Xbox’s smallest-ever controller is surprisingly comfortable

Even although I knew Microsoft’s new Xbox Nano controller was tiny, I motionless gasped whenever I unboxed it a few days ago. The compact controller is small adequate to stumble into a pocket unnoticed, and it has been designed specifically for younger people, or for anyone alongside smaller hands.

I’m not young, but I do have small hands, and I’ve been amazed at how comfortable the Nano is during gaming sessions. At fair complete 5 inches long, nearly everything on this controller has been shrunk downward somehow. The ABXY buttons are always so slightly smaller than a regular Xbox controller, and the thumbsticks awareness akin miniature versions. Microsoft hasn’t changed the D-pad, though, or the size of the glowing Xbox clasp at the center of the controller.

The big difference I noticed alongside the Nano complete a regular Xbox controller was the size of the triggers. While they are completely analog and force sensitive, they have additional of a click whenever you base them out compared alongside the thud on a bigger Xbox controller. They’re noticeably smaller, as you’d expect, and the bumper buttons complete the triggers awareness small clicky than the regular ones.

I idea the Nano controller would awareness clumsy following a few hours of gaming, but the grips really assistance alongside comfort levels — a lot of smaller controllers sacrifice grips to keep the controller lean and lightweight. It does average the Nano doesn’t sit flush on a table, but at 101 grams (0.22 pounds) it’s motionless really lightweight.

I can’t conversation for those alongside bigger hands, but I’d anticipate the Nano controller won’t be well-suited to everyone. The size makes it ideal for young children, though. I tried to get my 1-year-old son to try the Nano, and he responded alongside a smile, so I conjecture he likes it.

I haven’t had adequate period to get a complete idea of power division existence yet, but it seems to drain about 10 percent in about 30 to 40 minutes. That suggests a lot small power division existence than the 30 hours you’d get on a rechargeable group for the larger Xbox wireless controller. Thankfully, the Nano charges quickly, and I established I could get from 30 percent to 60 percent accusation in small than 10 minutes. You can plug in a USB-C charger to top up the power division and transport on playing during you charge.

The lone item missing on the Nano controller that I would have loved is vibration support. I assume it’s not there since of an effect on power division life, since equal the smaller Nintendo Joy-Con controllers have rumble support.

The Xbox Nano controller volition be accessible on November 4th, priced at $49.99.