GameSir Kaleid Wired Controller for Xbox review: I want this to be wireless

All of my Xbox Wireless Controllers have developed issues sooner than I would've liked. Stick drift, stuck buttons, missed inputs — Xbox's own wireless controllers are rife with quality control issues. Unfortunately, restrictions on the Xbox Wireless protocol has meant that there are few alternatives for those that still want to cut the wire. If I could have any one company become the new third-party default for a great wireless Xbox controller, it would be GameSir.

That's because the new GameSir Kaleid Wireless Controller for Xbox is just like the GameSir G7 SE I reviewed — it's the best wired Xbox controller you can buy. It's affordable, high quality, and immensely comfortable to use. GameSir has consistently impressed me with its Xbox controllers, but one singular complaint has remained the same through all of them. I wish there was a more premium wireless option because I'd buy two of them without a second thought.

Here are my full thoughts on the GameSir Kaleid for Xbox after a few weeks of using it as my only controller.

GameSir Kaleid review: Pricing and specifications

Pricing highlights

• The GameSir Kaleid for Xbox retails for $49.99 at Amazon, a $5 increase over its G7 SE sibling.
• For the money, you're getting a transparent, wired Xbox controller with Hall Effect sensors, four rumble motors, customizable RGB lighting, and more.
• It's a great value considering the quality, but you can find more affordable controllers if you look.

Like other GameSir products, the Kaleid Wired Controller for Xbox is on the more affordable side of things. You can pick up this controller for just $49.99 at Amazon. This is a $5 increase over my other favorite wired controller, the also-from-GameSir G7 SE. That extra $5 is almost entirely for the more premium aesthetics, with the Kaleid for Xbox boasting a beautiful transparent shell and customizable RGB lighting. The core of the experience is also very similar, including the Hall Effect sensors that help with long-term durability.

On the other hand, though, the Kaleid does lose some of the minor "pro" features the G7 SE boasts, like integrated D-Pad audio controls and rear button locks. I imagine this won't be a huge loss for many people, and being able to have functional and actually customizable RGB lighting in an official Xbox accessory is tough to pass up. In the box, you'll find the GameSir Kaleid Wired Controller for Xbox, a 3-meter braided USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable, and a code for one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

GameSir Kaleid Wired Controller for Xbox | $49.99 at Amazon

The Kaleid for Xbox joins the G7 SE as being one of my favorite controllers of all time, once again reminding me that GameSir could make a phenomenal wireless Xbox controller. For $50, though, this attractive wired controller can't be beaten in design.

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GameSir Kaleid review: The good

The pros highlights

• The GameSir Kaleid for Xbox shares a lot of greatness with the T4 Kaleid, including the lovely transparent shell and RGB lighting.
• It also continues GameSir's controller excellence with Hall Effect triggers and joysticks, fantastic microswitch buttons, lots of textures, and some extra features and customization.
• There is an Xbox app for GameSir's controllers, but you can change practically everything (including the lighting) from the controller itself.

The GameSir Kaleid for Xbox hasn't surprised me at all since I began using it, but that's a compliment, not a complaint. The core controller experience is very similar to the G7 and G7 SE, both of which are incredible wired Xbox controllers. You get the same buttery smooth and precise Hall Effect triggers and joysticks, lovely tactile and responsive microswitch buttons, four separate rumble motors and actuators for excellent haptic feedback, and two rear, remappable buttons for those that value that.

This is a lightweight plastic controller that still feels high quality and rigid, with a comfortable and ergonomic design. It sits perfectly in the hands, and the grips, triggers, and bumpers are all textured. I do think the grip texture could be better since it's just slightly rough plastic, but the overall hardware here is excellent. You still get the removeable, quality braided cable, too, which should extend the controller's life span even more. All controls are perfectly placed, showing that GameSir is taking the lessons learned from previous controllers like the G7 to heart.

Of course, here you're trading the matte or glossy plastic found in other controllers for a mostly transparent shell exposing the circuit board, button and joystick mechanisms, and rumble motors. Transparent tech has been making a big comeback in recent years, and it looks great here. The simple dual RGB light strips contribute to the overall look — at the very least, they make this controller stand out. It's easy to customize those lights without software, too, as the "M" button can instantly change lighting effects or brightness on the fly.

When it comes to gaming, the Kaleid for Xbox is awesome. Controls are incredibly responsive and consistent, and the anti-friction glide rings around the joysticks do a wonderful job at ensuring a smooth joystick experience. I adore the return of microswitch buttons (something I missed in the updated G7 SE), and the shape of both the bumpers and the triggers is perfect, letting you clearly and immediately distinguish between the two at all times.

It's genuinely difficult to find legitimate complaints about this controller, and in many ways, I honestly prefer the GameSir Kaleid's overall experience to that of the Xbox Wireless Controller. The quality and features are here, and so is the support. GameSir has free apps for both Windows PC and Xbox (yes, even Xbox!) that let you troubleshoot the controller and customize all of its features. Although 99% of that you can do with the master "M" button positioned at the bottom of the controller's face.

With this "M" button, you can, in seconds, remap the rear buttons, enable or disable the clever Hair Trigger mode (which takes advantage of the Hall Effect triggers to make inputs register instantly for faster response times), and adjust the RGB lighting. If you need it, the bottom of the controller also features a standard 3.5mm audio jack to hook up your favorite wired headset.

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GameSir Kaleid review: The bad

The cons highlights

• The transparent design makes sure you see every hair and bit of dust that gets inside the controller.
• Also, you do lose some "pro" features from the GameSir G7 SE, despite this controller costing a little more.
• And, yes, this is still a wired controller with no sign of a wireless option anywhere in sight.

That gorgeous transparent shell does come with some drawbacks, unfortunately. Game controllers simply aren't designed to be waterproof or dustproof, and that's especially obvious with the GameSir Kaleid. You're going to see every hair and every speck of dust that infiltrates the interior of this controller, and it's going to be significantly worse if you have pets. I have one cat, and it didn't even take a week for me to spot the first hairs dispersed on the wrong side of the controller shell.

That'll annoy some people more than others, but "out of sight, out of mind" is the name of the game with traditional opaque controllers, and you get no such protection here. Beyond that, there isn't much to complain about. Well, there are a few key differences between the GameSir Kaleid for Xbox and what I honestly believe is its biggest competitor: the GameSir G7 SE for Xbox.

The former costs $5 more and boasts a transparent design and RGB lighting (and still retains the microswitch buttons), but the latter boasts rear button locks and audio controls built directly into the D-Pad (and accessed via the "M" button). Removable faceplates and slightly better-textured grips mean the G7 SE has a few advantages over its more expensive sibling. Sadly, though, both controllers are going to be wired. I sincerely hope we see GameSir make a true, dedicated, premium wireless controller for Xbox in the future.

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GameSir Kaleid review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

✅You want an excellent all-around wired controller

To put it simply, the GameSir Kaleid Wired Controller for Xbox is good. Really good. For the price and for a wired controller, it's actually amazing. If you just want a quality, reliable, and performant controller (and don't mind a wire being attached), this is one of your best options.

✅You love transparent tech and RGB lighting

Transparent tech has made a comeback, but it's certainly not mainstream. If you're a huge fan of this niche aesthetic and you love the thought of an RGB-lit Xbox controller that you can actually customize, then GameSir has the controller for you! It's this one; this is the controller.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You really would rather leave the wires behind

My biggest complaint with GameSir's controllers is one that may not even be in the company's control. I want the Kaleid or G7 SE in a more premium, true wireless variant that isn't in danger because my cat or daughter runs through the living room. If you're in a similar boat to me and really need something without a wire attached, your current options are limited to Xbox or Turtle Beach.

Our GameSir T4 Kaleid Wired Controller review is swimming in praise, but that controller simply didn't work with Xbox consoles. Our GameSir G7 SE Wired Controller for Xbox review also earned GameSir a slew of accolades, but that controller... Well, actually, the G7 SE is a near-perfect wired Xbox controller. But GameSir still wasn't satisfied with that, and brought the lovely transparent and colorful T4 Kaleid to Xbox controllers to give the G7 SE a more attractive alternative.

There's also the GameSir Kaleid Flux Wired Controller for Xbox, which gives you the exact same design and build quality, but with permanently gold LED lights and more traditional buttons. You can get that controller for $46.99 at Amazon to save yourself $3, but I honestly think it's worth paying tiny bit extra for the more flexible RGB lighting and superior microswitch buttons of the regular Kaleid.

Honestly, though, you really can't go wrong with a single one of these GameSir controllers. The G7, G7 SE, Kaleid, and Kaleid Flux all count among the best Xbox controllers you can buy. That's an impressive track record for GameSir, and guarantees I'll have high hopes for any Designed for Xbox accessories the company puts out in the future. You can pick up the GameSir Kaleid Wired Controller for Xbox for $49.99 at Amazon right now.

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