GameSir has been a presence in the gaming controller market for years, catering to consoles, PC, and mobile devices. Over this period, I’ve had the opportunity to review several of their products, and they have consistently delivered highly reliable, multifunctional devices where function always took precedence over form. However, GameSir has recently taken a significant step to address this aspect of their products by combining form and function seamlessly and the situation isn’t much different with their latest mobile controller – the G8 Galileo.
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DESIGN
The G8 Galileo is a gaming controller designed for use with your phone, which you simply place in-between the grips. Before delving deeper into its other aspects, I have to say that the controller looks really nice. It’s available in a single color variation – a combination of lighter and darker shades of gray with purple buttons which complement each other nicely. Adding a unique touch to the overall design is the rubberized texture on the central portion, which not only protects the phone from any damage but also features a stylish high-tech triangular pattern.
One thing worth noting is that this isn’t GameSir’s first controller of this kind, and the most significant update on the Galileo is undoubtedly its ergonomics. While previous controllers resembled Nintendo Joy-Cons with limited grip space, the Galileo takes a different approach. It features more conventional controller-like grips, instantly improving comfort during use compared to its predecessors. The sides are relatively thick, lightweight, and comfortable to hold, with a dotted texture on the bottom for a grippier feel.
G8 is an excellent redesign of GameSir’s mobile controllers
The larger grips also accommodate larger triggers, which resemble those found on console controllers in both look and feel, offering improved separation, a finer range of motion, and a slightly textured surface for better grip. This design allows for a more seamless integration of the rear programmable buttons which are positioned naturally where the middle finger rests while holding the controller, making them much easier and more intuitive to use. All of that along with the front button layout makes G8 bear a striking resemblance to an Xbox controller, which, in my view, is a highly favorable aspect of its design.
One surprising feature of the Galileo is the ability to customize the thumbsticks. In the package, you actually receive three different variants of thumbsticks designed for various types of games, and changing them is super easy. You see, the faceplates on the Galileo are actually magnetically attached, so you only need to lift them with minimal effort – no screwing or other methods that could potentially damage the controller.
The new grips provide a much better ergonomic experience
Among other features, the controller also has a dedicated capture button, as well as a contextual M button used for adjusting various functions in combination with other buttons. For example, by holding the M button and one of the face buttons, you can set that button to function in turbo mode without the need for repetitive typing. The M button, in combination with the triggers, engages the hair trigger mode, among other things.
In the lower right corner, there is a home button that also lights up as a status indicator when you connect a device. Another useful addition is the 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the controller as well as a pass-through USB-C so you can charge your phone while using the controller. This is something you might find necessary from time to time because, as mentioned earlier, the controller relies on the phone’s battery as its power source due to its USB-C connection. Nevertheless, the power consumption is truly minimal, and you’re unlikely to notice a significant increase in battery drain, especially when, for instance, playing games via a streaming subscription, during which your phone doesn’t even consume excessive resources either.
The USB connection ensures a lag free experience with minimal impact on the battery
The mechanism for attaching your mobile device is quite straightforward – simply grab the left side of the controller and extend it to the width of your phone. The spring is very firm, so there’s no worry about your phone slipping out once it’s positioned. What’s great is that you can move the USB-C connector upwards to connect your phone even before inserting it into the controller, avoiding any risk of damage.
The spring can be significantly expanded to accommodate phones up to 185 mm in size, with an additional 5 mm of space in the back for protruding cameras. This space also aids in device ventilation, considering the potential heat generated by your phone. What’s great is that Galileo itself weighs only around 0.5 kg, so it won’t add significant extra weight, no matter which phone you connect to it. Of course, this means that it is entirely made of plastic, but despite that, it appears to be relatively durable, with no creaking sounds that would suggest poor build quality. It goes without saying that this controller uses a Type-C port, so it’s not compatible with Apple devices, and it might be problematic with some ultra-specific foldable phones.
PERFORMANCE
I believe it goes without saying that the performance of the Galileo is excellent. As it essentially functions as a console-level controller in every aspect, the Galileo can be used not only for Android games but also for AAA gaming experiences through Game Pass, Steam Link, or PS Remote Play. With a simple combination of buttons, you can switch between Android, Remote Play mode, and G-Touch mode for mobile games that don’t natively support a controller, which is a fantastic addition and something I criticized previous GameSir mobile controllers.
Different modes ensure you can easly control any mobile game with no issues
G-Touch mode essentially allows you to assign any touchscreen control to one of the face buttons using GameSir’s software. This means that games like Diablo Immortal or Genshin Impact become completely playable with the Galileo, expanding its utility to virtually all games from the Play Store and beyond. Even better, the USB-C connection eliminates any possibility of input lag that can occur with Bluetooth. This allows you to play highly competitive mobile games and practically excel not only due to the increased but also because of the super-responsive control over everything you do.
CONCLUSION
In the end, GameSir’s Galileo G8 is definitely their best mobile controller to date. With it, you can practically turn your phone into a tiny Nintendo Switch-like console, but now with even better ergonomics usually reserved for full-fledged console and PC controllers. The only downside to the Galileo is that all iPhone devices before the iPhone 15 are left out, so Apple users will have to find their luck elsewhere. Aside from that, if you’re in search of a dependable and feature-packed mobile controller, and you’d rather not invest in devices like PS Portal, Steam Deck, or other handheld consoles, why not transform what’s already in your pocket into one?
