Forget magnetic keyboards — this $49 TMR controller is all you need to elevate your gaming experience... but there's a catch

The best PC game controllers elevate your gaming experience, and there’s nothing better than doing so on a budget. GameSir is well-known for making cheap but very cheerful controllers, and it’s done it again with the GameSir Cyclone 2. Equipped with next-gen TMR thumbsticks and Hall Effect triggers, this is the controller you need if you want to gain an edge in competitive and casual gaming alike.

Sporting an ergonomic design similar to that of Xbox controllers, the Cyclone 2 is extremely comfortable to use and hold for long periods of time. Nearly every aspect of the controller can be customized via the user-friendly companion software, too. But at the low price of $49, a few sacrifices have naturally been made.

For the complete breakdown, read my full GameSir Cyclone 2 review.

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A wireless controller with Hall Effect triggers, thumbsticks and rear paddles
• Who is it for? Xbox, Switch, PC, iOS, Android and Steam gamers who want a controller that can give them an edge
• How much does it cost? It’s very cheap, available for just $49 / £49
• What do we like? The TMR sticks and Hall Effect triggers, two rear paddles, intuitive companion software and the cheap price tag
• What don’t we like? Design isn’t distinctive, it’s not compatible with Xbox and the D-Pad is mushy

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Specs

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: The ups

From its ergonomic design and intuitive companion software to its TMR sticks and Hall Effect triggers, the GameSir Cyclone 2 is an awesome controller.

Ergonomic and comfortable

Back in the day, before I bought my PS4, I was an Xbox girlie, regularly sinking hours into RPGs on my Xbox 360. I don’t regret switching to Sony’s gaming ecosystem at all, and I love my PS5 Slim, but do you know what I miss? The asymmetrical joystick layout on Xbox controllers. That’s one reason why I wish the GameSir Cyclone 2 was compatible with my PS5.

The asymmetrical joysticks just feel more natural and comfortable to use. The Cyclone 2 is ergonomically designed, sporting concave-shaped triggers like on Xbox controllers. The only real issue I have is with the Cyclone 2’s D-Pad, which I’ll get to later.

The Cyclone 2 also has a nice textured surface wrapping around its body, which makes gripping it easier and more secure. It weighs 14.08oz, which is heavier than both the Xbox One (9.84oz) and the PlayStation DualSense (9.87oz) controllers. Light controllers are less fatiguing on your hands when you’re gaming for long periods of time, but I prefer heavier controllers, which is why the Cyclone 2 is right up my alley.

Magnetic gaming features

The GameSir Cyclone 2 is packed with premium gaming features. First, it has a 1,000Hz polling rate. This means that latency issues are a thing of the past, and I didn’t experience any input lag in my testing.

But the Cyclone 2’s prowess lies in its thumbsticks and triggers. Similar to the PB Tails Metal Crush Defender ($109), the Cyclone 2 uses Tunnel Magneto Resistance (TMR) sensors in its thumbsticks that are superior to Hall Effect sticks. Hall Effect ones are, of course, better than traditional analog sticks, and TMR builds on this success.

TMR uses weak electromagnetic waves rather than strong ones, which means that smaller adjustments and movements are picked up by the sensor, and the boost to accuracy is definitely noticeable, especially in racing and shooting titles.

For example, in Hitman, I could execute the smallest of movements with ease. If I wanted to change my field of view to gauge an enemy’s position, moving the camera stick ever so slightly worked.

Each trigger can also be set to hair trigger mode, allowing instantaneous initiation when pressed. This can be a boon or a bane, depending on the game you’re playing. There were a few instances where I accidentally gently pressed RT and it set off a gunshot in Hitman, and I unintentionally gave away my location to the guards.

You also get two rear paddles that can be remapped accordingly. I remapped them via the GameSir Connect app (more on that in a second) to make gameplay in Counter-Strike 2 easier. I assigned L4 to swap between weapons quickly and R4 to throw grenades. Not only did this make playing the game more intuitive, but it was more comfortable, too, with my middle fingers naturally sitting on the rear paddles.

I also played a few rounds of Marvel Rivals, a PVP hero shooter, and the controller performed excellently here. The triggers and bumpers are very comfortable, which makes button-mashing (or trigger-mashing) effortless. Zapping Loki’s scepter by repeatedly pressing RT was a walk in the park.

All in all, the Cyclone 2 is a beast for gaming, competitively or casually. It’s highly responsive and it’s one of the cheapest ways of gaining an edge. It almost feels like a cheat code, given how powerful its TMR sticks and Hall Effect triggers are.

Intuitive companion software

The GameSir Cyclone 2 is highly customizable via the GameSir Connect software (on Windows). It’s easy to use and allows you to customize the RGB strip lighting, remap the buttons, triggers and rear paddles. You can adjust each trigger’s sensitivity and deadzone before the switches actuate — like on a magnetic keyboard.

You can also save up to four custom profiles onto the controller’s internal memory. This means you can save specific profiles for FPS, RPGs, platformers and other genres. Once you’ve done that, it’s just a matter of holding down M and one of the face buttons to swap between profiles. Nifty!

Inexpensive

For all it has to offer, you’d think the GameSir Cyclone 2 would cost upwards of $100 — but no sir. GameSir is well-known for making budget-friendly controllers and the Cyclone 2 is no different.

The Cyclone 2 is available for $49 / £49 at Amazon, making it one of the cheapest ways of elevating your gaming experience. You can also get it with a charging stand for $55 / £55. If I were you, I’d spend the extra $6 because the charging stand makes it so convenient to have your controller on display while it’s charging.

It’s priced similarly to the GameSir Kaleid ($46), and it’s cheaper than other Hall Effect controllers, like the Scuf Valor Pro ($99), the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra ($200) and the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199).

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: The downs

While the GameSir Cyclone 2 is mostly great, it isn’t without its flaws. It isn’t compatible with Xbox consoles, its design is similar to other GameSir controllers and the D-Pad feels mushy.

Sorry, Xbox users

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. So if it looks like an Xbox controller, surely it’s compatible with Xbox? No, sorry. While the GameSir Cyclone 2 is compatible with Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android, it doesn’t work with Xbox consoles.

However, there are similarly priced and cheaper alternatives available if you want a controller for your Xbox, like the GameSir Kaleid and the GameSir G7 SE ($44).

Just like the others

If you put the GameSir Kaleid next to the Cyclone 2, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. That’s because both of them sport near-identical designs: all-black with RGB strips running through their clear shells. I wish there were some more distinguishing features, as both controllers are similarly priced. This is more of a personal gripe than an actual flaw, so I won’t be knocking down a significant point for it.

Mushy D-Pad

As I mentioned up top, one of my only issues with the GameSir Cyclone 2’s otherwise fantastic controls is how mushy its D-Pad and ABXY buttons feel. Just like the SteelSeries Stratus Duo ($59), each press of the D-Pad is very shallow.

Holding a direction doesn’t feel very secure, with a wide contact area that melts right into the case when pressing down. It doesn’t make for a very enjoyable gaming experience. I much prefer how the D-Pad and buttons feel on the PlayStation DualSense, to be honest.

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Verdict

If you’re looking to ditch your keyboard and mouse for a controller but you’re on a strict budget, then the GameSir Cyclone 2 is worthy of a recommendation. Its TMR sticks and Hall Effect triggers work extremely well and are highly responsive across a range of genres. I also love how intuitive the companion software is. It lets you customize every aspect of the Cyclone 2.

That said, it isn’t perfect, and given its low price, some sacrifices have been made. It isn’t compatible with Xbox, and the D-Pad feels mushy and uncomfortable. Also, its design isn’t anything to write home about.

At the end of the day, though, the Cyclone 2 is a great budget controller that takes the fatigue out of gaming for long periods of time with its ergonomic design. If you’ve got $49 to spare, you wouldn’t regret spending it on this controller.