One of the best Xbox One controllers of 2023

Xbox One gamers have lots of selections when choosing one of the best controller for taking part in the newest video games. Microsoft’s next-generation consoles—the Xbox Collection X and Xbox Collection S—are additionally out there, so each controller we suggest will work with all three techniques. Upgrading to a greater controller for the Xbox One at this time—or choosing up a second one for multiplayer video games—continues to be a smart funding, even in case you stick together with your present system for a number of extra years. So long as it’s among the best Xbox One controllers, you ought to be good.

How we selected one of the best Xbox One controllers 

To decide on one of the best Xbox One controllers, I channeled my years of analysis and expertise writing about video video games. Every of those controllers comes extremely really useful by numerous play-testers, opinions from different publications, and my very own testing. Additionally, must you ever improve to the Collection S or Collection X, these are one of the best controllers for these platforms as properly.

And there are lots of selections on the market. The unique “core” Xbox gamepad is nice, however there’s a complete world of premium controllers with particular options and finances choices for gamers who need one thing low-cost to place in a good friend’s arms. No matter what you’re searching for, choosing one of the best Xbox One controller on your particular wants might be lots of work. Fortunately, we’ve performed lots of video video games with lots of controllers, so we have now some concepts about what it is best to decide up.

One of the best Xbox One controllers: Opinions & Suggestions

Our picks for one of the best Xbox One controllers vary in value and have totally different options, however all of them have one thing to supply. Whether or not you need one thing cheap, one thing extra accessible, or identical to loopy, cool RGB lighting, we’ve bought you.

Greatest total: Xbox Elite Collection 2

Why it made the reduce: Microsoft’s second Xbox Elite Wi-fi Controller is an improve in virtually each conceivable manner, making this controller one of the best wi-fi Xbox One controller. 

Specs

• Estimated battery life: 40 hours
• Notable options: Haptic suggestions, Impulse Triggers, rumble motors, adjustable and swappable thumbsticks, assignable buttons, rear paddles, twin analog sticks
• Connections: Wi-fi, USB-C wired
• Colours: Black
• Weight: 12.2oz

Professionals

• Tons of customization choices
• Sturdy and classy 
• Lengthy-lasting battery life  

Cons

Microsoft went all out when it sought to reimagine its high-end Xbox Elite controller. Constructing on the core Xbox One controller, the Xbox Elite Collection 2 includes a host of augments and upgrades, together with customizable buttons and swappable D-pads, to a wi-fi charging dock.

Do these further options make a demonstrable distinction? Sure. The controller feels premium within the hand, and whereas the additional weight is noticeable, it by no means made the Elite Collection 2 disagreeable to carry. Its refined options, like the best way buttons and triggers really feel after they’re pushed or the smoothness of the joysticks as they’re moved round and twisted, are simple to understand. The most important technical variations between the Elite Collection 2 and a typical Xbox One controller are its again triggers, which might be mapped to any of the controller’s face buttons for straightforward entry, and a round, paddle-style directional pad under the left joystick.

In our checks, the paddle-style directional pad didn’t make a giant distinction in how we performed video games, however the triggers had been useful game-by-game. The utility of those triggers will rely upon the way you maintain the Elite Collection 2 and whether or not you play video games the place it’s advantageous to maintain your thumbs on its joysticks always. Usually, your proper thumb must function the face buttons (A,B,X,Y) and proper joystick relying on what’s occurring on display screen, which may get tedious. Should you take time to retrain your muscle reminiscence, it’s possible you’ll end up in an advantageous place in comparison with gamers utilizing a unique controller.

Merely put, the Xbox Elite Collection 2 is one of the best Xbox One controller in the marketplace now. Interval. That stage of high quality interprets to a excessive price ticket, although. It’s additionally been troublesome to search out, recently, identical to the consoles themselves. You’ve bought to pay a lofty value for greatness, however that is one of the best reward you can provide your self as an Xbox participant.

Greatest wired: Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma

Why it made the reduce: Razer’s latest revision of the wired Wolverine controller has superior Chroma RGB gentle strips, in addition to sooner actuation and response instances.

Specs

• Estimated battery life: N/A
• Notable options: Haptic suggestions, Hair Set off mode, rumble motors, adjustable and swappable thumbsticks, assignable buttons, rear paddles, twin analog sticks, Razer Chroma RGB lighting
• Connections: USB-C wired
• Colours: Black
• Weight: 9.5oz

Professionals

• Customizable buttons and analog sticks
• Razer Chroma RGB lighting
• Wonderful grip profile

Cons

• Wired connection solely
• Costly

Razer’s Wolverine V2 Chroma is a incredible wired counterpart to the Collection 2 Elite controller. With further customization choices and options, it’s a luxurious controller for gamers keen to pay for one thing particular. Solely, on this case, that specialty consists of wired efficiency. The V2 Chroma is Razer’s third Wolverine. It appears to be like just like the unique V2 however with customizable RGB piping, which launched in 2020, and its six multi-function buttons evoke the unique Wolverine Final, which got here out practically 10 years in the past. It additionally has many options discovered on the Elite Collection 2, together with set off locks and a swappable D-pad. All in all, it’s simply as costly because the Elite controller sequence and simply as attractive for discerning gamers, which is why this controller is our decide for greatest wired Xbox One controller.

Greatest audio-centric: Turtle Seaside Recon Xbox Controller

Why it made the reduce: Turtle Seaside’s first controller brings a slew of headset-focused options for gamers who pair it with a wired headset.

Specs

• Estimated battery life: N/A
• Notable options: Haptic suggestions, Hair Set off mode, rumble motors, adjustable and swappable thumbsticks, assignable buttons, rear paddles, twin analog sticks, Razer Chroma RGB lighting
• Connections: USB-A wired
• Colours: Black
• Weight: 10.6oz

Professionals

• Superhuman Listening to and audio controls
• Ergonomic cooling grips
• Rear quick-action buttons

Cons

• Wired connection solely
• Audio options solely work with analog headsets

The Turtle Seaside Recon Xbox One Controller is a stable wired various to the usual Xbox controller. In change for having to plug in, you get selectable user-profiles and rear quick-action buttons, amongst different upgrades. Nevertheless, the Recon stands aside from different controllers due to its audio-focused options. For gamers who plug a headset into the Recon with a 3.5mm headphone jack, the Recon offers you entry to onboard audio controls, audio presets to combine your sound, and Turtle Seaside’s aggressive Superhuman listening to function, which makes it simpler to listen to gameplay-relevant seems like footsteps. It’s one of the best audio-centric Xbox One controller and an excellent choice for gamers who need to optimize for aggressive play with out spending an excessive amount of on a controller and/or headset.

Greatest wi-fi: Xbox Wi-fi Controller (2020)

Brandt Ranj / Fashionable Science

SEE IT

Why it made the reduce: The Xbox Wi-fi Controller is an inexpensive, dependable choice that’s nice for any gamer. 

Specs

• Estimated battery life: 40 hours
• Notable options: Rumble motors, twin analog sticks
• Connections: Wi-fi, USB-C wired
• Colours: A number of
• Weight: 9.9oz

Professionals

• Inexpensive and durable
• Prolonged battery life
• A number of colours out there

Cons

• Fewer customization choices than high-end options

Don’t underestimate the Xbox Wi-fi Controller. The usual Xbox gamepad is an inexpensive, sturdy, and versatile gamepad. This model, which comes with the Xbox Collection X and Xbox Collection S, is totally suitable with the Xbox One and includes a very helpful further button. The “share” button proper within the heart enables you to document a screenshot or video with out accessing the Xbox menu.

That is the default Xbox controller for tens of hundreds of thousands of gamers, so, unsurprisingly, it carried out very properly throughout our gameplay checks. The Xbox “Core” controller is so good that we may simply have named it one of the best total decide on this information and dubbed the Elite Collection 2 a premium choice. The controller was all the time responsive, and its buttons, triggers, and joysticks felt nice. We’ve used this controller with an Xbox Collection X for over two years, exhibiting no signal of damage or degradation. One among this controller’s underrated (or on the very least underappreciated) options is how good it feels within the hand. It’s lighter than its Elite sibling, and the plastic Microsoft used makes this controller simple to carry for multi-hour gaming classes.

Should you go for a second controller, the “core” controller, because it’s referred to as typically, is available in a dizzying quantity of colours and feels nice in your arms, with buttons that really feel good, hardy triggers, and a grippy floor that doesn’t get slick after prolonged gaming classes. It might lack the bells and whistles of the opposite, dearer controllers on this record, however it may well deal with something you throw at it.

Most accessible: Xbox Adaptive Controller

Why it made the reduce: Xbox’s Adaptive Controller is the one one in every of its type, and it’s an absolute triumph for accessibility. 

Specs

• Estimated battery life: 25 hours
• Notable options: A number of ports for accessible play, massive face buttons
• Connections: Wi-fi, USB-C wired, further hookups for added accessibility-focused peripherals
• Colours: White
• Weight: 19.5oz

Professionals

• Designed so anybody can play
• Respectable battery life for multipurpose controller
• Dizzying quantity of enter choices

Cons

• Generally is a bit complicated to arrange

The Xbox Adaptive Controller affords a singular proposition amongst recreation controllers. Particularly created for avid gamers with restricted mobility, the two-button slab is a hub for specialty peripherals that enable gamers who can’t maintain and/or simply use a standard gamepad. You’ll be able to join buttons, joysticks, mounts, and primarily something that makes it simpler for anybody to leap in and play. It additionally consists of options corresponding to Bluetooth, Xbox wi-fi assist, USB connectivity, and a 3.5 mm jack. It might be a bit complicated to arrange for the primary time, relying in your wants, however it’s the one controller that does what it does. Its distinctive capabilities open up the world of video video games to many avid gamers who wouldn’t be capable of play in any other case, and that’s a really particular factor.

Greatest finances: PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller

Why it made the reduce: PowerA’s glorious peripheral pedigree means its newest wired Xbox controller is a superb choice at a low value level. 

Specs

• Estimated battery life: N/A
• Notable options: Twin rumble motors, mappable buttons, ergonomic design, textured diamond grip, twin analog sticks, headset dial, Share button
• Connections: USB-C wired
• Colours: A number of
• Weight: 7.2oz

Professionals

• Stable record of options
• Inexpensive
• A number of colours out there

Cons

• Lacks customization present in higher-priced controllers

PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller is one of the best low-cost Xbox One controller you should purchase for lower than the price of a brand new Xbox Wi-fi Controller. It’s a stable wired choice and provides some particular options that the usual Xbox controller doesn’t have, together with a pair of customizable rear buttons. There’s additionally a headset dial on board, so you possibly can modify the amount or mute the wired headset you select to connect

The most important advantages to utilizing a wired recreation controller are by no means having to fret about latency (lag) or having to cost your machine. Sure, utilizing a wired controller introduced again the basic recollections of days spent tethered to 16 and 32-bit consoles of yesteryear, however it was good to know our recreation wasn’t going to get interrupted by a “low battery” warning. Relating to responsiveness, PowerA’s Wi-fi Controller carried out simply in addition to Microsoft’s first-party wi-fi controllers.

That is the lightest Xbox One controller we’re recommending—it’s because there’s no heavy battery inside weighing it down—and whereas that didn’t make a lot of a distinction to us, it could possibly be the deciding issue in case you’re optimizing your gaming expertise for consolation. Should you’re searching for a cheap Xbox One controller that works simply in addition to choices that value roughly double its value, PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller is the one to decide on.

What to think about when shopping for one of the best Xbox One controllers

There are a surprisingly massive variety of issues to think about when choosing out a brand new Xbox One controller. There are apparent components, like what forms of video games you’ll be taking part in and what sort of customization you’re seeking to get out of your peripherals, however there are additionally smaller particulars, like the dimensions of your arms. All these components come into play once you’re searching for the proper controller, so don’t be afraid to sweat the small stuff.

Reducing the twine

The usual Xbox controller is wi-fi, however that doesn’t imply everybody must have a wi-fi controller. In truth, there are nonetheless a number of nice wired gamepads on the market. In lots of instances, producers make wired controllers to maintain prices down. The most affordable controller will, inevitably, be wired solely. That stated, there are additionally wired controllers designed particularly for aggressive gamers, who could also be involved in regards to the potential enter lag that inevitably creeps in with wi-fi controllers. Utilizing a wired controller additionally eliminates the necessity to plug in a controller to cost between classes or exchange batteries.

In our expertise, the distinction in enter lag between wi-fi controllers utilizing Microsoft’s proprietary Xbox wi-fi connection and a wired controller is negligible, so most gamers ought to really feel snug going wi-fi with out situation. That stated, don’t low cost it mechanically. A few of our favourite controllers are wired and price choosing up in case you sit close to your TV or monitor.

Button it up

All Xbox One controllers include the identical array of core buttons. Nevertheless, many additionally function customizable further buttons or paddles, which you’ll map to create new button layouts. Meaning you possibly can personalize your recreation in essential methods, like altering the motion button or assigning a unique one to working or capturing. For some gamers, a customized management scheme could make an enormous distinction, or it will not be essential in any respect. All of it comes all the way down to how a lot you wish to personalize your expertise.

Further lodging

Some avid gamers may have a controller with further choices to make sure they’re in a position to play their favourite titles with out compromising. This may imply bigger buttons or controllers that supply a number of inputs. No matter your wants could also be, there’s a controller that may assist you settle in and benefit from the fantastical worlds you need to discover—or simply up your physique rely as you progress via the degrees of your favourite first-person shooter. 

FAQs 

Ultimate ideas on one of the best Xbox One controllers

Among the best Xbox One controllers can go a great distance towards maximizing the immersion of taking part in video games on an Xbox (or a PC). Whether or not you’ve snagged an Xbox Collection X or are nonetheless fortunately gaming on an Xbox One, there are alternatives for everybody. There’s no cause to buy an uncomfortable controller from a thriller model with flimsy analog sticks, irritating D-pads, or sweaty plastic. We’ve come a great distance on the subject of controller expertise, so it is best to by no means need to cope with these “Participant 2” gamepads ever once more.