The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (or Elite 2 for short) has arguably been the industry gold standard for a pro-level game controller for the past decade. Over the years dozens of competitors have cropped up, hoping to give Microsoft a run for its money. While the Elite 2 still isn’t perfect, it still sets the bar high.

What I like about the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

One of the best things the Elite 2 has going for it is the layout — it’s almost identical to the standard Xbox controller that ships with every console. If you’ve used Microsoft’s Xbox controllers of the past few generations, you’ll feel right at home here. This is a good thing, as the design of the controller hasn’t changed significantly in well over a decade. It wasn’t broken, so they didn’t need to fix it.

The hardware of the controller is also top-notch. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the buttons on the standard controller, but the moment you hold the Elite 2 in your hands, you can instantly feel a difference. The buttons feel more solid and the D-pad is noticeably improved as well.

Pro-grade customization

What really makes this controller, well, elite are the extra features and customization. In addition to the improved main buttons you get four extra buttons — paddles, technically. These sit right where your index and middle fingers rest on the back of the controller so they’re easy to hit without having to think much about it. They’re also attached magnetically, so you can quickly remove them if you don’t want them.

Each paddle can be customized to a specific button or button combo. This can be quite helpful for performing actions without having to take your finger off the joystick. For example, reloading weapons or activating secondary firing modes during FPS games, casting specific spells in RPGs, and so on. For most gamers this may not make a big difference in your play style, but for the more hardcore gamers, for whom every millisecond counts, it can come in quite handy.

To top it off, you can create custom profiles for each layout and assign up to three at a time to the controller. The memory button in the center allows for quick switching so you can hop between your favorite games without missing a beat.

Microsoft didn’t just stop at extra buttons. The triggers, joysticks and D-pad can also be customized. Included with the Elite 2 is a second D-pad with just the four directions (as opposed to the preinstalled octagonal one) if you prefer, as well as several different joystick heights. This latter aspect I didn’t think would make a big difference until I tried the tallest stick for my aiming controls. Instantly, I became a much better shot. There are also a few extra joystick covers that can give you a different grip for each one.

The coolest part, which is not something I’ve seen on another controller, is that you can customize the tension for each joystick. In the box is a small tool that lets you turn the joysticks to increase or decrease the tension to your preference. When I first got my controller, my fingers started hurting after a while, but after I adjusted the tension down, I didn’t have any more issues.

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No more disposable batteries

Not everyone will appreciate the lack of AA batteries in the Elite Controller, but I prefer it. While it might be a bit more convenient to simply swap in new batteries when the controller dies, I’d often forget to order more. So when I ran out I’d just end up having to plug it in to play anyway. Now, with the wireless charging stand included, I can just drop it there between play sessions to recharge. Conveniently, it will also recharge when plugged in while you’re playing. Microsoft claims about 40 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is a bit low compared to other controllers. I hit closer to 30-35 hours in my testing, but that’s not terrible.

What I don’t like about the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

Some people might prefer a heftier controller, but I don’t. The Elite 2 is certainly the heaviest controller I’ve used and it’s noticeable. It made my hands tired much more quickly than other controllers I’ve used. Also, the textured grip feels weird to me. I’m not sure why, and I can’t explain it, but the Elite controller is actually the slipperiest controller I’ve used. I don’t know if it’s because the grips wrap around fully or if my hands just produce too much oil or what, but I could never fully escape the feeling that I was going to drop it.

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No easy device switching

The Elite 2 supports Xbox Wireless for connecting to Xbox consoles, along with USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity. However, while you can connect to almost any device that supports Bluetooth, including a PC, smartphone or tablet, the controller doesn’t remember which devices it’s been paired with. This means you’ll have to manually re-pair it every time you switch devices. It’s not the end of the world, but if you regularly play on multiple devices and want one controller to use between them, it can be annoying.

Should you buy the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2?

The Elite 2 controller is an incredible piece of hardware. The buttons are solid and clicky, and the customization options are among the best in the industry. However, it struggles with connecting to multiple devices, and the battery life isn’t great. It’s also probably overkill for most people. But if you’re looking for something more advanced than the standard Xbox controller and are willing to shell out for it, the Elite 2 is one of the best you can get.  

When the Elite 2 first launched it was $180. That’s a lot for a controller, regardless of how good it is. However, the Elite 2 can currently be had for $159 at most retailers. You can find refurbished ones for less. There are also numerous sales throughout the year — Prime Day is coming soon — where you can probably snag one for even less. There are rumors of a Series 3 coming, but no definitive info yet as to when.