We’ve made the case for GameSir being one of the better controller makers in recent years. Somehow, they’re still underrated. When you mention mobile controllers, the mainstream top-of-mind are Backbone and Razer Kishi. GameSir aims to shake things up even further with the GameSir X5 Lite.
Launching alongside the GameSir X5 Lite is the company’s brand new app – GameHub. Asked what the idea behind the GameHub is, this was their response to us: “We aim to defeat Backbone.”
Bold statement. And one we think they can back up down the line.
GameHub
Let’s keep the energy going with GameHub. During the review period, GameHub hasn’t officially launched and only the Android version was available.
What it looks like is a one-stop-shop for many of your mobile gaming needs. There are sections for PC streaming whether that’s Steam or Xbox. You also get PS Remote Play and what not.
As primarily a PlayStation gamer, I immediately tried PS Remote Play first. There’s a key step-by-step process here for the GameSir X5 Lite to work on Remote Play.
Instead of launching the native PS Remote Play app, connect it via the PS Link directly from the GameHub app. That’s the only way for Remote Play to work properly. I suspect the same is mostly true for PC streaming. I didn’t have the opportunity to try it during my review period.
All things considered, this looks like a good first step in the right direction and something we’ll try to come back to as more features get added to it.
GameSir X5 Lite
Jumping straight onto the GameSir X5 Lite, it is indeed truly light. One of the best things it has going for it outside of its weight is that despite its relatively slim profile, GameSir managed to add ergonomic grips.
Good grips
The grips have a groove that feels great on-hand. The laser engraved textured grips also go a long way in making it feel great to touch and hold. This is a distinct advantage over the mostly flat grips of the Backbone One and Razer Kishi.
Movable Type-C
One curious difference though, not only versus competing products but also in their previous ones is the decision to shift the movable Type-C port from the right over to the left.
This meant that most Android phones whose power and volume buttons are usually flushed all on the right hand side will be situated on the lower right area when you have it mounted on the GameSir X5 Light.
That makes for an awkward way to adjust the volume on most Android phones.
However, if you’re using an iPhone 15 and up, the volume controls will now be on the upper-right side which seems more optimal. I’m just not sure if iPhone users are the ones who will actually want to consider this controller – but they probably should.
We also tried connecting this on the iPad Mini 7 and while it isn’t ideal because of the iPad’s button placements, it still works fine overall.
We asked GameSir what the reasoning behind this and they was said it is so that “It would be easier to attach (a) cooler to the phone while using X5 Lite.”
The GameSir X5 Lite package we received didn’t come with a cooler and personally, I don’t imagine it being a big hurdle had it been on the right side.
But the move also meant passthrough charging on the left-hand side.
Wider stretch, enough backspace, bumpers
Official information notes that the space where you put your device is now longer–213mm to be exact. It fits up to about the iPad Mini 7 which measures at around 8.3 inches.
Other than the realme 14 5G which is the smartphone visible in our photos, we also tried this with foldables like the OPPO Find N5 and HONOR Magic V3– smaller but taller devices than the iPad Mini 7 but still fit perfectly fine on the X5 Lite.
The design also left ample space for camera bumps. This means the device will lay mostly flat instead of sticking out. To protect the phone further, each inner part where you would put your device has removable silicone pads. It keeps your device sitting tight and securely.
GameSir made minute but mindful adjustments here which all made sense.
Hall Effect sticks, Membrane hair triggers, face buttons
As expected from all their recent products, the primary controls you’ll interact with are all made with great quality.
GameSir’s own Hall Effect Sticks are easily one of the best on any controller. They are firmly one of the leaders in using Hall Effect sticks and all manufacturers should follow suit
The triggers and face buttons all have a satisfactory click and press feel to them. Zenless Zone Zero, which is best played with a controller, felt really good to play. I did not experience any noticeable input delay which is key in such a fast-paced, action-packed game.
One issue I did have is while playing Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. To do a high jump in the game, you needed to long press the jump button. This was not at all possible on the X5 Lite. The long press was just not registering at all and I had to resort to holding the jump button on screen to execute the action.
This turned me off from playing the game using the X5 Lite. Depending on the game you’re playing, you might encounter similar issues.
You likely can address this by mapping the action to a different button or button press action using the GameSir app.
Personally, this is not something I was inclined on doing. Even in other reviews, I mostly preferred playing games that already have built-in controller support. But it’s good to know that there’s an option to tweak things for those who have the bandwidth for it.
Is the GameSir X5 Lite your GadgetMatch?
The GameSir X5 Lite retails for only PhP 2,100 or $34.99 USD. That’s a fantastic price point for the overall build quality and functionality it offers. It also undercuts its competition by quite a bit.
Moreover, GameSir is directly challenging Backbone with the introduction of GameHub. This will be compatible not only with the GameSir X5 Lite but many of their other controllers as well and it’ll be interesting to see how that app evolves.
All things considered, we’ll give the GameSir X5 Lite a Swipe Right. It’s a relatively easy recommendation for anyone looking to add physical controls to their mobile gaming life.
You can purchase the GameSir X5 Life on the official website. Add the GGMX5L10 coupon upon checkout for 10% OFF.
Accessories
Peak Design’s new City Line combines minimalism and color
Less padding, more personality
Known for its camera-friendly bags with generous padding to protect photography gear, Peak Design is taking a different approach with the City Line.
The new collection prioritizes lightweight construction and everyday functionality, stripping away unnecessary bulk while still delivering the thoughtful organization the brand is known for.
The new collection includes the City Backpack in 15L and 22L sizes, the 15L City Tote, the City Crescent in 6L and 12L options, and the compact 2L City Sling. While each bag serves a different purpose, they all share the same minimalist aesthetics and intuitive organization.
To achieve that lighter design is Peak Design’s new weather-resistant MonoShell material, along with a seam-reduced construction that cuts down on unnecessary bulk.
It also comes with Peak Design’s built-in BagLev hook, allowing you to hang your bag from a table instead of placing it on the floor.
Beyond the neutral and muted finishes we’ve seen in the past, Peak Design is also introducing brighter options that add more personality to the collection.
The vibrant Lapis blue, in particular, stands out as a fun alternative for anyone looking to move beyond the usual black everyday bag.
The City Line is now available through peakdesign.com and authorized retailers worldwide.
DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.
The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.
Freedom behind the lens
The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.
On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.
FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.
ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.
It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.
None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.
And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.
The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.
The trade-offs in touch
The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.
DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.
You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.
Finding your ideal workflow
The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.
If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.
Price, availability
DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.
- Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
- Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
- Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.
Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?
The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.
If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.
Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.
Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.
And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.
Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.
This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.
Last year, the Sony WH-1000XM6 quickly became our favorite pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The audio quality pairs remarkably well with its ANC capabilities. Now, a year into the accessory’s life cycle, new colors are still coming out. Today, the acclaimed WH-1000XM6 is getting an Olive Gray variant.
A few months ago, Sony expanded the WH-1000XM6’s colorway options with a Sandstone version, launching alongside the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION. At the time, the new color added a splash of life to an already blossoming lineup.
Now, much like the rest of the lineup, the new Olive Gray version is a subdued mashup between olive green and gray. Though it stands out on its own, the color is still cool enough to mix well with the contours of the user’s head.
Other than that, the new version is still identical to the inner workings of the original device. The Sony WH-1000XM6 comes with a new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, providing 12 microphones for effective noise cancellation. In terms of audio quality, the headphones support High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC support.
Also, the accessory sits comfortable on the head with a high rigidity carbon fiber composite material dome, cushioned well with synthetic leather.
As always, the Olive Gray version, launching today, will sell for US$ 459.99.
In Singapore, the Sony WH-1000XM6 in Olive Gray is available starting today through Sony Stores, the Sony Store Online, and authorized dealers for S$649, matching the pricing of the existing color options.
SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6: Master of sound quality and noise cancellation
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