Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Microsoft's original Xbox Elite Controller had lofty ambitions but collapsed under the weight of some crippling flaws. The Elite Series 2 fixes most of that while piling on extra features. Here's our review.
The OG Xbox Elite Controller launched a few years ago and won itself a heap of initial praise. Extra paddles on the reverse for additional buttons, trigger locks for more rapid firing activation, and rubberized grips for a more tactile feel. However, in the months and years that followed, many users reported that their Elite controllers were, well, falling apart, which isn't the ideal scenario if you're shelling out over $100 for a gamepad.
That's why we're encouraged by the work Microsoft has done to improve the overall robustness of the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2, which not only revises the construction but adds in piles of extra features along the way. During Amazon Prime Day this year, you may be able to snag one at a discount as well. The typical retail price of the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is $180, so if you keep an eye on the controller's store listing during Amazon Prime Day, anything below $180 makes it a genuine deal.
The best controller ever made
Xbox Elite Controller Series 2
Bottom line: This represents the best of Xbox's engineering efforts, with careful attention paid to every aspect of its design, construction, and execution. This is the best money can buy, if you can stomach that price tag, that is.
Pros:
- Insane 40-hour gameplay battery life
- Robust, ergonomic feel
- Huge array of configuration features
- Bluetooth for mobile and PC use
- Additional controls for your Xbox and TV
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Very easy to get dirty, difficult to clean
- Windows configurability is weak
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Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Mammoth battery life
Right out of the box, the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 screams quality. The Elite Series 2 is built from the ground up for those who want to get a little bit more out of their gaming, and it's evident that the team at Redmond has poured over every aspect of this device to ensure that it goes above and beyond what they had attempted with the previous Elite. Outwardly, it looks as though not a lot has changed, but it's all in the details.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| In the box | Hardshell carry case, additional thumbsticks, thumbstick tension control key, charging dock, USB-C cable, additional d-pad, Elite controller, four detachable paddle buttons |
| Compatibility | Xbox One, PC with Xbox Wireless/Xbox Wireless Dongle or Bluetooth, Android devices with Bluetooth (not iOS as of yet) |
| Connections | Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio, USB-C charging |
| Price | $180 |
Even the carrying case has undergone some revision to bring it up to speed with the Series 2's feature set. It comes with a magnetic floor designed to keep the charging dock in place if you prefer to charge your controller right out of the case. To accommodate, it also has a nifty rubber port on the back so you can feed the cable through. The magnet is also strong enough to keep the dock in place while lifting the controller free, which really exemplifies the S2's excellent attention to detail.
So, what about that charging dock? It's perhaps my favorite feature of the whole package, which I've been using as my daily driver for a few weeks now. Previously I would have argued blind that having AA batteries was a better solution since you could maintain charging cycles if you're using something like the Panasonic Eneloop AA charging cradle.
However, that was before I knew it was possible to cram an absurd 40 hours worth of battery life into a controller. In testing, we found that the Elite S2 actually often exceeded Microsoft's own listing of 40 hours without a 3.5mm headset attached, which is an impressive feat.
Whether you're docking in the case or with the charging dock removed and placed on a surface, it's easy to drop the controller into the charging position, thanks to the dock's powerful magnets. The controller also gives you a reassuring vibration once docked, and a soft white light pulses to let you know it's charging up — remaining solid when full. If you leave the controller in the USB-C charging dock when you go to bed, you're never going to run out of juice with this thing.
Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Construction quality and ergonomics
Beyond charging, most of the controller's improvements are refinements to existing features we had on the previous S2, with what feels like a much tighter, denser construction. Rather than a simple shape mold, the new rubber grips are fixed with a new chemical bonding process, and it shows. I was unable to lever it off using a guitar pick or even a blunt razor (but still, it's not something I recommend you try at home!)
The stuff the original Elite got right has been refined, and the stuff it got wrong has been fixed.
Without a time machine, there's no way to know if they won't warp over time, but the difference in quality between the original Elite and the S2 is readily apparent. I'm incredibly confident in what Microsoft has put together here.
The fact the grips wrap around the whole handles instead of just on the back gives it a more pleasant feel in hand. The materials in general just feel great to the touch, even if the soft matte black plastic attracts fingerprints and smudges like mad. In fact, the controller is generally difficult to keep clean, with various tiny notches and grooves that are prone to dust accumulation. If you're a neat freak, it may drive you crazy.
Another area of concern for many has been the shoulder buttons, which suffered from similar wear and tear problems on the previous Elite. They feel far stronger than the previous effort. Squeezing them in with an usual degree of force didn't cause any damage, nor did dropping the controller on the floor shoulder-button first (although, again, I don't recommend attempting either at home).
The thumbsticks and d-pad have the same strong magnets to hold everything in place, and it's quick and easy to swap them out. The paddles feel like they have more travel this time around, with deeper hooks to prevent accidental dislodging. The triggers also have some texturing, which provides a slightly more tactile feel.
Ultimately, the stuff the original Elite got right has been refined, and the things it got wrong has been fixed, at least for the most part. After a year with the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 controller, the rubber nubs on the hair-trigger locks fell off, since they're held onto the device with, erm, nothing. They are plastic underneath, and can still be manipulated, but it's a bit egregious that a controller this expensive should have such a dumb flaw.
Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 New features
Beyond the charging dock, a lot of the Series 2's new features are hidden away on the inside or in subtle additions throughout. There are now three stages of trigger locking up from two, for example. There's also a tension control key, which lets you increase the amount of force you have to deliver to move a thumbstick, which can be a massive boost for precision with the right tweaks. Using a longer joystick, for example, gives you a greater distance away from the joystick pivot for making small precise aiming adjustments without having to sacrifice speed.
Being able to control the TV volume with your Xbox controller is something I never thought I needed until now.
The upgraded microprocessor in the Elite S2 allows for a greater degree of keybindings than the previous Elite as well. Now, you can also add system-level features to the reverse paddles, including things like Xbox capture and screenshots, and even TV controls if you've set up the IR Blaster on your Xbox One. Being able to control the TV volume with your Xbox controller is something I never thought I needed until now.
It's unfortunate, then, that this functionality doesn't extend to Windows 10, which doesn't allow for anywhere near as much configuration and system integration. I was hoping you'd be able to bind specific keyboard keys, but even that isn't possible. You're restricted solely to moving around buttons present on the controller itself. Hopefully, the Xbox team and the Windows team can come together to improve the situation there in the future.
The new Elite S2 also allows for three configuration profiles up from the previous two, toggleable with a button switch in the center of the controller and a light indicator for each profile. I've set up a separate profile for Call of Duty, which gives me access to reloading and weapon switching on the paddles without having to take my thumb off the joystick, and another profile for TV controls and screenshotting. It's all just so convenient, and really elevates your Xbox experience as a whole. Once you've gone through the motions of setting it up, that is.
Should you buy the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2?
The new Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is such a vast improvement over the first in every possible respect. The charging dock is by far and away the best solution we've seen in gaming for keeping an Xbox controller topped off, with a solid weight and rapid, 1-2 hour charge cycle to get fully topped off. For me, that alone makes it worth a look.
The additional features are also exciting and numerous, granting players who want a little more from their console experience the options they need to control their experience fully.
It's the best of the best, and unfortunately, that doesn't come cheap.
The only downside is that tweaking it can take a long time, and it truly is a rabbit hole when you start drilling down into the app's accentuation curve controls and that sort of thing.
The main pitfall of this product is the $180 price tag. It's far cheaper to get a basic $40 Xbox controller and an Eneloop battery charger to keep your gameplay topped off, and you can get some of the Elite controller's features using third-party accessories on a budget. What you get with the Elite Series 2 is premium quality, premium features, and premium convenience. It's the best of the best, and unfortunately, that doesn't come cheap. If you can stomach that price point, though, you won't regret it.
Xbox controller perfected
Xbox Elite Controller Series 2
The pinnacle of Xbox accessory engineering.
With premium features, premium construction, and premium details, the Series 2 also comes with a very premium price tag. If you can weather the bill, you won't find yourself disappointed, though. This might be the best controller ever made.
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