Alright, let’s talk about this Xbox Elite Series 3 thing. Honestly, I was just fed up with my old controller acting up. Stick drift city, you know? So I thought, time for an upgrade. Heard rumors about the Series 3, figured I’d check it out.
First thing I did was hit up the usual stores online. Couldn’t actually find it yet! Apparently it’s not fully out, or maybe it’s still kinda new? Weird. So I had to rely on pre-order pages and previews mostly. Looked slick in the pictures, gotta admit. Promises of better grips, adjustable tension on the thumbsticks, the usual “premium” jazz. Price tag? Ouch. Big ouch. Way more than I wanted to spend.
Digging Deeper & Finally Getting My Hands On One
Wasn’t gonna drop serious cash blind. I started hunting for actual user reviews. Found some folks who managed to snag one early. Watched their unboxing videos, listened to their first impressions. Kept hearing about things like:
- Way better back paddles now. Apparently they stick out less and feel sturdier.
- New adjustable thumbstick tension sounded cool. Like tweaking a car’s suspension, but for your thumbs.
- They supposedly fixed the rubber grip peeling issue from the Series 2. Big plus if true!
- The charging dock looks neat, magnetic charging.
Eventually, I found one physically in a store. Had to give it a feel. First impression? This thing is solid. Heavy. Like, “I could maybe defend myself with this” heavy. Textures felt good, grips felt secure. Tried clicking the paddles, adjusting the sticks – smooth. Way smoother than my old Elite Series 2 felt, even when it was new.
But the real test? Playing with it. I snagged one later that week. Took it home, charged it up on the dock (easy peasy), and loaded into my current shootfest game.
- Those thumbsticks with adjustable tension? Changed the game for me. Cranked it up tight for aiming – way more precise.
- The new paddles? Totally different. Easier to hit quickly without accidentally smashing the wrong one. Could actually use all four now without confusion.
- The shorter trigger locks? Actually useful! Faster clicks.
Used it for a few days straight, couple of hours each night. Was it perfect? Nah. The price still stings. Badly. And that battery? Not mind-blowing. Gets me through a decent session, but needs charging pretty regularly.
So… Is It Worth Your Hard-Earned Cash?
Here’s my honest two cents:
- If you play games a LOT. Like, it’s basically your main hobby? Then maybe. The feel and all those little tweaks really do add up during long sessions.
- If you’re deep into competitive shooters or fighting games where every millisecond counts? Yeah, the adjustable sticks and paddles are genuinely helpful tools. It gives a slight edge.
- If you’re just a casual gamer? Hard pass. Save your money. A standard Series X/S controller is still excellent and way cheaper.
- Honestly, if you have a working Elite Series 2? Tough call. The upgrades are nice, like the paddles and grips staying put, but it’s a big jump in price just for refinements.
Bottom line: It’s a luxury item. Pure and simple. Fantastic build, feels amazing, offers real customization benefits for serious players. But that price? You’re paying a hefty premium for those benefits and the “Elite” name.
