The best Xbox controllers in 2024

Best Xbox controllers 2024
(Image credit: Future)

The best Xbox controllers are typically made with enhanced features in mind, and several of them offer game-changing additions you won't find on the standard official gamepad. Just like with the best PC controllers, the number of stellar Xbox pads increases year after year. 

Better yet, both the Black Friday Xbox deals and Black Friday Xbox controller deals are right around the corner - the late November sales period being the best time of year to score a bargain on a new gamepad.

Our guide to the best Xbox controllers is primarily aimed at the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, but you're not missing out if you're an Xbox One player as all controllers featured in this list are compatible with the last-gen system via backwards compatibility. And just to add, you'll find PC compatibility on all these gamepads, too.

We've made our choices with the best Xbox Series X games in mind, and how owning one of these controllers will drastically improve your experience. We have considered everything from comfort to cost, aiming to recommend top-quality products that won't break the bank so you have some extra funds for more of the best Xbox Series X and Series S accessories.

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Best Xbox controllers in 2024

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The best overall Xbox controller

Xbox Wireless Controller

(Image credit: Future)
Best overall

Specifications

Connectivity: Wireless, wired
Battery life: 20-30 hours
Sticks: Asymmetrical
Additional features: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Quality buttons and d-pad
+
Comfy grip
+
Great battery life
+
Plenty of color options

Reasons to avoid

-
No advanced or 'Pro' features
Buy it if

You want a controller you can use with a range of devices: The Xbox Wireless Controller works with more than just the Xbox Series X|S. The gamepad is compatible with Xbox One, Windows 10 PC and Android, too.

You want a premium controller feel without the price tag: With its more premium option priced at a whopping £159.99 / $179.99 / AU$249.95, Microsoft is offering the average player a slice of its premium pie for a more digestible price.

Don't buy it if

You want lots of extra features: The Xbox Wireless Controller does what it says on the tin and nothing more. It's an excellent pad, but one that's also very straightforward.

The Xbox Wireless Controller is the one you’ll get out of the box when you buy a new Xbox Series X|S, and it’s handily one of the best contemporary controllers. But it never hurts to have a spare, right?

The Xbox Wireless Controller hasn't changed much in terms of design since its Xbox One iteration. However, there are some notable changes worth highlighting. Overall build quality is slightly improved, and the new D-pad is a huge upgrade, featuring a circular base that makes it easier to perform diagonal inputs.

Xbox Wireless Controllers are readily available, and quite affordable these days across both standard and special colorways thanks to frequent discounts. Several more hues are also available if you’d prefer something flashier, but most of these do cost slightly more. Alternatively, you can even make your own custom Xbox Wireless Controller over at the Xbox Design Lab.

The Xbox Wireless Controller ticks most of the boxes of what makes a pad great. High-quality buttons, a best-in-class d-pad and generous battery life are among the controller’s best features. Put simply, you just can’t go wrong with the Xbox Wireless Controller no matter your budget or preferences. It’s an all-rounder, but one that excels in almost every area.

The best budget Xbox controller

8BitDo Pro 2 Wired Controller for Xbox

(Image credit: Future)
Best budget

Specifications

Connectivity: Wired
Battery life: N/A
Sticks: Symmetrical
Additional features: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Great build quality
+
Custom button mapping support
+
Budget friendly 

Reasons to avoid

-
PlayStation-style sticks may not be for everyone
Buy it if

You’re on a budget: Though wired controllers tend to be cheaper generally, the 8BitDo Pro 2 pad offers great pro-level features and hardware construction.

You prefer Sony-style thumbsticks: Side-by-side sticks are the design of choice for PlayStation players, and this is one of the best ways to get that configuration on Xbox.

Don't buy it if

You like asymmetrical sticks: This pad doesn’t follow the standard Xbox controller layout, meaning you’re going to need to look elsewhere for offset sticks.

It’s hard to go wrong with an 8BitDo pad. The 8BitDo Ultimate controller for Nintendo Switch is testament to that. Thankfully, the popular third party manufacturer also has a fantastic option for Xbox owners in the Pro 2 Wired controller.

The Pro 2 is a touch on the light side. However, it does feature two back paddle buttons that can be remapped to your liking. Excellent for if you’d rather have certain commands on a more accessible button, for example. The most notable change from other Xbox controllers is the use of a symmetrical analog stick layout, similar to the PS5's DualSense. That won't be for everyone, but it does free up space on the top half of the pad, allowing for more real estate for the face buttons and D-pad.

The most immediately striking thing about the Pro 2 has to be its price. It's an affordable pad, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s of a low quality. On the contrary, the Pro 2 upholds 8BitDo’s typically high build quality, making for a pad that’s as satisfying to use as it is to purchase.

Despite its budget price, you'll find a controller here that performs admirably during play. The pad's modules are all up to that high 8BitDo quality, with tactile buttons, sticks and triggers. The D-pad does feel a touch mushy, though, and is a downgrade from the one found on the Xbox Wireless Controller.

The best premium Xbox controller

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

(Image credit: Future)
Best premium

Specifications

Connectivity: Wireless, wired
Battery life: 12-13 hours
Sticks: Asymmetrical
Additional features: Hall effect thumbsticks, circular d-pad, microswitch buttons, two-way trigger locks, Razer mouse click paddles, 1,000Hz polling rate (via wired connection on PC)

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning build quality
+
We love the use of Razer gaming mouse tech
+
Hall-effect sticks and snappy micro switch buttons

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life isn't class-leading
-
Fairly bland all-black aesthetic
Buy it if

You want class-leading performance
The V3 Pro’s speedy actuation across all modules makes for one of the most responsive gamepads out there.

You’re after all the pro features
Highly customizable and complete with Hall effect sticks, trigger locks and responsive connectivity both wireless and wired, the V3 Pro is that all-in-one premium package.

Don't buy it if

You’re after something more aesthetically pleasing
Perhaps the weakest aspect of the V3 Pro is its bland all-black aesthetic. This controller is all-function, which may turn away folks who'd prefer something flashier.

This is it. The be-all-end-all of premium Xbox controller experiences. Compatible with Xbox consoles and PC, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is indeed the best premium controller available for Xbox. And honestly, after weeks of highly enjoyable testing, we reckon it'll take some work to dethrone it.

It starts with the overall lightning-fast responsiveness of the controller. Snappy micro-switch buttons, drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks and remappable buttons that make use of Razer gaming mice tech all lead to speedy actuation. This makes it an excellent choice for competitive gamers of all skill levels. The jump up from 250Hz to 1,000Hz polling rate when you hook it up to a PC via wired connection is a beautiful addition, too. During our testing, we also found that a wired connection had immediate responsiveness, which makes the V3 Pro a superb pick for competitive first-person shooters, fighting games and racing games.

Now at $199.99 / £199.99, the V3 Pro obviously isn't cheap. However, I feel Razer's latest gamepad more than justifies its price point with the feature set it brings to the table. And if you don't quite have the budget, a cheaper model known as the Razer Wolverine V3: Tournament Edition comes in at $99.99 / £99.99. This is a wired-only model that loses some overall build quality, but retains the V3 Pro's premium feature set.

While middling battery life and a bland all-black look are a shame, they're really the only dents in the V3 Pro's otherwise immaculate image. If you're looking to own the absolute best of the best when it comes to premium gamepads, this is the one to go for without question.

The best mid-range Xbox controller

PowerA Fusion Pro 3

(Image credit: Future)
Best mid-range

Specifications

Connectivity: Wired
Battery life: N/A
Sticks: Asymmetrical
Additional features: Swappable thumbsticks, back buttons, mic volume switch, trigger stops

Reasons to buy

+
Smart, Xbox-like design
+
Four mappable back buttons
+
Trigger locks work well

Reasons to avoid

-
Slightly pricey
-
Cheap and lightweight build
Buy it if

You like Pro-adjacent features: The PowerA Fusion Pro 3 has you covered with mappable rear buttons, swappable sticks, dedicated mic volume switch and more.

You play shooters online: The Fusion Pro 3’s trigger locks are excellent for first and third-person shooters.

Don't buy it if

You want a premium feel: The controller feels a little cheap and flimsy for its price range, though the buttons, sticks and D-pad do improve things here.

The PowerA Fusion Pro 3 isn't quite a premium purchase, but has a robust feature set that you won't find on cheaper pads. You're getting programmable rear buttons here, that can be assigned as secondary inputs for your go-to games. And multiple profiles mean that you can swap as you switch from game to game during your play sessions.

The shell of the gamepad is slightly lacking in overall build quality, feeling a little cheap and lightweight. Still, what matters is that the buttons, triggers and sticks feel relatively great, living up to the Fusion Pro 3's mid-range price tag.

Another strong feature here, that you won't find on other pads, is the dedicated mic volume switch you'll find at the center bottom of the controller. This is a wonderful addition that saves you from having to dive into your console's settings to adjust your mic's output.

The best wired Xbox controller

GameSir Kaleid

(Image credit: Future)
Best wired

Specifications

Connectivity: Wired
Battery life: N/A
Sticks: Asymmetrical
Additional features: Swappable sticks, back buttons

Reasons to buy

+
Hall effect thumbsticks
+
Tactile buttons
+
Gorgeous translucent RGB design
+
We love the supporting Nexus app

Reasons to avoid

-
Trades in Switch compatibility for Xbox
-
No big improvements over PC version
Buy it if

You want an Xbox version of an amazing PC controller: The Kaleid is already an incredible PC controller, and features in our best PC controllers list. Now, that same quality is available for Xbox players.

You like deep customization: Many things are customizable through the Nexus app, a version of which is available on Xbox and PC.

Don't buy it if

You'd prefer to go wireless: As good as the Kaleid is, the lack of wireless connectivity may be irksome for some who prefer to lose the cables.

The GameSir Kaleid is already one of our favorite PC controllers (that version being named the T4 Kaleid), and finally the budget-friendly brand has seen fit to manufacture a version of the gamepad that's compatible with Xbox consoles. And it's fantastic.

The Xbox version of the GameSir Kaleid has all of the original's best features. Drift resistant Hall effect sticks, mappable rear buttons for secondary inputs, a gorgeous translucent design brightened by smartly-layered RGB, and a robust app that allows for in-depth customization of all of these elements and more.

At a decent $49.99 / £59.99, the Kaleid comes in at roughly the same price as the Xbox Wireless Controller. And indeed, the only real dealbreaker with the Kaleid is its lack of wireless connectivity. Still, if you're willing to trade that for some truly superb features, you'll find a long-lasting and visually striking controller here.

The best Xbox controller for voice chat

Turtle Beach Recon Controller

(Image credit: Future)
Best voice chat

Specifications

Connectivity: Wired
Battery life: N/A
Sticks: Asymmetrical
Additional features: Back buttons, on-board voice chat controls

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent voice chat options
+
Turtle Beach enhanced audio
+
Mappable back buttons

Reasons to avoid

-
Wired only
-
Busy audio button layout 
Buy it if

You want excellent voice chat features: There's lots to explore with the Recon's voice chat suite, including on-board controls and EQ settings.

You want enhanced audio: The Recon supports Turtle Beach's own Enhanced Audio, meaning you'll get a stronger sound profile with practically any headset.

Don't buy it if

You want something simpler: While robust, the Recon's busy on-board audio controls do lend a slightly convoluted feel to the pad.

If you're in voice chat with friends more often than not when playing your favorite multiplayer games on Xbox, consider the Turtle Beach Recon controller, which has been designed around offering an excellent voice chat experience. That, and its bespoke Superhuman audio setting that lets you hone in on distant sounds; perfect for pinpointing gunshots and footsteps in large-scale games like PUBG Battlegrounds and Warzone.

The controller itself is no slouch, either, with good quality buttons and sticks, mappable back paddle buttons and comfy padded grips to prevent slipping in particularly heated multiplayer moments. If you’re sick of fiddling with your console’s mic settings menu, then you’ll likely gel with the fact that the Recon lets you control right on the pad itself.

Right on the controller itself is a central dock packed with audio settings for voice chat, including four Turtle Beach EQ settings offering various balances between chat and game audio. If you're an audio-first player, then the Turtle Beach Recon is the ideal pad for you.

The best budget wired Xbox controller

HyperX Clutch Gladiate

(Image credit: Future)
Best budget wired

Specifications

Connectivity: Wired
Battery life: N/A
Sticks: Asymmetrical
Additional features: Back buttons, trigger stops

Reasons to buy

+
Very affordable
+
Great feeling buttons and sticks
+
Tactile rear buttons

Reasons to avoid

-
Inconsistent trigger locks
-
Basic D-pad
Buy it if

You’re on a strict budget: ‘Pro’ adjacent pads don’t get more affordable than the Clutch Gladiate. It’s certainly one to consider if you want to keep costs low.

You’re interested in some light ‘Pro’ features: Remappable rear buttons and hair trigger locks provide a good introduction to higher-end controller features on a pad this affordable.

Don't buy it if

You want more ‘Pro’ features: The Clutch Gladiate is still light on ‘Pro’ adjacent touches, and the hair trigger locks are a bit of a letdown here.

The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is an aggressively budget option for those who prefer a wired controller. While build quality is lacking in relation to the competition, it's nonetheless an impressively-performing pad with some 'Pro' level features you won't find on the Xbox Wireless Controller.

The HyperX Clutch Gladiate shines when it comes to feel. Its face buttons and analog sticks are close to on par with Microsoft's official pad. Add in a couple of tactile, mappable back buttons (a rarity on controllers this affordable), and you've got a controller that provides excellent feel and is worthwhile as a spare, so long as you don't mind the wired only connection.

There are some flaws here, which is understandable for the price. In the Clutch Gladiate's case, it's the inconsistent hair trigger locks, which after testing, don't work as intended on a range of Xbox Series X games. Curiously, we had no issues using the trigger locks while gaming on PC, even in testing the same game across both platforms. As a result, you may prefer the HyperX Clutch Gladiate as a PC pad.

The best Xbox controller for customizability

The Thrustmaster eSwap X2 controller on a wooden surface

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
Best for customizability

Specifications

Connectivity: Wired
Battery life: N/A
Sticks: Swappable, symmetrical and asymmetrical
Additional features: Swappable modules for sticks, d-pad and face buttons

Reasons to buy

+
Genius in its modularity
+
Superb build quality
+
Responsive buttons

Reasons to avoid

-
Wired only
-
Just a slight improvement over previous model
Buy it if

You want a high degree of customizability: The eSwap X2's modules can be swapped at any time, and with any configuration.

You're left-handed or prefer symmetrical sticks: Have an easier time with the face buttons on the left, or prefer your analog sticks to be lined up? Both are possible here.

Don't buy it if

You're after a wireless controller: Unfortunately, the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 doesn't offer a wireless configuration, which may prove irksome to those who prefer a clutter-free setup.

Thrustmaster's second go at a modular controller may not look like much of an improvement at surface level. And indeed, there's really only smaller updates scattered throughout. However, if you're looking for a highly customizable controller that lets you swap around buttons, sticks and the d-pad at will, there's no better choice than the eSwap X2.

These swappable modules allow for a highly accessible gamepad. If you're an Xbox player, but prefer the symmetrical stick layout of, say, the DualSense on PS5, you can do that here. Similarly, left-handed players may prefer to slot the face button module in on the left side of the pad.

While the lofty price tag may cause you to balk, and the lack of wireless connectivity is certainly a shame, the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 still puts forward an impressively customizable experience that's second to none for Xbox players.

The best Xbox controller for fighting games

8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox

(Image credit: Future)
Best fight stick

Specifications

Connectivity: Wireless, wired
Battery life: 30 hours (15-20 with a headset connected)
Sticks: Square gate joystick
Additional features: Customizable internals, layout toggles

Reasons to buy

+
High quality buttons and stick
+
Convenient ancillary features
+
Supports wired and wireless connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
A bit on the bulky side
-
Limited use if you don't play fighters
Buy it if

You’re after an entry-level Xbox stick: 8BitDo’s Xbox fight stick is the best for the console at its price point and is perfectly suited for first-time stick users.

You’ve just bought Street Fighter 6: Street Fighter 6 has done a phenomenal job onboarding new players, and its multiple control schemes complement first-time fight stick users well. 

Don't buy it if

You want something less weighty: The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox is bulkier than your average controller, so you might not get on with it for longer gaming sessions.

After the success of the excellent 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Nintendo Switch, which features in our best fight sticks buying guide, the hardware manufacturer is back with a bespoke Xbox version of the same fantastic stick. 

Design-wise, most thing here are identical to its counterpart, but has an Xbox makeover that's aesthetically fitting for the console. It retains the same weight and feature set as its Nintendo Switch counterpart, so all you're really getting here is console compatibility.

It's also one of the more affordable fight sticks on the market that's actually worth buying. But of course, we can only really recommend it if you regularly play fighters like Guilty Gear Strive or Street Fighter 6. If you don't, then you'll be better served shopping for one of the other gamepads on this list.

The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox has the same robust feature set as its Switch counterpart. It supports both wired and wireless play (via an included dongle), and is also fully customizable. That means if you don't like the default parts, you can open it up with a screwdriver to replace them with your own.

Best Xbox controllers - FAQs

Which Xbox controllers are the best?

If we had to isolate a couple of controllers from this list, and you can afford them, we have to put forward the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and the GameSir Kaleid. The former is the full premium package, with unrivaled build quality and superbly responsive modules. The GameSir is the next best thing, coming in at a much cheaper price tag while also offering ‘Pro’ features like Hall effect sticks and slick RGB lighting.

Are cheap Xbox controllers worth it?

If you're after a controller as a spare gamepad for any extra players, you won't want to pay top dollar for it. Generally, most third-party controllers offer a decent product without hosting a significant price tag, especially in comparison to some of Microsoft's official offerings. For a kickabout controller, cheap alternatives are always worth it. 

Are wired or wireless controllers better for Xbox?

It all depends on personal preference. If your console is set up at a desk, you're probably closer to your screen, so a wired controller won't feel like too much of a tether. But, if you're using one of the best gaming TVs rather than one of the best monitors for Xbox, a wireless controller provides a little more flexibility.

How we test the best Xbox controllers

The best Xbox controllers are tested and reviewed based on a number of criteria, including design, feature set and arguably most importantly of all, price. There's rarely a one-size-fits-all Xbox controller, so we endeavor to test each to their strengths, such as options for voice chat or being suited to a particular genre.

Rhys Wood
Hardware Editor

Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.

With contributions from