Over the last couple of months, GameSir has cemented itself as a key player in the controller landscape, with products ranging from cool PC gamepads like the Tarantula Pro to the Android-oriented G8 Plus and X4 Aileron. The GameSir X3 Pro is the company’s newest smartphone controller, cramming a cooling fan into a customizable gamepad chassis.

The built-in fan remains the main shtick of the controller, and having used the controller for emulated titles and demanding Android games, I can confirm that it lives up to the hype. While I have a couple of nitpicks about the X3 Pro, it’s a decent budget-friendly keyboard for anyone who wants their gaming sessions to remain uninterrupted by the scourge of overheating.

About this review: GameSir sent me the X3 Pro for review purposes. But the company had no input into the contents of the article.

Pricing and availability

GameSir released the X3 Pro back in December 2024. The base white version with the cyan accents retails for $80 on Amazon and GameSir’s platform. For Marvel fans, GameSir sells a Deadpool-themed controller for $100 on its website.

What I like about the GameSir X3 Pro

It’s a slick controller with customizable buttons and modular grips

Unlike the minimalist design of the GameSir G8 Plus, the X3 Pro goes all out on the aesthetics front. You’ve got a cool translucent controller that features the asymmetric analog stick layout popularized by Xbox gamepads. Speaking of, the analog sticks feature hall-effect technology to avoid drifting, while the face buttons and triggers have mechanical switches for a more responsive experience. As someone who barely plays FPS titles on Android, the lack of analog control on the triggers is a bit of a downer, and I wish GameSir had implemented a latch to switch the triggers between hair-trigger and full-press modes.

If you prefer a smaller, portable form-factor, the X3 Pro features detachable grips, and removing them will reveal another set of rubber grips underneath. The rest of the buttons (except the shoulder buttons and triggers) are magnetically attached to the gamepad, so you’re free to swap them out. As such, you can swap the positions of the face buttons if you want to emulate Nintendo consoles on your smartphone.

The customizable nature of the controller also extends to the software front, as the GameSir app lets you fine-tune everything from the button layout and vibration intensity to analog stick deadzones and fan settings. The gamepad supports two operation modes: DS5 and Android, and you’ll have to push the G and S (the tiny buttons at the top of the controller) to switch between the two. The former displays the in-game button prompts in the PlayStation layout, while the latter sets them to the common Xbox-style icons.

The GameSir app lets you fine-tune everything from the button layout and vibration intensity to analog stick deadzones and fan settings.

It’s highly responsive and includes an AUX port

Rather than relying on Bluetooth, the GameSir X3 Pro pairs with your smartphone using a USB Type-C connector. Thanks to the wired connection, it’s extremely responsive to inputs, and I didn’t encounter any input delays even while running fast-paced titles like Dead Cells.

I also appreciate that GameSir has included a 3.5mm audio port with the X3 Pro. Since most Android gamepads cover the aux port, you’ll pretty much need a Bluetooth headset for controller-based mobile gaming setups. Thankfully, the X3 Pro lets you plug a wired headset into the controller, though you’ll have to switch the gamepad to Android mode if you want to hear the audio from the AUX port. Another perk of the controller is that you can even use the fan’s USB port (which I’ll address pretty soon) to charge your smartphone during your gaming sessions.

I also appreciate that GameSir has included a 3.5mm audio port with the X3 Pro.

The built-in fan is great at dissipating heat

When GameSir offered to send me the X3 Pro, I was apprehensive that the cooling fan would turn out to be a gimmick I’d barely use. But after using it for a while, I must admit that it’s more than capable of keeping my Poco F5 nice and cool even in demanding games. When you connect your phone to the X3 Pro, you’ll have to place it on the 900mm² cooling pad, which is connected to the built-in fan on the back. The cooler and the pad can be repositioned along the horizontal axis, and you’re free to switch the fan between Quiet and Quick Chilling modes.

For Android games, I installed Zenless Zone Zero to test the X3 Pro’s cooling prowess. After enabling 60FPS and dialing the graphics settings up a notch, the CPU temps went as high as 50°C, with the GPU temperature hitting around 45°C. Slotting my phone into the X3 Pro brought the CPU and GPU thermals under 40°C – and that’s just the Quiet mode. I also tried emulating certain PC titles using Winlator, and once again, the X3 Pro was successful in lowering the system temps. Unfortunately, the fan also brings its own set of issues into the mix…

I also tried emulating certain PC titles using Winlator, and once again, the X3 Pro was successful in lowering the system temps.

What I don’t like about the GameSir X3 Pro

You’ll need an external power source for the fan

One of the biggest drawbacks of the X3 Pro is that the controller doesn’t use your phone to power the cooling solution. Rather, you’ll have to plug it into another power source to get the fan spinning, which makes it rather impractical when you’re on the move. The silver lining here is that your average power bank should be able to provide enough juice to run the fan in Quiet mode.

While we’re on the subject of fan modes, the faster Quick Chilling Mode requires a 9V/3A power supply. Unfortunately, none of my charging bricks or adapters could supply enough power to activate the faster fan mode. But credit where it’s due: the Quiet mode is more than enough to prevent your phone from overheating.

It’s a hassle to accommodate larger phones into the controller

Since the GameSir X3 Pro is more of a bridge-type controller that clamps on either side of your phone, you may encounter some issues with larger devices. Cases are a natural enemy of the gamepad, and not just because they make it difficult to slot the phone into the controller. The cooling pad needs to rest directly on your smartphone for the ideal results, so you’ll have to take off the case either way for the best thermals.

This may be a minor nitpick, but the cooling pad is a magnet for dirt and grime. If your living space is prone to dust accumulation, you’ll have to keep the GameSir X3 Pro inside the carrying case to prevent the cooling pad from looking like the insides of a PC fan after months of operation.

Should you buy the GameSir X3 Pro?

The GameSir X3 Pro is a worthy addition to your Android gaming suite if:

• You want a responsive controller that’s fairly customizable.
• You prefer wired gamepads and need to access the AUX port on your smartphone.
• You need a budget-friendly controller that can keep your phone cooled while you game.

You should stay away from the GameSir X3 Pro if:

• You prefer the extra convenience of a wireless controller.
• You’ve got a massive smartphone and are not willing to part with its case.
• You play a lot of non-FPS games and want analog triggers.

If you’re someone who doesn’t mind the wired-only connectivity of the GameSir X3 Pro, it’s a really solid gamepad. The detachable grips are a great addition, and so is the audio jack. While the fan itself is good enough for most hardcore games, its implementation leaves room for improvement.

Sure, you could use a powerbank to get the fan spinning, but the whole setup looks really impractical if you’re gaming on the move. Plus, it’s hard to find the right adapter to get the fan working in its full glory. But for gamers who are willing to put up with its quirks, you’ll find the GameSir X3 Pro a responsive controller for your gaming needs.