Smartphone gaming is not an amusement or a passion. The enthusiasm from cell avid gamers worldwide — and inclusion in numerous esports tournaments — demonstrates a surge in its recognition. In reality, video games type the main class of cell apps on Android and iOS and generate extra income than PC and console gaming mixed.
To foster an ecosystem of cell avid gamers — in addition to money in on the revolutionary progress — numerous firms are launching merchandise that improve the gaming expertise on smartphones. From gaming telephones with built-in cooling techniques to controllers that leverage a gamepad-like format, there are quite a few merchandise to boost a gamer’s effectivity.
What the GameSir X3 is
GameSir is one such firm with a portfolio devoted to gaming, together with merchandise specifically designed for cell gaming. I’ve been utilizing the GameSir X3 USB Type-C gaming controller with a spread of top-tier Android telephones to enhance my efficiency in video games. While the GameSir X3 appears like a typical USB gamepad, it is among the handfuls of gaming equipment that characteristic an energetic cooling system that isn’t only a fan.
Tushar Mehta/Digital Trends
Alongside the gamepad, the GameSir X3 controller additionally contains a Peltier cooler. In case you might be unfamiliar, a Peltier cooler is a thermoelectric gadget that makes use of electrical vitality to decrease its temperature on one aspect, whereas the opposite aspect will get sizzling. A fan is connected to the warmer aspect, so warmth is actively radiated. This creates a system the place warmth is consistently withdrawn from a supply and radiated into the surroundings.
Razer’s MagSafe-powered RGB Phone Cooler and ASUS’s Aeroactive Cooler are two clip-on coolers that make the most of a Peltier cooler. Taking a step ahead from these two, the GameSir controller melds the benefit of an energetic cooler and a gamepad into one, making it a extremely fascinating accent for cell avid gamers.
In addition to a full-sized gamepad, the GameSir controller additionally options shoulder buttons. Meanwhile, the fan on the again of the controller comes with RGB lighting that adjustments mechanically however can’t be managed by the consumer.
The controller options two USB Type-C ports — one to energy the Peltier cooler and one other to cost the cellphone. This is probably my solely gripe with the GameSir X3, and I want the 2 USB Type-C ports have been clubbed right into a single port to not solely save house however make it a lot simpler to cost the cellphone whereas gaming.
We put the GameSir X3 by way of a collection of challenges to measure the extent to which it enhances the gaming capabilities of an already competent flagship Android cellphone. The outcomes I bought are nothing wanting jaw-dropping.
Testing the GameSir X3’s coolness
I ran a collection of exams to quantify how the GameSir X3 USB controller impacts efficiency. For this take a look at, I used the Realme GT 2 Pro, one of many top-performing smartphones powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. It can be among the many telephones with some of the complete vapor cooling chamber techniques.
The following exams embody two artificial benchmarks that emulate duties that pressure the CPU and the GPU on the chipset and working Call Of Duty: Mobile within the battle royale mode. The variations within the resultant parameters, together with the interior temperatures and body price output, assist us decide the affect of the mixture of the thermoelectric Peltier cooler and the exhaust fan on the controller.
Tushar Mehta/Digital Trends
Graphics-intensive benchmark
In our first take a look at, I ran GFXBench‘s Battery take a look at, replicating the identical workload of cell video games with heavy graphics necessities. To make the duty much more difficult for a smartphone, the Battery take a look at repeats the identical job in a loop for 30 minutes. Here are our observations whereas working GFXBench with and with out the gamepad:
Part 1: Performance
The first section of the benchmark’s end result tells us in regards to the efficiency, which is outlined by the overall variety of frames per take a look at run.
Without the GameSir controller, the efficiency fell by 2% over 30 iterations. We may additionally see a sudden fall in efficiency (presumably) due to thermal throttling across the 22nd cycle.
With the cooler, we see fairly an uncommon pattern. Despite the system being constantly strained beneath intense load, the efficiency improved by almost 1.6%.
Although these percentages seem comparatively insignificant and will not truly result in extreme throttling on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, we are able to anticipate a better impact for getting old flagship chipsets such because the Snapdragon 870, which nonetheless maintain up nicely in opposition to modern-day chipsets.
Part 2: Frame Rate
Next, the take a look at outcomes inform in regards to the common most and minimal time taken by the frames rendered (decrease is healthier) throughout every iteration. A imply of the utmost and minimal values can be calculated per iteration.
While working the take a look at with out the cooler, the common most time taken over 30 iterations was roughly 32 milliseconds (ms). The imply of the utmost and the minimal body time was 16ms. This equates to a body price of almost 63 frames per second (fps).
With the cooler, the utmost time was in the identical vary, however the minimal time dropped considerably, leading to a decrease imply body time of 14ms. This body time corresponds to a body price of 71 fps.
The leap from 63 fps to 71 fps is noticeable and may symbolize a major efficiency enhance, particularly whereas enjoying video games.
Part 3: Temperature
In the following half, we take a look at the temperature enhance contained in the Realme GT 2 Pro.
While working the benchmark, the interior temperature elevated from 29 levels Celsius (84 levels Fahrenheit) to 56 levels Celsius (133 levels Fahrenheit) with out the GameSir controller. This corresponds to an enormous temperature distinction of 27 levels Celsius or 49 levels Fahrenheit.
When the benchmark was run with the controller, the temperature noticed a comparatively meager enhance from 34 levels Celsius (93 levels Fahrenheit) to 43 levels Celsius (109 levels Fahrenheit).
Part 4: Individual core efficiency
Without the cooler, the prime core was engaged for a lot much less time, and the workload fell again to effectivity cores sooner. The first signal of throttling with out the cooler got here round 5 minutes. Meanwhile, the cellphone may maintain for as much as 8 minutes with the cooler.
TL;DR
The completely different segments of the take a look at outcomes have been summarized beneath:
Performance
Frame Time (body price)
Change in Temperature
Without cooler
-2.0%
16ms (63 fps)
+27°C
With cooler
+1.6%
14ms (71 fps)
+9°C
CPU Throttling Test
For the following stress take a look at, we ran the CPU Throttling Test app, which runs the precise directions repeatedly for a set interval. The app calculates the breaking level when a cellphone begins to throttle (restrict efficiency to scale back the offset warmth). While we often get a good concept about throttling from working the app for simply 15 minutes, we selected to make it extra thrilling and ran the take a look at for 30 minutes.
When the take a look at was run with out the GameSir cooling gamepad, the common, minimal, and minimal efficiency values have been decrease than when the take a look at was run with the cooler. The take a look at quantifies efficiency when it comes to GIPS or Giga (one billion) Instructions Per Second.
The values acquired from the take a look at with out and with the cooler:
Maximum Performance (GIPS)
Minimum Performance (GIPS)
Average Performance (GIPS)
Without Cooler
269,620
206,528
230,794
With Cooler
290,417
207,938
249,177
Difference in Percentage
7.7%
0.7%
8.0%
Furthermore, the efficiency of the Realme GT 2 Pro’s CPU throttles at 78% of the utmost, i.e., at 210,303 GIPS, when not utilizing the GameSir controller. When utilizing the controller, the efficiency is throttled to 76% of the utmost — at 220,717 GIPS. Therefore, the throttling threshold may be seen as greater when the cooler is put to make use of by an element of 5%.
Testing with actual gameplay
The actual benefit of the GameSir X3 USB controller lies in its controller, and the cooler solely enhances it. The controller is available in actually helpful whereas gaming, primarily as a result of it ensures a whole view of the show with out it being obstructed by your thumbs or fingers. While hardcore cell avid gamers typically use three or four-finger claw orientation to play battle royale titles akin to PUBG: Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, relative amateurs can use the shoulder buttons on the GameSir controller to their benefit in the same method.
While sure in style titles akin to Real Racing 3, Fortnite, and Asphalt 9 are natively supported on the controller, you need to use it with every other recreation by mapping the keys manually. Thankfully, for different in style video games, you may at all times discover some configuration information uploaded to the system by different folks. The picture beneath reveals what key-mapping utilizing the GameSir suite appears like:
GameSir X3 key mapping on PUBG: Mobile
While there isn’t any exact technique to analyze how the controller improves my gameplay qualitatively, I used instruments akin to CPU Monitor to measure the CPU temperature whereas gaming and Display FPS to indicate the body price through the gameplay. For this take a look at, I performed the battle royale mode of Call of Duty: Mobile, and every recreation lasted almost 20 minutes. I set the graphics high quality to Ultra (highest) and the body price to the Max (60 fps) setting. Although CoD: Mobile additionally helps 90fps gameplay, it’s only supported on the bottom image high quality settings.
I famous the body price and the CPU temperature at intervals of 5 minutes. Because of how dependable the Realme GT 2 Pro is as a cellphone for gaming, I barely noticed the body price quiver away from the 60 fps mark — the very best supported body price for the chosen mode. However, the adjustments within the inside temperature have been noticeably contrasting with and with out the controller. Here is what I discovered:
0 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
20 minutes
Without Cooler (°C)
28
35
35
38
40
With Cooler (°C)
33
33
31
31
30
Difference in Percentage
18%
6%
13%
23%
33%
The outcomes align with the expectation that the cooler will assist preserve the cellphone cooler in comparison with when it’s used with out the cooler. However, it’s pleasantly shocking to see that the temperature decreases as an alternative of accelerating when utilizing the GameSir controller. The cellphone, as demonstrated above, is 33% cooler on the finish of the gaming session and completely prepared to start out one other with out gasping for breath. This efficiency will be certain that your cellphone can endure numerous gaming classes with out displaying any indicators of fatigue.
Cooler than what you may deal with
Tushar Mehta/Digital Trends
The GameSir X3 USB Type-C gaming controller is a singular and irresistible gadget for anybody who swears by cell gaming — and is deeply invested in its future. As very obvious from our exams above, the controller ends in a convincing enchancment of the cellphone’s gaming efficiency whereas guaranteeing it stays cool and composed regardless of the workload.
The solely problem with the controller is its requirement for 2 completely different USB cables if it’s essential to use the cooler and cost the cellphone concurrently. Also, in case your cellphone makes use of proprietary quick charging expertise, akin to within the case of the OnerPlus 10 Pro or the newly-launched OnePlus 10T, these won’t be supported through the inbuilt charging port.
If these aren’t precisely deal breakers for you, the GameSir X3 is a no brainer as a $99 accent that dramatically improves your gaming efficiency whereas maintaining warmth at bay.
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