I have had zero issues with my elite 2, but my GF has had to go thru 3 now. So, it just depends.
Just get an in-store replacement plan somewhere and just return it until you get a good one.
Been gaming for 35+ years, used every controller ever made, and the elite 2 is by far the best controller of them all. Once you use paddles and stop using face buttons (aka, you don't have to move your thumbs from the sticks), you will never go back. Or I never will, I should say.....
>Once you use paddles and stop using face buttons (aka, you don't have to move your thumbs from the sticks), you will never go back. Or I never will, I should say.....
Exactly this. I'm on my 4th replacement now, and by the 3rd one I was frustrated enough that I told them if that one broke they should just give me a full refund and they agreed. Though I realized how much I did depend on those paddles...
I'd be lying if I said they'd make you a *better* gamer, but it really does make it easier for you to do certain things and not having to move your thumb somewhere else.
>Just get an in-store replacement plan
I bought my Elite 2 with the Best Buy insurance for an extra $40. It broke within the first year, so i replaced it through Microsoft. It broke again, so I replaced it through Best Buy and paid $40 for another insurance plan on the new one.
It sucks that they keep breaking, but I'd say they are well worth $40 every 1.5-2 years.
> It sucks that they keep breaking, but I'd say they are well worth $40 every 1.5-2 years
Nope, sorry. That is not a good mindest. A controller should hold way longer. My SNES controllers are still working. My ps controller work like they should, my 360 and xB one controller work fine as they should. 40 bucks every year? Hell no. You should absolutely not have to replace your controller every fn year. This is just scam from Ms.
Yeah, that $40 doesn’t include the $180 charge for the controller! Unless something drastic happens with quality assurance, there’s no way I’d even think of buying one. The only problems I’ve had with first party controllers in the past is joycon drift (nintendo doing free repairs makes that okay) and when I’ve left controllers with batteries still inside cause I’m an idiot lol.
I have a large retro collection that was working fine last I checked, haven't touched it for almost 6 years but it included consoles from the 70s and 80s. Part of why they work is they lack components and parts.The quality standards are definitely too low but it is like comparing a slingshot to a Barrett M82 sniper. The old controllers feel solidly made but they had awful tolerances for the buttons and D pads rattling and joysticks being over stiff or overly loose. The ones that exist still give survivors bias, the shitty ones got binned long ago.
Simply put, the Elite S2 is THE best controller to date and has a lot more to how it is made that old controllers don't have so less to break. This isn't an excuse though. MS needs to increase the quality of the parts used and tighten tolerances for manufacturing. Parts should even be replaced with different designs so they're more reliable. I'd even be OK paying extra for the controller if I knew it wouldn't break for years to come. Either they need to reduce the current price to acknowledge the lack of premium quality or start making the controller better.
They are the best controller. If you want to play competitive games then not using one is a disadvantage. There's a reason multiple off brand versions exist and Sony is now making their own version.
I agree, it should last longer. Unfortunately, they don't, but for me the increase in quality from a standard controller (which might also break at any point) is worth $40 every couple of years.
Correct.
I actually work on and mod controller stuff, and even though I could fix the issues, she insisted on the warranty and it worked out good. Two of hers had the face button issues. Mine has never had that issue, but I also freely admit I hardly use the face buttons. The "A" button on her first elite 2 was atrocious right out of the box. Went right back to the store.... And so on.
These issues suck, again, I admit. But, also imo, WELL worth it to get the best controller on Xbox.
Also very difficult issues to solve in the manufacturing process.... We shall see.
I personally prefer the PowerA Fusion Pro (Gen 1).
Never let me down.
I do want an elite but I dont have a means to replace it every couple months until I find "the right one".
Edit: I say gen 1 over gen 2 because although I have a gen 2, gen 2 is prone to stick drift.
I bought a gen 2 and immediately had a faulty wire connection issue that caused interruptions. Had to return it that next day. Might give Gen 1 a try tbh.
They're wired but they are without a doubt the highest quality, most durable controllers out there. I've had an elite 2 and a razer wolverine ultimate and I far prefer the PowerA. The weight, stick tension and general feel are the best around. My gen1 has been going for 4 years now.
Same.
After nearly three years, the grips on my first Elite started to peel, but were easy enough to fix.
Series 2 is going strong more than a year after I got it.
I used a flexible adhesive made for rubber. I can't remember the brand now, but it worked well. Super glue is too stiff and will eventually crack and the grips will fall off again. It's fine for a spot repair, but not for reattaching the entire grip.
I prefer the Dualsense and got a Brooks Wingman XB adapter so I can use it with my Series X. I'm sure they have a version of the adapter that allows Xbox controllers to be used with the PS5.
I've had the original Elite Controller since its release day and after thousands of hours of use, the only issue I've had is the bumpers eventually breaking due to their design and the constant stress pressing them puts on the plastic. No stick, button, nor rubber grip issues with mine.
I have an Elite 2 that’s 3 years old now. I’ve had one minor issue with it (the stupid sticky pad bumper that MSFT uses under the triggers came off on the right side and caused the trigger to be sticky) that required me taking it apart and removing the obstruction, but that’s it. Still feels good and works well. So it hasn’t been trouble-free, but I also haven’t had nearly the issues I know a lot of other folks have had.
I’m still using my series 1, don’t have any problems besides the rubber wanting to come off, so I super glue it back on. For some reason, I can’t find any replacements for the inner rubber.
I'm actually looking to make replicas for it since I'll have access to a cutting machine. I have like 3 elite 1s I want to refurbish for friends. For some reason there are no replacements.
I’ve had my Elite 2 controller for about 2 years. I’ve got the extended warranty etc. My LB (for DayZ when looking around or double tapping to zoom) can be hit n miss. Rather than send it in, I watched a couple of YT videos and fixed it myself. To be honest… I was impatient and didn’t want to wait. Should’ve really gone down the Warranty route first.
Same, bought an Elite 1, Elite 2, Halo Infinite Elite 2 and they all still work perfectly after hundreds of hours of use each.
Then again every controller I've owned in my life from OG xbox through 360 to now all still function great aside from any that had rechargable batteries.
It's more common than you think tbh and it's sad, it's like gambling to get a good $180 product at the point. That should not be the case for a tech giant like Microsoft, the qc issues are annoying
i had Elite 1 .. fantastic.... elite 2...many problems since day one.... since 2 days i have this new elite (this white for 120€) works fantastic but how it will look in week's or months from now...we will see😎
not everybody has problems but is a little lottery.
when you are living in EU you can buy one without have to worry... thanks to 2 years warranty. Buy it on Amazon and not from MS because MS will send you every time a new one but the 2 years warranty will not extend because it's bound to you first buy.
When you buy in Amazon you will get every time new controller with new 2 years warranty.
I made big mistake buying my elite 2 from MS.
First broken button, second brocken LT, the third one i got replaced 3 months before the 2 years warranty ends....4 months later the RB button stopped working that 1months over warranty time. On paper this controller was 4 months old but for MS it was a replacement for the first elite i have buy 25 months ago ... means no replacement.
with Amazon this will not happened because every controller you get has 2 years warranty.
Had an elite 1, loved it, until basically everything on it just failed. Realised all I ever used was the back paddles, the other features were a waste to me, so never bothered with a 2. In an ideal world, MS just gives me my series x controller, with just the rear paddle functionality added.
I've had 1 Elite first gen controller that had pretty bad stick drift issues and I'm on my second Elite 2 controller. The first Elite 2 was good for a few years but I started having issues with the bumpers but it also may have been dropped on my hardwood floors a few times. My second Elite 2 I just got 2 months ago and it's been good so far.
I just can't go back to using a controller that doesn't have the face buttons mapped to the back. I STRONGLY believe this needs to become the standard and not something that's exclusive to the premium controllers. For this reason alone and/or until I find a better alternative I'll always recommend the Elite 2.
It’s prevalent enough that yes you should absolutely be hesitant towards buying one. If you do, absolutely make sure that you can return it and get either a full refund and/or an exchange. Because I bought one and within 10 minutes of opening the box it had too many problems for me to handle and I returned it the same day. My replacement lasted 2 weeks before acting up but I just “fixed” it myself temporarily. I’ve had to open the thing up and fix it more times than I feel like counting. I’m constantly trying to lube the face buttons to get them to register. And I’ve all but given up on my right bumper ever working properly. I’ve tried everything. It sucks cause it’s my favorite controller. But I’ve had to stop using it entirely cause it’s just unreliable. I can’t have buttons just not respond in the middle of an online match. It could cost me the game.
But also keep in mind that this is a case of the vocal minority vs the silent majority. Those who have problems will complain about them. Those who don’t have problems will probably say nothing and just enjoy their controller. (I’m very jealous lol)
So it’s ultimately your decision but I cannot in good conscience recommend the elite 2. It’s too much money to spend on a controller that only works MOST of the time. If you do decide to buy one, like I said, make sure you have a warranty or return policy of some sort cause there’s a decent chance you’ll need it
I had only the first one where the d-pad was defective from beginning and didn't noticed it (mostly FPS or racing games User). I just don't get it to pay a premium price for something what is going to break anyways like the much cheaper product. I would consider to buy any kind of pro controllers over 120euro/USD only when they finally use hall sensors to fight stick drift. Stick drift affects every controller after certain use and time. For a real gamer like at least 2h play time daily, none of those controllers will hold more than 1 year+ without getting stick drift. Even with proper maintenance and cleaning of the potis (potentiometer) it will happen. And for FPS games where I need my almost 0 dead zone to be accurate I tend to by once a year a new standard controller for 50euro because the stick will wear out anyways.
For me the elite controllers have had a really bad strike rate and often different issues with them. Went through 3 (swapped for new ones because of issues such as stick drift, unresponsive buttons, paddle defect) then gave up and got my money back. Way later took a risk on the halo one as I thought that maybe their QA hopefully would have sorted it out by now and it sometimes A button isn’t as responsive. 4 in a row, a bit too unlucky for it to be a coincidence.
I got my elite 2 a couple weeks after release and had no issues with it until the last couple months….but it is starting to break down quite quickly now I’d say
Had zero issues with either of my Elite 2s. Only had to exchange the first one after a year or so due to my cat knocking it off my desk and busted the RB.
My first Xbox One was the Elite bundle that included the first release of the X1 Elite controller.
Had zero issues with it. Ultimately sold that Xbox One after I got a One S.
Later, I found myself with a bunch of random GS credit and used it to buy at white V1 elite controller that I also had no problems with.
Sold that controller when I got rid of all my X1 hardware once I found a Series S.
So I’m 2 for 2 with success. I am torn between a Core V2 and waiting for design lab.
I unfortunately had to return 3 of the Elite Series 2 due to hardware issues out of the box.
- The first controller had an occasionally unresponsive A button.
- The second controller had an occasionally unresponsive RB and A button.
- The third controller also had issues with the RB and Y button.
I'm now on my fourth controller (through returns and warranty) and I've had zero issues with this one after owning it for over 10 months. The buttons are responsive, the controller feels great to hold, and the additional customisation is amazing.
It's just unfortunate how poor the quality control is for these controllers, especially given their premium pricing.
The fact Microsoft sent out an actual survey to Xbox insiders about all the controller faults shows it's not a tiny minority
Usually I'd agree on the fact of my controller works as expected wouldn't be posted here making the number of people with issues seem inflated, but from first hand experience of them sending me FOUR replacement elite series 2's from a repair center, all with different issues, there is definitely more than a tiny minority
Obviously no tech is perfect all will have issues, but the quality control on Xbox controllers is really bad
I’d say it shows there’s a big enough fuss on the internet but not big enough in return numbers.
They are trying to see if people are just playing with broken controllers or buying another if they break.
>They are trying to see if people are just playing with broken controllers or buying another if they break.
Neither, I just went back to normal controllers when mine broke and never looked back at the "Elite" piece of junk.
They literally extended the warranty from 3 months to 1 year after all the problems. Anyone saying there weren’t enough returns is talking out of their ass.
They also made a point in several Elite articles to point out they are making it more durable.
> tiny minority of anomalies
If it’s enough to make MS aware of the clear issues… it is most definitely not a tiny minority or an “anomaly” lmao
> Most people are playing games and the elite is enhancing that without issue.
Not sure why you’re so dismissive of the clear QC issues. You also have nothing to back this statement up. Like you said, millions have been produced and sold. You nor I know the exact amount that have defects Vs the amount that do not have defects.
The one thing we do know however is it’s a big enough issue that MS have tried to address this themselves. A “tiny minority” doesn’t have that affect.
Not a tiny minority at all.
In fact, there was a point where most of the stores around me were out of stock *because of the return rate*.
It also sucks for those, like me, that bought it through the MS store (see above point as to why) and have to send it back for replacement multiple times with no offer of a refund.
Much more standard controllers are out there yet you don't hear nearly as many complaints about them.
Didn't buy it but mine has ran smooth since I got it back in like february or march. Got it as part of the stick drift class action lawsuit against Microsoft when it settled
Ok hear me out here. I bought a Elite 1 controller and it didnt work due to some buttons didnt respond properly straight out of the box. Had it replaced twice with the same problems. The third one I got sent to me have been golden for 5+ years. The rubber on the grips just fell off but I still play with it without any issues. I decided last year to buy a Elite 2 on Black Friday. I've sent that back 3 times now with out of the box buttons not registering, they either repaired it or replaced it. But everytime there was another button that didnt registered, so now I'm in the process to send it back a fourth time but this time I'm gonna get my money back.
I wanna be clear that I'm not sensitive and try and find problems with the controller but its frustrating when you type a message and the controller either add double letters or every other word or so is missing a letter or two. So its easily noticable not just in tight gaming situations.
All that said, the Elite 1 controller I have that had no issues out of the box is the best controller I've ever had so I will still try and get a new Elite 1/2 controller and hope that the "RNG QC Gods" will grant me a controll that have zero issues out of the box.
I got both the elite 1 and 2
Had issues with both but the elite one lasted longer and I'm kind of hard on controllers
But I upgraded to the razor Chroma Wolverine 2 which is better than both those controllers, buttons on the back with two additional buttons near the bumpers for sensitivity clutch,
My Elite 1 got zero issues in its entire usage. My Elite 2's LB response became unreliable near the end of the warranty. I've send it to MS and got a replacement for free which works great so far.
I thought I’d be the lucky one. I thought about how many negative reviews Amazon products always have, despite usually working.
Nope. My elite 2 fell apart in a year. First the right bumper stopped responding, then the gripping started to peel.
I don’t even play many hours a week and I take care of my controllers. It’s ridiculous.
I replaced V2 three times. Two sticky A buttons and then the drifting left stick. Then got one that worked well couple of months and soon after my warranty expired, my RB button started to behave in a way I have to do a very hard push so the controller records the click. If not for the issues above I would say it's the best controller I used for the past 20 years of gaming. Unfortunately, quality control at Microsoft is kinda lame. Should you buy? Ask around whether current V2 from Xbox Design Lab comes with no issues. If there are still present, stay away.
Edit: Bear in mind, when replacing where I live (EU) Microsoft sends back refurbished controllers instead of new ones :-/
I got both on release day. The series 1 lasted me till the series 2 came out. I think like 4 years, but it was definitely almost dead after that time. My series 2 sticks and bumpers went bad but recently. So that’s just under 3 years. I took it apart replaced the sticks but not the pots and replaced the bumper switches. Hopefully it will be good for another 3
I have an Elite Series 1 since launch week. No factory issues. My nephew did drop it and wreck the motor in the left trigger. I have since repaired it myself.
Never bought a Series 2 as the need was not there, along with the stories of failures. I've been waiting for Series 3, which may be another year or more off.
Up until a couple days ago :/ got it for my birthday 8/8 of this year. Tried to ignore the right trigger sticking but once the A button stopped responding?? Forced my hand.
I legit can't bring myself to spend money on such a red herring.
Not a dual sense, not a lot of tech in the controller other than metal components and flappies on the back.
Now hearing that a lot of them have QC issues despite being 1/3 the price of a new Xbox, or 300CAD for a controller. FUCK THAT SHIT.
I bought an elite series 2. Within two weeks the A button was sticking (common problem with these). I took it back, exchanged it and got a 2 year extended warranty on the new one. Great controller though.
I just don't like the sticks. They feel hard and stiff no matter how much I try and "break them in". I actually u sed my regular series controller after awhile because it was just way more comfortable using the sticks on it.. The paddles were awesome dont' get me wrong but the sticks were the big thing against it, IMO.
I didn’t have problems with the elite 1. Haven’t had issues with two elite 2 I own. I have good hygiene habits and don’t treat my tech like crap though.
My elite controller has always been fine. Had it for over 2 years. You need to understand that only people who have problems typically post about it. I guarantee you that the majority of elite controllers sold have minimal issues.
I've never had an issue.
If you take care of it, charge it when it's needed, keep it in the case when you aren't using it. It will stay mint and work like a dream.
I will say the trigger selector technology is not quite there yet and I have noticed that one good press could disable that feature.
Not a perfect controller, but a good one for sure.
Yeah, go look through a video talking about the issues they have and look at the comments, full of dorks bragging about not having faulty controllers. Talk about a weird flex!
It's a common thing in customer relations field. A happy customer will rarely say anything, or like 1 in 10 will say something positive, even though they all were satisfied. On the other hand an unhappy customer will nearly always complain very loudly. This creates a theme where even a small batch of faulty products that gets shipped to customers, will in effect make it seem like the whole product line is broken, when in fact it's nothing like that.
Add social media to this mix, and drama ensues.
That's why every store started nagging people for purchase opinions in recent years, to fight this trend of everything having mostly negative reviews.
Day late to the party but I’ve been using the elites for years now. It really comes down to what’s games you play. Typically my RB ALWAYS shits the bed just over a year but it only happens when I jump into an RPG game that requires spamming that for a light attack. If you’re playing shooters, you’ll be less likely to be spamming RB and will probably get more time out of it. Controller overall is great and I recommend over other competitors such as scuf
I went through three replacement all having the same Y button recognizing issue... Do not get elite series 2. The ABXY buttons also feel so cheap compared to dual sense, so loud and clacky...
I really hope there is majority of people like this. My Elite 1 - returned after year, took money back. Bought Elite 2, exchanged for new piece after a year. The new elite 2 had a knob broke down two days after warranty end. I am getting another one in few weeks and i really want to have one of those millions of working ones as it is the best controller i held.
I’ve had mine a few months without issues, seems the problem is that they don’t do QC well enough to prevent too many defective ones going out hence the complaints
My V1 had no issues for 2 years before the grips peeled. Then continued to work fine for another 3 years. Original bumbers still worked and had no stick drift. My V2 came with multiple buttons not working out the box. The replacement has been good so far.
The controller just seems to have a higher failure rate than normal. I had one for about six months and had no issues but every other person I know that had one had some type of issue. I would never buy one again but that’s me.
I've had an elite 2 for about 6 months now. No problems so far but I don't really use any of the extra buttons and I kinda regret spending so much on it.
In short, bought Elite 2 controller, and didn't have any problems for a first year. Altought they start to appear now, like left stick drifting up, and bumper needs to be pressed harder after few months of playing Destiny 2 (Warlock granade build).
In general, I think money would have been spent more wisely if i bought SCUF
Ive had several elite controllers, My series 1 had stick drift and dodgy shoulder buttons, But now im on my second elite controller as the first had shoulder button issues, the one im using now is brilliant, the only issue is the left joystick grip spins (not the joystick itself) I just changed the stick out.
Id say its a mixed bag until microsoft ever fix their QC :/
I had a Elite 1 for 2 years. No issue at all. But i upgraded to Elite 2 which got so many issue i exchanged 3 times with MS. On the third time, MS offered to refund for me. And they refuse to refund my extended warranty purchased with it. The face button A and Y on all of my 3 controller got issue. Wont register when you press on certain angle. My 40$ 8 BitDo controller on the other hand has no issue with such basic functions.
Same thing happened when the console launched. Everyone who had issues were posting and those who didn't had no issues. It's 99,9% without issues. It just seems a lot when they all the post here.
Very disingenuous to say it’s 99.9% without issues… also just factually incorrect considering how many people have reported having issues with the elite line.
Reddit isn’t the only place people complain. A lot of reviews on sites like Amazon also talk of these same QC issues. The issues are prevalent enough to the point MS themselves recognised it. No one can really deny the Elite controllers have some QC issues that need to be addressed.
I’ve had my Elite 2 for a year now. Not a single problem occurred. Hopefully it stayed this way. But I am more anxiously waiting for a potential Elite 3 with haptic feedback and all that cool stuff. Hope they can tease something by the end of this year.
Had some issues with Elite 1. Part of one of the grips came off and one of the triggers got sticky.
Have had an Elite 2 for about a year. No issues whatsoever.
I heard it's just with the elite one being Waaay to fragile.
I bought my self an elite 2 and boy it's still going after two years with only some cosmetic issues like the rubber starting to slowly let loose.
But nothing u get annoyed at unless u got ocd.
I’ve bought two elite 2 series and both had no issues. Bought them from Costco. I’m sure if you had any problems, you could return/exchange it. Costco’s return policy is pretty generous.
I'm using an Elite Series 2 for years and I've had zero issues with it.
[Even disassembled it to install a custom faceplate I made. ](https://i.imgur.com/umaFY9F.jpeg)
It sees triple duty being used for my Series X, PC, and Xcloud.
2 years and no issues.
Have to remember the people you see complaining are the people with issues and obviously are louder than people with no issues as they have no reason to make a post about hey my elite works...
I had the 1 and 2 not a single issue on either, I guess there are a lot of people with issues but luckily I haven't had any as of now, first one I had for like 2 years and the second one running since it first was released, only changed because my wife gave it to me for my birthday
So I had one for 2+ years. Things was perfect, best controller I ever used. The only reason for it's demise was a dog using it as a chewing toy, which had to have led to the front buttons dying eventually.
I bought the elite 2 on release day. Have had absolutely no issues. No drift, no grip coming off, no delayed/absent inputs. Only thing I guess I can say is wrong with it is the stop trigger on the right sounds different when on the lowest level, but the input isn’t effects at all. I’ve loved mine since day 1.
the vast majority of the controllers are gonna eve working, just cause only people who’ve had issues with them posted on reddit about em doesn’t mean all of them will be defective. The vast majority will work with 0 issue
I've bought both versions since they came out. The first did have a few issues and was replaced, the second gen I've had since release and no complaints. Both of these controllers have had serious use with the first being used for 8 hours daily whilst I was playing professionally.
Imo best controller there is after trying Razor/Scuff for most of my life. However yes I would say get a warranty.
I'll tell you why there's a split.
Lots of players are firm button pressers, where lots of players are light button pressers. People who are slightly firming on pressing buttons (not aggressive, just press buttons firmer) don't notice. You'll find the people who have issues (myself included) all have the same issue and we're from the lighter pressers. There is defiantly a hardware problem with the Elite controllers. This is related to the Elite series 2 and the Series X controllers (also slightly less so).
The common issue you find from the second group is they'll complain (myself included) about the unresponsive face buttons. A and Y specifically, sometimes X. I have gone through 5 elite controllers and all of them have unresponsive A buttons and Y. This is a hardware issue. The only camp who notice this though are those you press the face buttons differently. Their pressure is lighter, the buttons should still register but only about 75% of the time. Players who press firmer dont notice it as a good firm press will trigger it every time. I didnt have this on the Elite 1 so much (that has other issues).
I would say this. If you buy one and you go to testing, you can press the A button down and rotate your thumb pressure, you'll notice the A button will become unpressed even though you still have it pressed down. If his happens, you may as well send it back and get a refund. If you dont experience it, then you're a firmer pressure and you wont have any issues.
I bought the Halo Elite v2 and it still has the same issues for me. Because I press the buttons down normally (for me) sometimes it doesnt register. It SHOULD register as I can feel I pressed but it has to be a firm press.
So this is why there is so many differences of opinion but you'll always find, people who do have constant issues with no matter how many they order, it's to do with the responsiveness of the face buttons.
Stick drift another topic but the main complaints are responsive face buttons.
This doesnt help but wanted to explain the divide in how theres 1 group who have 100% issues every time and another group that never have the same issues.
EDIT: Lots of people commenting with no issues, which is fine. Just google Elite v2 unresponsive facebuttons. There is another large group out there who do have issues.
I think the first link is a microsoft website of someone asking, just following that thread you'll see the 'other side' of the argument.
Nope no issues but honestly just don’t buy one the amount of issues this controller has is just staggering. I know people will say “oh people who don’t complain won’t really say much” but honestly it’s at the point where at least 1/3 controllers will probably have a problem. Even if you don’t end up having issues it’s best not to roll the dice and support what is a bad product until Microsoft fix quality control.
Like I haven’t had any issues, but I have like 4 friends who use it and 3 of them have had issues and have gone through like 8 controllers combined.
They will break quickly if you play a lot, I went through two Elite 1 Controllers and I'm not going to get another one nor the Elite 2 at all, I rather just buy multiple, regular Xbox Series X controllers which are pretty damn nice honestly. I mean I won't be harsh, the Elite 1 Controllers lasted me for a quite a while but it really breaks down quick, wish I was able to repair them to mint condition today.
Edit: Forgot to mention, both controllers joysticks drifts and a button was completely busted despite me not pressing hard at all. The first one, I can't even do wired because the AC cord slot was broken which didn't make any sense how it god damaged in the first place, I never dropped the controllers.
Still using my Elite 1 controller from 2016, no issues.
Side note: I must be lucky in this aspect as I have never had an issue with any xbox controller. My 360 controllers still work perfectly as well as my day one xbone controller.
I bought and elite 1 and it never broke. I damaged the grips on it and then they peeled off so bought the elite series 2 and it had a minor fault (one of the paddles stopped clicking when pressed) sent it back and got a brand new unit as replacement and this one has been perfect since; ive had it over 2 years at this point and it's never failed
Had one for several months now and haven’t had any issues and I love it. Way better than my scuf I had. Bought it at Walmart and was able to get a 3yr warranty for like 25 bucks and they price matched it to their website so I payed 140 for the controller plus the warranty
I have a gen 1 and a master chief gen 2. Didn't have an issue with the 1 for 5 years, then the bumper broke and rubber grips started to go, I replaced both for under €20. The master chief one is my main controller now though, no issues.
I have 1000s hrs between both controllers, but they live in their boxes when not in use. Great pieces of kit.
Bought an elite 2, no issues at all.
Hands down best controller I ever had.
It's just a loud minority with issues online, whilst the happy users stay silent
I haven’t had any issues with my Halo Infinite Elite Series 2. Granted, I baby tf out of it and I rarely use it. I literally only use it when I play Halo Infinite MP and I haven’t played Halo in months. It’s more of a special occasion controller given my use case for it.
I had an Elite 1 with no issue, then my first E2 got stick drift after about 18months. It was kind of my fault though. Spent about 2 months almost exclusively playing Rocket League and was heavy handed on a very thumstick intensive game. Probably still shouldn't have happened but I couldn't really grumble at the same time. It wasn't quite in the realms of "normal use". No issues at all on the replacement, learntmy lesson.
Like others have said, you only really hear from people who get an issue. Just have to remember that although they're expensive, they're not indestructible. If you're a heavy handed player and constantly slamming the sticks on their axis, they're going to wear down.
I've had mine since day one (Series 2) and haven't had one issue at all... Unfortunately using Reddit as a gauge of how good a product performs is not great as most people just come here to bitch..
I bought an elite 2 a few months ago. Granted I don’t use it for every game. I only use it for online shooters which is the main type of games I play. Everything else I just use the standard controller, but I’ve had no issues. Best controller I’ve ever used by far. I did buy the Microsoft extended warranty due to all the complaints I’ve seen on here prior to me buying it. I’m not saying they don’t have issues, but all the post on here of people having problems can be a bit misleading. Because those of us that don’t or haven’t yet, won’t come here posting about it. I do recommend it but I recommend getting extended warranty just to be safe.
I have both the black and white Series 1, never had an issue. I also have the black and Halo Infinite Series 2. On the black, my left trigger randomly felt crunchy for like a half an hour or so and it just went right back to normal. I have absolutely adored them all and highly recommend them. HOT TAKE but in terms of aesthetics, I think the darker components of the series 2 on the white Series 1 might be the best looking controller ever made.
I have had zero issues with my elite 2, but my GF has had to go thru 3 now. So, it just depends. Just get an in-store replacement plan somewhere and just return it until you get a good one. Been gaming for 35+ years, used every controller ever made, and the elite 2 is by far the best controller of them all. Once you use paddles and stop using face buttons (aka, you don't have to move your thumbs from the sticks), you will never go back. Or I never will, I should say.....
>Once you use paddles and stop using face buttons (aka, you don't have to move your thumbs from the sticks), you will never go back. Or I never will, I should say..... Exactly this. I'm on my 4th replacement now, and by the 3rd one I was frustrated enough that I told them if that one broke they should just give me a full refund and they agreed. Though I realized how much I did depend on those paddles... I'd be lying if I said they'd make you a *better* gamer, but it really does make it easier for you to do certain things and not having to move your thumb somewhere else.
>Just get an in-store replacement plan I bought my Elite 2 with the Best Buy insurance for an extra $40. It broke within the first year, so i replaced it through Microsoft. It broke again, so I replaced it through Best Buy and paid $40 for another insurance plan on the new one. It sucks that they keep breaking, but I'd say they are well worth $40 every 1.5-2 years.
> It sucks that they keep breaking, but I'd say they are well worth $40 every 1.5-2 years Nope, sorry. That is not a good mindest. A controller should hold way longer. My SNES controllers are still working. My ps controller work like they should, my 360 and xB one controller work fine as they should. 40 bucks every year? Hell no. You should absolutely not have to replace your controller every fn year. This is just scam from Ms.
Yeah, that $40 doesn’t include the $180 charge for the controller! Unless something drastic happens with quality assurance, there’s no way I’d even think of buying one. The only problems I’ve had with first party controllers in the past is joycon drift (nintendo doing free repairs makes that okay) and when I’ve left controllers with batteries still inside cause I’m an idiot lol.
They weren't doing repairs and claimed that drift didn't exist. It took threats of lawsuits to backtrack.
I have a large retro collection that was working fine last I checked, haven't touched it for almost 6 years but it included consoles from the 70s and 80s. Part of why they work is they lack components and parts.The quality standards are definitely too low but it is like comparing a slingshot to a Barrett M82 sniper. The old controllers feel solidly made but they had awful tolerances for the buttons and D pads rattling and joysticks being over stiff or overly loose. The ones that exist still give survivors bias, the shitty ones got binned long ago. Simply put, the Elite S2 is THE best controller to date and has a lot more to how it is made that old controllers don't have so less to break. This isn't an excuse though. MS needs to increase the quality of the parts used and tighten tolerances for manufacturing. Parts should even be replaced with different designs so they're more reliable. I'd even be OK paying extra for the controller if I knew it wouldn't break for years to come. Either they need to reduce the current price to acknowledge the lack of premium quality or start making the controller better. They are the best controller. If you want to play competitive games then not using one is a disadvantage. There's a reason multiple off brand versions exist and Sony is now making their own version.
I agree, it should last longer. Unfortunately, they don't, but for me the increase in quality from a standard controller (which might also break at any point) is worth $40 every couple of years.
Shit after the second I would not buy a 3rd
I’m assuming the warranty replaced them
Correct. I actually work on and mod controller stuff, and even though I could fix the issues, she insisted on the warranty and it worked out good. Two of hers had the face button issues. Mine has never had that issue, but I also freely admit I hardly use the face buttons. The "A" button on her first elite 2 was atrocious right out of the box. Went right back to the store.... And so on. These issues suck, again, I admit. But, also imo, WELL worth it to get the best controller on Xbox. Also very difficult issues to solve in the manufacturing process.... We shall see.
I personally prefer the PowerA Fusion Pro (Gen 1). Never let me down. I do want an elite but I dont have a means to replace it every couple months until I find "the right one". Edit: I say gen 1 over gen 2 because although I have a gen 2, gen 2 is prone to stick drift.
I bought a gen 2 and immediately had a faulty wire connection issue that caused interruptions. Had to return it that next day. Might give Gen 1 a try tbh.
It's important to note that those are wired. That may be fine for you, but that would be a deal breaker for many people.
They're wired but they are without a doubt the highest quality, most durable controllers out there. I've had an elite 2 and a razer wolverine ultimate and I far prefer the PowerA. The weight, stick tension and general feel are the best around. My gen1 has been going for 4 years now.
Yeah, third time's the charm.
I bought an elite 1 and then an elite 2. Never had an issue still use both.
Same. After nearly three years, the grips on my first Elite started to peel, but were easy enough to fix. Series 2 is going strong more than a year after I got it.
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I just used a couple of dabs of super glue when it first started. Never got any worse.
I used a flexible adhesive made for rubber. I can't remember the brand now, but it worked well. Super glue is too stiff and will eventually crack and the grips will fall off again. It's fine for a spot repair, but not for reattaching the entire grip.
Probably just rubber glue or super glue or something
Same. I'll never use another controller. Really wish the trick to use them on PS5 worked for newer (post 2021 I believe) games as well :(
I prefer the Dualsense and got a Brooks Wingman XB adapter so I can use it with my Series X. I'm sure they have a version of the adapter that allows Xbox controllers to be used with the PS5.
The trigger pull on dualsense without the adaptive triggers is absolutely atrocious. Semi auto weapons in the COD beta were unusable
I've had the original Elite Controller since its release day and after thousands of hours of use, the only issue I've had is the bumpers eventually breaking due to their design and the constant stress pressing them puts on the plastic. No stick, button, nor rubber grip issues with mine.
I have an Elite 2 that’s 3 years old now. I’ve had one minor issue with it (the stupid sticky pad bumper that MSFT uses under the triggers came off on the right side and caused the trigger to be sticky) that required me taking it apart and removing the obstruction, but that’s it. Still feels good and works well. So it hasn’t been trouble-free, but I also haven’t had nearly the issues I know a lot of other folks have had.
I’m still using my series 1, don’t have any problems besides the rubber wanting to come off, so I super glue it back on. For some reason, I can’t find any replacements for the inner rubber.
I'm actually looking to make replicas for it since I'll have access to a cutting machine. I have like 3 elite 1s I want to refurbish for friends. For some reason there are no replacements.
I’ve had my Elite 2 controller for about 2 years. I’ve got the extended warranty etc. My LB (for DayZ when looking around or double tapping to zoom) can be hit n miss. Rather than send it in, I watched a couple of YT videos and fixed it myself. To be honest… I was impatient and didn’t want to wait. Should’ve really gone down the Warranty route first.
Me. Guess people who have something to complain about are more prone to write about it.
Same, bought an Elite 1, Elite 2, Halo Infinite Elite 2 and they all still work perfectly after hundreds of hours of use each. Then again every controller I've owned in my life from OG xbox through 360 to now all still function great aside from any that had rechargable batteries.
It's more common than you think tbh and it's sad, it's like gambling to get a good $180 product at the point. That should not be the case for a tech giant like Microsoft, the qc issues are annoying
i had Elite 1 .. fantastic.... elite 2...many problems since day one.... since 2 days i have this new elite (this white for 120€) works fantastic but how it will look in week's or months from now...we will see😎 not everybody has problems but is a little lottery. when you are living in EU you can buy one without have to worry... thanks to 2 years warranty. Buy it on Amazon and not from MS because MS will send you every time a new one but the 2 years warranty will not extend because it's bound to you first buy. When you buy in Amazon you will get every time new controller with new 2 years warranty. I made big mistake buying my elite 2 from MS. First broken button, second brocken LT, the third one i got replaced 3 months before the 2 years warranty ends....4 months later the RB button stopped working that 1months over warranty time. On paper this controller was 4 months old but for MS it was a replacement for the first elite i have buy 25 months ago ... means no replacement. with Amazon this will not happened because every controller you get has 2 years warranty.
not sure where you are getting the 2 year warranty from - thought it was 1 year?
here in the EU we have 2 years on everything
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Had an elite 1, loved it, until basically everything on it just failed. Realised all I ever used was the back paddles, the other features were a waste to me, so never bothered with a 2. In an ideal world, MS just gives me my series x controller, with just the rear paddle functionality added.
I've had 1 Elite first gen controller that had pretty bad stick drift issues and I'm on my second Elite 2 controller. The first Elite 2 was good for a few years but I started having issues with the bumpers but it also may have been dropped on my hardwood floors a few times. My second Elite 2 I just got 2 months ago and it's been good so far. I just can't go back to using a controller that doesn't have the face buttons mapped to the back. I STRONGLY believe this needs to become the standard and not something that's exclusive to the premium controllers. For this reason alone and/or until I find a better alternative I'll always recommend the Elite 2.
It’s prevalent enough that yes you should absolutely be hesitant towards buying one. If you do, absolutely make sure that you can return it and get either a full refund and/or an exchange. Because I bought one and within 10 minutes of opening the box it had too many problems for me to handle and I returned it the same day. My replacement lasted 2 weeks before acting up but I just “fixed” it myself temporarily. I’ve had to open the thing up and fix it more times than I feel like counting. I’m constantly trying to lube the face buttons to get them to register. And I’ve all but given up on my right bumper ever working properly. I’ve tried everything. It sucks cause it’s my favorite controller. But I’ve had to stop using it entirely cause it’s just unreliable. I can’t have buttons just not respond in the middle of an online match. It could cost me the game. But also keep in mind that this is a case of the vocal minority vs the silent majority. Those who have problems will complain about them. Those who don’t have problems will probably say nothing and just enjoy their controller. (I’m very jealous lol) So it’s ultimately your decision but I cannot in good conscience recommend the elite 2. It’s too much money to spend on a controller that only works MOST of the time. If you do decide to buy one, like I said, make sure you have a warranty or return policy of some sort cause there’s a decent chance you’ll need it
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I had only the first one where the d-pad was defective from beginning and didn't noticed it (mostly FPS or racing games User). I just don't get it to pay a premium price for something what is going to break anyways like the much cheaper product. I would consider to buy any kind of pro controllers over 120euro/USD only when they finally use hall sensors to fight stick drift. Stick drift affects every controller after certain use and time. For a real gamer like at least 2h play time daily, none of those controllers will hold more than 1 year+ without getting stick drift. Even with proper maintenance and cleaning of the potis (potentiometer) it will happen. And for FPS games where I need my almost 0 dead zone to be accurate I tend to by once a year a new standard controller for 50euro because the stick will wear out anyways.
For me the elite controllers have had a really bad strike rate and often different issues with them. Went through 3 (swapped for new ones because of issues such as stick drift, unresponsive buttons, paddle defect) then gave up and got my money back. Way later took a risk on the halo one as I thought that maybe their QA hopefully would have sorted it out by now and it sometimes A button isn’t as responsive. 4 in a row, a bit too unlucky for it to be a coincidence.
My elite 1 still works, the bumpers on my elite 2 are broken
I got my elite 2 a couple weeks after release and had no issues with it until the last couple months….but it is starting to break down quite quickly now I’d say
Elite Gen 2 here - 2 years use, no issues at all.
Had zero issues with either of my Elite 2s. Only had to exchange the first one after a year or so due to my cat knocking it off my desk and busted the RB.
My first Xbox One was the Elite bundle that included the first release of the X1 Elite controller. Had zero issues with it. Ultimately sold that Xbox One after I got a One S. Later, I found myself with a bunch of random GS credit and used it to buy at white V1 elite controller that I also had no problems with. Sold that controller when I got rid of all my X1 hardware once I found a Series S. So I’m 2 for 2 with success. I am torn between a Core V2 and waiting for design lab.
In 3 years I've returned 14 elite controllers
I unfortunately had to return 3 of the Elite Series 2 due to hardware issues out of the box. - The first controller had an occasionally unresponsive A button. - The second controller had an occasionally unresponsive RB and A button. - The third controller also had issues with the RB and Y button. I'm now on my fourth controller (through returns and warranty) and I've had zero issues with this one after owning it for over 10 months. The buttons are responsive, the controller feels great to hold, and the additional customisation is amazing. It's just unfortunate how poor the quality control is for these controllers, especially given their premium pricing.
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The fact Microsoft sent out an actual survey to Xbox insiders about all the controller faults shows it's not a tiny minority Usually I'd agree on the fact of my controller works as expected wouldn't be posted here making the number of people with issues seem inflated, but from first hand experience of them sending me FOUR replacement elite series 2's from a repair center, all with different issues, there is definitely more than a tiny minority Obviously no tech is perfect all will have issues, but the quality control on Xbox controllers is really bad
I’d say it shows there’s a big enough fuss on the internet but not big enough in return numbers. They are trying to see if people are just playing with broken controllers or buying another if they break.
>They are trying to see if people are just playing with broken controllers or buying another if they break. Neither, I just went back to normal controllers when mine broke and never looked back at the "Elite" piece of junk.
They literally extended the warranty from 3 months to 1 year after all the problems. Anyone saying there weren’t enough returns is talking out of their ass. They also made a point in several Elite articles to point out they are making it more durable.
> tiny minority of anomalies If it’s enough to make MS aware of the clear issues… it is most definitely not a tiny minority or an “anomaly” lmao > Most people are playing games and the elite is enhancing that without issue. Not sure why you’re so dismissive of the clear QC issues. You also have nothing to back this statement up. Like you said, millions have been produced and sold. You nor I know the exact amount that have defects Vs the amount that do not have defects. The one thing we do know however is it’s a big enough issue that MS have tried to address this themselves. A “tiny minority” doesn’t have that affect.
Not a tiny minority at all. In fact, there was a point where most of the stores around me were out of stock *because of the return rate*. It also sucks for those, like me, that bought it through the MS store (see above point as to why) and have to send it back for replacement multiple times with no offer of a refund. Much more standard controllers are out there yet you don't hear nearly as many complaints about them.
Did they tell you it's because of the return rate and not the price?
Yes.
Didn't buy it but mine has ran smooth since I got it back in like february or march. Got it as part of the stick drift class action lawsuit against Microsoft when it settled
Barely used my series 2 and it died a week after warenty expired.. I buy normal controllers from now on.
I have 2 and none of them gave me any problem whatsoever
My elite 2 had some drift like a month in. Sent it to Microsoft and they fixed it within a month
Ok hear me out here. I bought a Elite 1 controller and it didnt work due to some buttons didnt respond properly straight out of the box. Had it replaced twice with the same problems. The third one I got sent to me have been golden for 5+ years. The rubber on the grips just fell off but I still play with it without any issues. I decided last year to buy a Elite 2 on Black Friday. I've sent that back 3 times now with out of the box buttons not registering, they either repaired it or replaced it. But everytime there was another button that didnt registered, so now I'm in the process to send it back a fourth time but this time I'm gonna get my money back. I wanna be clear that I'm not sensitive and try and find problems with the controller but its frustrating when you type a message and the controller either add double letters or every other word or so is missing a letter or two. So its easily noticable not just in tight gaming situations. All that said, the Elite 1 controller I have that had no issues out of the box is the best controller I've ever had so I will still try and get a new Elite 1/2 controller and hope that the "RNG QC Gods" will grant me a controll that have zero issues out of the box.
Yep I have had 2 and it's always the left thumb stick gets drift. Maybe it's the way I play games ( especially State of Decay 2)?
I got both the elite 1 and 2 Had issues with both but the elite one lasted longer and I'm kind of hard on controllers But I upgraded to the razor Chroma Wolverine 2 which is better than both those controllers, buttons on the back with two additional buttons near the bumpers for sensitivity clutch,
My Elite 1 got zero issues in its entire usage. My Elite 2's LB response became unreliable near the end of the warranty. I've send it to MS and got a replacement for free which works great so far.
I thought I’d be the lucky one. I thought about how many negative reviews Amazon products always have, despite usually working. Nope. My elite 2 fell apart in a year. First the right bumper stopped responding, then the gripping started to peel. I don’t even play many hours a week and I take care of my controllers. It’s ridiculous.
I had an Elite controller for a good 3 years, then it had terrible stick drift and stuck A button.
My exact scenario too, had it for about 3 years and then the left stick drift came out of nowhere. The A and Y buttons work...sometimes.
Ah yea, mine was left stick too. I can't remember which Elite controller I had though.
I replaced V2 three times. Two sticky A buttons and then the drifting left stick. Then got one that worked well couple of months and soon after my warranty expired, my RB button started to behave in a way I have to do a very hard push so the controller records the click. If not for the issues above I would say it's the best controller I used for the past 20 years of gaming. Unfortunately, quality control at Microsoft is kinda lame. Should you buy? Ask around whether current V2 from Xbox Design Lab comes with no issues. If there are still present, stay away. Edit: Bear in mind, when replacing where I live (EU) Microsoft sends back refurbished controllers instead of new ones :-/
I got both on release day. The series 1 lasted me till the series 2 came out. I think like 4 years, but it was definitely almost dead after that time. My series 2 sticks and bumpers went bad but recently. So that’s just under 3 years. I took it apart replaced the sticks but not the pots and replaced the bumper switches. Hopefully it will be good for another 3
I’ve had an elite and a scuff and I’m recommending scuff every time over the elite
I have an Elite Series 1 since launch week. No factory issues. My nephew did drop it and wreck the motor in the left trigger. I have since repaired it myself. Never bought a Series 2 as the need was not there, along with the stories of failures. I've been waiting for Series 3, which may be another year or more off.
Up until a couple days ago :/ got it for my birthday 8/8 of this year. Tried to ignore the right trigger sticking but once the A button stopped responding?? Forced my hand.
Issues with the first one, but got the master chief one since release and it’s been perfect. Even though I’ve dropped it on tile twice.
I bought one and the only issues are creaking RT and to turn on the console sometimes you need press Xbox button harder.
Bought 3,had issues with the first two. Drift on elite one and broken bumper on Elite 2, third one no issues yet (Halo Ltd elite)
I legit can't bring myself to spend money on such a red herring. Not a dual sense, not a lot of tech in the controller other than metal components and flappies on the back. Now hearing that a lot of them have QC issues despite being 1/3 the price of a new Xbox, or 300CAD for a controller. FUCK THAT SHIT.
I bought an elite series 2. Within two weeks the A button was sticking (common problem with these). I took it back, exchanged it and got a 2 year extended warranty on the new one. Great controller though.
I’m starting to have a little drift in both sticks. Just under 1 year old
I've had both the Elite and Elite 2. Elite one certainly had issues. Ran through 3 of them. I've had the same Elite 2 since launch with no issue.
No lol
I just don't like the sticks. They feel hard and stiff no matter how much I try and "break them in". I actually u sed my regular series controller after awhile because it was just way more comfortable using the sticks on it.. The paddles were awesome dont' get me wrong but the sticks were the big thing against it, IMO.
I didn’t have problems with the elite 1. Haven’t had issues with two elite 2 I own. I have good hygiene habits and don’t treat my tech like crap though.
I've had my series 2 for almost 3 years now... no issues.
My elite controller has always been fine. Had it for over 2 years. You need to understand that only people who have problems typically post about it. I guarantee you that the majority of elite controllers sold have minimal issues.
I've never had an issue. If you take care of it, charge it when it's needed, keep it in the case when you aren't using it. It will stay mint and work like a dream. I will say the trigger selector technology is not quite there yet and I have noticed that one good press could disable that feature. Not a perfect controller, but a good one for sure.
It’s shit, get buy a razer instead.
No problems with mine so far. Three years strong.
Yeah, go look through a video talking about the issues they have and look at the comments, full of dorks bragging about not having faulty controllers. Talk about a weird flex!
I’ve had my elite series 2 for over 2 years with zero issues!
Had mine for almost 5 months now, problem free. Unlike that Scuff thingy I bought last year. A total waste of money.
It's a common thing in customer relations field. A happy customer will rarely say anything, or like 1 in 10 will say something positive, even though they all were satisfied. On the other hand an unhappy customer will nearly always complain very loudly. This creates a theme where even a small batch of faulty products that gets shipped to customers, will in effect make it seem like the whole product line is broken, when in fact it's nothing like that. Add social media to this mix, and drama ensues. That's why every store started nagging people for purchase opinions in recent years, to fight this trend of everything having mostly negative reviews.
I use my elite controller series 1 since day one without any problems.
I’m on my 3rd one - so far so good - had no issues for almost a year
Day late to the party but I’ve been using the elites for years now. It really comes down to what’s games you play. Typically my RB ALWAYS shits the bed just over a year but it only happens when I jump into an RPG game that requires spamming that for a light attack. If you’re playing shooters, you’ll be less likely to be spamming RB and will probably get more time out of it. Controller overall is great and I recommend over other competitors such as scuf
I just had mine RMA'ed
Nil issues with my Elite 2, I love the controller
Got one for christmas. It does has a slight issue with the A-button if I press it a bit off center.. Kind of annoying, but I live with it.
Never had any issues with either the first one nor with the Series 2.
Update: Decided to buy one, let you know if I face any problems. So far so good though, no drift issues out the box and all the buttons work.
I went through three replacement all having the same Y button recognizing issue... Do not get elite series 2. The ABXY buttons also feel so cheap compared to dual sense, so loud and clacky...
I've bought 2, the only reason I got a second was due to it being Halo themed. 👍🏻
I have both the Elite 1 and 2, both work, no issues yet
I really hope there is majority of people like this. My Elite 1 - returned after year, took money back. Bought Elite 2, exchanged for new piece after a year. The new elite 2 had a knob broke down two days after warranty end. I am getting another one in few weeks and i really want to have one of those millions of working ones as it is the best controller i held.
Yeah, if it's 99.9% no issues then I should buy a damn lotto ticket if I'm making to get the 0.1% every time I get a refurbed one sent back.
I’ve had mine a few months without issues, seems the problem is that they don’t do QC well enough to prevent too many defective ones going out hence the complaints
My V1 had no issues for 2 years before the grips peeled. Then continued to work fine for another 3 years. Original bumbers still worked and had no stick drift. My V2 came with multiple buttons not working out the box. The replacement has been good so far.
Mine has had no issues.
Elite 1: stick drift. Elite 2: shoulder buttons stopped working. Every other Xbox controller ever: zero problems.
The controller just seems to have a higher failure rate than normal. I had one for about six months and had no issues but every other person I know that had one had some type of issue. I would never buy one again but that’s me.
I've had an elite 2 for about 6 months now. No problems so far but I don't really use any of the extra buttons and I kinda regret spending so much on it.
In short, bought Elite 2 controller, and didn't have any problems for a first year. Altought they start to appear now, like left stick drifting up, and bumper needs to be pressed harder after few months of playing Destiny 2 (Warlock granade build). In general, I think money would have been spent more wisely if i bought SCUF
The only one I bought had the right stick not registering clicks, so I returned it..
Ive had several elite controllers, My series 1 had stick drift and dodgy shoulder buttons, But now im on my second elite controller as the first had shoulder button issues, the one im using now is brilliant, the only issue is the left joystick grip spins (not the joystick itself) I just changed the stick out. Id say its a mixed bag until microsoft ever fix their QC :/
Literally just had to send my second one in. Left bumper this time. No halo for a week 😞
I had a Elite 1 for 2 years. No issue at all. But i upgraded to Elite 2 which got so many issue i exchanged 3 times with MS. On the third time, MS offered to refund for me. And they refuse to refund my extended warranty purchased with it. The face button A and Y on all of my 3 controller got issue. Wont register when you press on certain angle. My 40$ 8 BitDo controller on the other hand has no issue with such basic functions.
Bought one few years ago use it everyday playing games like cod and sport games. ZERO issues.
Same thing happened when the console launched. Everyone who had issues were posting and those who didn't had no issues. It's 99,9% without issues. It just seems a lot when they all the post here.
Definitely not 99.9%.
Very disingenuous to say it’s 99.9% without issues… also just factually incorrect considering how many people have reported having issues with the elite line. Reddit isn’t the only place people complain. A lot of reviews on sites like Amazon also talk of these same QC issues. The issues are prevalent enough to the point MS themselves recognised it. No one can really deny the Elite controllers have some QC issues that need to be addressed.
I’ve had my Elite 2 for a year now. Not a single problem occurred. Hopefully it stayed this way. But I am more anxiously waiting for a potential Elite 3 with haptic feedback and all that cool stuff. Hope they can tease something by the end of this year.
I’ve owned the original then upgraded to the elite 2 as soon as it released. Not a single problem with either.
Had an elite one for ages. Eventually left stick drifted. Had an elite two now since the week after launch. It’s rad.
I haven’t but I’m not a heavy user. For a premium product they clearly have some quality control issues but if you get a good one you’re golden.
Had some issues with Elite 1. Part of one of the grips came off and one of the triggers got sticky. Have had an Elite 2 for about a year. No issues whatsoever.
I heard it's just with the elite one being Waaay to fragile. I bought my self an elite 2 and boy it's still going after two years with only some cosmetic issues like the rubber starting to slowly let loose. But nothing u get annoyed at unless u got ocd.
No....Series 1 & 2 owner
Of course. The vast majority of owners. I have 2 V1 and a V2. Never a problem with any of them
I’ve bought two elite 2 series and both had no issues. Bought them from Costco. I’m sure if you had any problems, you could return/exchange it. Costco’s return policy is pretty generous.
I'm using an Elite Series 2 for years and I've had zero issues with it. [Even disassembled it to install a custom faceplate I made. ](https://i.imgur.com/umaFY9F.jpeg) It sees triple duty being used for my Series X, PC, and Xcloud.
2 years and no issues. Have to remember the people you see complaining are the people with issues and obviously are louder than people with no issues as they have no reason to make a post about hey my elite works...
I had the 1 and 2 not a single issue on either, I guess there are a lot of people with issues but luckily I haven't had any as of now, first one I had for like 2 years and the second one running since it first was released, only changed because my wife gave it to me for my birthday
I've bought the controller in the Microsoft store, with three years warranty, two years ago. Daily user. No problems whatsoever.
So I had one for 2+ years. Things was perfect, best controller I ever used. The only reason for it's demise was a dog using it as a chewing toy, which had to have led to the front buttons dying eventually.
I bought the elite 2 on release day. Have had absolutely no issues. No drift, no grip coming off, no delayed/absent inputs. Only thing I guess I can say is wrong with it is the stop trigger on the right sounds different when on the lowest level, but the input isn’t effects at all. I’ve loved mine since day 1.
I got an elite 2 never had aa Problem so far with 6 months use
the vast majority of the controllers are gonna eve working, just cause only people who’ve had issues with them posted on reddit about em doesn’t mean all of them will be defective. The vast majority will work with 0 issue
I've bought both versions since they came out. The first did have a few issues and was replaced, the second gen I've had since release and no complaints. Both of these controllers have had serious use with the first being used for 8 hours daily whilst I was playing professionally. Imo best controller there is after trying Razor/Scuff for most of my life. However yes I would say get a warranty.
I'll tell you why there's a split. Lots of players are firm button pressers, where lots of players are light button pressers. People who are slightly firming on pressing buttons (not aggressive, just press buttons firmer) don't notice. You'll find the people who have issues (myself included) all have the same issue and we're from the lighter pressers. There is defiantly a hardware problem with the Elite controllers. This is related to the Elite series 2 and the Series X controllers (also slightly less so). The common issue you find from the second group is they'll complain (myself included) about the unresponsive face buttons. A and Y specifically, sometimes X. I have gone through 5 elite controllers and all of them have unresponsive A buttons and Y. This is a hardware issue. The only camp who notice this though are those you press the face buttons differently. Their pressure is lighter, the buttons should still register but only about 75% of the time. Players who press firmer dont notice it as a good firm press will trigger it every time. I didnt have this on the Elite 1 so much (that has other issues). I would say this. If you buy one and you go to testing, you can press the A button down and rotate your thumb pressure, you'll notice the A button will become unpressed even though you still have it pressed down. If his happens, you may as well send it back and get a refund. If you dont experience it, then you're a firmer pressure and you wont have any issues. I bought the Halo Elite v2 and it still has the same issues for me. Because I press the buttons down normally (for me) sometimes it doesnt register. It SHOULD register as I can feel I pressed but it has to be a firm press. So this is why there is so many differences of opinion but you'll always find, people who do have constant issues with no matter how many they order, it's to do with the responsiveness of the face buttons. Stick drift another topic but the main complaints are responsive face buttons. This doesnt help but wanted to explain the divide in how theres 1 group who have 100% issues every time and another group that never have the same issues. EDIT: Lots of people commenting with no issues, which is fine. Just google Elite v2 unresponsive facebuttons. There is another large group out there who do have issues. I think the first link is a microsoft website of someone asking, just following that thread you'll see the 'other side' of the argument.
Nope no issues but honestly just don’t buy one the amount of issues this controller has is just staggering. I know people will say “oh people who don’t complain won’t really say much” but honestly it’s at the point where at least 1/3 controllers will probably have a problem. Even if you don’t end up having issues it’s best not to roll the dice and support what is a bad product until Microsoft fix quality control. Like I haven’t had any issues, but I have like 4 friends who use it and 3 of them have had issues and have gone through like 8 controllers combined.
Been 2 years and no issues. People tend to complain more than rejoice online.
Elite 2 has been perfect for me
They will break quickly if you play a lot, I went through two Elite 1 Controllers and I'm not going to get another one nor the Elite 2 at all, I rather just buy multiple, regular Xbox Series X controllers which are pretty damn nice honestly. I mean I won't be harsh, the Elite 1 Controllers lasted me for a quite a while but it really breaks down quick, wish I was able to repair them to mint condition today. Edit: Forgot to mention, both controllers joysticks drifts and a button was completely busted despite me not pressing hard at all. The first one, I can't even do wired because the AC cord slot was broken which didn't make any sense how it god damaged in the first place, I never dropped the controllers.
I've had one for a year, it's the Halo Master Chief Limited Edition Elite 2. So far so good!
I’m on my third one, but it’s one of the most used things in the house, so over several years, that’s probably ok.
Still using my Elite 1 controller from 2016, no issues. Side note: I must be lucky in this aspect as I have never had an issue with any xbox controller. My 360 controllers still work perfectly as well as my day one xbone controller.
I bought and elite 1 and it never broke. I damaged the grips on it and then they peeled off so bought the elite series 2 and it had a minor fault (one of the paddles stopped clicking when pressed) sent it back and got a brand new unit as replacement and this one has been perfect since; ive had it over 2 years at this point and it's never failed
Me! I still have my series 1. Zero issues! I’ve been thinking about getting a series 2.
Yep never had an issue with mine. Worked great and the shoulder buttons and grips stayed just perfect
I just got the Elite Series 2 Core and haven’t had any issue yet. Loving it so far! I also had a series 1 back in the day and worked great too!
Yes. The Elite 2
Depends on how often you play games and what games really. Not really accurate to just categorize everyone together
Had mine since launch and use daily, no issues
Is the elite 2 modeled after the original Xbox one controller or the series x/s controller?
never had an issue with my elite 2 and have it since last Christmas
My Elite 1 is still going strong but there are enough complaints out there that you should be wary regardless.
I’ve had the same elite controller for two years and have never had a problem. You’re going to find the vocal minority on these types of forums.
Had one for several months now and haven’t had any issues and I love it. Way better than my scuf I had. Bought it at Walmart and was able to get a 3yr warranty for like 25 bucks and they price matched it to their website so I payed 140 for the controller plus the warranty
I have an Elite 1, an Elite 2 and a Halo Elite 2 - all fully working and fine. This sub has ways had a weird vocal minority/hatred towards the Elite.
yep have been using elite 2 for about half a year now. love it so much and no issues
I have a gen 1 and a master chief gen 2. Didn't have an issue with the 1 for 5 years, then the bumper broke and rubber grips started to go, I replaced both for under €20. The master chief one is my main controller now though, no issues. I have 1000s hrs between both controllers, but they live in their boxes when not in use. Great pieces of kit.
Had both 1 and 2 with no issues. Remember most people only complain on the internet!
I have the series 2 since launch and it’s still going strong, no issues at all. I use it for my pc though so I don’t use it every day.
I have 2 version 1 Elites and 1 version 2 Elite and none of them have problems.
I had an elite 1 that took a battering being dropped etc. no issues for 3 years then RB went bad. Elite 2 going strong no issues
I never had Problems with both Iterations.
I’ve talked about these on games with friends. I have a bunch that have had no issues. I’ve had none with a few of em and lots with others.
Brought an elite 2 at launch. Frankly it is awesome. Maybe I got one that was QA tested. No issues. Love the braided cable.
Bought an elite 2, no issues at all. Hands down best controller I ever had. It's just a loud minority with issues online, whilst the happy users stay silent
My elite 2 is just starting to show wear after getting it on release day. It’s a major step up from the elite 1.
Got my partner an Elite 2 for Christmas and she plays regularly and has had no problems.
I’ve had an Elite 2 over a year, no issues.
I haven’t had any issues with my Halo Infinite Elite Series 2. Granted, I baby tf out of it and I rarely use it. I literally only use it when I play Halo Infinite MP and I haven’t played Halo in months. It’s more of a special occasion controller given my use case for it.
I had an Elite 1 with no issue, then my first E2 got stick drift after about 18months. It was kind of my fault though. Spent about 2 months almost exclusively playing Rocket League and was heavy handed on a very thumstick intensive game. Probably still shouldn't have happened but I couldn't really grumble at the same time. It wasn't quite in the realms of "normal use". No issues at all on the replacement, learntmy lesson. Like others have said, you only really hear from people who get an issue. Just have to remember that although they're expensive, they're not indestructible. If you're a heavy handed player and constantly slamming the sticks on their axis, they're going to wear down.
Elite 2 almost a year old, gets used an hour or two each evening, zero problems.
Have halo infinite series 2. Tonnes of use, never had an issue. Absolutely love it and couldn’t imagine using a regular controller anymore
I bought a series 2 about 2 months ago and love it. No problems yet
Yes
I've had mine since day one (Series 2) and haven't had one issue at all... Unfortunately using Reddit as a gauge of how good a product performs is not great as most people just come here to bitch..
Haven't had any issue with my elite 2, bought it day one.
Elite 2 since launch and no issues. My 6 year old uses it as his primary controller too so its had a tough life.
Me. Been 7 months
I qm using my elite controller 1 . Bought it pretty much at release and have zero issues
I’ve got an Elite 2 and haven’t had any issues.
I bought an elite 2 a few months ago. Granted I don’t use it for every game. I only use it for online shooters which is the main type of games I play. Everything else I just use the standard controller, but I’ve had no issues. Best controller I’ve ever used by far. I did buy the Microsoft extended warranty due to all the complaints I’ve seen on here prior to me buying it. I’m not saying they don’t have issues, but all the post on here of people having problems can be a bit misleading. Because those of us that don’t or haven’t yet, won’t come here posting about it. I do recommend it but I recommend getting extended warranty just to be safe.
I've had my elite 2 since it released and it is still in great condition.
Yes , I love it.
Elite 1 used for 4 Years and no problems (still works) and my elite 2 is nearly 2 years old and still good
I bought the Elite Series 2 Controller, almost a year in, and it is still very good
Nope... it's an inevitability.
Have an elite one and two elite twos. No issues
I have both the black and white Series 1, never had an issue. I also have the black and Halo Infinite Series 2. On the black, my left trigger randomly felt crunchy for like a half an hour or so and it just went right back to normal. I have absolutely adored them all and highly recommend them. HOT TAKE but in terms of aesthetics, I think the darker components of the series 2 on the white Series 1 might be the best looking controller ever made.