The Xbox Wi-fi Controller might have been tweaked for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, however the design has largely remained the identical over the previous few console generations.
It is a testomony to a fantastic little bit of design, however that does not imply it is the one good Xbox controller you will get your palms round.
Whether or not the out-the-box possibility is not fairly reducing it, you need some further performance, otherwise you’re searching for a second controller to allow some sofa co-op with family and friends, choosing up a third-party Xbox controller may very well be a game-changer.
There are a great deal of controllers to decide on between, as nicely. Some will provide extra choices, others totally different sizes and textures, and we have examined an enormous vary of them. We put these controllers by their paces in quite a lot of video games and genres simply to see how they maintain as much as the competitors, testing latency, consolation and options all to provide you with a complete last rating.
Whether or not they’re wi-fi or wired, premium or price range, or include extras that come bundled in – all of those elements rely in our estimation, alongside the general construct high quality and craftsmanship. Learn on to seek out out that are finest available on the market.
Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2
1. Best overall
Premium option
$170 $187 Save $17
A beast of a controller with a price tag to match its excellence.
- Excellent customisation
- Extra buttons
- Expensive
- Has been known to have hardware problems
Microsoft spied that people were getting into custom controllers a few years ago and decided to take the market itself, and the second version of its controller is formidable.
Like many professional controllers, this factor is costly, but it surely’s received the bonus of official standing, and an enormous vary of customisation choices to allow you to tune it completely.
Whether or not that is rear paddles in no matter association you want or thumbsticks that resist you the correct quantity, that is the most effective controller for most individuals proper now – in the event that they’re keen to pay!
PowerA Fusion Professional 2 Wired controller
2. Greatest further buttons
Superb worth
$70 $90 Save $20
Excellent if you’d like professional controls with out breaking the financial institution.
- Spectacular construct high quality
- Swappable entrance plates and customisable back-paddles
- Wired
- Not the most affordable possibility
If you would like a controller that provides some significantly pro-level choices, together with swappable faceplates, further paddle controls and totally different sticks, it is a nice approach to get them.
PowerA’s sequel to its personal nice controller manages to maintain the price reasonably managed, primarily by sticking to a wired connection.
When you can stay with that, it feels superb to make use of and presents excessive responsiveness.
Razer Wolverine Event Version
3. Greatest for combating video games
An important third-party controller
$79 $90 Save $11
The perfect third-party controller for most individuals is that this Razer magnificence.
- A great deal of customized choices together with set off stops
- Cheaper than in-house Xbox choices
- Nonetheless pretty costly
- Wired possibility
Razer makes a complete vary of peripherals which can be nice for Xbox players, together with some wonderful headsets, and its Wolverine Event Version is a equally spectacular controller.
That is very a lot modelled on the official measurement and form however provides the same bevvy of choices because the Xbox Elite controller. These embrace set off stops (massively helpful in shooters) and programmable buttons to arrange your individual shortcuts simply – you possibly can even set off increased or decrease stick sensitivity on the fly, an actual boon.
It is a excellent pad that additionally impressively undercuts the value of Microsoft’s personal professional controller, though it is usually wired (which most critical players will inform you is healthier for latency anyway).
Xbox Wi-fi Controller
4. Greatest worth
Greatest for most individuals
$44 $60 Save $16
The most recent official controller is finest for most individuals.
- Nicely-priced
- Snug and nice to make use of
- No further buttons
- No rechargeable battery by default
The subsequent era of Xbox consoles, the Xbox Collection X and Collection S, has introduced with it a brand new controller.
If you do not need all the flowery customisation and are simply in search of straightforward wi-fi play, the official controller is the most effective wager for you.
It is received some good enhancements over the Xbox One model, together with a devoted button for screenshotting and capturing video clips, with enhancements to its grip and texture, too.
Scuf Intuition Professional
5. Greatest customisation
Superb choices
Very good controllers that may be modded to appear and feel precisely as you need them to, these are extraordinarily sought-after.
- Make it nonetheless you need
- Very good build-quality and official design
- Can get ferociously costly
- Higher worth options
If true customisation is your precedence, look no additional than a SCUF controller. These modded variations of official Xbox pads carry an nearly boggling vary of choices.
You possibly can select colors and finishes for nearly each little bit of the controller, in addition to options like further buttons and paddles, totally different grips and thumbsticks and way more.
The extra you add, the extra your worth provides up, but when we had an infinite price range we would nicely go for a totally kitted-out SCUF controller.
How to decide on an Xbox controller
There are completely a whole lot of choices on the market relating to new Xbox controllers, so we have laid out a number of the areas you would possibly need to take into consideration earlier than you make your alternative.
Why must you purchase a brand new Xbox controller?
This one would possibly sound apparent, however there are many the explanation why you would possibly want a brand new controller – you can be seeking to play sofa co-op with somebody at residence, or you can equally have worn out your current controller already. Lots of the choices we have checked out, although, can even be engaging for those who’re merely searching for a controller that’ll allow you to to improve your gaming with further buttons or choices, which may be actually helpful for aggressive video games.
What is going to you utilize the controller for?
That is key – additional to the above, earlier than shopping for your controller it is best to work out what you need it for. Is it for a kid or youthful individual to beat up with out costing an excessive amount of? Or is it that will help you be taught some higher motion and management choices utilizing further paddles and switches? There’s not a lot level in shopping for a professional controller for those who do not really want it, in any case.
What form would you like to your controller?
One other good start line to consider is whether or not you just like the default form of the controller that got here together with your Xbox. If that’s the case, a lot of the third-party choices on the market copy it, but when not there are nonetheless some options that sit otherwise within the hand.
It is a massive one – lots of the nicer controllers on the market add further buttons to the combination, which you’ll be able to program your self for customized controls. These are typically back-paddles or buttons, and are nice for aggressive video games like Name of Obligation the place you will profit from extra management with out taking your fingers off the sticks. When you’re seeking to get higher at a troublesome sport, we expect they’re a fantastic possibility.
Must you go wired or wi-fi?
One other main resolution comes within the type of wirelessness – outdoors of the official Xbox choices, it will sometimes add some cash to a controller’s worth. So, if you realize that you really want further buttons and options and do not thoughts having a wired tether, that is wonderful, but when being free from cables is vital then you definately’ll must take that under consideration.
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