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Xbox Elite Wireless Controller 2 Is Overkill for Most People, but Still Delivers an Epic Gaming Experience

Review: The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 still sets the bar for a pro-level controller.

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.

Read more: Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition Hands-On: What $400 Buys

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.

Read more: PDP’s Victrix Pro BFG Is Hands Down the Best Pro Controller I’ve Used

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.

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Technologies

Asus Rog Delta II Review: Lots To Offer, but Not Worth the Price

There’s a lot to like, as long as you have the right head size.

As a more casual gamer, I used to just play games with my computer speakers or sound bar, never bothering with gaming headsets. I would grab a cheap Microsoft or similar knockoff when I played with friends, but that was about it. That all changed when I got my first real gaming headset a couple of years ago. Now, my eyes (or ears, technically) have been opened. The better sound, and being able to hear everything around you including footsteps, really is a game-changer. Asus recently released two gaming headsets, the budget-focused ROG Pelta and the higher-end Delta II. I enjoyed my time with the Pelta (review coming soon), but is the Delta II worth the upgrade?

What I like about the Asus Rog Delta II 

The first thing I noticed about the Delta II was how lightweight they were. At only 318g, they almost disappear on your head. That’s quite a welcome change from the hefty Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3s I reviewed last year, but those are also a far less expensive. Asus gives you two separate ear cushions for the Delta II: a breathable mesh set and a faux leather set. I was worried the leather might get sticky if I got hot or sweaty, but so far it hasn’t been an issue (I live in South Texas, so hot and sweaty is a way of life).

The ear cups are triangular-shaped, but they still fit my ears just fine. My biggest issue is that the headband doesn’t adjust much, so it always felt like the headphones were about to fall off my smallish head. I had to tilt the band closer to my forehead when reclining just to keep them on. I suppose that means my head is smaller than average (not surprised), but it’s still annoying. Also, only the top half of the headband has foam on it, and what’s there is pretty thin. It was never a problem for me, since it didn’t sit fully on my head — but other reviewers have noted it can be uncomfortable.

Aside from the thin foam and large fit, the Delta II feels very well built. There’s no squeaking or anything, as you’d hope for the price. Sadly, they don’t fold up for more portability, but you can at least turn the ear cups to lay flat.

The best part of the hardware is the tri-mode connectivity, which means you can use the included 2.4 GHz wireless dongle (USB-C), Bluetooth or a cable to connect to your devices. Asus’ Dual Flow technology allows you to get audio from two sources simultaneously. So, for example, while you’re gaming on your PC you can still hear notifications coming in from your phone. They work wirelessly with PS5, PC and mobile devices, but unfortunately, the only way to use them with Xbox is with a 3.5mm audio cable.

The detachable microphone sounded just fine for gaming chats, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anything professional. Since it’s a gaming headset, there’s RGB lighting, of course.

Decent audio, as long as you don’t want to customize it

The audio from the Delta II is pretty solid. Games sounded crystal clear and full. I could hear all the footsteps and everything I needed to. If they’re the only headphones you have, they’ll do fine for music, movies, podcasts, and more — just don’t expect mind-blowing quality. If you’re going to use them primarily for gaming, you’ll be perfectly happy.

However, if you’re someone who likes to tweak the audio or play with sound profiles, you might end up pretty frustrated — and that’s purely because the Amoury Crate app is simply bad. First of all, to make any changes to the headphones you have to restart your computer for them to take effect. I also discovered that changing anything — and for some people even just having the app installed — can cause bugs within Windows that make the headphones sound awful. I had to completely uninstall the app to get decent audio again. Now I have a bug where there’s a very noticeable click while gaming.

The app also constantly asks if you want to install a little AI «pet» and other features every time you boot it up. It’s very annoying and honestly, it’s best to just skip the app. The Delta II’s default Flat configuration was fine for me while gaming. If you really want to fine tune your audio experience, I recommend you look elsewhere.

A tad cheaper and it’d be an easy recommendation

There’s a lot to like about the Delta II. They sound great, are pretty comfortable (as long as you don’t have a tiny head) and offer several awesome features. However, the horrible Armoury Crate experience, coupled with the fact that they don’t stay on my head and their $260 list price, makes it hard for me to recommend them. If they were closer to around $200, I could more easily forgive those shortcomings. After all, when you pay this much for a gaming headset, they should at least stay on your head.

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‘Squid Game’ on Fortnite: Learn All About the New Skins and Items

The super popular Netflix series has landed on the super popular third-person shooter.

The brutal, dystopian thriller Squid Game is one of the most popular shows Netflix has ever produced, spawning a cottage industry of pop culture merchandise and endless memes. Now the brightly colored styles of Squid Game are colliding with the incredibly popular online fighting game Fortnite.

As the third season of Squid Games airs on Netflix, learn all about the Squid Game skins, wraps, emotes and back bling that have been added to Fortnite.

What is Squid Game adding to Fortnite?

  • A new island, Squid Grounds, has been added to the Fortnite battle royale mode, Reload. 
  • Squid Game skins items like back bling, wraps and emotes have also arrived on Fortnite. 
  • Squid Game-themed skins in the shop include the red-clad guards and green-clad competitors. 
  • «You’ll recognize plenty of returning weaponry for the Squid Grounds update, though the Glider and Boogie Bomb are making their first-ever appearance in Reload,» a representative for Fortnite promises in the caption for the YouTube trailer showing off the game additions.

And on Fortnite.com, the game goes into a bit more detail. 

«Find familiar playground locations from the games, complete with staged town sets and a hollowed-out labyrinth cutting underneath the island’s rolling hills,» the site says. «You can even play Red Light, Green Light at your own risk.»

How to win playing Fortnite Squid Game

After the new map, skins, emotes and other items, there’s still more to come. 

  • Squid Grounds Console Cash Cups, which are Battle Royale Duos tournaments, will be available on July 18, July 25 and Aug. 1,
  • The games are open to players on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. 
  • Top performers earn cash prizes.

How much do Squid Game skins in Fortnite cost?

Squid Game game focuses on people so far in debt they must risk their lives. Some Fortnite players are joking about that similarity, because playing with the new skins can be pricey. 

  • The Squid Game main bundle currently costs 3,000 V-Bucks (the game’s currency), although it shows that it has been marked down from 15,000 V-Bucks. Fortnite.com says that the bundle includes the Games Guard outfit, the Ddakji Defender outfit, the Green Light Guardian, Marble Maven, Dalgona Destroyer, Tug of War Titan, Pentathlon Perfector, Jegi Juggler, Flying Stone Fighter, Gong-gi Great, Games Manager outfit and Glass Bridge Survivor outfit.
  • The Squid Accessories bundle currently costs 700 V-Bucks, although it also shows that it has been marked down, this time from 1,600 V-Bucks. The bundle includes the Lil’ Prized Piggy Bank emote, Delicious Dalgona back bling, Ddakji Box back bling and Squid Shapes wrap.
  • Guard and manager skins are both currently selling for 1,500 V-Bucks each, and the male and female player skins cost 1,200 V-Bucks each. Maybe you can find a deadly tournament to enter to win enough … oh, wait.

Fortnite fans seem excited about the new additions regardless.

«The fact that we’re getting elimination-based gaming inside elimination-based gaming is peak 2025 meta,» said one X user.

Another user said they’d prefer to see Squid Game take a role in the standard battle royale Fortnite game.

«This seems like a good idea, but why is Squid Game in Reload and not the Battle Royale game mode?» they asked on X. «I don’t know a lot of people who play Reload, me including [sic]. The last time I played Reload was when the game mode first came out.»

Another person suggested this might be because the Battle Royale season theme — superheroes — doesn’t fit with Squid Game.

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These JLab Bluetooth Headphones Are Almost Back to Their Lowest-Ever Price for July 4th

At just $68, these top-rated wireless headphones are a bargain no matter how you slice it.

Picking up a new pair of wireless headphones is always exciting, especially when you can get them at a great price. We’re huge fans of noise-canceling headphones because they’re great at stopping the outside world from getting in the way of your aural entertainment.

One brand we’re always keen to recommend is JLab, and right now you can pick up the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones for just $68 when you enter the discount code J706N4OD003T at checkout. This Fourth of July deal won’t hang around forever, though, so make sure to get your order in while it’s still live.

Four different colors are available for you to choose from, including graphite, cloud white, mauve and sage. Spoiler, you should choose cloud white — they’re gorgeous.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

These over-ear headphones offer noise cancellation, have 40mm drivers to deliver solid depth and clarity for the price and can deliver up to 70 hours of playback on a single charge. There’s also an awareness mode when you need to be more alert in your surroundings. And with noise-canceling mics, you’ll also be able to use these during calls without background disturbances interrupting you.

Not really what you’re looking for? That’s okay, we have a whole roundup of the top deals on headphones and earbuds that are live right now. Check out our list of the best Fourth of July tech deals for some time-limited discounts, too.

HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

A great pair of wireless headphones can really make working in a noisy office more tolerable. The same can be said for commuting on public transit or just walking around a busy city, too. At this discounted price, you can’t go wrong here, especially considering the support for advanced features like ANC.

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