Finally, it seems that Elite Series 3 Controller It was not just a figment of our optimistic imagination. Thanks to recent presentations accidentally published by the Brazilian telecommunications regulator, AnatelA new premium Xbox gamepad is actually a reality.
However, despite waiting years for a proper sequel to the Elite Series 2I can’t help but feel incredibly disappointed by what has been discovered. While I understand that the leaked images show a gray, clunky prototype rather than the final market-ready product, I’m disappointed by the images and the apparent omission of key features that would justify this controller’s existence in the first place.
This is what we know so far
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The Anatel presentations, which were leaked along with a smaller one, flat gamepad dedicated to the cloudpaints an intriguing picture of Xbox’s new Elite controller. The most interesting additions are two mysterious scroll wheels built into the bottom edge of the controller, near the 3.5mm headphone jack. They look almost identical to the dial configuration found on Corsair Scuf Valor Propresumably allowing players to adjust system volume and game/chat audio mix on the fly. It’s nice, but not really necessary, since most headphones already have this feature built-in. What would make it more intriguing is if, in the future, we could connect our own headphones to our console via bluetooth; such a feature would be infinitely more useful
Here’s everything we know the controller has so far:
- It will have a USB-C port for modern charging and wired playback.
- There’s a new sync button designed explicitly to toggle between Local and Cloud modes.
- Dedicated LED indicators clearly show whether the controller is actively connected locally to your hardware or streaming over Wi-Fi 6 directly to the cloud.
- A removable, rechargeable battery pack (with a capacity of 1,528 mAh, a controversial reduction in raw capacity from the Elite 2’s massive 2,050 mAh internal cell).
Form on premium substance
Why am I so disappointed? Well, first of all, I’m not entirely surprised that the structural form factor is virtually identical to the current Xbox controllers. The ergonomics of the standard Xbox design are almost perfect. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, I sincerely hope that the finished product looks infinitely more premium than the drab, generic images we’ve seen so far.
No one wants to buy a top-tier flagship controller only to find out that it looks identical to the standard $60 pads they already own, relying entirely on users spending extra money at the Xbox Design Lab just to give it a bit of aesthetic appeal.
I also desperately hope the face buttons undergo a massive redesign before launch. In the leak, they look incredibly boring. Given Microsoft’s recent marketing pivot toward nostalgic Xbox branding and console narratives, I want to see a triumphant return to our favorite primary-color ABXY buttons. Even if they prefer a minimalist aesthetic, simply tinting the lettering to mimic those classic colors would inject some much-needed personality into a design that currently blends perfectly into the background.
Beyond aesthetics, which is a relatively minor issue, there is a glaring omission in the details we have so far. I don’t see any mention of modern lever sensor technology, so no confirmation. Hall effect either TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) sticks.
While it’s entirely possible that the final hardware includes them, I find it really strange that a leak with these granular technical details doesn’t mention them. For Xbox to release a premium pro controller in 2026 and beyond without addressing joystick wear and tear would be a huge misstep.
Hall Effect vs TMR: What’s the Difference?
While both eliminate physical friction to prevent stick drift, Hall effect sensors measure changes in voltage generated by a magnetic field. TMR, on the other hand, detects joystick movement through changes in magnetic resistance at the quantum level. TMR sensors offer much higher signal strength, much lower power consumption, and hyper-accurate and detailed tracking.
Third party brands such as Lord of the game and might They have been miles ahead of Xbox at a much lower price, using Hall effect sticks, which use magnets instead of physical contact to eliminate stick drift. The market has moved so fast that premium brands have already switched to TMR technology (and now even GameSir has some budget options with this)
If we look at the broader market for professional controllers, big names like Razer have already fully adopted TMR. When gamers look at a line of premium controllers, they expect the latest and greatest technology.
Does Xbox really want to continue to lag behind third-party accessories licensed for its own ecosystem? I certainly hope not.
The enigma of the Project Helix PC hybrid
Finally, a small point of contention online has been the distinct lack of mouse or trackpad capabilities on the Elite 3 prototype. Personally, I’m a bit divided on this. We have recently seen Valve launch their steam controller with its impressive dual touchpad design, but this is a device inherently marketed to a PC-first audience that expects a steam cover-style device. You can’t really compromise on the size and muscle memory of the iconic Xbox silhouette, because Microsoft still primarily markets to a console gamer base. That player base is not the same as Steam’s and should not be treated as such.
However, there is one glaring problem: how will Project Helix fit into this? How can you successfully close the gap between the capabilities of the PC and the convenience of the console? Should that ambition be reflected in Xbox’s flagship controller as a statement of hybrid intent?
Personally, I don’t really like the idea of forcing absolutely all the functions of the PC and console into a single unit; When you try to cover each and every foundation, you usually end up with no shine on all of them.
I think the smart thing to do would be to release a completely separate add-on device for users who want the capability features of the mouse. This gives more freedom to break away from the classic Xbox design. That said, if Microsoft did If they want to integrate some form of mouse navigation without making the controller huge and unwieldy, they could turn to legacy devices like the PlayStation Vita, which featured a discreet touchpad on the back. (Just make sure we can disable it in settings to avoid accidental inputs!)
Future proofing battery capacity
If there’s a silver lining to the leak for me, it’s the switch to a removable battery. I’ve seen a lot of negative community feedback on this, given that a removable 1,528 mAh pack has less playback time than the Elite Series 2’s beefy, sealed 2,050 mAh internal battery.
However, I lean strongly towards consumer repairability and future-proofing (Lord knows I wish cell phones were like that again). Sealed batteries inevitably degrade over time, effectively putting an expiration date on an expensive peripheral. With a removable pack, at least if the battery starts to fail, you can just swap it out instead of replacing the entire $200+ controller. It may not look as clean, sure, but it keeps the controller alive much longer, potentially giving you a higher cost-per-use for your Elite.
Let’s hope there’s more in store.
All of this to say that Elite Series 3, at least so far, feels like a mix of genuinely interesting additions and suspiciously outdated omissions. If Xbox wants this to be the definitive input device for the Project Helix generation, it needs to stop allowing other manufacturers to outperform them on basic features like Stick technology.
What do you think about the leaked Elite Series 3? Do you think this is the final product or is there still more to reveal?
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