GameSir G8+ Bluetooth review: added versatility comes with compromises
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth: One-minute review
The GameSir G8+ Bluetooth is the wireless mobile controller in the G8 family and bolsters compatibility from being simply mobile, to the Nintendo Switch, tablets, and PC. The same full-size grips, Hall effect joysticks and triggers, and programmable back buttons that made the wired versions of the G8 so impressive remain, and at $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129, so does the price.
On paper, you’d think it’s a no-brainer to go wireless, particularly with the addition of a six-axis gyroscope adding to that strong core experience, but the wireless freedom you gain comes with meaningful trade-offs. Noticeably, the lack of passthrough charging and the lack of a headphone jack, both obvious casualties of the move to Bluetooth.
More importantly for iPhone gamers, the GameSir iOS app doesn’t recognize the controller, which means the stick calibration, dead zone tuning, hair-trigger configuration, and back button mapping that make the G8 Plus so compelling as an option on other platforms go completely to waste. The Bluetooth connection itself also feels less locked-in than the wired experience on iPhone, with small stick movements occasionally getting lost along the way.
Latest Videos FromTechRadar
On Android and PC, the experience is significantly better. The app works, the back buttons are configurable, and there’s haptic feedback on offer as well (albeit with patchy support, particularly on mobile). For the first time, you can even use the G8 Plus with your Nintendo Switch. But if an iPhone is your primary device, the wired GameSir G8+ MFi delivers a more complete, more reliable experience for the same money.
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth: Price and availability
- List price: $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129
- Available from GameSir and major retailers
- Same price as the rest of the G8 range
The middle sibling, the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth launched in mid-2024 at $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129, matching the rest of the G8 family.
Each variant has pros and cons, so the consistent price puts the onus firmly on the buyer to decide which set of trade-offs works best for their setup. GameSir has also released a couple of special edition color variants in some regions, including a Hulk and a Thanos Edition, which will set you back slightly more.
At this price, it remains highly competitive against the Backbone One 2nd Gen and is significantly cheaper than the Razer Kishi Ultra, though the Bluetooth limitations on iPhone mean it’s not the straightforward recommendation the wired models are.
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth: Specs
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth |
|
Price |
$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129 |
|
Dimensions |
9.06 x 4.21 x 2.17 in / 230 x 107 x 55mm |
|
Weight |
0.69 lbs / 314g |
|
Connection |
Bluetooth 5.3, Wired USB-C (PC), Wireless Dongle (sold separately) |
|
Compatibility |
iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS |
|
Software |
GameSir App (Android only) |
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth: Design and features
- Comfortable, console controller-like ergonomics shared with the rest of the G8 range
- Bluetooth versatility across five platforms, but mode switching is a hassle
- Special edition designs are only available in certain markets
The G8+ Bluetooth is the first and only member of the G8 family that cuts the cord entirely. Wireless freedom and the versatility it brings are the entire pitch, and it helps broaden the G8’s platform compatibility too.
Unlike the original G8 Galileo and the G8+ MFi, which are limited to mobile only, this controller works with iOS, Android, the Nintendo Switch, PC (via wired USB-C or Bluetooth, with a wireless dongle sold separately), and macOS. Console gaming aside, in theory, that means the G8+ is ready to follow you anywhere on your gaming journey.
The reality, unfortunately, is a little more complicated. Each platform requires its own Bluetooth pairing mode, triggered by holding different button combinations on the controller. If you’re a one-device person, this is a simple pair-once-and-forget situation, and you can skip to the next paragraph.
If you’re hopping between platforms, as I was during testing, it gets tedious fast. Switching modes caused regular reconnection failures with devices the controller had previously been paired with, and keeping track of which mode goes with which platform isn’t intuitive. It’s workable, and we’re in first-world problem territory here for sure, but it’s not the seamless experience it should be.
(Image credit: Future)
On the plus side, turning it on couldn’t be simpler because stretching the controller open automatically powers it on and letting it close fully again powers it down. This isn’t a life-changing feature but certainly a nice convenience that worked reliably throughout testing.
A 1000mAh battery sits split across both grips, charging via USB-C. The GameSir app tracks each side independently, which is how I discovered the left and right grips drain at slightly different rates despite charging as a single unit. I saw a couple of percent drop over half an hour of active use, and the rated eight-hour battery life seems about right based on that.
The black colorway is a clean, classic look that feels more like a traditional controller than the grey and grey-and-white of its wired siblings. GameSir has also released rather jazzy Hulk- and Thanos-themed special editions in some regions, making this the only G8 variant with cosmetic variety, though they’ll set you back a little more for the paint job.
The build quality and overall shape match the rest of the family; it’s well designed and well built with the same full-size, Xbox-like grips, textured backs and a solid chassis. It’s comfortable to hold for extended sessions, and while at 11oz/314g it’s the heaviest of the three on paper, the balance is good, and the weight didn’t register during testing.
Case compatibility is a mixed bag, as is often the case with mobile controller grips. Without a USB-C connector going into the phone, there’s no port angle to stress about, thankfully, but the physical cradle can still be tight.
My iPhone 17 Pro fit with a slim case on but sat at a noticeable angle towards the left side, which saw it protrude more than I’d like. There is a rubber pad on the phone deck that appears to serve the same purpose as the G8+ MFi’s removable magnetic panel for camera bump clearance, but this one is glued down rather than magnetically attached.
GameSir’s marketing suggests this is still meant to be removed to accommodate camera bumps, but it really didn’t feel like it wanted to come off, and I wasn’t willing to force it. If you do take it off, don’t expect it to go back on neatly and expect to trap plenty of dust in the residue.
The D-pad shares the same feel as the rest of the G8 family: slightly mushy initial movement but with a clicky, short-travel feel once you commit to an input. Swappable ABXY caps and thumbstick caps carry over, too, as do the three alternate stick options, and they’re easily adjusted by popping off the magnetic faceplates.
Once again, however, GameSir only includes one of each of these replaceable sticks, so you can’t run the same option on both sides. One annoyance that cropped up here for the first time on any G8 I’ve tested: on iOS, the controller connects as a DualShock controller, so all on-screen UI elements in compatible games display PlayStation button labels.
GameSir doesn’t include any PlayStation-legended alternative keycaps in the box, so you’ll need to remember that triangle is Y, for example.
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth: Performance
- Hall effect inputs are excellent and responsive, but Bluetooth feels a step behind wired
- iPhone users lose app support, back buttons, and customization entirely
- Vibration motors remain largely a spec-sheet feature with no real-world use
As you’d expect, the core gameplay experience with the G8+ Bluetooth mirrors the other options in the G8 range. The Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers are smooth and precise with a high level of sensitivity.
Resistance in these is just right for my taste; I found I was able to confidently hold the sticks at a midpoint for fine adjustments without the sense that the stick was itching to return to its starting point. The triggers offer full analog travel with a responsive hair-trigger mode (assuming you can enable it, more on that shortly). In analog mode, I felt like I had a nice level of control and was able to modulate the throttle in Forza Horizon 6 with plenty of detail.
That said, the Bluetooth connection introduced a subtle but noticeable difference in feel I hadn’t experienced before with a GameSir G8. I couldn’t quite quantify it, but I didn’t feel as locked-in using the G8+ Wireless as I did with the wired equivalents.
It’s not consistent, obvious latency, or any kind of genuine stutter or interference; it’s more that small thumbstick movements occasionally felt like they were getting lost along the way. Everything was perfectly playable, and my skill as a gamer is certainly not high enough for this to be a make-or-break thing, but if you’re serious about your gaming, the wired experience is definitely tighter.
The biggest issue I came across, and the one that separates this controller from the rest of the G8 family, is the iPhone experience. It’s somewhat lacking. Because iOS sees the controller as a DualShock 4, the GameSir app doesn’t recognize the G8+ Bluetooth. That means no stick calibration, no deadzone adjustment, no hair-trigger toggling, and no back button mapping.
The two rear programmable buttons, labeled M1 and M2, ship unbound by default, and there’s no way to configure them on iOS. They don’t appear in the iPhone’s native controller settings either because iOS thinks this is a DualShock 4, which doesn’t have back buttons. On macOS, I was able to rebind other buttons through native system options, but back button mapping wasn’t available there either for the same reason.
On Android, the picture is much better. The app recognized the controller (though admittedly it took a couple of attempts at first), and once connected, all the usual calibration, deadzone, hair-trigger, and back button configuration options were available. Gaming on the POCO X5 Pro was a smooth experience, with Fortnite and Call of Duty Mobile both running well after the usual game-side controller recognition quirks.
PC gaming was the most pleasant surprise. Connected via either USB-C or Bluetooth, the controller was recognized immediately as a PlayStation 4 controller and was fully mapped out of the box for both local and cloud gaming. Gyro tracking worked here too, which is a nice bonus for games that support it. On macOS, things were less smooth.
The controller initially tried to connect as a “GameSir G8” which required manual Steam configuration and then wasn’t recognized in-game. Reverting to DualShock mode fixed the issue, and games worked with automated mapping after that.
Shoudl you buy the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
Trying to work out if the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth is the one to get? Here’s how it compares to other, similar controller grips.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
GameSir G8+ Bluetooth |
GameSir G8+ MFi Galileo MFi |
Scuf Nomad |
|
Price |
$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99 |
$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99 |
$99.99 / £89.99 / around AU$179.99 |
|
Dimensions |
9.06 x 4.21 x 2.17in / 230 x 107 x 55mm |
9.02 x 4.20 x 2.13in / 229 x 106.8 x 54.2mm |
6.93 x 3.70 x 1.34in / 176 x 93.98 x 34.03mm |
|
Weight |
10.72oz / 314g |
10.72oz / 304g |
0.5 lbs / 228 g |
|
Connection |
Bluetooth 5.3, Wired (USB-C), Dongle (sold separately) |
Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (Bluetooth) |
|
Compatibility |
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS |
Android, iOS |
iOS |
|
Software |
GameSir App (Android only) |
GameSir App |
Scuf Nomad Companion App (iOS) |
How I tested the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth
- Tested with multiple devices
- A wide variety of games tried
- Compared to other mobile controllers
I spent several days testing across iOS, Android, PC, and macOS, with a focus on comparing the experience to the wired G8 and G8+ MFi I’d previously reviewed.
I tested on an iPhone 17 Pro and POCO X5 Pro 5G, playing Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, and Forza Horizon 6 via Xbox Cloud Gaming on mobile, and Stardew Valley via Steam on PC. I evaluated Bluetooth connectivity, app compatibility, back button functionality, latency feel, vibration motors, and cross-platform mode switching.
First reviewed June-July 2026
