GameSir T4 Mini Wireless Controller Review

Manufacturer: GameSir
Where to Buy: AliExpress
RRP: £26.00

Playing Xbox on the go with a mobile device or via PC/Laptop is becoming more appetising as Game Pass Ultimate keeps increasing its catalogue. Cloud gaming or streaming from your console is becoming much more stable provided your internet connection is stable, and so having a lightweight controller to take around with you could (and should) be something you are on the lookout for.

The GameSir T4 Mini has two very obvious features about it; it is incredibly lightweight for one, so much so when holding it you feel that there is nothing inside. The other is that the design is clearly aimed at the Nintendo Switch. The layout of the main 4 buttons and the inclusion of a button shaped like a house make it clear what the primary use is. That is not to say that it cannot be used for Xbox as it can but it just involves a slightly different setup. It has quite a long battery life and comes with a USB-C cable to charge the device and can also be used whilst charging.

The controller itself, although called mini, is roughly the same width as a Series X controller but it doesn’t have protruding grips which your ring and little finger usually hold onto. Weirdly it doesn’t feel any less comfortable as those fingers naturally curl against your palm instead but those with much larger hands may not be as comfortable. Generally, with more compact controllers that are light like this, the buttons and sticks feel cheap and second rate but the standard buttons press nicely as do the bumper buttons. They have cleverly designed the X and Y buttons to protrude slightly more than the A and B buttons. This is to compensate for the smaller grip and feel more comfortable on your thumb to press the buttons. The trigger buttons do feel a bit hollow and springy but are comfortable and work fine.

The dual analogue sticks feel like they are of good quality as they have just the right amount of give them and feel very close to the Series X along with the similar rough grip on the rim of the sticks. The D-pad is only a 4 point cross shape and this is probably the weakest area of the controller. This is because the compact shape makes it slightly harder to use the D-pad without readjusting your grip. Personally, I find the circular style D-pads more comfortable.

The controller does have a rumble feature to it which can be a bit noisy but most controllers seem to be a bit like that these days. It’s more just a surprise at the intensity of the rumble considering the controller is so light. The last feature to mention is the ring LED lights around the analogue sticks. These can be adjusted to a few different colours sets or they can be set to slowly pulse in changing colours. LEDs seem to be the in thing at the moment and this controller does a decent job with them if you enjoy that look.

Enough with the designs, how well does it work with Xbox I hear you ask. It works pretty well once you know how to configure the controller but with a couple of changes that may not be acceptable for some. For one, you need to connect the controller in a slightly different method from the standard Bluetooth connecting button that sits on the top of the controller. You can connect the controller to your phone and PC this way but the buttons won’t work on Xbox games. Instead, you need to hold the X and Home button on the controller and its Bluetooth name changes when searching for it on your phone or PC to GameSir T4 mini so you know you have done it right.

If you struggle with the  PC connection you can use the USB-C cable it came with to hook it up and the buttons worked fine when it is wired.

Now the changes I mentioned before which you will need to wrap your head around will be a deal-breaker for some. But basically, as the controller was designed with the Switch in mind both the A and B buttons as well as the X and Y buttons are switched around. It may have been acceptable if it was just cosmetic as most Xbox games know where each of the buttons is but they have been literally switched so the A is now on the right and Y is on the left. This made it difficult to play certain games without remapping the buttons on the Xbox itself.

The other change is those familiar with the start button on the Xbox controller are familiar with its location just of the centre to the right. Well, this controller has a button with a home symbol on it which is what is on a Switch controller except pressing that button on an Xbox game does not pause the game or bring up the home menu for Xbox. Instead it takes you to the home screen of your mobile device or your desktop on your PC which can be frustrating at times. If you want to pause the game you have to press the button with the + on it further up on the controller. If you want to get to the Xbox home menu you need to either press the + button twice or hold it a bit longer. I can’t confirm for certain as it seems to be random on when the home screen comes up.

Conclusion

The GameSir T4 Mini is an almost perfect multi-purpose controller for me. For those that have a Nintendo Switch too, this works perfectly with it. It’s super lightweight feel, long battery life and sleek LED lights make it a decent option for gaming on the go. The connection faffing is quite easily overcome but the button alignment is something I cannot get over. I am so used to knowing where the buttons are so I would struggle to use this for Xbox gaming on any fast-paced games.

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Hardware provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.
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Good
  • Very lightweight
  • Can be used for both Xbox and Switch
  • LED lights look pretty cool
Bad
  • Connecting the controller to PC and Mobile can be a faff
  • The A/B and X/Y button switch is a shame for Xbox users
  • The home button is annoying placed when used for the Xbox
7.5
Good
Usability - 7
Design - 8
Durability - 8
Value for Money - 7
Written by
Gaming, or, games in general, are in my blood. Just shy of an addiction but still an obsession. From opening my mind on the Commodore 64 I have kept up with the generations of gaming, currently residing on the Xbox One. Gamertag: Grahamreaper

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