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[Golgo 13]

With the Xbox One X out now, I can see myself spending a lot of time with the Xbox ecosystem in the next few years. I like the design of the standard controller for the system, but I wanted to hear some feedback on what owners of the Elite controller think about it. Does it justify its price point? Can you feel a big difference in build quality? Has it improved your playing experiences?

Let me know what you think of it, GAF.

 

[AllIsOneIsNone]

It's simply the best controller I've ever used. Build quality is great, but the real game changer is the paddles. I only use two of the small paddles, any more than that and my grip doesn't feel as comfortable. But that's all I ever need, it's easy to get used to them and it allows for more efficient control (less need to use the face buttons). The need for bumper jumper is gone; in shooters I usually map jump to the right paddle and duck/slide to the left. I imagine it also works great in racing and other action games.

 

[Memnoch]

I absolutely love it. It's hands down the best controller I've ever had the pleasure of using. It's worth every penny.

 

[hikarutilmitt]

I love mine for the games that benefit from not having to hit face buttons while using the camera: FPS, many TPS, etc. I actually have a Brook adapter to use it on my PS4 for the same types of games.

 

[MrBenchmark]

It’s a great controller but I would not buy one until it gets the improvements the the S controllers have more reliable RB LB buttons and the newer stiffer sticks. Great other wise after having to repair mine twice I traded it in and will look to get another once it get the S controller improvements including Bluetooth support.

 

[Adam_802]

Best controller ever imo

 

[FrenchFryFiend]

Best controller I have ever used but it has durability issues. If you buy one be sure to get an extended warranty on it. Also if you buy it I would suggest you use the paddles lol. I know of several people that bought one and never used the paddles, it kinda defeats the whoe purpose of buying one.

You shouldnt have to pay full price for one either, I see them on sale all the time now.

 

[imperium]

Well couldn't resist. Purchased an elite controller from Costco.com $119.00. Free shipping but had to pay tax. Costco is usually pretty good with supporting the products they sell, even after the manufacturers warranty expires.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Not sure if I can justify the price, but it's probably the best controller I've ever owned. You can definitely recognize that the build quality of this thing is different from all other controllers on the market.

As for how you play, I have no clue. It made my life easier in Titanfall 2 and going to bumper jumper and having all other face buttons on the paddles.

 

[Crzy1]

It's been a mixed bag for me. It feels high quality, but some of the inner workings aren't so great. My D pad has always been a bit wonky. Overall, I've been disappointed given the price I paid. Given that you can get a One S controller for less than a third of the price, it just doesn't offer enough value in my eyes. If you have money to burn and feel like you need the paddles, you might be satisfied with it.

 

[Dr.brain64]

The controller looks nice but the build quality is not worth the price. Both joysticks feel way too loose - I just don't have the precision I get from a ps4 controller. I hate the fact that it still uses AA batteries too.

I swear I'm not trolling: I own 2 xbox one elite consoles, 3 elite controllers total and I just bought an x (scorpio). I always felt the ps4 controller better built and more precise.

Conclusion, go for an xbox design lab controller and get the grips. You won't be missing much. It did not improve my gameplay experience over a normal controller.

 

[Spukc]

Best controller ever.
Only for real hardcore gamers 😎

 

[Golgo 13]

The controller looks nice but the build quality is not worth the price. Both joysticks feel way too loose - I just don't have the precision I get from a ps4 controller. I hate the fact that it still uses AA batteries too.

I swear I'm not trolling: I own 2 xbox one elite consoles, 3 elite controllers total and I just bought an x (scorpio). I always felt the ps4 controller better built and more precise.

Conclusion, go for an xbox design lab controller and get the grips. You won't be missing much. It did not improve my gameplay experience over a normal controller.

What’s so good about the lab controllers? Aren’t they just custom colors? Or is there a higher build quality I’m not aware of?

 

[HoldSteady]

I’ve got nothing but good things to say about it. At this point there’s no way I could go back to playing without paddles. I can’t believe it’s not the norm. It’s just so much more convenient and comfortable.

 

[rokkerkory]

$120 at costco worth it?

 

[RiccochetJ]

The controller looks nice but the build quality is not worth the price. Both joysticks feel way too loose - I just don't have the precision I get from a ps4 controller. I hate the fact that it still uses AA batteries too.

I swear I'm not trolling: I own 2 xbox one elite consoles, 3 elite controllers total and I just bought an x (scorpio). I always felt the ps4 controller better built and more precise.

Conclusion, go for an xbox design lab controller and get the grips. You won't be missing much. It did not improve my gameplay experience over a normal controller.

Oh god, the battery argument. Get some Eneloops.

I think you're trolling because you brought up the stupid battery argument where anyone who uses Eneloops on their Xbox and also owns a PS4 and the controller that has to be plugged in after 6 hours knows different.

If you're buying regular batteries, then you're a fool. If you want to have the PS4 controller experience, then sure go ahead and buy the XBox lithium battery they offer in stores.

Eneloops are love. Eneloops are life. In fact I want Sony to give me the option of having batteries in their next controller because whatever they're using right now is crap.

Edit:

$120 at costco worth it?

If you have the disposable income and were looking for another controller? Absolutely.

 

[HoldSteady]

$120 at costco worth it?

Absolutely. Honestly it’s fantastic. Start out with the small paddles as the left and right bumpers and the large paddles as the L3 and the R3.

 

[Amerzel]

I love mine. If they refreshed it to include the updated headphone jack and the other minor improvements the more recent controllers got I’d buy another one.

 

[T Ghost]

Absolutely love it. It is simply another level. Materials, weight, design, customization.

Only downside is the price. $150 is too much. $99 would be a perfect price.

 

[Deception]

I love mine. I mainly play FPS games and only use two of the paddles for A and X, typically jump and reload, and can't imagine going back to a non-paddled controller. Occasionally my brother plays on my Xbox and takes the paddles off and when I get back on and theyre not there it just feels off.

I will say there are some durability issues as my sticks have gotten a tad lose over the last year of me using it but still not a deal breaker.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

I love it. Its just the right weight and has a nice non plastic feeling texture to it. Paddles are great. Definitely the best controller MS has ever created.

 

[neurophd]

Paddles and configurable stick reactivity is very nice. However, I have had to replace top buttons twice and my left stick is drifting. Going to try to replace (solder) stick module, have already tried less invasive suggestions. So...I am not impressed with build quality.

 

[Mattyp]

Cost me $199 in Australia, but best controller ever used like every other poster in this thread.

 

[Ason]

Best controller I ever had, period.

Can't play without my paddles. =)

 

[longdi]

Still lousy for football and 3rd person action games

 

[Bioshocker]

Best controller ever. Everything the OG Xbox One controller is and more.

 

[MysteryM]

Still lousy for football and 3rd person action games

Yours is the only negative comment here. It's good to hear contrasting views, can you elaborate on what's wrong with it please?

 

[LastNac]

This thing ever on sale?

 

[TriAceJP]

Great controller. Costs too much.

 

[dezzy8]

Best controller ever. If you can afford it, buy it.

 

[BatSu]

Best controller ever.

This

 

[nush]

My favorite controller, even if it was costly.

 

[Lort]

Once u go Elite you never go back.

 

[jadedm17]

Yea, I'll support Elite of bust sentiments.

I've had mine over a year and barely scratched the customization surface yet the weight and feel alone make it hard to go back to a regular Xbox controller.

I wish my PS4 had something similar.

The controller looks nice but the build quality is not worth the price. Both joysticks feel way too loose - I just don't have the precision I get from a ps4 controller. I hate the fact that it still uses AA batteries too.

I swear I'm not trolling: I own 2 xbox one elite consoles, 3 elite controllers total and I just bought an x (scorpio). I always felt the ps4 controller better built and more precise.

Conclusion, go for an xbox design lab controller and get the grips. You won't be missing much. It did not improve my gameplay experience over a normal controller.

I've heard the build quality to be iffy - and personally have uneven bumpers, but thats only visually, it's not effected use - but with warranties and easy store returns find this mostly a non issue.

If you don't care for the feel of the one you got then return it.
If you don't like the next then try a different store.

This is easier with credit cards of course.

We're fundamentally different of course : I love the DS4 but nothing beats the Xbox design to me, the general casing alone is superior to me. You may not miss much without an Elite but if you're playing hours daily I find it to greatly enhance enjoyability.

 

[Triteon]

The Elite is a good controller, i have two, got one with Elite console and i bought one when i caught a sale.

I prefer them over all the other controllers out this gen. I love the shape, weight and customisation. But that being said i still think they are overpriced, and while i havent had any build quality issues a friend of mine has, which is very disappointing with such an expensive supposedly "high end" product.

 

[ManUnkindH]

I've been using it for the last 1.5 years extensively for both Xbox One and PS4 via cronusmax plus. Best damn controller ever made, worth every penny. Everything else pales in comparison.

 

[JustCheeze]

Great controller. Definitely worth the price if you can plunk down the money on it. Is it better than any of the third-party custom controllers (no I don't mean from the norms of Razer btw)? Yes. Microsoft has deep enough resources to ensure a standard build quality where as many other third parties like AiM, Scuf, Battlebeever and so on cannot achieve. There are a lot more variances and hit-miss cases with the hand assembled custom controllers.

Definitely get the Elite if you can!

 

[Soodanim]

I owned the Elite controller for a week. I found it uncomfortable on my fingers due to the textured grip, the clicky D-pad is an absolute sin, and I found the paddles too cluttered with all four in and not comfortable enough with just two in. All in all, it was the worst gaming purchase I've ever made considering the cost. A friend's discount is the only reason I didn't lose more on the resale (sold to a 2nd hand chain to get rid of it quickly).

I play on PC, and between the DS4 and the Steam Controller I have everything I could want covered now.

 

[ZanDatsu]

Best controller ever made, makes others feel like cheap plastic toys in comparison.

 

[Memorabilia]

Best controller ever made, makes others feel like cheap plastic toys in comparison.

This. Before they hit end of life on the Xbone Elite, I picked up (3) of em for not much more than the cost of the elite controller by itself. Have (2) in reserve just in case they never make a revision or the revision isn't as good. The elite controller is far and away the best controller ever. And it's not close.

 

[Maso]

I absolutely love it. Back paddles need to become a standard.

 

[FrenchFryFiend]

This thing ever on sale?

Yes it is on sale sometimes for sure. I dont see it on sale anywhere at the moment though.

 

[Donny K.]

I also went elitist (ehehe) on the Elite controller.

TLDR: I love it, if your not super into customization its very worth the (disposable) money. I would not want to use another controller. I even bought another one on sale as a spare. PC gaming 90%.

There is definitely a different, exquisite feel just from picking it up. Everybody i handed this to (casuals and hardcore alike) paused for a moment and had some positive reaction to the weight and heft of the thing. It really has that Apple marketed premium feeling you will definitely notice it even after a long time of using it. When you grab a normal controller you will notice how many shortcomings they made to be mass market priceable.

Build quality is very good, not excellent, i really put that thing through something in the last 12 months and it still feels (almost) new. My GF which plays casually but regularly isnt as nice to it as i am, and still,

The customization options are good.

Heres my (high level) nitpicks:

Customization:

As someone that loves to customize, i miss the L3 and R3 i had on the Razer Sabertooth, my favorite controller before the Elite.
I REALLY miss the Sabertooths little display and on the fly customization. It had a feature where you switch it to assign mode and then hold one of the additional buttons (4 paddles on the back and the aforementioned L3 and R3) and then just hit the controller function you want to assign. Unlike the Elite, as far as i remember you could map everything, including stick movement. You could also adjust Stick sensitivities on the fly and on the controller, no software or going out of game at all, and you could save profiles.

I really miss that, made me customize and enjoy game controls much more. For this one i just have to pedals for the stickclicks (most atrocious control ever imho) and usually X and A on the others so i dont have to take my thumb of the right stick for looting in games like Wolfenstein, Far Cry and basically every game now.

Build:

As others mentioned before, the Bumpers are gonna break, they hinge on plastic which is just hackwork for a controller of this pricetag and otherwise great quality. Its 10 bucks and a minor annoyance of 30 minutes to replace them. I recommend getting them with the controller, much less of a pain when it eventually happens, which it unfortunately will. And who knows if that stuff stays available forever.

The Razer Sabretooth also had microclick facebuttons which i enjoyed IMMENSELY and miss on the Elite.

Disclaimer:
I do not recommend getting the Sabretooth, really. Dont. The build quality is atrocious. Im careful with my stuff and still had to replace it 3 times in only 2 months. I had the sticks break quickly, firmware problems and Razerstyle they come with completely unnecessary custom cable input. I got addicted to the features so i stuck with it till the Elite came out. Still have 2 since i grabbed 4 refurbs cheaply at a sale a while ago.

I did order one of the new Razer Wolverines, if that thing has good sticks and the customization i might go over to that, although it looks like a dumb toy imho. I regret it already now that i think about it.

Sorry if this was too long, i guess i had some thoughts on it that i think might be useful if your on the edge. XD

 

[vypermajik]

I absolutely love it. The base kit includes different thumb grip sizes and shapes, and you can invest in even more with some PDP after market addons. I liked the larger sizes of the Gears of War thumb grips and use them instead.

I've had it since launch day and whenever possible prefer to use it over a DualShock 4. The ability to always keep my right thumb on the aiming stick for FPS games, (due to back paddles for face buttons) has increased my KDR on every FPS I play.

Highly recommended!

 

[solis74]

Now i really want to buy one, is it worth it if you maninly play RPG's or Action adventure games, and not shooters?

 

[jorkila]

I traded a guy £50 and a regular controller from my OG console, whether it makes my play any better I'm not sure as I don't really use it enough!!

Build quality is great and racing games if you don't have a wheel, this is the next best thing!!

 

[jorkila]

Oh god, the battery argument. Get some Eneloops.

I think you're trolling because you brought up the stupid battery argument where anyone who uses Eneloops on their Xbox and also owns a PS4 and the controller that has to be plugged in after 6 hours knows different.

If you're buying regular batteries, then you're a fool. If you want to have the PS4 controller experience, then sure go ahead and buy the XBox lithium battery they offer in stores.

Eneloops are love. Eneloops are life. In fact I want Sony to give me the option of having batteries in their next controller because whatever they're using right now is crap.

Edit:

If you have the disposable income and were looking for another controller? Absolutely.

Can rechargable AA's be charged whilst in the controller? (I've never tried as I use the play and charge kits)!

 

[highrider]

Paddles and configurable stick reactivity is very nice. However, I have had to replace top buttons twice and my left stick is drifting. Going to try to replace (solder) stick module, have already tried less invasive suggestions. So...I am not impressed with build quality.

This is why I’ve never jumped on one, for 150 it shouldn’t be having durability issues. A few of my friends have them and they swear by the controller, but they’ve also had issues with buttons and other stuff.

 

[Shifty]

I'm surprised the elite still doesn't have the S improvements. Between that and the build quality issues, there's no way I'd spend out full price on one.

Can't be giving up my bluetooth support and non-shit bumpers.

 

[ClearData]

As a gamer with a neuromuscular disorder the paddles and textured grip make playing my favorite action adventure games easier and with more comfort and less pain.

Cons are that Bluetooth and the S improvements have not made it into an updated model. I have to plug in a dongle on PC or use a Micro USB cable.

If they updated it I’d buy a new one tomorrow. It’s the best controller I’ve ever owned.