Best Xbox Controllers In 2021 | GameSpot

Specs:

• Battery: 40 hours
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: None
• Connectivity: Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• One comes bundled with every Xbox console
• Affordable
• Extremely comfortable to use
• Lots of color options

Cons:

• No extra features
• Runs slightly smaller than other controllers

No surprise here. The first-party Xbox Wireless Controller is the most obvious choice if you’re looking for a new controller. Slightly revised when the Xbox Series X|S launched, the “Core” model has some nice improvements that make an already great controller even better. It’s a tad smaller, has textured grips and triggers, and swaps the standard D-pad for an eight-way design that’s has a bit more click to it. One of the most notable additions is the Share button, which gives Xbox players an easy way to quickly snap screenshots and record footage.

The Xbox Wireless Controller is available in a wide variety of colors. For the price, you can’t beat it–and it’s not uncommon for this controller to be on sale. The Xbox Wireless Controller remains one of the most comfortable and solid controllers in 2023–across all platforms. All Xbox owners already have at least one, but this is definitely a controller that players wind up owning multiple of. It’s also a superb option for PC and mobile devices via Bluetooth.

Specs:

• Battery: 40 hours
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Back paddles, swappable thumbstick and D-pad styles, more button mapping options, trigger locks
• Connectivity: Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Great pro-level features
• Customizable button layouts and components
• Comfortable design
• Includes lots of accessories

Cons:

• Expensive if you don’t need the extras

Though the standard Xbox controller is the “best” due to performance and price, if you want the highest-performing controller with an ultra-premium build, the Xbox Elite Series 2 is the clear winner.

Made with sturdier materials and weighted just enough to give it an unparalleled feel, the Xbox Elite Series 2 is one of those controllers that’s impressive before you even start gaming with it in your hands. 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. An included tool lets you alter stick tension to your liking, and switches on the back of the controller allow you to lock triggers at three different pull distances.

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.

You can use the Xbox Accessories App to remap inputs and save up to three unique controller profiles that can be cycled through on the fly. You can also tinker with rumble intensity in the app and create custom “shift” keys to add even more control inputs.

The controller and all of the spare components are conveniently stored inside the included carrying case. It comes with a USB-C cable that gives the Elite Series 2 an impressive 40 hours of battery life on a full charge.

The Elite Series 2 is roughly three times as expensive as the standard Xbox controller. It may not be worth it unless you are serious about online multiplayer games, but it’s arguably the best controller on the market today (for any platform).

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: Yes
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Two extra rear buttons, custom button mapping, trigger/thumbstick sensitivity
• Connectivity: USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lots of pro-level features for the price
• Anti-drift Hall Effect thumbsticks

Cons:

8BitDo makes some of the best controllers around, so it was great news when the manufacturer announced it would produce Xbox controllers. The 8BitDo Ultimate is a wired controller with a sleek look and excellent customization features. Its buttons, triggers, and sticks all feel great, and as of the most recent hardware revision, the sticks now feature Hall Effect sensors to prevent joystick drift. Best of all? 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 can download 8BitDo’s Ultimate software on your Xbox, PC, or smartphone to tweak several settings to get the controller operating the way you like it. You can change thumbstick and trigger sensitivity and adjust the force of the rumble. All of the buttons can be remapped using the software, too. You can cycle through your trio of profiles whenever you want with the press of a button, which makes this wired controller awesome for those who play multiple online games regularly.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Two extra rear buttons, custom button mapping, trigger/thumbstick sensitivity
• Connectivity:
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Almost all the same features as the 8BitDo Ultimate, but at a lower price

Cons:

• Does not use Hall Effect sticks
• Wired-only connection

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. Outside of the reversed position and its retro-inspired form factor, the 8BitDo Pro 2 has the same great features as the 8BitDo Ultimate.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Two programmable rear buttons, trigger locks
• Connectivity:
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Detachable cable prevents damage
• Durable design
• Decent extra features given the price

Cons:

• Wired-only
• Some fancier options aren’t that much more expensive

HyperX’s new Clutch Gladiate controller is super impressive for the price (just $35). It has all of the inputs you’d find on a standard Xbox controller (including the Share button) and a superb ergonomic form factor.

The Clutch Gladiate has textured grips, a pair of remappable back buttons, dual trigger locks, and a pair of rumble motors. The D-pad is just a standard cross layout, but it’s responsive and has a nice feel.

Even without its suite of competitive-focused features, the Clutch Gladiate would be a good pick for those looking for a budget-friendly wired controller.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Two remappable rear buttons, nhanced headset audio
• Connectivity: USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Feels very close to the standard Xbox controller
• Great audio enhancements

Cons:

• Wired-only
• Minimal pro-level features

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 Recon also has a pair of excellent back triggers with textured grips that are located in the perfect spot. 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. On the plus side, you get all of the same menu buttons here, including the new Share button.

The main perk of the the Recon is that it has built-in audio features when using a 3.5mm headset (it doesn’t have to be a Turtle Beach headset). Dubbed “Superhuman Hearing,” the audio tech can help you identify the nature of sounds and where they came from in competitive multiplayer games. You also get full control of your game/chat mix, EQ, and other general audio settings directly on the controller.

The Recon plugs into your Xbox via the included USB-C to USB-A cable. Overall, the Recon falls just short of the 8BitDo in terms of feel and performance, but it’s still a solid controller and the audio features are unique for sure.

Specs:

• Battery: 30 hours
• Hall effect sticks: Yes
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Four programmable back buttons; built-in OLED screen and on-control settings menu
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Android

Pros:

• OLED screen pairs to phone and allows you to adjust controller and headset settings
• Includes charging dock
• Hall effect sticks come standard

Cons:

• Build quality below expectations for the price
• Pro features lag behind competitors

The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a slick-looking pro controller with a bunch of great features you won’t see on other gamepads. The main draw is its built-in 1.5-inch OLED screen used to adjust various controller settings on the fly, including button mapping, analog stick senstiivity, headphone EQ mixing, and RGB lighting modes. The screen doesn’t use touch controls and instead features a toggle that lets you use the buttons and thumbsticks to navigate the menus. You can even pair the controller to your Android device or iPhone to get notification pop-ups on the screen.

The Stealth Ultra also has a few other pro controller features like four programmable back buttons and adjustable trigger throws, though its lacking features seen on other gamepads of similar price, most notably the lack of swappable parts like alternate D-pad or thumbstick styles. That said, the buttons are responsive and clicky and perform well in a variety of games and genres.

The Stealth Ultra supports wireless 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth wireless or wired USB-C connections. It comes with a 10-foot USB-C cable, charging dock, 2.4Ghz USB dongle, and a mesh carrying case. You also get four rubberized thumbstick pads.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: N/A
• Connectivity: USB
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Nostalgic design
• Works great with modern games

Cons:

• Limited features
• Not much to offer for those who don’t have nostalgia for the original Xbox Duke controller

The Hyperkin Duke was made purely out of nostalgia for the original launch Xbox controller from way back in 2001–it was this hulking gamepad with oddly shaped and offset face buttons. So there wasn’t much surprise when it was quickly surpassed by the Controller S, which became the standard design moving forward. But if you have larger hands, the Duke might be a better fit.

Hyperkin has made a name for itself by recreating retro gaming experiences through its wide range of hardware, and its Duke controller very much resembles the original Xbox controller in terms of size and button layout, but with a few modern touches. While original Xbox controllers had black/white buttons instead of left/right bumpers, Hyperkin incorporated small bumpers so the Duke would make sense for playing today’s games. The huge logo on the center of the controller is a screen that also acts as the home button–when you power on, the screen displays the old Xbox splash screen. Otherwise, it’s a faithful recreation of the Duke that now works through USB for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: N/A
• Connectivity: USB
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Nostalgic design
• Works great with modern games

Cons:

• Limited features
• Not much to offer for those who don’t have nostalgia for the original Xbox Duke controller

In addition to Hyperkin’s wide array of retro gaming hardware that lets you play old games easily, it has a few retro-inspired accessories. One of those is the Hyperkin X91, an Xbox Series X controller that’s scrunched down into a SNES-like form factor. Despite the small size of this gamepad, everything you need in a controller is there and it all works surprisingly well. From the analog sticks to the face buttons, the X91 recreates the full controller feel almost perfectly. One downside is that the triggers can feel a bit squishy as opposed to the smooth feel of the triggers on a DualShock or regular Xbox controller.

And if you have a gaming laptop and play on the go often, the X91 is the perfect size for travel. Unfortunately, this controller only works through wired USB. While that means you don’t have to worry about battery life, having a thick cord connected can make it a bit clunky to have around. The form factor may also make it slightly more difficult to be precise with the analog sticks since there isn’t much you can grip to keep the controller steady. However, if you need a small, fully-featured gamepad for less intense games, the X91 is a fine choice.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: N/A
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: None
• Connectivity: USB-C
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Pros:

• Six-button layout is great for retro games, side-scrollers, and fighting games.

Cons:

• Lack of thumbsticks and other features limits its use for modern games

If you find yourself playing lots of retro games, platformers, or indie games that require precise D-pad inputs–or you just want playing old games to feel more authentic–then we recommend 8BitDo’s M30. This wired USB controller is designed to look like the classic Sega Genesis controller, sporting a D-pad, six face buttons, and shoulder triggers. However, it’s bulkier than the Sega Genesis pad (in a good way), and a slightly altered shape for more ergonomic handgrips. It also includes Xbox Guide, share, and options buttons found on the normal Xbox controller, as well as a toggle that lets you map left or right thumbstick inputs to the D-pad for navigating menus.

While the lack of thumbsticks will limit its use for most modern games, it would pair well with the Sega Classics collection or Rare Replay, not to mention numerous indie platformers. It’s also great for fighting games, including modern titles like Street Fighter 6, thanks to its six-button layout and lag-free inputs.

Specs:

• Battery: 40-60 hours
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: Remappable back buttons
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Supported platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS

Pros:

• Long battery life
• Module design that can fit multiple gameplay styles, including remote play

Cons:

• More expensive than other remote-play options
• Lacking features compared to pro controllers of similar price

It would be awesome if Microsoft made a dedicated remote play handheld device like the PlayStation Portal, but alas, Xbox fans must rely on third-party options. Luckily, there’s the Moga XP-Ultra from PowerA, a chameleon controller you can use to play Xbox almost anywhere. The controller features three modular parts, starting with the mini-pad features all the face buttons, D-pad, shoulder triggers, and thumbsticks found on a standard Xbox controller. This slots into the handgrip, which adds two additional remappable back buttons. The final piece is a clip that attaches your smartphone to the XP-Ultra.

You can mix and match these components to suit your needs. The mini-pad and full controller modes are perfect for playing on your console or PC, and both modes work great with the smartphone clip, turning the device into a portable gaming handheld that can play Android games or stream them via remote play or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cloud streaming.

That versatility comes with tradeoff, namely that the XP-Ultra’s focus on modular, remote play-friendly design means its more expensive compared to standard controllers. And while it has a couple programmable back buttons, it’s lacking in other pro-level features that one would expect at this price point. However, the XP-Ultra’s battery life is excellent, and since the mini-pad features rumble feedback, impulse triggers, and a 3.5mm audio jack, you can get a fully-featured gameplay experience in all configurations whether you’re playing at home or on the go.

Specs:

• Battery: N/A
• Hall effect sticks: No
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Pro features: None
• Connectivity: USB-C or Lightning port
• Supported platforms: Android, iOS (remote play via Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC)

Pros:

• Easy set up
• Highly portable
• Supports a wide range of phone models, consoles, and streaming apps

Cons:

• No rumble, trigger feedback, or other features
• Only usable as a remote play device

Smartphone controller grips are great. They easily slot onto your Android or iPhone and turn it into a gaming handheld with a similar form factor to a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. While there are many such devices out there, our favorite is the Backbone One.

The Backbone One is available in multiple models: the standard version features ABXY button labels and layouts familiar to Xbox players, and a version with PlayStation-style button labels, though both versions work with Xbox games. You can get both versions in either a USB-C model that supports Android and iPhone 15 devices or newer, or a lightning port model that works with older iPhone models.

While the standard Backbone One is probably better for Xbox players, the good news is all model are comfortable and feel like premium controllers. The also all work with Xbox remote play, Game Pass Ultimate cloud streaming, and other apps like Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, or remote play from PS5 and Steam. Of course, the backbone One won’t work as a standard controller with your Xbox or other consoles and it lacks features from the standard Xbox pad (not to mention no pro-level features), but the high build quality, comfort, and wide range of support make it our go-to for a dedicate remote play option on a budget–for Xbox or otherwise.