I bought myself a Backbone controller not too long ago. It was for my older iPhone with a lightening connection. When I upgraded to iPhone 16 Pro, I needed a USB-C controller. I had the CRKD NEO S Frost Edition controller, but I like the form-factor of a controller with the device in the middle. I also had an iPad Pro and let my imagination run wild.
The result was buying the Gamesir G8 Galileo.
Design
The Gamesir G8 Galileo is one of the most substantial mobile controllers to feel in the hand. Depending on the phone that you slot into it, it can be quite the heavy unit. But I was brought up to take that as being high quality.
The grips are fantastic and feel somewhat like a regular controller, just with the width of a screen in between. I was pleased with everything, including the buttons and the controllers. It’s the first time I found myself getting close to the level of immersion that the couch, PS5 controller and TV delivers.
There are some coo features here for people into modding and customisation. The controllers use Hall effect sticks and has magnetic replaceable plates. In the box, you’ll even get some different caps for your sticks, depending on your preference.
I did find that most phones I used needed the case to come off, which is a little annoying, but it’s a classic example of me scraping the barrel looking for some criticism if I’m honest.
I’ve played several games and streaming setups on iPhone with the Gamesir G8 Galileo, but I’ve also used it with my 11-inch M4 iPad. Let’s chat about that.
Gamesir G8: The 11-inch M4 iPad controller
In a bizarre moment of Googling, I had begun to wonder if there were any USB-C controllers on the market that fit my 11-inch M4 iPad. The PlayStation Portal had just come out, and I was tempted by it. But realising it had more things to annoy me than impress me, glancing at my iPad I thought surely there’s a better choice. Particularly when you can stream your PS5 library.
In my search frenzy, I found a tutorial that mentioned the Gamesir G8, ultimately the reason I bought it. You could basically “break” the controller so it would open far wider that it was intended to. By opening it so much, you could actually wrap it around the 11-inch M4 iPad and make the most amazing mobile gaming tablet.
Just look at that absolute beast!
A massive shout-out to Noel Campion who is a 3D printing wizard and created this amazing piece to make the controller much easier to use with an 11-inch iPad.
If you’re interested in the mod, there are two. You want to follow the one that has no mention of unscrewing parts. It’s just getting creative with a knife, similar to this one. But obviously, mod at your own risk.
Other Features
The Gamesir G8 Galileo doesn’t use Bluetooth, which largely is a good thing. As I mentioned, getting the USB-C port lined up with a controller can be tricky, but at least you get reduced compatibility issues.
Also, because it’s not Bluetooth you don’t have to worry about battery life. The controller simply runs off your phones power, but also doesn’t need a lot of power anyway. If you are worried about battery power, the Gamesir G8 features pass-through charging. So while your phone, or iPad’s, port is busy being plugged into the controller, you have another USB-C port on the bottom where you can charge. You even get a 3.5mm headphone jack – a true treat for modern phone owners.
Finally, there’s no fiddly app needed or attempts to upsell you to a subscription service (glares at Backbone).
Gamesir G8 Galileo Long-term Review: Verdict
The Gamesir G8 Galileo is a great piece of kit. I’ve found myself going nowhere without it in my bag. Weekends away, long trips, overnight trips, trips back home – it’s always in my bag. Because its just such a great portal to gaming.
I found that the biggest challenge, generally speaking, is finding the best mobile games to play, instead of the controller itself being a barrier. Subnautica mobile came out and stole many hours away from me already.
I really can’t fault this controller. It’s made me game a lot more on the got with both phones and my iPad. It’s a handy little peripheral to have in the back on a trip for those times you end up with an hour or two to yourself.
The is Gamesir G8 Galileo is available on Amazon for under €70.
