I have been watching, with some grim amusement, Elon Musk discovering the limits of being just another political donor. While he was at DOGE, he literally could control the Treasury and DOD - he effectively had the IT reins of the entire country, and could simply gut things he hated at will. There was a price for that: it destroyed what was left of his reputation. But it was real, true power - being able to stop payments at will makes you more powerful than the president.

So much for that. These days, Musk is reduced to begging his followers on X to call their senators and congressmen [sic, obviously] to vote down the Big Beautiful Bill. His nominal reason is that Donald Trump's budget plan will increase the deficit, but reports indicate that Musk is annoyed an EV credit is getting cut. That makes it harder to sell Teslas in an environment where it's already hard to sell Teslas. Also, Musk may be annoyed that he didn't get to stay past his statutory limit as an unpaid advisor and that the FAA isn't using Starlink, according to Axios.

The cracks have been showing in the M …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple will have to continue allowing web links and external payment options in the App Store after its request to halt a judge’s order was rejected today by a higher court.

In April, a federal judge demanded that Apple begin allowing web links, cease restricting how links are formatted, and enable developers to offer external payment options without giving the company a cut of their revenue. Apple promptly appealed and requested that the order be put on hold until the legal proceedings were finished.

But an appeals court has now denied Apple’s emergency request to block the order. The court said it was “not persuaded” that blocking the order was appropriate after weighing Apple’s chances to succeed on appeal, whether Apple would be irreparably harmed, whether other parties would be hurt if the order is halted, and what supports the public interest.

The rejection bodes poorly for Apple’s chance of overturning the order, which stems from a lawsuit by Epic Games. Epic sued Apple over its App Store restrictions back in 2020. Epic notched only a narrow win in the case, with the court ordering Apple to allow developers to communicate with their users about better pricing.

Then, in April, in a scathing ruling, the court said that Apple had repeatedly failed to comply. The judge then gave Apple a more explicit order about how the App Store must be opened up.

In the weeks since, major apps like Spotify and Kindle have taken advantage of the ruling by adding links in their apps to make purchases on the web. Fortnite has returned, too, offering an option between Apple’s in-app payment system and Epic’s own payment and rewards program. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney told The Verge this week that there’s currently a 60-40 split in usage between the two systems, with Apple’s still winning out.

“We are disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court’s order, and we’ll continue to argue our case during the appeals process,” says Apple spokesperson Olivia Dalton. “As we’ve said before, we strongly disagree with the district court’s opinion. Our goal is to ensure the App Store remains an incredible opportunity for developers and a safe and trusted experience for our users.”

Sony’s showcase had a pleasant surprise: the debut trailer for 007 First Light. The James Bond game — which has some definite Uncharted vibes — doesn’t have a release date, but is slated to launch sometime in 2026. And while it was announced at a PlayStation event, the debut trailer confirms it’s coming to Xbox, PC, and the Switch 2 in addition to the PS5.

The game appears to be an origin story, as players will follow a much younger version of Bond, at least compared to the films. Hitman developer IO Interactive announced that it was working on the franchise way back in 2020, so it’s been a long wait to see the actual game in action. The announcement also comes at an interesting time for the franchise overall, which is now under the Amazon umbrella.

You’ll also be able to see more of the game very soon. IO is holding a showcase event on June 6th at 9PM ET, which will include an appearance from First Light.

PlayStation has announced Project Defiant, an arcade-style fighting stick that looks like it’ll be perfect to use with the newly announced Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection. Sony teased the device during the State of Play on Wednesday before revealing more details in a blog post, which says the controller will let you wirelessly connect it to your PS5 or PC with PlayStation Link technology.

Sony says PlayStation Link offers “ultra-low latency” connectivity, allowing for precise responses to button inputs and stick movement. There’s also an option to plug the controller into your device with a USB-C cable.

The controller comes with a digital stick that’s custom-designed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, along with buttons that have mechanical switches, a touchpad similar to the one on a DualSense wireless controller, and interchangeable restrictor gates (square, circle, and octagon) for the stick.

Project Defiant comes with a carrying case with a lever gap “to keep the digital stick safe during transport.” Sony plans to release the controller in 2026 and will share more details about the device, including its official name, in the “months ahead.”

The Wall Street Journal reports Meta is in talks with Disney and A24 to try and secure exclusive streaming content for a new headset it’s developing. WSJ says Meta’s new device is a glasses-like headset codenamed “Loma,” with an external puck you slip into your pocket. Meta is reportedly seeking new and existing licensed content that would be exclusive to its platform on VR or as timed exclusives. 

That puck design sounds like Meta’s recently rumored “Puffin” headset, which is reportedly in development and could succeed the Quest 3 and Quest 3S VR headsets. UploadVR described Puffin as an extremely light open-periphery headset with a tethered compute puck, and Loma could very well be Puffin, or become it at some point.

Meta’s own Andrew “Boz” Bosworth has said publicly that Meta has various prototypes in development at all times, including ones that never see the light of day, and after the WSJ published its report Wednesday, he reposted his statement about prototypes from last fall that adds “…stories based on chatter about one individual decision will never give the real picture.”  Puffin, Loma, or other similar options could be in one of the prototyping stages Bosworth discussed with The Verge’s own Alex Heath last October. 

Either way, WSJ mentions Meta’s plan for Loma would set a price that’s “more than the $300 starting price for a Quest, but less than the $3,500 base price of a Vision Pro, according to some of the people.”

Not to be upstaged by all the Nintendo Switch 2 shenanigans, PlayStation decided to steal some of that attention back in the form of a major, nostalgia-fueled announcement: Final Fantasy Tactics is getting a remake and it’s coming in September.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will take players back to a time when Final Fantasy wasn’t an action RPG or even a turn-based RPG but an isometric strategy game. Take control of Ramza Beoulve as he fights in the Lion War and build an army of powerful fighters utilizing the game’s job system. But don’t expect just the standard RPG classes, like Fighter, Black Mage, or Summoner. Final Fantasy Tactics has a host of unique, often arcane, and never-seen-again job types, like Geomancer, Chemist, and Oracle. For this new edition, players will be able to choose between the classic version of the 1998 original PlayStation game or an enhanced version with fully voiced dialogue and other quality-of-life improvements.

The original Final Fantasy Tactics was released in the US in 1998 and is considered by some to be the best game in the Final Fantasy oeuvre. I myself have never played the game, though have heard tales of its legendary storyline and utterly busted job classes, like the Arithmatician (seriously). And because of the Final Fantasy franchise’s 30-year history, there are some newer and younger fans who probably didn’t know this game existed before today. I look forward to finding out what it’s all about when Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles launches September 30th.

It sounds like Apple is preparing a big AirPods update for WWDC next week. A report from 9to5Mac says the company is working on a new feature that will let you control your iPhone or iPad’s camera with your AirPods. The feature will reportedly allow you to snap a picture by tapping the stem of your AirPods.

As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple is also planning a new feature that detects when you fall asleep while wearing your AirPods and automatically pauses whatever you’re listening to. It’s still unclear whether this would require an Apple Watch to work, since the watch can already track your sleep, 9to5Mac reports.

Apple may roll out a new head gesture, too, that would extend the volume adjustment made with Conversation Awareness, an AirPods feature that lowers your audio while you’re talking. There may also be a new “studio quality” mic mode for AirPods, which could be similar to the iPhone 16’s audio mix feature that removes background noise from videos.

Lastly, 9to5Mac reports that Apple is trying to make it easier for students to connect their AirPods to shared iPads by streamlining the process. We won’t have to wait much longer to see if any of these rumors pan out, as WWDC 2025 kicks off on June 9th.

While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Prime Day, many great iPad deals are attainable outside of those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but there’s often some amount to be saved, particularly on Apple’s more affordable iPads. The most recent iPad Pro and iPad Mini are also regularly discounted, as is the latest iPad Air.

It’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is available, from the 10th-gen iPad of 2022 to the more powerful iPad models with M3 and M4 chips.

The best iPad (2022) deals

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022. It’s still a great tablet overall; however, it has recently been supplanted by Apple’s latest entry-level model, which features an upgraded A16 chip and twice as much base storage. That said, the last-gen iPad still benefits from a modern design and Apple’s long-in-the-making switch to USB-C. The 10.9-inch tablet is also outfitted with a side power button with a fingerprint sensor and uniform bezels, though, unlike its predecessor, it lacks a home button and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Right now, the base model with 64GB of storage is on sale at Walmart starting at $299 ($50 off), which is $40 more than its best price to date. Amazon and Walmart are also selling the upgraded 256GB model with Wi-Fi in select colors for $349.99 ($150 off), which is a better deal when you consider you can currently grab an 11th-gen iPad with an expanded 128GB of storage at Amazon starting at $299 ($100 off).

The best iPad (2025) deals

As noted above, Apple’s 11th-gen iPad only just recently landed on the scene. The new base-model tablet is a fairly iterative update of the prior model with 128GB of base storage (as opposed to 64GB) and an A16 Bionic chip, which is nearly 30 percent faster than the A14 chip found in the 10th-gen iPad. That being said, the newer chip doesn’t support the various Apple Intelligence features introduced in iPadOS 18.1. For that, you’ll want to opt for a more recent iPad Air, iPad Mini, or iPad Pro model.

Pricing-wise, the new iPad starts at $349 with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage. You can also upgrade to 256GB or 512GB of storage for an additional $100 or $200, respectively, or purchase an LTE model starting at $499. We haven’t seen significant price drops yet, although the entry-level model is currently on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy starting at $299 ($50 off). Alternatively, you can grab the 256GB model at Amazon and Walmart starting at $399 (about $50 off), or the 512GB variant at Amazon and Walmart for $594.95 ($54 off).

The best iPad Mini (2024) deals

The new seventh-gen iPad Mini is similar to the outgoing model but comes with faster Wi-Fi and USB-C speeds, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and a newer A17 Pro processor with 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence. Otherwise, it boasts nearly identical specs and features as the last-gen model, meaning it has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, a USB-C port, and options for 5G. It may not be worth upgrading if you already own a sixth-gen Mini, but newcomers to the category will appreciate the upgrades.

The 2024 iPad Mini starts at $499 with 128GB of storage, which was the price for the previous generation’s 64GB model. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $599, and the cellular models start at $649. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want an Apple tablet in the smallest possible form factor, this is where the action is.

Right now, the 128GB base model with Wi-Fi is only on sale at Amazon and B&H Photo for $489, a mere $10 discount. You can also pick up the 256GB variant at Amazon and B&H Photo for $529 ($70 off), or the 512GB model at Amazon for $749 ($50 off), the latter of which is the second-best price we’ve seen on the largest storage configuration.

The best iPad Air (2025) deals

The 2025 iPad Air is little more than a spec bump over the previous model, with a few technical upgrades that should allow it to last longer than both the entry-level iPad and the last-gen Air. It features an M3 chip with support for Apple Intelligence and compatibility with Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard, which has a larger trackpad and an extra row of function keys that make the Air a more credible laptop replacement.

The 11-inch model starts at $599 and the 13-inch variant $799 — the same price as prior models — but we’re already starting to see discounts from third-party retailers. Right now, for instance, the 11-inch Air is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target in its base configuration with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage starting at $499 ($100 off). You can also grab the 256GB model at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for around $599 ($100 off), or the step-up 512GB model at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for around $799 ($100 off).

The larger 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy with 128GB of storage starting at $699 ($100 off). You can also pick up the Wi-Fi / 256GB model at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy starting at $799 ($100 off), or the 512GB variant at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target starting at around $999 ($100 off), which nearly matches the lowest price we’ve seen on the larger storage configuration.

The best iPad Pro (2024) deals

The 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade than the latest iPad Air. The 11- and 13-inch models start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they were the first Apple devices to feature the company’s latest M4 chip, which brings moderate performance gains and dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The new Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros yet, which is true of both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge, which prevent you from looking as though you’re staring off into space on a video call.

As for deals, the 11-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi / 256GB of storage is currently on sale at Amazon starting at $899.99 ($100 off) — which is about $20 more than its typical sale price. The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon starting at $1,186.99 ($112 off), which is nearly $90 shy of the tablet’s all-time low.

A busy week of gaming news continues. One day after Epic’s State of Unreal showcase, and just ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch (and Summer Game Fest Live and the Xbox Games Showcase) Sony got in on the action with its latest State of Play stream, which was surprise-announced just a day ahead of time.

There were some notable announcements made during the event, including a remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics, the first look at James Bond action game 007 First Light, a PlayStation-made fighting stick, and brand-new Marvel fighting game. You can watch the entire thing below, or scan through our coverage for the most interesting reveals, trailers, and announcements.

• The Bot is back.
• A new challenger approaches.
• More ghosts.
• James Bond game 007 First Light gets first trailer
• PlayStation reveals a new arcade-style fighting stick
• Get over here!
• Virtual thievery.
• F is for freaky.
• Digimon returns with another story in October.
• Square Enix surprise announced a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster
• Take some Baby Steps this fall.
• More blood stains.
• The dad games will continue until morale improves.
• Romeo must die.
• Lumines rises.
• It’s (almost) Sony’s turn.
• Playstation is holding its State of Play summer showcase this week

We live in a golden age of controllers. The gamepads on the market now are of higher quality, more versatile, and more customizable than anything from even one console generation ago. If you play games on an Xbox Series X or Series S (or a Windows PC), you have the unenviable task of choosing between several high-quality controllers from Microsoft as well as a plethora of great options from the likes of 8BitDo, PowerA, Razer, Scuf, Nacon, and Turtle Beach. Some of them have drift-proof Hall effect or TMR-based joysticks for improved longevity, yet all of them are good for one reason or another. The days of the cheap “little sibling” controller that looked cool, but barely worked, are over.

We’ve spent a ton of time playing all kinds of games (first-person shooters, fighters, third-person action-adventure, racing, indie roguelikes, etc.) to test a wide swath of Xbox controllers, and it may not be a surprise that the standard, relatively inexpensive Xbox Wireless Controller is the best option for most folks. It makes for a great PC and Steam Deck controller, too. The default Xbox gamepad strikes the right balance of quality, comfort, versatility, and price, but there are several alternatives worth considering.

Featured in this article

The best Xbox controller for most people

Connectivity: Xbox wireless, Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software customization: No / Power: AA batteries or add-on rechargeable

Okay, I already know what you’re thinking. “The best controller for Xbox is the one that comes with the Xbox?” That may seem like a no-brainer, but this standard controller truly does earn this title as the best. It lacks some extras found on pricier options, but this controller is the distillation of all that has made the last 20 years of Xbox gamepads great, and it shows.

Thanks to Microsoft’s proprietary wireless protocol, this is the only affordable wireless Xbox controller out there. (Third-party wireless options have been trickling out in recent years, but they’re mostly at the high end.) While some hate the standard Xbox wireless controller for its use of AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable cell, that also means it’s flexible, allowing for rechargeable AAs or a battery pack. And user-replaceable batteries mean you’re not stuck with a controller that doesn’t hold its charge after years of use. It also works over a USB-C wired connection.

But the standard-issue Xbox pad isn’t just great because of its varied connectivity. The hardware itself is excellent for the controller’s $65 (and often less) asking price. The sticks, buttons, triggers, and the sunken dish-shaped D-pad all feel impeccably tight, with the latter having a satisfying clickiness to it. If you’re a hardcore fighting game fan, you’ll probably be best served by a dedicated fight stick or a controller geared toward that genre — one with a superb D-pad like Hori’s Horipad Pro — but the Xbox Wireless Controller is otherwise an extraordinary jack-of-all-trades.

The only things it really lacks compared to pricier options are extra, customizable buttons and software tuning for things like stick sensitivity (button remapping is available), though Microsoft does offer cosmetic customization through its Xbox Design Lab, which bumps the price from $69.99 to $109.93 depending on the configuration. There’s a lot to love about these controllers, whether you make your own or pick one from the many colors Microsoft offers.

The best cheap Xbox controller

Connectivity: Wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Two / Software customization: Yes / Power: Wired

The 8BitDo Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox is a fantastic budget model that typically retails for $44.99 but can often be found for as little as $29.99. The shape is reminiscent of Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller, only a bit smaller, with hints of Xbox influence and a curvaceous design that feels great to hold.

On the hardware front, the Ultimate Wired Controller features Hall effect sticks with satisfying tension. It also uses Hall effect triggers with dedicated vibration motors, though it lacks trigger stops, unlike our previous budget pick, the PowerA Advantage Wired. Its D-pad, face buttons, and bumpers are nice and clicky, too, despite being smaller than we’d typically like. It has two rear paddles, remappable buttons, and the ability to save up to three profiles, which you can switch between on the fly using a dedicated button. There’s even a built-in mute switch for audio, which isn’t common on cheaper controllers. You can download the 8BitDo Ultimate Software X app on PC or Xbox to fully customize this controller.

The 8BitDo Ultimate Wired works as a wired controller with your PC, but if you prefer wireless connectivity, the company also makes a three-mode wireless version with support for both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless (via a dongle). The wireless version is a bit more expensive, however, and it’s still limited to wired connectivity on Xbox consoles.

The best “pro” Xbox controller

Connectivity: Xbox wireless, Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Up to four / Software customization: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is Microsoft’s fanciest controller, and it’s got a lot of nice extras, like better build quality, extra buttons, user-swappable sticks and D-pad, a built-in rechargeable battery, and loads of software customization. Where the standard Xbox controller is constructed entirely of unassuming plastic, the Elite mixes higher quality soft-touch plastic, rubberized grips, and metallic touches for a superior fit and finish. This makes it heftier than the stock controller, and as a result, it just feels nicer in your hands. It also comes with a charging dock and zip-up case with passthrough charging, completing a really nice package for $199.99 (or sometimes less, if it’s on sale).

There’s also the stripped-down Elite Series 2 “Core” version with an MSRP of $149.99, which ditches the add-ons, but is equally customizable. You can buy them separately in a $59.99 accessories pack, but you’ll end up paying more that way, barring sales or discounts.

A pricey controller like an Xbox Elite is a bit of a splurge purchase. Most of us are not competing at e-sports levels that require its high-end features. Nevertheless, it’s fun to use something that feels nicer, offers ways to custom-tailor it to your likings, and maybe gives you a slight competitive edge thanks to features like hair triggers and removable rear paddles. In theory, you may be able to get shots off faster in an online shooter with the hair triggers, and you can map the paddles to functions like jump, crouch, reload, etc. while keeping your thumb on the right stick. You could teach yourself claw grip to accomplish the latter with even a cheap wired controller, sure, but it just won’t feel as cool or easy as when using an Elite.

While the Elite is still a great controller in 2025, you should keep in mind that it’s been around since 2019 and a Series 3 revision is feeling long overdue. The Series 2 also has a bit of a reputation for lackluster quality control — with horror stories from users about going through multiple replacements under warranty. Microsoft extended the controller’s warranty from 90 days to a year in late 2020 to help address concerns, but buying an Elite Series 2 may still feel like a slightly risky proposition. It also predates the current-gen implementation of a dedicated Share button, and its potentiometer-based sticks run the risk of stick drift after long-term use (something third parties are addressing with controllers that use drift-free Hall effect sticks, unlike all three big console manufacturers). 

Even so, the Elite 2 remains by far the most well-rounded option for a step-up Xbox controller — thanks in large part to its impressive build and expansive software experience. If all these caveats give you pause, though, there is another promising option.

Read our Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 review.

A formidable alternative to the Elite

Connectivity: Wireless USB dongle (Xbox / PC), wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Four / Software customization: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable

At $199.99, Razer’s Wolverine V3 Pro controller is as expensive (or more, depending on available deals) than the Elite Series 2, but it’s worth the cost if you want a high-end controller with drift-free sticks. Not only is the V3 Pro Razer’s first foray into using Hall effect sticks, it’s the company’s first fully wireless Xbox gamepad. It also sports some of the best hair-trigger lockouts around, yielding a mouse-like click usually found on even pricier Scuf controllers (a previous high-ranking pick of ours).

Other than that, the V3 Pro is similar to the previous V2 Pro, with six remappable buttons — four rear paddles in new, angled orientations and two extra shoulder buttons — and some RGB lighting. The buttons and D-pad still have that satisfying micro-switch tactility and audible clickiness like the previous-gen V2 Pro, but the RGB lighting is more subtle this time around.

The Wolverine V3 Pro’s biggest shortcomings compared to Microsoft’s Elite Series 2 are its more basic software customization, its lack of Bluetooth, and the fact that it needs a USB dongle to work wirelessly. The V3 Pro is otherwise the better pick if you can justify its high price, which, unlike the Series 2, is rarely subjected to discounts. Luckily, if you can’t, there’s also the $99.99 Wolverine V3 Pro Tournament Edition that has a nearly identical set of features in a wired configuration.

Other Xbox controllers we tested

• The Scuf Valor Pro is the company’s first Xbox controller with Hall effect sticks (as well as its cheapest). It’s wired but otherwise builds admirably on the foundation laid by the Scuf Instinct Pro, which was once our top third-party pro-style controller. Scuf emulates Microsoft’s winning ergonomics while implementing redesigned remappable rear buttons (two are removable) and shoulder bumpers that are more comfortable to reach. It also has trigger stops that produce a satisfying click with next to no travel when pressed. The D-pad produces a similarly satisfying click, one we prefer over the softer tactile feel of the Instinct. The Valor Pro is not the most exciting controller on paper, but it’s a solid option for Scuf faithful or anyone who wants more durable analog sticks. Read our hands-on impressions.
• If you’re a fan of competitive shooters, Turtle Beach controllers like the Recon and React-R have several audio features that might come in handy. The company’s fanciest option, the Stealth Ultra, is a $200 wireless model with Hall effect sticks that’s an excellent choice overall. That being said, we still prefer the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, as the built-in customization screen on the Stealth Ultra is clunky to use and the ergonomics don’t feel nearly as nice as that of the V3 Pro.
• Turtle Beach also recently released the Stealth Pivot, which lets you quickly swap the analog sticks for extra face buttons by swiveling the plates around. It’s neat but ultimately niche, as it’s primarily meant for fighting games and retro titles. That feature necessitates a chassis that’s noticeably bigger than most controllers, too, which may be a downer if you already struggle with wrapping your digits around standard-sized controllers.
• We recently tested PowerA’s newest pro-style Xbox controllers, including the Fusion Pro 4 Wired ($69.99) and PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless ($149.99). They’re standard fare for pro-style controllers these days, with height-adjustable Hall effect sticks, four remappable rear buttons, three-way trigger locks, and onboard volume controls. They’re similar, but the Pro Wireless has four trippy Lumectra lighting zones that respond to your button presses. Both controllers are satisfying to use and a clear step up from PowerA’s older products in terms of overall quality, but they ultimately don’t stand out much at these price points.
• Nacon’s Revolution X remains one of the most customizable wired controllers you can get (it even has removable weights in its handles), and its software is nearly as expansive as Microsoft’s first-party app.
• As mentioned above, the Horipad Pro has one of the best D-pads around. It also offers a lot of software customization at an affordable price, but its shoulder buttons are a bit stiff.
• If you’re the nostalgic type, the Hyperkin Duke, DuchesS, and Xenon are faithful wired recreations of Xbox gamepads from Microsoft’s first two console generations. They’re kind of dumb but endearing (especially the chunky Duke), but they’re unique collector pieces you can also use on modern games.
• The wired GameSir G7 SE is another budget pick with drift-resistant Hall effect sticks and USB-C connectivity, one that can typically be found for around $40. Like 8BitDo’s controllers, it neglects trigger stops, but it’s one of the only options with dedicated switches for disabling the rear buttons.

What’s coming next?

The race to perfect Xbox controllers hasn’t yet reached a conclusion. Manufacturers continue updating their lineup with newer, more durable analog sticks and triggers, while some experiment with gimmicks. Case in point: the upcoming Hyperkin Competitor, which was announced at CES in January and is set to arrive later in 2025. The wired gamepad’s design is unashamedly inspired by the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controllers, complete with glassy buttons and a non-contiguous D-pad.

Update, June 4th: Updated with current pricing and availability.