Review: GameSir G8 Galileo mobile gaming controller – Solid value

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Smartphones have come to be mean little gaming machines. The issue is that not everybody likes gaming with a touchscreen.

Mobile hardware today is crazy good, with amazing internals that can run the best mobile games at higher frame rates and immersive and crisp displays.

However, mobile gaming has a problem because a touchscreen isn’t an excellent input for gaming. You can’t get the best out of games like Genshin Impact with touch inputs. That’s precisely why mobile controllers exist.

While there are options that will let you mount your phone on top of a normal-looking controller, we’re now seeing a lot of options that let you convert your phone into a portable gaming console.

GameSir is one of the most interesting rising stars in the gaming peripheral business, and the GameSir G8 Galileo is the company’s Backbone One alternative, which packs quite a punch.

I tested a review sample sent by GameSir over three months, paired with the RedMagic 8S Pro gaming phone, and here’s my review.

GameSir G8 Galileo specifications

Compatibility	iPhone 15 series and Android phones with USB-C
Connection	USB-C for connection, USB-C + 3.5mm audio jack passthrough
Buttons	ABXY membrane (5 million-click lifespan), Hall Effect sticks and analog triggers, two back buttons, D-pad, bumpers, Menu, View, Capture, Home, and multifunctional M button
Dimensions	217 x 107 x 54 mm / 8.54 x 4.21 x 2.13 in
Weight	252 g / 0.56 lbs
Software	GameSir App
Package contents	GameSir G8 Galileo controller, 1 x small thumbstick, 1 x high thumbstick, 1 x round thumbstick, user manual and certification documents
Warranty	12-month warranty, 6-month extension on product registration

GameSir G8 Galileo design and feel

The GameSir G8 Galileo is well-designed, with a sliding mechanism to accommodate large phones. I used it with a RedMagic 8 Pro, which is a giant phone. The GameSir G8 was able to accommodate it easily.

The sliding mechanism is sturdy but not too firm to the point where you’re scared your phone may face some damage while mounted.

I like the choice of materials here. The areas where the phone touches the controller, including the back and the top and bottom edges, are all lined with textured rubber. It’s an excellent way to make this controller feel solid.

My favorite bit is how the controller’s USB-C port has a flex to it. The port has a bit of movement, so you can mount and unmount your phone on the G8 Galileo without damaging it.

In terms of the feel, the controller also ticks all the right boxes. The controller grips are pretty nice. The controller with a large phone makes for a rather large device, so portability isn’t the best, but that’s an acceptable compromise since the controller is light.

Another standout feature? The face plates and the joystick covers of the controller are hot-swappable. You can pop out the magnetically attached ones and replace them with others.

One issue I found is that this controller may not be compatible with phones with huge camera bumps. The sliding mechanism does hollow out some space for these camera bumps.

However, if you have one of those phones that have gigantic camera bumps, you’re out of luck. I found that the controller accommodates the Oppo Find X6 Pro, which has a big camera bump, but not the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, which has a huge one.

The controls all feel excellent, as expected. 

GameSir G8 Galileo performance and software

Mobile gaming isn’t as mature as PC gaming, so using a controller can be challenging. However, the GameSir G8 Galileo is one of the most butter-smooth mobile gaming experiences I’ve had yet.

To check precisely how plug-and-play this would be, I plugged the controller in and started gaming without installing anything from GameSir.

My experience was fantastic. Right off the bat, I tried Fortnite and Genshin Impact, both of which support controllers natively. They worked perfectly fine, and the controller experience was no different than how it plays on my Xbox Series X.

In addition to this, local cloud game streaming from my Xbox and my gaming PC via Steam were both excellent. I cannot stress enough how well this whole setup worked for playing games from my bed.

GameSir has an app to help perfect the experience of remapping touch controls to the physical buttons of the controller. I tried the feature, and it works well for the most part.

However, it can depend on how well the game controls are laid out. I tried to overlay the joysticks on the touch joystick in Slither.io, and it worked, but it was a bit glitchy. 

It seemed like that was more about the game itself than a flaw in the controller’s mapping functionality.

Most games and emulators should do well with the mapping, and although it’s a bit of an effort, it’s a solid addition that makes the G8 Galileo more useful.

On the hardware front, the experience is as good as it gets. The triggers were accurate, the buttons never missed a bit, and the response was as crisp as the feel.

The real winners are the Hall effect joysticks, which perform impeccably. The overall performance of the controller is so solid that I’m convinced that the phone I’ve connected it to is more likely to stop working well before the controller does.

The great part is that this controller gives you USB-C and headphone jack passthrough. It’s a nifty way of adding a gaming controller and a headphone jack to your phone.

The USB-C passthrough lets you charge your phone while you’re gaming. Although this is a very nifty feature, it’s unfortunately capped at 25W.

That means that the USB-C port on the GameSir G8 Galileo can likely keep your phone from draining battery while you’re playing. It can also charge phones with slower charging (up to 25W), like the iPhone 15 series.

However, if you want to charge a phone fast, that won’t work here. The phone I tested, for example, can charge at up to 65W, which made the passthrough charging appear quite slow for me.

That being said, 25W is a pretty solid figure for this device, so I can’t knock the feature. It’s insanely useful if you want to get the most out of your mobile gaming sessions.

Alternative options to consider

Should you buy the GameSir G8 Galileo?

This mobile controller is a no-brainer purchase. If you love mobile gaming, you should absolutely pick up a GameSir G8 Galileo.

It’s an economical option that drastically elevates mobile gaming, and if you have a capable gaming phone, this is a must-have accessory.

I personally like it over the Backbone One controller as well, being cheaper, while being a better offering overall. While GameSir may seem like a small brand, I’ve tested enough mobile controllers to know the exceptional value for money it provides.

At a price that hovers between $67 to $80, the GameSir G8 Galileo can also make for a nice gift for that mobile gamer in your life. I see it being an excellent addition to any phone that has a USB-C port and can do a little gaming.

Just make sure to bear in mind that you’ll need to take this controller on the go if you want to get the most out of it. Thankfully, GameSir also sells an affordable carrying pouch bundle with the G8. 

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Turtle Beach Atom Controller for Android
• Review: GameSir T4 Kaleid gaming controller
• Review: GameSir X2 Pro mobile controller
• Review: GameSir G4 Pro mobile controller

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.