On the whole, the latest Wolverine weighs in at 279g - approximately one less gram than the original DualSense, and lighter than the DualSense Edge. It's the V2 Pro's wide frame and girth that makes it feel hefty then, since it feels a lot chunkier than 279g would let on. Elsewhere, this is just such a comfortable controller to use in driving games, particularly thanks to the tapered shapes of the triggers that make them nice and easy to hold down for long periods of time. If you have larger hands and like the feel of a taller controller with longer grips, this is for you. Being able to swap out modules mid-game is fantastic, and the controller is only really let down by the fact it's still wired-only.

The Scuf Instinct Pro requires AA batteries, like standard Xbox pads, unlike the Elite which houses a lithium ion battery. The ability to swap in a fresh pair of batteries mid-tournament is potentially a selling point, and lithium ion batteries are meant to have a finite shelf life. Though it's not something I've ever experienced with my Elite pad in the past few years of use. The best Xbox One controller overall, in our opinion, is the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. It offers impressive customisation options and is truly built for professional or intense gamers. Save for the mobile-only Razer Kishi, the controllers here are compatible with the latest Xbox Series S and Series X consoles and the older Xbox One. They’re also great for PC gaming. How We Selected It's style over substance when it comes to the Raikiri Pro. It isn't what I'd call a bad controller, but it certainly doesn't live up to what an Asus Pro controller with these specs could be. That said, the smaller size of this gamepad means it's a great option for both portability and for folks who want a pro controller but find the larger, chunkier pads a bit unwieldy. In smaller hands, those ergonomics might not be so bad, and throwing in a bag to use on your commute every morning with a phone would be super easy.This controller retains many of the features we loved about the original. It maintains the overall comfortable design and includes texturized rubber grips that provide a great feel in your hands. Similar to its predecessor, it boasts a vastly superior d-pad that you won't hesitate to use in fighting games and platformers, taking inspiration from the Xbox One Elite Series controllers. We capitalize "Wireless" for a reason—not because the word is a proper noun per se, but because the Xbox Wireless controller leverages Microsoft's wireless protocol called "Xbox Wireless." Though the name could benefit from some creative refinement, you can find comfort in the fact that, since 2016, the Xbox Wireless controller offers much-needed Bluetooth compatibility as well. Lastly, we should talk about the Wolverine V2’s most polarizing feature, the cord. It’s a three-meter rubber cable with a break-away connector near the USB end. The cable was long enough for me to reach from a TV to my couch across the room without any hassle. That said, it’s worth noting that the Series X/S’ proprietary wireless connection added “Dynamic Latency Input,” which reduces lag and missed inputs. Though I haven’t noticed a significant change in my first few weeks with the Series X, it may make the wired connection here less of a necessity for competitive play. Razer Wolverine V2 – Software What's more, you get some seriously conclusive customization software in Asus's Armoury Crate. This is a serious win, and it's also where you can customize your OLED display which is fun, if a bit pointless. Naturally, it often demands a price tag to match its premium nature, but we have seen this level out at a new, lower price range which is encouraging (or potentially is heralding the arrival of the Elite Series 3 perhaps...). But anyway, what that means, in reality, is the Elite Series 2 is just more affordable than it has ever been and if you want a premium beast for the new-gen of consoles then this is still the one to beat.

Most of today’s best third-party Xbox gaming controllers are wired. Dealing with a cable guarantees that you or another player won’t ever have to worry about swapping or recharging batteries. For this reason, the wireless controllers we do review also work in wired mode. Through this menu, you can toggle things such as what Turtle Beach calls 'superhuman hearing' which isolates and amplifies subtle noises that would have otherwise been washed out in the chaos, such as gunfire and footsteps. In our testing, we found that this audio boost worked well to help us focus in the few games we tested it out on where the music could drown out such sound effects; Katana Zero, Hotline Miami, and Sonic Mania.That's just scratching the surface of what the Turtle Beach Recon Controller provides from a purely audio perspective, though you will need a wired gaming headset. We tested the EQ and the four different levels of audio intensity and found the results were more than pleasing through a Razer Kraken Tournament Edition headset. If you made the investment in an Xbox Series S or Series X console, whether for yourself or someone else, you’re probably eager to start playing. But if you haven’t already, and you want some additional or custom features, it’s worth considering upgrading the Xbox controller as well.So, is the result worth the money? Should you buy one instead of the Elite Series 2 - the current gold standard? It's a subjective matter best left in your capable hands, but if you do decide to invest, you'll find a handset at the top of its game. The controller market is in a great place at the moment. The Xbox One generation sparked a lot of interest in the production of pro controllers that blur the lines between the comfort and ease of gamepads, and the competitive functions of a mouse and keyboard. After Xbox came out with the Elite line, a myriad of choices exploded onto the shelves, and now there are so many great controllers to suit all hand shapes and game genres. Before we break down the explicit benefits of each controller in detail, it's worth noting that many of the options below will serve you as the best PC controllers too. UPDATE (November 1, 2023): Microsoft has further clarified that users who connect USB devices through the Xbox Adaptive Controller for accessibility purposes will not be impacted by the new restrictions. The Razer Wolverine Ultimate is a genuine contender to Microsoft’s excellent Series 2 Elite for the title of best Xbox One controller and arguably has even greater customization thanks to the additional M1/M2 shoulder buttons. The four buttons underneath the controller on the rear are less like paddles and more like additional triggers that might be a little bit more of a reach, but we found them far less susceptible to accidental touches than the Elite’s paddles that expand into your natural grip area. You also get a few swappable elements like taller or rounder analogs and a four or eight-directional d-pad.

Officially licensed products from third parties will remain unaffected (Image credit: Jennifer Young - Windows Central) We really think that this successfully builds on the initial iteration of the Wolverine from the last console generation, (still a great controller in itself for Xbox consoles), and given the V2's price is not too much more than the MSRP of the standard Xbox gamepad, it's worth a second look if some extra features and button are what you're after. If you're a fan of colorful lighting or own other Razer gaming hardware, you'll be glad to know that the Wolverine V2 Pro has some familiar light strips that frame its face. I say familiar because these are taken straight from the Chroma edition, and are controllable through the Razer Chroma RGB software. These are really nice design touches in my eyes, and make the controller as a whole feel so distinct from its rivals. The Razer Wolverine V2 might not be as flashy as previous versions of the hardware, and it might not have as many extra buttons, but it’s still clearly a high-performance controller.Some people might find the more hefty controller a bit jarring at first since it's heavier than the standard Xbox One controller by a few ounces. And while it's nice to swap out the standard d-pad, both the cross and faceted alternative d-pads take some getting used to, especially in fighting games like Dragonball FighterZ or Mortal Kombat 11. The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core takes the high quality of the full-fat Elite Series 2 and brings it down to a more affordable price point, making it one of the best Xbox Series X controllers out there. It's quite tough to know what the differences between these two controllers really are - besides the obvious colour changes. In fact, these two gamepads are practically identical in every way, and the main difference is the accessories you get bundled along with them. Though I've done some testing with first-person shooters, I've largely ignored the genre. While it may be necessary for console gamers, we're almost always going to use WASD for any kind of shooter. With that in mind, the games I used mainly for testing are the ones mentioned below: This brings me to my other issue with these buttons. They look fairly plush thanks to the texture scores through them, but they feel extremely firm to the press, which makes them yet harder to use. It's such a shame because had they been set along the grips, or even been a little less central to the controller's spine, it would have made a big difference. The additional bumpers, on the other hand, are fantastic and gave me extra functionality in HUNT: Showdown beyond other pro controllers.