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Xbox Shrunk Its Controller: Meet the $49.99 Xbox Nano

Microsoft's smallest controller yet is about 5 inches long, weighs 3.5 ounces, has a built-in rechargeable battery, and supports Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth. Pre-orders are open now ahead of a November launch.

By Vet, VetTV Handheld

Xbox shrunk its controller. Today Microsoft announced the Xbox Nano Controller, a $49.99 pocket-sized gamepad designed for gaming on the go. I don’t own one yet, so this is a news roundup based on Microsoft’s announcement and early coverage, not a hands-on review. Here’s what we know.

Price and availability

  • Price: $49.99 USD. Digital Foundry lists it at £45 in the UK, and Xbox Wire Japan lists a reference price of ¥8,000.
  • Pre-orders: open now, starting October 14.
  • Release: Microsoft says it will be available beginning in November in 36 markets, including the US, Canada, the UK, much of Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, “with additional markets to follow.” Microsoft hasn’t given an exact November date.
  • Microsoft notes that pricing and availability vary by country.

Wccftech points out one quirk: the standard Xbox Wireless Controller, normally $65, is currently 25% off on the Xbox Store, which makes it temporarily cheaper than the Nano.

How small is it?

According to Xbox Wire, the Nano is “a little over 5 inches in length and just 3.5 ounces,” which makes it Microsoft’s smallest controller, “lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones.” Despite the size, it keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs, so the layout should feel familiar to any Xbox player. Microsoft says the design is aimed at “younger players, smaller hands, or anyone seeking something portable for play on the go.” Digital Foundry describes the shape as boxier than the regular controller.

Connectivity

  • Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth. Microsoft says the Nano “connects across a range of compatible devices.” The Verge says it connects to Xbox consoles as well as phones, tablets and PCs.
  • USB-C. The Verge reports a USB-C port at the rear along with a pairing button, and Digital Foundry says the battery is “topped up using USB-C.” Microsoft’s post doesn’t mention the port itself.

Battery

This is a big change for an Xbox controller. The Nano has a built-in rechargeable battery, so you don’t need AA batteries or a separate charging pack like most Xbox controllers (per The Verge). Microsoft hasn’t published a battery life rating or a charge time yet, so I can’t tell you how long it lasts per charge.

Action Button

There’s also a new programmable Action Button, which you can set up for screenshots, gameplay capture and other frequently used shortcuts.

What it works with

Wccftech lists the compatible devices as:

  • Xbox consoles
  • Windows PC
  • iOS and Android
  • Select smart TVs

Cloud play is a big part of the pitch. Microsoft is working with Samsung on a US holiday offer that bundles an Xbox Nano Controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate (for new members) with select Samsung TVs. Those TVs run the Xbox app through Samsung’s built-in Gaming Hub, so you can stream Game Pass titles with just the controller. There’s also a similar US holiday offer with Meta: a Nano plus two months of Game Pass Ultimate with the purchase of a Meta Quest.

One more detail: The Verge and Digital Foundry note that an earlier leaked version had a tiny built-in screen. The final model doesn’t have one.

What about SteamOS and the Legion Go?

This is the question I care about most for this channel. Microsoft doesn’t list SteamOS or Linux among the supported platforms, and I haven’t found any source that has tested the Nano on SteamOS or on a Legion Go. So for now, it’s untested.

On paper, Bluetooth support means pairing it with a handheld should be possible. But I won’t claim it works with SteamOS, or with Windows on the Legion Go, until someone has actually tested it, and I don’t own one to try. Once units ship in November, I’ll be looking for reports on Bluetooth pairing, button mapping and the Action Button in Steam Input.

My take

A $49.99 Xbox controller with a built-in rechargeable battery and USB-C is a nice change from AA batteries. A pocket-sized one makes a lot of sense for cloud gaming on phones and TVs. For handheld players like us, the real question is whether it pairs cleanly with SteamOS and Steam Input. Until it’s been tested, I’d wait before buying it for that.

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Sources

#xbox#xbox-nano#controllers#cloud-gaming#handheld-gaming

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