"It's a good controller, but it's not the best you can get" is how GamesRadar's Fraser Porter summed up the GameSir X5s after nearly two weeks of daily use. That's a pretty honest take for a controller sitting at $49.99, and honestly, it's the right one.
What the X5s actually is
The X5s is GameSir's latest entry-level mobile controller, designed to pull your thumbs off touchscreen controls and give you something real to hold. It follows the familiar asymmetrical Xbox-style stick layout, connects over Bluetooth, charges via USB-C, and according to IGN's coverage of the controller's feature set, also supports 2.4GHz wireless if you pick up the dongle separately.
The headline feature that separates it from similarly priced competitors is Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility. At this price point, cross-platform support spanning iOS, Android, Windows, and both Switch generations is genuinely rare. GameSir even built in a button layout remapping option so you can swap to Nintendo-style face button configuration without losing your mind mid-session.
Hall Effect sticks at a budget price
Here's the thing: Hall Effect joysticks and triggers at $49.99 is not something you see every day. These use magnetic induction instead of physical contact points, which means stick drift is essentially taken off the table. The X5s also includes HD rumble and haptics, which adds a layer of physical feedback that makes it feel like an actual controller rather than a phone grip with buttons glued on.
The GameSir app lets you tweak joystick and trigger deadzones, and handles firmware updates. It's barebones, but functional.
danger
The 2.4GHz wireless dongle is sold separately. Out of the box, the X5s connects via Bluetooth only.
Battery life sits between 8 and 12 hours on a full charge, which covers most mobile gaming sessions comfortably. Long-haul flights might push the limits, but that's a niche edge case.
Where it stumbles
The X5s is not without real tradeoffs. The offset stick layout, while familiar to Xbox players, becomes uncomfortable in the compact mobile form factor, particularly for players with larger hands. The right stick sits in an awkward position that forces an unnatural thumb angle during extended play. The thumbsticks themselves are also notably small.
No back buttons. That's the bigger issue. At this price, the absence is understandable, but it's immediately noticeable if you've spent any time with a Scuf Nomad ($69.99) or the GameSir G8 Galileo ($79.99), both of which include programmable rear paddles. The Backbone One ($99.99) also lacks back buttons, but the X5s undercuts it significantly on price while offering a comparable feature set.
How it stacks up against the competition
The X5s wins on price and Switch 2 support. It loses on ergonomics and the lack of rear paddles. That's the trade.
The Switch 2 angle is the real story
For mobile-first players who are also picking up a Nintendo Switch 2, the X5s functions as a surprisingly capable secondary controller. It paired with the original Switch without issue during testing, and GameSir has confirmed Switch 2 support as a deliberate design choice to future-proof the device. Getting a controller that handles your phone gaming and doubles as a Switch 2 pad for $49.99 is a reasonable ask.
The key here is understanding what the X5s is built for: newcomers to mobile gaming and casual players who want physical controls without spending close to $100. Enthusiasts who already know what back buttons feel like will hit the ceiling fast. For everyone else, it's a genuinely solid starting point.
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