If you are comparing the abxylute S8 Lite with the GameSir X5 Lite, the two controllers may initially look quite similar. Both connect directly through USB C, both use Hall Effect joysticks, and both turn a compatible phone into a handheld gaming device.

The practical difference is not whether either controller can handle basic mobile games. It is how complete you want the controls around your phone to feel.

The X5 Lite follows a lightweight and simplified approach. The abxylute S8 Lite Full Size Type C Mobile Controller adds larger grips, Hall Effect linear triggers, two programmable rear buttons, interchangeable D pads, and more control customization.

That makes this less of a specification contest and more of a question about how you actually use your phone for gaming.

The comparison starts with weight, but it should not end there

The X5 Lite is noticeably lighter. Based on the published specifications, it weighs approximately 135.4 grams, while S8 Lite weighs 226 grams.

If minimum carrying weight is your first priority, the difference is meaningful. A lighter controller is easier to place in a travel bag and adds less total weight to the phone.

But carrying comfort and playing comfort are not always the same thing.

During play, the phone and controller become one device. Grip shape determines how that combined weight rests across the fingers and palms. A very light controller can still feel cramped if the handles do not provide enough space for your hands.

S8 Lite uses full size handles with laser textured surfaces. The larger shape gives the palms more support and provides a resting position that feels closer to a conventional controller.

That is why the extra weight should not be treated as either automatically good or automatically bad. The lighter option is easier to carry. The fuller option gives your hands more surface to hold during a longer session.

Players who mainly want the smallest controller for short retro sessions can also consider the abxylute M4 MagSafe Mobile Controller. S8 Lite is aimed at a different kind of use, where control and grip matter more than pocket size.

The controls go beyond the basic mobile layout

Both S8 Lite and X5 Lite use Hall Effect joysticks. That means the words “Hall Effect” alone do not explain the difference between them.

S8 Lite extends the same sensing technology to its linear triggers.

A linear trigger can detect different positions across its travel. In a supported racing game, for example, pressing the trigger halfway can produce a different input from pressing it completely. This is useful for acceleration, braking, throttle control, and other actions that benefit from gradual input.

A standard button style trigger is still enough for games that treat L2 and R2 as simple commands. Retro games, turn based games, and many mobile titles do not require a wide trigger range.

The difference becomes more relevant when playing modern PC and console style games. These games are often designed around a conventional controller, where analog trigger travel is already part of the control scheme.

S8 Lite also provides two programmable buttons on the back. These can place frequently used actions under the middle fingers, reducing how often the right thumb needs to leave the joystick.

Depending on the game, a rear button can be assigned to jumping, dodging, sprinting, reloading, or another existing input. It does not create a new command, but it can make an important command easier to reach.

This is particularly useful in action games where the right thumb regularly moves between the camera stick and the face buttons. Keeping more actions within reach can make the control layout feel less crowded.

Android Authority highlighted the combination of full size Hall Effect sticks, Hall Effect linear triggers, two programmable back buttons, interchangeable D pads, and passthrough charging when covering the release of S8 Lite.

One D pad does not suit every game

The D pad often receives less attention than the joysticks, but its shape can change how a controller feels across different game genres.

S8 Lite includes both cross and circular D pads. The cross design gives each direction a more distinct position, making it a natural choice for platformers, menu navigation, and games that depend on deliberate directional presses.

The circular design makes it easier to roll the thumb between directions. Some players prefer this for fighting games, arcade games, and games that use frequent diagonal inputs.

Neither design is universally better. The useful part is being able to choose without replacing the entire controller.

This also gives S8 Lite more flexibility as a single controller for different libraries. A player might use the cross D pad for a classic platformer, then switch to the circular design for a fighting game or arcade title.

The D pad can be changed physically, while additional controller settings are available through the abxy game app. The app supports functions such as joystick adjustments, trigger settings, button mapping, and macro configuration.

Setup instructions and product tutorials are available through the abxylute controller tutorials page.

Direct USB C keeps the setup simple

S8 Lite connects directly through USB C. There is no Bluetooth pairing process and no separate controller battery to charge.

Insert a compatible phone, allow the USB C connector to make contact, and open a game with controller support. This makes the controller useful for short sessions because there is little preparation before playing.

It also makes sense for longer sessions. S8 Lite includes a passthrough charging port, so the phone can receive power without being removed from the controller.

Actual charging performance can depend on the phone, charger, cable, game, and device temperature. Passthrough charging should therefore be treated as a way to extend a session, not as a guarantee that every phone will charge at its maximum advertised speed while running a demanding game.

S8 Lite supports USB C Android phones, USB C iPhones, and compatible tablets up to 216 mm long. A phone case can affect the connection even when the overall length is within the supported range. Thick cases and raised USB C openings may prevent the connector from seating correctly.

Before buying, measure the complete device and check the position of its USB C port. Apple also notes that support for particular controller features can vary by controller and by app.

S8 Lite makes more sense as the games become more demanding

A basic controller layout is enough for many native mobile games and emulators. S8 Lite becomes more relevant when a phone is used to play games originally designed for a full controller.

Steam Remote Play allows a game to run on a computer while being played from another supported device. The phone becomes a portable screen, but the game may still expect accurate sticks, shoulder buttons, analog triggers, and quick access to multiple commands.

Cloud gaming creates a similar situation. NVIDIA says GeForce NOW can stream supported PC games to phones, tablets, handhelds, computers, and other compatible devices.

S8 Lite cannot improve the quality of the internet connection or remove streaming latency. What it can do is provide a more complete physical interface around the phone.

The full size sticks give the thumbs more room for camera movement and aiming. The linear triggers suit games with progressive trigger input. The rear buttons provide another way to reach frequent commands, while the larger grips support the hands during a longer session.

These advantages are less important in a turn based role playing game than in a racing game or action title. The value of S8 Lite depends on whether the games you play can make use of its additional controls.

What the comparison really comes down to

S8 Lite is not designed around being the lightest possible telescopic controller. It is designed to give mobile players fewer reasons to miss a conventional gamepad.

If your mobile gaming consists mainly of occasional retro sessions, a simpler USB C controller may already cover what you need. There is little reason to pay for additional inputs that will never be used.

If you regularly play racing games, action games, cloud titles, or PC games through remote play, the larger grips, Hall Effect linear triggers, rear buttons, and interchangeable D pads give S8 Lite a clearer purpose.

The two products may appear to occupy the same category, but they prioritize different parts of the experience. One keeps the hardware as light and simple as possible. S8 Lite puts more complete controls around the phone while keeping the direct USB C setup straightforward.

For players who want their phone to feel less like a phone with buttons attached and more like a proper handheld, that is the difference that matters.

You can explore the complete abxylute controller collection to compare different controller formats for mobile, cloud, console, and XR gaming.