Highlights

  • GameSir G7 SE Wired Controller for Xbox is a highly customizable and ergonomic gaming accessory with hall effect sticks and four on-board profiles.
  • It is the only Xbox controller with hall effect sticks, offering improved responsiveness and accuracy for enhanced gaming performance.
  • While the long wire may be inconvenient for some, the G7 SE's affordable price, high-end specs, and comfortable design make it a top choice for wired controller enthusiasts.

Wired controllers are often seen as inconvenient, but to budget gamers and players who use multiple devices, they're an essential gaming tool. GameSir's newest controller may be priced like any other wired controller, but with a full suite of standard features paired with advanced hall effect joysticks, it may outclass even wireless controllers for some gamers.

Most controllers (wired and wireless) are equipped with potentiometer joysticks, which rely on analog and leverage electronic circuits. However, hall effect joysticks are slowly entering the market with increasingly affordable pricing, drastically changing the game. These upgraded hall effect joysticks have magnetic inputs rather than the current standard, using sensors to detect positioning without creating friction, upping responsiveness and greatly reducing the chance of stick drift developing.

There’s a lot to love about the GameSir G7 SE wired controller and a ton of features to cover. So let’s dive into this hands-on review of an Xbox controller that’s sure to become a top pick among controller enthusiasts everywhere.

Related: The Best Wired Gaming Mouse

The GameSir G7 Wired Controller was tested on both the Xbox Series X and PC through gameplay on the following titles:

Fortnite

Fall Guys

The Sims 4

Death Stranding

Design and Ergonomics

g7 se design and ergonomics

The G7 may not have set out to be super light, but that’s exactly what it is. Even among other wired controllers with no batteries, GameSir’s G7 distributes its weight so efficiently that it’s surprising the controller holds four rumble packs. In fact, the controller is lighter than the wired Xbox controllers available from PDP, Razer, and PowerA.

Most of the weight is placed at the top center of the controller, leaving the handles feeling almost weightless. Texture wraps around the handles, though not as much as with the standard Xbox controller. However, the texture does provide a very comfortable grip, guiding hands into a fairly ergonomic grasp that also allows for the back buttons to be pressed with minimal effort.

Two switches sit next to the back buttons, allowing players to lock the extra buttons individually. While they aren’t the most convenient switches for locking, unlocking is intuitive. Locking these back buttons greatly increases the overall comfort of the controller and proves especially useful during gameplay that doesn’t really call for reprogrammed commands.

The rest of the button layout is fairly standard, though there are some notable differences. Unexpectedly, the select button is actually a bit awkward to reach, sitting high and left of center, so close to the joystick that it’s tough to instinctively hit. The start button is similarly high, and its adjacent position to the X button makes it easier than ever to hit, though the start button is arguably much less useful during gameplay.

The main ABXY buttons add a touch of whimsy to the controller, forgoing the modern, somewhat concave design in favor of a slightly raised, convex shape that feels more like a retro controller. The joysticks have a very smooth center with a steep, textured rim more akin to third-party joystick caps than the standard Xbox controller joystick tops. All of the buttons are fairly smooth, despite some having helpful icons engraved on them.

The D-pad is particularly useful, offering volume control on the vertical buttons and chat mixer controls on the horizontal ones. Players can easily mute their wired mics with the small button near the 3.5mm jack, centralized in its expected place at the base of the controller.

Finally, GameSir has added an extra button between the right joystick and the D-pad: the M button. This essentially serves as an ALT key, allowing players to access secondary functions on each button, such as the audio controls on the D-pad.

Although the over 9-foot long detachable cable may be a nuisance to some, the durable yet flexible construction is paired with a nice Velcro strip that makes it incredibly easy to tame for PC play while allowing console players to game from basically anywhere in their living room or bedroom. With top-of-the-line comfort and an intuitive layout, the G7’s design is sure to score highly among most users.

Performance and Durability

gamesir g7 se performance and durability

The cost of the G7’s incredibly light build is of course the material used for the shell. In the past, plastic shells were villainized as cheap and easily broken, but now the discussion is far more nuanced as different levels of quality are made available. Most players are aware of this, placing the focus on more specific elements such as how loose buttons feel, the texture of the surface, the feel of rumble packs, and how noisy the controller is when in use.

All of the buttons and joysticks are extremely secure, held in place by multiple layers of construction. Aside from the main triggers, all of the buttons have little to no resistance, making them extremely responsive. On the other hand, LT and RT have significant resistance, which is a boon to players who depend on precise control over actions such as burstfire. Additionally, the triggers use hall effect tech, which is only found in one other Xbox controller: the high-end Elite Series 2. These hall effect triggers are accurate up to 0.1mm and are safeguarded against issues caused by friction over time.

The one exception to this otherwise exceptional button layout is the Xbox button. Oddly, the button is less responsive on the G7 than on other controllers. While it is somewhat expected for this button to be less responsive on wired controllers, the G7’s is so slow that it’s easy to suspect the button of not working at all. After a few tries, it’s something that players will get used to, but it can be a bit annoying at first.

The four rumble packs provide decent haptic feedback, though again the Xbox button doesn’t get the same treatment as the rest of the controller, instead giving an almost imperceptible vibration when opening the power settings. In general, the default vibration settings are far weaker than other standard Xbox controllers, though this may suit more gamers than not.

Seemingly regardless of how strong the vibrations are set, this controller is fairly noisy. When the rumble goes off, it sounds like a miniature semi-truck horn. While this is pretty cute, it gets old fast without a headset on. The most likely cause of this issue is the plastic shell, which is also likely part of the reason the G7 SE is so affordable. The rest of the buttons aren’t quite as noisy, but they are somewhere in between the Xbox core wireless and comparable wired Xbox controllers.

Setting the G7 SE apart from all other Xbox controllers are its hall effect joysticks. Not even the Elite Series 2 has hall effect joysticks, and the difference is substantial. GameSir’s hall effect joysticks instantly feel more responsive, providing stiff resistance that’s slightly weaker than the core Xbox wireless controller yet has a snappier bounce back. This minimized resistance without any loss in responsiveness lends players a new level of control. The non-contact magnetic sensors completely eliminate issues caused by friction and promise to avoid stick drift for up to 5 million cycles.

The G7 SE is certainly built to last, despite its unassuming plastic shell. More than that though, the G7 is made for high performance, precision gaming. With hall effect triggers and joysticks that offer incredible responsiveness and accuracy that can compete with the absolute best Xbox controllers on the market, this wired controller from GameSir is ready to change the way console gamers play.

Customization and Software

g7 se customization and software

GameSir’s G7 SE controller isn’t one to skimp on any category, and so despite having the style and specs players want, the wired controller is also extremely customizable. The G7 SE lets players fully customize their controller, inside and out.

The two customizable buttons on the back seem to have become standard for controllers, and it’s a little surprising that there are only two, rather than the often-seen four-button array. However, they are easy to reprogram on the fly using the M button on the controller and these changes can be saved to one of the three on-board profiles. Three profiles may seem like a lot for just two buttons, especially considering that there is technically a fourth profile for a player’s default settings, but there is quite a bit more customization available than just button remapping.

GameSir Nexus is the PC app that players can use to customize their controllers. It’s a simple and sleek system with no unnecessary bells or whistles, offering near total control over the device. Everything from the power of individual rumble packs to the sensitivity range of the joysticks and triggers can be changed to perfectly suit player preferences. The sensitivity options are set on a power bar ranging from 1-100, although GameSir generally recommends sticking between 10 and 90. RT and LT also get an extra customization option that can be toggled: hair triggers. Each menu is ridiculously easy to navigate and manipulate, with testing being just as simple.

Plus, all of the changes are immediately saved to the controller itself, meaning customization can be carried over to the console in as short of time as it takes to swap the USB plug from the PC to the Xbox. Games like Death Stranding, where sensitivity is key, are especially benefited by these customization options. Switching profiles is efficient too, with M+A/B/X/Y changing the button layout instantly. The controller clearly indicates which profile a player is currently on using a flashing light and a corresponding number of quick rumbles, preventing gamers from having to cycle and test each one before playing.

Along with this software customization, GameSir’s G7 SE can be physically changed too. The durable faceplate is actually attached using magnets, thus it can be removed and replaced quickly and easily. This is fantastic for gamers who are also artists and would love to paint over their controllers without damaging them. GameSir designed the faceplate to be a “swappable paint-friendly” piece and encourages artistic customization.

Even gamers who aren’t good with paints can easily get their controller customized. Removing the faceplate reveals…almost nothing at all! The internal hardware is still covered by a secondary shield, not only making it super easy to keep all the buttons clean but also allowing users to game without worrying about the electronics while they apply their paint job or even send it off to a commissioned artist.

GameSir’s G7 SE shows a clear commitment to players through its wide variety of customization options, and the ease of operation makes it a winner for both PC and Xbox fans.

Overall Impression

gamesir g7 se review overall

If there’s any doubt left to cast on the GameSir G7 SE, it should be quashed here and now. The G7 SE is a seriously impressive gaming accessory that offers features not found on wireless controllers four and five times its price.

The only real drawback of this controller is the wire, which most PC players will overlook without a second thought. Xbox players may be hesitant to try a wired controller, but anyone with a taste for wired controllers should just upgrade to the G7 SE as soon as possible. The under $50 price tag for such high-end specs makes it a no-brainer for wired enthusiasts. Even players who prefer wireless controllers may want to consider picking up a G7 SE for more competitive gaming.

The GameSir G7 SE might be one of the best Xbox controllers of the year, even among the more popular wireless options. Regardless of its ranking among the rabble, the G7 SE is a uniquely powerful controller that shows off the prestige of hall effect sticks and may usher in a new era of affordable, high-performance gaming accessories for all.

FAQ

Q: What is a hall effect controller?

Controllers with hall effect triggers or joysticks use magnets rather than physical contact to detect the position of the joystick. The joystick has a magnet attached at the bottom and a hall effect sensor placed below it measures the voltage generated by the magnetic field.

Q: Is this GameSir controller compatible with Xbox One?

Yes, the GameSir G7 SE is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows 10/11.

Q: Are there Xbox controllers with hall effect?

Currently, the Xbox Elite Series 2 and the GameSir G7 SE are the only Xbox controllers that offer hall effect triggers. Only the G7 SE offers hall effect joysticks.