As a foldable phone user (fold 5) the left usb c port is a blessing in disguise. I hope gamesir launches a revision of the g8 Galileo with a left usb port 🙏
z fold 3 user here. love it. mine even does an ok job of running mario wonder on yuzu. i'm going to upgrade to a zfold 5 (depreciates too fast to jump to a 6).
Glad they updated this and kept the USB c on the left side. As niche of a case as it is, this works so much better with the Samsung fold phones, makes it so the extra screen is at the top, not the bottom. And for all other phones you have auto rotate so no problem. A nice way of hitting every market.
My current favourite, it's so good for it's price & it's competition 😊 Great video as ever. As expected you covered all bases. I love the joystick covers that came with it.
Good video Russ! I was looking at this recently. I went with a BSP G8 from Aliexpress. It was very cheap at like $23. It is bluetooth. Feels a little light in the hand, but overall I really love it so far. The buttons and sticks feel good. It can stretch REALLY wide. It has nice triggers and joy sticks. My only minor complaints are with overall comfort. It doesn't have any grips really and it has this bar in the middle which makes it a little awkward to place your fingers. The right stick and the d pad are a little cramped too. They're not in any kind of V pattern, but straight down. But man, for $23 it has really impressed me.
So nice to see you use the Surface Duo 2! It's my favorite device outside of my Steam Deck and is preferred for all my 4:3 gaming catalog in tent mode (single screen) and doubles down for DS + 3DS with 4x integer scaling. I currently use the G8 Galileo and love it, but I like the style of this one more due to the left-side usb-c which makes the DS experience look more natural rather than having the screen on the bottom and controls on the top.
Looks awesome! Question: how is the battery in this device? I heard that it is difficult to replace the battery of Surface Duos, hence why I didn’t think about buying it at all before
@@LeonardoBarbosa-qw6fp battery replacement takes a very experienced professional to take the phone apart without breaking the displays. Sourcing the battery is also another problem. So yeah, not impossible but really difficult. The battery life on the Duo isn’t that great either as is so definitely something to consider.
Do you use Frontend? I am trying daijisho on my surface duo, but it doesn't scale well across both screens, though it's still usable. Making it my default launcher slightly breaks the gestures and logic for using both screens.
Now this is finally one I feel safe about getting to try out this style of gaming with my phone. $80 for it's bigger brother was too much to swallow just to see if using this on my Samsung S23FE. Great review as always Russ!
finally, youve appreciated the "foldable" gamesir kombo. I do own a Samsung galaxy fold3 and since two month iam using a vivo x fold2 with the old gamesir X2 and its a great experience. Surely will buy the gamesir x2s and try that out as well.
I've no intention of buying a Surface Duo 2 but i would LOVE a video about setting it up! I would love u to tell us about Citra emulation, but just show footage of your actual 3DS, so we can just listen along.
Please create a dedicated guide for the Surface Duo to become an emulation workhorse! This video inspired me to research the Surface Duo for weeks and I finally took the plunge when I came across a good deal on eBay today. Thank you for always helping us with quality honest feedback!
Idk what it is with the dude but literally every vid he does feels like he was paid to do it. Dude could review a stick he found on the ground and manage to sound like a shill.
@@snowthearcticfox1used to think he’s okay but lately I question if he really knows the product he reviews, like basic android workaround with emulation, basic windows troubleshooting, etc. probably trying to push videos out too fast
It's sad that people now consider a $45 controller "cheap". Everyone is accustomed to high tariffs on tech products from China, where this controller cost like $25, tax included.
The Microsoft Duo (1) is one of my funnest purchases I've made in the past couple of years. It looks amazing in white and is a dream for ds/3ds gaming. But the mass majority of why it was such a fun purchase is because I got it so dang cheap. I only paid $200 for mine (through Amazon) in used, like new condition. It came brand new but in an open box.
Man I was waiting for this ever since your CES vid :) Love the colorway. I thought they didn't change the tablet compatibility looking at specs but I'm glad you showcased how to put really huge tablets in it without any modding. Gamesir's really been knocking it out of the park. I'm guessing they will probably make a Galileo G8S to fit tablets without modding as well. Thank you 🙏
I love my Surface Duo 1 and definitely buying this controller lol Would love to see a video of the Duo in our current climate. Trying to get a Surface duo and citra/yuzu.
I've been using a Bluetooth controller because of how off center the USBC port on the surface duo 1 is. I managed to get a wifi only surface duo for way cheaper than normal price.
I've actually been using the Gamesir x2 with my Surface Duo 1st gen to play DS games and 3DS gmes for a while now and it's been amazing. I'm thinking though if I should upgrade to a x2s though. Maybe if they make a Black variant color I will but for now I will hold off.
Annnnnnnnd just like that the value of used Surface Duo just went up cause of this video. 😅 I got the Pixel Fold myself so that duo screen 3DS would be awesome with no bezel in between.
I bought the OG Gamesir X2 controller a few years ago and absolutely loved it. The only frustration for me was the lack of analogue triggers when streaming. As soon as I saw the G8 Galileo I knew I had to have one. The only thing about the Galileo though is the lack of a carry case, and the fact that it doesn't fit in the old X2 case. The X2S would have though. 20 20 hindsight and all that.
Really appreciate the video, wanted one to use with my tablet. Purchased one while watching; thanks for the coupon code. You're bad for my wallet; at least this one is cheap. I want that surface duo too now. Keep up the good work!
Still rocking my surface duo 1 with the GamesirX2 as my primary emulation device. Pizza boy pro is awesome using one screen in portrait mode with the touch screen controls, it’s just the right thickness
Question: how is it with the battery of the Surface Duo 1? I heard that if the battery is bad and you need to replace, it is a pain to do. This is the only reason I’m not buying a used Surface Duo 1 right now but I may be wrong
@@LeonardoBarbosa-qw6fp I bought a “used” one from Woot about a year ago for ~$200. It was actually new (MS factory seals, packaging, and warranty were all good) and I only use it for emulation in airplane mode unless I need to update anything. With the above in mind, the battery will last me anywhere from 6-12ish hours depending on what I’m playing. GC, PS2, & 3DS drain the battery the quickest. Anything from psp down and the battery life is quite a bit longer. Standby can last for quite a while since it’s in airplane mode. I wouldn’t consider replacing the battery myself. The Surface duo phones are built to such a high degree of precision, I wouldn’t be confident with replacing the battery and getting it back together.
@@LeonardoBarbosa-qw6fp Mine just started having weird issues where it would turn off randomly, so there are definitely battery issues. When it was ok, it did Mario 64 for about 3 hours at full brightness. (my memory might be fuzzy, but I remember that i did it at the same time as a Switch Oled, and it was only at 50% when the duo was at like 10%)
Very interested in the Surface 2 Duo setup - I am so far very underwhelmed with the state of single-screen DS emulation so this sounds like the perfect device along with this controller!
I have been looking at the ipega to use with my tablet, do you find it works well? I have been playing with a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse but it's not so easy to play anywhere other than a table haha.
@@yatza901 Yes. It does a fine job especially the red tone one because its a bit bigger. I have an 11inch tab A. Havent tried it on my 12.4 inch yet though.
I've got the Razer Kishi V2 and love it. It's fitting is the same as this one though since I use it on my note 20 and it's camera layout on the back makes it bow a tad inward but otherwise it's nearly perfect. for bigger tablets though I'd recommend setting the tablet up against something for support and getting a wired controller to use or bluetooth if all else fails. great controller though. love that it has multiple connection settings, ie.. blue light and pressing the select/start buttons. great vid!
I chose this over the Galileo mainly because I found it easier to pack in the backpack. By the way, in my unit, they have included a few stick caps, so they must have listened to your feedback xD
GameSir has an older model designed specifically for tablets. I considered buying one a couple of years ago when I was trying to find the best way to turn an android device into a good game streaming solution. I ended up going with the PowerA xp7 and a phone, but only because I wasn't sure about the build quality of the GameSir hardware.
Been looking for a mobile controller like this, but the price wasn't right for me for other controllers. This being around $50 while also having hall effect sticks and triggers is amazing, definitely exactly what I was looking for.
There’s something about Russ telling me to get a snack and drink I find very endearing. I’m watching a video for the tech news and Russ invites me to get a snack and I just think “Thanks Russ, I’ll do that”
I see this as basically the X2 pro without the xbox branding, swappable face buttons, removing the back programmable buttons, and having the usb port on the left side instead of the right. Pretty good price point.
That original Gamesir controller was my first attempt with handheld emulation, but I could never get it to work. It would connect to my phone and Retroarch would let me map the buttons, but if I went to play a game, it just wouldn't work. After sending two of them back I just got a clip to attach my phone to my 8-bitdo SN30 Pro Plus controller which worked fine. But eventually after watching a bunch of videos by you and WulffDen I decided I wanted a dedicated handheld instead of using my phone.
what the hecc, i didn't know the surface duo was even a thing. the next phone that comes out like that with gaming buttons and an SD card slot has my money.
What I would really like to see are more controllers that let me play games on my phone in both landscape and portrait mode. Dual screen and folding devices are fun, but they have a SUPER high cost of entry. Most everyone has a "traditional" form-factor smartphone these days and allowing the phone to be held in portrait mode would allow for "DS" style gaming while having both screens in their appropriate positions without having to drop a substantial amount of money on a niche device.
My dream phone controller would be one with recessed analog sticks (like anbernic devices) for better pocketability, and with the option to hold the phone either vertically or horizontally. I mostly play games on devices other than my phone, but dual screen gaming is just better on my phone because of the touch screen and aligning two screens when holding the phone vertically. Of course if you have these kinds of two screen phones it solves the issue as well, but if not, holding the phone vertically is just the only good option to show both screens at a reasonable size. I know the port wouldn't align so it would probably be a bt controller but still an idea.
I'd love to see a full video on the Surface Duo 2. How is it in the single screen mode? It looked fine in the video, but I know it doesn't fold fully flat.
I've had my eyes on the other one like this that also had dome switches, definitely a big win if this really is cheaper than that when all is said and done. The only thing I could think would make it any better is being officially licensed with PlayStation while having the same exact design so it works out of the box with remote play (yes I know alternatives exist but that's not what this bit is about)
Thank you for this review! Something I don't totally get, is why you don't ever mention the X2 Pro that's been out for a while. I mean, it's basically obsolete now because of the X2S, but it is really similar. Only difference is, no Hall technology, and the USB port is on the right side.
Feel like for tablets (and in my case, the LG V60 w/ Dual Screen case [cheaper Duo alternative @ $200]), its best to go with the BSP controllers (D8 or D9) for the time being. Bluetooth doesn't seem too bad unless you're planning to do streaming possibly. But I do think they are priced pretty competitively for what they feature, it just an Aliexpress purchase, so QC and shipping would be the trade offs. And the D9 in particular is funny enough to be the "we have the Playstation Portal at home" controller
Gen 5 is the most progressive era in video gaming. We forget 3DO, Jaguar, 32X, and CD32 were part of it as well. PS1 is my all-time favorite home console. It’s the one I played the longest (1996-2002) and played and beaten the most games for. It made sense I played that one the most since I was in high school from 1995-1999 and didn’t get a car until after it. Final Fantasy VII and Tekken 3 are two of my top 3 favorite games of all-time. I poured in thousands and thousands of hours on them. Beaten FF7 at least four times. I also played tons of Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer and R4, WipEout, Tekken 2, Parasite Eve, Xenogears, and beat every Final Fantasy mainline from IV-IX + Tactics on a PS1. On my hacked PSP and Vita slims, I have more PS1 games than PSP games. About 16-17 to PSP’s 13-14. As great as Gen 6 was and what a graphical leap we got going from PS1 to PS2, I didn’t enjoy my PS2 as much as I did with my PS1. I was already working, had my own condo, and had a girlfriend that I wasn’t able to game as much as I did as a 90s teenager. Now PS1 and N64 are difficult to revisit thanks the very pixelated and outdated 3D graphics. The Saturn’s library ended up aging better thanks to it’s 2D prowess. Saturn became the ultimate Sega 2D MAME machine. But in terms of LIVING DURING THAT GENERATION, Gen 5 is my personal favorite. Great time to be a PS1 owner from 1996-1999. The only two games I do replay from the PS1 era are FF7 and Tekken 3. The latter is a game I mastered and once beat my college buddy and cousin by going 56-0 against them using mostly Mokujin while high on Ecstasy and weed. FFX is my favorite game on PS2 but I still love FF7 and Tekken 3 more. And I do prefer Tekken 3 over 4 and 5 on PS2. My favorite library to revisit is Gen 4. I still play Super Mario World, Sonic 1 & 2, and Street Fighter II (Genesis’ SF2SCE and MAME’s SSF2) when I want to kill a quick 10-15 minutes. The 2D platformers from Gen 3 and 4 are pretty much timeless to replay. I can play Super Mario Bros. 1-3 and World when I reach my 70s and 80s. They’re infinitely replayable. *Gen* *8:* *My* *New* *Favorite?* Hear me out. In Gen 8, we got the Switch which many can argue is the GOAT Nintendo product. Now I’m not a fan of PS4 and Xbone’s AAA library or the obvious complaints about micro-transactions and DLCs. Or how digital games are disappearing from online stores. Or how online, first-person shooters, and open world gameplay can be redundant and rather boring. There’s a lot to complain about with Gen 8 and is probably why Gen 9 is heading into a video game crash not seen in over 40 years. And with our smartphones and tablets with the ability to play games with a Kishi, Backbone, or DualShock 4, the console market model is becoming archaic. Who needs them with PCs and endless PC handhelds coming out? But what made Gen 8 special are indies/mobile games. I feel indies resurrected 2D platformers that Gen 5 and 6 lacked. It’s like taking Gen 4 libraries and modernizing them. I’m a big Top Gear fan from the Super Nintendo’s days and Horizon Chase which is a modern reboot of it is the better game. I think Oddmar is a better platformer than most 2D platformers I played in the Genesis/Super NES era minus Super Mario World and Sonic 2. We have a lot to whine about with Gen 8 but we also have a lot to be happy about. Vita is also part of Gen 8 even though it’s a souped up Gen 6 home console while Switch has Gen 7 specs. Hard to believe Vita has the same SoC as an iPhone 4S!! But think how small the Switch is and it’s more powerful than a PS3 which originally weighed 11 lbs! Steam Deck is part of Gen 9 but with Gen 8 specs. Portable gaming is the future. No time to be tethered to a TV. Only nostalgia tells us the past is better. Nostalgia is the acne cream of the past. Give me a Steam Deck, Switch, and a PS Vita and you can have all your home consoles and handhelds from the 1970s-2000s. *512* *+* *512* I do have a 512 GB LCD Steam Deck I got for $250 from OfferUp over three weeks ago. Then bought a Kingston 512 GB microSD for $25 from OfferUp which was sealed, btw. I definitely can survive with 1 TB combined. Reason being is I don’t plan to use EmuDeck for it. I have a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 with Snapdragon 888 that can play up to GameCube/PS2 pretty well. I only plan to have maybe 10-12 games on the Deck which are AAA titles released within the last 15 years since I stopped console gaming between 2008-2016. I missed out on the PS3 during it’s heyday. Then the PS4 slim I did get in 2017, I didn’t really game much on it. I got more into phones by 2004, so my interest in gaming waned by the time the iPhone came out. My Steam Deck is basically being used as a portable PS4/Xbone. I only want games that I always wanted to play but never did. I also notice if I have too many games, I won’t end up finishing a game because my ADHD will want to play another game. I’m better off limiting my library so I can beat all the games I have. I’m good with my 512 + 512 combination. With the Steam Deck, it’s more about quality over quantity. I want to make sure every game I have on it is a banger. “The name of the game is the game.” - Peter Main, Nintendo
Oh dude, now I’m feeling some buyers remorse about the New 3DS I upgraded to this week! I should have gotten this and a Surface Duo, that’s PERFECT!! I.. think I might actually be returning this lol
I was wondering why they put the USB connector on the left side this time around... but after seeing the DS use case for it, I'm impressed that they really considered that.
I had a gamesir x2 pro but gave it to my nephew cuz I didn’t like the Dpad nor ergonomics of it, it’s too cramped for dpad gaming. I too cut out the side padding to use it with a phone case. I ended up getting a Shanwan on Amazon and it’s become my favorite. I plan to use with a folding phone once I get one. It’s Bluetooth but feels responsive and it has one of the best dpads I’ve ever used.
Russ I'll be honest, I was mostly interested in the duo 2, but I'm not sure now, maybe a bigger foldable phone video? Can focus on the duo 2 but there's a 3 now? It's very cool, but perhaps a giant single screen is the way instead, hard to say. Vs steam oled might be nice
Needs light up buttons like the q11 and rumble capabilities. It also needs skinwrap support for customizing and it's marketing should say what accessories are compatible with it, like which thumb grips would best fit it. It's appearance is basic. But according to the review the dpad is very responsive which is something that lacks in many modern day gamepads, oddly.
Seems like a variation of their X2 Pro, just with the ports on the left instead of right and some feature upgrades in the firmware carried over from the G8. The triggers on the X2 Pro looked just like these, too.
Just a heads up. I separated my x2s to use with my tablet and basically broke it. I suppose the springs also work as some sort of connection between both sides of the device. My one stretched too far i think and the springs seemed dislodged and it stopped working. I wouldnt advise breaking it open to extend it
Thanks so much for this ! I wondered if you have an idea of the power drain on the phone when not in use ? I tried a Backbone, but returned it because I want to use it with a dedicated android phone, and it completely discharged the phone overnight. Again, thank you so much for your totally informative videos !
There was also ZTE Axon, guess that one would be much cheaper if you could grab it, but a bit weak. Maybe foldable phones could also work? Those are actually getting popular. Hope you'll test Ipega PG-9167. That one actually seems pretty decent, while being even cheaper. Also, I'm being a bit selfish, as I can actually get that one over here.
The video ended up being more of a showcase of the surface duo 🤣
Great video Russ!!
As a foldable phone user (fold 5) the left usb c port is a blessing in disguise. I hope gamesir launches a revision of the g8 Galileo with a left usb port 🙏
That's the reason I orderd my controller today.
Here with my Pixel 9 Pro Fold looking for a controller that will fit my phone well 😅
z fold 3 user here. love it. mine even does an ok job of running mario wonder on yuzu. i'm going to upgrade to a zfold 5 (depreciates too fast to jump to a 6).
Yes, I would love to see phones with the dual screen option
I used to have the Surface Duo and it was genuinely a terrible experience.
I feel this can be a good option to play older pc strategy games as long as that crease is small enough
I forget the company but there was one that had a case that would add the second screen. Really cool.
@@007NateNasty mmm i think lg velvet
@@007NateNastysounds like my LG V60
Glad they updated this and kept the USB c on the left side. As niche of a case as it is, this works so much better with the Samsung fold phones, makes it so the extra screen is at the top, not the bottom. And for all other phones you have auto rotate so no problem. A nice way of hitting every market.
Agreed. I highly appreciate GameSir for doing this despite how small the userbase for this particular instance would be for.
Thank you Gamesir for keeping the USB C on the left for all us Fold phone and Microsoft Duo users! We greatly appreciate it
Finally someone that understands what this controller is for! The other reviews didn't even mention the reversed usbc at all
Absolutely i would love to see a video about emulation on the surface duo! I've been waiting for that for a long time! 😊
Definitely would love a review and setup of the Duo 2. That’s amazing.
Agreed especially for ds gaming
i want the review too!
I'm happy to see you enjoying the Duo, and thanks for showing off my controller popping skills! 😂Great video sir! - Stubbs
it defenitly would be scary to *break it**
Definitely would LOVE to see a video on the surface duo 2 to your standard of video, I love how in depth and detailed you always are!
My current favourite, it's so good for it's price & it's competition 😊 Great video as ever. As expected you covered all bases. I love the joystick covers that came with it.
Thanks Russ , soo happy to see you answered my video request about the surface duo emulating DS/3DS. Now the setup video pleeaassee😂
I second this request
3rd 😂
4th
I wish it was available in more color schemes, maybe soon. Thank you for the proper review! Planning to buy this for my Fold 4.
Good video Russ! I was looking at this recently. I went with a BSP G8 from Aliexpress. It was very cheap at like $23. It is bluetooth. Feels a little light in the hand, but overall I really love it so far. The buttons and sticks feel good. It can stretch REALLY wide. It has nice triggers and joy sticks. My only minor complaints are with overall comfort. It doesn't have any grips really and it has this bar in the middle which makes it a little awkward to place your fingers. The right stick and the d pad are a little cramped too. They're not in any kind of V pattern, but straight down. But man, for $23 it has really impressed me.
I bought one over the weekend. It even works with my Samsung s24+ with a (not-thin) phone case. Ymmv
I didn't expect that. I've got the otterbox defender and I use the x2 Bluetooth, because I thought my case would be too big.
@@SpeedsterBlur OtterBox might be too thick, even with the rubber bumpers removed.
So nice to see you use the Surface Duo 2! It's my favorite device outside of my Steam Deck and is preferred for all my 4:3 gaming catalog in tent mode (single screen) and doubles down for DS + 3DS with 4x integer scaling. I currently use the G8 Galileo and love it, but I like the style of this one more due to the left-side usb-c which makes the DS experience look more natural rather than having the screen on the bottom and controls on the top.
Looks awesome! Question: how is the battery in this device? I heard that it is difficult to replace the battery of Surface Duos, hence why I didn’t think about buying it at all before
@@LeonardoBarbosa-qw6fp battery replacement takes a very experienced professional to take the phone apart without breaking the displays. Sourcing the battery is also another problem. So yeah, not impossible but really difficult. The battery life on the Duo isn’t that great either as is so definitely something to consider.
Do you use Frontend? I am trying daijisho on my surface duo, but it doesn't scale well across both screens, though it's still usable. Making it my default launcher slightly breaks the gestures and logic for using both screens.
Nice review, I use gamesir x2 (bluetooth) with my ipad mini6 over 2 years, playing DS is flawless.
Now this is finally one I feel safe about getting to try out this style of gaming with my phone. $80 for it's bigger brother was too much to swallow just to see if using this on my Samsung S23FE. Great review as always Russ!
finally, youve appreciated the "foldable" gamesir kombo. I do own a Samsung galaxy fold3 and since two month iam using a vivo x fold2 with the old gamesir X2 and its a great experience. Surely will buy the gamesir x2s and try that out as well.
Had Fold 3 before flex mode cables broke under the hinge. Such a great smartphone for 4:3 gaming. Wish it lasted longer for me.
I've no intention of buying a Surface Duo 2 but i would LOVE a video about setting it up! I would love u to tell us about Citra emulation, but just show footage of your actual 3DS, so we can just listen along.
Man, I _really_ hope they make a version of the Galileo that can fit a tablet without modification...
Just pulled the trigger on this on your recommendation! Thanks for all of your amazing, in-depth reviews!
Finally a controller perfect for the foldables!! So glad they kept the USB-C on the left but gave it analog triggers and the xbox controller layout!
Please create a dedicated guide for the Surface Duo to become an emulation workhorse!
This video inspired me to research the Surface Duo for weeks and I finally took the plunge when I came across a good deal on eBay today.
Thank you for always helping us with quality honest feedback!
Thank you for actually using it on a dual screen phone unlike ETA sub prime
Was annoyed on that clickbait
Idk what it is with the dude but literally every vid he does feels like he was paid to do it. Dude could review a stick he found on the ground and manage to sound like a shill.
@@snowthearcticfox1used to think he’s okay but lately I question if he really knows the product he reviews, like basic android workaround with emulation, basic windows troubleshooting, etc. probably trying to push videos out too fast
@@snowthearcticfox1they're not reviews. He's just showing things off
ETA prime channel sucks. I unsubscribed a year ago.
Nice review. I like these style of controllers but I hate how wide it feels when using them with phones vs an actual handheld.
Yeah, I have the old X2. I use it mostly for drastic and it's great but it takes a while to get used to how wide it feels
Thank you for the in depth review. It really helps for making an informed purchase. Great video!
just bought one. i really like it. the boxiness makes it a big easier to transport.
It's sad that people now consider a $45 controller "cheap". Everyone is accustomed to high tariffs on tech products from China, where this controller cost like $25, tax included.
Coming from previous telescopic controllers, this one is not too expensive. The backbone was $100 and kishi was like $80.
@@Kirby5588controllers shouldn’t be more than $60, you get an Xbox controlle that will last you a life time
Backbone is crazy for ever charging that much for that controller @@Kirby5588
wait 'til you see what they consider as "budget handhelds"
that's because the us raised import duties. if it's too expensive make and sell some in the us to compete.
The slow charge is actually great, fast charging will heat up the phone and while gaming even more so
The Microsoft Duo (1) is one of my funnest purchases I've made in the past couple of years. It looks amazing in white and is a dream for ds/3ds gaming.
But the mass majority of why it was such a fun purchase is because I got it so dang cheap. I only paid $200 for mine (through Amazon) in used, like new condition. It came brand new but in an open box.
I have the surface duo and I love it. I'm excited to try this controller
Man I was waiting for this ever since your CES vid :) Love the colorway. I thought they didn't change the tablet compatibility looking at specs but I'm glad you showcased how to put really huge tablets in it without any modding. Gamesir's really been knocking it out of the park. I'm guessing they will probably make a Galileo G8S to fit tablets without modding as well. Thank you 🙏
I love my Surface Duo 1 and definitely buying this controller lol
Would love to see a video of the Duo in our current climate.
Trying to get a Surface duo and citra/yuzu.
I've been using a Bluetooth controller because of how off center the USBC port on the surface duo 1 is. I managed to get a wifi only surface duo for way cheaper than normal price.
Full video about emulation on the Surface Duo 2, please!
I've actually been using the Gamesir x2 with my Surface Duo 1st gen to play DS games and 3DS gmes for a while now and it's been amazing. I'm thinking though if I should upgrade to a x2s though. Maybe if they make a Black variant color I will but for now I will hold off.
Would love to see a video on the surface duo 2.
Annnnnnnnd just like that the value of used Surface Duo just went up cause of this video. 😅
I got the Pixel Fold myself so that duo screen 3DS would be awesome with no bezel in between.
Very unexpected but also exciting recommendation! Thanks, dude.
Lol at my legitimate "HOLY CRAP" reaction at CES 😂
I bought the OG Gamesir X2 controller a few years ago and absolutely loved it. The only frustration for me was the lack of analogue triggers when streaming. As soon as I saw the G8 Galileo I knew I had to have one. The only thing about the Galileo though is the lack of a carry case, and the fact that it doesn't fit in the old X2 case. The X2S would have though. 20 20 hindsight and all that.
Really appreciate the video, wanted one to use with my tablet. Purchased one while watching; thanks for the coupon code.
You're bad for my wallet; at least this one is cheap. I want that surface duo too now.
Keep up the good work!
Awesome work as always Russ, would love to see you do a breakdown on the dual screen Windows phone!
Still rocking my surface duo 1 with the GamesirX2 as my primary emulation device.
Pizza boy pro is awesome using one screen in portrait mode with the touch screen controls, it’s just the right thickness
Question: how is it with the battery of the Surface Duo 1? I heard that if the battery is bad and you need to replace, it is a pain to do. This is the only reason I’m not buying a used Surface Duo 1 right now but I may be wrong
@@LeonardoBarbosa-qw6fp I bought a “used” one from Woot about a year ago for ~$200. It was actually new (MS factory seals, packaging, and warranty were all good) and I only use it for emulation in airplane mode unless I need to update anything.
With the above in mind, the battery will last me anywhere from 6-12ish hours depending on what I’m playing. GC, PS2, & 3DS drain the battery the quickest. Anything from psp down and the battery life is quite a bit longer. Standby can last for quite a while since it’s in airplane mode.
I wouldn’t consider replacing the battery myself. The Surface duo phones are built to such a high degree of precision, I wouldn’t be confident with replacing the battery and getting it back together.
@@LeonardoBarbosa-qw6fp Mine just started having weird issues where it would turn off randomly, so there are definitely battery issues. When it was ok, it did Mario 64 for about 3 hours at full brightness. (my memory might be fuzzy, but I remember that i did it at the same time as a Switch Oled, and it was only at 50% when the duo was at like 10%)
Absolutely up for watching a vid on the dual screen phone. 🤩
Very interested in the Surface 2 Duo setup - I am so far very underwhelmed with the state of single-screen DS emulation so this sounds like the perfect device along with this controller!
I really liked the Ipega ones because they can handle large tablets. I got both versions but adored them.
Thanks for the review❤
I have been looking at the ipega to use with my tablet, do you find it works well? I have been playing with a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse but it's not so easy to play anywhere other than a table haha.
@@yatza901 Yes. It does a fine job especially the red tone one because its a bit bigger. I have an 11inch tab A. Havent tried it on my 12.4 inch yet though.
@@digitizer3627 yeah sweet, next time I have some spare cash I'll order one. I have a lenovo m10 plus, works great for in home game streaming.
I've got the Razer Kishi V2 and love it. It's fitting is the same as this one though since I use it on my note 20 and it's camera layout on the back makes it bow a tad inward but otherwise it's nearly perfect. for bigger tablets though I'd recommend setting the tablet up against something for support and getting a wired controller to use or bluetooth if all else fails. great controller though. love that it has multiple connection settings, ie.. blue light and pressing the select/start buttons. great vid!
Wanted to buy g8 galileo but i got x2s for a crazy deal fpr literally a price of a normal cup of coffee.
It was an instant buy.
Looks like it’ll work with my pixel 8!! Thanks for review!
Best review on this model!! Showcase the selling points that MATTER!!
I chose this over the Galileo mainly because I found it easier to pack in the backpack. By the way, in my unit, they have included a few stick caps, so they must have listened to your feedback xD
GameSir has an older model designed specifically for tablets. I considered buying one a couple of years ago when I was trying to find the best way to turn an android device into a good game streaming solution. I ended up going with the PowerA xp7 and a phone, but only because I wasn't sure about the build quality of the GameSir hardware.
Been looking for a mobile controller like this, but the price wasn't right for me for other controllers. This being around $50 while also having hall effect sticks and triggers is amazing, definitely exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks for reviewing this and I agree with everything you said including with my Oppo Find N3
There’s something about Russ telling me to get a snack and drink I find very endearing. I’m watching a video for the tech news and Russ invites me to get a snack and I just think “Thanks Russ, I’ll do that”
thats so cool, wondering if there are any other similar duo phones that can work as well. Really thorough video per usual russ
I see this as basically the X2 pro without the xbox branding, swappable face buttons, removing the back programmable buttons, and having the usb port on the left side instead of the right. Pretty good price point.
That original Gamesir controller was my first attempt with handheld emulation, but I could never get it to work. It would connect to my phone and Retroarch would let me map the buttons, but if I went to play a game, it just wouldn't work.
After sending two of them back I just got a clip to attach my phone to my 8-bitdo SN30 Pro Plus controller which worked fine. But eventually after watching a bunch of videos by you and WulffDen I decided I wanted a dedicated handheld instead of using my phone.
what the hecc, i didn't know the surface duo was even a thing. the next phone that comes out like that with gaming buttons and an SD card slot has my money.
What I would really like to see are more controllers that let me play games on my phone in both landscape and portrait mode. Dual screen and folding devices are fun, but they have a SUPER high cost of entry. Most everyone has a "traditional" form-factor smartphone these days and allowing the phone to be held in portrait mode would allow for "DS" style gaming while having both screens in their appropriate positions without having to drop a substantial amount of money on a niche device.
I would love to see a surface pro duo video. You making me wish I caught woot sales on that phone when they had extra stock
Please make a full video on the phone!! I’ve been contemplating picking one up for the ultimate Ds!
I’m excited for mine to come in! Just ordered it ❤😅 hopefully playing my gba games on delta will be more enjoyable
"Historical Footage" awesome! Please keep covering Swtich and 3DS emulation.
My dream phone controller would be one with recessed analog sticks (like anbernic devices) for better pocketability, and with the option to hold the phone either vertically or horizontally.
I mostly play games on devices other than my phone, but dual screen gaming is just better on my phone because of the touch screen and aligning two screens when holding the phone vertically. Of course if you have these kinds of two screen phones it solves the issue as well, but if not, holding the phone vertically is just the only good option to show both screens at a reasonable size. I know the port wouldn't align so it would probably be a bt controller but still an idea.
I'd love to see a full video on the Surface Duo 2. How is it in the single screen mode? It looked fine in the video, but I know it doesn't fold fully flat.
I'm using BSP-D6, bought for around $14 + shipping. Buttons and dpad are a bit stiff, but otherwise it's quite nice for its price
I've had my eyes on the other one like this that also had dome switches, definitely a big win if this really is cheaper than that when all is said and done.
The only thing I could think would make it any better is being officially licensed with PlayStation while having the same exact design so it works out of the box with remote play (yes I know alternatives exist but that's not what this bit is about)
Thank you for this review! Something I don't totally get, is why you don't ever mention the X2 Pro that's been out for a while. I mean, it's basically obsolete now because of the X2S, but it is really similar. Only difference is, no Hall technology, and the USB port is on the right side.
The extra rubber is for the camera- since they're placed high the thick rubber pushes it away from the plastic
Feel like for tablets (and in my case, the LG V60 w/ Dual Screen case [cheaper Duo alternative @ $200]), its best to go with the BSP controllers (D8 or D9) for the time being. Bluetooth doesn't seem too bad unless you're planning to do streaming possibly. But I do think they are priced pretty competitively for what they feature, it just an Aliexpress purchase, so QC and shipping would be the trade offs.
And the D9 in particular is funny enough to be the "we have the Playstation Portal at home" controller
Gen 5 is the most progressive era in video gaming. We forget 3DO, Jaguar, 32X, and CD32 were part of it as well. PS1 is my all-time favorite home console. It’s the one I played the longest (1996-2002) and played and beaten the most games for. It made sense I played that one the most since I was in high school from 1995-1999 and didn’t get a car until after it.
Final Fantasy VII and Tekken 3 are two of my top 3 favorite games of all-time. I poured in thousands and thousands of hours on them. Beaten FF7 at least four times. I also played tons of Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer and R4, WipEout, Tekken 2, Parasite Eve, Xenogears, and beat every Final Fantasy mainline from IV-IX + Tactics on a PS1.
On my hacked PSP and Vita slims, I have more PS1 games than PSP games. About 16-17 to PSP’s 13-14. As great as Gen 6 was and what a graphical leap we got going from PS1 to PS2, I didn’t enjoy my PS2 as much as I did with my PS1. I was already working, had my own condo, and had a girlfriend that I wasn’t able to game as much as I did as a 90s teenager.
Now PS1 and N64 are difficult to revisit thanks the very pixelated and outdated 3D graphics. The Saturn’s library ended up aging better thanks to it’s 2D prowess. Saturn became the ultimate Sega 2D MAME machine. But in terms of LIVING DURING THAT GENERATION, Gen 5 is my personal favorite. Great time to be a PS1 owner from 1996-1999.
The only two games I do replay from the PS1 era are FF7 and Tekken 3. The latter is a game I mastered and once beat my college buddy and cousin by going 56-0 against them using mostly Mokujin while high on Ecstasy and weed. FFX is my favorite game on PS2 but I still love FF7 and Tekken 3 more. And I do prefer Tekken 3 over 4 and 5 on PS2.
My favorite library to revisit is Gen 4. I still play Super Mario World, Sonic 1 & 2, and Street Fighter II (Genesis’ SF2SCE and MAME’s SSF2) when I want to kill a quick 10-15 minutes. The 2D platformers from Gen 3 and 4 are pretty much timeless to replay. I can play Super Mario Bros. 1-3 and World when I reach my 70s and 80s. They’re infinitely replayable.
*Gen* *8:* *My* *New* *Favorite?*
Hear me out. In Gen 8, we got the Switch which many can argue is the GOAT Nintendo product. Now I’m not a fan of PS4 and Xbone’s AAA library or the obvious complaints about micro-transactions and DLCs. Or how digital games are disappearing from online stores. Or how online, first-person shooters, and open world gameplay can be redundant and rather boring.
There’s a lot to complain about with Gen 8 and is probably why Gen 9 is heading into a video game crash not seen in over 40 years. And with our smartphones and tablets with the ability to play games with a Kishi, Backbone, or DualShock 4, the console market model is becoming archaic. Who needs them with PCs and endless PC handhelds coming out? But what made Gen 8 special are indies/mobile games.
I feel indies resurrected 2D platformers that Gen 5 and 6 lacked. It’s like taking Gen 4 libraries and modernizing them. I’m a big Top Gear fan from the Super Nintendo’s days and Horizon Chase which is a modern reboot of it is the better game. I think Oddmar is a better platformer than most 2D platformers I played in the Genesis/Super NES era minus Super Mario World and Sonic 2.
We have a lot to whine about with Gen 8 but we also have a lot to be happy about. Vita is also part of Gen 8 even though it’s a souped up Gen 6 home console while Switch has Gen 7 specs. Hard to believe Vita has the same SoC as an iPhone 4S!! But think how small the Switch is and it’s more powerful than a PS3 which originally weighed 11 lbs! Steam Deck is part of Gen 9 but with Gen 8 specs.
Portable gaming is the future. No time to be tethered to a TV. Only nostalgia tells us the past is better. Nostalgia is the acne cream of the past. Give me a Steam Deck, Switch, and a PS Vita and you can have all your home consoles and handhelds from the 1970s-2000s.
*512* *+* *512*
I do have a 512 GB LCD Steam Deck I got for $250 from OfferUp over three weeks ago. Then bought a Kingston 512 GB microSD for $25 from OfferUp which was sealed, btw. I definitely can survive with 1 TB combined. Reason being is I don’t plan to use EmuDeck for it. I have a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 with Snapdragon 888 that can play up to GameCube/PS2 pretty well.
I only plan to have maybe 10-12 games on the Deck which are AAA titles released within the last 15 years since I stopped console gaming between 2008-2016. I missed out on the PS3 during it’s heyday. Then the PS4 slim I did get in 2017, I didn’t really game much on it. I got more into phones by 2004, so my interest in gaming waned by the time the iPhone came out.
My Steam Deck is basically being used as a portable PS4/Xbone. I only want games that I always wanted to play but never did. I also notice if I have too many games, I won’t end up finishing a game because my ADHD will want to play another game. I’m better off limiting my library so I can beat all the games I have.
I’m good with my 512 + 512 combination. With the Steam Deck, it’s more about quality over quantity. I want to make sure every game I have on it is a banger.
“The name of the game is the game.”
- Peter Main, Nintendo
Yoshi's Island looks beautiful on this device.
Oh dude, now I’m feeling some buyers remorse about the New 3DS I upgraded to this week! I should have gotten this and a Surface Duo, that’s PERFECT!!
I.. think I might actually be returning this lol
I was wondering why they put the USB connector on the left side this time around... but after seeing the DS use case for it, I'm impressed that they really considered that.
Can you review bsp d8 please
I had a gamesir x2 pro but gave it to my nephew cuz I didn’t like the Dpad nor ergonomics of it, it’s too cramped for dpad gaming. I too cut out the side padding to use it with a phone case. I ended up getting a Shanwan on Amazon and it’s become my favorite. I plan to use with a folding phone once I get one. It’s Bluetooth but feels responsive and it has one of the best dpads I’ve ever used.
I have X2 pro & I really love it.
Russ, please do a dedicated video for the Surface Duo. Would love to get your insights.
Please make that video on the surface duo 2. It looks like a dream setup for 3ds
This and a steam deck dual screen tutorial would be cool.
Awesome review Russ
11:11 Is no one gonna talk about how VIOLENTLY hes handing this controller?!
Russ I'll be honest, I was mostly interested in the duo 2, but I'm not sure now, maybe a bigger foldable phone video? Can focus on the duo 2 but there's a 3 now? It's very cool, but perhaps a giant single screen is the way instead, hard to say. Vs steam oled might be nice
Wow, I just got an iPhone 15 and had to get a new controller for it for gamepass! This looks perfect!
Surface Duo prices about to sky rocket on eBay.
Needs light up buttons like the q11 and rumble capabilities. It also needs skinwrap support for customizing and it's marketing should say what accessories are compatible with it, like which thumb grips would best fit it.
It's appearance is basic. But according to the review the dpad is very responsive which is something that lacks in many modern day gamepads, oddly.
Thankyou for covering this, I have a foldable and all controllers make the phone sit funny on the foldables
Seems like a variation of their X2 Pro, just with the ports on the left instead of right and some feature upgrades in the firmware carried over from the G8. The triggers on the X2 Pro looked just like these, too.
Goodbye kishi, Hello Gamesir X26!
I think it's awesome that this company decided to turn a community mod on one of their controllers into a stock feature on their next controller.
Just a heads up. I separated my x2s to use with my tablet and basically broke it.
I suppose the springs also work as some sort of connection between both sides of the device. My one stretched too far i think and the springs seemed dislodged and it stopped working.
I wouldnt advise breaking it open to extend it
I used the x2 pro controller with a used android phone and works great. Living Europe it was a a cheaper option then emulation handheld.
Sick video, would love to see monster hunter 4 ultimate emulated on the surface duo 2, honestly any monster hunter game being emulated!
Thanks so much for this ! I wondered if you have an idea of the power drain on the phone when not in use ? I tried a Backbone, but returned it because I want to use it with a dedicated android phone, and it completely discharged the phone overnight. Again, thank you so much for your totally informative videos !
Finally. A good video on my emulation fantasy. The perfect HD DS
YES FULL VIDEO PLEASE!
There was also ZTE Axon, guess that one would be much cheaper if you could grab it, but a bit weak. Maybe foldable phones could also work? Those are actually getting popular.
Hope you'll test Ipega PG-9167. That one actually seems pretty decent, while being even cheaper. Also, I'm being a bit selfish, as I can actually get that one over here.
Hey Russ, would love to see you review the BSP bluetooth controller series.