The Profile button replaces the standard Xbox controller's Capture button, so you must press Guide and go to the Capture menu if you want to grab screenshots or video footage.

Thumbstick control Use the included thumbstick-adjustment tool to manually change thumbstick tension, with 3 tension setting to choose from. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital (UK) PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Many gamers will prefer to stick with an official Xbox controller, however, and that gives the Elite Series 2 Core built-in appeal. I don't want to fuel the console war, but comparing things to the competition might be a nice note to leave you on. When testing this gamepad, I decided to revisit Dishonored Definitive Edition, one of my favourite games of all time.However, the thumbsticks aren’t fully removable: the top of the stick can be changed, but the joystick below can’t be removed. Its battery life is nothing short of extraordinary, even when using the full array of tricks up its sleeve. Play like a pro with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core in blue, featuring adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberised grip, and shorter hair trigger locks. The grips were comfortable, the controls were responsive, and the trigger locks made my archery a bit faster.

The lack of Hall effect sensors, a type of magnetic joystick that’s immune to drift, is also an oversight in a new controller this expensive when they’re not replaceable. To read more about our holistic approach to reviewing gaming technology, have a look at our Hardware Policy.Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core feels and plays just as well as the Elite Series 2, because it's the same gamepad minus a few customization options. Formerly the Lead Editor of Reviews at Digital Trends, he has over a decade of experience covering PC hardware. Use Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth®, or the included USB-C® cable to play across your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC. In addition, the missing paddles make the controller feel incomplete; the paddles included with the Elite are metal, and Microsoft could have included some cheaper, simpler plastic paddles with the Core to take advantage of the buttons that are already there. Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life1 and refined components that are built to last.