The GameSir Cyclone 2 pairs TMR sticks with two rear buttons and triggers that switch between analog travel and a short click. It suits PC and Switch players who want extra controls without a large paddle bank. GameSir advertises 1,000 Hz over USB and the receiver; that is a polling spec, not a measured input delay.
Every individual review scores five axes in 0.25 increments. The composite is the mean of the five - no weighting tricks.
Feel in hand, material choice, long-term durability.
Stick precision, deadzone behavior, drift resistance over the test period.
Button feel, d-pad accuracy, input latency.
Wireless reliability, battery life, cross-platform support.
MSRP versus feature set versus long-term durability.
Arithmetic mean of the five subscores above. No weighting - a controller that scores 4.5 across every axis lands the same composite as one that scores 5.0 in three and 4.0 in two.
Verify controller performance with GPADLAB diagnostic tools.
Evidence status: First-hand test duration is not verified for this review. Last reviewed: 2026-09-25. Ratings are editorial assessments, not laboratory scores. Manufacturer specifications and named third-party results are not GPADLAB measurements.
The Cyclone 2 has two rear buttons. Our earlier four-button description was wrong. For a shooter, start with jump on one and crouch on the other. That keeps your right thumb on the stick during both actions.
If you also need reload and weapon swap at the back, compare a pad with four rear controls. A higher button count only helps if you can reach each one without a grip change.
The long analog mode gives you a range of input for throttle or braking. The micro-switch mode gives a short press for actions such as firing. Check your game after switching: a racing game needs a smooth range, while a menu may only show a button state.
TMR describes the stick sensors, not the triggers. It does not prove a lower end-to-end delay or guarantee that the whole stick assembly cannot fail.
GameSir advertises up to 1,000 reports per second over USB and its wireless receiver. Do not read that as a sub-1 ms button-to-screen result. Game processing, the display and the input being tested all affect that delay.
This review has no retained latency trace. Compare modes on your own PC with the same game and settings before changing a setup that already works well.
GameSir directs owners to check both pad and dongle firmware. Its FAQ also suggests moving the receiver closer to the pad and away from obstructions. Use GameSir Connect in XInput mode for setup.
Start with a cable to see whether the fault is limited to wireless play. We have removed claims that RGB and gyro faults remain unfixed, because this review did not show which firmware those claims described.
A dock can make charging easier, but confirm that the listing includes it. Match the pad name and receiver to the Cyclone 2 rather than the older Cyclone or Cyclone Pro.
For a used unit, test both rear buttons, each trigger mode and a wireless reconnect. These checks are more useful than assuming the sensor type tells you the condition of the entire pad.
A useful option for PC and Switch players who want TMR sticks and a choice of trigger feel. Two rear buttons may be enough for jump and crouch, but it is not a four-paddle controller. Check the connection mode before judging its response.
Not every controller fits every buyer. If this one isn't quite right, these might be.
Two. GameSir lists two remappable back buttons, not four.
Xbox is not a supported native platform. An Xbox-style button layout does not show console support.
No. Polling describes report frequency. It does not measure the full delay from a press to a visible game response.
GameSir specifies GameSir Connect, with the pad in XInput mode over USB or the receiver. Follow the model FAQ for firmware and pairing steps.