The best Xbox controllers for 2022: Microsoft, Razer, PowerA, and more

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You may not know, but we are in a golden age of gaming controllers. The gamepads on the market are better quality, more versatile, and more customization than they were a few generations ago. Third-party options include PowerA, Scuf, Nacon, and Turtle Beach, as well as first-party controllers from the console makers. The cheap controller that looked cool but barely worked is over.

You can choose from a variety of controllers, and if you're playing across the two consoles, the same option works. Let's say you want the Xbox Series X or the Xbox Series S. We tested a lot of controllers to find the best one for you.

The standard Xbox Wireless Controller was our top choice, which may sound obvious, but it's the best for a reason. We will walk you through the strengths and weaknesses of other controllers that are worthy of your attention, from premium options like the Xbox Elite Series 2 and Scuf Instinct Pro to some quality budget picks like the PowerA Enhanced wired controller.

There are older discontinued models that are still compatible, but our focus is to guide you through what to buy right now. We have categories to help you find the right one for you, and options that may give you a small edge in competitive games.

1. Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller

The best Xbox controller for most people

I assure you that the best controller for Xbox is the one that comes with the console. It may lack some of the extra features that we will go over on premium options, but this controller is the culmination of four generations and many first-party controllers.

Thanks to Microsoft's proprietary wireless protocol, this is the only affordable option out there. It's flexible because it comes with AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable cell, and it also allows for a battery pack. It can be used as a wired accessory and as a controller with user-replaceable batteries.

The official Xbox Wireless Controller has a dedicated share button for saving clips and screenshots and sharing them online, as well as aUSB-C port for charging up.

• $50 at Microsoft
• $60 at Best Buy

The standard-issue Xbox pad isn't just great because of it. The $60 asking price for the controller is very reasonable. The sticks, buttons, and the sunken dish-shaped D-pad all feel tight, with the latter having a satisfying click. If you're a hardcore fighting game fan, you may be better served by an arcade stick or controller with an excellent D-Pad.

It's the only thing that doesn't compare to pricier options that has extra buttons and software tuning for things like stick sensitivity. Whether you make your own or pick out one from the various colors Microsoft continues to offer, there is a lot to love about these controllers.

2. PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller

The best budget controller for Xbox

If you don't have a lot of money and are looking for a great controller, PowerA's Enhanced wired controller is a great option. The full retail price is $37, but some colors can be as low as $26. The Enhanced wired controller comes in a wide variety of colors and designs, including licensed ones from game franchises. The quality of the controller may surprise you when you use it, even though some of these designs may make you suspect they are cheap, cringe-inducing knockoffs.

The PowerA Enhanced wired controller is a budget-minded controller that connects via Microusb and has two buttons on its back. It is available in many different colors and designs.

• $30 at Amazon
• $32 at Best Buy

The biggest downside of it is that it uses a Microusb connection. It's annoying that you don't have a reversible connector, but at least you get a long cable. This controller feels outdated. The build quality is good, and it has two mappable rear buttons built into the grips, which is great to have at such a cheap price point.

The rest of the PowerA Enhanced wired controller is a lot of table stakes, but it executes everything well for a ridiculously affordable price. If there is a feature to cheap out on, I would say that is the right choice. The Enhanced wired controller has a two-year warranty, which is twice as long as Microsoft's Elite Series 2 offer.

If you're on a tight budget, PowerA has a lot of bang for your buck with the Enhanced wired controller. The PowerA Fusion Pro 2 is a great controller that punches above its weight class, if you have a bit more to spend. The full price of the Fusion Pro 2 is usually less than $65. If you're looking for a premium controller with added features, like four rear paddles and rubberized grips, but you have a budget closer to a standard Xbox controller, then this is the controller for you.

The PowerA Fusion Pro is an alternative to the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. It has swappable sticks, mappable rear paddle buttons, and a zip-up case. The controller has a 3.5mm jack for playing with headphones.

• $63 at Amazon
• $63 at Walmart

3. Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2

The best premium controller for Xbox

The premium version of the stock controller is called the Xbox Elite Series 2. It was released a year before the Xbox Series X / S consoles arrived. The Share button found on the latest Xbox Wireless Controller isn't available on this device. It makes up for that with exceptional build quality, extra buttons, user replaceable sticks, and lots of customization.

You instantly recognize the quality of materials put into the controller if you pick it up. The standard controller uses plastic, but the Elite mixes higher quality plastic with metal. The Elite is noticeably heavier than its lower-cost brethren because of its built-in rechargeable battery. It comes with a zip-up case and a charging dock.

One of our favorite controllers is the Xbox Elite Series 2. It's an improvement on the already excellent Elite Controller, with deep customization, optional rear paddle buttons, and a swappable D-pad and analog sticks that allow you to tailor its layout to suit your play style.

• $140 at Target
• $180 at Microsoft

The hair-trigger locks and rear paddle buttons are the key components that may give you a competitive edge. The hairtrigger and rear paddles allow you to jump, crouch, reload, etc., without taking your thumb off the right stick for aiming. It takes some adjustment to use that many buttons on the controller. Since it requires dexterity with more fingers, they are not for everyone.

Premium features come at a steep price. The Elite Series 2 is more expensive than a regular Xbox controller even though it is frequently discounted. If you don't use its rear paddles or the software adjustments for stick, you're not getting your money's worth.

The Elite has a reputation for lackluster quality control, with horror stories from users about going through multiple replacements under warranty. Buying an Elite Series 2 may feel riskier than buying a controller, because Microsoft extended the warranty from 90 days to a year in late 2020. It can feel worth it when you land that perfect sequence, switch to your pistol and land a headshot with a quick pop-pop of the hairtrigger while your thumbs stay firmly planted on the sticks.

4. Scuf Instinct Pro

An even pricier runner-up to the Elite

The Scuf Instinct Pro is the only wireless option from a third party, but it is by far the most expensive controller around, starting at $199.99. The one I tested had a special faceplate and added color accents. It's more than the Xbox Series S, which is an entire console. If you're okay with spending that kind of money, the Instinct Pro is better than Microsoft's Elite in a number of ways.

Scuf's Instinct Pro is its top controller. It is the only third-party wireless option that you can get, and it is very high in price.

• $210 at Scuf
• $230 at Amazon

I like the unique rear buttons of the Instinct Pro. Instead of paddles, there are four rocker-like buttons built into the controller that you push toward or away from your hand with a middle finger. Training your brain to get used to it is still necessary, but they are more intuitive.

The Scuf's hairtrigger has the fastest response of all the controllers tested here. It feels like you are clicking a mouse when you flick a switch on the back. The controller's underside is made of textured grip material that makes it a joy to use.

The Instinct Pro is a boutique item that comes with a massive cost. It still uses AA batteries and lacks software customization, so as much as I enjoy using it, I would only recommend getting one if you are passionate about its specific qualities or you love the colorful accents.

5. Nacon Revolution X

The best customizable controller

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The Revolution X seems very cheap when you first pick it up. It is not a looker, but a form follows function type of controller. It's comfortable to use, and the four rear buttons built into the grips are nice. The real stars of this show are the analog sticks and their software customizations, as well as the expansive custom options for other inner workings of the controller.

The RIG Nacon Revolution X is a wired controller that can be used on Windows PCs and Xbox consoles. It also has four buttons, four sticks, and optional weights that can be inserted into the grips to give it more heft.

• $80 at Best Buy
• $80 at Amazon

The Revolution X has four user profiles that you can change on the fly, plus a basic settings mode with a ring of RGB light around the right stick. The controls in the software app are very detailed. There are helpful starting points for games such as arcade fighting games. It's easier to understand when you have examples for different types of games. You can add the ability to remap every button on the controller, as well as a Dolby Atmos for Headphones app license, and you have a lot of customization options.

Software, audio, or lighting aren't the only things that can be changed. The Revolution X comes with ring spacers to adjust the range of the analog sticks, as well as a series of small weights ranging from 10g to 16g, which you can insert into its grips to give them an additional amount of heft.

The Nacon is a great controller to tinker with. It took me a while to get used to it, but once I set it up the way I wanted, it made for a very compelling controller.

6. Turtle Beach Recon

The best controller for shooters

It makes sense that Turtle Beach's Recon wired controller has audio controls. When playing first-person shooters, it's strengths come into focus when it's Superhuman Hearing mode, where it changes the audio of any wired headset to draw out footsteps and gunfire. The Recon is an affordable way to gain a competitive edge in games without spending a lot of money on a controller.

This pad isn't going to win any beauty contests because of the awkward buttons in the middle of its forehead, but each one has a valid purpose. There are four levels of microphone monitoring, four levels of game volume controls, four levels of chat volume mix, and four modes for mapping the two rear buttons. The last feature, dubbed Pro Aim by Turtle Beach, lowers the sensitivity of the right analog stick while you hold the right-hand rear button, which is a bit clumsy to use.

Turtle Beach's Recon Controller is a wired gamepad that offers a lot of audio tweaking for wired headsets. The Superhuman Hearing mode draws out footsteps and gunfire, and the two rear buttons make it great for first person shooter games.

• $50 at Amazon
• $50 at Best Buy

The controller's quick-start guide makes learning to use all these controls easier. Superhuman Hearing is useful for shooters and worth using a lot, but you should be aware that it will muddy up the soundtrack a little, so you may want to leave it off during story-driven, single-player games.

The Recon lacks fancy features like hairtriggers and swappable thumbsticks, and the D-pad looks similar to the standard Xbox Wireless Controller, but pales in comparison. The controller's plastic build feels cheap, but the rubbery grips give it a nice and comfy feel. The sticks,trigger, and additional rear buttons all feel tight. Combine that with Superhuman Hearing and you have a great recipe for shooting. The Recon has a bit of a learning curve, but if you play ranked matches and value a fairly priced wired controller with extra buttons and helpful audio functions, you can go wrong here.

Other controllers worth knowing about

• Razer’s Wolverine V2 Chroma is a feast for the ears and eyes, thanks to very clicky buttons and a strip of RGB lighting along the grips. It has more customizable buttons than any other controller (six total), though their positioning requires reaching, and it’s a pricey controller.
• Briefly mentioned above, the Horipad Pro has one of the best D-pads around. It also offers a lot of software customization at an affordable price, but its shoulder buttons are a bit stiff.
• The Nacon Pro Compact Controller has some of the Revolution X’s excellent software customization at a much lower price. It’s also one of the smallest options around, though the ergonomics may feel hit or miss depending on your hand size.
• One of the dumbest yet most endearing controllers is the Hyperkin Duke. This reissue of the original Xbox pad is a love letter to the salad days of 2001. It’s just not great to use for modern games. Thankfully it comes with a display stand, as it’s more of a collector piece.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto is a photographer.