- Perfect mapping features
- Comfortable to use
- Noticeable lack of stability with phone
I have tried a few different mobile controllers in my life, and I am very firmly in the modular set-up camp. Two halves that wirelessly connect to your phone but fit snuggly together for carrying around, versus the telescopic ones that tend to be more bulky. Recently I got my hands on the GameSir X4 Aileron, a modular example of a controller, and gave it a test run.
A delight to store and hold
The first thing you will notice is how perfectly sized and pretty the X4 is. When the two halves are put together it fits pretty easily in a jacket pocket for great portability, which is the biggest positive for module controllers over the one-pieces. It also comes with a solid case for your new friend to ride around in. More space will be used, of course, but you won’t worry about it being damaged, it’s a hefty case.
In terms of feel, you will not have any issues with the controllers themselves. Even for me and my oversized mitts, the X4 fits very well, and I had no comfort issues using them for lengthy gaming sessions. Inside the case, you will find different-sized thumbsticks if the standard ones don’t suit you. The buttons might be a little on the small side. However, they still work perfectly and have a satisfying feeling when pressed. You can definitely tell this has been designed quite well.
The greatest mapping system in the world
The mapping itself when playing is quite in-depth. Each game has its own pre-set configuration if you want to get straight to playing, but if you prefer your own configuration, the option is there.
You can drag and resize another of the controller’s ten buttons or d-pad wherever you like, alongside using the Combo buttons. You might accidentally trigger the single action if you have one of those combos already set up, but if you use the two back buttons or four shoulder buttons in conjunction with the face buttons, you could cover the entire screen.
My favourite feature of the GameSir mapping is undoubtedly the Link Plans. You can set up multiple mapping profiles, give them names, and then set up a shortcut to instantly flip between them. You could set up a menu, exploration, and combat profile, and have immediate access to all of them. In terms of functionality, it is one of the best I have seen in any controller.
A mandatory issue
One concern I had with the X4, that I’m sure others might, was when booting up the app it demanded Developers Mode be activated on my phone. I am not exactly a technophobe, I have toyed around with some very minor programming in the past, but seeing that did put me off a bit, so I reached out to GameSir to ask the question.
Apparently, as this product is licensed by Microsoft it can’t use G-Touch, GameSir’s usual mapping method that doesn’t need activation. Instead, it needs to use V-Touch, which requires a lot of permissions that need Developer Mode turned on. It is not the biggest dealbreaker, you can just switch it on and never touch it again, but it might be a safety worry for some.
Stability might be an issue
Now unfortunately we must address the biggest flaw. As well-made as the modules are, they do not grasp your phone as securely as you would want. I tried the controller with three separate phones of various widths, and there was a noticeable amount of wobble on all of them.
It ships with four rubber bumpers. You can stick to the modules to strengthen the hold, but you can still feel it. And even then, if you have a thinner phone, you won’t be able to stack that many of the bumpers or both sides won’t fit together when you put it away. If you are doing some light gaming you might be able to cope, but if you find yourself in many intense firefights or last-gasp football matches, it’ll be more noticeable.