Technologies

Nacon’s Revolution X Unlimited Xbox Controller Equips You With Pro-Level Tuning

Incredible levels of customization set this controller apart from the pack. For a price.

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Nacon Revolution X Unlimited

$200 at Amazon

Pros

Extremely customizable for fine-tuned performance
LCD screen for software customization
1ms wired latency

Cons

Expensive
Only comes in Black
Back buttons take a bit to get used to

When Microsoft dropped the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller almost exactly a decade ago, it set a new standard for professional-style controllers, and more importantly, it made them much more accessible to all gamers.

The best part for us is that the popularity of the Elite Series controller, and others like it, has spawned a whole range of excellent, pro-grade Xbox controllers like the $200 Revolution X Unlimited from Nacon.

Designed for play

I really dig the look of the Revolution X Unlimited. I wish there were more color options, but the matte black with subtle green trim looks quite nice. I don’t like controllers that try too hard to stand out with their designs, so the understated yet quality look of the Revolution X is great.

It’s a bit flatter and more squared off than most other Xbox controllers, including the Elite, and I was worried that it would feel too big in my small hands. But it doesn’t: It sits comfortably in my grip, and I don’t need any crazy finger gymnastics to reach the buttons. I was even surprised that I could easily reach the two additional middle bumpers without having to switch to a claw grip.

The face buttons are pretty flat, which makes them much easier for me to press, and the larger surface area makes them a bigger (and easier to hit) target. The XYAB buttons, eight-way D-pad, trigger stops and four back buttons are all microswitches, and they feel very solid. The Hall Effect triggers and joysticks have a bit more tension than I’m used to, but they are extremely responsive andquite solid.

I only have a couple issues with the hardware. For one, there are only two stages to the trigger stops, but at least it’s a full stop instead of halfway like on the Revolution X Ulimited’s PlayStation sibling, the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, and you can customize it more in the software.

My other frustration is with the back buttons. They’re nice, but if you tend to tightly clutch the grip, like during an intense match or boss fight, it’s quite easy to accidentaly press the bottom ones with your pinky. Thankfully, you can disable them if it becomes a problem. I prefer paddles to buttons, anyway.

Nacon claims 10-plus hours of battery life on its website, which initially disappointed me — that’s pretty bad. But during my testing, I was extremely impressed. It lasted well over 10 hours without needing a charge and is honestly some of the best battery life I’ve seen in a controller.

Neither of these gripes would keep me from recommending the controller; they’re just things to note if you’re going to spend $200 on a controller.

Fine-tuned feel

Customization is Revolution X’s biggest strength: It gives you the most granular hardware and software options I’ve ever seen. You can insert a set of 10-, 14- or 16-gram weights (included in the box) for the exact in-hand feel that you want. You also get extra joystick caps and little metal rings intended to increase the physical thickness of the joystick. Nacon also gives you a traditional four-way D-pad for games where you need it.

Nacon has a free PC app for all the standard software modifications you’d expect, like button remapping, multiple profiles, joystick dead zones and trigger response. You might not expect that the joysticks and triggers can be adjusted via a linear graph for extremely fine-tuned responsiveness. Other controllers I’ve used let you choose from a few pre-selected ranges, but Nacon lets you set it precisely for split-second response.

It comes with four built-in profiles, but you can create as many as you want (only four active at a time), and Nacon makes it easy to export and import them across your Nacon controllers, or switch among them. An LCD screen on the controller helps streamline the selection process and to remind you want the current settings are.

I was also impressed by the bundled accessories. In addition to all the stuff I already mentioned, you also get a charging base (that also houses the wireless dongle), and the carrying case is top-notch (including the zipper). It’s nice to see a company pay attention to details.

No matter how you look at it, $200 is a lot of money for a game controller. Especially when you can get great controllers like the Elite Wireless 2 or the Victrix Pro BFG for as low as $140-$150. But if you want solid hardware with granular customization for tuned performance, the Revolution X Unlimited is one of the best.

Technologies

Nintendo’s Pokemon Legends: Z-A Is a Hit. Just Ask My Kid

Pokemon Legends: Z-A has sucked my family in, and I can’t get my Switch controller back from my son.

I’d love to tell you all about Pokemon Legends: Z-A, arriving this week, and what it’s been like to play on the Nintendo Switch 2. I can mostly do that — but for most of the past five days, it hasn’t really been me playing. What started as co-playing together quickly turned into my kid taking over completely as he got hooked. And honestly, I’d say that’s a good sign.

Nintendo makes a lot of Pokemon games, too many for me to keep track of. But Legends Z-A is the first that’s Switch 2-optimized, although you can play on original Switches, too. I can’t tell you what that’s like, though — my early review access limited me to playing Pokemon Legends: Z-A on the Switch 2 only at home. I was doubtful about how much a city-based game would truly feel like a must-have experience, but so far it’s already become one of my favorite Pokemon games ever.

I’ll let my son tell you. He’s gotten deep into the trading card game and has played most of the recent Pokemon titles over the past year, and he says this is his favorite so far. When I asked him why, he said it’s because the game completely rethinks how battles work. The quick, real-time system feels more immediate and far less sluggish than in past Pokemon games. Plus, he’s loving the story… and honestly, so am I.

A city full of surprises

My son loves the «peculiar» storyline, the fast-paced battles (which he now wants in every Pokemon game) and the constant sense of surprise while exploring Lumiose City.

All of Pokemon Legends: Z-A (at least from what I’ve seen in my 10-plus hours so far) takes place entirely within Lumiose City — a Paris-like metropolis where the CEO of a company called Quasartico Inc. is planning to rebuild everything into a new world where Pokemon and humans can better coexist. The setup reminded me of the Detective Pikachu movie during my demo a few weeks ago, and it turns out my instincts were right.

Pokemon roam in wild zones within the city, occasionally spilling into urban areas, while mysterious rogue «Mega Evolution» Pokemon have begun appearing and threatening the city’s calm. There’s clearly a deeper mystery at play, and while I’m still uncovering it, I won’t spoil anything here.

The game seems to mostly involve a journey to level up in rank from Z to A by battling various Pokemon trainers, but that’s not the whole story. There’s a group of friends you hang out with at a local hotel, along with research missions you have to carry out. Side quests are everywhere. The city, though it can feel a bit sparse at times, stretches all the way up to its rooftops, where all sorts of hidden spots are waiting to be discovered. It feels like a living maze, and one I’m still navigating.

And the city’s always changing, too. Wild zones keep multiplying, and from day to night the city’s dynamics shift. Battles take place at night, with trainers gathering in new pop-up spots each time. It’s not as lively as I’d hoped — this isn’t Grand Theft Pokemon — but the cozy, vibrant world still makes me daydream about what a real-life Universal Pokemon theme park could someday look like.

The Pokemon shine

I keep reminding myself to take extra time to discover and level up my Pokemon. At least that’s what my son’s telling me to do. He loves how many Pokemon can become Mega Evolved in this game, and how much fun the battle moves are to pull off. I’m happy he’s happy. I thought I’d get lost in the RPG aspects of the game, but I think the real-time Pokemon battles put me in a looser state of mind, more able to explore and not feel locked down into systems and rulesets. Swapping Pokemon battle moves and reassigning them to buttons is easy, too.

The stronger focus on trainer battles — and the sheer variety of Pokemon capable of mega evolving — gives the game more of that classic, Pokemon-centered energy than Pokemon Legends: Arceus ever did. I found myself more excited to see how different Pokemon looked and behaved than to uncover new realms to explore. After all, for all of Lumiose City’s secrets, you’re spending a lot more time roaming one massive location than in any other Pokemon game I can remember. Thankfully, the visual upgrades on the Switch 2 make those Pokemon look fantastic in battle.

I do want to spend more time in Lumiose City, though, and can’t help but wonder if this is a glimpse of how all Pokemon games will keep evolving. It’s hard to say, since Legends games like Z-A and Arceus have been more experimental than the rest of the series. But, like Arceus, Z-A is now one of my favorite Pokemon games on Switch. And on Switch 2, it plays smoother and feels better than any Pokemon game ever has before.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.