Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have a complicated relationship with Microsoft's Elite controllers. On the one hand, I love how solid they feel, all of the replaceable parts and customized settings. They feel like the last controllers you'll ever need to buy, which would hold true if they didn't have so many quality issues. Despite all the problems I've had I do still love this controller, but I'd recommend getting the Geek Squad protection if you're thinking about it, which offers a little more peace of mind than Microsoft's paltry 90-day warranty. The packaging for the Series 2 controller is excellent. The charging base can be used to charge the controller inside the case, but can also be removed and put somewhere else. You get a couple thumb stick options, a thumb stick tension tool, a swap-able D-pad, spots to store the paddles, and a nice braided USB-C to USB-A cable for charging. It all fits very nicely inside the case, though I feel like the upper mesh compartment that stores the cable could be a little bit bigger; when the cable is in the case it feels like it's pushing down on the sticks in a way I worry could cause issues. Overall great package though. The controller itself feels super solid and is really comfortable to hold. It's the primary reason I purchased it in the first place and I don't even really get into the customization options that much. It feels like it's just the right weight. I'm not a huge fan of the paddles and more often than not was pressing them accidentally, but they're easily removed. The stick tension can be adjusted with the included tool, but it's again something I left alone as I don't miss the 360 stick tension like some others do. There are also 3 levels of adjustment for the triggers if you want shorter travel on those. It truly does feel like what it costs when you hold it. The app for customizing everything is intuitive and easy to use on both Xbox and PC, though again my desire was never really for customization and I just wanted a nice controller, so I can't comment too much on it. You can set up 3 unique profiles on the controller (4 if you include the default configuration with no profile set) and pressing the middle button is all you need to do to switch between them. It opens up possibilities even within the same game where you may prefer a different layout/setting for certain activities. Also new to the Series 2 is the addition of a built-in battery and Bluetooth, which are both nice to have. It always struck me as odd with the first one that such an expensive controller would not include a rechargeable battery, so I'm glad they fixed it in Series 2. Now, onto my issues. I owned the original Elite controller and loved it for a while until I started experiencing stick drift. It was outright terrible, but it makes playing games that require extra precision like Celeste pretty much impossible. Unfortunately those issues came into play well after my warranty had expired and I was never quite able to figure out Microsoft's website for getting it repaired. I knew this was a well-known issue, so when they announced the Series 2 I was hopeful that issue would be addressed, but weary of my initial experience I went ahead and bought the Geek Squad protection with the Series 2. It's disappointing that Microsoft doesn't extend the warranty to at least a year for something that requires so much more investment than the standard controllers. Things were fine with my Series 2 for about 5 or 6 months maybe until I started noticing stick drift again on the left stick. It wasn't bad enough that I wanted to use my Geek Squad replacement yet, so I held off on doing anything about it until one of the switches that adjust the triggers broke. Fortunately the process for replacing it through Best Buy was super easy and I received my replacement today. Hopefully this one will work better than the last, but it makes me sad that something that could be so great is still hampered by these issues. I still think this is the best controller you can buy for Xbox and is even one of the best for PC, but it's hard to ignore the issues I've had and I probably wouldn't recommend it to most people. If you don't get any sort of extended warranty plan I would recommend watching yours in those first 90 days to make sure any issues that pop up get fixed before the warranty runs out. Note: I purchased this on its original release date in November and just recently had it replaced.

I’ve been using this brand for years and it hasn’t let me down yet.

Love the feel of this over the basic controller. The level of customization is amazing and can be applied to any play style. The latest update did cause some issues playing on an Ipad but it works well enough.

Great controller works better than i thought would recommend

Great controller! Decent price for this type of controller.

A great value for those not needing all the extra parts that come with the full bundle

I’ve been gaming with the elite controller since the Series 1 had released. Coming from an avid gamer, switching from a regular controller to an elite, literally heightens your response time and you’ll gain some extra instincts in-game. The variety and creativity of setting customizations with this controller are intuitive and furthermore intriguing. I have 3 presets; COD, Elden Ring, and Cyberpunk! Which each are unique to their own button mapping layouts. (TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BACK TAB BUTTONS.) I say if you want to up your gaming experience this is definitely a main tool that will offer that change of play! My only CON would be the peeling that they’ve yet to fix on the side seam of the controllers. With that being said, I highly recommend buying a replacement program through Best Buy. It’s a pocket $aver forsure!

Perfect controller Perfect feel and size. Lots of mapping switches to any buttons.

Great controller feels great in the hands. Rubber starts to peel over time though.

Elite 2 controllers are the best you can get for a good price.

This controller is great but mine came with some uh faults like the palm end of the controller had a open space leading up to where its at now with a big opening controller still operating like new nevertheless most controllers would stop

This is a really awesome controller, very much worth considering. The joystick attachments are perfect for my gaming style, the variety of grips add a very smooth feel in regard to game play. Back buttons are perfect for constant jumping , I use one on each side. I feel the abilities the lower buttons control In Fortnite get accidentally pressed too often,I just take them out and put them back in for my other games. And you can’t go wrong with a carrying case with a built in mag charger !!!!!

Great controller, very comfortable while playing games for hours. The paddles add a nice adaptability to any gamers experience, allows for a smoother gameplay with how you’re able to program the buttons, I will continue to use this controller for the foreseeable future!

Works great. Buttons are super responsive and has positive feedback.

Feels good when playing games. Only gripe is the first elite controller came with a carry case and some extra sticks and d-pad. What you see is what you get. Im not sure what the point of tightening the thumb stick does but it works.

Great controller, long battery life and easily customizable. If you can look past the price I would say this is the best controller out for PC as far as battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, and versatility

For a while, it works really great, but eventually the bumpers go out. I’ve gone through multiple elite controllers and now two core controllers. Same problems on all of them. Maybe my grip strength needs to calm down, but the more likely option is multi connectors within the controller that allow the actuator button to break off after a period of time.

This controller is a fantastic upgrade for gaming enthusiasts. I especially appreciate the extensive customization options, allowing me to tailor it perfectly to my preferred gaming style. The addition of paddles significantly enhances gameplay, especially for fast-paced shooters and action titles. The battery life is impressive, ensuring long hours of uninterrupted gaming without the need for frequent charging. If you're looking for a controller that offers both comfort and performance, I highly recommend this one

Pricey but high quality and good feel. I use it with a PC via Bluetooth, Definitely an upgrade over my 360 controllers. Unfortunately the customization of the paddles on the back isn't working after I switch from USB cable to Bluetooth, so taking off a star for that. It essentially makes the paddles useless for me. So minus one star for that. Also I'd hear there was a drift issue with these so I asked if I could buy a service plan, but the clerk told me I had to pay for a Best Buy membership to buy a plan. So no plan, hopefully I can use the warranty if there is an issue. Odd when people won't take your money. I won't deduct a star for that since it doesn't reflect on the product, more of an issue with Best Buy.

So far been using this controller for 2 weeks. No complaints, no stick drift noticed *yet* . Ive had 3 other elite controllers that all showed drifting anywhere from 1 week to couple months out. Hoping they solved issues. Does not come with paddles however i had plenty of others from previous ones.