Brands such as 8BitDo, Victrix, Razer, and Turtle Beach offer a wide range of choices.
But with so many options, finding the right one isn’t always that easy.
And theXbox Elite Series 2is an excellent choice for an Xbox pro-style controller.
Of course, Xbox is also home to the most inventive and important gaming controller of our time.
TheXbox Adaptive Controllerhelps gamers with limited mobility enjoy more gaming experiences than ever before.
Check out all of the best Xbox controllers in the list below.
Specs:
No surprise here.
The first-party Xbox Wireless Controller is the most obvious choice if you’re looking for a new controller.
The Xbox Wireless Controller is available in a wide variety of colors.
The Xbox Wireless Controller remains one of the most comfortable and solid controllers in 2023–across all platforms.
It’s also a superb option for PC and mobile devices via Bluetooth.
It boasts textured hand and trigger grips as well as metal analog sticks and D-pads.
The analog stick caps and D-pads can be swapped on the fly with the included customization kit.
Four additional stick caps (domed and different heights) are included in the hardshell carrying case.
It comes with an eight-way D-pad and a standard cross model.
Other customization features on the actual controller itself include adjustable stick tension and trigger stops.
Perhaps most importantly, the Elite Series 2 has four removable back paddles that easily snap into place.
These are located in just the right spots to make them feel natural to press.
The controller and all of the spare components are conveniently stored inside the included carrying case.
The Elite Series 2 is roughly three times as expensive as the standard Xbox controller.
What that means: no back paddles, extra analog sticks, or extra D-pad.
However, it still has the built-in trigger stops and analog stick tension adjustment tool.
Of course, you’ve got the option to buy all of the swappable accessories separately.
The Elite Series 2 Core controller now comes in red, white, and blue.
The controller offers around 20 hours of battery life and comes with a 10-foot braided USB-C charging cable.
It’s available inblackorwhitecolor options, and both include a clamshell carrying case.
you could even pair the controller to your Android machine or iPhone to get notification pop-ups on the screen.
It is, however, lightweight and the shell material isn’t as sturdy.
The weighty feel of the Elite Series 2 simply feels more premium.
Where the Stealth Ultra’s build outshines Microsoft’s controller is with the controls themselves.
Essentially, they mimic a mouse click, actuating faster and with shorter presses.
The analog sticks use Hall Effect sensor technology, which combats stick drift from developing over time.
Though the controls are superb, what you see is what you get with the Stealth Ultra.
To be fair, we haven’t come across a controller with swappable Hall Effect sticks or microswitch D-pads.
That said, it’s also one of the priciest at $200.
The Stealth Ultra supports wireless 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless or wired USB-C connections.
The controller comes with multiple modules you could swap to on the fly that change its layout and functionality.
The $180 price tag is high, but it’s worth it.
Few controllers offer the depth and breadth of customization that the Victrix Pro BFG provides.
Unlike other modular controllers with detachable pieces, the Stealth Pivot features two rotating modules integrated into the gamepad.
Everything is already integrated into the controller, and you could swap between the layouts on the fly.
The 8BitDo Ultimate is a wired controller with a sleek look and excellent customization features.
It’s available for under $50, which makes it a steal considering what you’re getting here.
The 8BitDo Ultimate has two programmable back buttons and can store up to three custom profiles.
you might change thumbstick and trigger sensitivity and adjust the force of the rumble.
All of the buttons can be remapped using the software, too.
The 8BitDo Pro 2 was the first officially licensed Xbox controller released by the manufacturer.
It has the same design as the Pro 2 that has been popular for the Nintendo Switch for years.
As such, the analog stick layout mirrors PlayStation’s approach to controllers.
If you play fighting games a lot, this stick and D-pad layout may be preferable.
It’s also great for retro games or modern side-scrollers that play better with a D-pad.
The most notable is the change in connectivity options.
All three connection modes can be easily swapped between with the toggle switch on the back of the controller.
The Turtle Beach Recon is another affordable pro-style controller that’s worth checking out.
This officially licensed controller has a lightweight but sturdy design.
Its face buttons look and feel nearly identical to the regular Xbox controllers.
While the sticks are a bit looser, they still feel great.
The handle grips also offer an improvement on the regular Xbox controller.
The D-pad is a bit underwhelming, as it has a rigid feel to it.
The Recon plugs into your Xbox via the included USB-C to USB-A cable.
From the analog sticks to the face buttons, the X91 recreates the full controller feel almost perfectly.
Unfortunately, this controller only works through wired USB.
But if you have larger hands, the Duke might be a better fit.
The Mayflash F500 Elite is a hefty stick aimed at hardcore fighting game fans.
The only major inputs missing from the default layout are L3/R3 stick clicks.
However, some consoles and wireless connectionsrequire a separate dongle.
Unfortunately, most good-quality fight sticks are prohibitively expensive, especially for curious newbies looking to try them out.
Smartphone controller grips are great.
While there are many such devices out there, our favorite is the Backbone One.
The new Gen 2 Backbone controller also supports phone cases, which is a nice added convenience.
And while there are several good third-party options, the Logitech G293 is our pick.
The PDP Riffmaster was originally designed specifically for Rock Band 4, but is also compatible with Fortnite Festival.
It’s designed for right-handed players but can be adjusted for left-handed use.
The Riffmaster offers a 30-foot wireless range, 36-hour battery life, and comes with a shoulder strap.
This model is designed specifically for Xbox, though it also works on PC.
APlayStation modelis also available.
The Xbox Adaptive controller is much different than the rest of the control options in this round-up.
It’s intended first and foremost as a rig that helps those with limited mobility play games.
There’s also a 3.5mm audio output port for headphones or a headset.
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