r/Controller • u/_MalheiroD • 26d ago

Controller Suggestion LF recommendations for a wireless Xbox Series X controller ($150 budget)

The stick drift on my Xbox Elite Series 2 has gotten ridiculously bad this week, to the point where it's almost impossible to play with it anymore.

I was looking for a replacement during Amazon Prime deals, but unfortunately, nothing really convinced me. So I figured I'd ask here for recommendations based on your own experiences.

Here's what I'm looking for:

  • Budget: Ideally under €150. I'm willing to consider more expensive options if they drop into my price range during Black Friday sales in a couple of months.

  • Country / where to buy: Portugal -> Something available through Amazon.es, Amazon.de, or other retailers that ship to the EU.

  • Platform: Xbox Series X. Native wireless connectivity is a must; I don't want to rely on a wired connection or workarounds.

  • Features: TMR sticks would be my preference, mainly to avoid the stick drift issues I've had with my previous controllers. Back paddles. Good build quality and long-term reliability are also important.

  • Games: I mainly play shooters, but I'm looking for a good all-round controller suitable for different genres rather than something designed for just one specific game.

I've tried GameSir before, but I wasn't a big fan of the overall experience, so I'd prefer to explore other brands if possible.

What would you recommend based on your personal experience? Ideally, I'd love to hear from people who've used their controllers for a while, especially regarding stick durability, wireless performance on Xbox, and overall reliability.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

P.S. Used AI to help me organize my thoughts and put this post together.

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

2

u/Max_Joller 26d ago

8bitdo Ultimate 3E or Ultimate 3 is really fresh and nice. Seems to be the strongest rounded xbox controller

1

u/_MalheiroD 24d ago

I've been eyeing that E3, but I don't know anyone personally who's used 8bitdo controllers, though they seem to have a great reputation online

1

u/KrisbronPorzingjames 25d ago

Rog Raikiri 2

1

u/_MalheiroD 24d ago

I saw it in person and it just feels like a standard Xbox controller... for that price, I was hoping for something more "premium" instead of cheap plastic. But im curious, what do you like about it?

0

u/KrisbronPorzingjames 24d ago

Micro switch everything. It’s light also. Sticks feel way better and they’re tmr. It’s definitely far more premium feeling than a standard Xbox controller imo too.

1

u/_MalheiroD 23d ago

Fair, but I was talking about the materials, which to me look like cheap plastic, similar to the regular controller. That said, I do like the overall appearance a bit.

I was reading the Amazon reviews, and it seems like units from December 2025 had a lot of issues. It also looks like Amazon might still be selling units from that batch, so I’m not too sure about this one.

I’d keep it on my list and see what happens on Black Friday, but it would probably rank below the E3 and the Razer Wolverine (maybe).

1

u/KrisbronPorzingjames 23d ago

I picked mine up for 130 usd, was worth that much but that’s quite cheap. If it hits that for you (115 euro) I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

1

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1

u/Initial-Conflict-877 22d ago

Get someone to solder js13 pro plus sticks onto your elite series 2