The Xbox Elite Collection 2 Controller, in its default configuration. In contrast to 2015's design, which had a silver bar on its prime, this one has a very easy black exterior. I desire this unified design, personally.
Sam Machkovech
The field.
The carrying case, which is nearly the very same because the final mannequin's, by way of dimensions.
Sam Machkovech
The way it seems contained in the case.
Sam Machkovech
Truly, that is how mine appeared when it arrived. The assorted elements flew off on their very own whereas in transit.
Normal Xbox One gamepad on the left; Elite Collection 2 on the correct.
Extra angles.
Discover that textured grip; that is new within the Elite Collection 2 in comparison with the unique. Additionally, no colours on the buttons.
Extra of the front-side textured grip.
USB Sort-C? Say it ain't so. Additionally, a greater have a look at how the "unified" all-black-on-top design remains to be offset by a good-looking silver accent by way of the bumper and set off buttons.
This large, six-foot USB Sort-C cable matches neatly into the case's mesh pocket.
There is not a lot room left to refine Xbox's imaginative and prescient of a normal sport controller. That appears loopy once we bear in mind design historical past like 2001's Duke or the 1990s' Sidewinder, however as soon as the Xbox 360 pad emerged, that was just about that. Microsoft proved itself a controller-design titan with the 360, and we have solely seen light touch-ups within the decade-plus since.
The exception comes within the type of the Xbox Elite Controller, a $150 fork that debuted in 2015 as a uncommon instance of a premium-priced controller coming immediately from a console maker. (You must return to Nintendo's lap-sized Benefit from 1986 for a comparable peer.)
Was Elite a superb product? On paper, sure. However we struggled to believe it earned its $150 price tag.
4 years later, after years of rumors and mumblings, Xbox has lastly emerged with an Elite replace: the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller. We're glad to see a touched-up Elite emerge, however in the event you have been hoping that Microsoft would spend 4 years of R&D on getting the worth down, we now have dangerous information. You are getting extra from Elite Collection 2, however you are additionally paying extra.
Hair set off, now... hairier?
Functionally, the brand new $180 Elite 2 is in the identical league as its predecessor, in that each new tweak from the primary Elite returns with its personal enchancment.
Let's begin with the hair-trigger possibility. The primary Elite allow you to toggle a change for both or each of the bigger set off buttons ("LT" and "RT") to cut back their button journey by roughly half. That full analog vary is often helpful in a driving sport or flight sim, but it surely's all however ineffective in a shooter. The primary Elite's bodily change decreased the finger distance between urgent down and reaching that pivotal "click on" of a press, and the choice was certifiably welcome. Much less finger journey, extra shooty-shooty!
On the Elite Collection 2, you may modify that hair-trigger change to a further, ultra-sensitive stage. You'll be able to put your triggers all however on par with the close by bumper buttons ("LB" and "RB"). Crank the hair-trigger change as much as its new most, and you may really feel solely the slightest little bit of journey earlier than reaching that satisfying click on.
There's simply sufficient give to discern you could nonetheless successfully half-press the set off on this state, so it does not flip the triggers into purely clicky buttons. Nevertheless it's a cool, twitchy possibility all the identical. I am personally extra a fan of the "medium" hair-trigger possibility, which is sort of an identical to the toggle on the primary Elite. However I may see myself switching to probably the most excessive setting for sure shooter video games.
A greater have a look at the case's contents, minus the paddles...
Sam Machkovech
...that are already hooked up to the Elite Collection 2.
Like final time, they pop proper off with the correct of angled tug. Which means, they will not unintentionally pop off.
Above the remaining paddle, you will see a revised hair-trigger change. Now you may cut back the journey of your index fingers on the set off buttons by half and by roughly 80%. Earlier than, you may solely cut back the journey by half.
The polygon-sphere D-pad from the earlier gallery pops proper off if you'd like.
Exchange it with a shiny, silver D-pad, which clasps magnetically.
What's this factor tucked into the carrying case?
Oh, it is the charging stand.
And it comes out of the case, if you'd like.
Or go away it within the case, then join your USB 3.zero Sort-C cable to it by way of this little opening within the case.
A sequence of 4 under-controller "paddle" buttons return to Elite Collection 2, as nicely, and these feel and look largely an identical to the unique model. They're mapped to Xbox's ABXY button array by default, and so they let customers entry these face buttons with their center and ring fingers in order that thumbs can relaxation on joysticks (arguably a pro-tier improve for any first-person shooter sport).
Years of ergonomic testing will need to have revealed one thing in regards to the authentic paddle association, as a result of this time, the center fingers' paddles have been barely shrunk. My fingers soften into this association extra neatly, however I am shocked the unique size wasn't tucked into the field as an possibility, since these paddles simply snap off (principally to get out of your manner if you do not need any of them hooked up). Similar to final time, these paddles' button assignments could be reassigned as you see match through the use of an app on both Home windows 10 PCs or Xbox One consoles. (You'll be able to reassign any of the buttons this fashion, truly, and save as much as three profiles' price of controller settings.)
Elite Collection 2 additionally features a swappable sequence of joysticks. Like on the final mannequin, these connect by way of magnetic clasps and pop off with a agency tug. The concept being, Elite enables you to pick modified joystick tops that connect on the {hardware} stage as an alternative of cheaply attaching rubber covers to your present controller. It is nonetheless intelligent as hell with none sense of wobble or looseness.
The unique Elite included a double-tall joystick stem possibility, which successfully modified the physics of how far it is advisable to push a joystick to succeed in varied motion and rotation thresholds, and that possibility returns in an identical type. I personally prefer it as an possibility for the right-side joystick, notably with sensitivity cranked up, for the sake of first-person aiming.
Briefly: the identical pair of D-pads from the final Elite return, and the polygon-sphere possibility nonetheless strikes me as a cool gimmick. I take advantage of a D-pad once I demand precision from a aggressive, old-school sport like Shovel Knight or Tetris, and the very first thing I did after a fast take a look at was take away the polygon-sphere possibility from my case totally. For higher or worse, it is an identical to its final model (and the identical goes for the stable D-pad).
I’d like a double-tall convex: Most pressure, no foam
In the meantime, the opposite non-obligatory joysticks on this 12 months's mannequin are all refreshed. The most effective is a revision to the convex joystick head, which now comes with a welcome sample of round grooves, in contrast to final mannequin's completely easy prime. One different new joystick features a concave topper, but it surely's flatter and wider than the Xbox One customary—arguably an enchancment for anybody with large thumb pads.
In dangerous information, these new flatter-and-wider joysticks take up two slots within the controller's almost an identical carrying case. Which means the set solely consists of one taller joystick and one convex joystick. You'll be able to't double up on both of these joysticks in the event you like them (until Microsoft decides to promote them as particular person upgrades).
Regulate the joysticks' pressure utilizing this included joystick key.
Learn how to modify the joysticks' pressure.
Some photographs from the controller's handbook.
Study new languages this fashion.
Learn how to modify the hair-trigger setting.
Paddles and d-pads.
3 ways to cost.
It is a bizarre transfer for a premium-priced controller—what, $180 is not sufficient?—however Microsoft makes up for this by including a brand new adjustable-tension possibility for its joysticks. Need slightly extra resistance by way of how exhausting you need to press every joystick from the middle? Pop off the present joystick head, then insert a skinny key into the cross-shaped topper and switch it clockwise. You get two enhance choices for elevated pressure.
How a lot pressure are you able to count on? Not a lot. It is a delicate impact, a lot in order that I'd imagine Microsoft if the corporate informed me the function did not truly work and I used to be experiencing a placebo impact. The exception comes from the double-tall joystick stem, which requires twice the bodily distance to press in any course. Put this on, then change the stress toggle from "1" to "3": the distinction is completely obvious.
It is this consideration to control-sensation element that boils down my purchase-recommendation matrix, by the best way. In the event you suppose you'd discover that sort of joystick-tension sensation and you've got $180 to blow on a brand new controller for Xbox consoles, computer systems, and Bluetooth-compatible gadgets, do it. If not, stick along with your $40-60 pad of selection.
Bluetooth, battery, base, and bucks
Talking of: Elite Collection 2 lastly consists of Bluetooth assist. Why Microsoft skipped that within the final mannequin is past us—possibly it is as a result of Microsoft did not add a Bluetooth chipset to any Xbox controllers till 2016. Regardless of the trigger, that is precisely the hardware-agnostic replace you would possibly have to bump this controller slightly larger in your Christmas wishlist.
That is additionally the primary official Xbox gamepad to incorporate a USB 3.zero Sort-C port, as a result of... maintain on, am I studying this clearly? There is a built-in battery on this factor? Sure, and it guarantees 40 hours of battery life. I will be again to replace this a part of the article after getting by way of a full 40-hour controller burn to attest to its preliminary battery potential. However that 40-hour promise is already nicely above the five-hour battery common of PS4's DualShock four pads—that are infamous for turning into inefficient after solely months of use.
Probably the most extravagant waste on this package deal comes from the brand new "charging stand," which has its personal USB Sort-C port and magnetically clasps with the Elite Collection 2. You'll be able to plug a powered USB Sort-C cable into this stand, then slap the controller on it, and it will recharge that manner. You'll be able to even go away the charging stand inside the Elite Collection 2's carrying case, then entry its USB Sort-C port by way of a tiny gap within the carrying case.
Although that case-hole gimmick is slick in motion, I want consumers may save $20-30 by getting the controller by itself. It already has a freaking USB Sort-C port. It does not want this different junk.
In fact, we're in overkill territory with the Elite Collection 2, so I am lacking the purpose by requesting any nickel-and-diming. Nevertheless it's a reminder that our largest want in 2015 was to see any of the primary Elite's cool capabilities—particularly, these 4 paddles—trickle right down to extra reasonably priced Xbox One controller fashions. That by no means got here to go, and it probably by no means will (although third-party controller producers certain have taken that paddle idea and run with it).
I do have a way that there is higher construct high quality this time round, to not point out an improved default feeling within the palms due to a wider software of texturized rubber on the controller's physique. (The primary Elite solely had this texture on its bottom; this one applies the identical texture over either side.) However that sense comes after solely a few days of testing. Earlier Elite consumers have to wonder if Microsoft has internally addressed defects like drifting joysticks and defective bumper buttons that emerged with the unique Elite mannequin—which solely had a 90-day guarantee hooked up. That was a tough controller-shaped tablet to swallow for anyone who paid $150. (We have reached out to Microsoft with questions in regards to the authentic Elite's reliability.)
If the controller holds up within the face of long-term abuse, a minimum of, then it is certainly a worthy successor to the Elite, and its tweaks and upgrades would have been a better suggestion within the $150 vary. However Microsoft could not assist itself in valuing the interior battery as a $30 improve, versus recognizing the expectation {that a} premium-grade gaming system ought to simply include a built-in battery.
In brief: the 2019 mannequin is lastly well worth the 2015 value, by way of combining pro-gamer options and utter polish. Microsoft in all probability assumes that, in the event you're already intrigued on the $150 stage, then it will possibly hit you with the $30 luxurious tax. Whereas that annoys me, Microsoft might be proper.
Itemizing picture by Sam Machkovech