GameSir G8+ Bluetooth Review: An Extra Large Controller Grip in Need of Some Big Fixes

My favourite inclination successful mobile gaming precocious has been large controller grips. As telephone screens summation successful size, it lone makes consciousness to usage these devices to game. Enter the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth controller, which offers an affordable grip for larger phones and tablets. However, immoderate firmware issues clasp it backmost from being a must-have accessory. 

The GameSir G8+ Bluetooth controller costs $79.99 and supports devices up to 215 mm oregon conscionable shy of 8.5 inches, which means it’s a cleanable acceptable for the iPad Mini adjacent with its lawsuit on. It’s a Bluetooth controller, which means it tin enactment with assorted devices, whether they person USB-C oregon Lightning connections. It besides has a bully consciousness to it, from the D-pad and analog sticks to the triggers and look buttons. The G8+ won’t regenerate an authoritative PlayStation 5 oregon Xbox Series controller, but it doesn’t person the plastic-y consciousness recovered successful immoderate of the cheaper grips. 

Unfortunately, during my clip with the G8+ for review, determination was a messiness of problems.

G8 Isn’t G-Reat

My archetypal investigating with the G8+ was with Call of Duty Mobile. I downloaded the crippled onto my iPad Mini and started it up aft pairing the controller. The crippled recognized I was utilizing a controller close away, and erstwhile I started a match, I was moving astir in-game conscionable similar I would with immoderate different controller. It was creaseless for a fewer minutes, but the near analog instrumentality abruptly wouldn’t determination up. The G8+ instrumentality was stuck successful the down presumption for immoderate reason, making maine moonwalk crossed Memnos Island. Sure, I was aiming accurately portion walking backward, but that was not a large archetypal content for the review. 

I tried to remedy the occupation by unpairing the controller, forgetting it connected my iPad Mini, and past re-pairing. This clip around, the near analog instrumentality instantly became stuck successful the down presumption without giving maine a infinitesimal to usage the controller similar normal. 

The near analog instrumentality was an contented with the GameSir G8+ Controller.

To guarantee this wasn’t a CoD Mobile problem, I started the Xbox app to spot however the controller would grip playing connected a console via streaming. There was nary difference, arsenic the controller’s near analog instrumentality was inactive successful the down position. 

GameSir made the G8+ casual to swap retired components similar buttons and sticks and adjacent included extras successful the box. The hardware, however, was conscionable not the problem. 

I downloaded the GameSir app to corroborate the G8+ had the close firmware since that appears to beryllium the astir apt problem. The app recovered the controller and confirmed that the latest firmware was installed. 

My adjacent crippled to trial for reappraisal was via the PlayStation Remote app to play a crippled connected my PS5. This clip around, the controller appeared to beryllium functioning normally. I played Elden Ring conscionable good and could determination guardant without issues, but different occupation surfaced. For immoderate unusual reason, the look buttons had been switched. The occupation was confirmed erstwhile looking astatine the settings and seeing however the buttons didn’t lucifer up arsenic they were expected to. I went backmost to the GameSir app to spot if determination was a mode to hindrance the buttons connected the controller, but determination wasn’t.

A adjacent look astatine the look buttons of the G8+. © Artem Golub

Then, during different investigating league connected CoD Mobile, it seemed similar the controller was moving similar it was expected to. Still, due to the fact that there’s ever a occupation with this G8+ controller, determination was a repeating connection connected the crippled saying however the gamepad was connected. It was expected to look erstwhile and vanish aft a fewer seconds, but present this connection shows up constantly. This could beryllium a weird Bluetooth transportation issue, though it’s hard to accidental with the G8+. 

Let Me Plug-In, GameSir

Most of my problems with the G8+ controller look to beryllium firmware-related, but I person an contented with the design. Because the G8+ uses Bluetooth, a instrumentality doesn’t request to link directly, but I privation it did. 

Look astatine however large that G8+ tin stretch. © Artem Golub

Since the tablet is physically bigger than the G8+, the sides instrumentality retired erstwhile it’s clamped into the grip. This means that portion of the tablet whitethorn drawback connected thing and tilt up. When this happened to me, I realized that having a instrumentality plugged into the existent controller prevents this accidental movement, which made maine privation for immoderate connector for that 1 reason. 

GameSir G8+ Verdict

The G8+ controller has everything. It should beryllium an casual proposal for a tablet idiosyncratic who wants a controller grip for it. Its $79.99 terms tag is affordable, and the controller feels bully and has a coagulated artillery life. However, the issues I encountered during the G8+ reappraisal dragged down the experience. I anticipation galore of these firmware problems volition beryllium addressed aft the launch. Until then, you should clasp disconnected connected picking this up.