Xbox Wireless Controller - Patrol Tech Special Edition

(Edit 12/9/2018): Had to take a star off. The controller is still my favorite but the X button is sticking. I used some of the tech goop you press onto an area to remove debris and used a mini-vac to try and get anything possibly stuck around the button but it's still sticking. It's not terribly bad sticking, just every few presses, the button stays down, then pops back up.I have to admit, I'm a console gamer of 30+ years but I bought this for use with a laptop. I always said I would make the console to PC switch as soon as they made controllers to use, wirelessly, with the PC. I much prefer the XB1 controller over other options. I played the XB1 for nearly 4 years so I am well-adjusted to it. My goal here was to find a controller that would connect to my PC and laptop to play games on. I had questions about this controller since its design is unique. Here's some of those and the answers to them:What are those gray rectangular-looking things on the front of the controller? They are nothing more than a design. You can feel the texture but can't really see any raised areas or anything like that. I guess you could rest your thumbs on them, they're very comfortable. But they are not sticky textured, which was my concern.How much difference does the texture on the back make? Enough. It's very nice. I have used this controller to play Skyrim SE for 5 straight hours and it's not sweaty, it's not slippery and it just feels good. I would compare the texture to a very light basketball grip, it has a bit of a rubbery feel to it.Other features: The 3.5 audio/headphone jack is on the bottom just like other Xbox One controllers. It has the USB connector on the top of the controller along with the bind/connect button. The expansion port is also on the bottom of the controller.Performance: The sticks on mine work perfectly, as smooth as ever, the d-pad is nice and medium (not too firm, not worn in). The A, B, X, Y buttons are working properly and not sticking. The triggers to me are a little better than my regular XB1 controller, it's entirely possible my regular one's triggers are a little worn. I tried connecting to my laptop through Bluetooth but was having difficulty with it. I plugged it in with the USB cable (not included) and it was working just fine that way but I was set on having it as a Bluetooth controller. There's a bit of a trick to it. I turned Bluetooth off on my PC, turned the controller off (if you get stuck turning it off, just hold the Xbox button for 5 seconds and it will turn off, takes a little longer on PC than doing it on Xbox One.), I rebooted my PC with the controller unplugged and Bluetooth off. Once booted, I went to PC, settings, Bluetooth and opened it. I then turned this controller on by holding the Xbox button for a few seconds, it will light up. Then on top there is a "bind" button, it looks like a half-button, hold it down until the light in the Xbox button starts spinning. I then turned Bluetooth on, on my PC. I thought it wasn't recognizing it but you have to click on "Add Bluetooth Device" from there go to "Everything Else", this controller showed up there as Xbox Controller. I clicked it, paired it and it has stayed paired ever since.Well worth the price Amazon is selling it for. It feels a step above my regular XB1 controller and my console's XB1 controller was made before they put Bluetooth in them so I picked up that bonus too with this model. I'll be back to update if I start having problems with it but as of right now it's an excellent controller.

My old Xbox One controller took a hard spill on a tile floor and didn’t make it. I looked around for another and settled on this one. I use it with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit with the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows which I already owned from my original controller. Setup was quick and easy right out of the box.A part of me wondered if the “enhanced comfort” and “rubberized grip” were just marketing bullet points, but it really does feel more comfortable and secure in my hands. It feels “sticky” enough in my hands that I haven’t felt like I need to keep a death grip on it like I eventually would with smoother controllers once my hands started getting warm. So the rubberized grip part really does make a difference.The other thing I really like is that the top of the analog sticks are rubber with a textured edge vs. a smooth edge. With other controllers after you have been playing for a while the edge can get slick in your hands and your finger gives a bit, so you have to readjust it on the stick. Not a big deal of course, and this controller doesn’t eliminate that, but it has definitely cut down the number of times I have to do it. It’s just kind of a nice quality of life feature.Prior to this one I have used a PS3 controller on my PS3 and an Xbox 360 and an Xbox One controller with my Windows 7 computer. This controller is easily the best of the three to me.

Well, this is a great controller. It feels amazing in the hands and works perfectly. However, I had to return the first one Amazon shipped as it was a damaged unit, one of the metal battery connections was mangled and popped out of its normal resting position. Microsoft definitely has a mildly serious quality control issue with its controllers. Just look on the online forums for proof as well as my own personal experience with this purchase. I bought the Recon Tech controller last year and the rubber grips have both come off on both sides and the dang thing had major wireless drop out disconnecting issues from day one. This new controller thankfully hasn’t had any drip out disconnecting issue, yet anyway. I think Microsoft needs to improve the quality control with its controllers, but get one that works and they are very nice.

First, the negatives. Overpriced, and I've gotten better quality off wish. This is the replacement remote I got because the original one came and quite literally, stopped working before I ever plugged it up. A similar issue is now occuring with this one. It hasn't been dropped, bashed, damaged, or mistreated in any sense and here we are again, with a loose USB plugin that comes out from time to time. I'm beginning to see why these remotes aren't bought when they come out anymore. The thumb sticks have seen light use and already are having drift, worn out rubber, and squeaky noise from the triggers. Overall this is a massively overpriced remote when I've gotten cheap, hollowed out plastic from Wish that is more durable and less disappointing. On to the good things. The ergonomics of this remote are great. With roughly 30 hours in the past few weeks of game play I can say that it handled extremely comfortably. The grip textures help keep a sturdy hold on it and trigger sensitivity is responsive. The thumb grips, when they were new and not already worn, held to your fingers like glue and provided great response. Overall, the remote was great for the first week and a half, and now, with how little time I've used it, has quickly devolved into a cheap piece of plastic.