Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth review: added versatility comes with compromises | Tech Radar

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I tested the Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth across Android and i OS — i Phone users are getting the roughest deal

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The Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth trades wired reliability for wireless versatility across i OS, Android, Switch, and PC. The core controller remains excellent, but i Phone users in particular end up being short-changed by the move away from cables.

+Same comfortable full-size grips as the rest of the G8 family

Same comfortable full-size grips as the rest of the G8 family

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The Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth is the wireless mobile controller in the G8 family and bolsters compatibility from being simply mobile, to the Nintendo Switch, tablets, and PC. The same full-size grips, Hall effect joysticks and triggers, and programmable back buttons that made the wired versions of the G8 so impressive remain, and at

On paper, you’d think it’s a no-brainer to go wireless, particularly with the addition of a six-axis gyroscope adding to that strong core experience, but the wireless freedom you gain comes with meaningful trade-offs. Noticeably, the lack of passthrough charging and the lack of a headphone jack, both obvious casualties of the move to Bluetooth.

More importantly for i Phone gamers, the Game Sir i OS app doesn't recognize the controller, which means the stick calibration, dead zone tuning, hair-trigger configuration, and back button mapping that make the G8 Plus so compelling as an option on other platforms go completely to waste. The Bluetooth connection itself also feels less locked-in than the wired experience on i Phone, with small stick movements occasionally getting lost along the way.

On Android and PC, the experience is significantly better. The app works, the back buttons are configurable, and there’s haptic feedback on offer as well (albeit with patchy support, particularly on mobile). For the first time, you can even use the G8 Plus with your Nintendo Switch. But if an i Phone is your primary device, the wired Game Sir G8+ MFi delivers a more complete, more reliable experience for the same money.

The middle sibling, the Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth launched in mid-2024 at

Each variant has pros and cons, so the consistent price puts the onus firmly on the buyer to decide which set of trade-offs works best for their setup. Game Sir has also released a couple of special edition color variants in some regions, including a Hulk and a Thanos Edition, which will set you back slightly more.

At this price, it remains highly competitive against the Backbone One 2nd Gen and is significantly cheaper than the Razer Kishi Ultra, though the Bluetooth limitations on i Phone mean it's not the straightforward recommendation the wired models are.

Bluetooth 5.3, Wired USB-C (PC), Wireless Dongle (sold separately)

Bluetooth 5.3, Wired USB-C (PC), Wireless Dongle (sold separately)

Comfortable, console controller-like ergonomics shared with the rest of the G8 range

Bluetooth versatility across five platforms, but mode switching is a hassle

Special edition designs are only available in certain markets

The G8+ Bluetooth is the first and only member of the G8 family that cuts the cord entirely. Wireless freedom and the versatility it brings are the entire pitch, and it helps broaden the G8’s platform compatibility too.

Unlike the original G8 Galileo and the G8+ MFi, which are limited to mobile only, this controller works with i OS, Android, the Nintendo Switch, PC (via wired USB-C or Bluetooth, with a wireless dongle sold separately), and mac OS. Console gaming aside, in theory, that means the G8+ is ready to follow you anywhere on your gaming journey.

The reality, unfortunately, is a little more complicated. Each platform requires its own Bluetooth pairing mode, triggered by holding different button combinations on the controller. If you're a one-device person, this is a simple pair-once-and-forget situation, and you can skip to the next paragraph.

If you're hopping between platforms, as I was during testing, it gets tedious fast. Switching modes caused regular reconnection failures with devices the controller had previously been paired with, and keeping track of which mode goes with which platform isn't intuitive. It's workable, and we’re in first-world problem territory here for sure, but it's not the seamless experience it should be.

On the plus side, turning it on couldn’t be simpler because stretching the controller open automatically powers it on and letting it close fully again powers it down. This isn’t a life-changing feature but certainly a nice convenience that worked reliably throughout testing.

A 1000m Ah battery sits split across both grips, charging via USB-C. The Game Sir app tracks each side independently, which is how I discovered the left and right grips drain at slightly different rates despite charging as a single unit. I saw a couple of percent drop over half an hour of active use, and the rated eight-hour battery life seems about right based on that.

The black colorway is a clean, classic look that feels more like a traditional controller than the grey and grey-and-white of its wired siblings. Game Sir has also released rather jazzy Hulk- and Thanos-themed special editions in some regions, making this the only G8 variant with cosmetic variety, though they’ll set you back a little more for the paint job.

The build quality and overall shape match the rest of the family; it’s well designed and well built with the same full-size, Xbox-like grips, textured backs and a solid chassis. It’s comfortable to hold for extended sessions, and while at 11oz/314g it's the heaviest of the three on paper, the balance is good, and the weight didn't register during testing.

Case compatibility is a mixed bag, as is often the case with mobile controller grips. Without a USB-C connector going into the phone, there's no port angle to stress about, thankfully, but the physical cradle can still be tight.

My i Phone 17 Pro fit with a slim case on but sat at a noticeable angle towards the left side, which saw it protrude more than I’d like. There is a rubber pad on the phone deck that appears to serve the same purpose as the G8+ MFi's removable magnetic panel for camera bump clearance, but this one is glued down rather than magnetically attached.

Game Sir’s marketing suggests this is still meant to be removed to accommodate camera bumps, but it really didn't feel like it wanted to come off, and I wasn't willing to force it. If you do take it off, don’t expect it to go back on neatly and expect to trap plenty of dust in the residue.

The D-pad shares the same feel as the rest of the G8 family: slightly mushy initial movement but with a clicky, short-travel feel once you commit to an input. Swappable ABXY caps and thumbstick caps carry over, too, as do the three alternate stick options, and they’re easily adjusted by popping off the magnetic faceplates.

Once again, however, Game Sir only includes one of each of these replaceable sticks, so you can’t run the same option on both sides. One annoyance that cropped up here for the first time on any G8 I’ve tested: on i OS, the controller connects as a Dual Shock controller, so all on-screen UI elements in compatible games display Play Station button labels.

Game Sir doesn't include any Play Station-legended alternative keycaps in the box, so you’ll need to remember that triangle is Y, for example.

Hall effect inputs are excellent and responsive, but Bluetooth feels a step behind wired

i Phone users lose app support, back buttons, and customization entirely

Vibration motors remain largely a spec-sheet feature with no real-world use

As you’d expect, the core gameplay experience with the G8+ Bluetooth mirrors the other options in the G8 range. The Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers are smooth and precise with a high level of sensitivity.

Resistance in these is just right for my taste; I found I was able to confidently hold the sticks at a midpoint for fine adjustments without the sense that the stick was itching to return to its starting point. The triggers offer full analog travel with a responsive hair-trigger mode (assuming you can enable it, more on that shortly). In analog mode, I felt like I had a nice level of control and was able to modulate the throttle in Forza Horizon 6 with plenty of detail.

That said, the Bluetooth connection introduced a subtle but noticeable difference in feel I hadn’t experienced before with a Game Sir G8. I couldn’t quite quantify it, but I didn't feel as locked-in using the G8+ Wireless as I did with the wired equivalents.

It's not consistent, obvious latency, or any kind of genuine stutter or interference; it's more that small thumbstick movements occasionally felt like they were getting lost along the way. Everything was perfectly playable, and my skill as a gamer is certainly not high enough for this to be a make-or-break thing, but if you're serious about your gaming, the wired experience is definitely tighter.

The biggest issue I came across, and the one that separates this controller from the rest of the G8 family, is the i Phone experience. It’s somewhat lacking. Because i OS sees the controller as a Dual Shock 4, the Game Sir app doesn’t recognize the G8+ Bluetooth. That means no stick calibration, no deadzone adjustment, no hair-trigger toggling, and no back button mapping.

The two rear programmable buttons, labeled M1 and M2, ship unbound by default, and there's no way to configure them on i OS. They don't appear in the i Phone's native controller settings either because i OS thinks this is a Dual Shock 4, which doesn't have back buttons. On mac OS, I was able to rebind other buttons through native system options, but back button mapping wasn't available there either for the same reason.

On Android, the picture is much better. The app recognized the controller (though admittedly it took a couple of attempts at first), and once connected, all the usual calibration, deadzone, hair-trigger, and back button configuration options were available. Gaming on the POCO X5 Pro was a smooth experience, with Fortnite and Call of Duty Mobile both running well after the usual game-side controller recognition quirks.

PC gaming was the most pleasant surprise. Connected via either USB-C or Bluetooth, the controller was recognized immediately as a Play Station 4 controller and was fully mapped out of the box for both local and cloud gaming. Gyro tracking worked here too, which is a nice bonus for games that support it. On mac OS, things were less smooth.

The controller initially tried to connect as a "Game Sir G8" which required manual Steam configuration and then wasn't recognized in-game. Reverting to Dual Shock mode fixed the issue, and games worked with automated mapping after that.

You're an Android user who wants one controller for phone, Switch, and PC The Bluetooth versatility and full Game Sir app support on Android make the G8+ Bluetooth a seriously flexible, wireless option. If you play across multiple platforms and want a single controller to handle them all, this could well be it.

You value wireless convenience over raw precision No connections mean a simpler experience and fewer points of failure. It also brings a wider variety of devices into play.

You're primarily an i Phone user While it does work natively for games that play nicely with a physical controller, the lack of Game Sir app support, non-functional back buttons, and Dual Shock workaround make the i Phone experience feel like an afterthought. The wired G8+ MFi is the better choice for the same money and with little drawback.

You want the tightest possible input response Don’t get me wrong, the Bluetooth connection is perfectly playable, but it doesn't feel as precise and instantly responsive as the wired G8 controllers. If competitive precision matters to you, go wired.

Trying to work out if the Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth is the one to get? Here's how it compares to other, similar controller grips.

Bluetooth 5.3, Wired (USB-C), Dongle (sold separately)

Bluetooth 5.3, Wired (USB-C), Dongle (sold separately)

Game Sir G8+ MFi The G8+ MFi is the wired, Apple-friendly equivalent from the same family. It offers MFi certification, full Game Sir app support on both i OS and Android, passthrough charging, a headphone jack, and functional back buttons on every platform. If you don't need wireless or Switch/PC compatibility, it's the more complete package.

For more information, check out our full Game Sir G8+ MFi review

Scuf Nomad The Scuf Nomad is an i Phone-only Bluetooth alternative with a lighter build, 16 hours of battery life, and an app that actually works on i OS. It's more compact, handles phone cases better, and has configurable rear paddles. The trade-off is no Android, Switch, or PC support and a higher price tag.

For more information, check out our full Scuf Nomad review

I spent several days testing across i OS, Android, PC, and mac OS, with a focus on comparing the experience to the wired G8 and G8+ MFi I'd previously reviewed.

I tested on an i Phone 17 Pro and POCO X5 Pro 5G, playing Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, and Forza Horizon 6 via Xbox Cloud Gaming on mobile, and Stardew Valley via Steam on PC. I evaluated Bluetooth connectivity, app compatibility, back button functionality, latency feel, vibration motors, and cross-platform mode switching.

With a background in sports media leading Northamptonshire cricket club’s communications for five years, these days Alex has turned his attention more to virtual grass than real turf. A fan of all things simulation and sandbox, you’ll often find him behind the wheel of an F1 sim rig or agonizing over individual rock placements in Planet Coaster or Cities: Skylines. Having streamed on Twitch for the best part of a decade, he’s tried and tested more microphones, mixers, cameras, and controllers than you can imagine, writing for Games Radar, Trusted Reviews, Mediaberry, and now Tech Radar.

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• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

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• I tested the Game Sir G8+ Bluetooth across Android and i OS — i Phone users are getting the roughest deal

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission