The best Xbox controllers for 2022: Microsoft, Razer, PowerA, and more

You might not understand it, however we’re residing in a golden age of gaming controllers. The gamepads available on the market now are higher high quality, extra versatile, and extra customizable than something from just some console generations in the past. That features the plethora of third-party choices from the likes of PowerA, Scuf, Nacon, and Turtle Beach, in addition to first-party controllers from the console makers. The times of a budget, “little sibling” controller that regarded cool however barely labored are over.

Now, you may select from quite a lot of controllers, and should you’re enjoying throughout Xbox and Home windows PC, the identical choice works for each. So, let’s say your console of selection is the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. What’s the most suitable choice for you? Effectively, we examined a complete slew of controllers to search out the most effective Xbox controller you should purchase.

The usual Xbox Wireless Controller got here away as our best choice, which can sound apparent, however it’s the most effective for a bunch of causes — versatility, consolation, and way more. Past that, we’ll stroll you thru some strengths and weaknesses of different controllers worthy of your consideration, starting from premium choices just like the Xbox Elite Series 2 and Scuf Instinct Pro to some high quality price range picks just like the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller.

There are, in fact, older, discontinued fashions which might be nonetheless suitable — as Xbox One controllers are ahead suitable with the Xbox Sequence X / S — however our focus is to information you thru what to purchase that’s repeatedly accessible proper now. We’ve bought classes to assist steer your buying determination and discover the proper one for you, together with customizable choices that will provide you with a tiny edge in aggressive multiplayer video games. And should you’re controller looking for your self or as a present this vacation season, now’s the most effective time to purchase since Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers supply deep reductions on most fashions.

Okay, I already know what you’re considering. “The most effective controller for Xbox is the one which comes with the Xbox?” That will appear to be a no brainer, however I guarantee you this “normal” controller actually does earn this title as the most suitable choice for many Xbox avid gamers. It might lack among the further options that we’ll go over on premium choices, however this controller is the distillation of 4 generations and quite a few first-party controllers earlier than it — and it reveals.

That is the one reasonably priced wi-fi choice on the market, due to Microsoft’s proprietary wi-fi protocol. Whereas some might hate that it comes with AA batteries as an alternative of a built-in rechargeable cell, that additionally means it’s versatile, permitting for rechargeable AAs or a battery pack. It additionally works as a wired accent when paired with a USB-C cable, and user-replaceable batteries imply you’re not caught with a controller that doesn’t maintain its cost after years of use.

However the standard-issue Xbox pad isn’t simply nice due to its connectivity. The {hardware} itself is superb for the controller’s $60 asking value. 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. In case you’re a hardcore preventing sport fan, you could be higher served by an arcade stick or a controller geared towards that style — one with an impeccable D-pad like Hori’s Horipad Pro — however the Xbox Wi-fi Controller is an distinctive jack-of-all-trades.

The one factor it actually lacks in comparison with pricier choices are further, customizable buttons and software program tuning for issues like stick sensitivity, although Microsoft does supply beauty customization by means of its Xbox Design Lab, which ranges from $69.99 to $99.94 relying on the configuration. There’s loads to like about these controllers, whether or not you make your individual or pick one from the varied colours Microsoft continues to supply.

In case you’re on the lookout for an excellent controller however you don’t have some huge cash to spend — and also you don’t thoughts a cable — PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller gives an impeccable worth with out sacrificing an excessive amount of. Its full retail value is $37.99, however some colorways can dip as little as round $25. Talking of colours, the Enhanced Wired Controller is available in a wide variety of hues and designs, together with licensed ones from sport franchises like Mass Impact and Fallout. A few of these designs might make you watched these are low cost, cringe-inducing knockoffs, however the high quality of the controller might shock you while you use it.

First off, let’s get its largest draw back out of the way in which: it makes use of a Micro USB connection (gross, I do know). You a minimum of get a prolonged, removable cable with it, however not having a reversible connector is annoying. Fortunately, nothing else about this controller feels so outdated. Its construct high quality is simply nice, and it even has two mappable rear buttons constructed into the grips — which is nice to have at such an affordable value level.

The remainder of the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is a complete lot of desk stakes, however it executes every little thing fairly nicely for a ridiculously reasonably priced value. PowerA omitted impulse set off rumble, but when there’s any function to low cost out on, I’d say that’s the proper selection. On the flip aspect, the Enhanced Wired Controller comes with a two-year guarantee, which is twice so long as expensive choices like Microsoft’s Elite Sequence 2 supply.

PowerA gives a complete lot of bang-for-your-buck with the Enhanced Wired Controller should you’re on a decent price range. It’s additionally value mentioning that if in case you have a bit extra to spend, the PowerA Fusion Professional 2 is one other nice controller that punches above its weight class. The Fusion Professional 2 appears to be like a bit like an imitator of Microsoft’s Elite Sequence 2, however its full value of $89.99 often drops as little as $62.99. That is one to go for should you’re on the lookout for a premium controller with added options, like 4 rear paddles and rubberized grips, however you might have a price range nearer to a regular Xbox controller.

3. Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2

The Xbox Elite Sequence 2 controller is Microsoft’s fancied-up, premium model of the inventory controller. It’s additionally older, having been launched a 12 months earlier than the Xbox Sequence X / S consoles arrived. So whereas it does sport a USB-C port and wi-fi help, it lacks the handy Share button discovered on the most recent Xbox Wi-fi Controller. Nevertheless, it makes up for that in droves with distinctive construct high quality, further buttons, user-swappable sticks and D-pad, and many customization.

In case you decide up an Xbox Elite controller, you immediately acknowledge the standard of supplies put into it. The place the usual controller makes use of an unassuming plastic construct, the Elite mixes larger high quality plastic with rubberized grips and bits of metallic. Mix this with its built-in rechargeable battery, and the Elite is noticeably heavier than its lower-cost brethren. It additionally comes packaged with a charging dock and zip-up case with passthrough charging.

As wonderful because the match and end are, the important thing parts that will provide you with a aggressive edge are the hair-trigger locks and rear paddle buttons. In principle, the hair set off will get photographs off sooner when enjoying shooters, and the rear paddles permit you to bounce, crouch, reload, and so forth., with out taking your thumb off the proper stick for aiming. Nevertheless, utilizing that many buttons on the again of the controller positively takes some adjustment. It’s important to prepare new muscle reminiscence, and because it requires dexterity with extra fingers, they’re not for everybody.

These premium options come at a steep price, too. The Elite Sequence 2 is generally priced at $179.99, and despite the fact that it sometimes drops to $139.99, it’s nonetheless greater than twice as costly as a daily Xbox controller. It’s important to actually need its further options and consumer customization, and should you’re not utilizing its rear paddles or the software program changes for stick sensitivity, you’re not getting your cash’s value. Nevertheless, Microsoft now has a stripped-down “Core” version for $129.99, for a barely extra reasonably priced option to get into an Elite. It might be nice should you desire the white-and-black look, however shopping for the non-compulsory $59.99 accessories pack to match the Sequence 2’s loadout makes the Core $10 extra.

You need to additionally bear in mind that the Elite has a little bit of a popularity for lackluster high quality management, with horror tales from customers about going by means of a number of replacements underneath guarantee. Microsoft extended the controller’s warranty from 90-days to a year in late 2020 to assist handle considerations, however shopping for an Elite Sequence 2 should really feel like a barely dangerous proposition. Nevertheless, while you nail that excellent sequence — switching to your pistol and touchdown a headshot with a fast pop-pop of the hair set off whereas your thumbs keep firmly planted on the sticks — it may really feel value it.

The Scuf Intuition Professional finds itself in a little bit of a bizarre spot, because it’s the one wi-fi choice from a 3rd celebration, however it’s by far the most costly Xbox controller round (it begins at $199.99). The one I examined clocked in at $263.91 with a particular faceplate and added coloration accents. That’s greater than the Xbox Sequence S sometimes sells for, which is a whole console. Nonetheless, you’re in for a deal with should you’re okay with spending that type of cash, because the Intuition Professional is arguably higher than Microsoft’s Elite in some very particular methods — primarily, its consolation and implementation of rear buttons and hair triggers.

The Intuition Professional has very distinctive rear buttons, and I truly desire them. As a substitute of paddles, there are 4 rocker-like buttons constructed into the controller’s physique that you just push towards or away out of your hand with a center finger. It nonetheless requires coaching your mind a bit to get accustomed to it, however I discovered them extra intuitive.

Rear buttons apart, the Scuf’s different massive function is its hair triggers, which have the quickest response of all of the controllers examined right here. Simply flick a change on the again, and the left and proper triggers really feel such as you’re clicking a mouse — it’s extremely satisfying. The hair triggers, rear buttons, and the superb textured grip materials on the controller’s underside go an extended option to make this controller a pleasure to make use of.

The Intuition Professional appears like Scuf primarily hot-rodded a inventory Xbox controller, however like several boutique merchandise, it comes with a large price. In the meantime, it nonetheless makes use of AA batteries and lacks software program customization, in order a lot as I get pleasure from utilizing it, I’d solely advise getting one should you’re tremendous keen about its very particular qualities otherwise you completely love the colourful accents and magnetically swappable faceplates on Scuf’s configurator.

RIG’s Nacon Revolution X could also be worthy of an award for horrible naming, however its actual strengths are in its deep customization. In case you’re the sort that likes to endlessly tinker with numerous detailed settings, that is the controller for you. Usually priced at $99.99, the wired Revolution X and its added options don’t come low cost, however the value is somewhat fairer when you think about the competitors it squares up in opposition to.

Whenever you first decide up the Revolution X, it appears very unassuming — and borderline low cost. Whereas it’s not a looker, it’s a form-follows-function kind of controller. It’s cozy to make use of, and its 4 rear buttons constructed into the grips are giant and properly contoured. The true stars of this present, nevertheless, are the analog sticks and their software program customizations, in addition to the expansive customized choices for different inside workings of the controller.

Whereas different user-customizable controllers have three consumer profiles you may swap between on the fly, the Revolution X has 4 — plus a “basic” mode with fundamental settings and a hoop of RGB mild round the proper persist with remind you what mode you’re in. The software program app is just not essentially the most user-friendly, however the controls go very in-depth. Fortunately, there are useful beginning factors with presets for arcade preventing video games, racing, FPS video games, and even sniping. It makes it a lot simpler to know when you might have examples for various genres of video games. Add the flexibility to customise and remap each button on the controller, in addition to a Dolby Atmos for Headphones app license, and also you’ve bought quite a lot of customization choices.

The customization doesn’t cease with software program, audio, or lighting, nevertheless. The Revolution X comes with ring spacers to regulate the vary of the analog sticks, too, in addition to a sequence of small weights starting from 10g to 16g, which you’ll insert into its grips to present them an extra quantity of heft.

Including up all these options, you see why the Nacon is such an excellent controller for tinkering. It took me time to heat as much as it, however upon setting it up the way in which I most popular, it made for a really compelling controller in quite a lot of sport varieties.

Turtle Seashore is thought for its headsets, so it is smart that its Recon wired controller options some sturdy audio controls. Its strengths actually come into focus when enjoying first-person shooters, the place its Superhuman Listening to mode tweaks the audio of any wired headset to attract out footsteps and distant gunfire within the combine. At its common value of round $60, and as soon as promoting as little as $29.99, the Recon is a reasonably reasonably priced option to achieve a slight aggressive edge in multiplayer video games with out spending nicely over $100 on a controller.

This pad isn’t going to win any magnificence contests due to all these awkward buttons situated smack-dab in the course of its brow, however each has a sound goal. There are 4 ranges of microphone monitoring, total sport quantity controls, sport chat quantity combine, 4 EQ presets, 4 programmable modes for mapping the 2 rear buttons, and 4 ranges of non-compulsory right-stick sensitivity changes. That final function, dubbed Professional Purpose by Turtle Seashore, lowers the sensitivity of the proper analog stick whilst you maintain the right-hand rear button, permitting for very small actions like sniping, although it’s a bit clumsy to make use of.

Studying to make use of all these controls might sound daunting, however the controller’s quick-start guide makes it simpler. Superhuman Listening to could be very useful for shooters and price utilizing extensively for video games like Halo Infinite — simply bear in mind that it’s going to muddy up the soundtrack somewhat, so you could need to go away it off throughout story-driven, single-player video games.

Audio controls apart, the Recon lacks fancy options like hair triggers and swappable thumbsticks, and the D-pad appears to be like like the usual Xbox Wi-fi Controller however pales compared. The controller’s plastic construct feels low cost, however the rubbery grips redeem it with a pleasant and cozy really feel. As for the sticks, triggers, and extra rear buttons, all of them really feel tight and snappy. Mix that with Superhuman Listening to, and also you’ve bought an excellent recipe for shooters. The Recon has a little bit of a studying curve, however should you play ranked matches and worth a reasonably priced wired controller with further buttons and useful audio capabilities, you may’t go flawed right here.

• Turtle Seashore’s newer React-R is a stripped-down Recon that maintains Superhuman Listening to and rear buttons however omits EQ presets, mic monitoring, and Professional-Purpose for a lower $39.99 price. It’s a very good worth, although I’d take into account PowerA to save lots of extra or get a Recon on sale.
• Razer’s Wolverine V2 Chroma is a feast for the ears and eyes, due to very clicky buttons and a strip of RGB lighting alongside the grips. It has extra customizable buttons than every other controller (six complete), although their positioning requires reaching, and it’s a bit expensive.
• Briefly talked about above, the Horipad Pro has among the finest D-pads round. It additionally gives quite a lot of software program customization at an reasonably priced value, however its shoulder buttons are a bit stiff.
• The Nacon Pro Compact Controller has among the Revolution X’s wonderful software program customization at a much lower price. It’s additionally one of many smallest choices round, although the ergonomics might really feel hit and miss relying in your hand measurement.
• One of many dumbest but loveliest controllers is the Hyperkin Duke. This reissue of the unique Xbox pad is a love letter to the salad days of 2001. It’s simply not nice to make use of for contemporary video games. Fortunately it comes with a show stand, because it’s extra of a collector piece.

Images by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge