Back in 2023, we reviewed the GameSir G7 SE, a controller that brought a lot to the table for only $45. Now, GameSir has released the next evolution of this controller in the form of the GameSir G7 Pro. This “pro” controller comes swinging from right out of the gate with TMR thumb sticks, Hall Effect triggers and optical micro switch face buttons. Armed further with motion controls, a microswitch D-pad and both wired and wireless connectivity, this controller looks to bring pro-level gaming to your Xbox, PC, and compatible Bluetooth device.
We got the chance to use the GameSir G7 Pro for quite a while now, so we are more than ready to share our thoughts on this $79.99 controller. Let’s dive right in.
Build, Features and Comfort
A purchase of the GameSir G7 Pro comes with a charging station, three swappable D-pads, a 2.4Ghz wireless dongle, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a cable retainer.
The GameSir G7 Pro offers 2.4Ghz wireless exclusively for PC, wired connectivity for Xbox and PC, and Bluetooth for Android devices. It continues with that familiar Xbox controller layout and silhouette. You have the four face buttons, dual-analog sticks, D-pad, bumpers, triggers, menu, view, and share buttons arranged as you would see them on a standard Xbox controller. However, like the G7 SE, there are physical components in this controller not seen in your standard Xbox controller. Also, there is even more here than what we saw on the G7 SE.
There is an “M” button on the front, which is used with the D-pad to control the master volume and game/chat balance of your connected wired headset. A wired headset can be connected to the 3.5mm jack at the bottom of the controller which sits next to a mic mute toggle button and a pairing button. On the back, you have a switch for toggling between 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth wireless.
The G7 Pro has four additional buttons, L4 and R4 paddle buttons on the back and L5 and R5 buttons near the triggers on the top. The rear paddle buttons are equipped with quick-latch switches. This allows you to lock these buttons down when they are not in use to avoid accidental or distracting presses. Each of the additional L4, L5, R4, and R5 buttons can be remapped to a standard controller button on the fly by using the “M” button.
Now what really makes the G7 Pro stand up as a pro-level controller is its high-end components. You have GameSir Mag-Res TMR thumb sticks, sporting a 1000 Hz polling rate, 4096 levels of joystick resolution, and a five-million cycle lifespan. You then have Hall Effect analog triggers, coupled with micro switch trigger stops. Throw in a mechanical micro switch D-pad and optical micro switch ABXY buttons and you have yourself a no-nonsense controller build.
Yet, the build does not stop there. The faceplate, D-pad, handles, and analog sticks are all replaceable. The controller comes with three D-pad options to choose from right out of the box. The other replaceable components are sold separately. However, this alone opens the door for more physical customizability for the G7 Pro down the road.
Right from the start, the GameSir G7 Pro was comfortable to handle thanks to its close-to-home Xbox controller size, shape, and button arrangement. The rubberized handles and thumb sticks only enhance that comfort and handling stability even further. Toss in TMR thumb sticks and Hall Effect triggers, and you have a controller that at the very least is built to last.
As I did with the G7 SE, I like the inclusion of quick latches for the back paddles L4 and R4. It allows the back of the controller to feel more uniform for gamers that do not wish to use them. Lastly, you have the inclusion of the top-side L5 and R5 buttons, which open the G7 Pro up more to claw-grip style gamers.
You can customize the behavior of this controller with the free GameSir Nexus app for PC and Xbox. However, it is always good to have onboard features for some of the functions when you do not have access to the software. Being able to recalibrate thumb sticks, swap profiles, and remap the L4, R4, L5 and L5 buttons straight from the controller is a very welcome addition. These on-the-fly options make this G7 Pro a solid controller for tournament play, going off of its build alone.
Having liked what I saw from the G7 SE’s build, I am glad to see that the GameSir G7 Pro takes its comfort, functionality and build to the next level. I was impressed with what I saw in the G7 Pro’s build from right out of the box.
More Features and Performance
As it was with the G7 SE, you can fully explore the G7 Pro’s customizability via the free GameSir Nexus software for Xbox and Windows. The interface has of course changed since then, consolidating the bulk of the functionality on one screen. However, much of the available functionality has remained the same, which is a good thing. I liked what I saw in the GameSir Nexus app before, and I liked what I saw here. Repeating what I said in the G7 SE review…
Through the software, you can handle firmware updates, remap buttons, manage analog and trigger dead zones, activate hair triggers, and customize vibration intensity. You can then save your custom settings to up to [four] profiles that you can swap between as needed.
The level of customization that the GameSir [G7 Pro] offers you is impressive. You get all of the options that you would expect from a current day licensed Xbox controller for a reasonable price. The software’s features and menus are easy to use and understand. If you need to swap between your profiles while you are gaming, you just use the M button in combination with either the X, Y, A or B button to apply that profile’s setting.
For example…
Hold M and Press Y Applies Profile 1 Hold M and Press B Applies Profile 2 Hold M and Press A Applies Profile 3 Hold M and Press X Applies Profile 4 Also, you do not have to use the software at all if you do not want to. There is a myriad of button combinations defined in the [G7 Pro] manual that allow you to change controller settings directly. Directly from the controller, you can either remap the R4, L4, [R5, L5] buttons or calibrate the triggers and thumb sticks. I can see the value of fiddling with settings in this manner as it allows you to immediately test your settings on the fly. However, I found it to be easier to simply use the more intuitive interface from the app.
Now, let us focus on performance. When it came to first person shooters, the G7 Pro handled exceptionally well. The TMR thumb sticks played well in both Destiny 2 and Apex Legends, where I enjoyed both responsive and accurate aiming in my PVP sessions. I always employ trigger locks in shooters and the actuation from XYAB buttons were solid, allowing me to feel right at home with the G7 Pro. In Destiny 2, Trials of Osiris flawless runs and reaching Ascendant rank in Competitive PVP were largely thanks to this controller’s performance.
The same could be said for my Apex Legends ranked matches, where the G7 Pro’s handling, accuracy and comfort continued to shine.
Oddly enough, where I had a mixed experience was with the D-pad. When it came to 2D platformers, the D-pad was a joy to use. Handling movement with it felt sharp and second nature. However, when it came to fighting games, I had some trouble pulling off Dragon Punch motions (Forward, Down, to Down-Forward) in particular. I had no issue with quarter-circle and half-circle motions, so I was sure to try out all of the included D-Pad options. I am no stranger to fighters, so I was surprised to find myself pulling off DP’s at a roughly 60% success rate.
However, I was very satisfied with all the rest of my gaming experiences with the GameSir G7 Pro. Playing Destiny: Rising on my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 via Bluetooth gave me that close to home Destiny 2 experience while I was on the go.
The controller’s Bluetooth connectivity opens the door to cloud and remote gaming via Steam Link or Xbox Game Pass. Being able to enjoy the controller’s overall handling and accuracy on the go further extended the G7 Pro’s usability. Of course, there is always going to be some unescapable latency when playing remotely via a Bluetooth controller. However, the games were still plenty playable via the G7 Pro.
While the D-pad did give me the kind of trouble I was not used to in fighting games, the GameSir G7 Pro performed very well everywhere else. As such, I really liked the performance and feature set I experienced with the G7 Pro.
Final Thoughts
The GameSir G7 Pro gives you the kind of build, performance and feature set that you would expect from a “pro” level controller. It is responsive, accurate, and comfortable to handle. You then have both hardware and software customizability, tri-mode connectivity, and the latest technology seen in controller components today. The GameSir G7 Pro more than meets the mark of a pro controller, and it does so for a very reasonable $80.
This is the kind of solid controller that I would suggest to any FPS gamer that plays on the Xbox, PC or both. If you are interested in checking out the GameSir G7 Pro for yourself, you can do so by clicking here.
For the time being, you can get the controller at a 6% discount on GameSir’s website and Amazon using the following links…
GameSir.com Link – Code: GSG7PRO
Amazon.com Link – Code: GAMESIRG7P
† We were provided with a GameSir G7 Pro for review purposes and were not compensated for this review.
