GAMESIR X3 Type-C Cooled Mobile Gaming Controller
The GAMESIR X3 Type-C Cooled Mobile Gaming Controller is a smart option for mobile gamers who want a controller. The gamepad fits well in the hand and gives users strong control over their games. There are a few design changes I’d make (make the PD passthrough and fan power ports the same and maybe add a built-in battery for the fan) and it would be nice if less settings were required for the user. The price is competitive with other mobile game controllers.
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DESIGN
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EASY TO USE
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PRICE
The controller provides an enhanced gaming experience for mobile gamers.
Even though there are an estimated two billion mobile gamers in the world, it’s not a hobby I’ve picked up since it became popular. Then, about six months ago, I decided to grab my phone and play Call of Duty: Mobile. I found a community of gamers who have become like a second family to me.
One of the things that kept me from gaming online was the requirement to use on-screen touch controls instead of a handheld controller. Fortunately, there are several accessory companies that have made some remarkable cell phone gamepads.
These rugged devices connect to a phone via Bluetooth or a wired connection. The gamepad-style mobile controller is designed to wrap around a phone and feels very much like the Nintendo Switch.
Since I’ve enjoyed playing online with my clan so much, I’ve noticed that my phone tends to overheat quite a bit. Portable gaming coolers that attach magnetically can disperse that heat well, but they’re a bit cumbersome. That’s why I’m thrilled that GameSir has integrated a cooler into their latest gamepad for Android phones: the X3 Type-C Cooled Mobile Gaming Controller.
About the X3 Type-C Cooled Mobile Gaming Controller
The X3 Type-C Cooled Mobile Gaming Controller is specially designed for mobile gaming. It aims to ensure that gamers no longer have to make the compromise or decision between a mobile controller or a phone cooler – combining both in one device.
According to GameSir, “the phone cooler can allow a drop in CPU temperature to 12°C and a drop in surface temperature to 24°C, and the wired connection will maintain a zero input delay during use.” This controller is intended for professional level gaming. It features bumpers, triggers, face buttons and a D-pad all of which come with Kailh switches that can withstand up to 3 million clicks.
Most important features:
- Working platform: Android 9 or above
- Connection: Built-in wired Type-C to your phone, wired Type-C to the phone cooler
- Compatible Phone Size: 110-179mm long, within 10.5mm depth (excluding camera depth)
- Type-C port should be centered horizontally and vertically or nearly centered like regular Android phones.
- For phones with unique structures with a giant back bump like Lenovo Legion 2 Pro, the bump must also be taken into account. Lenovo Legion 2 Pro is not workable on X3 Type-C because the Type-C port is not centered or almost horizontal and vertical.
- Phone camera depth ≤ 3mm.
- Battery: No
- Phone cooler power input: 5V 2A
- Product Size: 1808848mm / 7,093.461.89 inch
- Net Weight: 270g / 0.60lbs
Prices & Availability
The GameSir X3 controller is offered through the GameSir and Amazon website. At the time of this article being published, the list price is $99.99 USD.
User experience
The GameSir X3 Type-C comes in a sturdy travel case deep enough to carry the USB-C cable and accessory box. One side of the case is a dedicated space for the controller and the other is a mesh pocket for accessories. Since the controller’s fan needs a power source to function, I think it would be very helpful to find a small power bank in your travel case.
The gamepad is spring-loaded and can be extended to accommodate different sizes of smartphones. However, it does not collapse or fold up for storage. This is one of the reasons why I’m very happy that a case comes with the controller. It protects it from environmental damage and makes it easier to occupy more places.
The USB-C plug mount on the gamepad is flexible and can be bent (gently) so that the user can easily install their phone. I tested this device with two different Android phones: the Sony Experia 10 and the Google Pixel 6 Pro. Both phones fit easily into the gamepad.
Connecting the controller to the phone is not difficult, but getting the mobile games to work with the controller can be a chore. As I mentioned, my favorite game is Call of Duty: Mobile. Activision has very strict rules about which controllers can be used by gamers. For the controller to work with the game, you need to map the buttons, triggers, and joysticks in the GameSir app.
There are some mobile game controllers that are plug-n-play. I’ve used a lot of them and while they all seem to have a companion app, the apps aren’t always a necessity to play a game. In some cases, you can bypass the app altogether. That’s not the case with the GameSir – and certainly not for playing COD Mobile.
In order for the phone to recognize that it is the gamepad connected to it, follow the instructions below.
- Download and install the GameSir app from Google Play. Do not open the app yet.
- Place your phone in the controller. The gamepad should turn on automatically, but if it doesn’t, press the “G + Home” buttons on the controller to turn it on.
- After seeing that the controller is powered on (indicated by blue LEDs on the controller), press and hold the “G + Home” buttons on the controller to put it into G-Touch mode. When the blue LED turns green, you know the mode has been changed. This is the mode you need to map. NOTE: The G-Touch functionality is not compatible with all games.
- Once the controller is in G-Touch mode, open the GameSir app and check if the app recognizes the correct device. It should show “GameSir-X3 Type-C” with a small link next to it to indicate that it is connected. You will probably see prompts on the screen when you install your phone in the gamepad before even opening the app.
- At this point, you’ll want to add the games you want to open with the GameSir to the GameSir app dashboard. You can search for games through the app, but you’ll still download them from the Google Play Store. If you already have the games you want to play on your phone, you can press the “+” in the dashboard to add the game to your GameSir library.
- After launching COD Mobile, you should be able to see the on-screen controls. Then it’s a matter of moving the various GameSir controls to the correct parts of the touchscreen. The right stick should be in slide mode and the other in joystick mode. When you’re done, you’ll want to save the configuration to the device. To make things easier for you, GameSir allows users to share configurations and you should be able to find a COD Mobile configuration already set up and being shared.
GameSir does provide a written tutorial on this process, but it says it’s for the GameSir X2. There are several YouTube videos that walk through the process as well, but I found this one to be the best. It was published in June 2022, so it’s quite recent and I can confirm it works with this controller.
After using that YouTuber’s shared profile, I started playing normally. I’ve never had any problems disconnecting the controller. There were a few times my character would freeze or have a slow response, but for the most part I was able to enjoy playing without the hassle of using the touchscreen controls.
The controller is very comfortable to play with and I was still able to reach the screen when needed. I thought the buttons and joysticks responded and registered my input movements as they should.
The cooling fan works great. I wish there was another option to power it as you end up being tethered to a cable and the purpose of this device is to be mobile. I noticed after 20-30 minutes of playing the phone got warm. So I plugged in a battery and let the fan cool down. The fan makes some noise, but it works really well. The phone started to cool down quickly after I turned on the fan and aside from the extra weight, I didn’t even notice it was there after a while.
Conclusion
While I still think there are some improvements that could be made with this controller, it’s a great product and it really improves the way you play games. Gamepads like these are changing the mobile gaming landscape for the better.
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