One standout feature for gamers with small hands is the inclusion of two rear mappable Enhanced Gaming Buttons. These buttons are easily programmable, allowing you to customize your controller to your liking, all with the simple press of a ‘Program’ button. This customization can significantly improve your gameplay, giving you an edge in various genres. We really think that this successfully builds on the initial iteration of the Wolverine from the last console generation, (still a great controller in itself for Xbox consoles), and given the V2's price is not too much more than the MSRP of the standard Xbox gamepad, it's worth a second look if some extra features and button are what you're after. Through this menu, you can toggle things such as what Turtle Beach calls 'superhuman hearing' which isolates and amplifies subtle noises that would have otherwise been washed out in the chaos, such as gunfire and footsteps. In our testing, we found that this audio boost worked well to help us focus in the few games we tested it out on where the music could drown out such sound effects; Katana Zero, Hotline Miami, and Sonic Mania.That's just scratching the surface of what the Turtle Beach Recon Controller provides from a purely audio perspective, though you will need a wired gaming headset. We tested the EQ and the four different levels of audio intensity and found the results were more than pleasing through a Razer Kraken Tournament Edition headset. Predictably, we've found it to work smoothly and beautifully via cable or the usual pairing mode, and it's got that excellent performance and comfort by default. It will be very familiar to Xbox One owners from the last generation but there are subtle tweaks that do make it an objectively better controller. The most significant changes in the Series 2 over the Series 1 (which we also loved) include a neat little carrying case that doubles as a portable USB Type-C powered charging station for the controller's new rechargeable battery, which has around 40 hours of juice. Finally, with project XCloud and Apple Arcade bringing some great games to mobile devices, you can easily pair the Series 2 controller via Bluetooth.

If you’re after utmost quality in a controller, and budget isn’t an issue, then your port of call should certainly be the superlative Xbox Elite Controller Series 2. Out of the box, you’ll immediately feel the jump in quality over the standard Xbox Wireless controller. A clean metal finish, texture grips and fantastic feeling buttons and triggers made the Series 2 an utter joy to play with. Performance: Expect all-round solid in-game performance with the Victrix Gambit. While there's no wireless functionality, being wired means input lag is kept to a minimum, an excellent thing for a tournament-ready controller. And if the default modules aren't to your liking, it's very easy to mix and match parts until you've landed on a setup that suits your preferences. The controller market is in a great place at the moment. The Xbox One generation sparked a lot of interest in the production of pro controllers that blur the lines between the comfort and ease of gamepads, and the competitive functions of a mouse and keyboard. After Xbox came out with the Elite line, a myriad of choices exploded onto the shelves, and now there are so many great controllers to suit all hand shapes and game genres. Before we break down the explicit benefits of each controller in detail, it's worth noting that many of the options below will serve you as the best PC controllers too.

You're on a budget: The Elite Series 2 is the most expensive controller on our list, and outside of sales periods, commands a very high price that won't sit well with everyone. Unlike the Duke, the Hyperkin Xenon is a reissued gamepad that’s actually worth using, especially if you have an affinity for the mid-aughts Xbox 360 design. The original 360 controller’s biggest innovation was its intuitive wireless system, which is sadly absent from this wired reincarnation. But hey, at least Hyperkin improved on the Xbox 360 controller’s awful D-pad and included some cool color-matched USB-C cables. The Razer Wolverine Ultimate is a genuine contender to Microsoft’s excellent Series 2 Elite for the title of best Xbox One controller and arguably has even greater customization thanks to the additional M1/M2 shoulder buttons. The four buttons underneath the controller on the rear are less like paddles and more like additional triggers that might be a little bit more of a reach, but we found them far less susceptible to accidental touches than the Elite’s paddles that expand into your natural grip area. You also get a few swappable elements like taller or rounder analogs and a four or eight-directional d-pad.

To get the most out of your Microsoft Xbox controllers, we offer pro tips for different connection methods. Whether you're using USB, a wireless adapter, or Bluetooth, we provide expert advice on maximizing your gaming experience. From improving latency to customizing button mappings, these tips will help you optimize your gameplay.Wired for performance, this controller offers low latency, ensuring lightning-fast reactions without worrying about battery life. The 9.8FT/3M durable, braided cable gives you ample length for any gaming setup.

The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core takes the high quality of the full-fat Elite Series 2 and brings it down to a more affordable price point, making it one of the best Xbox Series X controllers out there. It's quite tough to know what the differences between these two controllers really are - besides the obvious colour changes. In fact, these two gamepads are practically identical in every way, and the main difference is the accessories you get bundled along with them.There are also options to change the D-pad, button facades, as well as the styling of both the bumpers and the triggers. Interestingly, there is also the option to remove the rumble motors from inside the controller which is something you'll often find the pros end up removing from their tournament controllers, to cut down on the inherent distraction of hand-wobble. Scuf doesn't mess around with its controllers, offering some of the best premium pads outside of Sony and Microsoft. And the Instinct Pro is the absolute best Microsoft-focused pad controller should you wish to eschew the two big bois of the console world. But when the Elite Series 2exists in the world, how does anyone else compete in the enthusiast controller space. As you can see from our list, we think that the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is currently the best Xbox One controller on the market. It has insane customisation options, providing over 30 new ways to play. It shines in subtle areas compared to its cheaper counterparts, making it the best gamepad for most Xbox One players.In other words, yes - we do think the Elite 2 is worth it. Is there a better Xbox controller? In the world of Xbox, miniature merch seems to be a trend. It all started with the Xbox Mini Fridge, which sold out within hours. Now, the PowerA Nano controller follows suit, offering a compact version of the popular Xbox controller. These miniature products are in high demand among gaming enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Looking for the best controller for small hands? While the Xbox Wireless Controller in Velocity Green specifically caters to smaller hands, its modernized design offers comfort and performance that can benefit gamers of all hand sizes. It's actually a pretty solid controller. It may seem like a weird concept for a product, but for those of us who grew up playing GameCube and loving its controller, this is a great sort-of-doppelganger with/for a modern setup.It's style over substance when it comes to the Raikiri Pro. It isn't what I'd call a bad controller, but it certainly doesn't live up to what an Asus Pro controller with these specs could be. That said, the smaller size of this gamepad means it's a great option for both portability and for folks who want a pro controller but find the larger, chunkier pads a bit unwieldy. In smaller hands, those ergonomics might not be so bad, and throwing in a bag to use on your commute every morning with a phone would be super easy. Some controllers offer various color options and special editions, allowing you to choose one that matches your style. Yes, many of the controllers listed here are compatible with both PC and consoles, providing you with flexibility in your gaming setup. This controller retains many of the features we loved about the original. It maintains the overall comfortable design and includes texturized rubber grips that provide a great feel in your hands. Similar to its predecessor, it boasts a vastly superior d-pad that you won't hesitate to use in fighting games and platformers, taking inspiration from the Xbox One Elite Series controllers. For example, you could play Elden Ring without a controller, but using a pad on a PC felt far better. How we test controllers