The Elite 2 is the best controller Microsoft have ever made, a triumph of engineering that sets a new standard for premium-grade gamepads on any platform. The new gen-two design includes more features, deeper customisation and clever creature comforts that make the Elite 2 a pleasure to use. Here’s why we love it – even though it’s not for everyone.
First off, let’s address the price. At £160 in the UK and $180 in the US, the Elite 2 costs three times the price of a standard controller; and it’s actually the same ballpark price as a brand new Xbox One S All Digital. That means it remains a luxury item that simply doesn’t make sense for all but the most invested Xbox and PC owners. Thankfully, this price differential is at least reflected in the depth of the feature list and build quality of the controller, with that premium feeling starting from the moment you take it out of the box.
While the Elite 2 comes in the same soft shell case as its predecessor, the lump of foam that supported the controller before has been replaced by a convenient charging stand – which complements the new rechargeable (but sadly irremovable) battery nicely. Remove the fabric cover, and pins on the wedge-shaped charger will line up nicely with contacts on the back of the controller. You can even plug a USB-C cable in through a specially designed flap in the back of the case, allowing you to charge your Elite 2 while keeping it fully covered.
As well as the removable charger, you’ll find a toolkit that includes four replacement thumbsticks, four paddles, a more traditional four-way d-pad and a curious item that looks like a guitar pick crossed with a SIM card removal tool. Pop off the thumbsticks, and you’ll be able to use this to adjust the tension of each stick, with three levels to choose from: the standard loosey-goosey feel and two tighter settings that push the stick back to centre more assertively. The replacement thumbsticks are wild too, with a pair of taller, flatter and less textured alternatives, a double-height stick and one with a ridged, convex top. I swapped between these regularly throughout testing, eventually ending up with a flat stick for movement and the convex option for precision aiming. Combined with the clickier face buttons, this made for the most effortlessly responsive controller I’ve ever tested – and the depth of options here mean that it should work for a wide range of gamers.
Box contents
ControllerCarrying caseThumbsticks: Standard (2), Classic (2), Tall (1), Wide Dome (1)Paddles: Medium (2), Mini (2)D-pads: Standard, FacetedThumbstick-adjustment toolCharging dockUSB-C cable
As well as being an evolution of the Elite line, the Elite 2 also includes the changes made to Microsoft’s most recent generation of standard Xbox controllers. This means Bluetooth connectivity is now on board, finally allowing an Elite controller to be used with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets – particularly useful for playing Xbox titles on the go with Project xCloud. It also gives a new connectivity option for Windows PCs that ameliorates the need for the £20/$20 Xbox Wireless Adapter – although the inherent latency of a Bluetooth connection means that serious PC gamers should still probably pick up the faster 2.4GHz wireless dongle if they can spare the cash. The unibody design from the new controllers has also been carried over, with a nearly flush Xbox button and a 3.5mm port for connecting headphones. It was weird buying the expensive first-gen Elite in 2019 and feeling that the standard controllers were more advanced in some ways, so it’s great to see this resolved with the Elite 2.
1 of 5 Caption Attribution A look around two generations of Elite controllers, with Series 1 in white and Series 2 in black.
Looking at the two Elites side by side, another difference is clear: the size of the textured grips. On the original Elite, this only extends down the back side of each arm of the controller, but on the Elite 2 the grippy texture is found on front and back, stretching up to meet the sides of the shoulder buttons to cover a much larger surface area. Even the triggers are textured in a similar way, helping to stop sweaty fingers slipping off in a frantic firefight. Comfort is at an all-time high here, which is good news for anyone that plays enough to justify a premium controller like this one.