- 4 weeks ago
Looking for a new Xbox controller? Paul’s got you covered with 7 of the best Xbox controllers you can buy right now. Whether it’s an affordable replacement or an extra controller for multiplayer, or a professional grade premium controller with customizable buttons, there’s a controller for every type of gamer. And every one of these controllers is compatible with PC, with many also working on Mac, iOS, Android and more.
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00:00Looking for a new Xbox controller? Whether you need a budget pick to replace the one that you
00:04rage quit with too many times, want the ultimate customization, or after competitive play,
00:09I've got seven of the best first and third-party Xbox controllers that you can buy today. And if
00:14you didn't know, all these controllers also work with PC, but a lot of them also have support for
00:18Mac, mobile devices, and a lot more. You'll find the best deals for everything that I'm sharing
00:22linked down below, so let's get into it. My budget pick for Xbox controllers is the Gamester G7
00:28SE Xbox wire controller. For $45 and frequently on sale for around $35, you get a real quality
00:36Xbox controller here with a lot of features that you normally wouldn't find at this price point.
00:40It has hall effect triggers and analog sticks, as well as an extra pair of customizable buttons on
00:46the underside of the controller. And since it ditches a battery, the Gamester G7 is super lightweight,
00:52which could be a big plus for longer gaming sessions. It also comes in some really eye-catching
00:57colors and the faceplate is actually magnetic and swappable. You can also change out the analog
01:02sticks. So this is also one of the most customizable budget Xbox controllers. The Gamester G7 SE Xbox
01:09wire controller proves that you can get a great controller without breaking the bank. Sometimes
01:14you don't want to mess with success. For most people, the best overall Xbox controller is still
01:19the standard Microsoft Xbox wireless controller. There's a good reason this design hasn't really
01:24changed that much since the original Xbox One. It's comfortable, it's built like a tank, and thanks
01:29to its Bluetooth and 2.4 gigahertz connections, it works with just about everything. Xbox, PC, Mac,
01:35iOS, Android, and even most new smart TVs. The latest version goes for about $70, but frequently goes on
01:41sale for under $50. It has a hybrid D-pad for easier diagonal inputs and comes in more styles than ever.
01:47There are eight standard colors, tons of special editions like this transparent pulse cipher that I have
01:52here, and you can even customize your very own design with the Xbox Design Lab. The controller
01:58takes two AA batteries, but if you want, you can add rechargeable batteries so that you can swap them
02:02in and out more quickly. But I think going with the play and charge kit is the way to go because you
02:07can just play over USB-C and charge at the same time. Of course, you can always just plug this in
02:12directly and play with a wire connection if the controller is ever dead, or you just want a direct
02:17connection to your device. This may not have all the bells and whistles like my other picks here,
02:21but this really is the gold standard for Xbox wireless controllers.
02:26All right, so Microsoft practically invented the premium controller with the original Elite
02:30Series, so it's not surprising that the Xbox Elite Series 2 is still one of the best Xbox
02:36controllers that you can buy today. From its clicky buttons to its adjustable analog sticks to the
02:41metal D-pad, the Elite Series 2 just feels high-end overall. The rubbery textured grips are a pleasure
02:47to hold, and it's solid without feeling too heavy. And if you spring for the $60 complete pack, you get
02:53a case, charging pedestal, as well as paddle buttons that you can install in a number of different
02:57configurations, alternate analog sticks, and a cross-style D-pad that you can all quickly install
03:04and swap out with a satisfying magnetic snap. With the Xbox accessories app on your Xbox or your PC,
03:11you can customize almost every single part of the Elite Series 2. Fully remap any of the buttons,
03:17adjust the analog sensitivity, or even change the color and brightness of the Xbox logo. You can store up
03:24to three profiles on this controller, taking your tweaks with you wherever you play. For around $150,
03:30the Series Elite 2 has the same great compatibility as the standard Xbox wireless controller, and it
03:35comes in some exciting colors including red, white, or blue. It's my choice for the best premium Xbox
03:41controller. Sometimes you don't want to worry about charging batteries or syncing to your devices,
03:47which is why I recommend the Power 8 Fusion Pro 4 as the best Xbox wired controller. It's got a great
03:55grippy texture and comfortable design, and is packed with a ton of features. We're talking hall
04:00effect analog sticks, customizable back buttons, and even three-way trigger locks, which you won't
04:04find on the more affordable Gamester G7 SE. You can also adjust the height of the analog sticks with
04:10Power 8's unique quick twist tech. Try saying that three times fast. Choosing between three different
04:16height levels. No need to keep track of swappable sticks, which I absolutely love. And for $80, you get
04:21a really solidly built controller with a 10-foot braided USB-C cable. And when you don't need wireless
04:26connectivity, the Power 8 Fusion Pro wired controller is the perfect choice. If you're looking for an
04:33Xbox controller for competition-level play, then you have to check out the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.
04:38Razer built the Wolverine to be tournament-ready, which includes adding extra-clicky mouse switches
04:43in the buttons, ultra-fast hyper-triggers, and the highest possible polling rates, 250 hertz wirelessly
04:49or whenever you're connected to an Xbox, or 1,000 hertz when you're plugged into a PC. It's even got these
04:55two extra shoulder buttons that are perfect for players who play claw grip. The build quality is
05:00very premium too. Hall effect thumbsticks and high-end texture plastic throughout, and four
05:05underside paddle buttons. Plus, you get a case with alternate thumbsticks depending on if you prefer
05:10playing with concave or convex caps. The buttons and thumbsticks can also be calibrated and customized
05:15with the available controller setup app, which is on PC and Xbox. One thing to note though,
05:21this $200 controller relies on its 2.4 gigahertz USB Type-A dongle for wireless connectivity,
05:27so no Bluetooth. It's only compatible with Xbox and PC. But for competitive play,
05:33the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro will not let you down. What if your Xbox controller could look and feel a
05:40little bit more like a PlayStation controller? How about a setup for fighting games? The Turtle Beach
05:45Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is the most customizable Xbox controller,
05:49and can easily be adapted to your play style. Designed with button attachments that you can
05:54easily swap out and rotate, few controllers come this close to being as customizable.
05:59You can easily switch to PlayStation-style thumbstick symmetry, and if you're picky about your d-pads like
06:03I am, it comes with three. You'll even find an extra clicky six-button module fight pad. Add in its
06:10four remappable buttons on the underside and five different stages of trigger locks, and there's very
06:15little that you can't change about this controller. The included software also lets you calibrate the
06:20analog sticks and buttons, and even its microphone's EQ setting when using it with a 3.5 millimeter audio
06:27jack. And when it comes to connectivity, you've got your choice of Bluetooth and an ultra low latency
06:31mode with its USB transmitter, or of course, USB wired. On top of all that customization, this is
06:37also a really premium controller. The triggers and analog sticks are hall effect, the textured grips are
06:42really solid, and every attachment is neatly organized in the included carrying case. Yes,
06:47this is a little bit pricey at around $200, but when it comes to customizability and build quality,
06:51the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is hard to beat. Remember, this is an Xbox Now. At least,
07:01that's what Microsoft keeps telling us. With Xbox Game Pass Cloud Streaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now,
07:06you can easily take your Xbox and PC games, along with their cloud saves, wherever you go,
07:12so long as you have a good internet connection. I've actually got an entire video sharing the top
07:17cloud streaming services that you can get, along with some great tips that you can check out right
07:22now. But to get the best experience with your phone or tablet, you'll still need a solid mobile
07:27controller. For the most versatility with your mobile devices, I recommend the Razer Kishi V3 Pro.
07:34It's compatible with USB-C, iPhone, Android, and even fits iPad mini, and tablets up to 8 inches,
07:40which I'd argue is the perfect size for playing your games on the go. You can also just directly
07:45plug this into your PC and use this as a wire controller if you ever need. Besides that, one of
07:50the reasons I like this so much is that its build quality and ergonomics are some of the closest to
07:55a real Xbox controller compared to the other mobile controllers that I've tested in the past.
08:00The thumbsticks are swappable and use tunnel magnetic resonance, which is supposed to be even less
08:05prone to drift and hall effect. The triggers are only hall effect, but they're specifically designed
08:10to be nearly silent. It has two mouse click buttons on the back and two claw grip bumpers
08:16as well at the top. This also offers USB-C pass-through charging and a 3.5 millimeter
08:21jack for your wired headphones. Together, that makes the $150 Kishi V3 Pro my pick for the best mobile
08:28Xbox controller. But just like all the other Xbox controllers I've shared today, the number of
08:33mobile-specific controllers have exploded in just the last year alone, and I have a dedicated mobile
08:38controller buying guide dropping that you can check out. Still not sure which controller is right for
08:42you. First, consider where you game most. Wired controllers can make a lot of sense if you're
08:47sitting closer to your console or you're at a desk, but if you're playing further away,
08:51you're probably better off with a wireless controller so that you don't trip over cables.
08:55That said, wired controllers are still going to be a really great choice if you're on a tighter
08:59budget or want something a little bit lighter. Depending on the games that you play most or your
09:04style of play, some of these controllers also offer really unique customization or pro features,
09:09which could be worth the extra premium, but be prepared to pay at least $150. While most of
09:15these controllers are also compatible with your phones and tablets, if you primarily play on the go,
09:21a mobile first controller probably makes most sense since they also grip your devices at the same
09:27time. Finally, a lot of these controllers are really good at different things. Keep in mind that
09:32an Xbox can pair up to eight controllers simultaneously for your local multiplayer games,
09:37and if you have a bunch of different gaming setups or different types of games that you like to play,
09:41it never hurts to have a couple different controllers on hand. Whichever Xbox controller you
09:46do end up going with, you're going to have a really great gaming experience. Don't forget to
09:50check out the best deals for everything linked below. But if there's a controller that you love or think
09:55that I should check out for next time, let me know in the comments. If this video helped you
09:59out, make sure to subscribe for more buying guides and you can follow me to see what other cool tech
10:03I'm reviewing. Until the next one, I'll catch you later.
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