The time has arrived and the newest elite controller from Microsoft is finally out. After riding my series 1 elite controller to its last legs, I was happier than a kid on Christmas when I bought the series 2. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 was first introduced at E3 2019 and marketed as the most advanced controller for console and there are several notable features that separate this controller from its predecessor.
With the new controller, Microsoft added two new features not seen in the previous version. The first is the inclusion of adjustable tension in the thumbsticks giving users the opportunity to tune their resistance for a personalized feel. The next new feature is the change over to a built in rechargeable battery. Although I learned to buy rechargeable AA batteries over the years to minimize the inconvenience of having to buy a new pack, I still think this is a nice touch. Microsoft also decided to make this controller’s case a little more functional as well by turning it into a charging station for your controller. However you can still charge the controller directly if the battery gets low while you’re playing.
Now the feature that I was looking forward to the most were the extra trigger stops. I like to stay competitive when it comes to my favorite FPS Call of Duty, and these extra trigger stops help me to do just that. As seen in the series 1, you can create custom profiles for each of the different games you play which helps to create a tailored experience. For series 2 however, they added an extra profile slot on the controller, making for three unique and conveniently located controller layouts that are just a button press away.
Just like the series 1 controller, the series 2 brings with it different types of thumbsticks as well as back paddles and two different D-pads, although both the thumbsticks and the paddles are slightly different from the previous controller’s. The thumbsticks feature different patterns and shapes meant to increase grip and the paddles are slightly smaller, which threw me off at first.
When it comes to size, I do not feel that much of a difference in weight between the two controllers. Though both controllers are considerably heavier than the none elite Xbox controllers. I do like the difference in the rubber grips and I hope that these grips will last me a great deal longer than the original elite controller.
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I believe this controller is already better than the previous iteration in the short time that I’ve had it. It has a much cleaner look and feel to it and has many great features to go with it. For any Xbox gamers that want to buy something for themselves, this would be my recommendation.