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GameSir X4 Aileron: one-minute assessment
The GameSir X4 Aileron is a cellular controller purpose-built for cloud gaming on an Android telephone, turning your machine right into a glorified handheld. The standard Xbox format is current and proper right here, with the acquainted face buttons and asymmetrical sticks. The all-black colorway does little to liven its look, though the RGB rings across the sticks are a pleasant contact.
The construct high quality of the X4 Aileron is great. Each half feels strong and premium, and the fabric of the sticks is extremely clean whereas providing sufficient grip. The identical is true of the rubberized rear of every pad’s handles.
These parts even have a comparatively sharp edge that cuts by the center of the curve. I discovered this as comfy to grip as most of the finest Xbox controllers, and the angle these edges create allowed me to safe my fingers higher, which in flip made the again buttons simpler to make use of.
Connecting the X4 Aileron to my smartphone was fast and easy, though having to disconnect and reconnect by unclamping and re-clamping is a considerably clunky course of. The clamping mechanism of the X4 Aileron is safe, though it’s not probably the most elegant. It’s understandably tight, however this makes it onerous to maneuver it up and down when attaching and detaching a telephone. I usually discovered it finest to slip my telephone out and in relatively than transfer the clamp by hand. It nearly match my telephone in its case, though the lips of the clamp didn’t fairly overhang the sides of my machine, as they had been imagined to.
Nonetheless, my telephone stayed in place, though it was noticeably looser when hooked up with out my case. Elective pads are included to treatment this, though these require sticking to the X4 Aileron, so this can be a everlasting answer relatively than a detachable one, which is a disgrace.
Customizations and tweaks may be made utilizing the GameSir cellular app, nevertheless it’s disappointingly restricted in scope. There’s no choice to remap inputs, and whilst you can alter the deadzone for each the sticks and triggers, you may’t regulate their curve profile. There’s a Hair Set off mode, although, which is helpful when speedy faucets are referred to as for.
The general efficiency of the X4 Aileron is fairly good. The buttons are very snappy, particularly the D-pad, which may be very quick and straightforward to make use of, whereas the Corridor impact joysticks and triggers are clean and exact.
Nonetheless, my main rivalry issues the appropriate stick, which I discovered onerous to succeed in with out sacrificing my grip. That is notably problematic when utilizing the appropriate set off on the identical time, as you’ll be doing when taking part in shooters.
Battery life doesn’t appear notably spectacular both. After a few hours, every pad misplaced about 15% cost. Nonetheless, the battery readouts within the GameSir app had been just a little erratic, flitting up and down immediately, and altering fairly drastically every so often when reconnecting to my telephone. Hopefully, that is one thing a firmware replace can repair.
By way of value, the X4 Aileron sits in the direction of the upper finish of the cellular controller sector, with many cheaper options out there. The Spine One, which nominally is priced the identical because the X4 Aileron, can usually be discovered for much less, and has the benefit of being suitable with iOS in addition to Android programs. Nonetheless, it’s cheaper than the Razer Kishi Extremely, however we do suppose that’s among the many finest cellular controllers proper now, so is deserving of its price ticket.
Regardless, in case you had been to go for the X4 Aileron, you gained’t be disillusioned, as long as you don’t want iOS assist and might stay with the position of that proper joystick.
GameSir X4 Aileron assessment: Worth and availability
- $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169
- Obtainable in black solely
- Costly in comparison with rivals
The GameSir X4 Aileron prices $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169 and is offered now in a single colorway (black). It comes with a carrying case, two further units of joystick caps (one in every of which is smaller), an additional D-pad hat, and optionally available rubber cushions that may be caught onto every pad to suit thinner telephones.
The X4 Aileron is priced in the direction of the highest finish of the cellular controller market. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless cheaper than the Razer Kishi Extremely, which is without doubt one of the costliest fashions round. That controller excels in nearly each side, although, and in contrast to the X4 Aileron, it’s suitable with iOS in addition to Android units, and might even deal with tablets as much as eight inches. It doesn’t have Corridor impact sticks, although – solely its triggers use this know-how.
With the identical checklist value because the X4 Aileron, the Spine One is one other shut competitor. Nonetheless, you may usually discover it for lots lower than this. We expect that is one other very succesful cellular controller and is once more suitable with each Android and iOS telephones and tablets. Nonetheless, it doesn’t use Corridor impact know-how.
GameSir X4 Aileron assessment: specs
Worth | $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169 |
Dimensions | 3.85 x 3.05 x 1.77in / 97.8 x 77.5 x 45mm (w/out telephone), 3.85 x 9.3 x 1.77in / 97.8 x 235 x 45mm (w/ telephone) |
Weight | 6.5oz / 186g |
Connection sort | Wi-fi (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C) |
Compatibility | Android (telephones) |
Software program | GameSir App (Android) |
GameSir X4 Aileron assessment: design and options
- Premium and intelligent design
- Clamping mechanism may be awkward
- Restricted cellular app
The X4 Aileron adopts a reasonably typical cellular controller design, though it protrudes lower than some others, each lengthways and outwardly. There’s some refined however vibrant RGB lighting round each analog sticks, which helps to brighten up the whole black end.
The grips felt very comfy in my fingers, providing loads of safety because of the rubberized end. One quirk of their design, although, is the sharp line operating by their heart.
This was initially jarring, however I shortly discovered this created an angle that allowed my fingers to get extra buy, which helps an important deal when utilizing the 2 again buttons, as these are fairly small; I might’ve struggled to make use of them comfortably in any other case. Total, the X4 Aileron makes gaming in your telephone really feel just like the finest handheld video games consoles.
It’s additionally constructed to a excessive commonplace, with premium supplies used for the buttons and sticks. The latter of those feels particularly clean to the contact, whereas on the identical time providing loads of grip because of the feel of their outer edges.
The magnetic attachment for storing the X4 Aileron is well-engineered too, with each side slotting along with a robust maintain that’s additionally simple to take away when wanted. This additionally helps to save lots of house when touring, as they match snugly within the included hard-shell carrying case, which is equally well-made.
The X4 Aileron simply managed to suit over my telephone with a case hooked up, though the ledges of the clamps didn’t fairly dangle over the edges as they’re seemingly designed to do. Regardless, the attachment was sufficiently safe to forestall any undue motion.
Nonetheless, the identical can’t be mentioned when clamped to my telephone straight, because the X4 Aileron is vulnerable to sliding and tilting backwards and forwards. In regular use, this wasn’t a lot of a difficulty, and rubber pads may be put in to forestall this situation. It’s a disgrace, although, that these pads aren’t detachable as soon as caught in place; a detachable or adjustable technique would’ve been welcome, particularly at this value.
The clamp system basically isn’t probably the most elegant answer, and whereas its tightness is reassuring, lifting it by hand is just a little awkward, as there’s no actual place to grip it along with your fingers. Consequently, I usually discovered myself mispressing my telephone’s display screen when attaching and detaching the X4 Aileron.
This can be a small usability difficulty within the grand scheme of issues, however value mentioning. I discovered one of the best ways to connect and launch the X4 Aileron was to slip my telephone out and in of each parts – though I can’t say this can be a technique GameSir condones.
What’s extra, the truth that turning on and off the X4 Aileron includes lifting the clamps is considerably inconvenient if it is advisable reconnect for no matter cause.
Numerous customization choices can be found for the X4 Aileron through the GameSir app, together with deadzone alterations for the triggers and sticks, in addition to a fast set off mode for binary relatively than analog inputs. There’s no button remapping, although, which looks as if a fairly large oversight, and no curve profiles for the sticks to extra finely tune their responsiveness and sensitivity.
The one different changes are just a few different minor features and tweaks to the RGB, so it falls behind changes different peripherals enable for. In comparison with many different controllers, together with these made by GameSir, that is fairly the paucity of choices.
Not less than the app is steady sufficient, though oddly there have been sure menus and sections that couldn’t be navigated with the X4 Aileron, and different areas the place it might. Sure sections had no English textual content both, though fortunately this was a rarity and didn’t have an effect on usability. A firmware replace additionally failed to put in regardless of a number of makes an attempt, solely succeeding after I re-paired the X4 Aileron to my telephone.
GameSir X4 Aileron assessment: efficiency
- Clicky buttons
- Poor stick placement
- Battery life not nice
Regardless of its seems, the X4 Aileron doesn’t precisely really feel like a conventional console controller. The buttons aren’t damped: as a substitute, they actuate with an emphatic click on, which supplies loads of suggestions, however in case you’re somebody who prefers the silent, softer really feel of normal gamepads, then these won’t be to your liking.
The D-pad is very clicky however very satisfying to make use of. Presses are simple in all instructions and the rebound may be very fast. The inventory hat design may be very amenable to rolling in a number of adjoining instructions, which I appreciated when taking part in Mortal Kombat 11.
Each the triggers and the sticks use Corridor impact know-how, which provides larger precision than their commonplace potentiometer counterparts. When taking part in Forza Horizon 5, the steering was clean and correct, whereas the triggers supplied loads of management over acceleration and braking, because of their well-weighted resistance.
The triggers don’t have as a lot journey as these on the very best Xbox controllers or finest PC controllers, so I didn’t fairly get the identical degree of granular management over inputs, however I used to be nonetheless impressed. Nonetheless, they do curve round to observe the contours of the X4 Aileron itself, which will increase their floor space and makes for a extra pure and cozy finger placement.
One main gripe I’ve with the X4 Aileron, although, issues the appropriate joystick. Owing to the asymmetrical design, it’s positioned low down, which isn’t an issue on commonplace gamepads. However since there’s no center portion to the X4 Aileron, it’s additionally a lot nearer to the sting of every pad, relatively than additional inward.
This mix makes for awkward thumb placement, forcing me to both bend it uncomfortably to succeed in it, or grip your complete proper pad a lot decrease down than traditional and due to this fact sacrifice a safe maintain.
I discovered this particularly problematic when taking part in Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare 3, as you want that safe maintain when utilizing the appropriate set off to fireside. I reckon even ardent Xbox controller followers would discover a difficulty with this, and in case you’re a fan of the finest PS5 controllers, then the difficulty could also be much more egregious.
Connecting the X4 Aileron was easy sufficient, though waking it from sleep wasn’t at all times that seamless, as I needed to re-clamp it to reconnect every so often.
Battery life isn’t notably spectacular, as, after just a few hours of testing, every pad appeared to drop by about 15%. Nonetheless, the readout supplied within the GameSir app was inconsistent, generally oscillating immediately and altering extra drastically when reconnecting.
There have been additionally events the place solely one of many pad’s battery readouts was displayed, requiring the opposite to be reattached for it to point out. Maybe these points may be fastened in a firmware replace.
Ought to I purchase the GameSir X4 Aileron?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account…
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | GameSir X4 Aileron | Razer Kishi Extremely | Spine One |
Worth | $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169 | $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95 | $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179 |
Dimensions | 3.85 x 3.05 x 1.77in / 97.8 x 77.5 x 45mm (w/out telephone), 3.85 x 9.3 x 1.77in / 97.8 x 235 x 45mm (w/ telephone) | 9.63 x 4.36 x 2.53in / 244.6 x 110.7 x 64.3mm | 10.14 x 6.94 x 3.7in / 257.6 x 176.3 x 94mm |
Weight | 6.5oz / 186g | 9.4oz / 266 g | 4.7oz / 138g |
Connection sort | Wi-fi (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C) | Wired (USB-C) | Wired (USB-C) |
Compatibility | Android (telephones) | iOS, Android (telephones, tablets) | iOS, Android (telephones, tablets) |
Software program | GameSir App (Android) | Razer Nexus App (iOS / Android) | Spine App (iOS / Android) |
How I examined the GameSir X4 Aileron
- Examined on Google Pixel 7a
- Performed numerous video games on Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Plentiful gaming expertise
I examined the X4 Aileron for a number of days, throughout which period I used it on my Google Pixel 7a, each with and and not using a case. I additionally used the GameSir cellular app for customizing and tweaking the controller.
I performed a wide range of video games through the Xbox Cloud Gaming app, which GameSir claims the X4 Aileron is designed for. I performed Forza Horizon 5 and Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare 3 to check the set off and stick accuracy, in addition to Mortal Kombat 11 to check button response.
I’ve been gaming on a number of platforms for many years, together with cellular and handheld programs. I’ve additionally reviewed quite a few controllers suitable with cellular units.
First reviewed March 2025
