It was back in 2021 when I first put hands on a GameSir controller. It was the X2 Type-C and one of GameSir’s first big product pushes as Xbox Cloud Gaming was coming to the fore. Yet with the power of Game Pass on mobile, GameSir have gone all in to become one of the leading contenders for players looking to utilise the power of the cloud. In fact, they are probably the leading manufacturer of mobile controllers.
And they’ve got tons of different types too. That X2 Type-C has been long pushed into the bushes by the X2 Pro, the X3 Type-C Cooled, the G8 and the utterly brilliant G8+. Frankly, no matter what your preference is for a mobile controller, GameSir have probably got something suitable.
They’ve also now got the GameSir X4 Aileron. Is it the most pocketable yet? Quite probably.
The GameSir X4 Aileron runs some serious Razer Kishi vibes; albeit with a slightly different take. That was one of the very first mobile controllers that made mass Cloud gaming popular, collapsible and easy to handle, followed by the gorgeous little Turtle Beach Atom. The X4 Aileron very much works those same lines, and whilst we don’t think it’s quite as good as their market leading G8+ controller, it’s one you should be sticking on some kind of consideration list.
Usable with Android devices – we’ve stuck a Google Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL in its grasp – the X4 Aileron opens up from a teeny tiny form factor to something that will let you game on the go with ease. It’s easy to use, looks cool and – most importantly – works as you would expect; full of the latest tech to ensure it’ll appeal to all types of gamers.
All black in colour, the X4 is a two-piece affair. When opened, there’s nothing to limit the size of your phone, with left-hand and right-hand segments slotting on to the top and bottom of your phone with ease. It’s held in place by some springy green catches, and when they are raised, the X4 powers up, readying itself for your gaming session ahead.
It’s a very easy-to-use system and aside from needing to be careful not to pull the sides away from your phone (something you get used to over a few minutes of use) feels really good in hand. And then when closed, simply removing each side, clasping them together, attaching via included magnets sees this turn into a much smaller form factor. Chucking it in a pocket or the – frankly brilliant – hard-shell carry case is a cinch.
In terms of the controller itself and this is a piece of kit that is officially licensed and ‘Designed for Xbox’. That means you’re getting a proper Xbox Nexus button that powers things up, the usual Xbox face buttons, a couple of Hall-Effect thumbsticks, d-pad, triggers and bumpers. The usual Menu, View and Share buttons are present too, along with a now-standard GameSir ‘M’ button. This combines with a couple of rear-mounted buttons for personalisation and programmability amongst other things.
Everything on the X4 Aileron is really nice to the touch, and whilst this is about as plasticky as you can get, there’s some lovely texturing to the grips of each segment. We’ve used this thing for a good few weeks, during some of the hottest weather of the year, and have not experienced a single slip of our hands. Or our thumbs for that matter as the two thumbsticks, whilst hybrid in design, are well textured on the outer surfaces. The d-pad is highly tactile too, and whilst we would have loved that texturing to roll down to the smooth triggers, it’s a minor nitpick.
The face buttons are great for smashing too, microswitched and good under the finger. They may not be as big as you would be used to from a standard Xbox controller, but in use they have been nothing but excellent.
Further neat touches that have been included on the GameSir X4 Aileron are light displays circling the thumbsticks, signifying power to the controller and allowing for a bit of a lightshow. A USB-C power port provides that power, with a 400mAh battery sitting in each controller segment. And then we also have the GameSir App present, doing what the GameSir App does best, ensuring you can personalise the set-up to your liking. We’re not sure pro gamers will be making the most of X4 Aileron, and on a personal level we’ve found zero problems straight out of the box, but if you do need to make amends, the opportunity is there. You can also then throw in some extra thumbstick types and a concave d-pad which switch in and out easily if you must. They all store nicely in that carry case too.
We’ve found the GameSir X4 Aileron works with very little lag either. In fact, we’ve been mighty impressed by the responsiveness of the buttons and triggers, only held back by any inaccuracies found by gaming on the Cloud through Game Pass.
All this probably means that the GameSir X4 Aileron should be seen as one of the finest of collapsible mobile controllers. It’s not as fancy as Turtle Beach’s Atom – but maybe that’s us loving the colour hues of that product – and we’d definitely still pick the GameSir G8+ for our mobile Game Pass sessions. But the X4 Aileron is still a great option to have. If you’re on the go, looking to chuck something small into a rucksack, whipping it out whilst on the commute, the GameSir X4 Aileron does the business.
Huge thanks go out to GameSir for providing us with the X4 Aileron for review. Grab one for yourself from GameSir direct. You’ll also find it on Amazon for around £89.99.
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