GameSir X5 Lite – quality gaming on a budget

I love a GameSir mobile controller. It’s one of my go-to brands, with me recently having to say goodbye to the GameSir X3, a gamepad that treated me well for nearly three years, but, in doing so, I had a new opening in my accessories drawer. Luckily for me, the timing couldn’t be better, with GameSir recently releasing the GameSir X5 Lite. This nice little controller comes in two colorways: black and wasabi.

In even better news for me, GameSir kindly sent me a black X5 Lite to review, and you’d best believe I put this gamepad through its paces. I have to say that for a price point of $34.99 / £34.99, I think it’s a nifty controller. Admittedly, when I first held it, I did think it felt a little cheap (not badly made, however), but when you learn the price, that honestly tracks. It doesn’t feel like a $100 controller, and that’s because it’s not one. Instead, it’s one of the best phone controllers for people on a budget or those who are just getting into mobile gaming.

However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that my phone feels secure when attached to the pad. The phone I’m using is a Nubia Z70S Ultra, which, incidentally, I’m also reviewing, so keep an eye out for that – spoiler alert, it’s great. At no point do I feel like my phone is about to jump out at me, which is saying something, given the placement of the camera (and how much it protrudes). It means I can’t quite slide my phone down the grips on the right side all the way, but the X5 Lite still does a great job of keeping my phone secure.

Furthermore, connecting your phone is a breeze, as the USB-C connector can move up and down. This design means you can slide your device in at an angle and then pull the right side of the pad to slot your phone in, letting it move back to snugly hold your device. In the box, you get extra grips that you can put on the controller to give your phone some additional support in the back.

However, while controllers like the GameSir X3 have a full back for the gamepad, the X5 Lite doesn’t. Instead, it has a ‘half-back’ of sorts, meaning only half of your phone rests against the controller while thin air supports the rest of it. But you don’t need to worry about your phone slipping; it’s still in safe hands here.

Something that I always consider when using a mobile gamepad is the size: does it fit nicely in my hands? Is it a bulky mess? It turns out that the GameSir X5 Lite is the perfect size for me; it fits snugly in my hands, my fingers can rest comfortably on the triggers, and the controller is so light that I get no fatigue from holding it for a longer gaming session.

Speaking of longer gaming sessions, if you’re playing games like GTA V, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remake, or another massive adventure from the extensive Xbox Game Pass library through the cloud, you don’t need to worry about your phone dying on you as the hours roll by. The GameSir X5 Lite features pass-through charging, so you can plug your charger into the available USB-C slot on the controller, and it’ll juice up your phone as you play. Honestly, this is pretty great, speaking as someone who couldn’t stop playing Oblivion.

To go along nicely with the comfortable design and charging, the buttons are all responsive, and there’s no drift to be had with the analog sticks, courtesy of the Hall effect sticks, ensuring the accessory features anti-drift technology. We’ve all been there, right? At some point, everyone experiences stick drift, and it honestly sucks; it’s beyond frustrating to run in one direction only to run back the other way as soon as you take your thumb off the analog stick.

If you’re someone who cares about aesthetics, I have to say that I really like the black color; it offers a slick finish, and while I don’t have the wasabi-color controller to hand, it is a nice light green that reminds me of the Hori Eevee and Pikachu split-pad for the Nintendo Switch.

While I have much praise for this controller, I must admit that it makes some concessions to reach its price point. For starters, while you can certainly enjoy those longer gaming sessions (and I did), there isn’t a cooling fan to help keep your phone from getting toasty, so if you have a phone that’s prone to overheating, you may find that you can’t go for hours as you might want to. Secondly, if you enjoy a bit of VGP (videogame photography), you may miss using a screenshot button.

Regardless, I’d say $34.99 is a steal for this controller; it’s comfortable, offers charging while playing, and nicely supports your phone. If you’re looking for a simple mobile controller that can get the job done, or you’re new to mobile gaming and don’t want to break the bank on a premium controller just yet, you need to look no further than the GameSir X5 Lite.

That concludes our GameSir X5 Lite review. If you do decide to give it a try, make sure you check out our lists of the best Android games and iPhone games to find some adventures you and your new controller can go on.