The Gamesir Kaleid Xbox wired controller is the latest Xbox-compatible controller from their long lineup of gaming peripherals. Featuring a solid lineup of hardware components and features, the Kaleid aims to provide a solid alternative to more expensive after-market controllers on the market. With compatibility for Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One S/X, and PC (including Steam), the Kalied Wired controller attempts to be a one-stop shop for gamers across Microsoft’s lineup of gaming hardware.
Following the design structure of the official Xbox controller, the Gamesir Kaleid feels very similar when held and used. With a textural finish along the hand grips, the Kaleid fits comfortably in the hand, even during long play sessions. The button, trigger, and bumper layout, likewise, are almost exactly in line with the official controller. As for the overall look, this is where Gamesir goes for style points.
The Gamesir Kaleid comes in two flavours: the Kaleid and the Kaleid Flux. Each features a transparent outer shell that exposes a beautifully accented circuit board with Gamesir branding. Both offer a unique circuit board design that helps easily distinguish them by glance alone. Some other subtle differences help distinguish the two versions from each other as well. For starters, while the Kaleid opts for a subtle silver finish on the DPad, triggers and bumpers, the Flux leans into a bold gold finish on the same three areas, making it easily identifiable from its counterpart.
“The Kaleid includes a 9’ braided USB type-C to type-A cable for easy plug-and-play action.”
Additionally, while the Kaleid opts for tactile, clicky A, B, Y, and X face buttons, the Flux features a membrane version of the same buttons, resulting in a much quieter clicking experience. Both look great in their own right, but my personal preference leans more toward the Kaleid and its clicky buttons, silver accents, and unique circuit board aesthetic.
The Gamesir Kaleid features Hall effect sticks and triggers, providing incredible precision and response. Users can switch between hair trigger and analog trigger mode via the onboard button combination or through the Gamesir app (more on this later). The aforementioned face buttons feel great and have a nice tactile response when used. Additionally, the sticks include a rubberized grip finish, much like the official Xbox controllers we are accustomed to.
Along with the standard buttons and layout, the Gamesir Kaleid also includes an onboard multi-function button for profile and mode switching, along with two programable buttons. These two additional buttons are located on the underside of the hand grips and positioned to be in line with both ring fingers. Having tested several controllers over the last year, this positioning has turned out to be the most comfortable for long sessions of gaming and is a natural resting place for your fingers without the risk of accidentally bumping the buttons during intense moments of gameplay.
The Kaleid also includes an impressively long 9’ braided USB type-C to type-A cable for easy plug-and-play action. On both PC and Xbox, the Kaleid is recognized as an Xbox controller and is usable immediately. Thankfully, the system can be powered on using the Xbox button located at the top center of the controller once again, like the official controller. Haptic feedback is also present with the option to adjust the intensity via both the app and the onboard multi-function button. All the features you’d expect from an Xbox controller are present here.
As for performance, the Gamesir Kaleid feels great to use. All buttons, sticks and triggers are responsive, with no notable latency during gameplay. Even the face buttons are rated for a 0.6mm actuation point, producing a lightning-fast response on actuation. The sticks, likewise, are smooth and accurate, responding with ease to even subtle movements of my thumbs. The hair-trigger mode is also a nice addition and comes in handy during FPS titles like DOOM Eternal and Halo Infinite. Like many of the controllers from Gamesir, the Kaleid is a responsive and exceptionally functional controller.
The only critique of the Gamesir Kaleid is the transparent shell. While it does allow a look at the beautifully designed circuit boards, the cost is some serious fingerprint smudging. No matter how hard I try to keep it clean, the Kaleid holds onto fingerprints. It is a minor annoyance but one that might bother some people.
“The Gamesir Kaleid Xbox wired controller is a good alternative if you are looking for a reliable wired Xbox controller that won’t break the bank.”
Another interesting feature of the Gamesir Kaleid is the inclusion of a four-zone RGB edge light under the outer shell. This RGB system supports the full RGB lighting spectrum allowing for some beautiful customization. With multiple levels of brightness and multiple display effects to choose from, there is plenty of opportunity for customization of your Kaleid controller.
On the note of customization, I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the Xbox and PC Gamesir app available through the Microsoft store. The Gamesir app has historically been a low point in previous reviews as it lacked customization, feature control or any notable usage. However, with the introduction of the Kaleid controller, the Gamesir app has taken on a whole new level of functionality.
With 3 profile saves to work with, users have full control over every programmable aspect of the Gamesir Kaleid. RGB settings, programmable button control, haptic feedback, trigger settings and more can all easily be managed from inside the Gamesir app. Even the layout and UI have been cleaned up and streamlined to help facilitate controller customization. It is by far the best iteration of the Gamesir app to date and adds real quality of life to the customization experience. While I’ve historically always opted to use the onboard programming (which is quite usable on the Kaleid), the Gamesir app makes it even easier to set up and use the controller exactly to your preference.
The Gamesir Kaleid Xbox wired controller and its counterpart the Kaleid Flux are solid controllers with easy-to-use customization and features. Offering a great user experience, feature-rich software and a plug-and-play experience. The Kaleid Xbox wired controller is a good alternative if you are looking for a reliable wired Xbox controller that won’t break the bank.
