Overview
A wireless controller consisting of two separate halves, each clipped onto the side of a mobile phone and connected via Bluetooth. It is designed for Xbox cloud gaming on Android devices. It features Hall Effect sticks and triggers, two programmable back buttons, light rings around the sticks with six effects, and a battery in each half.
Features as stated in the official manual:
- Two-piece design: A left and a right half, each clipped onto the side of a phone, and can be attached together.
- Hall Effect sticks with non-contact magnetic sensors that do not wear out or drift with use.
- Hall Effect analog triggers with 100% response area and constant smoothness, with a quick switch to hair-trigger mode.
- Two programmable back buttons, L4 and R4, which can be mapped to any button function from a wide list.
- Six lighting effects in the light rings around the sticks, toggleable with adjustable brightness.
- Two 400mAh batteries, one in each half.
- Magnetic face buttons; the four face buttons are detachable to swap their layout.
- Swappable parts: Two additional sets of stick caps, an additional D-pad, and rubber pads in two thicknesses.
Device Layout and Button Names
- Front: Clip, View button, Menu button, A, B, X, and Y buttons, Xbox button, and M button.
- Top Edge: LB and RB buttons, LT and RT triggers.
- Bottom Edge: USB-C charging port.
- Back: L4 back button and R4 back button.
Specifications
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Supported Platforms | Most Android devices, requires Android 8.0 or later |
| Connection Method | Bluetooth |
| Phone Size | Width from 68 to 95 mm, maximum thickness 12.5 mm |
| Phone Case | Not recommended; if necessary, use a case thinner than 1 mm |
| Battery | 400 mAh in each half |
| Standby Mode | After ten minutes of inactivity; duration adjustable via the app |
| Companion Software | GameSir App |
Box Contents
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Controller | 1 piece |
| USB-C cable | 1 piece, 0.5 meters long |
| Small stick cap | 2 pieces |
| Concave stick cap | 2 pieces |
| Faceted D-pad | 1 piece |
| 2 mm thick rubber pad | 2 pieces |
| 1 mm thick rubber pad | 2 pieces |
| Carrying case | 1 piece |
| User manual | 1 copy |
| Thank you and after-sales card | 1 card |
| GameSir sticker | 1 sticker |
| Certificate of Conformity | 1 copy |
Swapping Face Buttons and Parts
- The four face buttons are attached magnetically, so their layout can be swapped according to your playstyle.
- There is a notch to the left of each face button; align your fingertip with the notch and pull the button out.
- Place the buttons according to the desired layout to complete the installation.
- Two layouts are available: Xbox layout (Y at top, X on left, A at bottom, B on right) and Switch layout (X at top, Y on left, B at bottom, A on right). The default is the Xbox layout.
- The controller comes with two additional sets of stick caps and an additional D-pad, which are removed by pulling straight and installed by pushing straight.
Phone Requirements
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 or later |
| Phone Size | Width from 68 to 95 mm, maximum thickness 12.5 mm |
| Phone Case | Not recommended; if necessary, use a case thinner than 1 mm |
Connection and Use
Mounting the Phone, Powering On and Off
- Lift the clip on each half and secure the two halves on the sides of the phone; the controller powers on automatically when the clip is lifted.
- For forced power on if the clip is not lifted: Press and hold the Xbox button for five seconds on the left half, and press and hold the Share button for five seconds on the right half.
- To power off: Close the clip and the controller will power off automatically. In forced power-on mode, you must lift the clip and then close it.
- To power off in forced power-on mode: Press and hold the Xbox button for five seconds on the left half, and press and hold the Share button for five seconds on the right half.
- In any power mode, attaching the left and right halves together powers them off simultaneously.
Standby Mode and Waking Up
- If ten minutes pass without use while both halves are on, the controller will enter standby mode.
- To enter standby mode manually while both halves are on: Press and hold the Xbox button for five seconds.
- To wake the left half: Press the Xbox button or any arrow on the D-pad.
- To wake the right half: Press one of the A, B, X, or Y buttons or the Share button.
- The automatic standby duration is ten minutes by default and is adjustable via the GameSir app.
- In forced power-on mode, pressing the Xbox button for five seconds powers off the controller instead of putting it into standby.
- Standby mode differs from powering off: in standby, you wake the controller with a button, whereas powering off requires lifting the clip or forced power-on.
Connecting to Android Devices via Bluetooth
- Lift both clips and secure the phone in the left and right halves to power on the controller, or power it on forcibly.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth pairing button for two seconds until the power indicator flashes rapidly.
- Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and select the device named "GameSir-X4a for Xbox" to pair.
- A solid white power indicator means the connection is successful.
- If the controller is connected to another phone, you must disconnect it before pressing the Bluetooth pairing button to enter pairing mode.
Pairing the Left Half with the Right Half
- Attach the left and right halves together.
- Connect the USB-C cable while the left half is in forced power-on mode or powered off.
- You may need to re-pair the two halves after a firmware update or calibration.
Indicator States
| State | Indication |
|---|---|
| Successful connection | Power indicator remains solid white |
| Entering pairing mode | Power indicator flashes rapidly after pressing the Bluetooth pairing button for two seconds |
| Not connected to Android phone | Power indicator flashes slowly |
| Entering calibration mode | Power indicator flashes slowly and the colors of the two light rings around the sticks change |
| Entering back button programming mode | The light ring around the stick flashes white slowly |
| Programming or cancellation complete | The light ring returns to the set lighting effect |
| Successful mode switch when recognition fails | Indicator changes from blue to white |
Button Combinations
| Function | Combination |
|---|---|
| Enable or disable hair-trigger mode; once enabled, the light ring around the stick lights up automatically when the trigger is pressed. Setting remains after reboot | M button + LT or RT trigger for 2 seconds |
| Increase or decrease brightness of the two stick light rings. Setting remains after reboot | M button + move left stick up or down |
| Cycle through the six lighting effects of the stick rings. Setting remains after reboot | M button + move left stick left or right |
| Increase or decrease volume | M button + D-pad arrow up or down |
| Swap A/B button values and X/Y button values. Setting remains after reboot | M button + A button for 2 seconds |
| Switch mode until indicator changes from blue to white (used when the app recognizes the controller as an Xbox controller) | Xbox button + A button for 5 seconds |
Programming the Back Buttons
Buttons that can be mapped to L4 and R4 are: A, B, X, Y, LB, RB, LT, RT, Left Stick Press, Right Stick Press, View, Menu, Share, and D-pad.
- To program: Press and hold the M button + L4 or R4 button until the light ring around the stick flashes white slowly.
- Press the button you want to map, then press the L4 or R4 button; the light ring returning to the set effect means programming is complete.
- To cancel: Press and hold the M button + L4 or R4 button until the light ring flashes white slowly, then press the same L4 or R4 button; the light ring returning to its effect means cancellation is complete.
- If ten seconds pass without any input during setup, it will exit setup mode automatically and the button value will remain as it was.
Screenshot
Press the Share button during use to take a screenshot.
Charging and Battery Status
To charge: Attach the left and right halves together, then use the included USB-C cable.
To check battery status while the controller is on: Press the Bluetooth pairing button twice consecutively and observe the color of the light ring around the stick.
You can play while charging, and the controller remains functional.
| Light Ring Color | Battery Status |
|---|---|
| Red | Low battery |
| White | Remaining charge level |
| Orange | Charging |
Calibration
- While both halves are on, press and hold the LB, Xbox, and RB buttons until the power indicator flashes slowly and the light rings' colors change.
- Rotate the sticks to their maximum angle three times and let them return to their original position naturally.
- Press the LT and RT triggers to their full travel three times and let them return to their original position naturally.
- Press the A button to finish calibration and exit mode.
- Move the sticks/triggers at a steady speed and gently to avoid errors in recorded data. Do not calibrate if sticks and triggers are working correctly.
Reset
No steps for using the reset switch (labeled on the bottom edge diagram) have been published in official sources, so there are no official reset steps to provide to customers.
Companion App and Firmware Update
- Visit the GameSir website from your phone or scan the QR code printed in the manual to download the GameSir app.
- Use the app to update firmware, test buttons, adjust stick and trigger zones, and adjust vibration intensity.
- Automatic standby duration and lighting effects are also adjustable via the app.
Safety Warnings
- The product contains small parts; keep away from children under 3 years old. Seek immediate medical attention if a part is swallowed or inhaled.
- Do not use near fire, expose to direct sunlight or high heat, or leave in a humid or dusty environment.
- Do not subject to impact, drop, or touch the port directly as this may cause failure. Do not bend or pull cable parts forcefully.
- Clean with a soft, dry cloth; do not use chemicals like benzene or solvents.
- Do not disassemble, repair, or modify. Do not use for anything other than its intended purpose; the company is not responsible for accidents or damages resulting from misuse.
- Do not look directly into the light emitted by the product as it may harm the eyes. For quality issues, contact GameSir or your local distributor.
FAQ
Which mobile devices are supported? Most Android devices with a width between 68 and 95 mm and a maximum thickness of 12.5 mm.
Is it wired or wireless? Wireless; connection is via Bluetooth on the phone.
What is the latency? Very low latency, according to official sources.
Does it have a battery? Yes, a 400 mAh battery in each half.
What are the stick features? Hall Effect sticks operate with non-contact magnetic sensors, so they do not wear out or drift over their lifespan.
Does it have analog triggers? Yes, Hall Effect analog triggers with 100% response area and constant smoothness, with a quick-switch hair-trigger mode (M button + trigger for 2 seconds).
What are the lighting features? Six lighting effects. Toggle by pressing M + move left stick left/right. Adjust brightness by pressing M + move left stick up/down. Can also be configured via the app.
Can the button layout be changed? Yes, face buttons are magnetic and can be swapped. Values for A/B and X/Y can be swapped by pressing M + A. Default is Xbox layout. Note: Manual mentions 2 seconds for this combo, while the FAQ page mentions 3 seconds.
Does it work with a phone case? Not recommended; if necessary, a case thinner than 1 mm is advised.
What games are supported? All Android games that support controllers, including Soul Knight, Diablo Immortal, Minecraft, Fortnite, Dead Trigger 2, and Asphalt 9.
Can it charge during use? Yes, the controller remains functional while charging.
Only one half works, or halves won't re-pair: Attach both halves together to re-pair. They should work and power off together when attached. If not: after attaching, press and hold the Share button until the lighting colors match, or press and hold the Xbox button until they match, or put them on charge until the colors match.
Won't connect to Android phone and indicator flashes slowly: Press the Bluetooth pairing button for two seconds to enter pairing mode.
App recognizes controller as an Xbox controller: Press the Xbox button + A button for 5 seconds until the indicator changes from blue to white.
Stick drifts or trigger doesn't work correctly: Calibrate: While on, hold LB + Xbox + RB until the indicator flashes slowly and rings change color, rotate sticks 3 times, press triggers 3 times, then press A to exit.
Included Game Pass code doesn't work: Code is for new subscribers only and cannot be activated by those who have had a subscription before. Check your region support on the official regions page. If you are a new subscriber and see a "code already used" message, record a video of the full activation process and send it to customer service.
Documentation Notes
- The combinations table in the manual states the duration to swap face button layout (M + A) is 2 seconds, while the FAQ page says 3 seconds.
- The product name appears in different formats across the manual cover, box contents, Bluetooth name, and store page.
- No steps for using the reset switch mentioned in the bottom edge diagram have been published in official sources.