The GameSir G8 Galileo is the closest

GameSir G8 Galileo: one minute review

The GameSir G8 Galileo is a great mobile controller that offers a lot of value for casual and more serious mobile gamers. With full-size grips, Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers, and a pair of programmable rear buttons, it comes close to replicating a true console controller experience.

From my experience with the G8, its controllers are a real strong point. In testing, I found them smooth and precise, although they are quite sensitive and can take a little getting used to if you’re unfamiliar with a pro-style controller. The triggers are also refined with configurable dead zones and a useful capillary trigger mode for instant response. The buttons are membrane but tactile and reliable, with two more hidden on the back. It’s just a nice bunch of entries all around.

As a die-hard fan of the Xbox Wireless Controller, this sounds incredibly familiar to me. The grips are nicely sculpted with the same thickness as an original Xbox controller, and they remained comfortable during long gaming sessions, thanks in part to a soft texture on the back. It is not without its flaws, however.

You’ll probably have to remove your phone’s case, and the screenshot button sits dangerously close to the line of fire. That said, at $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99, it’s hard to look past the GameSir G8 Galileo.

GameSir G8 Galileo: price and availability

• List price: $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99
• Available via Amazon, GameSir and major retailers
• Be wary of versions with the same name to ensure device compatibility

The GameSir G8 Galileo launched in late 2023, but make no mistake, it doesn’t show its age and still holds up against its newer rivals. At its price of $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99, the G8 Galileo undercuts both the Backbone One 2nd Gen ($99.99 / £99.99) and the Razer Kishi Ultra ($149.99 / £149.99) by a comfortable margin, which is particularly impressive given that its feature set compares well to both. No carrying case is included in the box, although GameSir sells a pack with a basic pouch for about $10 more.

GameSir hasn’t kept things simple when it comes to naming and compatibility, so you’ll need to stay on when shopping. I tested the G8 Galileo Type-C, which only officially lists Android compatibility. It’s also everything it says on the box, but I was able to use it natively with an iPhone 17 Pro, even though it wasn’t recognized by the GameSir app. There’s also the GameSir G8+ (sometimes called G8 Plus), which comes in Type-C and Bluetooth forms.

GameSir G8 Galileo: Specifications

GameSir G8 Galileo: Design and Features

• Full-size console grips make it feel like a real controller
• Swivel USB-C connector for stress-free installation
• Interchangeable sticks with three additional shapes included

The first thing you notice about the GameSir G8 Galileo is its size. Where most mobile controllers try to stay as light and portable as possible, the G8 maintains its form factor. It features thick, nicely contoured handles with a textured finish on the back.

The marketing materials proudly tout that this design is laser engraved, although I wouldn’t have known that to be perfectly honest, sorry, GameSir. It feels like any other grip texture I’ve tested, but it feels nice enough and does its job. The whole thing feels closer to holding an Xbox controller than any other mobile pad I’ve used, or any handheld console for that matter.

For anyone who finds the Backbone One a little too compact, or just doesn’t get along with the flatter Joy-Con style mobile controllers, this might be the answer. If it wasn’t a little wider, you would have convinced me, blindfolded, that it was an Xbox controller.

Build quality is solid throughout, helped, I’m sure, by the choice to go for a full-height phone platform rather than a smaller reinforcement bar. This gives the G8 some real weight that I personally think is to its credit, but I can’t deny that it doesn’t make it much more complicated to fit in a bag.

There’s no creaking or flexing anywhere in the chassis, the spring-loaded extension mechanism moves with confidence, and the rubberized grips inside the cradle hold everything securely in place. It’s a tidy system and I never felt like my phone was exposed or in danger of going anywhere. I tested with a Poco X5 Pro 5G and an iPhone 17 Pro, and the camera bump sat perfectly in the extended section without any issues for both.

Kudos to whoever at GameSir invented the swivel USB-C connector, because it’s excellent. It tilts up and down to make the process of sitting down and taking out your phone much less agonizing. It’s a small quality of life detail, but one that I really appreciated and frankly hope others copy.

Where things aren’t as flexible and user-friendly is case compatibility. GameSir says cases under 1mm should work, but that will only account for the thinnest and lightest cases. I was able to connect while still keeping my slim iPhone case on, but after taking a closer look at the angle it was forcing the USB-C connector into, I quickly lost my cool and removed it. If you use a case of any substance, you almost certainly take it off every time you want to play. Not a problem, but definitely an annoyance if you’re on the go.

GameSir includes three replacement caps (short, high and dome), which are easy to swap thanks to smart magnetic plates. However, you only get one of each alternate option, meaning you can’t run a matching pair unless you stick to the defaults.

These default sticks look pretty nice, with textured edges that look suspiciously like an Xbox Series X controller, but it seems like an oversight or an unnecessary cost-saving measure to include singles and not sets. The face button caps are also not swappable on this model; you’ll need to upgrade to the G8+ MFi for that.

GameSir G8 Galileo: performance

• Hall effect sticks and triggers with app customization and capillary trigger mode
• Two additional programmable buttons on the back
• Some games need a boost before recognizing the controller

I’m a newcomer to the type of mobile gaming that requires an additional controller, but the GameSir G8 Galileo quickly converted me. It only took a few minutes Fortnite so that I started to forget that I was playing on my phone. This is a natively supported title, and it shows while playing, although I often had to launch the game through the GameSir app to make sure it was recognized.

Other games rely on hardware mapping, which I found just as difficult to launch at times, although intuitive enough at first.

The Hall effect joysticks are excellent, buttery smooth, but I also found them very sensitive. For more serious players than me, this will be a plus with lots of complex precision on offer. For more casual gamers (a category I fall into), it took a little getting used to. My device needed some out-of-the-box calibration to center the left stick, but the process was simple in the GameSir app and the sticks have been flawless ever since.

Hall effect triggers are equally impressive. They’re analog with a full range of travel, and I felt like I had a lot of control over the throttle while I played. Forza Horizon 5 via Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming. For faster response in shooter games, there’s also a hair trigger mode, which I found snappy and reliable. What I particularly liked was that the hair-trigger mode always respected the dead zone settings configured in the app.

The D-pad is clicky with a short travel distance when engaging in an input, although it has a slightly mushy initial feel and a bit of wobble overall. The biggest issue is the placement of the screenshot button directly underneath, which sits just a little too close to the D-pad for my liking. I accidentally shot him several times during the game, and I can’t help but think he would have been better placed further from the line of fire.

On the back of the G8 are a pair of programmable buttons, which is rare for mobile controller grips. I have a love-hate relationship with back buttons, but I get along fine with these. They’re a good size and perfectly placed for easy access without getting in the way, and they require just the right amount of actuation force to avoid accidental misclicks. It’s worth noting that they’re not linked by default, so you’ll need to head to the GameSir app to configure them to your liking.

The 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the controller is a welcome inclusion for latency-free wired audio, especially useful on phones that have ditched the port themselves. Direct charging worked reliably throughout my testing, with both phones still reporting fast charging speeds when charged. connected via controller and no overheating issues.

Should you buy the GameSir G8 Galileo?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

GameSir G8 Galileo: Also think…

Still not sold on the GameSir G8 Galileo? Here’s how it compares to a few of our other favorites.

Drag to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	GameSir G8 Galileo	Razer Kishi Ultra	Backbone One 2nd generation
Price	$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99	$149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95	$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99
Dimensions	8.54 x 4.21 x 2.13 inches / 217 x 107 x 54 mm	9.64 x 4.36 x 2.53 inches / 244.8 x 110.8 x 64.3 mm	6.93 x 3.70 x 1.34 inches / 176 x 93.98 x 34.03 mm
Weight	8.88 ounces / 252 g	9.38 ounces / 266 g	4.86 ounces / 138 g
Connection	Wired (USB-C)	Wired (USB-C)	Wired (USB-C / Lightning)
Compatibility	Android	Android, iOS	Android, iOS
Software	GameSir app	Razer Nexus	Basic app

GameSir G8 Galileo: one minute review

• I spent a few days testing Android games, cloud gaming, and exploring the GameSir companion app.
• I tested on a POCO X5 Pro 5G while playing Fortnite, Mobile Call of Duty, Need for speed without limitsAnd Forza Horizon 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming
• While not officially listed as compatible, I also explored the features with an iPhone 17 Pro

My testing covered most of the workload a controller like this will handle: native mobile games with controller support, a competitive shooter, a racing game, and cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass. I used the GameSir companion app to calibrate the sticks out of the box, tested the hair trigger mode in Mobile Call of Dutyand I tried all three replacement caps to check the magnetic plates and the exchange system.

I also spent some time troubleshooting some hardware mapping recognition issues in Mobile Call of Duty And Need for speed without limitswhich turned out to be an in-game requirement to complete the tutorial using touch before any hardware input was accepted.

Learn more about how we test

First revision in April 2026

With a background in sports media heading up communications at Northamptonshire Cricket Club for five years, Alex has now turned his attention more towards the virtual turf than the real turf. A fan of all things simulation and sandbox, you’ll often find him behind the wheel of an F1 simulator or worrying about the placement of individual rocks in Planet Coaster Or Cities: horizons. After streaming on Twitch for nearly a decade, he’s tried and tested more microphones, mixers, cameras, and controllers than you can imagine, writing for GamesRadar, Trusted Reviews, Mediaberry, and now TechRadar.

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Ivan Mehta