Follow Up - Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

Hi Everyone,

Let me first say that this is a follow up to my original post which can be found

here and I did say in the comments I would do a follow up to that after some longer term testing, so here is my opinion of the Series 2 controller after using it for some time.

Full disclaimer: I have been using the controller 90% of the time on the PC with some testing on my Xbox One X. I also paid full price for the controller so am not manipulated to have a bias in anyway

Some of my initial opinions of the controller have changed while some remain very much the same with some changed opinions.

Build Quality

Some concerns where expressed about the build quality and the rubber grips because of the gen1 controller. Personally, I never had an issue with the grips on the gen 1. Its been almost 4 months and I have been using the controller
a lot and it is still as good as the day as I got it and cannot see any signs of issue. I also look after my equipment and never abuse them as some people do. I use it and when finished it goes back in its case on charge if needed.

I have used the controller at home and take it with me when traveling and using it on my Laptop when I am in a hotel for a night and nothing planned for the evening. The controller holds up well and the carry case keeps it well
protected.

Connectivity

There are some issues, 1 of the issues is if your connected via Bluetooth and want to make changes/edit a profile you need to plug in the USB cable (see next paragraph) however, when you remove the cable it does not always reconnect
to Bluetooth and have to re-pair the controller and rarely requires a restart or connect to another device to be able to connect to my PC again. This seems to be a random issue.

Another issue (PC ONLY) is that you cannot make edits to the profiles of the controller without plugging it in via USB. The Xbox Accessories app states “This controller is connected via Bluetooth. Connect with a USB cable to configure
it” https://imgur.com/9sOH2CS and has been since day 1. Now this is confusing me because when connected to my Xbox, I can change and make edits to profiles via Bluetooth so I must question
why PC users cannot do this? Why? Also, I can never get any response to Microsoft when I send some feedback.

The random Bluetooth disconnects I initially had has gone away which I think has been fixed via a windows update and not firmware update since I have never had a firmware update for the controller since day 1 and I am using the
same Bluetooth dongle since I got the controller.

As for what Bluetooth dongle to get that work? well i don't have a supply of Bluetooth dongles to test and say what does and does not work, i use a UGREEN Bluetooth v4 dongle and its working fine and it only cost £8.99, I also
have a Gen1 Xbox Wireless Adapter (the big one before the small one was released) and it works and to it with out issue.

Using the Microsoft dongle DOES allow you to change/edit profiles without needing to plugin to USB.

Firmware Updates

On PC it requires to be connected via USB, but Xbox allows firmware to be updated via Bluetooth, Again I must question as to why? Also, no response on Microsoft on this

Battery Life

This is by far the greatest improvement that gen2 has over gen1 and I really noticed this recently when I spent a full day from 10am to 10pm playing Final Fantasy XV again on PC and never needed to charge my controller once, the
gen1 I would have had to charge it at least twice. This could be due to the controller using Bluetooth and not propriety wireless communication and maybe a better battery. I cannot say as I have not opened the controller to see what’s under the hood.

Customization

Now part of this issue is in relation to connectivity, a side from that there is massive missed opportunity here from Microsoft. I no longer use Xbox Accessories to map the paddle buttons and I have a reason. First let’s look at
the limitations that is Microsoft’s Xbox Accessories app

The app can only be used on 1 device at a time, if its open on PC and you open it on Xbox, it wants to kick you off 1 to use it on the other. I see why due to syncing of data but should give us an option to have different profiles
on PC compared to Xbox or to sync the data.

On PC you can ONLY remap controller buttons to the paddles and nothing else. Now this confuses the hell out of me as on Xbox you can map “Actions” such as launch an app (any app or game), play/pause media, search, turn volume up
and down and more. Why something like this missing from the PC.

Now the reason why I refuse to use the Xbox Accessories App is because its just bad, its just ridiculous, and the Xbox version has more to offer. So I found reWASD and never looked back for the button/paddle customization. reWASD
does cost money but and something that is worth the €14.99 price tag. If a 3rd party can do something like reWASD can then you have to question, why does Microsoft not do this?

For those that don’t know what reWASD does, it allows you to remap any part of the controller to another controller button, keyboard key or even mouse. Not just that, you can make macros for the buttons/paddles and have 3 actions
per paddle/button, for example, I can use P4 as my push to talk F24 however if I double tap P4 it mutes/unmutes discord audio (F23) and triple tap P4 to mute/unmute mic on discord (F22). I can also get a paddle to send a combination of keys or a macro to do
multiple actions if I want. This is something that Microsoft should have built in to the Xbox Accessories App for PC but they fail to do this. reWASD also allows you to switch profiles by using the profile change button built into the controller allowing 4
custom profiles. If your looking for more customization for the controller, it’s something to look into and works with standard controllers and not just Xbox One controllers and works with keyboards and mice too.

Other features of the controller are still fantastic I find myself changing the thumb stick weight depending on what game I am playing; I like the left stick heavy for driving games while I like it light. The trigger switch positions
is something I don’t use to often but did test it with Mass Effect and found it useful for that hairy trigger feel (short position) when it comes to shooting as it has the throw distance of just a button which gen1 give you normal throw or a medium, the short
distance is fantastic for those that play games like Battlefield or COD on Xbox.

Improvements over gen1

Some people have different opinions about the battery not being able to be removed but I like it, there is no annoying battery door to remove and the controller does come with a battery which saves you having to buy one. It lasts
longer than the batteries for the standard controllers (Xbox branded batteries) comparing to Bluetooth Xbox controllers.

The Build quality over all feel improved, the magnets holding the thumb sticks/d-pad and paddles also feel stronger too which does not come off accidently now

I did test if I can use the gen1 parts (thumb sticks, paddles and d-pads) on the gen2 and found that I cannot use the thumb sticks at all but can use the paddles and d-pads. The thumb sticks don’t stick at all which is rather disappointing
to find as I don’t use my gen1 now since I have gen2 and don’t have to carry the massive wireless dongle about and would have been nice to be able to have all parts from the gen1 as spares.

USB Dock and Carry Case

The USB dock is nice to have as standard but as I have mentioned previously it would have been nice to have data pass though to allow for firmware updates and Xbox Accessories app changes to be done removing the need to have a spare
cable or unplugging the USB cable from the dock to plug it in to the controller.

I mentioned previously that it would have been nice to have Bluetooth built into the dock, I do feel the same about that but understand why the didn’t as only PC users would benefit from it and could possibly have some issues with
the Xbox. So the fact it does not have built in Bluetooth controller and is more of a "would like" than a "must have".

Its nice to have the slot on the carry case to plug the USB cable into the charging dock allowing you to charge the controller on the go or nice and safely on the desk when not using it.

Other Devices

Now that iOS supports controllers, I decided to test it with Xbox controllers. Standard Xbox one controllers (Bluetooth versions) connect fine and can be used on iOS. The Gen1 controller cannot be used due to its form of communication.
Here is the funny part iOS does not detect the gen2 at all and it uses the same Bluetooth as a standard Xbox One Controller, i found it odd, but could be an iOS thing.

I cannot speak for Linux or MacOS if it works with it or not as its not an OS I use and still need to look at my Raspberry Pi 4 if it works with that but i am sure it should. The only Android device I own is my Sony Bravia TV and
the Gen2 controller works with it without issue

Final Thoughts

Now that I have had some time with the controller, I do love it way more than any other controller i have used and its much better than the gen1. the ergonomics has not changed at all and the gen2 fells slightly heavier than the
gen1.

The added features such as the thumb stick weight, extra position on the triggers and allowing for an extra customizable profile is all nice.

There is something missing with this controller and that is the lack of customizability for the paddles, while the limitations is fine for the Xbox, I think PC users could do with some love on this department and Microsoft could
do with adding more advanced features to the Xbox Accessories app to allow mapping keyboard and mouse keys/buttons to the paddles would be a step in the right direction.

I have also been thinking about the price point too, gen1 was £120 when released and gen2 £160. I still think that Microsoft should have kept the £120 price point as the little they have added to the controller and the charging
dock I can’t see why its £40 more. You can argue R&D costs, you get a charging dock, there has been improvements etc. but in the end of the day it’s an expensive controller, granted its Microsoft’s best controller to date I don’t think they should have raised
the cost on this.

The gen2 controller is a funny one, its great no question there but as a PC user mainly I have to question why they limit the controller so much, requiring USB connectivity to edit/change profiles, do firmware updates, lack of being
able to map keyboard keys to the paddles etc is really baffling.

If Microsoft do a gen3, I really don’t know how they can improve the controller that much to make a gen3 and think it would feel more like a gen2 refresh.

Is it worth buying? Well if you have a gen1 and happy with it then it’s not really worth it, as a PC player, you still need a dongle, this time for Bluetooth but there is not much of an upgrade to be honest. If you do not have a
Gen1 then it may be worth buying and its something that you must think hard about. For Xbox users, its fine as it is but for PC users I wanted more customization from the Xbox Accessories app which I found in 3rd party software in the form of reWASD
as it does what I expected from both gen controllers for PC users.

I wanted more out of the Gen2 controller as a PC user and a little disappointed that PC users have restrictions that Xbox does not. Despite all the issues past and present with the gen2 I do believe that the gen2 is by far the best
controller on the market.

Is it worth it for you? I cannot tell you what you should and should not buy with your own money. What I will say is, don’t just go by what I say, do your research, and see what other people are saying about the controller
and be well informed about what your buying. This is something that I recommend everyone should do and something reviewers fail to tell people to do.

:)