Finally, it seems Elite controller series 3 it was not just a product of our optimistic imaginations. Thanks to random recent appeals Published by Brazilian telecommunications regulator AnatelThe new premium gamepad from Xbox is actually a reality.
However, despite having to wait years for a proper sequel to the film Elite series 2I can’t help but feel incredibly underwhelmed by what has been revealed. While I understand that the leaked images show more of a rough, gray prototype than the final shelf-ready product, I was disappointed by the apparent omission of the visuals and key features that would justify this controller’s existence in the first place.
Here’s what we know so far
Image 1 of 3
The leaked Anatel documents, along with a smaller one, straight gamepad designed for the cloudTake an interesting picture of Xbox’s new Elite controller. The most interesting additions are the two mysterious sliders mounted on the bottom edge of the controller next to the 3.5mm headphone jack. These look almost identical to the assembly found Corsair’s Scuf Valor Propresumably allowing players to quickly mix system audio and game/chat audio. It’s neat, but not really necessary considering most headsets already have this feature built-in. In the future, we could make it even more interesting if we could connect our own headphones to our console. Bluetooth; such a feature would be infinitely more useful
Here’s everything we know about the controller so far:
- There will be a USB-C port for modern charging and wired gaming.
- There’s a new Sync Button that’s clearly designed to switch between Local and Cloud modes.
- Custom LED Indicators that clearly show when the controller is actively connected to your hardware or streaming directly to the cloud via Wi-Fi 6.
- Removable, rechargeable battery pack (running at 1,528 mAh, a debatable drop in raw capacity from the Elite 2’s massive 2,050 mAh internal cell).
Form over premium material
Why am I so disappointed? Well, first of all, I’m not entirely surprised that the structural form factor is almost identical to Xbox’s current controllers. The ergonomics of the standard Xbox layout are close to perfect. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, I sincerely hope that the finished product looks infinitely higher quality than the dull, generic pictures we’ve seen so far.
No one wants to buy a flagship, high-end controller that looks identical to the standard $60 pads they already own, relying entirely on users spending extra money in the Xbox Design Lab to give it some aesthetic pizzazz.
I also hope the face buttons get a massive redesign before launch. They look incredibly boring in the leak. Given Microsoft’s recent return to the nostalgic Xbox brand and console-specific storytelling, I’d like to see a triumphant return to the beloved primary-colored ABXY buttons. Even if they prefer a minimalist aesthetic, simply coloring the letters to mimic these classic colors will inject some much-needed personality into a design that currently blends into the background.
Aside from aesthetics, which is a relatively minor issue, there’s a glaring gap in the details we’ve gotten so far. I don’t see any mention of modern stick sensor technology, so it’s not confirmed Hall effect or TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) sticks.
While it’s entirely possible that the final hardware will include them, it’s odd that a leak like this doesn’t mention them at all with these granular technical details. It would be a huge mistake for Xbox to launch a premium pro controller in 2026 and beyond without focusing on stick wear.
Hall effect and TMR: what’s the difference?
While both eliminate physical friction to prevent rod slippage, Hall Effect sensors measure changes in voltage caused by a magnetic field. TMR, on the other hand, detects joystick movement through changes in magnetoresistance at the quantum level. TMR sensors offer higher signal strength, lower power consumption and fine, hyper-accurate tracking.
Likes third party brands Game Mr and Power A It was miles ahead of the Xbox at a lower price point, using Hall Effect sticks that use magnets instead of physical contact to eliminate stick slippage. The market has moved so fast that premium brands have already graduated to TMR technology (and now even GameSir has some budget options for it)
Looking at the wider pro-controller market, like the big names Razer have already fully adopted TMR. When gamers look at a line of premium controllers, they definitely expect the latest and greatest technology.
Does Xbox really want to continue to lag behind licensed third-party accessories for its ecosystem? I hope not.
Project Helix PC hybrid puzzle
Finally, a minor point of contention online is the apparent lack of mouse or trackpad capabilities on the Elite 3 prototype. Personally, I’m a bit torn on this one. We recently saw the release of Valve Steam controller with an impressive dual trackpad layout, but it’s essentially a device marketed to a PC-first audience. Steam deck– style device. You can’t really beat the size and muscle memory of the iconic Xbox silhouette because Microsoft is still primarily marketing to the console gamer base. This player base is not the same as Steam and should not be treated as such.
Still, there’s one glaring problem: How will Project Helix fit into this? How do you successfully bridge the gap between PC capabilities and console convenience? Should this ambition be reflected in Xbox’s flagship controller as a hybrid statement of intent?
Personally, I don’t really like the idea of forcing absolutely every PC and console feature into one unit; when you try to cover every base, you’re usually weak in all of them.
I think the smart thing to do would be to release an entirely separate companion device for users who want mouse capability features. This gives more freedom to move away from the classic Xbox design. That being said, if Microsoft did If they want to integrate some form of mouse navigation without making the controller bulky and unwieldy, they can turn to older devices like the PlayStation Vita, which have a discrete touchpad on the back. (Make sure we can turn it off in the settings to prevent accidental entries!)
Future testing on battery capacity
If there’s one silver lining to the leak for me, it’s the switch to a removable battery pack. Given that the 1,528mAh removable pack has less playtime than the Elite Series 2’s sealed, sealed 2,050mAh internal battery, I’ve seen a lot of negative comments from the public about it.
However, I’m strongly leaning towards consumer repair and future-proofing (lord knows I wish cell phones would go back to that). Sealed batteries inevitably wear out over time, effectively marking the life of an expensive peripheral. With a removable pack, at least if the battery starts to fail, you can just replace the controller instead of having to completely replace the $200+ controller. It may not look as clean, but it keeps the controller alive for longer, potentially giving you more cost per use for your Elite.
Let’s hope there’s more in store
All that to say, the Elite Series 3, at least so far, feels like a mixed bag of genuinely exciting additions and questionable outdated releases. If Xbox wants this to be the definitive entry-level device for the Project Helix generation, they shouldn’t let third-party manufacturers get ahead of them in key features like stick technology.
What are your thoughts on the leaked Elite Series 3? Do you think this is the final product or is there more to be revealed?
Join us Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your thoughts and discuss our latest news, reviews and more.
