The very best Xbox controllers: Microsoft, Razer, 8BitDo, and extra

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We reside in a golden age of controllers. The gamepads in the marketplace now are of upper high quality, extra versatile, and extra customizable than something from even one console technology in the past. For those who play video games on an Xbox Sequence X or Sequence S (or a Home windows PC), you might have the unenviable job of selecting between a number of high-quality controllers from Microsoft in addition to a plethora of nice choices from the likes of 8BitDo, PowerA, Razer, Scuf, GameSir, and Hyperkin. A few of them have drift-resistant Hall effect or TMR-based joysticks for improved longevity, but all of them are good for one motive or one other. The times of a budget “little sibling” controller that seemed cool however barely labored are over.

We’ve spent a ton of time taking part in every kind of video games (first-person shooters, fighters, third-person action-adventure, racing, indie roguelikes, and so forth.) to check a large swath of Xbox controllers, and it will not be a shock that the usual, Xbox Wireless Controller is the most suitable choice for most folk. It makes for an awesome PC and Steam Deck controller, too. The default Xbox gamepad strikes the suitable stability of high quality, consolation, versatility, and worth, however there are a number of options value contemplating.

The very best Xbox controller for most individuals

Connectivity: Xbox wi-fi, Bluetooth, wired / Connector kind: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software program customization: No / Energy: AA batteries or add-on rechargeable

Okay, I already know what you’re considering. “The very best controller for Xbox is the one which comes with the Xbox?” Which will look like a no brainer, however this commonplace controller really does earn this title as the very best. It lacks some extras discovered on pricier choices, however this controller is the distillation of all that has made the final 20 years of Xbox gamepads nice, and it reveals.

Due to Microsoft’s proprietary wi-fi protocol, the Xbox Wi-fi Controller is the one inexpensive wi-fi possibility on the market. (Third-party wi-fi options can be found, however they’re largely on the excessive finish.) Whereas some hate the usual Xbox wi-fi controller for its use of AA batteries as a substitute of a built-in rechargeable cell, that additionally means it’s versatile, permitting for rechargeable AAs or a battery pack. And user-replaceable batteries imply you’re not caught with a controller that doesn’t maintain its cost after years of use. It additionally works over a USB-C wired connection.

However the standard-issue Xbox pad isn’t simply nice due to its diverse connectivity. The {hardware} itself is superb for the controller’s $65 (and sometimes much less) asking worth. The sticks, buttons, triggers, and the sunken dish-shaped D-pad all really feel impeccably tight, with the latter having a satisfying clickiness to it. For those who’re a hardcore combating recreation fan, you’ll most likely be greatest served by a devoted battle stick or a controller geared towards that style — one with an excellent D-pad like Hori’s Horipad Pro — however the Xbox Wi-fi Controller is in any other case a rare jack-of-all-trades.

The one issues it actually lacks in comparison with pricier choices are further, customizable buttons and software program tuning for issues like stick sensitivity (button remapping is on the market), although Microsoft does supply beauty customization by way of its Xbox Design Lab, which bumps the value from $79.99 to $124.93 relying on the configuration. There’s loads to like about these controllers, whether or not you make your personal or choose one from the various colours that Microsoft provides.

The very best low cost Xbox controller

Connectivity: Wired / Connector kind: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Two / Software program customization: Sure / Energy: Wired

The 8BitDo Final Wired Controller for Xbox is a unbelievable funds mannequin that sometimes retails for $44.99 however can usually be discovered for as little as $29.99. The form is harking back to Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller, solely a bit smaller, with hints of Xbox affect and a curvaceous design that feels nice to carry.

On the {hardware} entrance, the Final Wired Controller options Corridor impact sticks with satisfying pressure. It additionally makes use of Corridor impact triggers with devoted vibration motors, although it lacks set off stops, in contrast to our earlier funds choose, the PowerA Advantage Wired. Its D-pad, face buttons, and bumpers are good and clicky, too, regardless of being smaller than we’d sometimes like. It has two rear paddles, remappable buttons, and the power to save lots of as much as three profiles, which you’ll be able to swap between on the fly utilizing a devoted button. There’s even a built-in mute swap for audio, which isn’t widespread on cheaper controllers. You’ll be able to obtain the 8BitDo Ultimate Software X app on PC or Xbox to completely customise this controller.

The 8BitDo Final Wired works as a wired controller along with your PC, however in the event you want wi-fi connectivity, the corporate additionally makes a three-mode wireless version for $69.99 with help for each Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz wi-fi (through a dongle). The wi-fi model is a little more costly, nonetheless, and it’s nonetheless restricted to wired connectivity on Xbox consoles.

The very best “professional” Xbox controller

Connectivity: Xbox wi-fi, Bluetooth, wired / Connector kind: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: As much as 4 / Software program customization: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is Microsoft’s fanciest controller, and it’s bought a number of good extras, like higher construct high quality, further buttons, user-swappable sticks and D-pad, a built-in rechargeable battery, and a great deal of software program customization. The place the usual Xbox controller is constructed totally of unassuming plastic, the Elite mixes larger high quality soft-touch plastic, rubberized grips, and metallic touches for a superior match and end. This makes it heftier than the inventory controller, and consequently, it simply feels nicer in your arms. It additionally comes with a charging dock and zip-up case with passthrough charging, finishing a very nice package deal for $199.99 (or typically much less, if it’s on sale).

There’s additionally the stripped-down Elite Series 2 “Core” version with an MSRP of $149.99, which ditches the add-ons however is equally customizable. You should buy them individually in a $59.99 accessories pack, however you’ll find yourself paying extra that approach, barring gross sales or reductions.

An expensive controller like an Xbox Elite is a little bit of a splurge buy. Most of us usually are not competing at e-sports ranges that require its high-end options. However, it’s enjoyable to make use of one thing that feels nicer, provides methods to custom-tailor it to your liking, and possibly provides you a slight aggressive edge due to options like hair triggers and detachable rear paddles. In principle, you could possibly get photographs off quicker in an internet shooter with the hair triggers, and you may map the paddles to features like leap, crouch, reload, and so forth., whereas conserving your thumb on the suitable stick. You could possibly educate your self claw grip to perform the latter with even an inexpensive wired controller, positive, but it surely simply gained’t really feel as cool or straightforward as when utilizing an Elite.

Whereas the Elite continues to be an awesome controller in 2025, it is best to understand that it’s been round since 2019 and a Sequence 3 revision is feeling lengthy overdue. The Sequence 2 additionally has a little bit of a repute for lackluster high quality management — with horror tales from customers about going by way of a number of replacements beneath guarantee. Microsoft extended the controller’s warranty from 90 days to a 12 months in late 2020 to assist handle issues, however shopping for an Elite Sequence 2 should really feel like a barely dangerous proposition. It additionally predates the current-gen implementation of a devoted Share button, and its potentiometer-based sticks run the danger of stick drift after long-term use (one thing third events are addressing with controllers that use drift-free Corridor impact sticks, in contrast to all three massive console producers).

Even so, the Elite 2 stays by far probably the most well-rounded possibility for a step-up Xbox controller — thanks largely to its spectacular construct and expansive software program expertise. If all these caveats provide you with pause, although, there may be one other promising possibility.

A formidable different to the Elite

Connectivity: Wi-fi USB dongle (Xbox / PC), wired / Connector kind: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: 4 / Software program customization: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable

At $199.99, Razer’s Wolverine V3 Pro controller is as costly (or extra, relying on accessible offers) than the Elite Sequence 2, but it surely’s value the price if you would like a high-end controller with drift-free sticks. Not solely is the V3 Professional Razer’s first foray into utilizing Corridor impact sticks, it’s the corporate’s first absolutely wi-fi Xbox gamepad. It additionally sports activities among the greatest hair-trigger lockouts round, yielding a mouse-like click on normally discovered on even pricier Scuf controllers (a earlier high-ranking choose of ours).

Aside from that, the V3 Professional is just like the earlier V2 Professional, with six remappable buttons — 4 rear paddles in new, angled orientations and two further shoulder buttons — and a few RGB lighting. The buttons and D-pad nonetheless have that satisfying micro-switch tactility and audible clickiness just like the previous-gen V2 Professional, however the RGB lighting is extra refined this time round.

The Wolverine V3 Professional’s greatest shortcomings in comparison with Microsoft’s Elite Sequence 2 are its extra primary software program customization, its lack of Bluetooth, and the truth that it wants a USB dongle to work wirelessly. The V3 Professional is in any other case the higher choose in the event you can justify its excessive worth, which, in contrast to the Sequence 2, is never subjected to reductions. Fortunately, in the event you can’t, there’s additionally the $99.99 Wolverine V3 Pro Tournament Edition that has a virtually an identical set of options in a wired configuration.

An inexpensive different to the Elite

Connectivity: Wired (Xbox), wi-fi USB dongle (PC), Bluetooth (Android) / Connector kind: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Two / Software program customization: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable

For those who don’t thoughts utilizing a wired controller, GameSir’s G7 Professional provides some options of the splurge-worthy Xbox Elite Controller 2 for beneath $100. It has remappable buttons, smooth-feeling drift-resistant TMR management sticks, a satisfying weight, and textured grips that made it really feel snug to carry even with sweaty palms.

The G7 Professional is definitely a battery-powered wi-fi controller, however its cable free connectivity is proscribed to PC (through an included 2.4Ghz dongle) and Android (through Bluetooth). You’ll have to plug the controller into the Xbox with a cable, and GameSir offers a prolonged USB-C to USB-A twine. The cable was lengthy sufficient that I may play video games from my sofa (roughly six toes away) with out feeling tethered.

I used to be impressed with the G7 Professional’s total construct high quality, particularly the triggers, which might be locked by flipping switches on its again. GameSir contains three swappable route pads with the G7 Professional, which may be swapped by lifting the entrance of the controller’s shell and popping them out and in. Nevertheless, its face buttons felt noticeably cheaper than those on the Elite 2, which is sensible given their worth distinction. Button really feel apart, the controller by no means dropped an enter, even once I mashed buttons to string collectively elaborate combos in Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater, or repeatedly forged spells, dodged, and healed in Diablo IV. If an motion was mistimed, it was on me.

What the controller lacks in face button high quality is greater than made up for in customizability. GameSir Nexus, a free app on the Xbox Retailer, allowed me to remap any button (together with the L4 and R4 buttons on its bottom), modify the vibration depth of each triggers, allow two flavors of hair set off mode, and set the deadzone for every management stick. It can save you as much as 4 profiles with totally different settings, and shortly swap between them by urgent the controller’s M button together with one of many face buttons. You by no means want to the touch these choices, and even obtain the GameSir Nexus app for the G7 Professional to work, however doing so will unlock its full potential.

The GameSir G7 Professional is a superb Xbox controller, particularly in its worth vary. I’d have preferred the choice to make use of it wirelessly, however that wasn’t a dealbreaker for me. That mentioned, it’s one thing to think about relying on how far-off you might be out of your Xbox when taking part in. For those who’re a multi-platform gamer and desire a controller to make use of with each an Xbox and PC (or Android system), it’s a good more sensible choice.

The very best Xbox controller for multi-console avid gamers

Connectivity: Wired / Connector kind: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Two / Software program customization: No / Energy: N/A

Hyperkin’s cheekily-named Competitor wired Xbox and PC-compatible controller that appears and feels just like the DualSense gamepad that comes with the PlayStation 5 — aka one of many Xbox’s foremost opponents. The controller’s Corridor impact joysticks are symmetrical and positioned on the backside, whereas a four-button directional pad sits above the left grip. The large “X” button in the midst of the controller is a direct giveaway that you simply’re utilizing an Xbox gamepad, but it surely was straightforward to neglect I wasn’t utilizing a DualSense when taking part in video games.

By way of consolation the Competitor was on par with Microsoft’s official Xbox Wi-fi Controller. I’ve performed sufficient PlayStation video games over time that utilizing the gamepad felt intuitive, without having to regulate my muscle reminiscence, or change my grip. Taking part in with a wired controller can really feel restrictive, however the lengthy USB-C to USB-A cable included with the Competitor prevented me from feeling tethered. The cable is replaceable, which is sweet information if yours get frayed or in any other case broken over time.

Total, I used to be happy with the controller’s development. It was heavy sufficient to really feel substantial, however gentle sufficient that I by no means felt wrist fatigue after holding it for an hour or extra. Its buttons had been all satisfyingly clickey, and its joysticks glided easily. The controller has two programmable again buttons, which you’ll be able to program by urgent one of many rear buttons and the “M” button that’s additionally positioned on the controller’s bottom. The controller rumbles to let it’s time to press one other button on the controller to set the recent key. Every again button must be programmed one by one, and may be disabled by flipping a swap.

My assessments included taking part in Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 + 2, Crash Bandicoot 4, Trials of Mana, and Tales of Come up. I had no issues leaping (or skating because it had been) into any of those video games. Taking part in them felt intuitive, and the controller by no means dropped an enter. A profit to taking part in video games with a wired controller is there’s much less latency between while you press a button and an motion occurs on display screen. The distinction is mostly imperceptible (until you play on-line video games competitively), however there have been most likely a few Tony Hawk combos I nailed within the nick of time due to the decrease latency.

My private choice will all the time be to play Xbox video games with a wi-fi controller as a result of it’s the least restrictive kind of gamepad. Nevertheless, Hyperkin’s Competitor is a good gamepad normally, and an particularly sensible choice in the event you’re often switching between taking part in Xbox, PC, and PS5 video games. It doesn’t supply the identical quantity of customization because the GameSir G7 or Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, however its design and $49.99 MSRP greater than make up for these shortcomings.

Different Xbox controllers we examined

Replace, November 18th: Up to date to mirror present pricing / availability and so as to add Hyperkin’s Competitor controller. Brandt Ranj additionally contributed to this publish.