Xbox Nano Controller - The 3.5oz Mini Controller That Fits in a Hoodie Pocket

An Xbox controller feels great in your hands, but it's honestly a hassle to carry in a bag. So I was intrigued to see Xbox itself release a Nano Controller that fits in your pocket. It's fun that the original maker is finally doing what 8BitDo has been doing for years.

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📊 Quick Info

Item	Details
Brand	Xbox (Microsoft)
Price	$49.99 (Korean price to be confirmed)
Size & Weight	About 5 inches long, 3.5oz (99g)
Inputs	Keeps the standard 18 inputs
Battery	Built-in rechargeable instead of AA batteries
Release	November 4, in the US and 35 markets
One-line verdict	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ A pocket-sized pad from the original maker

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✨ 3-Line Summary

• 👍 Biggest strength: It keeps all the standard controller inputs yet weighs just 99g
• 👎 Downside: Pricier than rivals in the $30–35 range, and the feel of the bumpers and triggers is unconfirmed
• 🎯 Recommended for: People who want to play with the Xbox layout on the go, and kids with small hands

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📸 Product Tour

Next to a standard Xbox controller, the size difference is obvious at a glance

Small enough to slip right into a hoodie pocket

A single connected top surface and short grips

The sticks, cross-shaped D-pad, and ABXY layout stay familiar

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🔍 Why It Caught My Eye

Smaller size, same inputs

The Nano keeps all 18 inputs of the standard controller. The stick layout, the cross-shaped D-pad, and the color-lettered ABXY buttons are all unchanged. It felt reassuring that this wasn't a fresh redesign at a smaller scale, but the existing design simply shrunk down.

Built-in battery instead of AA

They removed the AA battery compartment, which took up the most volume on the full-size controller, and switched to a rechargeable battery. That change seems to be the key to getting the weight down to 99g.

A dedicated button for screenshots and clips

Native Xbox wireless connectivity and an action button for screenshots and clips are the premium touches. Budget alternatives don't have them, which likely explains the price gap.

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🤔 What Gives Me Pause

The price is awkward

At $49.99, it's cheaper than the standard controller ($64.99) but pricier than the $30–35 models from CRKD and 8BitDo. The question is whether official wireless connectivity makes up for the difference.

You have to feel the controls yourself

LB and LT, and RB and RT, are clustered together as one block on each side, so how independently the bumpers and triggers move is something you can only tell by trying it.

Korean release and pricing

All we know is that it launches on November 4 in the US and 35 markets. Whether it will launch in Korea, and at what price, still needs to be confirmed.

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📋 Product Features (Subjective Ratings)

• Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• Portability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Practicality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
• Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (pricey compared to rivals)

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🛒 Pre-Purchase Checklist

✅ Recommended for

• People who want to play with the Xbox layout on a commute or while traveling
• Kids or people with small hands who find a big controller cumbersome
• People looking for a portable pad for cloud gaming or PC gaming

❌ Not recommended for

• People who care about big grips and the feel of full-size triggers
• People who shop mainly for value

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🎯 Final Verdict

The Nano Controller isn't so much something new as the already-proven Xbox layout shrunk down to pocket size. That's exactly why I'm looking forward to it. The reassurance of an official product goes some way toward justifying the price gap.

That said, the feel of the controls and availability in Korea still need to be confirmed. I think it's not too late to decide after reading reviews once it launches.

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Source: Yanko Design product page