Accessories

GameSir X3: A cooler way to play on smartphones

Mobile gaming elevated

Published

July 22, 2022

The last couple of months may have been the most time I spent playing mobile games. That’s because I got my hands on a couple of controllers/gamepads. First was the Razer Kishi V2. Next, and what I’ll talk about here, is the GameSir X3.

I know, the direct comparison between the two is inevitable since I’ve had the chance to use both. But that’s coming at a later time. For now, let’s dig through what the GameSir X3 has to offer.

Built-in cooler

Let’s start with the one that sticks out the most — the built-in cooler. It’s easily the most noticeable addition to this gamepad from its predecessor, the GameSir X2.

What it’s for is pretty straightforward. Smartphones heat up when you game, and heating affects performance. To keep things cool and running smoothly, you need a way to cool the phone. This is why the ROG Phone is always accompanied by the company’s own AeroActive cooler.

GameSir built this using the concept of the Peltier cooling effect. It’s basically the transfer of heat energy between materials when an electric current passes through. The information on their website says there’s a surface temperature drop of up to 24°C.

In practice, it does help extend your play session by keeping your device cool. I typically don’t play longer than an hour on mobile. Which seems to already be an extended play session for mobile gaming standards.

Honestly, I can stop here. This takes the cake in terms of value-add on gamepads. If you’re an avid mobile gamer, just the cooling alone should have you excited. But of course, there’s more to the GameSir X3 than just that.

Ports and connectors

This version is made specifically for Android smartphones with a USB-C port. The USB-C connector, like its predecessor, is able to tilt. This allows you to easily connect the phone at an angle.

While the phone is connected to the gamepad, you can charge it via the USB-C port on the right-hand side of the device. Meanwhile, to activate the fan, and its RGB lighting, you can connect a USB-C cable in the lower middle area of the gamepad.

It’s worth noting that the USB-C port on the right is meant only for charging. If you wish to use headphones, it’s advised to use wireless ones.

The bridge extends to comfortably fit even some of the largest smartphones out there. But if you want to know if your phone is a match, the compatible length is between 110mm to 179mm.

Buttons, thumbsticks, and d-pads

GameSir continues to be generous with options. Upon purchase, you’ll get two sets of d-pads, two sets of thumbsticks and their caps, along with two button layouts. One is for Xbox and another is for Switch.

You also get a USB-C to USB cable and a nice and sturdy carrying case. Great, great value.

I’m not one to tinker too much with devices, especially since I barely have the time to do so. That’s why I decided to stick to the setup right out of the box. That is the more traditional sticks and buttons. As for the layout, I went with the Xbox one.

I more regularly game on a PlayStation 5 so that’s my baseline comparison for how tactile buttons are. For what it is, the face buttons on the GameSir X3 feel alright. They’re smaller and don’t press as deep as what I’m used to. I’d say even the Razer Kishi V2 felt deeper but not by much. Regardless, I think it’s still a better experience than tapping a flat screen.

The thumbsticks feel great and appear to be durable. I can’t count the number of times I just suddenly space out while mindlessly playing with the thumbsticks. It never felt like they would break and there’s no drifting whatsoever.

The shoulder and trigger buttons have a more consistent feel to them. What I mean is that they feel similar when you press them which differs from most other gamepads. Usually, the shoulder buttons feel deeper than the triggers. It still feels nice to use and is something one can easily get used to.

App support

There are two key software you’ll want to check out and use alongside the GameSir X3.

GameSir World

First is the GameSir World app. Here, you can switch modes and force the button mapping configuration. With it, you can play games that typically don’t have controller support. The app will prompt you to press the G and Home buttons at the same time to Switch. The LED indicator on the left will change from Blue to Indicate to indicate the change in modes.

Personally, I used it to play Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile. I had a tough time playing the first person shooter, but on an open-world RPG like Genshin Impact, having a gamepad is a godsend. It felt like I’m actually playing on a hand-held console.

By default, with the LED indicator color in Blue, the GameSir X3 will work with any controller supported game. Some notable titles are: Asphalt 9, Final Fantasy VII: First Soldier, Life is Strange, and many more.

TapTap

If you’re down to explore more games, that’s where the second app comes in. It’s called TapTap. There’s a voucher inside the packaging that gives you a brief look at it. It also contains the QR Code you need to scan so you can download the app. You can either do that or download it here.

With the TapTap app, you’ll be shown a few feeds. The main one is a sort of hub for news on popular mobile games. Swipe right and you’ll see game recommendations by genre. There’s RPG, Action, Puzzle, Casual, and many more.

I had already forgotten some of the titles we tried but some of our favorites are a One Piece game and a side-scrolling beat’em up. With TapTap, it’s easier to find games that are controller-ready, so you don’t have to go through the trouble of mapping buttons before you play.

Is the GameSir X3 your GadgetMatch?

The GameSir X3 is one of the easiest gamepads to recommend. It builds on everything that was already good with its predecessor while adding a killer, or rather cooler feature.

Not only that, you get fantastic value with the assortment of buttons included along with the pretty sleek-looking carrying case.

GameSir went above and beyond in delivering a gamepad for mobile gamers that are desperate for physical buttons. With the GameSir X3, you get a complete package, and then some. This one easily gets the GadgetMatch seal of approval.

The GameSir X3 retails for US$ 99. Buy here.

Accessories

OBSBOT Meet Flip Hands-on

It’s tinier and folds this time

Published

August 14, 2026

Phones flip and fold. Now webcams do too.

Foldable screens have found their way into phones, tablets, and laptops in recent years. Now, OBSBOT is taking that idea in a considerably smaller direction: the webcam.

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is the company’s first foldable 4K webcam packing:

1/2-inch stacked CMOS sensor
intelligent audio
a collection of AI-powered meeting tools

All of these inside a body weighing just 37.7 grams.

A fold that does something, not just a gimmick

The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t foldable just to make it easier to throw into a bag.

Closing the webcam physically blocks the lens and puts the device into sleep mode. Open it when you want to be seen, flip it shut when you don’t.

A physical privacy cover isn’t novel in itself. What’s clever here is how it’s part of the folding design.

As someone with a love-hate relationship with data privacy, I almost always keep some physical barrier over my laptop webcam. And if I can avoid having a webcam there entirely, even better.

Serious camera hardware in a pocket-sized webcam

Despite its size, OBSBOT hasn’t treated the Meet Flip like a basic laptop-camera replacement.

Inside is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology, capable of recording 4K UHD at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. It also packs an f/1.8 aperture, HDR, PDAF autofocus, ISO 100–6400, and up to 4x digital zoom.

At its core is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology.

It can record:

4K UHD at 30fps
1080p at 60fps

You also get:

f/1.8 aperture
HDR
PDAF autofocus
ISO 100–6400
up to 4x digital zoom

On paper, that gives the Meet Flip a better shot at handling the situations built-in laptop webcams often struggle with: dim rooms, harsh backlighting, changing lighting conditions, or simply moving around in front of the camera.

HDR helps keep faces visible against bright backgrounds, while PDAF autofocus continuously adjusts focus as you move closer to or farther from the lens.

The wider f/1.8 aperture should also help in less-than-ideal lighting.

The point is that once the Meet Flip is set up, you shouldn’t have to spend much time thinking about the camera itself.

It listens differently depending on the room setup

The Meet Flip also uses an intelligent dual-microphone system combining omnidirectional and directional microphones.

Instead of relying on one pickup pattern for every situation, it offers four audio modes for different setups:

Directional Mode focuses on sound coming from the front, making it the obvious choice for solo calls.

Dual-Directional Mode listens to both the front and rear of the webcam, which could be useful for interviews or conversations between two people sitting across from each other.

Smart Omni Mode is designed for group meetings, picking up voices from around the room.

And Pure Audio Mode provides unprocessed left and right stereo channels for users who would rather handle the audio themselves in post-production.

Auto Gain and AI Noise Reduction also work across the first three modes, helping clean up audio without requiring much manual adjustment.

It gives the Meet Flip more flexibility than a typical webcam microphone, especially if you regularly switch between solo calls, interviews, and group meetings.

AI that doesn’t intrude

AI has become an almost obligatory addition to new hardware in 2026, but several of the Meet Flip’s features put it to work on real-world meeting annoyances.

AI Auto Framing keeps you in frame, with options for:

Group
Single Close-up
Upper Body
Full Body

Gesture controls can also toggle Auto Framing or adjust the zoom without reaching for a keyboard or mouse.

More interesting is AI Magic Notes.

Through OBSBOT Center, it provides real-time transcription and can automatically generate meeting summaries with key points, decisions, and action items. It works across Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Although AI Magic Notes is offered as a subscription service, every Meet Flip includes 120 complimentary minutes to get started.

MORE with OBSBOT Center & OBSBOT Live

There are plenty of other software features as well. OBSBOT Center includes:

Background Blur and Background Replacement
Real-Time Beauty Mode
Picture-in-Picture overlays
Smart Eye Tracking
Teleprompter support
Detailed image adjustments

The Meet Flip isn’t limited to laptops or desktops either. Through OBSBOT Live, it can connect directly to smartphones and tablets over USB-C for mobile streaming and content creation.

Flip it open. Fold it away.

None of those features reinvent the webcam on their own.

Taken together, though, they make the Meet Flip a more thoughtful take on a piece of hardware whose basic design and features have barely changed.

The flip may grab your attention first, but it’s how OBSBOT uses that design alongside its camera, audio, and software features that makes the Meet Flip interesting.

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is now available at US$ 119 and is currently available through OBSBOT’s official store, Amazon US, and select retailers.

Accessories

England, Wales start banning Meta Glasses

The smart glasses are now banned in courtrooms.

Published

August 12, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Earlier this year, New York became the first state to issue a blanket ban against smart glasses in courtrooms. The new regulation marks one of the first public spaces to prevent the contentious devices. Now, England and Wales are following suit in their courtrooms by banning Meta glasses inside.

As reported by The Guardian, courtrooms in both countries will confiscate Meta Glasses from those taking them into the building. Owners can retrieve them again upon exit.

Like the decision in New York, the English and Welsh bans are simple enough to follow. As it is everywhere, it’s forbidden to record video inside courtrooms in England and Wales. Because Meta Glasses have cameras (and are primarily used for their video capturing capabilities), they fall under prohibited items.

Notably, smartphones are not included on this list, despite having sizable cameras themselves. Although, to be fair, it’s much more difficult to discreetly record video using a smartphone. Smart glasses pride themselves with the ability to take videos seamlessly.

Meta Glasses are having such a moment today. Though some users, especially creators, are excited for them, a significant chunk of the population is concerned over their ability to take videos without subjects knowing they’re being recorded. Some users have even found ways to disable the built-in LED indicators which should, in theory, warn the public that the glasses are recording. It’s since turned into a privacy nightmare.

Accessories

Spotlight: MemoMind One

How “smart” are AI glasses without cameras in it?

Published

August 7, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

What if smart glasses could make you more present instead of recording everything around you? Check out MemoMind or back it up on Kickstarter.

After spending time with the MemoMind One around New York City, THE Michael Josh wanted to answer one question: Do smart glasses actually become more useful when they stop trying to be a camera?

In this video, we take a look at the MemoMind One — a new pair of AI-powered smart glasses that take a very different approach.