The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is the best gamepad for the Xbox One/Xbox consoles and one of the best for PCs. It offers great gameplay as well as hardware and software customization tricks that the standard Xbox Wireless Controller does not. With that in mind, Microsoft is now offering the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core. The savings come from Microsoft ditching the Elite controller’s carrying case, cradle, rear paddles, and alternate analog sticks and directional pads. The omission of the paddles feels odd, as the ports remain on the back of the gamepad and the controller looks a bit bare without them.
The Elite Core’s case looks and feels similar to the Premium Elite controller, except the matte, untextured plastic half of the case is white instead of black. The textured, rubberized grips are black like the Elite, and the controls have the same configuration. The front consists of angled analog sticks, a round metal directional pad with octagonal fields indicating directions, A/B/X/Y face buttons, guide, menu, and view buttons in the center, and a profile button with three LEDs indicating the profile in use. The profile button replaces the record button on the standard Xbox controller, so you have to press Guide and enter the record menu when you want to capture screenshots or video footage.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]On the bottom of the controller is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a port for accessories. On the top edge are two bumpers and triggers, a USB-C port for charging and using the gamepad in wired mode, and a pairing button. This is standard for a first-party Xbox controller. The Elite Core has two three-way lock switches for shortening trigger throws. However, it also has contacts for a charging dock, which is not included, as well as four tiny buttons and slots for detachable paddles, which are also not included.
The buttons are designed to be used with the Elite’s metal paddles, and while you can press them with your fingertips, they’re too shallow and small to operate reliably without the paddles. The lack of paddles highlights the difference between the Elite Core and the Elite: the accessories. The Elite Core is completely free of additional parts. There are no rear paddles, no alternate analog sticks, and no plus-shaped directional pad. The controller doesn’t come with a charging dock or carrying case, but it does come with a fabric-sheathed USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and wired use.