The Xbox Core Controller is tough to beat, however there are many different controllers providing extra customizations, further controls, and particular makes use of to deck out your Xbox Series X/S. Click on right here to jump to a detailed look at the best Xbox Series X/S controllers, or examine the purchasing checklist beneath:
TL;DR – These are the Best Xbox Series X/S Controllers:
There are an amazing quantity of Xbox controllers, so we’ve examined and researched a spread of choices, choosing our favorites. You may discover all the things from customizable and price range gamepads to racing wheels and flight sticks able to tackle Microsoft’s console. Best of all, lots of our alternatives work nice with a gaming PC or perhaps a gaming cellphone – and click here to see them in the UK.
Best Xbox Series X/S Controllers
Best Xbox Series X/S Controller
You possibly can’t go mistaken with a basic, so the Xbox Core Controller is tough to beat. There are not any gimmicks or fancy options packed into this gamepad, with Microsoft sticking to a well-recognized and comfy design of the Xbox One technology. Nonetheless, a couple of slight tweaks will enhance your expertise when utilizing it with the most recent consoles, together with recording gameplay, D-pad use, and a greater grip.
The Core Controller connects to your Xbox via its upgraded wi-fi protocol for much less latency and fewer mispresses. It’s additionally nice for gaming in your PC or cellphone with built-in Bluetooth help. Nonetheless, the gamepad requires AA batteries when enjoying wirelessly—a bit archaic for 2023. So to skip the battery problem altogether, a USB-C plug is out there.
Best Funds Xbox Series X/S Controller
A great deal of options at a not-so-premium worth are on supply with the Turtle Seashore Recon Wired Sport Controller. For round $50, this gamepad options all the standard buttons, triggers, and sticks of an Xbox controller, plus two further again buttons that allow you to activate controls with out taking your thumbs off the analog sticks. You possibly can configure these two rear buttons to do no matter you please, together with tuning thumbstick sensitivity for higher accuracy.
The Turtle Seashore Recon affords a well-constructed, comfortable-in-hand wired controller with ergonomic grips to make sure a agency maintain even within the warmth of battle. Nonetheless, audio customizations make it a standout. When connecting your gaming headset to the controller, you’ll be able to mess around with varied EQ settings, like SuperHuman Listening to, to select up on audio cues you could in any other case miss. And easy on-control changes to the sport/chat combine ought to make communication along with your teammates a breeze.
Best Extremely Low cost Xbox Series X/S Controller
For those who’ve consistently bought buddies stopping by for fast video games of Madden NFL 24, having a flight of controllers able to play is likely to be handy. A brilliant reasonably priced choice, like PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller, is ideal to at all times preserve readily available, guaranteeing nobody misses out on enjoying. Coming in underneath $40, it’s low-cost however nonetheless affords a sturdy construct that may maintain up towards any motion you throw at it.
With seems and a really feel much like the usual Series X choice, PowerA’s gamepad is simple to get the dangle of. Its button, set off, and stick format are nearly similar, although it weighs much less and is a solely wired choice. There’s even a built-in share button and mic mute change, whereas mappable again buttons are helpful for faster actions in-game. Total, the face buttons are extremely responsive, and as an entire, the controller affords nice performance. You’ll love this reasonably priced gamepad as a backup choice and even your mainstay, so you’ll be able to spend cash on among the greatest recreation offers as an alternative.
Best Excessive-Finish Xbox Series X/S Controller
The Xbox Elite Series 2 is a premium controller for hardcore avid gamers keen to pay the excessive worth for greatness. All of the buttons might be utterly re-mapped, whereas 4 further rear paddles can change the operate of the face buttons when held down or have their very own actions inside a recreation. The rear paddles, D-pad, and thumbsticks are even hooked up magnetically for straightforward swapping to get your greatest really feel, and the Elite 2 is much more customizable due to Xbox Design Lab.
As a wi-fi choice, the Xbox Elite Series 2 has a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts as much as 40 hours on one cost. So that you received’t be looking down AA batteries just like the Core Controller. And along with Xbox Wi-fi, there’s Bluetooth connectivity and a USB-C for a wired choice, making it straightforward to make use of along with your PC or gaming cellphone.
Best Tunable Xbox Series X/S Controller
The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a pro-level controller able to be tuned to your supreme settings. Its dependable microswitch face buttons are remappable, and the 4 further buttons on the rear might be assigned actions. There are hall-effect, anti-drift thumbsticks that you could dial within the efficiency of and include interchangeable thumbsticks, whereas set off stops to regulate actuation distance are perfect for FPS. Most of those settings might be modified utilizing the controller’s companion app, however you could decide to make use of the relatively distinctive on-gamepad “Related Command Show.”
This compact, full-color display immediately on the Stealth Extremely shows cellphone notifications and permits you to make on-the-fly setting changes like swapping between ten totally different profiles, remapping buttons, fine-tuning the vibration depth, and modifying RGB lighting. Given this can be a wi-fi controller, you could suppose that the display will considerably drain the battery, however Turtle Seashore claims the battery lasts as much as 30 hours, relying on the mode. It even comes with a helpful fast charging dock so you will get again to the motion very quickly.
Best Aggressive Xbox Series X/S Controller
The most effective controller to provide you a aggressive edge is the Scuf Intuition Professional. It rocks a glance much like the Core controller however contains some extras like 4 easy-to-use, customizable paddles. A change close to the triggers makes them actuate like a mouse click on for a quicker response time, which is a boon in shooters. 4 interchangeable thumbsticks additionally allow you to discover the very best really feel when annihilating your opponents.
The general design of the Scuf Intuition Professional is one thing to marvel at, beginning with the light-weight, ergonomic construct, so even the longest gaming classes received’t depart you fatigued. The grips on the rear of the handles additionally preserve your arms firmly in place. Nonetheless, when utilizing the controller wirelessly, you’ll depend on these pesky AA batteries.
Best Customizable Xbox Series Controller
If you wish to carry out next-level customizations to your controller, the Thrustmaster Eswap X Professional has you coated. It’s a modular choice with swappable, detachable elements, making it straightforward to tinker round with totally different configurations because the thumbsticks and D-pad pop proper out. Subsequently, you’ll be able to go for the usual Core Controller format or go for one thing much like the DualSense controller.
Packed to the brim with controls, the Thrustmaster Eswap X Professional has strong, tactile face buttons, whereas shortcut buttons on the rear preserve your thumbs on the thumbsticks. There are six extra “settings” buttons and two switches to lock triggers for faster firing. Its bulkier design may be extra snug for some than a conventional Xbox controller.
Best Xbox Series X/S Racing Wheel
For sure, racing video games like Forza Horizon 5 are greatest performed on a correct racing wheel setup. Thrustmaster’s TMX Force Feedback affords ruggedness, and the texture of its parts will impress anybody hitting the digital open highway. There’s an insane quantity of real looking, responsive drive suggestions that’s fine-tuned with a belt-pulley system, whereas the wheel has a non-slip grip and 900° rotation for final precision.
The TMX Drive Suggestions has solely two pedals, so you may be shifting gears with the hooked up steel paddle shifters, much like an actual high-performance automobile. The button format and styling additionally match that of a race automobile relatively than a regular Xbox controller, however you continue to have all of the controls it’s essential to get by in video games. Your Xbox ought to even robotically acknowledge the wheel, and it really works seamlessly along with your PC too.
Best Xbox Series X/S Flight Stick
Are you able to take it to the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator? The easiest way to pilot your plane is with Thrustmaster’s T-Flight HOTAS One. This all-in-one flight stick is straightforward sufficient for rookie pilots to be taught shortly, however seasoned veterans can nonetheless recognize the real looking, ergonomic joystick and exact throttle to stand up within the air.
The T-Flight HOTAS One affords a streamlined design with a sturdy base that connects the throttle and joystick, although you’ll be able to separate them to your most well-liked setup. It’s straightforward to seek out the 14 totally different buttons and switches wanted to carry out actions in your recreation, whereas a share button captures views in your scenic flight. 5 axes of management, a multidirectional hat change, and a rapid-fire set off additional guarantee you will have the very best flying expertise potential.
Best Flight Sim Controller
For probably the most immersive expertise within the digital air, seize the Honeycomb Aeronautical Alpha Flight Controls XPC. This yoke totes the feel and appear of 1 you’d usually see on an plane with a 180-degree rotation and 12-Bit Corridor Impact Sensors for a easy, real looking really feel. A strong steel body and shaft fabricated from metal guarantee this controller holds up, whereas a mounting system additionally helps you to develop controls.
Talking of controls, the Honeycomb Aeronautical Alpha Flight Controls XPC is packing tons for a extra customized flight expertise. On the handles are a wide range of totally programmable buttons like an eight-way hat change and two-way rockers switches for trim or aileron. Don’t fear the bottom additionally options buttons particularly for Xbox. Different options that mimic these of an precise airplane embrace a spring-loaded five-position ignition change alongside a panel of grasp, alternator, avionics, and light-weight switches.
Best Xbox Sport Go Controller
Do you take pleasure in gaming on the go? Xbox Sport Go makes that a lot simpler, providing tons of your favourite console titles in your gaming cellphone. So grabbing a cellphone controller just like the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus makes it a lot simpler to play them. This feature has a format much like the Xbox Core controller, but it surely manages to take issues to a different degree for a greater cellular gaming expertise.
The PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus affords Bluetooth 4.2 LE or USB wired modes for a easy connection to your smartphone. There’s even a 3,000 mAh rechargeable battery on board, which doubles as a cellphone charger, so that you received’t want to fret about your system operating out of juice midway via a session. And a cellphone clip rests snuggly on the chassis, letting you recreation from a number of viewing angles and cut back fatigue, because it’s ergonomically balanced.
The place to Get the Best Xbox Controllers within the UK
What to search for in a controller
There’s lots to hunt out in an Xbox controller. Listed below are some vital specs to concentrate to when shopping for any such Xbox accent.
Connectivity is crucial in relation to your gamepad. For those who’re seeking to have the bottom latency when gaming, a wired choice is your greatest guess. A wi-fi dongle is one other strong connection choice. A few of our picks even supply Xbox’s personal wi-fi protocol that gives much less latency and fewer mispresses. And with Bluetooth connectivity on a few of our picks, you’ll be able to simply use it as a PC controller or cellphone controller. Check out our information on the right way to pair an Xbox controller with PC for extra methods to attach.
One other vital issue to contemplate is how customizable a controller might be. If you wish to remap some buttons or actually change the location of a D-pad or thumbstick, a few of our picks have the flexibility to do this. There are additionally choices that provide extra buttons, like ones on the bottom to supply shortcuts. Or, there is likely to be added switches to lock triggers, permitting you to carry out actions faster. The chances are actually countless with a few of these gamepads, and you may make them actually your individual to annihilate the competitors.
Leana Hafer is an avid PC gamer. Speak action-RPGs, technique video games, and extra along with her on Twitter at @TilFolkvang.
Danielle Abraham is a contract author and unpaid music historian.
Picture Credit score: Annalee Tsujino is a multi disciplinary designer and illustrator. Verify them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.