or less indefinitely.
In Use:-
So, how well do the controls on the GameSir X3 actually work? To begin with, the buttons and triggers are nice and clicky. You get good tactile response, much like an Xbox or Nintendo Switch controller. Not only that, but because of the wired design, you experience zero latency
Even the highest-quality wireless controllers have a delay between when a button press and when the system receives the signal. This latency may only be a few milliseconds, but that can make all the difference when you’re gaming. With a wired connection, the signal is transmitted instantaneously, with no such delay.
Of course, the downside of a wired connection is that you need a compatible phone. A Bluetooth connection, on the other hand, is more universal. If you want a controller that works with any smartphone, check out the GameSir X2 Bluetooth controller which I reviewed here It’s almost universally compatible, but there’s more latency in the signal.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the X3’s buttons are interchangeable. This is possible in a few different ways. To begin with, the X, Y, A, and B buttons are magnetic. With a sharp tug, you can snap them right off. This allows you to move them around as desired. If you prefer a Nintendo Switch layout, for example, you can rearrange the buttons in just a few seconds.
Conclusion:-
The GameSir X3 controller is a good solid choice if you have a compatible phone. It’s easy to set up, and the buttons and triggers are responsive and clicky. The ergonomics are excellent, and the cooling system does an excellent job. If you want a straightforward Type-C smartphone controller, you’re looking at a good choice.