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Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller review - hands on. Our first play with the expensive new controller leaves us mightily impressed. Today we got our hands on Microsoft’s shiniest new piece of hardware, the Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller. It’s an unwieldy name but the hardware is anything but, it’s like Microsoft has taken the already-excellent Xbox One controller (LINK) and made a money-no-object version of it. And at a staggering £130 it really is only for the rather keen. It’s not without precedent though, as many third-party manufacturers have been producing modded controllers with many of the same features as the Elite Controller, for prices approaching Microsoft’s - most notably www.scufgaming.com. So just what are you getting for all that extra cash. In short you’re getting a customisable d-pad and analogue sticks. You’re getting triggers with a hair trigger option, you’re getting up to four additional paddle buttons on the bottom and a bunch of programmable features. So it’s not short on features. It’s instantly obvious when you hold it that this is a seriously well-engineered bit of kit. It feels weightier and absolutely rigid to any pressure. The grips have a fine textured finish to keep it securely in your hands. One downside is that it still takes AA batteries, we think at this price that Microsoft should through in a rechargable battery pack and cable. Speaking of cables, the Elite Controller, like the new version of the standard controller, comes with a standard headphone jack built-in, so you don’t need the overpriced adaptor that the original controller required (though that does come with some useful mute and volume controls too, which haven’t been transferred across). The stainless steel analogue sticks feel a little springier, keener to return the centre, and have a slightly more pronounced click as well. They move with incredible smoothness though, showing their more precise engineering instantly. The bumpers also have a more distinct feedback and the face buttons have a slightly heavier action. The triggers feel largely the same, but underneath there are two switches allowing for one of both to be put in hair trigger mode. This makes them instantly respsonsivness with a very short pull - perfect for shooters. The D-pad has been replaced with an impressively micro-switched action, where you can distinctly feel and hear all eight positions as you rotate it. Both the D-pad and the analogue sticks have removable top plates allowing for further customisation. Underneath there are four slots for the extra paddle buttons, which are held in teh supplied carrry case and magnetically click into place when needed. It’s a great design as the pad is more comfortabl to hold without them, but if you need the added edge of having extra controls, such as reload or crouch, immediately to hand then you can simply click in as many paddles as you need, or your brain can handle. The controller will come with an app which lets you further customise your controls. You’ll be able to remap any button to any other button (a feature that’s already available for the standard pad on PS4, and should exist on Xbox One for accessibility reasons if no other), plus you’ll be able to play with the stick and trigger response curves. You can store up to 255 profiles for these on the Xbox and have two in the pad at any one time, with a switch to change between them (so you could have a sniper setup for defensive rounds and a more twitchy SMG rush setup for when on the offensive). We also saw the upcoming Wireless adaptor so you can use any Xbox One pad with your PC without a USB cable. So is it better than a current modded device? Well in our experience it certainly feels better made and the controls are sublime. The big plus point is that Microsoft is bound to push it to developers who will then have an API in order to tweak the most competitive titles to get the most out of it. If it can get developers and pro gamers to release their controller setup profiles for games it’ll be onto a winner. Most popular articles. Most popular reviews. Best Xbox One games. Latest Xbox One games. © Dennis, a trading name of Dennis Publishing Ltd, registered in England & Wales no. 1138891. Registered address: 31-32 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP. VAT number 494616317. Dennis is run for the benefit of the Heart of England Forest , a registered charity dedicated to planting tomorrow’s great native woodland one tree at a time. Free game. Design an Xbox controller. Become a pirate legend. The battleground awaits. Limited-time offer. Play together with Xbox Live Gold. Play on the most advanced multiplayer network. Pick your team. Xbox Game Pass. Get unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games for only $9.99 per month. Start your free 14-day trial today. Xbox consoles Show all. Xbox One X 1TB Console + Free Select Game. • Games play better than ever. • Experience immersive true 4K gaming. • Play on Xbox Live, the most advanced multiplayer network. • Works with all your Xbox One games and accessories. • Games run smoothly, look amazing, and load quickly on 1080p screens. Xbox One S 500GB Console – Starter Bundle + 2 Free Select Games. • Xbox One S 500GB Console. • Xbox Wireless Controller. • 3-month Xbox Game Pass membership. • 3-month Xbox Live Gold membership. • 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, 4K video streaming, High Dynamic Range, premium audio. Xbox One S 500GB Console – Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels Bundle + 2 Free Select Games. • Xbox One S 500GB Console. • Xbox Wireless Controller. • Forza Horizon 3 game download. • Hot Wheels expansion download. • 1-month Xbox Game Pass (new subscribers only) • 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial. Xbox One S 500GB Console - Ultimate Halo Bundle + 2 Free Select Games. • Xbox One S 500GB Console. • Xbox Wireless Controller. • Halo 5: Guardians (standard edition digital code) • Halo: The Master Chief Collection (standard edition digital code) • 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial. • 1-month Xbox Game Pass trial (new subscribers only) Xbox One S Console - Forza Horizon 3 Bundles + 2 Free Select Games. • Xbox One S 500GB or 1TB Xbox One S consoles. • Xbox Wireless Controller. • Forza Horizon 3 Standard Edition digital code for Xbox and Windows 10. • 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial. 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Call of Duty: WWII for Xbox One. Star Wars Battlefront II for Xbox One. Assassin's Creed Origins for Xbox One. Super Lucky's Tale for Xbox One. Minecraft Super Plus Pack for Xbox One. Xbox accessories Show all. Xbox Wireless Controller – Sea of Thieves Limited Edition. Xbox Design Lab. Xbox Design Lab. Controller Gear Xbox Design Lab Pro Charging Stand. Xbox Wireless Controller. Xbox Wireless Controller. Xbox Pro Charging Stand for Project Scorpio Special Edition Controller. Xbox Wireless Controller - Minecraft Pig. Xbox games (download) Show all. Call of Duty®: WWII. STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II. Rocket League® Assassin's Creed® Origins. NBA 2K18. Madden NFL 18. Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ The Sims™ 4. Get started with Xbox. Xbox deals. Save big on Xbox consoles, games, and accessories. Dream it, build it. Unlock the power of your imagination with Minecraft. Take your skills to the next level with the latest PCs, accessories, and games. Virtual Reality. Experience the world in a whole new way. Translate to English. Язык Microsoft Store: United States - English. Вас интересует язык Microsoft Store: Россия - Русский? Перевести на русский. You are shopping Microsoft Store in: United States - English. Are you looking for Microsoft Store in: Россия - Русский? Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Unlock your full-gaming potential with this pro-level controller that adapts to your unique style of play and gives you the competitive edge. Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X consoles. To celebrate Forza Motorsport 7, SCUF has teamed up with Porsche and Turn 10 Studios to create this limited-edition controller. It's custom crafted with an exclusive silver finish, red and black racing stripes, black carbon fiber accents, and real Alcantara leather handles. Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X consoles. Free shipping. Free returns. Description. Unlock your full-gaming potential with this pro-level controller that adapts to your unique style of play and gives you the competitive edge. Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X consoles. Select a Microsoft Store location. We’re expanding our pick-up-in-store service to more Microsoft Store locations every day. Note: In-store availability subject to change without notice. Sorry, the service was unavailable. Please try again later. Unfortunately, we found no Microsoft Store locations within 100 miles, but we can always ship items to you. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Game-changing accuracy. Give your gaming a helpful boost with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. It adapts to your hand size and play style, so you get better control across all gaming genres. The new, faceted D-pad enables easier and more reliable combo execution, while the traditional D-pad provides precise control to change weapons or call in a strike. This fit's personal. Swap between a variety of metal thumbsticks and D-pads for personalized control and ergonomics. Discover configurations that can improve accuracy, speed, and reach with thumbsticks of different shapes and sizes. Interchangeable paddles. Packing four slots for interchangeable paddles, it's easy to attach and remove paddles on the fly. Now you don’t have to take your thumbs off the thumbstick to execute intricate jump, aim, and shoot combos. Hair Trigger Locks. Fire faster and save precious time with the flip of the Hair Trigger Locks. Each trigger has one for independent control. And with the app,* you can fine-tune the trigger settings to fit your playing style. Infinite freedom and flexibility. Customize your experience even further with the easy-to-use app. Adjust trigger min/max values, thumbstick sensitivities, and button assignments, so the controls are exactly the way you want them. Designed to perform. Stainless steel thumbstick shafts, D-pads, and paddles are built to last. Low-friction, reinforced rings around each thumbstick minimize wear and provide buttery-smooth action. Be ready for anything. Each profile you create in the app is stored in the cloud, and two profiles can be saved on the controller too. So no matter where you play, your profiles are always with you. In the box. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller or SCUF Forza Elite Wireless Controller Carrying case (911 GT2 RS Carrying Case with SCUF Forza Elite) 4 paddles (+ 4 SCUF paddles with SCUF Forza Elite) 6 thumbsticks: standard (2), tall (2), and domed (2) (3 SCUF domed and 3 SCUF concave with SCUF Forza Elite) 2 D-pads: faceted and standard SCUF Forza Elite only: SCUF Paddle Hatch with Porsche Crest. Tech specs. For use with Xbox One systems and PCs running Windows 7 or later. PC use requires included USB cable or Wireless Adapter (available Holiday 2015). Drivers available at xbox.com/xboxone/PC-controller. Includes 3.5mm stereo headset jack. Also compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other 1st party Xbox One controller accessories. Features Impulse Triggers** and rumble motors. Motor control can be adjusted in the app. 348g (+/- 15g) when using with 4 paddles, faceted D-pad, AA batteries, and standard thumbsticks attached. Wireless or wired using included 9’ USB cable. Data transfers through the USB cable when connected to the controller and console/PC. 2 AA (included). Compatible with Xbox One Play & Charge Kit (sold separately). For use with Xbox One systems and PCs running Windows 7 or later. PC use requires included USB cable or Wireless Adapter (available Holiday 2015). Drivers available at xbox.com/xboxone/PC-controller. Includes 3.5mm stereo headset jack. Also compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other 1st party Xbox One controller accessories. Features Impulse Triggers** and rumble motors. Motor control can be adjusted in the app. 348g (+/- 15g) when using with 4 paddles, faceted D-pad, AA batteries, and standard thumbsticks attached. Wireless or wired using included 9’ USB cable. Data transfers through the USB cable when connected to the controller and console/PC. 2 AA (included). Compatible with Xbox One Play & Charge Kit (sold separately). Ratings and reviews. To rate and review, sign in. Your review. Thanks. Your review will post soon. There was an error posting your review. Please try again later. All user reviews. Triple the cost & more features but workmanship worse. Xbox Elite controller owner since day one release. First controller failed just after 3 months. Left bumper plastic clip broke leaving the bumper free to swing like a door. Upper right paddle button stopped working. After a spending several hours on the phone with MS Support they finally swapped the controller even though it had past its 90 day warranty. That's right the same warranty they provide for a $20 headset is the same warranty for a $150 Wireless controller. (Unless you bought the console controller bundle then you get the full year.) The replacement controller failed after 4 months with right stick drifting issues and the left bumper clip breaking again. Purchased 3rd controller from local store with 2 yr extended warranty. This one is now being replaced due to right stick drifting issues, bumper failure and paddle buttons not clicking. I would like to write about what I like about the controller but MS only gives me 1000 characters, I'm out of room. GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. 29 out of 32 people found this helpful. the only bad thing is the grips fell apart and did not hold up. 9 out of 9 people found this helpful. Wears out fast. The RB button broke within 6 months, left thumbstick will act up and move your aim in shooting games when not touching it after about 6 months, the rubber handgrips are also falling off. If it had a year long warrenty it'd be way better. HUUUGE waste of money in the long run, SAD. 23 out of 27 people found this helpful. Busted bumper. Controller feels solidly made. Fit and finish seem acceptable. But, within 30 days the right bumper broke, as has been extensively documented in these reviews and those elsewhere. In my case, the failure was within the 90 day warranty period. As stated elsewhere, this warranty is criminally short for a product of this expense. Purchase at your own risk. 28 out of 36 people found this helpful. I have had my elete controler for less than 1 year. I love everything about the controller (when it is working!) I knew I had a problem when the controller wouldn't stay synced to my Xbox unless I had the micro usb cable plugged into it, essentially making it a wired controler. I have watched countless YouTube videos on how to fix the issue. New batteries, power cycled my Xbox, updated controler. You name it is tried it. Microsoft suggested I purchase a new controler. My original controler that came with my Xbox still works perfectly! I spent 150$ on this beast. I'd say worth every penny if it worked. I don't make a ton of money and I'm just disappointed that my elete controler didn't even last one year when the original I have had twice as long still works just fine. I'm more dissatisfied with the customer service I received from Microsoft. I buy Microsoft products because I feel they are the best, but Microsoft makes it hard to be a loyal customer with poor customer service. Great controler (when it works) buy at your own risk. Once you purchase this controler if it malfunctions your stuck with an expencive paper weight. 9 out of 10 people found this helpful. Works great till it breaks. I agree with a lot of the reviews here. This controller is great in every aspect of gaming. Everything feels fresh and tactile. The weight was also a big thing that made this controller great for me. Unfortunately like others I only got to use my controller for about 6 months until the Left Bumper just fell off. I take great care of things and would never do something like throw them. So when this happened I was extremely disappointed. If you're looking for a great 6 month controller, this is it. (Model 1698 if anyone was wondering). 4 out of 5 people found this helpful. DO NOT WATSE YOUR MONEY. I have gone through two of these controllers. On my first one, the thumb sticks broke and for the second one the back rubber gripping fell off and the same thumbstick issue. I really don't see how they value this controller at 150 dollars. When issues come up on the controller Microsoft policy on a premium controller is absolutely crap. If you want one buy it but pray that you will not have any issues. 12 out of 15 people found this helpful. waste of a 150 bucks.too bad i cannt rate the thing 0. Back grips is coming off.right bumper broke.Must games i have tried to use the hair trigger switch thing.Doesnt work to fire the guns in the game .I wouldnt tell anyone to buy a elite controller.They better off just mailing microsoft the cash and keep using a normal controller. 21 out of 29 people found this helpful. Piece of trash. Keep loosing the buttons beacause they are on there with magnetics so whenever you flick up or anything like that the button flys of the taller buttons are impossible to use and the peddles on the back are way to sensitive wish I could rate a 0 star. 21 out of 30 people found this helpful. Quality is just the same as original controller. It's just a regular controller with more weight and more mappable buttons. Bumper broke and 90 day warrenty conveniently ended before. sweet. 14 out of 19 people found this helpful. Translate to English. Язык Microsoft Store: United States - English. Вас интересует язык Microsoft Store: Россия - Русский? Перевести на русский. You are shopping Microsoft Store in: United States - English. Are you looking for Microsoft Store in: Россия - Русский? Microsoft's Elite controller is like a sports car: a tool for pros, a status symbol for the rest. I would like a sports car. I don’t know how to drive a stick, am confused by fuel variety, and have no plans to visit a speedway, because the last thing I want to risk is damaging the majority of my annual income. A sports car is clearly not made for me, but I want the sports car nonetheless. It looks cool, it embodies status, and the potential of its power is as important — if not more important — than its application. I don’t have money for sports cars, but plenty of folks with my common mix of car lust and incompetence do have the cash. And so, there are a great deal of people who buy sports cars, but don’t really use sports cars. The Microsoft Elite Wireless Controller is a sports car. It’s beautiful, expensive, has plenty going on under the hood, and will likely be purchased predominantly by people who crave it as a trophy rather than a tool. In hand, the Elite is unabashedly intimidating, built from the ground up for professionals who will spend hours tweaking and customizing it. Along with the eight buttons, two joysticks, and a direction pad, the Elite includes four programmable paddles, a couple switches, four alternate joysticks, and an alternate omnidirectional pad. It’s comical, while using the Elite, to think it came from the same company responsible for Kinect, a hands-free peripheral that hoped to remove the controller as a barrier to newcomers. So complex, it's hard to imagine the same company made Kinect. I began playing video games when I was three, and I felt like a bit of a newcomer, fumbling at first with the Elite. Trying to hop right into Halo 5 , I kept accidentally hitting the pedals on the rear of the controller, causing Master Chief to toss grenades into walls, killing himself. The Elite controller takes some practice and patience. For the first time in decades, gamers will have to take a moment to learn the controller. Within its corresponding Xbox One app, the controller can be fully remapped, allowing you to assign inputs to any button or paddle you’d like. Want to make the X button behave like the A button? You are too wild! But don’t let me stop you; chase your bliss! After the sixth unintended death by grenade, I spent a half-hour tweaking the controller. The hardware calls for the tinkerer. I eventually created a configuration that I found comfortable, and yet I can’t say with confidence the added buttons improved my skills. I suppose it will be weeks before I have any real grasp, and that will require me not removing the paddles, which will be tough to resist if I keep accidentally triggering them. That is an option, removing the paddles. The paddles snap off from the controller with ease, and you wonder if Microsoft knew early on, "Hey, maybe four paddles that go where your fingers rest won’t be for everyone." The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, as if I hadn’t been clear enough, isn’t for everyone. Its $150 price tag dwarfs the $59.99 suggested retail price of the vanilla Xbox One Wireless Controller. Considering the latter is regularly available at a discounted $50, the thrifty shopper could buy three generic controllers for one Elite. Of course, this comparison is akin to saying a car owner could purchase two Priuses for one Porsche Boxster. l say Prius for a reason: the normal Xbox One Wireless controller is, like a nice sedan, excellent, even high quality, for the vast majority of people, towering above the many cheaper and poorly wannabes. It’s also vanilla. It’s what most people have or want. It’s not sexy. For people who makey money and people who spend money. There are two key customers for the Xbox Elite Controller: the professional and the covetous, the people who will use the controller to make money and the people who will spend money to look good. Judgements from the professional side of things will follow, and while I would like to pretend my expert opinion is tantamount, I recognize the people making a living playing Call of Duty and Halo will tell us the most about the Elite Controller as an athletic upgrade. The option to change the sensitivity of the joysticks and trigger buttons is meant to entice players who dedicate dozens of hours a week to competitive shooters. For average gamers, though, the value or even difference in play is tough to test, as there’s no way to demo the sensitivity modifications in app. You must make the tweaks, play a game to see how they perform, and hop back into the controller software to further adjust. I see how this may give an advantage to players who measure moments in milliseconds, but again, for the average person, we're talking about tinkering under the hood for the sake of tinkering. In my case, I’m more likely to make things worse than I would by sticking with the defaults. Microsoft has produced the best video game controller on the market: the vanilla Xbox One controller. If you want something sleeker, faster, cooler, now that’s an option, too. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is now available. Xbox Design Lab. Xbox Design Lab. Xbox Design Lab. The Defender. Inspired by Real Madrid. Protector of Egypt. Inspired by Assassin's Creed Origins. Shadow Hammer. Inspired by Shadow of War TM. The Galaxy. Inspired by games. Orange Zest. Start with a bold color. Mineral Gold. Start with a metallic finish. Desert Tact. Start with new colors. The Diamond. Start with rubberized grips. My Gallery. Pick up where you left off. Community gallery. Get inspired by what other people are making. Get started. See where inspiration takes you with more than 1 billion possible color combinations. Best Xbox One controllers 2017: The best Xbox controllers in the UK right now. Searching for the best Xbox One controller to buy? Read our pick of the top official and third-party pads from £40 to £140. A decent controller is the most important part of any gaming experience, and it's a component that many gamers take for granted. The shape of the controller, for instance, helps you comfortably game for hours, while the button and stick responsiveness can improve your game substantially. But don't be fooled: that standard controller packaged in your latest Xbox console purchase isn't as bad as you think, but it could be better. These standard controllers are filled with shortcomings from cheap-feeling face buttons and buttons and sticks that could be more progressive. So if you're looking at improving your Xbox One controller, where's the best place to start? Below, we'll guide you through the best Xbox One controllers you need to buy in 2017, catering for every budget. And just before that, you can discover the important things you need to know about before splashing out on a new Xbox One controller. Let's get started. How to buy the best Xbox One controller for you. What are the key features to look out for? The first things are customisability and repairability. The very best controllers let you adjust and replace the thumbsticks and D-pad buttons to suit your preferences and game type – even the size of and texture of the grips – and all without having to buy a new controller. But that’s not where customisability ends. Some controller manufacturers let you customise the look of your controller, too. It’s also worth searching for extra buttons and paddles, which aftermarket controller manufacturers add to their controllers to make your life easier, and hair trigger modes for the right and left trigger buttons that make laying down a blast of withering machine gun fire that bit more responsive. At the top end, controllers also make it possible to adjust the strength of the vibration motor; some controllers also come with multiple vibrating motors, in the triggers as well as the hand grips. Does spending more make a difference? One of the biggest compromises a manufacturer has to make when building a controller to bundle in with a console is on materials. Usually, a standard controller is built from plain or slightly textured plastic, often the buttons feel cheap and spongy and the rubber coating on the thumbsticks can wear through with extended use. Spend a bit more on a decent controller, however, and you get better build quality, more responsive buttons and sticks that feel not only more comfortable but have a more progressive feel, allowing more precise control over in-game movement, especially in driving games. What other features are worth thinking about? Last, but not least, aftermarket controllers will often add extra, or different connectivity options. If you’re not a fan of having to replace the batteries on a monthly basis, you can opt for a wired controller; and some controllers will come with a rechargeable battery, although it’s worth noting that it’s possible to buy rechargeable batteries for the standard Xbox One S controller anyway. Also be on the lookout for buttons that let you control more mundane features such as headset volume. When you’re concentrating on the action, the last thing you want to do is have to take your hands off the grips. The best Xbox One controllers you can buy. 1. Razer Wildcat: The best all-round Xbox One controller. The first thing to note about the Razer Wildcat is that it’s a wired-only controller, which means you have to run a long cable from your sofa to the front of your Xbox One or Xbox One S. A 3m cable is provided in the box, as is a nice semi-hard case with space to stow the cable and bundled mini screwdriver, used to remove the under-mounted triggers if you find they get in your way. Despite the removable extra triggers, though, the Wildcat isn’t the most customisable gamepad available for the Xbox One. It comes with a couple of luminous green rubber thumbstick caps to give more grip and control, plus a pair of one-use self-adhesive grip pads that wrap around the controller’s horns, but that’s your lot. It only comes in black, and you can’t replace the thumbsticks for a longer throw and more precision. Still, there’s plenty you can do to make the Wildcat your own. As mentioned higher up, the controller comes with extra triggers beneath that can be remapped to any of the regular Xbox buttons, and these can be unscrewed and removed. There’s also a pair of extra buttons located on the top edge of the controller between the pad’s standard shoulder buttons. You can also remap buttons to these. The remapping process is a little convoluted, but you can store two profiles alongside the standard one so you can keep common configurations close to hand for your most commonly played games. That’s not all, though. A pair of sliding switches beneath the triggers reduces travel for faster firing rates, there’s a hair-trigger mode that makes the triggers even more sensitive, and above the pad’s 3.5mm audio jack is a series of buttons that let you mute and adjust headset volume without having to remove your hands from the grips. You can add these buttons to the standard Xbox One S controller via an extension module, but it’s an extra £20. I’m a big fan of the way the Wildcat’s sticks and buttons feel, and of the placement of the extra buttons. Although light, the sticks feel nicely weighted and precise, and all the buttons have an incredibly sharp, clicky action that brings to mind the top-quality Cherry-switch-based gaming keyboards. The adhesive grip pads included in the box also add an extra bit of padded comfort, but they’re tricky to apply and if you get it wrong you’ll have to order a new set. That’s a small complaint, however, and all told the Razer Wildcat is a superb controller. It’s comfortable to use, the buttons and sticks are responsive and all of the features are a two or three button clicks away. It’s not as luxurious as the Xbox Elite controller, or as customisable as the Scuf Infinity 1, but then it is nearly half the price. Razer Wildcat Gaming Controller (Xbox One) Razer Wildcat eSports Customizable Premium Controller for Xbox One W/ 4 Programmable Buttons. 2. Xbox Elite: Best for sheer gaming luxury. The Xbox Elite controller is hands down the creme de la creme of games controllers, both in its luxury feel and design, and the way it plays. Available in smart black, grey and titanium and Gears of War finishes the Elite looks and feels fabulous in the hands. It’s a little heavy, perhaps, but if you’re gaming long enough for this to come into play you should perhaps have a think about your lifestyle priorities. It’s not just in the heft of the thing that the Elite feels good, though. Every aspect of this controller has had love and attention lavished upon it. The rubberised horns provide just the right amount of grip, the metal D-pad and steel-shafted thumbsticks feel ultra-hard-wearing and just gloriously luxurious under the finger. Better still, the sticks and D-pad can be switched for alternatives simply by lifting them out, as only a strong magnet holds them in place. Microsoft provides a pair of tall sticks with domed tops, a pair of concave-topped sticks of medium height and a pair of regular thumbsticks in the box for you to experiment with, plus there’s the choice of a faceted metal disc (great for fighting games) or standard D-pad. That’s not all, though, On the underside of the controller is a series of four metal paddles, all remappable and each of which can be removed without the need for special tools. Plus there are a couple of switches on either side for reducing trigger travel and inside the controller are four vibration motors, a pair for the handles and a pair for the triggers. It’s the control and customisability the Xbox Accessories app provides that that steals the show, though. Using the Xbox Accessories app, it’s possible to remap any button to any other, store up to 255 profiles for individual games and store two profiles on the controller itself so you can switch between them during the game. The latter could be useful for players who have a set way of playing while sniping and another while running around. For those unhappy with the feel of the thumbsticks, which by the way is silky smooth by default, it’s possible to remap the sensitivity of each stick. You can change the strength of the rumble from each of the vibration motors and also tweak the sensitivity and travel of the triggers. The Xbox Elite controller is expensive but with such a high-quality feel to it and almost endless configuration options, there is no better controller you can buy. It’s the ultimate Xbox One controller. Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller. 3. Scuf Gaming Infinity 1: Best for customisability. Even more expensive than the Xbox Elite controller, Scuf Gaming’s Infinity 1 lives up to its name, at least in terms of its custom options. Visit the website and you’re faced with what seems like hundreds of different designs to choose from and options to upgrade your pad with. And if you thought the Elite was customisable, think again. The Scuf lets you not only switch out the thumbsticks for longer ones (three lengths are available) and top the D-pad with a circular disc (excellent for fighting games), it also gives you the option to swap out the grips, choose between domed and concave thumbstick tops, add remappable “axe” paddles to the rear of the controller, and reduce the travel on the triggers for faster firing response. Assuming you don’t choose a hideous colour scheme, the Scuf is a fantastic-looking controller and one that, with its rubberised horn grips feels great in the hands. More importantly, the thumbsticks have a lovely feel to them – slightly heavier and smoother than the standard Xbox One controller – and the wider tops on the concave thumbsticks I was sent give you that bit more surface to play with when you’re in a frantic firefight. Swap out for taller thumbsticks, and you get an even more precise action, which I found useful for racing games. If you choose the paddle upgrade, you get up to four paddles on the rear of the unit which can be remapped using the rather bizarre-sounding EMR (electro magnetic remapping) system. This works beautifully: simply place the rubber puck on the rear of Scuf logo at the rear of the controller press a paddle and the button you want to remap to it simultaneously and the remapping is complete and you can remove the rubber puck. However, I did find the action of the paddles somewhat heavy. The big disappointment about this controller is that it’s very expensive to fully trick out. Our review unit which came with all the trimmings costs an eye-watering £140 (that’s 58% the amount I paid for my Xbox One S which came with two standard controllers and two games). Despite that, it doesn’t come with standard Bluetooth, although if you want to hook up with a laptop or PC, you can plug in via USB. For me, the Scuf controller has the best feel to it of any controller you can buy, and it clearly has the most options for customising the design. If you want the ultimate in tweakability and gaming luxury, though, choose the Xbox Elite instead. SCUF Infinity1 Wolf Gray Controller (Xbox 360) SCUF Infinity1 Red with Silver Trim Controller for Xbox One and PC. 4. XBox One Wireless: The best value Xbox One controller. Believe it or not, if you’re on a tight budget, the best bet you can make if you’re buying extra controllers is to opt for the latest model of Xbox controller (not to be confused with the Standard Wireless controller, which is the previous model), which comes included in the box with the Xbox One S. It has a proven pedigree, it’s comfortable, works well for most games and is surprisingly feature-packed for a bundled controller. There’s Bluetooth – a new feature for the 2016 Xbox One S controller – which allows it to be paired with a PC or laptop as well the Xbox One itself. You can use it wired via USB if you prefer, there’s a 3.5mm headset port on the base between the handles and an expansion port, which is used to connect accessories such as the Xbox Stereo headset adapter, which adds button controls for mute and volume among other things. There’s even a certain degree of customisability, with a horde of different design options available to choose between and button swappability via the Xbox Accessories app. In all, the official Xbox One S controller is a solid gamepad for an extraordinarily reasonable amount of money. Yes, you can save money and get a cheaper controller, but for something half-decent you’ll only really be saving £15 to £20. Official Xbox Wireless Controller - White. Wireless Controller for Xbox One S Console with 3.5 mm Headset Jack and Bluetooth - White Theme Controllers. Most popular articles. Most popular reviews. Best Games. Latest Games. © Dennis, a trading name of Dennis Publishing Ltd, registered in England & Wales no. 1138891. Registered address: 31-32 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP. VAT number 494616317. Dennis is run for the benefit of the Heart of England Forest , a registered charity dedicated to planting tomorrow’s great native woodland one tree at a time. Xbox One Elite Controller. The Xbox One Elite Controller is a redesigned controller with a handful of new features. It was announced at E3 2015, and is set for an October 2015 release date for $150. [1] Like the original, the Elite controller will be compatible with the Xbox One and PC. It will use two AA batteries or a micro USB to USB cable, which comes included. This controller features four paddles on the backside (listed as P1, P2, P3, and P4), hair lock triggers, a nine-sided faceted D-Pad, a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack, and swappable components. The thumbsticks, D-Pad and paddles can all be swapped out. This controller will also feature assignable buttons and multiple profiles using an app available on Xbox One and Windows 10. Xbox One Smartglass Previous. Xbox One Controller. © 1996-2018 Ziff Davis, LLC. We have updated our PRIVACY POLICY and encourage you to read it by clicking here. IGN uses cookies and other tracking technologies to customize online advertisements, and for other purposes. IGN supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. Learn More. Engadget. Find it, buy it and tell us how you really feel. An all-around great product that's among the best in its category. You'll almost certainly be happy. The Engadget Score is a unique ranking of products based on extensive independent research and analysis by our expert editorial and research teams. The Global Score is arrived at only after curating hundreds, sometimes thousands of weighted data points (such as critic and user reviews). Engadget Review. The Elite controller is the best Xbox gamepad Microsoft has ever made, but it doesn't come cheap. At $150, your best bet is waiting for a price drop or a bundle deal unless you're dead-set on getting a leg up against folks online. Feels great in-hand; very grippy finish throughout Loads of customization options Mature, understated design Improves on the standard Xbox One gamepad in every way Bumper buttons are finally, actually usable. Expensive Levers and faceted d-pad don't feel secure Feels heavy at first Clamshell case doesn't keep everything in place Customization options could be overwhelming for some. Engadget. Critic 10 Reviews. User Reviews. There are currently no user reviews associated with this product. Limited time offer. Buy an Xbox One and get a game of your choice* Find the right Xbox One or Xbox One S for you. Xbox One S. Remove all Xbox One S and Xbox One Remove all capacities All Capacities Remove all ratings All Ratings. Not sure which console is right for you? Xbox One S. Microsoft Complete for Xbox One. Play worry-free with up to three years of accidental damage coverage for your Xbox One console and included controller. Gear up with Xbox accessories. Xbox Design Lab. Personalize your very own Xbox Wireless Controller. Now available. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Xbox Stereo Headset Adapter. *Offer valid only from 9 PM PST January 27, 2018 to 11:59 PM PST on February 3, 2018, while supplies last. Available only in Microsoft retail store in the United States (including Puerto Rico). Offer valid only on select Xbox game after purchase of a select Xbox One S or X console. Excludes Xbox One refurbished and pre-order consoles. Select games available and subject to change. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash or promo code(s). May not be combinable with other offers. Refunds will take into account the discount. Price discount does not include taxes, shipping or other fees. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Microsoft reserves the right to modify or discontinue offers at any time. Limit of 3 offers per customer. Other exclusions and limits may apply. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Rock-solid build quality. Extremely customizable. Good selection of accessories. Works wired or wireless. Very expensive. Customization options limited to Xbox One and Windows 10. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is one of the best feeling, most flexible gamepads you can get for your Xbox One or Windows 10 PC. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is Microsoft's top-of-the-line gamepad, with build quality, features, and a price tag that completely dwarf the standard Xbox One controller. This heavy-duty, customizable gamepad will run you $149.99, but it feels so good in the hand and it works so well with Xbox One and PC games that it earns our Editors' Choice. If you want to use it with a PC, though, you'll want to make sure you have Windows 10 installed to get the most out of the controller. Similar Products. Valve Steam Controller. Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller. Google Gamepad for Nexus Player. Nvidia Shield Wireless Controller. The big differences are a two-position mode selector switch located above and between the right analog stick and direction pad, and a set of four removable metal paddle buttons that snap magnetically into slots on the underside of the controller. These paddles can be mapped to function like any other button on the controller, including pressing the digital pad, clicking the analog sticks, and pulling the pressure-sensitive triggers (but not pulling the analog stick in any given direction) . A small switch located above each pair of paddles mechanically limits the trigger buttons' range of motion, if you don't want to deal with the full pull distance of the triggers. Besides removing the paddles, you can also take out and swap the caps of the analog sticks and the direction pad, all of which click into place with magnets. The Elite Controller comes with two pairs of analog sticks with concave rubber caps at different heights, a pair of DualShock 3-style convex rubber caps at the lower height, plus both a circular eight-direction cover and a standard cross-shaped cover for the direction pad. All of these components, along with the connectors built into the gamepad, are completely metal except for the rubber coatings of the caps of the analog sticks. Non-control aspects of the controller are largely the same as the standard Xbox One gamepad, as well. A micro USB port on the top lets you connect the controller with an included cloth-wrapped cable to your Xbox One or a compatible PC either to charge or use as a wired controller. A small button for wireless pairing sits just to the left of the port. A connector on the bottom of the controller, between the hand grips, accepts the standard Xbox One gaming headset or adapter. A door on the underside of the controller, above the slots for the paddles, holds the two AA batteries required for the gamepad to function wirelessly. Build Quality and Accessories. The Elite Controller comes with a hard zip-up carrying case with foam inserts for all of the interchangeable components, including the paddles if you don't wish to use them. The included USB cable is a lengthy nine feet, so you can easily use it as a wired controller from your couch. Two non-rechargeable batteries are also included so you can use the gamepad right away, but at $150, a built-in rechargeable option, like the battery built into the DualShock 4 controller, would have been preferred. The Elite Controller stands as a stark contrast to Valve's Steam Controller , which we've also looked at. Both are functional Windows gamepads, but the Elite Controller uses a thoroughly conventional Xbox layout while the Steam Controller uses touch-sensitive pads as the focus of its control scheme. The build quality between the two is also drastically different; the Elite Controller feels nearly bulletproof and very solid, while I found the Steam Controller to feel a bit cheap. These customization options are also available to Windows 10 users, along with wireless connectivity. If you want to use it with Windows 7 or 8, however, you'll need to use a wired connection with the included cable, and you won't have access to the Xbox Accessories app. The controller worked flawlessly with a Windows 10 PC as well, getting recognized as soon as I plugged it in. Shovel Knight and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance worked with the gamepad as soon as I started them up, and they both felt extremely responsive. Revengeance was slightly floaty with the default sensitivity settings, but that's the sort of situation where the Xbox Accessories app can be used to tweak things to your liking. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is a very expensive gamepad, and the sticker price alone will be enough to turn off some gamers. However, it's a rock-solid controller that's adjustable to a neurotic extent, and its compatibility with both Xbox One and Windows systems gives you plenty of options for use. If you're the kind of gamer who lives with your hands glued to a gamepad (and that gamepad isn't a DualShock 4 connected to a PlayStation 4 ), this could be a very good investment for you. It's built to last, feels great in the hand, and works with pretty much anything you can throw at it on a Microsoft platform, so it earns our Editors' Choice. If it's too pricey, or you prefer the PlayStation layout, there are a few roundabout ways to connect a DualShock 4 to your PC as an alternative. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Bottom Line: The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is one of the best feeling, most flexible gamepads you can get for your Xbox One or Windows 10 PC. About the Author. Will Greenwald has been covering consumer technology for a decade, and has served on the editorial staffs of CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert. See Full Bio. More From Will. Harman Kardon Allure. Retro-Bit Super Retro-Cade. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Build a smarter home with tips, how-to stories, product reviews, and more delivered right to your inbox. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. // Most Popular Articles. 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