Game Controllers · owner-verdict comparison

Pro 3 vs Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 50% of 109 Pro 3 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 423 for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Pro 3

50%of 109 owners recommend
50% recommend · 11% neutral · 39% don't
Owners praise
  • A clicky, tactile d-pad that fans call precise and a clear step up from the Pro 2
  • Comfortable grip that owners often prefer over the Ultimate 2 and Pro 2
  • Triggers that switch between analog and short, clicky digital presses, plus well-liked shoulder and extra bumper buttons
Owners complain about
  • Loud, clacky face buttons, a complaint many fans share
  • False diagonals and missed inputs on the d-pad when pressed firmly, which ruins platformers and fighting games for some owners
  • Inconsistent units: owners report stiff or uneven d-pads, faulty trigger stops, a trigger or stick that registers input on its own, and colored face buttons that crack
Full owner report →

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

45%of 423 owners recommend
45% recommend · 12% neutral · 43% don't
Owners praise
  • Premium, comfortable, weighty feel
  • Back paddles and deep customization
  • Adjustable trigger locks and stick tension
Owners complain about
  • Stick drift develops quickly
  • Bumpers fail or go unresponsive
  • Face buttons stop registering presses
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Pro 3 if
  • ✓Players who like a firm, clicky d-pad for classic and SNES-era games
  • ✓PC players who want gyro, Steam Input support, and a 2.4GHz dongle
  • ✓Players who find the Ultimate 2 or Pro 2 less comfortable in the hand
  • ✓Players who game with headphones on and won't hear the button noise
Skip it if
  • Platformer and fighting game players who need clean cardinal inputs from the d-pad
  • Anyone playing in a shared living room where loud face buttons will bother others
Get the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 if
  • ✓Competitive players wanting back paddles and remaps
  • ✓Xbox and PC gamers who value a premium feel
  • ✓Players who want long battery life and trigger locks
Skip it if
  • Buyers unwilling to risk drift and QC failures
  • Anyone wanting drift-free hall-effect sticks

What Pro 3 owners say

“Been using mine as my main controller after I swapped the buttons from my 8bitdo pro 2 into it. Steam input support is by far the most important feature on any controller for me.”
— TheRealSeeThruHead on Reddit
“Battery life on the P2 is great, but every now and then I forget to plug it in when I am done gaming and I pick it up next day and it is out of juice 5 min into my game. P3 never is.”
— satansbraten330 on Reddit
“Pro 3 made my hands cramp.”
— Fiv3Score on Reddit

What Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 owners say

“This controller is great!”
— @r6jvcfyhiksahjj on YouTube
“Xbox elite controller is literally the most comfortable controller I’ve ever felt in my hands.”
— @vergance_softwares on YouTube
“it's crazy a simple sturdy and reliable controller is so challenging...”
— @Hilariumosis on YouTube

Pro 3 vs Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2: frequently asked questions

Is the Pro 3 or the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 50% of 109 Pro 3 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 423 for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.

Who should get the Pro 3?

Owners point the Pro 3 at players who like a firm, clicky d-pad for classic and SNES-era games, and pC players who want gyro, Steam Input support, and a 2.4GHz dongle.

Who should get the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2?

Owners point the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 at competitive players wanting back paddles and remaps, and xbox and PC gamers who value a premium feel.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Pro 3 is loud, clacky face buttons, a complaint many fans share. For the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, it's stick drift develops quickly.