GameSir G8+ Galileo MFI

Whether it happens via devices such as PlayStation Portal, Logitech's G Cloud, or something else entirely, it's clear that game streaming is gaining ground to one extent or another. That's why it makes more sense now than ever to be equipped with a device that allows you to stream games, and if you look at it more soberly, there's a trick to this device being your own smartphone.

Whether it's an iPhone 13, a OnePlus with a few years under its belt, or a Nothing Phone, there's a good chance that the screen is better than a PlayStation Portal, the speakers are better, the battery lasts longer, and it doesn't make any noise or emit any sound. Phones are now and then also designed for mobile gaming on their own, so why not use them in this context as well?

This is where mobile controllers come into the picture, where companies like Backbone and Razer have been competing for years, a small accessory you bring with you when you want to play either a dedicated mobile game or stream games from your own console or from the cloud. It doesn't need to be charged, it's just in your bag for when the golden moment arrives.

And to be completely honest, it's almost hard to imagine a better version of this concept than GameSir's G8+ Galileo MFI (yes, it's an annoying name). For around £80, you get a controller that can accommodate Android phones of all sizes, both older and newer iPhones (if they have USB-C), and even an iPad Mini, which connects directly via the aforementioned port and powers the controller. In addition, there is a headphone jack, passthrough if you want to charge while playing, and perhaps the best build quality we have seen on this type of controller.

The ergonomics are really a triumph, first and foremost. GameSir has opted for a space-saving design, which simply sacrifices comfort, so the G8+ is quite ''chunky', as if you were holding something resembling an Xbox Series controller in your hands. For those of us with large hands, this is truly a blessing. Both the analogue sticks and trigger buttons are hall effect, which may not be demonstrably more responsive, but at least lasts longer than traditional setups. However, after playing Game Pass games via streaming over the winter holidays, I can say that both the triggers, analogue sticks, and membrane buttons work flawlessly.

But it's worth going back to the issue of storage. The G8 is quite large - in fact, it's almost as big with a device inserted as without, and at 252 grams, it's not exactly light either. This means that it's not a tiny accessory you can carry in your jacket pocket, but rather something that lives in your bag. It's probably impossible to offer such solid build quality in a more foldable form factor, but we can dream, can't we?

In addition, this is by far the most comfortable and responsive mobile controller I have tested, and one that I happily recommend over, for example, Razer's Kishi V3, which is both about 25-30% more expensive and not quite as good in my opinion.