It’s a fridge, it’s a speaker, no, it’s a game console. Nothing screams “Power” more than the Xbox Series X in the current console generation. It’s capable of running two games simultaneously without any lag. Also, you can pause a game, leave it to play another title, and then resume playing the first game at your convenience when you game on the Xbox Series X.
That said, the Xbox Series X isn’t cheap, nor are its accessories, such as headsets and controllers. On the bright side, many brands now offer accessories with better features than their proprietary models. In the end, Player.com rounded up seven controllers for the Xbox Series X. Some are budget-friendly while others cost extra because of their performance.
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7 Best Alternative Controllers for the Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X is perfect for household spats and esports because of its diverse game collection and performance. So, you’ll find seven controllers that are worth the money below. Some controllers will give you an edge in combat, while others won’t break the bank; Choose wisely.
#1: Turtle Beach Recon Wired Game Controller
The Turtle Beach Recon Wired Game Controller is a budget-friendly controller for the Xbox Series X. Its design is similar to that of the proprietary controller provided by Xbox. The only difference is that this controller is wired, though you can detach the cable, improving its portability.
Thankfully, the controller is super durable, so it’ll survive many drops. Besides that, it also boasts ergonomic grips so FPS are a delight to play. One feature that’s overlooked by many critics out there is the controller’s ability to customise EQ settings. So, if you’ve got a headset, the Turtle Beach Recon Wired Game Controller is compatible with many gaming headsets.
You can grab this controller for around $50, yet it has the same buttons as the Xbox controller and then some. For one, it boasts two extra back buttons that you can map to any action. This way, you don’t have to let go of the analog sticks all the time when you are playing games on the Xbox Series X.
#2: PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller
The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is another alternative to the proprietary Xbox Series X controller with two back buttons. As usual, the back buttons are customisable, though we wish they had larger footprints. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller costs less than $50, but you can get it at a discount if you wait for some holidays, like Easter. The controller’s other specifications are:
- Diamond textured back for better grip.
- A 3 mm port with a 10-foot cable is included.
- The second port is for headsets that are compatible with a 3.5 mm audio jack.
- It houses Dual Rumble Motors for an immersive experience.
- The controller is licensed by Xbox, so it’s compatible with all Xbox games.
- It’s lightweight at 205 grammes because it’s not powered by batteries.
#3: Scuf Instinct Pro
The Scuf Instinct Pro is expensive ($180) compared to the previous controllers, but it does offer many selling points. For one, there are remappable paddles that have been engineered from scratch to mimic the experience of pulling gun triggers, rowing boats, and even driving through mud. Other features that set the Xbox Series X third party controller apart from the rest are:
- It’s wireless, with a range of 45 feet and a battery life of 30 hours.
- You can switch between three profiles on the fly. Each profile contains different paddle configurations.
- You can change the thumbsticks to improve your accuracy and grip during those boss fights.
- It’s certified by Xbox, making it compatible with all Xbox games (Both old and new).
#4: Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra
Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a pro-level controller that will serve you well across platforms. Yes, the controller is compatible with Windows and the Xbox Series X. Besides that, its face buttons are remappable and on its rear, there are four extra buttons to customise at your convenience.
At the centre of the controller, there’s a little full-colour screen that lets you switch profiles. Besides that, you can adjust the controller’s vibration and RGB lighting in this menu. One would think the screen would suck up the battery in a flash. However, the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra controller will last you more than 30 hours.
#5: GameSir G7 SE
The GameSir G7 SE is a sleek Xbox controller with great features at an affordable price. It doesn’t offer the same mouthwatering features as the Scuf Instinct Pro, but it does offer support for both Windows and the Xbox Series X. Yes, it also features back buttons that are fully customisable with any action.
Still, its vibration isn’t the best and you can’t wirelessly connect to your Xbox. They also should have made the grips longer, but we’re overlooking all these cons in light of the price. At around $45, the GameSir G7 SE punches way above its weight. Speaking of weight, this controller is a handful at 422 grammes.
Lastly, the GameSir G7 SE includes Xbox’s Hall Effect Sensor thumbsticks; They last longer than the thumbsticks of other controllers on the list. Because of a couple of dead zones in the thumbstick, you’ll need to configure the gamepad via GameSir’s Nexus software.
#6: Thrustmaster eSwap XR
We ranked the Thrustmaster eSwap XR so low because it’s a one-trick pony. However, one-trick ponies aren’t bad when they do their job right. In this case, this controller is the best Xbox controller for racing games. It’s a proper alternative for racing wheels due to its mini racing wheel attachment.
Additionally, the sides of the controller are tapered, so it’s comfortable to hold for long driving sessions.
However, the Thrustmaster eSwap XR is still a wired controller, so it’s not exactly the most convenient for your posture. Finally, let’s discuss the swappable modules.
The modular design ensures that all 28 buttons of the Thrustmaster eSwap XR are swappable. It’s also fun to swap out modules mid-game depending on our needs. For instance, completing Claire’s racing quests in Cyberpunk 2077 was enjoyable due to the racing wheel attachment. We simply remove the attachment once we’re in first-person mode.
Our Final Say: The Best Xbox Controller Is the Scuf Instinct Pro
The Scuf Instinct Pro is the best controller on the list for good reasons. It’s sleek, powerful, and customisable down to the vibration intensity. Still, you can buy around four Turtle Beach Recon Wired Game Controllers for the price of a Scuf Instinct Pro. Gamers who aren’t picky should go with the Turtle Beach Recon Wired Game Controller since it offers the best bang for your buck.