Which Xbox Controller Should You Actually Buy?
The standard Xbox Wireless Controller wins on comfort and compatibility; only skip it if you need paddles or rechargeable power.
Shortlistd Editorial
Editor
Which Xbox Controller Should You Actually Buy?
By Editorial Team | April 2026
The standard Xbox Wireless Controller is still the easy default for Xbox and PC because it feels right, works almost everywhere, and gets out of your way. It’s not the fanciest pad here, but it’s the one most people will actually keep using.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Xbox Wireless Controller | £49.99 | Everyday Xbox and PC play with no setup drama |
| Best upgrade | Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core | £109.99 | Players who want paddles, tighter tuning, and a more serious feel |
| Best budget | GameSir G7 SE | £49.99 | Wired play with hall-effect sticks and a lot of value for the money |
Based on hands-on research, expert review consensus (RTings, Wirecutter, relevant subreddits), and current pricing.
Best overall: Xbox Wireless Controller
Xbox Wireless Controller — £49.99
This is the safest buy if you want one controller that works cleanly across Xbox, Windows, Bluetooth devices, and cloud play without fuss. Its 8.2/10 score makes sense: the comfort is excellent, the layout is familiar, and the features that matter — hybrid D-pad, textured grips, Share button, USB-C, Bluetooth, and Xbox Wireless — all do real work.
Why we picked it:
- The sculpted shell and textured grip stay comfortable through longer sessions.
- The hybrid D-pad is a proper improvement for menus, fighters, and platformers.
- USB-C, Bluetooth, and Xbox Wireless give you broad compatibility without extra setup.
The trade-off: it still runs on AA batteries, so you’re paying for convenience with either disposables or a recharge kit.
If you want the default answer done properly, buy the Xbox Wireless Controller.
Best upgrade: Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core — £109.99
This is the step up if you actually care about control, not just connection. The extra money buys adjustable-tension thumbsticks, rubberised grip, and the kind of customisation that matters when you play the same games every week and want a controller that feels dialled in.
Worth it if: you want a more serious pad for shooters, competitive play, or long sessions on PC and Xbox.
Best budget pick: GameSir G7 SE
GameSir G7 SE — £49.99
The G7 SE is the budget pick because it gives you a lot of the stuff cheaper controllers usually skip: wired reliability, hall-effect thumbsticks, and a familiar Xbox-style layout. You give up wireless freedom, but you also avoid battery anxiety and get a controller that feels built for people who care about drift and input consistency.
Worth it if: you play mostly at a desk and would rather spend your money on better controls than wireless convenience.
Also worth considering
PowerA Advantage Plus Wired Controller for Xbox — £29.99
This is the cheap-and-cheerful option if you want a wired Xbox pad and don’t want to spend much. The low price is the point, but it’s still a compromise pick: you’re buying a simpler controller, not a smarter one.
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 — £114.96
This is the fuller-featured Elite option for buyers who want the premium route without stopping at the Core model. It costs more, and you should expect to pay for it, but it’s the one to look at if you know you want the Elite ecosystem rather than just a nicer standard pad.
Microsoft Xbox Series X Wireless Controller Carbon Black — £38.66
This is basically the same core Xbox formula at a lower street price. It’s a sensible buy if you’re hunting a deal and don’t care about paying extra for a colourway or bundle.
PowerA Wireless Controller for Xbox Series X|S — £72
This sits in the awkward middle: wireless, officially licensed, and more feature-led than the cheapest pads, but not priced low enough to feel like a bargain. Buy it only if a specific feature set appeals and you’ve ruled out Microsoft’s own controller.
Xbox Wireless Controller Carbon Black — £49.99
Same winning shape, same broad compatibility, different finish. If you just want the standard controller in the classic black look, this is the cleanest no-drama option.
Xbox Wireless Controller – Pulse Cipher Special Edition — £39.27
This is for people who want the standard Xbox controller but prefer a special finish and spot a good deal. It doesn’t change the actual buying case; it just makes the same controller look less ordinary.
How we chose
We looked at comfort, cross-platform compatibility, feature set, and the things that actually annoy real buyers: battery life, wireless reliability, stick feel, and whether the controller is worth the price over time. We also checked current availability and pricing, then lined that up with Wirecutter’s long-running recommendation and broader expert consensus.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Xbox Wireless Controller good for PC gaming? Yes. It’s one of the safest PC controller picks because most games recognise it properly and the layout matches what a lot of PC titles expect.
Why not just buy the Elite controller? Because most people don’t need paddles, tension adjustment, or profile-heavy customisation. If you’re not chasing performance tweaks, the standard controller is better value.
Do I need rechargeable batteries? If you hate dead batteries, yes. The controller works fine with AAs, but a rechargeable pack or rechargeable AAs makes ownership less annoying.
Products in this article
