Expensive peripherals are nothing new in the gaming industry. Even the Nintendo Entertainment System, dating all the way back to the very first popular home console, had its fair share of unnecessarily expensive add-ons, from the Zapper to the Power Glove to the infamously redundant ROB. Today, these expensive peripherals tend to revolve around different methods of controlling a game, with racing wheels and motion controllers being quite prominent. But by far the most common console gaming peripheral is the pro controller, an expensive console designed specifically for competitive play, with many customizable components. While there are plenty on the market, the Elite Series controllers are from Xbox possibly the best out there.
Originally launched in October 2015, the Xbox Elite controller was packed with shiny bells and whistles, from a new D-Pad to adjustable thumbsticks, triggers, and some back buttons. In November 2019, Xbox released the Elite Series 2 controller, an upgrade from its predecessor in almost every way. And now, in September 2022, Xbox has just released the Elite Series 2 Core controller, a lower-cost model designed to deliver the same competitive experience, at a fraction of the cost. But before deciding which controller to purchase, fans may want to know the key differences between each model in the Elite series.
How the Xbox Elite Series 2 compares to the original model
When the original Xbox Elite controller came out in 2015, it was state-of-the-art, especially for the console market. Based on the Xbox One controller design, the Elite had a few defining features that set it apart from its competition, and made it one of the best pro controllers out there. The Elite came with a handful of interchangeable thumbsticks and two different D-Pads, which were easily swapped out on the spot. The paddles on the back of the controller can all be assigned to any button on the controller. And the sensitivity of the triggers can be manually adjusted to better suit the user’s playing style.
At first glance, the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller offers a fairly identical set of features, although there are some notable improvements with the revised model. The Elite Series 2 comes with the same general components as its predecessor, with some interchangeable thumbsticks and D-Pads, but it also comes with a new tuning tool that can be used to adjust the controller’s thumbstick tension. The Elite Series 2 also comes in a sturdy case that doubles as a charging port, as the new Elite Series 2 has a rechargeable battery, which the previous model didn’t have.
In appearance, the Elite Series 2 is slightly more subtle than the original, with more black highlights than silver. The rear paddles are also slightly smaller on this model, making the input more accurate. The triggers on the Series 2 have also received some subtle upgrades, with a textured grip and three-speed settings to better customize the experience. The handles of the controller also have a textured grip for added comfort.
The major difference between the two Xbox Elite Series models is that the revised variant can take advantage of a range of software features. Accessible through the Xbox Accessories app, the Elite Series 2 has three customizable profiles to choose from, each of which can be instantly swapped using the controller’s center button. These profiles allow the user to mess around with a plethora of technicalities, from thumbstick dead zones, to causing tension and everything in between. While the original Elite Series offered many of the same features, the Elite Series 2 makes it all much easier to control and customize.
How the new core Xbox Elite Series 2 model compares to the rest of the line
Released just a week ago, the new Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller offers essentially everything the standard model does, but at a much lower price. Currently, the Core model costs $129.99, while the regular variant costs about $179.99. Now, the Core model is still an expensive controller, but it seems to be well worth the $50 price cut.
The major difference between the two models is that the Core does not come with any of the physical components that the Elite Series 2 has. This means that the Core lacks any interchangeable thumbsticks and D-Pads. However, the thumbstick tension adjustment tool is still packaged in the Core model, so users can still fully customize them. The only major difference in the controllers’ functions is that the Core model completely lacks its rear paddles, which is admittedly a pretty big selling point of the original Xbox Elite Series model and its successor.
That said, the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core still has the same internal features and software customization options that come with the more expensive version of the controller. The Core still comes with an impressive 40 hours of battery life, a rechargeable battery and fully customizable button mapping. The Core also comes with three fully customizable user profiles that can be swapped out instantly, and it takes full advantage of the Xbox Accessories app, making that customization an incredibly easy process. The Elite Series 2 Core can also be used on a PC, making it a pretty good option for a versatile control panel. The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core model is certainly a more affordable pro controller, but it can compromise too much to get to that lower price point. For the same price, gamers may be able to get a better controller elsewhere, one that has all the bells and whistles of the standard Elite Series 2 model.
0 Comments