The GameSir G8+ MFi was worth the wait, but why weren’t these new features in the original?

GameSir G8+ MFi: 1-minute review

The GameSir G8+ MFi is the controller that the G8 Galileo probably should have been from the start. It uses the same full-size grips, Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers, and programmable back buttons that made the original one of the best mobile grips, then layers of MFi certification for iPhone and iPad Mini, swappable ABXY button caps, dual vibration motors, and most importantly, improved case compatibility.

Best of all? It’s still the same asking price of $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99.

After testing these two mobile controllers side by side on the same phones and games, the G8+ MFi addresses almost every complaint I had with the G8 Galileo. The case’s compatibility improvements alone are worth noting, with magnetically swappable silicone ear cushions and a camera protection panel that lets you adjust the free space depending on whether your phone is with or without a case.

The screenshot button has been moved away from the D-pad, and the ability to physically swap the button caps to match your layout is a nice bonus for anyone switching between Xbox and Nintendo-style mapping. The feel of the main controller, including high stick sensitivity and trigger response, is identical to the G8 Galileo, but the GameSir app now works on iOS and Android.

There are now vibration motors in each grip, which should be a nice addition, but unfortunately they remain completely unused in every game I’ve tested on Android and iOS. Certainly, it’s more the developers’ fault than GameSir’s. With this oversight, there probably isn’t enough to justify replacing a stock G8 if you’re an Android user. But for everyone else, this is the version to buy.

GameSir G8+ MFi: Price and availability

• List price: $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99
• Available via Amazon, GameSir and major retailers
• Same price as the G8 Galileo which it effectively replaces, but both are available

GameSir launched the G8+ MFi in late 2025, two years after the G8 it’s built on, but despite the upgrades it retains the same price of $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99. This allows it to continue to undercut competitors like the Backbone One 2nd Gen ($99.99/£99.99), although it can now compete with them in terms of compatibility thanks to the added MFi certification.

GameSir’s naming in the G8 range remains confusing and a split price doesn’t help matters. The G8+ comes in Type-C (wired, which I review here) and Bluetooth variants.

There is also the original G8 Galileo, which is only compatible with Android. Sometimes it’s called the G8+, sometimes it’s the G8 Plus. Sometimes Galileo gets a shout out, sometimes he doesn’t. If you’re shopping, make sure you’re getting the right version for your device and aren’t selling yourself short on features.

GameSir G8+ MFi: Specifications

GameSir G8+ MFi: Design and features

• Familiar G8 ergonomics with a wider, expandable platform for iPad mini compatibility
• Swapable ABXY button caps and improved case compatibility
• Works natively with Android and iOS devices

If you’ve used the GameSir G8 Galileo, the G8+ MFi will immediately feel familiar. In fact, if you’ve used an Xbox 360 or Series controller, the G8+ will feel familiar too. The full-size, contoured grips have the same chunky shape as the Xbox offering, and the same laser-etched texture is carried over from the G8.

It’s remarkably comfortable to hold and feels like a proper device rather than a homebrew solution for gaming on your phone. The same overall build quality remains as well: it’s sturdy, doesn’t flex or creak, and the materials feel premium.

Placed side by side with its sibling, the G8+ MFi’s phone deck is noticeably wider, but in isolation I’m not sure you can actually measure the difference. It’s also heavier, at 304g versus 252g for the G8, although, again, the extra weight didn’t really register in testing. The light gray and white colorway is an improvement over the uniform, darker gray of the G8 Galileo in my eyes. It looks a bit more refined in this shinier skin, but that’s personal taste, and you don’t have a choice anyway.

The MFi certification is the major upgrade and a welcome addition for Apple fans. Where the G8 Galileo only officially supports Android, the G8+ MFi is certified for iPhones with USB-C and the iPad mini 6 and newer. It automatically detects which platform it’s connected to and switches modes accordingly, which worked smoothly on my POCO X5 Pro 5G and iPhone 17 Pro during testing. The GameSir app also recognized the controller on both phones, which the G8 did not.

The wider stretch range, a full 30mm increase over the original, means the G8+ MFi can now accommodate an iPad mini, but without one on hand, I’ll have to take GameSir’s word for it. What I liked was the removable magnetic back panel on the left side of the phone. This is easily removed to create more space for phones with larger camera bumps. It’s a nice quality of life addition that did its job perfectly with my cased iPhone, however

I’m not sure what GameSir thinks I’ll do with this easily lost piece. A slot to store it or even a magnetic point on the back to store it would have been much appreciated. I imagine we’ll see a lot of G8 Pluses with a black stripe on the left side over time.

Case compatibility is where the G8+ MFi makes its biggest practical design improvement over the G8. GameSir now includes magnetic silicone pads of varying thicknesses to change the size of the pad around the port.

I played with my iPhone’s case and the controller accommodated it comfortably, something I couldn’t manage on the G8 Galileo without worrying about the angle of the USB-C connector. It still probably won’t handle a big Otterbox, but standard slim cases are no longer a problem. Despite all the clever tweaks and design changes, the USB-C connector remains my favorite choice made by GameSir, and I’m glad it’s unchanged on the G8+. It rotates freely up and down, making it easy to install and remove your device.

The magnetic faceplate system on the grips is also carried over from the G8, but the G8+ MFi adds swappable ABXY button caps in addition to the swappable controller options. You can physically rearrange the face button layout to match the Xbox or Nintendo mapping, which is a nice complement to the software remapping available in the app. Three replacement controller caps are included (short, large, dome), but you still only get one of each.

GameSir G8+ MFi: performance

• Hall effect sticks and triggers, including hair trigger mode
• Two customizable M buttons on the back
• Vibrating motors in each handle, although they are rarely used

When it comes to gaming with the GameSir G8+ MFi, the things that were great before are still great here; en-something-ification is clearly not in the GameSir dictionary. The Hall effect controllers and triggers are, as far as I can tell, identical to those on the GameSir G8 Galileo.

The sticks are smooth and precise with a high level of sensitivity. If you’re using a cheaper controller, you may need some getting used to, but the increased control is definitely worth it.

The triggers have full analog travel as well as a fast and reliable trigger mode, perfect for shooters. If you’re upgrading from the G8, there’s no change in input quality here, which isn’t a bad thing, but don’t expect an even better experience. Deadzone and hair trigger settings are configurable through the GameSir app, and the app now working on iOS means iPhone users get the same adjustment options that Android users have always had.

The G8+ MFi’s directional pad has a slightly mushy wobble, but a snappy, clicky feel when you trigger it. The travel distance is short with a clear click in each direction, including diagonally. The screenshot button was repositioned slightly further from the D-pad down compared to the G8, and the improvement was both noticeable and very welcome. I didn’t accidentally trigger it during testing, which was a recurring frustration for me before

On the back of the G8+ are two programmable buttons, labeled M1 and M2 (compared to L4 and R4 on the latest model). They’re something of a rarity for mobile controller grips at this price, with models like the Backbone One ignoring them completely. I found them to be a good size and positioned just about perfectly.

They’re close to where your fingers naturally rest without getting in the way, taking just the right amount of force to prevent accidental presses. They come unbound by default, so you’ll need the GameSir app to assign functions. ctions, and you can only mirror existing buttons, no macros.

The two asymmetrical vibration motors are the only new feature that falls flat. They work well in the GameSir app’s test mode, delivering both strong and subtle vibrations that feel perfectly capable, even if they’re a little slow to spin. The problem is that no game I’ve tested, whether on Android or iOS, has actually used them.

Fortnite, Mobile Call of Duty, Forza Horizon 5And Shadow of the Tomb Raider via Xbox cloud gaming, nothing. I think this is actually a mobile gaming ecosystem problem rather than a GameSir problem; developers simply don’t bother or have the means to communicate this information to devices. This may change in the future, but for now, don’t use the G8+ expecting haptic feedback like you would on console.

The GameSir G8+ MFi features USB-C passthrough charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which come from the G8 Galileo, and both again worked smoothly throughout testing. Passthrough charging reported fast charging speeds on the POCO X5 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro without overheating.

The headphone jack remains a welcome inclusion for latency-free wired audio. The dedicated GameSir button on the controller has inconsistent behavior on Android, sometimes acting as a home button and occasionally opening the GameSir app instead. On iOS, this appears to do nothing at all, but it will light up a different color to confirm you’re in the correct compatibility mode for your device.

Should you buy the GameSir G8+ MFi?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also think…

Can’t decide if the GameSir G8+ MFi is the one for you? Here’s how it compares to other similar controller grips.

Drag to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	GameSir G8+ MFi Galileo MFi	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	9.02 x 4.20 x 2.13 inches / 229 x 106.8 x 54.2 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	10.72 ounces / 304 g	9.38 ounces / 266 g	4.86 ounces / 138 g
Connection	Wired (USB-C)	Wired (USB-C)	Wired (USB-C / Lightning)
Compatibility	Android, iOS	Android, iOS	Android, iOS
Software	GameSir app	Razer Nexus	Basic app

GameSir G8+ MFi: 1-minute review

• I spent a few days testing both an iPhone 17 Pro and a POCO X5 Pro
• I played Fortnite, Mobile Call of Duty, Need for speed without limitsmore Forza Horizon 5 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider via Xbox Cloud Gaming
• I played around with the different customization options and tried to get the rumble to work, with no success.

I approached testing the GameSir G8+ MFi with the question of not only how it performed in general, but specifically how it compared to the G8 Galileo it was built on. I used the same two phones and the same set of games to face them head-on. This allowed me to isolate exactly what changed between the two controllers and whether those changes are meaningful in practice.

I tested the case for compatibility with a slim iPhone case, tried all configurations of replaceable controllers and button caps, checked the vibration motor response on several games on both platforms, and verified that the GameSir app offered full functionality on iOS and Android. I also studied GameSir button behavior on both operating systems and tested passthrough loading on both devices.

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