@@cheeeeezewizzz Exactly. But folding devices are pretty niche so I don't blame companies for not typically putting the USB C on the left. I love my X2 with my Fold though thanks to the USB C placement.
Between the retroid pocket 2 and 351V, I'm pretty much set for my emulating needs but I still watch every video anyways 😅 can't get enough of these weird gadgets
How are the ergonomics of those? I got an Odroid Go Advance and I love how well it runs all the games I want to play, but it's uncomfortable as hell to hold and the DPAD is hot garbage.
@@jaredboehm3102 my answer is purely based on my very small hands: pretty awesome. Yes, the d pad on the RP2 is.. there, but it isn't uncomfortable for me to switch to using it. Tbh, I mostly use the RP2 w 8bitdo controllers and my TV. RG351V fits my hands basically perfect. I agree with Russ tho about that ones D pad, a little stiff and can wear out the hand after a long time. I love that anolog stick and use it all the time, not weird for me to drop down and use it especially for fighting games and such.
@@Oburoni thanks! I actually watched a couple more reviews after I asked the question and pulled the trigger on the RG351V last night. The big-ass 4:3 640x480 screen, vertical layout, and rounded grippy-ness sold me. It'll be here tomorrow from Amazon. Excited!
It looks like the Bluetooth version has an "arcade mode" that may reduce latency. I'm not sure if you mentioned this in the review (I'm on a noisy train right now). 😉
@@flayksmei3905 if i recall correctly there are 3 ways to switch on the controller and each mode should have a different latency. A+home B+home G+home Each will switch the controller on in a different mode and show a different device when pairing the controller with a phone /tablet.
@@defunct32 according to another’s reviewer, it made a difference. However I couldn’t find any mentions of different modes in the manual and this model seems difficult to find now.
It's good to see that they changed the d-pad to a real one. I have the first generation of this controller and the d-pad is like the one on the switch's joycon. it's very uncomfortable
@@RetroGameCorps Well i didn't found better controller *my opinion* on the market. So i'm going to buy the Gamesir X2 USB-C for my Mi 11 :D A question. Are the buttons loud?
Holy smokes, I'm sitting here with a gamesir usb-c in my wish list and then Russ comes along with another super useful video exactly about it! Thanks, Russ! Yeah, I am getting the usb-c one exactly coz of the latency issues, I like the BT one as well but those delays are a deal breaker. Surprised u destroyed the kishi so savagely, I heard a lot of great things about it but ultimately swinged towards gamesir coz it's a pain in the butt to ship the kishi where I live. Glad Chicken also chose the usb-c one, it's always flattering to know that your opinion coincided with the one of the expert ;D and of course, that Sonic jump, my oh my, a skill like that doesn't come by every day, that's for sure... Take care and thank you for the video, Russ.
I ended up picking one of these up because of the review, and in spite of the cost, I do NOT regret doing so. It feels really, really nice and has been an absolute joy to use. I got the Type-C version, and I'm glad I did. I really appreciate the insight!
Something else to consider is that some foldable devices have larger screens on DS and 3DS emulators in landscape where a USBC controller wouldn't connect. Fold 5. So if you want the larger play area, you'd want the Bluetooth.
Can you please elaborate on this? When you are emulating DS/3DS landscape mode, the usbc port will not connect? I currently have the Fold 5 as well and are looking to buy this, but the latency on the bluetooth seems concerning...
@@dwgreen108 I have a fold 3 and the bluetooth model works great no lag. For DS games its amazing such a huge screen in PORTRAIT MODE . If you get the USBC model you cant play DS games like that because you have to connect the UB C port to the phone forcing landscape. Playing DS games in portrait with this controller is better than on a DS,
I ordered the USB Type C version. I grew up playing the "retro" games when they were new. As video games have progressed since I was a kid, I've always been playing and have no desire to go back to play old games before the PS3. Mobile gaming is my main purpose. Call of Duty, PUBG and maybe some others are greatest with an Xbox or PS3 controller. The few games I play online should be great to use with the X2USB.
Okay... I need to know, Do you read my mind? A month ago, I got the RG351P without a wifi dongle and one day I asked myself "How could I scrappe all my games without wifi?", next day you uploaded the offline scrapping guide. Not too long after that, I asked myself "Should a mod it and buy a new battery?" the next day your RG351P/M button and battery guide got up. A little bit later "Should I use my old PSVita too?" not too long after that, the turn goes to your video about permanant mod on the Vita. And now this, yesterday I was surfing Amazon checking out these type of bluetooth controller for my phone... Do I need a tin foil hat?! In all seriousness, thanks for everything and keep your good work!
I'm pretty sure the reason why the usb c port is on the left side is so that phones that have raised camera lenses can still sit flush when you attach the gamepad
I love how you just so happen to answer whatever niche question about these things. I also have a love/hate relationship with the kishi and was wondering about the x2
I have the x2 and use it with my redmagic 6 pro. It gets the job done. I was considering getting a kishi but from what I've seen it's not ideal. It would be nice to get a proper controller for $100. It's kind of ridiculous given the price of the excellent xbox and playstation controllers.
I just wish there was some kind of Standardization! Like come on guys I just want to play the game why can't you all agree on a type of controller. That way games would be better and you could justify charging more for emulators on the legit app store all with *Strong* Controller Supporting Mapping.
@@moshadj yep the rg351, or any of those retro handhelds don't compare to most Android phones nowadays. Especially if you have a higher end phone with HDMI out.
Was waiting for someone to review the x2, thanks sir. too bad the Bluetooth is laggy, you'd think with newer bt 5.0 and being practically on the thing there would be nearly no lag.
@@pharaohsmagician8329 Super late, but here’s my two cents here. I’ve owned BOTH models. I prefer the Bluetooth edition, because between the two of them, I experienced zero lag whatsoever. Plus, I play most of my games over cloud gaming, so any amount of extra lag is INSTANTLY noticeable; still nothing. I don’t know what this dude’s talking about. They felt the EXACT SAME to me.
Note that for both the Kishi and the X2, you can actually use phone with a case if you remove the rubber on the usb side. It's a bit hacky but works nicely afterward. I still hate the Kishi too tho, but more for its super low quality buttons and sticks (with super high deadzone), which are simply unacceptable at this price point. There is also one thing I don't like about the non BT X2 controller, beside the usb on the wrong side; It has the nintendo button layout instead of xbox layout, and no way to remap them. For games that need the xbox layout it's simply a deal breaker.
no idea what u mean i have 7 kishis i give them away to buddies i game with alot and NEVER had a deadzone i test them all before shipping them out must have a defective controller
I didn’t have a Problem with the Input Lag,I think he picked the wrong Bluetooth Settings,there’s 3 options,1 is Xbox Controller Bluetooth,2 is regular Bluetooth and 3 is MiFi
With the Kishi controller, the rubber inserts are easily removable. Once you remove these your phone should fit perfectly while in the case. At least mine does. Also note, the rubber inserts will pop right back in the controller if you ever needed to add them back.
Phone setup is very versatile though. If you have a good phone it will have a great AMOLED screen, very fast charging (like 4500mah in 40 minutes is not unheard of in the case of OnePlus or xiaomi), and a powerful SoC that can emulate all PSP games like it's nothing. The only real downside of the phone setup is somewhat bulkiness. I won't even say price because everyone at this point has an ok phone anyways
Even though you mentioned problems with latency on the X2 Bluetooth, my curiosity got the best of me and I picked one up for my iPhone. I love it. No problems at all here. Maybe you got a defective one?
I was considering getting the model with Bluetooth, as it is the only model available here in the store, but after your review, I am ruling out the purchase, and I am left with to buy the backbone one, which appears to be better. Thanks for the video
5:50 this left side USB C port makes it PERFECT for the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 though since it has a weird placement of the USB C port. This means that the Dual screen is orientated in such a perfect way that it turns the SD2 into a perfect DS emulator.
One note about using the Kishi with a phone case, or external battery: You can actually pull out the rubber grips on the inside of the Kishi (there's no adhesive or anything - you can also just pop them back in later if you want), which lets you put a thicker phone in. Discovering this (thanks to a Reddit thread) significantly increased my QOL when using the Kishi. I got my Kishi for $50 refurbished, and I think it's worth that price, but deffo wouldn't have paid full price. It gets the job done, but feels a little cheap, and has a squishy d-pad. If I hadn't picked that up, I'd probably be snagging this GameSir now - it looks lovely, and that d-pad looks so clicky!
I've watched about 15 videos on the Bluetooth version and no one mentioned any input lag, in fact a couple of them showed the opposite. I'm wondering if you have a faulty unit
@@magentamage4901 The thing is that he has maybe an old phone. I saw some people saying that they don't has any lag with the bluetooth one. They used: Rog2,Rog5 and a iphone *Don't ask which iphone*
I don't think there is any noticeable lag. Like 5 years ago I had a moga controller for my Android, I had an cheap Samsung device(one of the free ones you get for signing up for cricket) and the only time I ever experienced any kind of game breaking lag was when I was casting my screen to a tv. While I like his videos and he's maybe talked me into getting one of those "dedicated" retro gaming units (I think I still prefer my vita) he's VERY biased towards those rgb351 systems. Very very biased. Maybe he doesn't know, idk. But it's rather obvious. Moga is rather old now and was kinda the first. Gamesir probably does it better imo, especially 5 years later. I used emulators and played Minecraft and other android games, no noticeable lag unless I was screen casting.
Concerning Bluetooth latency on Android, it's very hit or miss depending on which phone you have. On my galaxy s9 Bluetooth latency is horrible and too much to play with a Bluetooth controller. Now on the flip side my Asus rog 2 phone Bluetooth latency is slim to near none. I'd imagine your Android phone in the video Bluetooth chip isn't that great like my galaxy s9
@@storm8216 yeahh, buttons are smooth but not load :> and i think this one type c is better bcos if u buy the Bluetooth one it have latency sometimes or kindaaa delay and yeah it sucks.
its cool that it comes with a case but to me the case seems too small to hold the device if it has a phone in it which makes the case basically useless... im not sure if you have all the latest devices in this field but i would love to see a "roundup" of sorts with backbone gen2, gamesir x2 pro and the razer kishi's (and any other controllers u have or think are relevant). appreciate all the work you do on these videos either way, keep up the awesome work and thank you.
Didn't the original model have a Switch like D-pad? I'm glad they have changed it. If it had symmetrical sticks at the bottom it would honestly be perfect.
yeah i got tired of the switch like d-pad s it was hard for fighting games. i ended up ordering the latest version due to a father’s day discount on their official store.
One thing I noticed with the gamesir app is that after you update the firmware, you can Switch the native button layout between Xbox and switch styles. The "A" button should be at the bottom imo. Sure happy with the option.
I have to say my gamesir x2 Bluetooth doesn’t have any latency lag. I play mainly fighting games on emulators both iOS/android and those games are the best to test controllers for any button input lag and this is the BEST controller in my opinion. I used Kishi before but I love the gamesir x2 Bluetooth more than Kishi. You might wanna use a different phone and test it out. I used iPhone 11 Pro Max and Samsung tab S7 plus. Soon to test it on xiaomi poco x3 pro but yeah no latency lag at all for me.
@@RetroGameCorps really?? That’s very odd. I played marvel super heroes vs street fighter on sega Saturn on iPhone and it works perfectly fine. I would probably contact the gamesir ask if they could exchange it or something.
It’s weird but I didn’t notice any lag on my IPhone as well maybe he picked the wrong Bluetooth Settings he might have to switch MiFi Settings which works better especially for IPhone,there’s more than 1 Bluetooth options
@@redscorpion9325 I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t have lag. I think you’re right on the settings. At first I assumed the phone he was using but I think you’re on to something here
I got the X2 bluetooth too, but with my phone it has basically zero lag (i would guess less than 0.3, 0.2 seconds). You said you used a V30? V20, from LG? try a more recent phone with bluetooth 5.0 or superior, i would say that you will have no lag at that point. I have zero in my case.
I'll consider that because I have an lg g8x thinq with the dual screen and I have the x2 type C but I cant use the dual screens but hopefully with the x2 Bluetooth I can have the ultimate experience with two screens.
@@tking2199 I got the old x2 (first version, without a d-pad but with 4 separate buttons), but when i bought a Rog Phone 5 i found out that it was too big, so i bought the bluetooth one because i liked the color better (and accomodates bigger phones, as does the d-pad usbc x2 shown in this video). As i said, with a modern device like my rog phone 5 i have absolutely no lag at all, like using a playstation controller on a playstation, to be clear. So i really think that in this case this reviews was "damaged" by the youtuber not having an up to specs smartphone... i really hope he reads this and tries again, because really, zero lag for me.
@@tking2199 Ok, i rewatched the video. He has an LG V20 (not v90 as he says), and that one has only bluetooth 4.2. So yes, it' because of his smartphone that he has lag, it's not an issue with the X2 Bluetooth. I would find it nice if he corrects himself.
Hmm I was thinking the same, I'm thinking about buying this I have a s21 ultra. My phone should have the latest Bluetooth.. Edit: okay I just checked my s21 ultra has Bluetooth 5.0
I've been using a cheap Ipega Red Knight controller for over a year, I'm sure some people would dislike it for a host of reasons but it does the job for me. It's one of the more compact telescopic controllers which I think helps. The big chunky buggers don't appeal quite as much.
@@pharaohsmagician8329 it's Bluetooth 4.0, is twice slower than the Gamesir X2 BT here. It's small, some big phones will not fit into it. But it's decent an cheap, that's what I have too ಥ‿ಥ
@@Reymax164 Thank you. I bought a Saitake controller and have been loving it I recommend that. Only like $10 more expensive than the Red Knight as well I've seen. What games do you play?? I've been playing OW Open Microwave Morrowind on my android it's amazing
@@pharaohsmagician8329 I haven't played much games because of my weak phone. I bought a new one that hasn't arrived yet, but unfortunately that phone wll not fit in it. That's why im checking Gamesir, that's what's appealing to me to buy next.
Hey Russ, "Chicken Approved" (stamp of approval) should be thing. I for one have a Game Sir x2 USB-C and think its great. I even modified to fit my galaxy tab s6
Is that using the Galaxy Tab S6 in landscape? If so, I'm really curious to know how you modified it? I've been eyeing the Gamesir X2 USB-C for a while but at 177.8mm wide (in landscape) my Black Shark 3 Pro is just a bit too big to fit the Gamesir. I've got an iPega 9083 that fits, but its not great.
@@nickwelch1148 I simply opened the game sire and removed/cut out what keeps the limiter that keeps the controller from over extending. Keep in mind that 4 springs keep the controller connected. I will try to upload some pics
Note - you can buy grips for the Vita that are very good and pretty cheap. Excellent for longer play sessions. Having said that, even with my big hands, I don't have any problems with the Vita slim even without the grip attached.
Hello! After seeing your (and about 50 other) reviews, but mainly yours, I decided to buy this pad, I saw that there is already a pro version, but somehow I preferred this one. I wonder which keys are responsible for START and SELECT in emulators?
Very happy to see this video! Been looking forward to it since you replied to my comment recommendating it. I'm surprised your boxes smelled. The ones I ordered from Amazon didn't smell at all. I'm really surprised the lag you experienced with the Bluetooth version of the X2. Agree with your opinion of the Razer Kishi. Could you share the specs of the V90 and where you got it? I can't find a lot of info on it when doing a quick search on Google.
Probably a little too late but I was also looking for it and I could only find pictures of the LG V20 which looks identical to the one he is using in this video. As far I know an LG V90 smartphone doesn't exist.
Just saw the SHAKS S5b which looks to be the only competitor of this GameSir controller that I am considering. If there's any shot you could review that, I think it's a good-looking competitor. I do agree with your opinion of the Kishi, as it's not something I like either.
I gotta say, I played Mega Man X Dive Offline over 30 hours with the Gamesir bluetooth version and didn‘t have any issues. Many other testers don‘t mention latency problems either. Maybe it‘s because of your phone?
Wow, an actual LG phone in the wild! A bit expensive to get them here, but usb model seems just small enough for me to consider a viable phone controller. For the one with a clip - no way I can endure more than half an hour of gaming. Although, mine does have horrible buttons,which isn't helping.
I have the GameSir x2 usb-c and its a great experience for games that take advantage of the full screen. Ultimately I think a setup like this, with a phone that can do the higher end emulation, streaming, and android games and something like a RG351V for N64/Dreamcast and prior is the way to go. The experience of 4:3 for the older games and the power for the later systems with a 16:9. Great video Russ!
The saddest part is that Asus ROG phones have the bottom USB C port in the left corner. So I couldn't use any of these handheld gamepads with a usb c port in the middle. And unfortunately ROG Kunai 3 is no longer available in India. So the only option left is the GS Bluetooth controller for all those who have ROG phones.
I have the first 2 x2 gamesir controller, I hated that it didn't have the standard Xbox buttons. Not I gotta buy a third one to get the best experience
Great Video again! Thanks for your content, you helped me out with the Anbernic Rg351v! I have a request... You said you don't like the Razer Kishi. Could you make a video about it and why I would be interested in your opinion.
Interesting device, on that one that has the Type C connecter, if you put it on charge whilst in use will it charge the phone also? Good honest video Russ.
I don't think you should if you're happy with your current controller, the x2 type C drains the phone battery hard but if your phone can do switch emulation then this is one of the few controllers that is supported for that. I don't know about the x2 Bluetooth, but difference between in lag shouldn't be much between the x2 Bluetooth and a saitake controller, if anything the x2 type C should be good but the price is kinda high.
@@tking2199 thanks for the info :) i mean the stk is cheap and i feel it but it does its job nearly perfect for its money and i was just thinking of getting a usbc controller for moonlight because of the additional lag.
I can see your point about bringing along a dedicated handheld, but those dedicated handhelds likely won't be OLED, with the hardware capabilities of a phone(some of which can emulate a Switch). Though the battery on a phone is always gonna be a problem and what you actually use your phone for.
I think it was because he was using an older phone .The LG V10 he was using is a phone phone from 2015 with older blutooth version.I have had the x2 BT version for 2 years now and no problem with latency
You should look into moonlight or steamlink. It really turns your phone into a way better switch (assuming your pc can play games). Its really a huge benefit of bluetooth controllers and a phone.
I just ordered the Type C and it didn't do a good connection. Apparently this is fairly common since the quality control is trash. I'll try with the bluetooth one and see if the latency is acceptable on my phone
Love the way you thoroughly explain the both of them thank you... Wondering if I should get a Bluetooth controller along with my Razer kishi i just got, because for some reason I can't charge my phone while playing, apparently something with the software of the phone(moto g stylus 5g2022)
Ive had two ipega red knight controllers for a couple of years and used them on my Moto g6 and galaxy s9+ and neither have any latency that I notice. The only complaint I have with it is that it doesn't have any contour and tends to get uncomfortable able a while.
I have the ipega red knight and I do have latency issues. As with Russ and the Gamesir X2 Bluetooth, it is very light and pretty adjustable to, but when I go from a jrpg to a fast paced action game like mega man I really feel it. It makes me consider going for a handheld :(
@@utubedosal same here. Ipega Red Knight and when playing Castlevania SotN there is some latency. It's not terrible and can generally be compensated but it's there.
@@mdo turns out I got super used to it. I've also been using an 8BitDo Pro 2 on my Android TV and get the same issue, but learned to compensate for it.
I bought it to play PS remote play. it's perfect I get PS2, PS3 & PS4 games on my phone as long as I've got stable wifi and otherwise emulators on my phone
The only concern is that the Gamesir X2 is only in white. Because let's face it, the screen of your phone is always black and that is a strange thing to me. Although that's not a game changer for me
I have it with my iPhone and no lag and no problems ,its super fast and makes easy with three different Bluetooth modes I think it just on android with problems
Thanks Man 👌💯 Refreshing informative peice, I've been looking at this beauty for a while,. ( Type C of course ) And, I purchased a realme at a steal , predominantly for a versatile gaming device .. When I purchase this ( Thanks to you 👍 ) it probably wouldn't come off the realme. Thanks again, i look forward to viewing your videos 👌🌞
5:45 It actually makes sense that the USB-C port is on the left side, if you try to put a phone with a large camera like my POCO x3 in there from right side it simply won't fit properly but if you turn it around it fits much better because of the empty area for the camera. However you still have to take out the case.
I just bought the gamesir pro, the RGB one that looks like a 360 controller, pretty excited to use it with my iphone, and a dedicated android emulation tablet I have
Wireless latency is a dealbreaker for me, but what is almost a deal breaker for me is having the USB-C on the wrong side lol..
I use an app that forces whichever screen position you need. Look up screen orientation apps.
If you use any folding device on the market then the left side is the correct side. The other way just don't work at all
@@cheeeeezewizzz Exactly. But folding devices are pretty niche so I don't blame companies for not typically putting the USB C on the left. I love my X2 with my Fold though thanks to the USB C placement.
Another issue that I've heard is that the type c may fall off and many devices from xiaomi doesn't support it that's why I tried BT instead
Flip your phone!?
Between the retroid pocket 2 and 351V, I'm pretty much set for my emulating needs but I still watch every video anyways 😅 can't get enough of these weird gadgets
How are the ergonomics of those? I got an Odroid Go Advance and I love how well it runs all the games I want to play, but it's uncomfortable as hell to hold and the DPAD is hot garbage.
@@jaredboehm3102 my answer is purely based on my very small hands: pretty awesome. Yes, the d pad on the RP2 is.. there, but it isn't uncomfortable for me to switch to using it. Tbh, I mostly use the RP2 w 8bitdo controllers and my TV. RG351V fits my hands basically perfect. I agree with Russ tho about that ones D pad, a little stiff and can wear out the hand after a long time. I love that anolog stick and use it all the time, not weird for me to drop down and use it especially for fighting games and such.
@@Oburoni thanks! I actually watched a couple more reviews after I asked the question and pulled the trigger on the RG351V last night. The big-ass 4:3 640x480 screen, vertical layout, and rounded grippy-ness sold me. It'll be here tomorrow from Amazon. Excited!
It looks like the Bluetooth version has an "arcade mode" that may reduce latency. I'm not sure if you mentioned this in the review (I'm on a noisy train right now). 😉
how to enable this arcade mode?
@@flayksmei3905 if i recall correctly there are 3 ways to switch on the controller and each mode should have a different latency.
A+home
B+home
G+home
Each will switch the controller on in a different mode and show a different device when pairing the controller with a phone /tablet.
@@bufordmaddogtannen Will the latency improve if we use specific mode?
Planning to use the controller for PSX and PPSSPP emulation.
@@defunct32 according to another’s reviewer, it made a difference. However I couldn’t find any mentions of different modes in the manual and this model seems difficult to find now.
and here i am waiting for 8bitdo for their own telescopic controller.... (already got a SF30 pro and i love it)
That might be a great little controller!
It's good to see that they changed the d-pad to a real one. I have the first generation of this controller and the d-pad is like the one on the switch's joycon. it's very uncomfortable
I can't push myself to review these things 😱, thanks for showing buddy 😄
Thanks so much for this. I was trying to decide between the USB-C GameSir X2 and the Kishi, and you just made this an easy choice.
Glad I could help!
"I adapted to the latency pretty quickly" *immediately crashes car on video* 🤣😱💀
Oh, I would do that even with zero lag. I'm pretty good at making video game guides, but I am terrible at actual video games :D
@@RetroGameCorps Well i didn't found better controller *my opinion* on the market.
So i'm going to buy the Gamesir X2 USB-C for my Mi 11 :D
A question.
Are the buttons loud?
@@storm8216 yes they are
Holy smokes, I'm sitting here with a gamesir usb-c in my wish list and then Russ comes along with another super useful video exactly about it! Thanks, Russ! Yeah, I am getting the usb-c one exactly coz of the latency issues, I like the BT one as well but those delays are a deal breaker. Surprised u destroyed the kishi so savagely, I heard a lot of great things about it but ultimately swinged towards gamesir coz it's a pain in the butt to ship the kishi where I live. Glad Chicken also chose the usb-c one, it's always flattering to know that your opinion coincided with the one of the expert ;D and of course, that Sonic jump, my oh my, a skill like that doesn't come by every day, that's for sure... Take care and thank you for the video, Russ.
Haha, it’s about half and half with me and Sonic Adventure, I didn’t grow up playing it so I don’t have those natural jump instincts 😂
I ended up picking one of these up because of the review, and in spite of the cost, I do NOT regret doing so. It feels really, really nice and has been an absolute joy to use. I got the Type-C version, and I'm glad I did.
I really appreciate the insight!
Something else to consider is that some foldable devices have larger screens on DS and 3DS emulators in landscape where a USBC controller wouldn't connect. Fold 5. So if you want the larger play area, you'd want the Bluetooth.
Can you please elaborate on this? When you are emulating DS/3DS landscape mode, the usbc port will not connect? I currently have the Fold 5 as well and are looking to buy this, but the latency on the bluetooth seems concerning...
Bluetooth is fine. He used an old phone with older Bluetooth version
@@dwgreen108 I have a fold 3 and the bluetooth model works great no lag. For DS games its amazing such a huge screen in PORTRAIT MODE . If you get the USBC model you cant play DS games like that because you have to connect the UB C port to the phone forcing landscape. Playing DS games in portrait with this controller is better than on a DS,
I ordered the USB Type C version. I grew up playing the "retro" games when they were new. As video games have progressed since I was a kid, I've always been playing and have no desire to go back to play old games before the PS3.
Mobile gaming is my main purpose. Call of Duty, PUBG and maybe some others are greatest with an Xbox or PS3 controller. The few games I play online should be great to use with the X2USB.
Okay... I need to know, Do you read my mind? A month ago, I got the RG351P without a wifi dongle and one day I asked myself "How could I scrappe all my games without wifi?", next day you uploaded the offline scrapping guide. Not too long after that, I asked myself "Should a mod it and buy a new battery?" the next day your RG351P/M button and battery guide got up. A little bit later "Should I use my old PSVita too?" not too long after that, the turn goes to your video about permanant mod on the Vita. And now this, yesterday I was surfing Amazon checking out these type of bluetooth controller for my phone... Do I need a tin foil hat?! In all seriousness, thanks for everything and keep your good work!
I'm pretty sure the reason why the usb c port is on the left side is so that phones that have raised camera lenses can still sit flush when you attach the gamepad
I love how you just so happen to answer whatever niche question about these things. I also have a love/hate relationship with the kishi and was wondering about the x2
I have the x2 and use it with my redmagic 6 pro. It gets the job done. I was considering getting a kishi but from what I've seen it's not ideal. It would be nice to get a proper controller for $100. It's kind of ridiculous given the price of the excellent xbox and playstation controllers.
I just wish there was some kind of Standardization! Like come on guys I just want to play the game why can't you all agree on a type of controller. That way games would be better and you could justify charging more for emulators on the legit app store all with *Strong* Controller Supporting Mapping.
I guess this could be the cheaper Razer Kishi I've been looking for, good stuff as always!
Yea agreed. I didn't like the Kishi when I used it, so will be looking into this one.
I got a kishi used for $40 and definitely convinced me to sell my rg351p. Convinced to switch to android emulation
@@moshadj yep the rg351, or any of those retro handhelds don't compare to most Android phones nowadays. Especially if you have a higher end phone with HDMI out.
@@jim41184 what emulation are you using? I’ve tried ClassicBoy and Retroarch but mainly the former.
Can't wait to see your take on the backbone!
Don't have a Iphone and yeah interested to see that one 👍
Was waiting for someone to review the x2, thanks sir. too bad the Bluetooth is laggy, you'd think with newer bt 5.0 and being practically on the thing there would be nearly no lag.
Is it a huge problem? Like is the controller worth buying...?
@@pharaohsmagician8329 Super late, but here’s my two cents here. I’ve owned BOTH models. I prefer the Bluetooth edition, because between the two of them, I experienced zero lag whatsoever. Plus, I play most of my games over cloud gaming, so any amount of extra lag is INSTANTLY noticeable; still nothing. I don’t know what this dude’s talking about. They felt the EXACT SAME to me.
@@theunreal_TOEBEANS good to know man! Thank you
I think the phone your using also has to have Bluetooth 5.0 for it to be super responsive. But that's just a thought.
@@johnnyrivera7665 Yes, both devices should have Bluetooth 5.
If one is 4.0 or 4.2, that's the speed you'll get.
Note that for both the Kishi and the X2, you can actually use phone with a case if you remove the rubber on the usb side. It's a bit hacky but works nicely afterward.
I still hate the Kishi too tho, but more for its super low quality buttons and sticks (with super high deadzone), which are simply unacceptable at this price point.
There is also one thing I don't like about the non BT X2 controller, beside the usb on the wrong side;
It has the nintendo button layout instead of xbox layout, and no way to remap them. For games that need the xbox layout it's simply a deal breaker.
no idea what u mean i have 7 kishis i give them away to buddies i game with alot and NEVER had a deadzone i test them all before shipping them out must have a defective controller
There is now a way to map the abxy buttons to make them have the xbox layout by using their app, hope this helps.
Input lag is one of the most important things to check. Thanks!
I didn’t have a Problem with the Input Lag,I think he picked the wrong Bluetooth Settings,there’s 3 options,1 is Xbox Controller Bluetooth,2 is regular Bluetooth and 3 is MiFi
If the bluetooth version had wireless charging built in that would be the icing on the cake.
For latency i think you can try with newer phone that support bluetooth 5.0.because for old LG phone i have the same issue.
On iPhone I have no perceptible latency with this controller (BT version obviously).
MY GOD. finally i enioy the review. an ur detailed about things other ppl havnt mentioned. AWESOME. made a desicion on which gampad i want. thanks!!
With the Kishi controller, the rubber inserts are easily removable. Once you remove these your phone should fit perfectly while in the case. At least mine does. Also note, the rubber inserts will pop right back in the controller if you ever needed to add them back.
I've read this from a few comments now, thanks for the tip!
Not on all devices. I have a thin Fold 5 case and the Kishi v2 does not connect fully regardless of those pads are removed.
Bought this on Prime day thanks to this video
Phone setup is very versatile though. If you have a good phone it will have a great AMOLED screen, very fast charging (like 4500mah in 40 minutes is not unheard of in the case of OnePlus or xiaomi), and a powerful SoC that can emulate all PSP games like it's nothing. The only real downside of the phone setup is somewhat bulkiness. I won't even say price because everyone at this point has an ok phone anyways
Even though you mentioned problems with latency on the X2 Bluetooth, my curiosity got the best of me and I picked one up for my iPhone. I love it. No problems at all here. Maybe you got a defective one?
I bought it yday but it won’t seem to work with the app “Stadium” to play Stadia games on a full screen. You had the same issues?
Iphones are just better with bluetooth controllers.
Otg connection is a must for android sadly.
Hi does it work on genshin impact? And what ios is your phone?
I was considering getting the model with Bluetooth, as it is the only model available here in the store, but after your review, I am ruling out the purchase, and I am left with to buy the backbone one, which appears to be better. Thanks for the video
5:50 this left side USB C port makes it PERFECT for the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 though since it has a weird placement of the USB C port. This means that the Dual screen is orientated in such a perfect way that it turns the SD2 into a perfect DS emulator.
Chicken should be the mascot for that controller. We need to make that happen ASAP.
Welcome back! Great video and thanks for the in depth comparison.
Hope it's the last time you have to go through such an ordeal!
I hope so too! Thanks for stopping by :)
Hi Russ! Your video is just in time for me, as I was wondering what switch style controller is the best, and here you come! Thanks for the help!
One note about using the Kishi with a phone case, or external battery: You can actually pull out the rubber grips on the inside of the Kishi (there's no adhesive or anything - you can also just pop them back in later if you want), which lets you put a thicker phone in. Discovering this (thanks to a Reddit thread) significantly increased my QOL when using the Kishi.
I got my Kishi for $50 refurbished, and I think it's worth that price, but deffo wouldn't have paid full price. It gets the job done, but feels a little cheap, and has a squishy d-pad. If I hadn't picked that up, I'd probably be snagging this GameSir now - it looks lovely, and that d-pad looks so clicky!
Nice tip, thanks!
I've watched about 15 videos on the Bluetooth version and no one mentioned any input lag, in fact a couple of them showed the opposite.
I'm wondering if you have a faulty unit
I bought one after seeing this video and mine has no noticeable input lag. I'm wondering the same thing.
@@magentamage4901 The thing is that he has maybe an old phone.
I saw some people saying that they don't has any lag with the bluetooth one.
They used: Rog2,Rog5 and a iphone *Don't ask which iphone*
I don't think there is any noticeable lag. Like 5 years ago I had a moga controller for my Android, I had an cheap Samsung device(one of the free ones you get for signing up for cricket) and the only time I ever experienced any kind of game breaking lag was when I was casting my screen to a tv. While I like his videos and he's maybe talked me into getting one of those "dedicated" retro gaming units (I think I still prefer my vita) he's VERY biased towards those rgb351 systems. Very very biased. Maybe he doesn't know, idk. But it's rather obvious. Moga is rather old now and was kinda the first. Gamesir probably does it better imo, especially 5 years later. I used emulators and played Minecraft and other android games, no noticeable lag unless I was screen casting.
Concerning Bluetooth latency on Android, it's very hit or miss depending on which phone you have. On my galaxy s9 Bluetooth latency is horrible and too much to play with a Bluetooth controller.
Now on the flip side my Asus rog 2 phone Bluetooth latency is slim to near none.
I'd imagine your Android phone in the video Bluetooth chip isn't that great like my galaxy s9
thanks ill buy the type c.
@@jolo1447 Did you bought it?
Do you like it?
Are the buttons loud?
Can you talk about it? :D
@@storm8216 yeahh,
buttons are smooth but not load :>
and i think this one type c is better bcos if u buy the Bluetooth one it have latency sometimes or kindaaa delay and yeah it sucks.
@@storm8216 and make sure u have 12gb ram on ur phone to run games smooth.
@@jolo1447 Well i have 8GB RAM
and 256GB STORAGE *Snapdragon 888 etc* i think that's should be ok
Amazon has this on a good Black Friday special, came back to this video for the affiliate link. love what you do
Thanks Dylan, I really appreciate that.
Instant sub. Great review.
I appreciate the detail you put out! Thank you.
its cool that it comes with a case but to me the case seems too small to hold the device if it has a phone in it which makes the case basically useless...
im not sure if you have all the latest devices in this field but i would love to see a "roundup" of sorts with backbone gen2, gamesir x2 pro and the razer kishi's (and any other controllers u have or think are relevant).
appreciate all the work you do on these videos either way, keep up the awesome work and thank you.
Didn't the original model have a Switch like D-pad? I'm glad they have changed it.
If it had symmetrical sticks at the bottom it would honestly be perfect.
yeah i got tired of the switch like d-pad s it was hard for fighting games. i ended up ordering the latest version due to a father’s day discount on their official store.
One thing I noticed with the gamesir app is that after you update the firmware, you can Switch the native button layout between Xbox and switch styles. The "A" button should be at the bottom imo. Sure happy with the option.
I have to say my gamesir x2 Bluetooth doesn’t have any latency lag. I play mainly fighting games on emulators both iOS/android and those games are the best to test controllers for any button input lag and this is the BEST controller in my opinion. I used Kishi before but I love the gamesir x2 Bluetooth more than Kishi. You might wanna use a different phone and test it out. I used iPhone 11 Pro Max and Samsung tab S7 plus. Soon to test it on xiaomi poco x3 pro but yeah no latency lag at all for me.
I also tested on an iPhone 12 Pro and had similar lag issues. I didn’t film that phone since it’s what I use as my camera 😎
@@RetroGameCorps really?? That’s very odd. I played marvel super heroes vs street fighter on sega Saturn on iPhone and it works perfectly fine. I would probably contact the gamesir ask if they could exchange it or something.
It’s weird but I didn’t notice any lag on my IPhone as well maybe he picked the wrong Bluetooth Settings he might have to switch MiFi Settings which works better especially for IPhone,there’s more than 1 Bluetooth options
@@redscorpion9325 I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t have lag. I think you’re right on the settings. At first I assumed the phone he was using but I think you’re on to something here
I got the X2 bluetooth too, but with my phone it has basically zero lag (i would guess less than 0.3, 0.2 seconds). You said you used a V30? V20, from LG? try a more recent phone with bluetooth 5.0 or superior, i would say that you will have no lag at that point. I have zero in my case.
I'll consider that because I have an lg g8x thinq with the dual screen and I have the x2 type C but I cant use the dual screens but hopefully with the x2 Bluetooth I can have the ultimate experience with two screens.
@@tking2199 I got the old x2 (first version, without a d-pad but with 4 separate buttons), but when i bought a Rog Phone 5 i found out that it was too big, so i bought the bluetooth one because i liked the color better (and accomodates bigger phones, as does the d-pad usbc x2 shown in this video).
As i said, with a modern device like my rog phone 5 i have absolutely no lag at all, like using a playstation controller on a playstation, to be clear.
So i really think that in this case this reviews was "damaged" by the youtuber not having an up to specs smartphone... i really hope he reads this and tries again, because really, zero lag for me.
@@tking2199 Ok, i rewatched the video. He has an LG V20 (not v90 as he says), and that one has only bluetooth 4.2. So yes, it' because of his smartphone that he has lag, it's not an issue with the X2 Bluetooth. I would find it nice if he corrects himself.
@@tking2199 www.gsmarena.com/lg_v20-8238.php
Hmm I was thinking the same, I'm thinking about buying this I have a s21 ultra. My phone should have the latest Bluetooth..
Edit: okay I just checked my s21 ultra has Bluetooth 5.0
I like the avengers style reveal at the end. All I can think about now is the Backbone
I've been using a cheap Ipega Red Knight controller for over a year, I'm sure some people would dislike it for a host of reasons but it does the job for me. It's one of the more compact telescopic controllers which I think helps. The big chunky buggers don't appeal quite as much.
Is that controller worth buying??
@@pharaohsmagician8329 it's Bluetooth 4.0, is twice slower than the Gamesir X2 BT here.
It's small, some big phones will not fit into it.
But it's decent an cheap, that's what I have too ಥ‿ಥ
@@Reymax164 Thank you. I bought a Saitake controller and have been loving it I recommend that. Only like $10 more expensive than the Red Knight as well I've seen. What games do you play??
I've been playing OW Open Microwave Morrowind on my android it's amazing
@@pharaohsmagician8329 I haven't played much games because of my weak phone.
I bought a new one that hasn't arrived yet, but unfortunately that phone wll not fit in it.
That's why im checking Gamesir, that's what's appealing to me to buy next.
@@Reymax164 cool, what phone did you buy?
It's odd indeed that the USB-c version is more expensive. It should actually be cheaper, not having components for Bluetooth AND a battery
Hey Russ, "Chicken Approved" (stamp of approval) should be thing. I for one have a Game Sir x2 USB-C and think its great. I even modified to fit my galaxy tab s6
Is that using the Galaxy Tab S6 in landscape? If so, I'm really curious to know how you modified it? I've been eyeing the Gamesir X2 USB-C for a while but at 177.8mm wide (in landscape) my Black Shark 3 Pro is just a bit too big to fit the Gamesir. I've got an iPega 9083 that fits, but its not great.
@@nickwelch1148 I simply opened the game sire and removed/cut out what keeps the limiter that keeps the controller from over extending. Keep in mind that 4 springs keep the controller connected. I will try to upload some pics
@@pedromallol6498 thanks for confirming! That's all I needed to pull the trigger on buying one, as it seems to be exactly what I need :)
Note - you can buy grips for the Vita that are very good and pretty cheap. Excellent for longer play sessions.
Having said that, even with my big hands, I don't have any problems with the Vita slim even without the grip attached.
Hello! After seeing your (and about 50 other) reviews, but mainly yours, I decided to buy this pad, I saw that there is already a pro version, but somehow I preferred this one. I wonder which keys are responsible for START and SELECT in emulators?
Those small buttons on the top
Very happy to see this video! Been looking forward to it since you replied to my comment recommendating it. I'm surprised your boxes smelled. The ones I ordered from Amazon didn't smell at all.
I'm really surprised the lag you experienced with the Bluetooth version of the X2.
Agree with your opinion of the Razer Kishi.
Could you share the specs of the V90 and where you got it? I can't find a lot of info on it when doing a quick search on Google.
Here’s his review of the PowKiddy V90:
ruclips.net/video/3BHkqP7BhSY/видео.html
Last I checked, it was on Amazon for ~$55 and AliExpress for ~$35.
@@chadpollman7970 I'm talking about the phone
@@gumbyx84 Oops! Sorry about that.
Probably a little too late but I was also looking for it and I could only find pictures of the LG V20 which looks identical to the one he is using in this video. As far I know an LG V90 smartphone doesn't exist.
2 years later I'm just now seeing this video because I'm in the market. Thanks to Chicken, I ordered the USB gamesir. Thank you chicken
Just saw the SHAKS S5b which looks to be the only competitor of this GameSir controller that I am considering. If there's any shot you could review that, I think it's a good-looking competitor. I do agree with your opinion of the Kishi, as it's not something I like either.
I gotta say, I played Mega Man X Dive Offline over 30 hours with the Gamesir bluetooth version and didn‘t have any issues. Many other testers don‘t mention latency problems either. Maybe it‘s because of your phone?
Great video Russ, thanks for sharing :)
Wow, an actual LG phone in the wild! A bit expensive to get them here, but usb model seems just small enough for me to consider a viable phone controller. For the one with a clip - no way I can endure more than half an hour of gaming. Although, mine does have horrible buttons,which isn't helping.
I bought one of these recently and it seems like they updated it, very low latency now
worth buying now?
Cheers Russ, love the science. :)
I have the GameSir x2 usb-c and its a great experience for games that take advantage of the full screen.
Ultimately I think a setup like this, with a phone that can do the higher end emulation, streaming, and android games and something like a RG351V for N64/Dreamcast and prior is the way to go. The experience of 4:3 for the older games and the power for the later systems with a 16:9.
Great video Russ!
For those like me wondering about the phone it is a LG V20, not V90 ,I wish it existed a V90 version
Great review, it really looks like the right stick is in the way of you thumb and doesn't let you play correctly,
The saddest part is that Asus ROG phones have the bottom USB C port in the left corner. So I couldn't use any of these handheld gamepads with a usb c port in the middle. And unfortunately ROG Kunai 3 is no longer available in India. So the only option left is the GS Bluetooth controller for all those who have ROG phones.
Been waiting for your review before I got one. Non bluetooth sounds much better for me
I bought both just incase but im hoping that they are both playable for me, although i have my doubts with the bluetooth one after watchinf this video
I have the first 2 x2 gamesir controller, I hated that it didn't have the standard Xbox buttons. Not I gotta buy a third one to get the best experience
Bluetooth = lag. USB = no lag. Sale!
Great Video again! Thanks for your content, you helped me out with the Anbernic Rg351v! I have a request... You said you don't like the Razer Kishi. Could you make a video about it and why I would be interested in your opinion.
Thank you very much for your review :)
My pleasure!
Hey you back!!
I am!
Interesting device, on that one that has the Type C connecter, if you put it on charge whilst in use will it charge the phone also?
Good honest video Russ.
I assume it is using OTG, and as far as I know OTG doesn’t support that. (I’d like to be wrong about the latter, though!)
Sorry, I meant to be more explicit about this in my voiceover, but yes it supports passthrough charing (like voteDC mentioned!).
Thanks Russ.
great video like always russ :) do you think its worth to upgrade from the stk7007 to the gamesir?
I don't think you should if you're happy with your current controller, the x2 type C drains the phone battery hard but if your phone can do switch emulation then this is one of the few controllers that is supported for that. I don't know about the x2 Bluetooth, but difference between in lag shouldn't be much between the x2 Bluetooth and a saitake controller, if anything the x2 type C should be good but the price is kinda high.
@@tking2199 thanks for the info :) i mean the stk is cheap and i feel it but it does its job nearly perfect for its money and i was just thinking of getting a usbc controller for moonlight because of the additional lag.
I can see your point about bringing along a dedicated handheld, but those dedicated handhelds likely won't be OLED, with the hardware capabilities of a phone(some of which can emulate a Switch). Though the battery on a phone is always gonna be a problem and what you actually use your phone for.
I wonder if Gamesir or just android devices in general improved on the latency? Doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore. Great dpads on these
I think it was because he was using an older phone .The LG V10 he was using is a phone phone from 2015 with older blutooth version.I have had the x2 BT version for 2 years now and no problem with latency
You should look into moonlight or steamlink. It really turns your phone into a way better switch (assuming your pc can play games). Its really a huge benefit of bluetooth controllers and a phone.
Yep, love streaming via my phone!
I wonder if there's a firmware update that they can do to address the BT lag. Thanks for a good and honest review.
The Bluetooth lag is NOT noticeable, ps5 uses the same Bluetooth technology. Don't forget his getting paid to promote the product
@@Poco-tr9xwif he is getting paid why bash the product telling it has lag? Besides I highly doubt he is getting paid for these by the companies
I just ordered the Type C and it didn't do a good connection. Apparently this is fairly common since the quality control is trash. I'll try with the bluetooth one and see if the latency is acceptable on my phone
Nice review! Almost made up my mind. Do you know if the joysticks can be pressed? L3 & R3?
They can
Do usb c extension cables work on these controllers? To use it apart from wrapping the phone.
yes but in that case you can just get a playstation or xbox controller to connect via the cable, it's better and cheaper
Thanks for mentioning latency I was kind a thinking which one get for my Fold 4 and now I will definitely go for type c
Love the way you thoroughly explain the both of them thank you... Wondering if I should get a Bluetooth controller along with my Razer kishi i just got, because for some reason I can't charge my phone while playing, apparently something with the software of the phone(moto g stylus 5g2022)
Ive had two ipega red knight controllers for a couple of years and used them on my Moto g6 and galaxy s9+ and neither have any latency that I notice. The only complaint I have with it is that it doesn't have any contour and tends to get uncomfortable able a while.
I have the ipega red knight and I do have latency issues. As with Russ and the Gamesir X2 Bluetooth, it is very light and pretty adjustable to, but when I go from a jrpg to a fast paced action game like mega man I really feel it. It makes me consider going for a handheld :(
@@utubedosal same here. Ipega Red Knight and when playing Castlevania SotN there is some latency. It's not terrible and can generally be compensated but it's there.
@@mdo turns out I got super used to it. I've also been using an 8BitDo Pro 2 on my Android TV and get the same issue, but learned to compensate for it.
GameSir X2 vs X3 comparison coming anytime soon?
I bought it to play PS remote play. it's perfect I get PS2, PS3 & PS4 games on my phone as long as I've got stable wifi and otherwise emulators on my phone
Hi Retro game! I have a Powkiddy Q90, I like to play GBA but have missed deleted emulators, how can I pull it out to the screen? please!!!
Zfold users being grateful for the usb being on the left side 5:49
The only concern is that the Gamesir X2 is only in white. Because let's face it, the screen of your phone is always black and that is a strange thing to me. Although that's not a game changer for me
Yeah, I definitely think the gray color is better, but I don't mind the white :)
I have it with my iPhone and no lag and no problems ,its super fast and makes easy with three different Bluetooth modes I think it just on android with problems
I am thinking of getting Backbone one, unfortunately its not case-friendly, so i might be getting Gamesir in the end..
Thanks Man 👌💯
Refreshing informative peice,
I've been looking at this beauty for a while,. ( Type C of course )
And, I purchased a realme at a steal , predominantly for a versatile gaming device ..
When I purchase this ( Thanks to you 👍 ) it probably wouldn't come off the realme.
Thanks again, i look forward to viewing your videos 👌🌞
I always rotate my phone clockwise so feels natural to me
Love the scientific method
Thx for the comparison, really appreciate it. Should've watched this vid before buying it Kishi :(
The LG v90 has Bluetooth 4.0. The controller has 5.0. Is the latency affected at all with a phone with Bluetooth 5.0?
Absolutely zero lag on a modern phone. And that is an lg v20
@@skreeog oh my bad. V20 has 4.2. He demonstrated lag hence my question.
I still have latency on modern phones, like the iPhone 12 Pro, unfortunately.
5:45 It actually makes sense that the USB-C port is on the left side, if you try to put a phone with a large camera like my POCO x3 in there from right side it simply won't fit properly but if you turn it around it fits much better because of the empty area for the camera. However you still have to take out the case.
well all they had to do is have the empty area on the left side, bad argument
@@luimu Well Gamesir X2 Pro fixes that problem
Incredible when used with a Galaxy XFold
Chicken has spoken. Also, it says so much that the X2 looks infinitely more solid than the Kishi.
That's true!
I am surprised at that lag. I just got a 8bitdo Pro 2 controller and it works great on Dead Cells android version with no lag.
Yeah I found it surprising too. I had lag on other phones too, it was a bummer.
I just got it for my iPhone and I’m not noticing any perceptible lag. Might be an Android-only issue for this controller.
THE CAT HAS SPOKEN
I just bought the gamesir pro, the RGB one that looks like a 360 controller, pretty excited to use it with my iphone, and a dedicated android emulation tablet I have
6:00 fits well with the Samsung Zfold4 👍👍😏