Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core Editio

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core Editio


12USB-C Cable

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Play like a pro

Designed to meet the needs of today’s competitive gamers, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core puts exceptional performance, customisation, and durability where it matters most—in your hands.

Specifications

System requirements For use with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One systems and PCs running Windows 7 or later. Windows 10/11: requires Bluetooth, included USB-C cable, or Xbox Wireless adapter (sold separately). Windows 7 or 8.1: requires included USB-C cable; some functionality not supported. Drivers available at xbox.com/xboxone/PC-controller.
Audio Includes 3.5mm stereo headset jack. Also compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other Xbox controller accessories made by Microsoft.
Haptic feedback Features impulse triggers and rumble motors. Motor control can be adjusted in the app.
Weight 330g (+/- 15g) when using with a faceted D-pad and standard thumbsticks attached.
Connectivity Connect to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One X, or Xbox One S consoles with Xbox Wireless, or using the included 9’ USB-C cable. Wirelessly connect to Windows 10/11 PCs, tablets, Android, and iOS devices using Bluetooth, or with the included 9’ USB-C cable. Connect to Windows 7 or 8.1 PCs with the included 9’ USB-C cable; some functionality not supported.
Thumbstick control Use the included thumbstick-adjustment tool to manually change thumbstick tension, with 3 tension settings to choose from. Adjust thumbstick sensitivity curves with the Xbox Accessories app, or swap thumbstick inputs so that the left thumbstick controls the right thumbstick input and vice versa.
Battery Internal, rechargeable battery with up to 40 hours of battery life per charge. Battery life varies with usage and other factors.
Assignable buttons A, B, X, and Y; D-pad up, down, left, and right; left and right bumpers; left and right triggers; left and right thumbstick click.

Compare Xbox Controllers

6a

Xbox Elite Series 2 Core

6b

Xbox Elite Series 2

6c

Xbox Wireless Controller

6d

Xbox Elite Series 2 Core

Compatible with Xbox consoles
Wireless/Bluetooth Tecnology
Carrying case w/ charging dock
Set of 4 thumbsticks
Rechargeable battery
Save up to 3 custom profiles
Rubberised wrap-around grips
Shorter hair trigger locks
Adjustable-tension thumbsticks
Faceted D-pad
Hybrid D-pad
USB-C port

Important information:

Battery life varies significantly with additional accessories, usage, and other factors. Testing conducted by Microsoft using preproduction units. xbox.com/elitebattery. Xbox Accessories app features—including button mapping and profile configuration—are available only on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11. Operating system updates: may be required. Go to xbox.com/xboxone/controller-OS for more information.

Windows 10/11: Requires Bluetooth, compatible USB-C cable, or Xbox Wireless Adapter (sold separately). Android, iOS & Bluetooth: Select devices and versions. Some functionality not supported. Software download may be required via Windows PC or console. See xbox.com/controller-compatibility. Use with controller compatible games. You must accept the Agreement at xbox.com and Software License Agreement at xbox.com/slt.

The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Microsoft Corporation is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.



Dimensions: 18.5 x 7.8 x 18.5 cm; 876 Grams
Model: 41K-00002
Dimensions: 18.5 x 7.8 x 18.5 cm; 876 Grams
Origin: China

39 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Had the previous versions of this controller (about 3 of them) & they didn’t last that long (due to heavy fingers) but this new controller has outlasted them all so far
    Rating:

  2. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I’m basing my review of this from comparing it to the RAZER WOLVERINE V2 CHROMA, the V2 Chroma is a much more comfortable controller to use, coming from the Razer this controller hurts my hands in competitive gaming, this controller is smaller and my hands seem to ache from gripping it where as the razer is bigger and lighter so even in the most intense competitive games I find I hold the Razer lightly and never seem to grip it with the same intensity that I do this controller but I also think this maybe down to the fact that I can play the game differently with this controller compared to the Razer the reason being the paddles on this controller are perfect where as the buttons on the Razer where paddles would be are too far for my fingers to reach. Although the Razer has an extra 2 buttons on top which are great for customizing for certain games pressing them means that you can’t press either the trigger or bumper at the same time meaning for certain games you are restricted compared to the smaller Xbox Elite controller. At the end of the day my hands hurt play MW3 with the Elite Controller and my scoring is not as good because of this where as with the Razer my hand never hurt even on long sessions but my style of play is different because I just can’t do what I can do with the Elite. One star deducted because of this.

  3. RhodaKeyes says:

     United Kingdom

    I was not expecting that this controller was so well made.
    It’s comfy in my hands, it has a high-end finishing in every millimetre and I’m in love with the removable magnetic joysticks and the extra buttons in the back.
    Highly recommended!

  4. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I’ve used the original elite since it was first introduced, and it has never let me down. I’ve never had any issues with drift, buttons not registering etc. Thought I’d try this newer version and I’m not disappointed. It’s equally as great as the first.

    The paddles, thumbsticks etc from the first model fit this core model so no need to buy the more expensive model, unless you want to be able to charge it in the case.

    I’ve been playing Fortnite daily with it for a few weeks, and everything has been great. Everything has been registering and working as intended. I did purchase insurance with it incase of any problems, hopefully I don’t have to use it.

    I’m female and have small hands, and this controller fits great in them without any stress.

  5. Alina Bradford says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 2 From Our UsersI got this in the Christmas sales and i’m really happy with my purchase, in fact i’m slightly annoyed at myself for putting off buying this in the past! The controller feels really good in your hand and the rubber grips make a nice difference to the standard stock xbox controller.

    However its the extra functionality and customisation that really sets this apart. Using the Xbox accessories app on either the xbox or PC you can completely customise the performance and button maps on each button. This includes remapping a button to another or even to a keyboard button press. The triggers have three stop points so you can choose to use them fully for racing games or as a mouse click for FPS. I think i’ve already won some fights just because I’m shooting quicker than I was before!

    The one bad thing with this CORE version is that it doesnt come with any extra sticks or any paddles at all. I ended up buying some SCUF paddles and although these are great I do think xbox should include some paddles with the CORE, they have the buttons on the back but no way of using them out the box which was frustrating!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Great controlle

  6. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    The controller itself is fantastic great battery life smooth to use and looks great I just fell like for the price it really should include the paddles that most people get it fo

  7. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Very Good until something goes wrong I bought this as I already had the black Xbox elite 2 controller with charger case & extras which I bought just over 2 years ago unfortunately the bumpers went luckily you can change their location but eventually I was having problems sprinting etc so I finally admitted it had to be replaced so I went for the core controller so far all is well used daily I’ve managed to source some replacement bumper switches ready fingers crossed game on .

  8. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I’m t has been great so far I’ve had it for 3 months and no major issues at one point it felt like the right bumper was broken as it would act twice when only pressed once but that went away and so far it’s been grea

  9. JohnettLZZW says:

     United Kingdom

    Bought as a gift for my 12 year old sons birthday and he couldn’t have been happier. It is great quality and lovely to hold compared to normal controllers. If buying the white one you need to buy the accessory kit separately that contains the charger, paddles for the rear and carry case. As a non gamer myself I can appreciate the beauty of this and can see the value in the product.

  10. ShereeTapp says:

     United Kingdom

    This is my second elite 2 controller. I had my first one for a couple of years and it served me well. Some of the buttons weren’t working properly and the paddles weren’t working great. To be fair I did drop it a couple of times, but it seemed unaffected.

    Anyway they are brilliant controllers. Everything just feels much nicer than the basic normal controllers. The paddles on the back make a huge difference. For example being able to push a paddle to run instead of clicking down on the analog stucks really saves my thumbs. I regularly use all paddles and they help me out a lot.

    Battery life is really good, can go days without charging, maybe weeks depending on use.

    A few negatives though…

    The bumper buttons are prone to failure
    The paddles might need to be replaced as the metal wears down after a while
    They are very expensive controllers but worth it for me as they make playing much more comfortable

  11. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Got this for a friend because the USB inlet went on the previous one – nothing else, nothing less…!

    You would have thought Microsoft would have better build standards than they do…!?!

  12. Reika says:

     United Kingdom

    This is a great option for those of us that just hammer controllers and go through them. Using all the other parts from the other controller and just replacing the body is a great idea for less money. Or if you are just not bothered about the paddles on the back or the additional sticks etc. still comes with charge cable and the main parts on the body.

  13. UJFNidasjhkzov says:

     United Kingdom

    I love the feel of this controller, however I wish that it was possible to map the paddles to different functions rather than just duplicating buttons from the face of the controller.

  14. MicheleHamlett says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 3 From Our UsersThe Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core Edition is an absolute gem for gamers seeking the ultimate control and customization experience. If you already own the original Elite controller, this upgraded version serves as a perfect replacement, taking your gaming to new heights.

    The Series 2 – Core Edition retains all the exceptional features that made the original Elite controller so beloved. The build quality is outstanding, with a premium feel and solid construction that ensures durability and longevity. The controller’s weight and balance are perfectly calibrated, offering a comfortable and ergonomic grip for extended gaming sessions.

    What sets the Series 2 – Core Edition apart is the range of enhancements and refinements it brings to the table. The first noticeable improvement is the adjustable tension on the thumbsticks, allowing you to fine-tune their resistance to match your playstyle. This level of customization grants you an unprecedented level of precision and control.

    Additionally, the addition of the three-profile switch on the controller’s faceplate makes switching between personalized configurations a breeze. Whether you prefer different setups for various genres or share the controller with friends, this feature streamlines the process and ensures that your preferred settings are always at your fingertips.

    The Series 2 – Core Edition also boasts an extended battery life, which is a significant improvement over its predecessor. With up to 40 hours of gameplay on a single charge, you can immerse yourself in your favorite titles without interruption, ensuring that the controller is always ready for action when you are.

    Overall, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core Edition is a worthy successor to the original Elite controller. If you already own an Elite controller, this upgraded version serves as a perfect replacement, taking your gaming experience to the next level. Its exceptional build quality, customizable features, and extended battery life make it a must-have for gamers who demand the best in performance and versatility.

  15. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 5 From Our UsersFirst things first, remember this is the core edition so you get none of the additional accessories the black one has but as you can see in my images, you are able to buy the component kit separately and attach them as normal, this controller is only missing the additional components, nothing else, still has all the other features.

    It feels great and secure while in use, the rubberised grips and textured sticks and triggers helping it feel secure and precise whilst playing your favourite games, being able to adjust the trigger threshold to respond instantly (similar to the click of a computer mouse) will be super useful in shooters when shooting first can dictate a win or loss.

    The battery is very impressive and leads to me not having to charge it for weeks and if you do have to charge, the long and braided cable it comes with will ensure you can play whilst charging.

    Using the Xbox Controller app you are able to fully re-map every button on the controller to suit what your needs are perfectly, you can save these modifications as a profile, which you get three off and can switch between by the little button in the middle. Speaking of the app, it also allows you to change the colour of the Xbox button with millions of possibilities. (The colour is saved to the individual profiles so you will have to make sure each profile has the button colour you want)

    Being able to adjust the thumbstick tension has been super useful for me in first person shooters, finding the most hardest tension to be useful for precision, though a guide/indicator of tension level would have been appreciated.

    Overall an impressive controller and easily upgradeable with the component kit, would recommend.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Sleek and ergonomic desig

  16. LucieGooden says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 2 From Our UsersThe Elite Series 2 Core is the best controller for able-bodied players.
    The controller can help some disabled players too.
    In other cases the Xbox Accessibility Controller will be better for some disabled players.

    I’ve had the Elite Series1, Elite Series 2, & now the Elite Series 2 Core, & the core a much better controller, due to improved durability as they discovered that the hand-oils of some people could cause the soft plastic grips to expand on previous models, which lead to the grips coming off. This issue has been resolved thankfully.

    Previous model directional-pads, & paddles are all compatible, though some sticks from previous models are not due to a change in the amount of internal threads for some reason? The core has 3 threads, I believe the previous models had 4 or more. You will need to purchase an accessory pack if you do not have one, though they are not required.

    Sadly they have not yet added magnetic Hall Effect sensors & still use potentiometer sensors in their analogue sticks. I expected this to be the standard by now in 2023, but its still not the case, & the change is well over-due. (This applies across the industry).

    Make sure to configure your controls in the Xbox Accessories App, & make sure to set the colour of your Xbox Nexus button to add a little personality too.

  17. MicheliHammons says:

     United Kingdom

    Lovely controller, had two of this version now and one of the previous version. Customisation is great from the triggers, paddles, d-pad, firmness of the sticks – it does it all. My only issue is that of the two I’ve had of the latest version, the right bumper failed to register clicks after close to a year and the second one failed out of the box – so might be a common fault or I’ve been unlucky! So moving on to my third now and still loving it, I hate using anything else

  18. DarrellJulian says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 6 From Our UsersThe Xbox Series X controller, and I have to say it is hands down the best controller I have ever owned. Microsoft has done an exceptional job in designing this controller, making it comfortable to hold, packed with features, and overall very high quality.

    First and foremost, the ergonomics of the controller are fantastic. The grip is comfortable to hold, and the shape of the controller fits snugly in the hands. The buttons are all positioned perfectly, making it easy to reach them, and the triggers are smooth with just the right amount of resistance. I can play for hours without experiencing any hand fatigue, which is a testament to the excellent design of this controller.

    The controller is packed full of features and improvements over the previous versions. The D-pad has been improved, and it’s now more responsive and easier to use than previous models. The share button has been added, allowing me to take screen captures and capture short video clips effortlessly without interrupting my gameplay. The wireless connectivity is excellent, and I haven’t experienced any lag or dropouts, even when I’m playing remotely on my PC.

    Another great feature of this controller is its compatibility. It works seamlessly with both the Xbox Series X and the Xbox One, as well as Windows 10 and Android devices. This makes it incredibly versatile, and I haven’t had any issues using the controller across multiple different devices.

    Finally, I want to talk about the overall build quality of this controller. The Xbox Series X controller is solidly built, and it feels like it’s been built to last. There are no creaks or rattles, and everything fits together beautifully. I couldn’t be more impressed with the quality of this controller.

    Overall, I would highly recommend the Xbox Series X controller to anyone looking for an exceptional gaming experience. It’s comfortable, packed with features, and incredibly well built. It’s definitely worth the investment, and I’m incredibly happy with my purchase.

  19. StevieKeyser says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 2 From Our UsersI used to game a lot on FPS, got the elite controller before this which I really loved and got used to. It peeled away in the end but was able to keep using it until the port was too broken for me to use on my PC anymore so kept it for the Xbox and needed to upgrade. So I got this, I found the tuning was completely different and couldn’t be asked to get used to it since I’m in my final year now and don’t get a lot of time to game. So returned it and used a standard one which works great. Would recommend it if you are an invested gamer as they last longer and don’t get stick drift as much which can save you money in the long ru

  20. EdnaFerguson says:

     United Kingdom

    Pros:Loads of great spec including re-mappable buttons ,adjustable triggers and analog sticks.

    Cons: I have found that some of the face buttons are unresponsive sometimes although the buttons on the back of the controller I have had no issues with.

  21. Srikanth Voruganti says:

     United Kingdom

    Xbox series Elite Controller version 2
    1. Much better build over the first version.
    2. Profiles You can assign a slot for up to three profiles. Press the Profile button on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 to switch between them. When no bars appear lit below the Profile button, the controller is using the default button mapping.
    3. Change the colour of the main big X button in the center of your Pad

    The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is the best gamepad for the Xbox One/Xbox Series consoles, and one of the best for PCs. It has an excellent feel, plus hardware and software customization tricks that the standard Xbox Wireless Controller does not. It’s also quite expensive, is it worth buying depends if you a pro gamer or feel you need the heads up on other gamers.. I rate it has 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    I have 2 Elite V2’s one has loads of profiles on it for xbox series x, and i use the other on my PC with a windows bluetooth dongal.

  22. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    ecieived this yesterday by a amazon delivery driver had to give him a code to accept the delivery as a “high value” item, opened the box which was security sealed so overall good so far, well packaged and no damage to controller or box, first time when i went to connect this to my xbox one x console it wouldnt turn on so had to manually turn my console on without the controller and still wouldnt connect, so i plugged in the supplied cable and turned on the controller with it connected to cable and then it needed a software update with didnt take too long, after the update it then went through the various settings (vibration.and control set up options) its a complicated and time consuming process just to adjust your settings with various screen options (menu) so many to go through just to customise your preffered settings, the good things about it is that you can change the coulor of the xbox logo and customise and give your controller a name, the weight of the controller is noticiable compared to my other controller its the batttery inside with feels slightyly heavyer, the only downside to this is that you cant change the battery inside which would of been a good option, i wonder how long the rechargable battery will last
    before the controller is no longer fully charging. with the included accesories you can customise the thumbshifters,or add paddles to the rear, i took the rear paddles off as they affected my game play but you can manually lock these through the controller settings on your xbox console (which is even more time consuming) to update and install softwear you need to connect your controller to your xbox console through the supplied cable) for some reason it didnt connect wirelessly first time, overall good build quality but could do with a few adjustments maybe a manufacturing problem when you change the thumbshifters they can come abit loose if you use them through heavy use whislt playing gta5 or forza.
    i personally dont think its worth the overpriced controller retail price it should of been 100.00 which i think i a reasonable retail price with the v.a.t included. its a good controller but hopefully if this one is good enough i may order a second one depending on the rechargable battery and connection issues.
    i would reccomend this if your a hardcore gamer.

  23. rss.couponmatrix.uk says:

     United Kingdom

    Seem a good product not had a problem yet atho battery life Is not as long as it says

  24. TammaraYOKO says:

     United Kingdom

    Controller looks and feels quality. I don’t use it all the time as it is better suited for multiplayer games or pvp. It makes the would of difference once you take out the dead zones and redial in the buttons. It is a total game changer.

  25. kellybowerbank says:

     United Kingdom

    Had decided I wasn’t going to get my son this due to the price tag (everywhere else), but found it half price here. I ordered on 23rd December, knowing it probably wouldn’t arrive in time for Christmas. For date was 27/12, but it turned up in Christmas Eve. Son thought it was brand new (it looked brand new, just the sticky tag to seal the box wasn’t in tact). Very pleased with this. A definite bargain!

  26. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    The pictures don’t do this justice and honestly surprised me, the whole feel to it is comfortably and clearly when you get your hand on this you know its well made and has some weight to it
    Bought this for PC use and the only thing I feel is a let down is you have to buy a adapter to connect it separately other then that What a nice piece of kit.

  27. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Great quality controller with amazing battery life. The quality and feel are amazing. Love the extra pieces like different d pad and thumb sticks. And of course the best thing is you can change the colour of your home button. Highly recommend

  28. AshtonMccutcheo says:

     United Kingdom

    Finally a controller with much better analog sticks, I keep the resistance turned to the max to help with better precision.

    The paddles are in comfortable position, being metal they are solid with zero flex, and very easy to use.

    The xbox accessories app allows you to set different customisation profiles, up to 100 I believe or which you can load 3 onto the controller – very easy to swap them out.

    The ONLY things I would like to see as. improvement are:
    – an even tougher setting for stick resistance
    – an extra domed analog stick (you only get 1)

  29. DanaePZAzhminbu says:

     United Kingdom

    Had the controller just over 2 weeks and it’s developed a fault on the b button unfortunately so having to return it.
    Apart from that is a good improvement over the regular controller.
    I recommend you get the extended cover with this controller as it will fail at some stage.

  30. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Great controller however the analogue sticks have started to drift and it’s not even been a year yet. One slight touch and it’s moving by itself which in turn is super annoying.

  31. MarcelGerber says:

     United Kingdom

    Bough this controller as my series 1 suffered from sticky buttons and broken shoulder buttons! Took a chance with the series 2 as reviews said they were better. After a few months with the controller I have not encountered any sticky buttons, Shoulder button problems or stick drift! The overall craftsmanship is much better and the look and feel of the controller is head and shoulders above the series 1. Would recommend this over the series 1 and also would say it does not suffer with the problems the series 1 has. Easy 5 stars.

  32. gepnobara says:

     United Kingdom

    It should really be 99 to hit that sweet spot. But if you already have the paddles from an older model or have the scuf paddles/sticks or some other brand it’s great. For me, I already have tons of sticks and paddles and I have no need for docks or carry cases. NOTE: the sticks from the previous gen do not fit this gen so you will need new sticks (they changed the design as they added stick tension adjustment) but the old paddles fit fine.

  33. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    I bought this controller for myself and after owning it for a week my son asked for one then my daughter and my sons girlfriend all after a week the build quality is amazing the added bonus of no more rechargeable battery packs makes this a pure win everyone i know who uses the elite controller ends up buying one the price is harsh jo justify for a controller but once you have played on one in games like call of duty ir fortnight you realise the difference it make I love my elite and so do the othe 6 people I know who all got one after trying my one

    A brilliant controlle

  34. Simon Smythe says:

     United Kingdom

    so far its working as expected it came brand new sealed in a box perfect condition happy about that all the buttons are responsive its early days yet, i will update this review if anything changes.

    The battery in this thing is AMAZING! i can game all day for 4 days straight before the low battery light comes on only takes a few hours to charge in the case that was included.

    im using it wireless on PC, its compatible with this item on Amazon (NOT INCLUDED WITH CONTROLLER)
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074QMN4YW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

  35. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Great controller, worth the cost? Debateble. But the inclusion of a charging base, the case, spares etc does sweeten the deal. Overall recommended, but is maybe 15-20 overpriced.

  36. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 3 From Our UsersIn all honesty I’m not sure why the price is quite as high as it is for this, but having used this and the Power A Fusion Pro versions 1 and 2 I can confidently say this is definitely worth the extra over the other two. It feels great to hold and well made and every button, trigger and stick feels smooth and pleasant. The system employed for changing sticks and back paddles is significantly better and more robust as well as easier than the Power A controllers. Customising your button layouts is far more time consuming and has to be done via the accessories app on the console rather than being able to assign new mappings on the fly, but saving the setups to recall them means you only need to set up a couple profiles once and it’s really easy to flick between them via the controller from there. I also hadn’t realised how much nicer it is to have a wireless controller which I’ve had no issues with. Battery life is excellent, and the fact it charges directly when in the case has meant I’ve never had any issues with getting low on charge. So, in summary, this is the best controller I’ve used by far but it is overpriced in my opinion – not because it isn’t good, just because it’s a lot of money to spend on any controller.

  37. Costenya says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 8 From Our UsersWith my old Xbox One controller wearing out, I decided to treat myself and pick up an Elite 2 controller for use on my PC (ironically to play PlayStation titles).

    It’s a lovely controller to hold. It feels solid and premium; the entire surface, barring the bumpers, triggers, and the panel between them (which all have a metallic feel) has a rubberised feel to it, with the actual grips being textured.

    On the rear there are extra controls – four ‘paddles’, which at first feel unintuitive to use until you figure out which fingers to use, and a pair of toggle switches which control how sensitive their respective triggers are. I’m yet to find a use for the paddles (which can be removed, if you’d rather), but I suspect they’d be great for things like manual gear shifting in driving games.

    On the front there’s a button which lets you shift between one of three ‘profiles’. The thumbsticks and D-pad can be removed and swapped for any of the included alternatives, including a more traditional D-pad and less traditional (for Xbox controllers, at least) convex sticks. Personally, I quite like the default metal plate-style D-pad.

    Also, good news for PC users – setting the pad up is as easy as pairing any Bluetooth device (assuming you have Bluetooth). You don’t need any extra software to get going, unless you want to modify the control profiles and/or update the firmware.

    The pad comes with a solid-feeling case, with room inside to store everything that comes with it. The included charging station (for the built-in rechargeable battery, which I haven’t had to recharge since buying it over a week ago) fits into the case magnetically, and holds the pad itself in place while it’s in the case. All of the replacement button parts are plugged into a holder at the bottom, and there’s a netted pouch on the lid which can hold the button removal tool and the USB cable. It’s snug, but it all fits well.

    However – I can’t see myself using the extra features all that much, to be honest. Perhaps I’ll change my mind once I’ve played something that might use the paddles on the back, but for the most part I’ve just been using it as a traditional control pad so far. Which makes this an extremely expensive controller. Is the premium feel worth the extra money? If you can’t see yourself using the extra features, it might be worth looking at one of the more conventional – and cheaper – pads instead.

    It’s a nice, but unnecessary, luxury.

  38. KateFiorini says:

     United Kingdom

    Golden Review Award: 9 From Our UsersI’ve always liked Xbox joypads, and just use them on my PC.
    So when old XBOne pad died, thought I’d splurge and get myself an Elite model.

    First off – it feels really nice in the hands. Slightly rubberized and textured ‘horns’ for your hands to feel, slightly heavier feeling and lovely blacked-out face-buttons. It looks and feels like quality.

    Personalization options are pretty comprehensive:
    1) D pad defaults to the octagonal look you’ll see in the product-shot, but you can change it to a normal cross. Indicentally, both are metal, and feel lovely.
    2) Joysticks can have their tension adjusted. By default regular, but can be tightened up to ‘springier’
    3) Alternate joysticks provided, which like the D-pad just snap on with magnets. Also get a pair of sticks similar to the 360 one (smoother, without edge texture). Another with a long stem, so more movement. FInally one with a rounded mushroom tip.
    4) On the back you have the 4 removable paddles, that you can map to other joypad inputs (although annoyingly not keyboard strokes, macros etc)
    5) Sliders on the back to adjust the depth of the trigger pulls.
    6) PC software also allows some adjustment of the acceleration from linear presses on joypad and triggers (i.e. You can make it twitchy). Also allows you to dampen/turn off vibration and dim xbox button light. The aforementioned button mapping can switch anything around – and you can even set buttons to a ‘shift’ function, and assign other buttons to different presses depending if ‘shift’ is held or not. Finally lets you save these settings to ‘profiles’ you can cycle through on the pad.
    7) Nice charging dock (that can sit in the nice case, or on your desk) – and a lovely long braided USB-A->C cable (the joypad has a USB-C socket on it).

    I might have missed something out – but it’s a premium product with lots of nice ways of tweaking it.

    Minor complaint – button mapping just lets you move button presses around. Using a PC, I’m used to being able to put macros/anything on any button. Now I could see why they might not want to allow this on a console (unfair advantage) – but makes little sense on PC.
    Major complaint, for me – I’ve left every single configurable option (after a bit of playing) as “How it is on a regular joypad.” I’ve even removed the paddles on the back, and switched to the cross D-pad. Now this might just be to keep my muscle memory happy, and it’s nice to have options in the future – but was a very expensive way to find out the OG pads are pretty optimal already.

    If you can live without the rechargeable system, paddles, adjustments, button-mapping & metal d-pad – you can specify a regular joypad from XBox’s Design Labs that looks nearly the same (grippy sides and metallic triggers included). For half the cost.

    Returning this didn’t cross my mind (OK it did, but just for a second) – but I’d have a careful think as to exactly which of the features you’re buying this for.

  39. Anonymous says:

     United Kingdom

    The Xbox elite v2 controller is an absolutely fantastic controller, but it’s not without its flaws.

    The Elite v2 Controller has completely changed the way I play games, my play style and the level of enjoyment I have in most games has improved immeasurably.

    The overall design of the controller, button layout and configuration, it’s customisability etc really should the standard for all XBOX controllers.

    The buttons have wonderful tactile and satisfying “clicks” letting you know they have been activated, coupled with the long smooth throw of the triggers. The triggers can also be configured to be instant click short throw triggers, which is great for FPS and other shooters.

    However with that said, it’s clear that Microsoft is having issues manufacturing these controllers.

    We have so far experienced, buttons sticking and/or accidentally double clicking, analog sticks drifting, enlarged dead zones, rubber wearing off, triggers not responding (spongy) and worst of all the loose D-Pad which can be can extremely frustrating when trying to play 2D fighting games such as SFV accurately.

    The analog sticks start to suffer from “stick drift” and enlarged “dead zones” on both our Elite V2s after a few months of use. (IMO) this is partly due to the metal sticks themselves being too heavy for the potentiometers used in these controllers.
    I much prefer the classic light weight plastic sticks found on the standard controller, and would like to see these changed to more accurate hall sensors moving forward.

    It’s clear to see that Microsoft really have put a lot of effort into the R&D of this product, as it’s without question one of the best controllers I have ever used, the software and customisation is also exceptional and having the ability to map a rear button as a “shift” key completely changes the landscape of gaming, I honestly can’t express how much of an impact this feature alone will have on your gaming expletive!

    The myriad ways in which you can approach games with these new features is testament to the R&D that went into this incredible controller.

    You can also change the lighting based on the active which profile allowing you to change profiles quickly (in game and on the fly) without taking your eyes off the screen, another truly game changing feature.

    Overall this is one of the best designed controllers I’ve ever encountered, however the reliability issues really do need addressing.
    If the controller cost under 100 it would be a 5* product, however at its current retail price of circa 150 it’s only a 4* product.

    I do highly recommended the Elite v2 controller but only “IF” you are willing to live with or look passed its inflated price and build quality flaws, if you can see passed those issues you will be pressed with an absolutely game changing input device.

    Superb product with some minor build quality issues!