Microsoft has announced the Xbox Nano Controller, a smaller, lighter take on its standard pad that costs $49.99 or £44.99, launches on 4 November.
In a genuinely shocking twist, it comes with a built-in rechargeable battery instead of asking you to go hunting for AA batteries.
It’s just over five inches long, weighs 3.5 ounces, keeps all the standard inputs and adds a programmable button, and it works on Xbox, PC, phones and some smart TVs. So is this a clever little pad, or just a cheaper controller with a cute name? Let me explain.
How Small Is the Xbox Nano Controller, Really?
According to VGC, the Nano is about 5 inches long and 3.5 ounces, compared with roughly 6 inches and 10 ounces for the regular Xbox Wireless Controller, so it’s a fair bit smaller and less than half the weight.
Xbox’s pitch is a pad that fits “nearly every pocket and budget,” which is a fun line, although I’d love to see the pocket that comfortably swallows a five-inch controller without making you look like you’re smuggling a sandwich!
The good news is it isn’t a stripped-back kids’ toy, because it keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs, and it works over Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth, which means you can pair it with a PC, an iPhone, an Android phone, or a compatible smart TV.
For cloud gaming on a telly or a phone, that’s actually really handy, isn’t it?
What Do You Get for $49.99?
Here’s the full rundown of what’s been confirmed so far:
- Price: $49.99 in the US, £44.99 in the UK
- Release date: 4 November, with pre-orders open now on Xbox.com
- Size: just over 5 inches long, 3.5 ounces
- Inputs: all 18 standard gameplay inputs, plus a programmable Action Button for things like screenshots and clips
- Battery: built-in and rechargeable
- Connectivity: Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth
- Works with: Xbox consoles, PC, iOS, Android and select smart TVs
- Launch markets: 36 territories, including the US, UK, Australia, Japan and much of Europe
There’s also a US-only holiday deal with Meta, where new members buying a Meta Quest headset get a Nano Controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate, as Gematsu reports.
That’s a very obvious push to get Xbox cloud gaming onto Quest headsets, which is either clever or slightly desperate depending on how you feel about Xbox right now!
Worth NotingWe don’t know the colour options or battery life yet, and battery life is going to make or break a controller this small, so I’d hold off pre-ordering until Microsoft shares real numbers.
Why Does the Cheaper Pad Get the Better Battery?
This is the bit that genuinely gets me, because the full-size Xbox Wireless Controller still runs on AA batteries unless you buy a separate rechargeable pack, and now the smaller, cheaper controller is the one that just charges like a normal modern device.
Sony’s DualSense has had a built-in battery from day one, so Xbox fans have been asking for this for years, and it’s finally arrived on the pad that isn’t meant to be your main one.
To be fair, some people really do love the swappable AA approach, because you can just pop in fresh batteries mid-session instead of plugging in a cable, but it’s hard to see this as anything other than Microsoft admitting a built-in battery is what most players want. So when does the standard controller get the same treatment, Xbox?
Should You Buy the Xbox Nano Controller?
If you’ve got smaller hands, play a lot of cloud games on a phone or TV, or need a second pad for a younger player, then $49.99 for a rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled Xbox controller is a decent deal on paper.
It also makes sense as a travel pad, because it’s light and connects to pretty much anything with a screen.
If you’ve got average or bigger hands and play long sessions, I’d wait for hands-on impressions first, because smaller controllers can feel cramped surprisingly quickly, and £44.99 isn’t pocket change when prices for everything else in gaming keep creeping up.
Speaking of which, we’re still recovering from the news that the Midnight Black PS5 is Japan-only and region-locked, so at least Xbox is selling this one in 36 territories!
FAQs
How much does the Xbox Nano Controller cost?
The Xbox Nano Controller costs $49.99 in the US and £44.99 in the UK.
When does the Xbox Nano Controller come out?
The Xbox Nano Controller releases on 4 November, with pre-orders available now on Xbox.com.
Does the Xbox Nano Controller work on PC and phones?
Yes, the Xbox Nano Controller connects over Bluetooth as well as Xbox Wireless, so it works with PC, iOS, Android and select smart TVs.
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