GameSir has made gaming peripherals for a long time now, and with each new release they refine their products and craft new unique selling points. This time around they have more or less refactored a pad to make it smaller, more ergonomic, and more portable than ever before. But were they so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think whether they should?

The T4 Pro controller was probably the closest thing to an Xbox One controller that didn't actually work on the Xbox One, instead targeting Android, iOS, and the Switch. This T4 Mini is like a compressed version of the T4 Pro, with all the features and less surface area. This iteration is no different in terms of compatibility, but it's certainly different in the looks department. The first thing you notice is the distinct lack of handles. The N64 controller is the diametric opposite to this in the game of handle to usable gamepad percentages. There is next to nothing to hold on to so to speak, but that doesn't mean you can't palm it into the ball of your hand and cradle it like a baby squirrel. When my hands wrap around it there is a weird negative space where my hands expect there to be elongated plastic grips. It's like a phantom limb; it feels like it should be there but isn't, it's an odd sensation.

Firing up the controller is like the national switching on its Christmas lights, it really lights up nicely, shining multiple colours through its smoke-grey translucent body. Both analogue sticks light up vivid colours, and you can change these by holding the T button and clicking the L3 stick; double-clicking cycles through breathing, pulsing and rainbow. It's a bold bright look what with the sticks glowing and the buttons backlit. I have to admit I like it, but again the buttons are odd. It's as though the buttons are cylinders of plastic mounted on the mainboard with the backlit button letter viewable down their lengths; like looking down a telescope into the core of the controller. It means that if you aren't looking dead-on straight at the buttons, you can't see their alphabetical designation. It isn't the end of the world, but still an odd design choice that has been made to look striking more than functional.

The controller connects with ease to the Nintendo Switch, simply press the pairing buttons and bingo, it's done. If you wanted to pair to an Android 9.0+ device your need to Press X + Home to switch it into that mode, and B + home to switch it into the correct mode to pair with an iOS 13+ device. Using on PC is invariably just as simple. You can either use it in USB-C mode by connecting via the cable or better, pair it as an iOS or Android controller via your built-in Bluetooth or dongle. I opted to test this out on the Switch as I am currently in a rather enjoyable re-playthrough of Super Mario Odyssey, so I wanted to put this to the test on something popular en masse. The good news is that the gyro works perfectly and motion controls are smooth and silky; I was flicking up and down to modify Cappy's trajectory and using the gyro to look around in a first-person perspective. I also tested the buttons, shoulder buttons and the various actions Mario can perform and the input was perfection and the pad was easy to adjust to. The vibration level can be adjusted too, from zero to four, with intensity ramping up to a frankly obscene level of oscillation. It manages to hold its own and actually feels great in hand!

The build quality is all there and it's tough, even if it feels rather lightweight. It's not cheap feeling, and there is a mottled matt finish to it that is nice to see on a translucent casing. The buttons and sticks feel great, solidly built, and tactile and responsive to boot. The sticks have a concave bevel to them and grippy edges to ensure control, and the main face buttons while completely smooth on the surface and laid out in the traditional Nintendo configuration of X at the top and B at the bottom, are punchy and clicky within. All the essential Nintendo Switch related buttons are also present and correct, meaning you can take screenshots, back out to the home menu, and hit plus and minus at any point you like. The D-Pad is curved too but it feels a little underwhelming, meaning that you are bound to slip off the D-Pad if the action intensifies or you are prone to having sweaty thumbs.

Overall this controller is great but perhaps a little more "ergonomic" than I personally need. It would certainly be great for kids and people with small hands or short fingers, but personally, I appreciate a fuller pad with larger features. In comparison to the Official Switch Pro controller, you get a lot of bang for your buck, but with no NFC functionality Amiibo usage is out the window. I guess the trade-off is that you can use it on your phone and laptop as well as the Switch with ease. The battery life is rather short at around the 9hr mark on a whopping 2+ hour charge time, which is far from ideal in my honest opinion, but it does use USB-C to charge which makes it easy to integrate into using one cable for all devices in your household, and turning off all the effects and rumble intensity should claw back some battery longevity.