Photo credit: YoshivesMovie
GameSir has always aimed to strike a balance between old-school charm and modern tech and this clip-on controller does just that without fanfare. The device is on display at their Tokyo Game Show booth and attaches to the bottom of a smartphone, turning the whole thing into a dead ringer for the original Game Boy.
Early pictures show the controller gripping the phone’s lower edge with movable arms that can fit devices up to 6.5 inches tall. The body is 4.5 inches wide and 2 inches thick, making the whole thing under 8 inches long – shorter than the original Game Boy’s 8.8 inches. The plastic design keeps the weight low, perhaps around 150 grams without the phone, so a huge Android or iPhone won’t convert it into a brick. The layout is consistent: a cross-shaped D-pad on the left for precision motions, and A and B buttons on the right, which are elevated just enough for quick thumb push. Below them are smaller Start and Select buttons, recessed to prevent accidental presses during marathon sessions.
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Shoulder buttons protrude from the top edge, two on each side labeled L and R, and are designed for quick index-finger access without cramping your grasp. These add to the retro notion by allowing you to perform modern gaming movements such as jumps and shooting without slowing down. A close-up shot reveals that they’re analog-sensitive, with a modest give for varied input. Up front, two extra buttons flank the D-pad and action keys, most likely programmed as C and D for additional functionality in apps such as emulators or cloud services.
A rectangular cutout is centered at the bottom, aligning with the USB-C ports on most smartphones. This includes pass-through charging, which allows you to charge in the middle of a game without having to disconnect anything – a useful feature for lengthy travels on games like Pokémon Go or retro ports. Because there are no cords in the photographs, Bluetooth pairing appears viable, and the phone should connect to Android or iOS without draining the battery too much.
Based on previous GameSir models, the battery life is expected to be 8-10 hours with low-latency mode for responsive input. The photographs show no rumble motors, which keeps things compact, but the emphasis is on tactile input via the clicky buttons and smooth D-pad. Hall-effect sensors in the shoulders aid to avoid stick drift over time.
[Sources 1 | 2]
