We are happy to say that the GameSir T4 Kaleid was a pleasant surprise. With its see-through case and beautiful RGB lighting, this gamepad is definitely eye-catching. However, it stands out from other controllers in its price range because it can be customized so much and has high-quality buttons and sticks. If you are tired of stick drift on the Joy-Con controllers for the Nintendo Switch, the GameSir T4 Kaleid uses hall effect analog sticks to get around the problem, just like the great 8BitDo Ultimate wireless controller.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: Description
The T4 Kaleid is one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers you can buy because it is built to last and is of high quality overall. That said, it’s not quite the best fit for the console it’s meant for. The T4 Kaleid is only wired, so it doesn’t work well with Nintendo Switch. It also doesn’t have the backwards X and Y buttons.
Instead, it has the standard Xbox Series X|S button layout. But the T4 Kaleid works best with a PC and the T4k app, which lets you change the layout of the buttons, assign inputs to the paddle buttons on the back, and, perhaps most importantly, make your own RGB pattern.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Lovely aesthetic
- Hall effect sticks
- Gorgeous RGB lighting
- Satisfyingly tactile buttons
Cons
- Switch and PC only
- Face buttons don’t match Switch layout
- No wireless option
Specification Table
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | Wired (USB) and Wireless (2.4 GHz dongle) |
| Compatibility | Windows PC, Android devices, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 |
| Dimensions | 155 x 102 x 65 mm |
| Weight | 222g |
| Battery Capacity | 600mAh rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Charging Time | 2-3 hours |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours (with LED lights off) |
| Buttons | 16 programmable buttons, including 4 shoulder buttons and 2 analog sticks |
| Vibration Feedback | Dual-motor vibration |
| Backlighting | RGB LED lighting |
| Software | GameSir G-Core software for button mapping and customization |
| Package Contents | GameSir T4 Kaleid controller, USB cable, 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, user manual |
| Official link | Visit Website |
GameSir T4 Kaleid: Design
When it comes to comfort and compatibility, the GameSir T4 Kaleid’s design is hard to fault. The plastic body is light, but the hardware inside gives it a nice weight so it doesn’t feel cheap. The buttons feel great to use, and the clicks of the face buttons and D-pad are especially satisfying. But it’s important to note that this is not the quietest controller, so if you like your pad to be almost silent when you press the buttons, this isn’t the one for you.
Each button and trigger feels well-padded, and even though we haven’t used it long enough to know if wear and tear is a problem, the way they feel tells me that this is made very well. The rubber on the analog sticks has a great texture that makes them easy to hold. The smooth top of the clear plastic makes it easy to rest your palms on it, but the textured bottom of the handles makes them easy to hold. The clear plastic is an important part of the design because it lets you see the lights inside.
When it comes to lights, this is where the T4 Kaleid really shines. The lights are a great modern touch that makes this controller look very nice when it’s in use. By default, the pad goes through a cycle of different colors that light up the light tubes and the main power button.
If you’re playing on PC, you can use the custom GameSir T4k app to change how the lights work. You can change the speed, adjust the brightness and colors, and even set them up so that they respond to sounds. This means that the lights will move to the beat of the music or to sounds in your games.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: Features
Thanks to its back buttons and use of RGB, the T4 Kaleid is full of features. But the T4 Kaleid app for Windows lets you change things even more. Here, you can change the dead zones of the sticks, the lighting, the vibration strength, and even the gyroscope inside.
These are easy to load, and you can also assign a Turbo function or map the back buttons right from the controller using the “M” button. It’s great that this exists, and we’re always glad to have software to choose from in the first place. We were able to set up our profile in just a few minutes because it is easy to use.
Ergonomics and Comfort
The GameSir T4 Kaleid is very easy to use. Even though it isn’t compatible with Xbox, it feels very similar to an Xbox Series S|X controller in terms of ergonomics, and the grip texture on the back makes it even more so. At first glance, the controller looks cheap because it is made of clear plastic. However, this is not the case at all, and I really liked how light it was.
On the back, there are two buttons that can be mapped however you want. These buttons sit under the middle fingers and are easy to use. I like these flat, programmable buttons better than the paddles on my Elite Series 2 Core controller because they fit my hand better.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: Performance
The GameSir T4 Kaleid is a controller that has a lot of features for how cheap it is. Not just because it looks cool and has RGB lighting. The T4k desktop app can also be used to assign two back buttons that can be mapped. This is another reason why, if you play on PC, you should get the T4 Kaleid. The T4k app is very powerful and lets you change everything from the button assignments to the RGB pattern.
You might not know that the T4 Kaleid has a “hair trigger mode,” but it does. There are no switches on the board like there are on the HyperX Clutch Gladiate or Xbox Elite Series 2. But the mode can be changed in the app, and you can use a short press to activate trigger inputs. It’s a bit of a roundabout way to do things, but it’s likely a way for GameSir to save on parts and keep costs down. A pretty smart move, overall.
The T4 Kaleid is a great gaming controller because it can be changed with an app. As was already said, the hall effect analog sticks and microswitch-powered face buttons make the controller strong and resistant to wear and tear. The dual rumble motors also add a lot to the immersion, and you can change how they work in the app.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: Price
The GameSir T4 Kaleid costs $49.99/£35.99. When compared to other brands like Power A, this can seem like a lot for a third-party product. But when you consider that the official Nintendo Switch Pro controller starts at $69.99/£49.99, you are actually getting a pretty decently priced pad. After putting the GameSir T4 Kaleid through a lot of tests, we would gladly pay the price asked for it because it feels like a really high-end product and looks better than the Pro controller.
Final Words
When you think about how much the GameSir T4 Kaleid costs, it’s hard to go wrong with it. Even though you have to deal with a wire, the controller itself feels and looks great, and we think that more well-known companies should put more effort into making controllers that are built to last, like the T4 Kaleid is.
FAQs
Take the wireless USB dongle out of the controller’s front. Hold down the “X” and “Home” buttons on your G4s for 2 seconds while you plug the wireless dongle into the USB port on your Windows PC. If the controller is properly connected, your G4s’s “Home” button will stay lit.
Go to your Android device and follow the User Interface flow below to pair the controller: Settings>Turn on Bluetooth, click “Search for new devices,” and “GameSir-T1s” will show up on the screen. Click to make a Bluetooth connection.
