Xbox One Elite controller review: the most comfortable controller you’ll ever use

Since the Xbox 360, Microsoft has carefully crafted their controllers to be near-perfect. The weight, button placement, and triggers are all a pleasure to use. Even with the controller’s evolution, some gamers not only want, but need more out of their devices. This is where the Elite controller comes in It’s a device that’s not for the average gamer.

The Xbox One Elite controller is what you’d call a ‘pro gaming’ controller. It has been crafted with ‘hardcore’ players in mind — those that play professionally or not just for fun — and includes a range of features to fit the demographic.

Included in the package is the controller, different sets of thumb sticks, interchangeable D-pads, charging cable, paddles, carry case, and booklet. It’s interesting that the device didn’t come with a rechargeable battery and replies on users using 2xAA batteries instead. Also, the battery cover has been slightly altered so don’t expect your standard battery mods to work anymore. For a product as expensive as the Xbox One Elite, it feels as though you’re getting short-changed on functionality.

The first thing to notice is the controller’s design. Instead of the standard Xbox One plastic all-black controllers, the Elite is covered in a rubberised surface, complete with black face buttons, and a silver header where the Home and bumper buttons sit. It’s a sexy piece of kit and one that friends and family will oooh and aaah over. While the design is gorgeous, the rubberised surface can attract a lot of greasy fingerprints. The all-black face buttons would have benefitted from some glow-in-the-dark paint or LEDs to really bring them to life.

Coming off of that, the shaft of the thumb sticks are made out of metal instead of plastic, which greatly minimises or even eliminates wear and tear. The sticks are also magnetised, which makes for easy swapping out of the different included thumb sticks.

Switching out the thumbsticks to the raised nubs make it even more enjoyable that the standard Xbox One controller. Maybe that’s something Microsoft should look at going forward.

The same goes for the control pad, which is also interchangeable and kept in place. The new D-pad replacement is a joy to use in fighting games, but not in titles that require mapping to those buttons, such as changing weapons.

Underneath the controller, sitting just below the battery bay, is where the paddles plug-in. These are the main drawing points of the Xbox One Elite controller. Their function is to map other buttons to them, which are then used by your index and middle fingers. This means you’ll be able to play a twin-stick shooter game, like Halo 5: Guardians, without removing your right thumb from the control stick to jump or do another action. The paddles are a joy to use and came in very handy while stalking prey in Far Cry Primal.

In order to blend in with the controller, the paddles are quite close to it. If your finger twitches for an instant you run the risk of hitting one accidentally. They could benefit from being slightly raised in order to avoid this and the ability to give them a bit more force than tap them.

The sensitivity of the triggers can be adjusted to make pulling off fantastic shots and one-hit kills that much easier.

The weight of the device coupled with the paddles and thumb-sticks make it one of the most comfortable controllers you’ll ever use, especially, if, like me, you have large hands.

With a software update last year, the Xbox One allows users to edit and allocate button mapping layouts to the controller. Two of these can be added to the controller at a time and switched on the fly.

Even with all of its amazing features and beautiful design, the Xbox One Elite controller is not a cheap piece of kit. In South Africa, it usually ranges between R3000 to R3500, which is several times more than a standard controller. You’re either going to have a lot of cash lying around or seriously need those paddles in order to pick up one for yourself.

Verdict: The Xbox One Elite controller is an absolute joy to play with and there is a noticeable improvement when playing certain games. The Elite controller is something every wealthy Xbox One owner should own.

Score: 9/10