You're on a budget: The Elite Series 2 is the most expensive controller on our list, and outside of sales periods, commands a very high price that won't sit well with everyone.

Scuf doesn't mess around with its controllers, offering some of the best premium pads outside of Sony and Microsoft. And the Instinct Pro is the absolute best Microsoft-focused pad controller should you wish to eschew the two big bois of the console world. But when the Elite Series 2exists in the world, how does anyone else compete in the enthusiast controller space.The original Xbox One Wireless Controller was a staple for PC gaming. With the release of the Xbox Series S/X, we were all curious to see how Xbox improved on an already outstanding gamepad. The Asus ROG Raikiri started 2023 as the controller to watch as it swept up award after award at CES. As the months progressed, some seriously strong gamepads were released, and by the time the ROG Raikiri arrived, it made me question that award-winning reputation I had been excited for. The best Xbox controllers are tested and reviewed based on a number of criteria, including design, feature set and arguably most importantly of all, price. There's rarely a one-size-fits-all Xbox controller, so we endeavor to test each to their strengths, such as options for voice chat or being suited to a particular genre. The Nacon Pro Compact Controller has some of the Revolution X’s excellent software customization at a much lower price. It’s also one of the smaller options around, though the ergonomics may feel hit or miss depending on your hand size.

This might seem an utterly offensive question to ask in the annals of PC Gamer, but it remains true that certain PC games are far better played with a controller than the classic keyboard and mouse combo. As you can see from our list, we think that the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is currently the best Xbox One controller on the market. It has insane customisation options, providing over 30 new ways to play. It shines in subtle areas compared to its cheaper counterparts, making it the best gamepad for most Xbox One players.In other words, yes - we do think the Elite 2 is worth it. Is there a better Xbox controller? Welcome to our range of custom Xbox controllers! Discover all of the Xbox custom controllers that we have available right now. You might have noticed a new button in the controller's center—a much-requested Share button that allows you to capture screenshots and gameplay footage without delving too much into the menus. However, honestly, that's a minor aspect when it comes to PC gaming.However, the best traditional Xbox One controller is the Xbox One Wireless Controller - perfectly suiting the size of most players' hands to make playing games all the more immersive and natural. Is an Elite controller worth it? The most significant changes in the Series 2 over the Series 1 (which we also loved) include a neat little carrying case that doubles as a portable USB Type-C powered charging station for the controller's new rechargeable battery, which has around 40 hours of juice. Finally, with project XCloud and Apple Arcade bringing some great games to mobile devices, you can easily pair the Series 2 controller via Bluetooth. Your Xbox One controller can go further than you might think, connecting to gaming tablets, gaming laptops, and gaming PCs. That means there's a whole world waiting for your buttons, and you can put that mouse and keyboard down. Connecting your Xbox One controller via a cable is easy - it's a plug and play affair that works straight out the box. However, if you're after a wireless connection things are a little more complicated. You want something simpler: While robust, the Recon's busy on-board audio controls do lend a slightly convoluted feel to the pad.

Read more: Best Razer controllers 2022 Best Xbox One Controller: FAQs Which is the best Xbox One controller?The Thrustmaster eSwap XR is the latest successor to the eSwap X Pro that's also available for Xbox One. However, this model that sports a quite beautiful Forza Horizon 5 livery is an easy controller to recommend if you play a lot of driving and racing games, especially if you don't want to fork out the cash for a proper racing wheel setup. Overall that's an astonishing value, and particularly impressive considering just how good this Xbox One controller feels to use. Some sacrifices have been made by slimming down the previous release (the Turtle Beach Recon Controller). You're dropping rubberized grips and Pro-Aim assist mode, for example. However, the textured plastic still holds your position well and you're still getting particularly pleasing ridges on the shoulder buttons as well. Elsewhere, this is just such a comfortable controller to use in driving games, particularly thanks to the tapered shapes of the triggers that make them nice and easy to hold down for long periods of time. If you have larger hands and like the feel of a taller controller with longer grips, this is for you. Being able to swap out modules mid-game is fantastic, and the controller is only really let down by the fact it's still wired-only. The best Xbox One controller overall, in our opinion, is the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. It offers impressive customisation options and is truly built for professional or intense gamers. The Scuf Instinct Pro requires AA batteries, like standard Xbox pads, unlike the Elite which houses a lithium ion battery. The ability to swap in a fresh pair of batteries mid-tournament is potentially a selling point, and lithium ion batteries are meant to have a finite shelf life. Though it's not something I've ever experienced with my Elite pad in the past few years of use.

Some people might find the more hefty controller a bit jarring at first since it's heavier than the standard Xbox One controller by a few ounces. And while it's nice to swap out the standard d-pad, both the cross and faceted alternative d-pads take some getting used to, especially in fighting games like Dragonball FighterZ or Mortal Kombat 11. The Razer Wolverine Ultimate is a genuine contender to Microsoft’s excellent Series 2 Elite for the title of best Xbox One controller and arguably has even greater customization thanks to the additional M1/M2 shoulder buttons. The four buttons underneath the controller on the rear are less like paddles and more like additional triggers that might be a little bit more of a reach, but we found them far less susceptible to accidental touches than the Elite’s paddles that expand into your natural grip area. You also get a few swappable elements like taller or rounder analogs and a four or eight-directional d-pad. There are also options to change the D-pad, button facades, as well as the styling of both the bumpers and the triggers. Interestingly, there is also the option to remove the rumble motors from inside the controller which is something you'll often find the pros end up removing from their tournament controllers, to cut down on the inherent distraction of hand-wobble. Though I've done some testing with first-person shooters, I've largely ignored the genre. While it may be necessary for console gamers, we're almost always going to use WASD for any kind of shooter. With that in mind, the games I used mainly for testing are the ones mentioned below: Sports games are the most obvious, as anyone who has tried to play FIFA using the strange keyboard/mouse control scheme can attest to. But there are other titles, specifically those which were primarily designed for consoles whose control schemes are so unwieldy away from a pad that playing them any other way is a pain.Either way, it's a fantastic controller that feels great in the hand and is as responsive as you could wish for. It's just painfully pricey with all my chosen greebles. Ignore those who seem to think every game is best with a mouse and keyboard. Assassins Creed Valhalla is not best played with a keyboard. Street Fighter 5 is not best played with a keyboard. True, we play most games with a mouse and keyboard, but for PC gamers with ranging tastes, a good controller is a must. Not sure what to choose? Then let us give you a hand. As said in the beginning, the Xbox Elite controller is a must-have if you want high-end features that give you a competitive edge. Our Xbox Elite custom controllers not only have all of the amazing features listed below, but also some of our best designs. Make your competitive experience absolutely perfect. We only have custom Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers available, so you get the most up to date controls. And as promised, some of the features included are: One of the dumbest yet most endearing controllers is the Hyperkin Duke. This reissue of the original Xbox pad is a love letter to the salad days of 2001. It’s just not great to use for modern games. Thankfully it comes with a display stand, as it’s more of a collector piece.