GameSir G8 Plus MFi Type-C Mobile Controller
design
If you’ve ever held an Xbox controller, the GameSir G8+ Galileo MFi is going to feel like familiar territory. The full-size, contoured grips have the same chunky style as a Series X pad, with laser-engraved texturing on the back that feels nice in your hand. The overall build quality is excellent though, robust with no flex or creak anywhere, and materials that feel a step above what you’d expect at this price. Not all plastic is created equal and this is the upper end of plastic.
Placed alongside the G8 Galileo, the G8+ MFi’s phone deck is noticeably wider, stretched to accommodate an iPad mini thanks to a 30mm increase in maximum stretch range. In isolation you probably wouldn’t clock the difference though. It is heavier at 304g versus the G8’s 252g, but again that didn’t really register during testing either, even when going from one to the other. Almost the width of a Nintendo Switch and not much shorter, this is very much a backpack controller rather than something you’re slipping into a pocket. To my eye the light grey-and-white colourway is a small but welcome change from the G8 Galileo’s uniform darker grey. It just looks a touch more refined and fresh, though it’s still the only option available.
MFi certification is the biggest addition here, and a very welcome one. Where the G8 Galileo only officially supported Android (though I did get it working unofficially with an iPhone 17 Pro during testing), the GameSir G8+ Galileo MFi is certified for iPhones with USB-C and the iPad mini 6 onwards. It auto-detects which platform it’s connected to and switches mode without any manual input, which worked seamlessly across both my POCO X5 Pro 5G and iPhone 17 Pro. The GameSir app also recognised the controller on both phones, something it couldn’t do with the original G8.
Case compatibility is where the G8+ MFi makes its most practical improvement. GameSir now includes magnetic silicone pads of different thicknesses that let you adjust the buffer around the USB-C port. I played with my slim iPhone case on without issue, which was something I couldn’t manage comfortably on the G8 Galileo. A chunky rugged case probably still won’t fit, but for standard slim cases this is a problem solved.
There’s also a removable magnetic panel on the left side of the phone deck that pops off to create extra clearance for larger camera bumps. It did its job perfectly with my cased iPhone, though I do wonder what GameSir expects me to do with that easily loseable piece once it’s off. A magnetic spot on the back of the controller or somewhere to stow it would have been a thoughtful touch, particularly given the G8+ doesn’t come with a case or pouch.
The pivoting USB-C connector carries over from the G8 and remains one of GameSir’s best design decisions. It tilts up and down to accommodate different phone thicknesses and makes the process of seating and removing your device far less anxiety-inducing than a rigid port.
The magnetic faceplate system returns too, giving tool-free access to swap the thumbstick caps. Three replacements are included (short, tall, and dome), though GameSir still only provides one of each, so matching pairs remain off the table unless you stick with the defaults. The GameSir G8+ Galileo MFi does add new swappable ABXY button caps on top, letting you physically rearrange the face button layout to match Xbox or Nintendo mapping. It’s a nice complement to the software remapping in the app and satisfyingly simple to do, if not a little fiddly for large hands.
performance
A few minutes into a round of Fortnite on the GameSir G8+ Galileo MFi and I’d already started to zone out from the fact I was playing on my phone. That’s about the highest compliment you can pay a mobile controller grip, particularly as someone who’s not a huge mobile gamer. Natively supported titles run beautifully, though I did find myself often needing to launch games through the GameSir app to ensure the controller was picked up. Hardware-mapped titles like Call of Duty Mobile were a bit more temperamental to get going, though once they were running the experience was smooth. One thing worth knowing: some games require you to complete their touch-based tutorial before they’ll accept controller input, which can lead to a frustrating bout of troubleshooting if you don’t know to expect it.
The Hall effect joysticks are the standout of the input package. They’re smooth and detailed with a high level of sensitivity, much more than a standard console controller, so if you’re coming from something cheaper there’s a brief adjustment period. That increased precision is worth the effort though. The triggers offer full analogue travel with an extra hair-trigger mode that shortens the actuation distance for faster response in shooters. What I particularly appreciated was that hair-trigger mode still respects the deadzone configuration, so you’re not trading fine-tuning for speed.
The D-pad has a slightly mushy wobble on initial engagement but delivers a snappy, clicky feel once you commit to a press, with a short travel distance and clear directional clicks including diagonals. The screenshot button has been repositioned slightly further from D-pad down compared to the G8, and the improvement was noticeable. I didn’t accidentally trigger it during testing, which was a recurring frustration on the original.
Two programmable buttons sit around the back, labelled M1 and M2. They’re a rarity at this price for mobile controller grips, in fact they’re somewhat of a rarity all together and alternatives like the Backbone One skip them entirely. I found them well sized and positioned just about perfectly, close to where your fingers naturally rest without getting in the way, with just the right amount of actuation force to avoid accidental presses. This may some simple but it’s something even premium console controllers like the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited get wrong. They ship unbound, so you’ll need the GameSir app to assign functions, and you can only mirror existing buttons on them rather than set up macros or anything jazzy like that.
The dual vibration motors are the one new addition that doesn’t deliver on its promise. They work fine in the GameSir app’s test mode, producing both strong and subtle rumbles that feel perfectly capable if a little slow to spin up. So I know it’s not a hardware problem, instead the issue seems to be that no game I tested on either platform actually wanted to use them. Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, Forza Horizon 5 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider via Xbox Cloud Gaming, nothing. This appears to be a mobile gaming ecosystem issue rather than a GameSir fault, as developers simply aren’t supporting external controller vibration on mobile right now. That may change, but for the time being the motors are a spec sheet feature with no real-world application.
Passthrough USB-C charging and the 3.5mm headphone jack both carry over from the G8 Galileo and worked without issue throughout testing. Both phones reported normal fast charge speeds while connected through the controller with no overheating or extra strain. The headphone jack remains a welcome inclusion for latency-free wired audio, particularly on phones that ditched the port long ago. The dedicated GameSir button on the controller has inconsistent behaviour on Android, sometimes acting as a home button, sometimes opening the app. On iOS it didn’t seem to do anything at all, though it does light up a different colour to confirm which compatibility mode you’re in.
summed up
The GameSir G8+ Galileo MFi is the version of the G8 that probably should have existed from the start. Every meaningful gripe I had with the original, simple things like case compatibility, iOS support, and the screenshot button placement, have all been addressed here without sacrificing any of what made the G8 Galileo such a strong proposition. The Hall effect sticks and triggers are excellent, the full-size grips remain some of the most comfortable in the mobile controller category, and the addition of swappable face buttons and a wider stretch range for iPad mini support round out a thoroughly comprehensive feature set.
The vibration motors are a missed opportunity for now, sitting dormant until the mobile gaming ecosystem catches up, and GameSir’s confusing naming across the G8 range doesn’t make the buying experience any smoother. But at £79.99, matching the price of the controller it improves upon in every meaningful way, the G8+ MFi is a difficult recommendation to argue against. If you’re in the market for a mobile controller grip today, this is the one I’d point you towards.
