Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Good Stuff: Pure Premium Feel Next-Level Ergonomics: The texturized, wrap-around rubberized grip feels incredible. It has a reassuring weight to it that immediately makes your standard Xbox controller feel like a plastic toy. Performance Tuning: The three-stage hair-trigger locks are a game-changer for shooters, giving you near-instantaneous firing times. You can also adjust the tension of the thumbsticks using the included key, which does wonders for aiming precision. Unrivaled Battery Life: The internal rechargeable battery is a beast, easily pushing toward the advertised 40 hours of playtime on a single charge. The Aesthetics: Let’s be honest—the main reason to buy this specific model is the color. The deep red faceplate contrasted against the black grips and accents looks incredibly sharp. ⚠️ The Catch: Why It's 4 Stars, Not 5 The word "Core" in the official title is doing some heavy lifting here. While you get the premium controller body, Microsoft strips out all the interchangeable parts to keep the entry price lower. Out of the box, you do not get the back paddles, extra thumbsticks, alternative D-pad, or the carrying case/charging dock. If you want the full "Elite" experience with the rear paddles, you have to shell out extra cash for the Component Pack, or buy third-party accessories. For a controller at this price tier, leaving the rear paddle slots empty feels a bit stingy. Additionally, anyone familiar with the Elite lineup knows that stick drift and bumper durability can be a roll of the dice long-term, though my unit is holding up perfectly so far.

I like the controller, it feels great, responsive, heavy in my hands the grip on the handles is nice. BUT, and this is on me, I didnt realize it didnt come with all the add ons to make an elite controller, that would be sold separately ($30 i think) so not terrible. Also, the select button is hard to press to get to menus in game. I usually have to hit it twice to get it to register.

The Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is easily the best controller I have ever used. From the moment you pick it up, the build quality feels premium and solid. The grips are comfortable for long gaming sessions, and the controller has a weight that makes it feel durable without being tiring. The adjustable thumbsticks and trigger stops are a game changer. Being able to fine tune sensitivity and response gives a real competitive advantage, especially in shooters and sports games. The back paddles are incredibly useful once you get used to them, allowing quicker reactions without taking your thumbs off the sticks. Battery life is excellent. I can go multiple gaming sessions without needing to recharge, and the charging dock makes it easy to keep the controller ready to go. The customization options through the Xbox Accessories app are deep and easy to use, letting you save multiple profiles for different games. Overall, this controller is worth the investment for anyone who takes gaming seriously or just wants a higher quality experience. It feels like a true upgrade over standard controllers and delivers comfort, performance, and reliability. Highly recommended.

Great buy. One of the best controllers you can get out there, because of the possibilities. Of rearranging the buttons for your gaming style. It was surprisingly light for A controller Also had nice grips for the hands to hold on to. I had broke part of my left hand pinky bone, and because of the ability to change the placement of buttons, thanks to the paddles on the controller, I was able to keep playing the games that I liked especially since a new release came out. And I couldn't quite hold the controller right for the one side. But because of the remapping of the buttons, I was able to still play

Overall just a fantastic controller. Great build quality, has some nice weight to it, and the accessory app allows for really awesome customization. I tell people not to expect the controller to be perfect; it's still suceptible to stick drift and buttons breaking over time. These minor issues are really only ever gonna happen if you're hard on the controller like I am, and the protection plan covers any conceivable issues.

Hands down the best controller you can get that is also an official license product. Very comfortable and easy to customize even though it receives bad reviews due to stick drift and some button problems at least now Microsoft is giving the elite series 2 a 1 year warranty. Everything works perfect as of now even though I only had it a few weeks but been using it daily with no problems I will update after 6 months or more to see how it holds up

This is one of the best premium controllers you can get. It has a premium feel and weight to it. The thumbsticks being fully customizable is very useful and the paddles on the back are game changing. The only issue I have is that sometimes there is stick drift but it's not bad and you can adjust dead zone settings to help with that.

This controller is dope. Easy to customize and can get same tuning than scuff controllers. Its great for PC and first person shooters with the back paddles. Really easy to remap and customize as desired. Long battery life and grip feels nice. Comfortable to use for long periods of gaming sessions. No need for Kontrol Freak thumsticks.

I've been using regular controllers for a while and decided it would be worth it to switch to an Xbox Elite, and the features it comes with are TOTALLY worth it, the addition of back paddles is quite useful and the ability to tweak how tight the joysticks are is incredibly useful, I use it almost daily on my PC and have absolutely no issues, it connects just fine, the battery lasts quite a long time, and is all around very comfortable to use.

I'm writing this in July, 2020. I bought the controller the week it came out and I'm now awaiting my second controller after using the extended warranty I purchased. The reason: Stick drift. This is an issue that came up with the original Elite and I figured the MS engineers maybe fixed it. Maybe not. The controller is truly fantastic. It's heavy, has excellent options for programming/customization, and has a lovely, tactile feel. But don't buy it without the protection plan. Without the drift, this controller would be the best out there and I still love it. The specific drift I'm dealing with is on the left analog stick. I returned it and the BB rep, also an Elite user, immediately recognized it and helped me out, so 5 stars for the great customer service. I'd love to blame AC: Odyssey for causing the problem because if you've never played this game, you'll put lots of hours in pressing up on the left stick. But that's not enough reason for a $180 controller to fail. Buy the protection plan and enjoy the controller with the understanding that if you're willing to pay this much, you need the extra insurance to protect your investment.

I had the black Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller for at least 3 years when the left bumper slowly stopped working. After researching online, there did not seem to be an easy fix. I loved the feel of the controller as well as how it handled and the myriad of fine tune adjustment sone can make compared to the regular wireless controller. I also loved how well it fit in my hands and comfortable it feel in addition to responsiveness. I kept an eye on a new controller with BB, as I am a BB Total member and I try to make any electronics purchase through BB for the added protection. I grabbed this controller at the incredible price of $109.99 new, and the avg. sale price was $124.99. I had $15 in certificates as well to use, so extra great deal. Ordered online and ready within an hour. Enjoying playing Xbox games again! I appreciate the deals with BB!

I’ve used a lot of controllers over the years, but the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is on another level. The grip feels premium, the buttons are super responsive, and the adjustable triggers make gaming feel smooth and competitive. Battery life is great, customization options are insane, and it honestly made a huge difference in my gameplay. Definitely worth it if you game a lot and want something that feels high-end and reliable. Easy 10/10 for me.

Battery life and customization are appreciated, while the controller’s weight and in-hand feel are much more comfortable than basic/standard controller.

Upon multiple attempts of buying/returning different controllers of all brands I finally broke down and bought an Elite. I’ve always thought about buying one but never brought myself to do so because of the price point. Honestly 1000 % worth it! Everything else I had either had some kind of issue a few weeks in or just didn’t feel right. The Elite controller definitely feels amazing especially with the rubberized grips, it doesn’t slide nor do I feel myself having to grip the controller any tighter than normal to keep it steady. The thumb sticks take a little getting used to as they’re a little heavier and have a different kind of bounce back (in a good way). It’s really not too heavy at all for a wireless controller and this is coming from an avid player who prefers wired! Happy Gaming!

This has been my favorite controller to use ever. It’s such a game changer being able to swap thumb sticks. The controller itself has cool features like paddles and the metal feels nice to touch as well as the rubber grips sitting nicely in my hands. It feels reassuring to also have a case with my controller that also has compartments to hold my separate parts. I’ve had the controller for ~2 years and the only problem that has occurred is a tiny piece of the rubber is peeling off next to the right bumper but that could easily be glued back if I cared to do so. I would say the price point is definitely too high. In the end it’s just a controller after all

Love the look and feel of the elite Controller and the built in rechargeable battery and life is great. The customization of the controller is also great. Now for the bad news this will always break and usually in under a year so you must get an extended warranty to make this product work. I have had 10 of these of which I bought 2 so I could have a backup when the other one is getting replaced or fixed. They break easily because they are so heavy you absolutely can. It drop them period. Stick drift is also very common and I probably put more tension than most on the sticks. I only recommend these if you get them on sale under 100 bucks and also if an extended warranty is available at a good price, otherwise do not buy. I will say this is the last pair I will buy and will try a higher quality brand in the future.

The red is great. The weight is great. I use this exclusively for my PC and I love it. Immediately connects, batter lasts forever and different joystick options a welcome addition.

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is frustrating because it’s so close to being the perfect controller. The build quality feels premium, the customization options are excellent, and the adjustable sticks and triggers make it one of the best-feeling controllers Microsoft has ever made. When it works, it’s genuinely fantastic. The problem is durability. The rear paddles/buttons never felt quite as solid or responsive as they should at this price point, and eventually stick drift became impossible to ignore. That completely killed the long-term value for me. I ultimately switched to a Razer controller instead because it feels beefier, sturdier, and more dependable during long gaming sessions. That said, I still think Microsoft is very close. If an eventual Series 3 improves the rear button design and finally solves the drift issues, it could easily become the best premium controller on the market. As it stands now, it’s a strong controller held back by reliability concerns, which is why I can only give it 3 stars.

The Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller for Xbox Series is a game-changer. The premium feel and comfortable design make it a pleasure to use during long gaming sessions. The quiet operation of the buttons and triggers enhances the experience, adding a subtle touch of quality. Customization is a key feature—interchangeable thumbsticks and a precise D-pad let me tailor the controller to my playstyle, while the adjustable thumbstick tension adds a competitive edge. The wireless connection is flawless, providing lag-free gaming with no connectivity issues. The long-lasting battery is a welcome bonus, and the durable, ergonomic design ensures hours of comfortable play. Plus, the sleek look with its matte finish adds a professional touch to my Xbox setup. Overall, the Elite Series 2 Core is the perfect balance of comfort, customization, and performance—a must-have for any serious gamer.

Love the customization. Only downside I have is sometimes the left thumb stick won’t click in fully when held forward for games like COD or a game that requires left thumb stick input for sprinting. Battery life is phenomenal, love the charging case. Overall, great controller to have.