Xbox Elite Controller vs. Xbox Elite Controller Series 2: What's changed?

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Upgrade or nah?

Xbox Elite Controller vs. Xbox Elite Controller Series ii: What'due south changed?

We're among the few outlets with early on access to the Xbox Aristocracy Controller Series ii, giving us unique insight into whether or not information technology's worth the upgrade. Here'southward what we've learned.

Latest and greatest

Xbox Elite Controller Series ii

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2

The OG

Xbox Elite Controller

The new Xbox Aristocracy Controller Series ii is packed with fresh features and a revised design process to brand upwards for the shortcomings of its predecessor. The simply real downsides are in its cost, which is an astronomical $180 versus the $120 RRP of the previous controller. Besides, for fans of swappable batteries, the Elite Series ii sports an unswappable internal battery.

$180 at Microsoft

Pros

Far more features than the previous
Improved durability
Charging dock with forty-hr battery
Bluetooth back up

Cons

More expensive
Internal batteries only

The OG Elite Controller started a wave of innovation on gamepad refinements from third-political party manufacturers, although the controller itself suffered from some pretty serious manufacturing issues. The upside is that it's cheaper (at least in theory) and has swappable batteries. That said, its express availability has driven the price up to the indicate where the savings aren't worth it.

From $100 (Used) at Amazon

Pros

Lower recommended retail cost
Besides comes in white to match the Xbox One South
Option to swap batteries

Cons

No longer bachelor to buy new
Long-term durability flaws make it hard to recommend at present
No Bluetooth

Simply put, there's no existent reason to buy an original Elite Controller over the new Serial 2 version. The Series 2 Elite Controller improves upon the original in every conceivable way, including improved durability on the bumpers and rubber grips, complete with a high-quality internal battery with an absurd 40-50 hour battery life (equally per our testing).

The Series ii is expertly designed to replace the original controller, too, making it hard to go ahold of the previous version. The limited availability has driven the price upwardly at diverse retailers, making it inappreciably worth buying versus simply waiting for the Series 2 to launch.

The Series 2 is better, easily down

The Series 2 replaces the original Elite Controller, upgrading and enhancing every dimension of the controller. First and foremost, many users of the previous Elite Controller are probably wondering about durability to a higher place all else. The previous controller suffered from a notable design flaw in the rubber grips, which allowed them to warp over time, and become discrete from the controller itself. The second Elite Controller fixes this outcome using adhesive, which should ensure that the grips stay firmly attached for longer. We have no mode to know for sure if their attempted prepare will work without some long-form testing, just I was unable to pry the grip from the controller using a guitar pick, which is a good sign.

	Xbox Elite Controller Series 2	Xbox Elite Controller
Four extra paddle buttons	Yes, also configurable with console actions	Yep
Trigger locks	iii-phase	2-stage
Configuration profiles	three	2
Thumbstick tension command	Yes	No
Ability	forty-hour internal battery	2x AA batteries
Connections	Bluetooth, Xbox Wireless, USB-C	Xbox Wireless, Micro USB-A
In the box	Actress d-pad, extra thumbsticks, tension control cardinal, carrying instance, braided USB-C cable, magnetic charging dock	Extra d-pad, extra thumbsticks, conveying case, braided Micro USB cablevision
RRP	$180	$120

Beyond build-quality improvements, Series 2 just has piles of extra features. Notably, the biggest and best is probably the charging dock. Not only does it assistance continue your playspace tidy, but it charges the whopping twoscore-hour battery in around an hour, ensuring you'll never want for batteries ever again. In our testing, nosotros found that the 40-hour is a reasonably conservative estimate, as we were easily able to push information technology to 50 when not using a iii.5mm headset plugged into it.

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Source: Windows CentralThe new Elite Series 2.

In addition to charging, the Series 2 comes with Bluetooth, making information technology ideal for mobile devices, laptops, and tablets. Y'all can also connect it upward with USB to PC, and directly to Xbox Wireless-compatible devices like the associated USB dongle, and particular laptops like the Surface Book ii. Oh, and of class, the Xbox One itself.

The Series two beats the original with tension-controlled thumbsticks, allowing for greater precision, and comes with three-stage trigger locks over the previous two, for more rapid firing. Both controllers have four paddle buttons on the reverse, just the Series two's upgraded microprocessor allows for system-level keybinds, such as Television set volume command, Xbox screenshotting and then on. On the base of operations Xbox Elite Controller, yous tin only demark additional Xbox buttons, such every bit ABXY and the triggers. The new Aristocracy controller likewise has 3 split up configuration profiles, up from the previous two.

Xbox Elite Controller Source: Windows Central The original Elite controller.

The but real downside to picking up the Serial ii, at least theoretically, is the price. The RRP on the Series ii is $180, whereas the RRP on the previous was around $120. You become a lot more bang for your buck for that actress $60, but it's still a big ask considering an Xbox I console starts at around $250. If you factor in the price from AA batteries and recharge packs, the dock, carry case, and other accessories, the Series 2 represents a fair deal if you plan to use all of its features. One affair is for certain, though. There'southward no reason to buy the OG Elite Controller in 2022.

Purchase this one

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2

Probably the all-time controller ever fabricated

With refined construction, improved features, and a great accuse dock, the Elite Series two is a stunning piece of kit that those with cash to splash shouldn't miss.

Don't purchase this i

Xbox Elite Controller

Xbox Aristocracy Controller

The original Elite controller

With limited availability, fewer features, and lower quality, the Elite controller should exist remembered as a pioneer in the infinite, but peradventure shouldn't be purchased.

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