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Close-up of an Xbox wireless controller, white with black rubber grips, on a wood-grain surface. The thumbstick grips and smooth chrome D-pad button have been removed for display. Credit: Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith

The Best Xbox One Controllers of 2023

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Close-up of an Xbox wireless controller, white with black rubber grips, on a wood-grain surface. The thumbstick grips and smooth chrome D-pad button have been removed for display. Credit: Reviewed / Matthew S. Smith

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Product image of Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller

Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller

The Elite Series 2 comes with a number of interchangeable parts for customizing your play style as well as a built-in rechargeable battery. Read More

Pros

  • Designed for competition and accessibility
  • Performance-grade construction
  • Highly customizable

Cons

  • Occasional defective parts
Product image of Scuf Instinct Pro Performance Controller

Scuf Instinct Pro Performance Controller

Pros love the grippy texture on the underside and the paddle design, which makes them a lot more like traditional buttons than the Elite’s metal ones. Read More

Pros

  • Designed for competition and accessibility
  • Textured grips and non-slip surface
  • Highly customizable

Cons

  • Occasional thumbstick drift
Product image of Xbox Wireless Controller (Electric Volt)

Xbox Wireless Controller (Electric Volt)

This is the classic Xbox One controller with some modern quality-of-life improvements for the Series X era—with a flashy yellow-green coat of paint. Read More

Pros

  • Superior design and comfort
  • Attractive yellow-green hue

Cons

  • No underside paddle support
Product image of Xbox Wireless Controller (Blue)

Xbox Wireless Controller (Blue)

This is the classic Xbox One controller with some modern quality-of-life improvements for the Series X era—in a simple, clean blue color. Read More

Pros

  • Superior design and comfort
  • Minimalist blue aesthetic

Cons

  • No underside paddle support
Product image of Stellar Shift Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller

Stellar Shift Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller

This Stellar Shift controller’s one of the best-looking Xbox products on the market right now, but it lacks the bells and whistles of an Elite. Read More

Pros

  • Superior design and comfort
  • Gorgeous paint job

Cons

  • No underside paddle support

If you’re playing video games on an Xbox or PC, you need a controller that’s up to the task. There’s a variety of high-end controllers for competitive players out there. Not to mention stylish limited-edition designs that let you express yourself. And we’ve got tons of hands-on experience with this particular category.

Microsoft’s Elite Series 2 is easy to recommend. It’s highly customizable, built to withstand years of regular use, and is a little more accessible than your standard gamepad. A lot of serious players also swear by the Scuf brand, and the Instinct series in particular. Each of them comes with “paddles” underneath that let you keep your thumbs on the sticks.

Here are some of the best Xbox One controllers on the market right now.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Product image of Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller
Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller

The best gaming controller I’ve ever owned was the original Xbox Elite; it lasted for about five years of constant use. Till the day my four-year-old got ahold of it. I know esports professionals who use the stock Xbox Elite Series Controller, right out of the box, in championship play.

It takes the classic Xbox controller design and marries it to high-quality, top-of-the-line components. It comes with a number of interchangeable parts to suit your play style. These include alternate thumbsticks, two D-pads, and four paddles for the underside of the controller. It’s also got a built-in rechargeable battery.

You can connect the controller to any modern Xbox or PC via wireless, Bluetooth, or the included USB-C cable. With the configurable paddles, you can map your A, B, X, and Y face buttons to the bottom of the controller. This lets you keep your thumbs on the analog sticks at all times.

Pros

  • Designed for competition and accessibility

  • Performance-grade construction

  • Highly customizable

Cons

  • Occasional defective parts

Product image of Scuf Instinct Pro Performance Controller
Scuf Instinct Pro Performance Controller

The most skilled folks I’ve played Halo and Apex Legends with swear by Scuf’s Instinct controllers. They’re generally a little pricier than the Elite, but players love the athletic, grippy texture on the underside. And the paddles are designed to feel a lot more like traditional buttons than the Elite’s metal ones.

Like the Elite, the Instinct lets you customize a lot of the pieces, toggle hair triggers on and off, and swap between different configuration profiles with the flip of a switch. Some reviewers say their Instinct developed thumbstick drift.

Pros

  • Designed for competition and accessibility

  • Textured grips and non-slip surface

  • Highly customizable

Cons

  • Occasional thumbstick drift

Product image of Xbox Wireless Controller (Electric Volt)
Xbox Wireless Controller (Electric Volt)

This is the classic Xbox wireless controller with some modern quality-of-life improvements for the Series X era. It’s compatible with any Xbox One or Xbox Series console, and most Windows PCs, via wireless, Bluetooth, or the included USB-C cable.

There aren’t any paddles on the underside, and it takes two standard AA batteries, but these are a joy to use. This controller offers a flashy yellow-green “Electric Volt” color that’s evocative of Mountain Dew—or the first two Xbox consoles. They’re pretty affordable, so I tend to replace mine every couple years when a new color comes along that speaks to me.

Pros

  • Superior design and comfort

  • Attractive yellow-green hue

Cons

  • No underside paddle support

Product image of Xbox Wireless Controller (Blue)
Xbox Wireless Controller (Blue)

If you’re a fan of the color blue and need a new controller to get the most out of your new fighting game or Xbox Game Pass subscription, this lovely blue wireless controller will do the trick.

It features the built-in “Share button” in the center, for taking screenshots and video clips on the Xbox Series consoles. It’s got a nice, smooth plastic D-pad, grippy rubber sticks, and standard plastic hand grips.

Pros

  • Superior design and comfort

  • Minimalist blue aesthetic

Cons

  • No underside paddle support

Product image of Stellar Shift Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller
Stellar Shift Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller

If you want the prettiest controller out there, or something “limited edition,” this special Stellar Shift controller is one of the best-looking Xbox products on the market right now.

It’s a standard Xbox Wireless Controller, with USB-C, Bluetooth, and wireless connectivity. It’s got a built-in share button and takes a couple AA batteries if you want to use it wirelessly. Feature-wise, it’s light on bells and whistles, but it’s as beautiful as controllers get and would look great on camera for live-streaming and such.

Pros

  • Superior design and comfort

  • Gorgeous paint job

Cons

  • No underside paddle support

Meet the tester

Alex Kane

Alex Kane

Sr. Editor, Search & Updates

@alexjkane

Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.

See all of Alex Kane's reviews

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