GameSir G7 PRO 8K — Review: The PC Controller with 8000Hz Polling Rate That Challenges Keyboard and Mouse

If you've recently had the chance to watch one of the latest videos by Thomas Avallone (whom you surely know as Hal), you would have heard what one of the most active content creators in esports had to say about using a gamepad even on PC. This was something that could have been associated with blasphemy a few years ago, but which is evidently now an accepted practice even by those who once called themselves purists of keyboard and mouse gaming. And indeed, until recently, the performance of gamepads of that era was certainly insufficient to meet the demands for precision and speed required for the most "pro" titles in the personal computer world.

And instead…

And instead, now we find ourselves talking about true technological marvels that guarantee very significant performance, so much so that they establish themselves as a natural alternative to the quintessential peripherals for the world of shooters (obviously, in all this discussion, we leave out RTS and MOBA, which exist in completely different worlds). And indeed, the Gamesir G7 PRO 8K that we had the opportunity to test this past month absolutely supports what emerged from Hal's video. And to seal Gamesir's dedication of this pad to the world of pro gaming, there's also a great collaboration with Aimlabs, the famous aim training platform used by millions of competitive players worldwide. Inside the box, you'll find a coupon for one month of free use of the platform's paid version.

And speaking of which, if you really want to improve in the world of gaming and want to rely on a "Sensei" who can support you in your progress, take a look at Sensei Bravo, our coaching platform where coaches like Hal, Kyborg, and many others will guide you in 1-to-1 lessons towards constant and tangible improvement of your skills.

Inside the GameSir G7 PRO 8K Box

Inside the packaging of the new Gamesir offering, in addition to the pad, we find a whole series of replacement elements that can customize aesthetics and functionality, including new D-pads adaptable to your playstyle and sticks of different heights with concave or convex thumbsticks, the braided cable, and the receiver for wireless connection. The pad's aesthetic has also aligned with the collaboration with Aimlabs, as the black and green colors echo those of Aimlabs, accompanied by the usual excellent build quality and materials, typical of Gamesir productions, which suggest robustness and reliability without impacting the product's final weight.

The only doubt comes from the rubber covering the back of the pad's grip, as the material chosen to increase grip on the gamepad, after some time, seems to give the player the sensation of having sweaty hands, even if they are actually perfectly dry. The layout follows the Xbox scheme with asymmetrical sticks, circular directional buttons, four front ABXY-style buttons, menu and options buttons, and the power button with the Aimlabs logo. On the back, there are two customizable back buttons, trigger locks, and a switch to toggle between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz. At the bottom are the 3.5mm jack, pairing button, and mute button; at the top are the USB-C connector, triggers, bumpers, and two additional mini-bumpers. Regarding the use of these latter next to the classic L1 and R1, they require a bit of practice, but they prove really effective once the right automatism is found and the memory of these second pair of bumpers usually being placed parallel to the others, on the lower part of the pad, is erased from gaming memory.

GameSir G7 Pro 8K PC Controller

109,99

Obviously, the proprietary second-generation GameSir Mag-Res TMR system is present, which essentially creates a kind of magnetic cushion between the moving parts, warding off the dreaded drifting. The precision of use of the two sticks is one of the strengths of the entire product, because it allows for very fluid strafes and quick centering without losing precision, even in close-quarters combat. All the pad's functionalities can be programmed directly from the device itself, without resorting to external software (which does exist and can be found on the official GameSir website), which allows for macro recording of up to 32 steps, which in professional settings could obviously represent a problem associated with cheating. The front triggers can be used in a dual mode, thanks to the rear switch, acting as very fluid Hall effect triggers, or functioning with a classic micro switch. Obviously, the choice can also be dictated by the type of game being played. When testing the pad on Forza 6, we obviously opted for the Hall effect functionality, to best modulate braking and acceleration, but on a shooter like Apex, for example, the execution speed of the microswitch could really make a difference.

The G7 PRO 8K's connectivity is twofold: it can connect to the computer directly with the included braided cable, ensuring a total absence of lag, or via the wireless dongle (which can also be inserted into the charging base) for gaming without too many constraints. In both cases, an 8000Hz polling rate is guaranteed, which gives the gaming experience a fluidity and precision truly unprecedented until now. The G7 PRO 8K is also compatible with Android and Switch, where it can be paired via Bluetooth, though this will not support the 8k polling rate. Obviously, wired gaming will not affect battery life, which in our tests was around 8 hours, representing a respectable value for a device of this type.

After weeks of intensive testing, the GameSir G7 PRO 8K proved to be the best pad we've had the opportunity to test recently and is an essential device for pushing your gaming skills a bit further, especially at a price, just over 100 euros, which is decidedly contained given its performance.

RATING: 9.5