GameSir G4s Wireless Controller (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

Name: GameSir G4s Wireless Controller
Item: GameSir G4s Wireless Controller
Rating: 7.7
Author: Prans

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 15, 2017

I saw this since i had the g3s controller myself, is not a bad controller, but the only thing i dislike about it is i can't use it on my pc without that usb wireless thing, i wish i can just use the wireless network feature on my pc with this buy i can't, i NEED that usb dongle thing which is bad when it breaks or goes missing cause is so small. This one in the review least has a place to store it in the controller, still it be nice to use it without that thing.

As for my android, i use it on android tv, which works well with x-input since is a nvidia tv android, the normal android support isn't so bad, but i want best support, and x-input has vibration. As for the button light being bright, you should be able to turn it off with a button combination (I think hold the two shoulder buttons for 5 seconds) You'll wanna do that anyway to extend wireless battery.

If you ask me, at first I liked the controller cause of the wide range support for systems, but the controller feels cheap material and not always comfortable, is also hard to mash buttons (rapidly press down) when i need to in some games and i sometimes switch between controllers. I guess that why they added turbo anyway cause they knew.

If this "Upgrade" hasn't fixed most of the problems the last one had, is probably better to just find a new brand of controllers.

Onepunchbruh · Apr 15, 2017

I got dual shock 4 that is the best controller for PC.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 15, 2017

Haider Raza said:
I got dual shock 4 that is the best controller for PC.

How do you use it on pc with no x-input support? Also is it wireless? :wtf:

Onepunchbruh · Apr 15, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
How do you use it on pc with no x-input support? Also is it wireless?

https://github.com/Jays2Kings/DS4Windows/releases

I use Bluetooth adapter for wireless.

Prans · Apr 15, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
If you ask me, at first I liked the controller cause of the wide range support for systems, but the controller feels cheap material and not always comfortable, is also hard to mash buttons (rapidly press down) when i need to in some games and i sometimes switch between controllers. I guess that why they added turbo anyway cause they knew.

If this "Upgrade" hasn't fixed most of the problems the last one had, is probably better to just find a new brand of controllers.

This one feels comfortable and like a quality product except for the shoulder buttons. As for mashing the buttons, I don't find it hard to do so. They are easy to press and responsive.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 15, 2017

Prans said:
This one feels comfortable and like a quality product except for the shoulder buttons. As for mashing the buttons, I don't find it hard to do so. They are easy to press and responsive.

Well my statement was about the last model g3s, so maybe the new one in this review was improved. Of course the best way to test mashing buttons is a game running at 60FPS like mega man, sonic spindash, or track and field for nes.

Prans · Apr 15, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Well my statement was about the last model g3s, so maybe the new one in this review was improved. Of course the best way to test mashing buttons is a game running at 60FPS like mega man, sonic spindash, or track and field for nes.

Yes, I got that you meant with the G3s but I was only sharing what the situation is like the the G4s

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 15, 2017

Prans said:
Yes, I got that you meant with the G3s but I was only sharing what the situation is like the the G4s

I thought about buying one but the price is so high and my previous use of g3s made me skeptical so i dunno now, maybe a sale i'll have to wait for. Or get the new nvidia controller... if it can work on my pc as well. Not sure what the deal with the usb wireless thing was. Is nice to have if your system doesn't have bluetooth but the fact you needed on pc when you still do have bluetooth is crazy.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 15, 2017

I forgot to mention, i actually looked for a way to use it on pc without the wireless usb, it says it uses wifi 2.4GHZ, but when i try to connect it, still uses bluetooth, i dunno if one way exist. The usb wireless seem to not be working anymore, when i plug it in, is small fragile and feel cheap durability, they really should have tried a bit more to think about this.

J-Machine · Apr 15, 2017

so you said the backlight can't be adjusted but can it be turned off completely? I refuse to by any rgb or backlighted product that I can't turn off. also how is the dpad for retro gaming?

VinLark · Apr 16, 2017

Haider Raza said:
I got dual shock 4 that is the best controller for PC.

Funny meme

Xbox for life

Prans · Apr 16, 2017

J-Machine said:
so you said the backlight can't be adjusted but can it be turned off completely? I refuse to by any rgb or backlighted product that I can't turn off. also how is the dpad for retro gaming?

I couldn't get the backlight to turn off even by pressing the shoulder buttons as @Sonic Angel Knight suggested. If there is a way to do so it reflects again the lack of important info in the User Manual is lacking.

As for the D-pad, it's responsive and not hard to press. I've used it momentarily in the Super Mario Bros. test video. You can also use the left analog stick to control seamlessly.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 16, 2017

Prans said:
I couldn't get the backlight to turn off even by pressing the shoulder buttons as @Sonic Angel Knight suggested. If there is a way to do so it reflects again the lack of important info in the User Manual is lacking.

As for the D-pad, it's responsive and not hard to press. I've used it momentarily in the Super Mario Bros. test video. You can also use the left analog stick to control seamlessly.

Pressing “L2+R2+R3” , and then press “D-Pad Up/Down buttons to adjust the brightness of the button lights. According to the manual.

Prans · Apr 16, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Pressing “L2+R2+R3” , and then press “D-Pad Up/Down buttons to adjust the brightness of the button lights. According to the manual.

Still doesn't change anything...

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 16, 2017

Prans said:
Still doesn't change anything...

I was just reading the manual

http://www.gamesir.hk/upload/usermanual/G4sMannual.pdf

Prans · Apr 16, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Pressing “L2+R2+R3” , and then press “D-Pad Up/Down buttons to adjust the brightness of the button lights. According to the manual.

Okay, it wokrs but I had to be connected to my PC to adjust it but the lowest brightness level is still too bright in my opinion :/

calagan · Apr 16, 2017

I have to say I find the review quite severe and you give this at least a 8.5.
I also expect the price to drop, because I bought mine around Christmas while traveling in China for CNY230, which is currently about $33.

My only grief would be that it's not convenient to carry around the tiny adapter (shown at the top left of the 3rd photo) required to mount larger phones (I own a OnePlus One) and I nearly lost it twice.

Prans · Apr 16, 2017

calagan said:
I have to say I find the review quite severe and you give this at least a 8.5.
I also expect the price to drop, because I bought mine around Christmas while traveling in China for CNY230, which is currently about $33.

My only grief would be that it's not convenient to carry around the tiny adapter (shown at the top left of the 3rd photo) required to mount larger phones (I own a OnePlus One) and I nearly lost it twice.

The official website's price tag is at $69 but yes sure, it can be cheaper elsewhere like on Aliexpress it's at about $50 but not everyone can get it at the same price and you managed to get it at more than half price by buying it in China itself.

Nevertheless, 7.7 indicaates that it is a recommended controller, better than a lot but not the best considering the price and some drawbacks like the plastic-y shoulder buttons, bright backlight.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 16, 2017

Well that is a lot for a controller. O_O

So any thoughts on this?

Prans · Apr 16, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Well that is a lot for a controller. O_O

So any thoughts on this?

Looks good especially the universal compatibility (Switch users might get furious but if they can update it as suggested, it'd be great) BUT it's not released yet and they're looking to kickstart the project, so it'll either the regular Kickstarter let down or an unusual astounding success.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 16, 2017

Prans said:
Looks good especially the universal compatibility (Switch users might get furious but if they can update it as suggested, it'd be great) BUT it's not released yet and they're looking to kickstart the project, so it'll either the regular Kickstarter let down or an unusual astounding success.

Well i hope is a nice work done well spending money on, I'm just scared of the price, i don't think any controller should cost more than video games, even if is special edition like some games have that jack up prices over $100. But it looks like a controller worth investigating if it ever gets released.

Prans · Apr 16, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Well i hope is a nice work done well spending money on, I'm just scared of the price, i don't think any controller should cost more than video games, even if is special edition like some games have that jack up prices over $100. But it looks like a controller worth investigating if it ever gets released.

If you're interested, you might keep an eye out for when their Kickstarter project goes live. Early bird backers get the best deals price-wise, usually.

Yepi69 · Apr 19, 2017

You can change the brightness of the buttons.

I bought this controller and it seemed nice, but its more pretty than useful.
The analog sticks have a hard time detecting Up right, up left, down right, down left.
Maybe it was my controller but there other people complaining about it as well.
I was playing RE5 and when aiming down left, for example to shoot a zombie's leg, the cursor moved so slow compared if I was aiming up down left or right.
Not to mention that after a while, the receiver will stop working properly with the controller in which the company, Gamesir, won't even bother you to reply for a fix or patch (which it exists but only worsens the condition)
Its a pricey controller but its just pretty, that is it.
Controller wise it sucks, do yourself a favor and buy a Dualshock 4 instead.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 19, 2017

Well Dualshock doesn't work on everything out of box, unlike this gamesir gear does. But i would rather have a licensed console controller than this. No offense, but i did find the buttons a bit bulky to mash properly like i do with console valid controllers. Probably why it uses turbo, for the record the turbo functions about every 15 Frames (Somewhere between 15 and 30 FPS) I can mash faster than that if i had proper controller, which is my only problem with the gamesir controller i had used. It felt a bit comparable to round top arcade stick buttons especially if they get stuck inside and on their way out popping back up.

Yepi69 · Apr 19, 2017

Not really, if you're a PC gamer than I'm pretty sure you use Steam.
If you do, then just connect your Dualshock 4 and Steam takes care of the rest, I was able to use my Dualshock 4 with any Steam game I had.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 19, 2017

Yepi69 said:
Not really, if you're a PC gamer than I'm pretty sure you use Steam.
If you do, then just connect your Dualshock 4 and Steam takes care of the rest, I was able to use my Dualshock 4 with any Steam game I had.

Well that was for pc, that is fine, what about android, or something else? Besides does steam register it as a x-input or something else, since most games do use x-input for specific reasons why this is useful. It provides more flexibility of a control.

Yepi69 · Apr 19, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Well that was for pc, that is fine, what about android, or something else? Besides does steam register it as a x-input or something else, since most games do use x-input for specific reasons why this is useful. It provides more flexibility of a control.

But you're getting a decent controller from a decent company rather than a controller whose company won't even bother to reply to you if you run into problems, I'm speaking from experience since I previously had a Gamesir G3s and started to malfunction, they didn't even replied to my messages despite the multiple ones, until I asked for a refund.
Android wise, use Sixaxis pair tool, works with Dualshock 4.
You only need to root, afterwards it works with any Gamepad controller supported Android game.

Sonic Angel Knight · Apr 19, 2017

Yepi69 said:
But you're getting a decent controller from a decent company rather than a controller whose company won't even bother to reply to you if you run into problems, I'm speaking from experience since I previously had a Gamesir G3s and started to malfunction, they didn't even replied to my messages despite the multiple ones, until I asked for a refund.
Android wise, use Sixaxis pair tool, works with Dualshock 4.
You only need to root, afterwards it works with any Gamepad controller supported Android game.

And for people who don't have or wish to root their devices? Of course i understand where you are coming from, yes the dual shock is a quality controller that can be trusted, but is not flawless for a universal approach. It was mean't for playstation consoles, and i guess if steam or other pc software has to update or need to be run for proper functional support unlike something like this which provides support for multiple systems all in one, it still offers something to people who want things like this.

I can also vouch that if they did actually provide proper support and better materials to make this controller a better durable and worthy price then it would be a good thing, but is not total garbage. Perhaps after a few model updates maybe g5s, it would be worth the purchase to more people like you or me but for the people who just need some type of easy all in one solution it exist for them.

Haloman800 · Apr 19, 2017

Is there anything like this that has Xbox One support? Android/XBone

Halvorsen · Apr 19, 2017

I've owned this since January. It's a great and completely necessary controller. I use it as a mouse on my PC from time to time, and also as a mouse for my Android.

It really shines for games. No lag, it makes your Android phone turn into an Android console. Seriously. Playing Super Mario 64 or Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep feels natural, maybe even better than their actual console.
It has rumble, LED brightness settings, and more buttons than you'll need. Analog on the L2/R2 and Turbo if you ever need it.
Absolutely no complaints.

GhostLatte · Apr 20, 2017

Haider Raza said:
https://github.com/Jays2Kings/DS4Windows/releases

I use Bluetooth adapter for wireless.

InputMapper also works wirelessly.

Jhnsn · Apr 23, 2017

Does anyone know if this works with HIDtoVpad or Nintendont? Need a new controller because I gave my old one away.

tbb043 · May 2, 2017

Lost me at " Xbox controller layout"...

davidbell · Feb 2, 2018

Thanks for posting this, i appreciate it.
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