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GameSir X4 Aileron: one-minute assessment
The GameSir X4 Aileron is a cell controller purpose-built for cloud gaming on an Android cellphone, turning your system right into a glorified handheld. The everyday 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 superb. Each half feels stable 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 way of the center of the curve. I discovered this as snug to grip as lots of the best 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 essentially the most elegant. It’s understandably tight, however this makes it onerous to maneuver it up and down when attaching and detaching a cellphone. I usually discovered it greatest to slip my cellphone out and in reasonably than transfer the clamp by hand. It nearly match my cellphone in its case, though the lips of the clamp didn’t fairly overhang the sides of my system, as they have been purported to.
Nonetheless, my cellphone stayed in place, though it was noticeably looser when connected with out my case. Non-obligatory pads are included to treatment this, though these require sticking to the X4 Aileron, so this can be a everlasting answer reasonably than a detachable one, which is a disgrace.
Customizations and tweaks might be made utilizing the GameSir cell app, nevertheless it’s disappointingly restricted in scope. There’s no choice to remap inputs, and when you can alter the deadzone for each the sticks and triggers, you may’t alter their curve profile. There’s a Hair Set off mode, although, which is helpful when speedy faucets are known as for.
The general efficiency of the X4 Aileron is fairly good. The buttons are very snappy, particularly the D-pad, which could be very quick and straightforward to make use of, whereas the Corridor impact joysticks and triggers are clean and exact.
Nevertheless, my main rivalry considerations the best stick, which I discovered onerous to achieve with out sacrificing my grip. That is significantly problematic when utilizing the best set off on the similar time, as you’ll be doing when taking part in shooters.
Battery life doesn’t appear significantly spectacular both. After a few hours, every pad misplaced about 15% cost. Nevertheless, the battery readouts within the GameSir app have been just a little erratic, flitting up and down straight away, and altering fairly drastically now and again when reconnecting to my cellphone. Hopefully, that is one thing a firmware replace can repair.
By way of worth, the X4 Aileron sits in the direction of the upper finish of the cell controller sector, with many cheaper alternate options obtainable. 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 techniques. Nevertheless, it’s cheaper than the Razer Kishi Ultra, however we do assume that’s among the many best mobile controllers proper now, so is deserving of its price ticket.
Regardless, for those who have 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 location of that proper joystick.
GameSir X4 Aileron assessment: Worth and availability
- $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169
- Out there in black solely
- Costly in comparison with rivals
The GameSir X4 Aileron prices $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169 and is out there now in a single colorway (black). It comes with a carrying case, two additional units of joystick caps (one among which is smaller), an additional D-pad hat, and non-obligatory 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 cell controller market. Nevertheless, 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 facet, although, and in contrast to the X4 Aileron, it’s suitable with iOS in addition to Android gadgets, 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 worth because the X4 Aileron, the Spine One is one other shut competitor. Nevertheless, you may usually discover it for lots lower than this. We expect that is one other very succesful cell controller and is once more suitable with each Android and iOS telephones and tablets. Nevertheless, 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 cellphone), 3.85 x 9.3 x 1.77in / 97.8 x 235 x 45mm (w/ cellphone) |
|
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 might be awkward
- Restricted cell app
The X4 Aileron adopts a reasonably typical cell 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 full black end.
The grips felt very snug in my fingers, providing loads of safety due to the rubberized end. One quirk of their design, although, is the sharp line operating by way of their middle.
This was initially jarring, however I shortly discovered this created an angle that allowed my fingers to get extra buy, which helps an amazing 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. General, the X4 Aileron makes gaming in your cellphone really feel just like the best handheld 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 similar time providing loads of grip due to 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 powerful maintain that’s additionally simple to take away when wanted. This additionally helps to avoid wasting 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 cellphone with a case connected, though the ledges of the clamps didn’t fairly dangle over the perimeters as they’re seemingly designed to do. Regardless, the attachment was sufficiently safe to stop any undue motion.
Nevertheless, the identical can’t be stated when clamped to my cellphone immediately, because the X4 Aileron is liable to sliding and tilting backwards and forwards. In regular use, this wasn’t a lot of a problem, and rubber pads might be put in to stop this situation. It’s a disgrace, although, that these pads aren’t detachable as soon as caught in place; a detachable or adjustable methodology would’ve been welcome, particularly at this worth.
The clamp system usually isn’t essentially 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 cellphone’s display screen when attaching and detaching the X4 Aileron.
This can be a small usability subject 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 cellphone out and in of each parts – though I can’t say this can be a methodology GameSir condones.
What’s extra, the truth that turning on and off the X4 Aileron includes lifting the clamps is considerably inconvenient if you could reconnect for no matter motive.
Numerous customization choices can be found for the X4 Aileron by way of the GameSir app, together with deadzone alterations for the triggers and sticks, in addition to a fast set off mode for binary reasonably 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.
At the very least 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 cellphone.
GameSir X4 Aileron assessment: efficiency
- Clicky buttons
- Poor stick placement
- Battery life not nice
Regardless of its appears to be like, the X4 Aileron doesn’t precisely really feel like a conventional console controller. The buttons aren’t damped: as an alternative, they actuate with an emphatic click on, which gives loads of suggestions, however for those who’re somebody who prefers the silent, softer really feel of ordinary 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 could be very fast. The inventory hat design could 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 higher 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, due to their well-weighted resistance.
The triggers don’t have as a lot journey as these on the most effective Xbox controllers or best PC controllers, so I didn’t fairly get the identical degree of granular management over inputs, however I used to be nonetheless impressed. Nevertheless, 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, considerations the best 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, reasonably than additional inward.
This mixture makes for awkward thumb placement, forcing me to both bend it uncomfortably to achieve it, or grip your complete proper pad a lot decrease down than normal and subsequently sacrifice a safe maintain.
I discovered this particularly problematic when taking part in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, as you want that safe maintain when utilizing the best set off to fireside. I reckon even ardent Xbox controller followers would discover a problem with this, and for those who’re a fan of the best 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 all the time that seamless, as I needed to re-clamp it to reconnect now and again.
Battery life isn’t significantly spectacular, as, after just a few hours of testing, every pad appeared to drop by about 15%. Nevertheless, the readout supplied within the GameSir app was inconsistent, generally oscillating straight away 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 indicate. Maybe these points might be mounted 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 cellphone), 3.85 x 9.3 x 1.77in / 97.8 x 235 x 45mm (w/ cellphone) |
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 with no case. I additionally used the GameSir cell app for customizing and tweaking the controller.
I performed quite a lot of video games by way of the Xbox Cloud Gaming app, which GameSir claims the X4 Aileron is designed for. I performed Forza Horizon 5 and Call of Duty: 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 cell and handheld techniques. I’ve additionally reviewed quite a few controllers suitable with cell gadgets.
First reviewed March 2025