The Xbox One’s Elite controller is all sorts of awesome

While we never had the chance to go to E3, Mashable had the time to get a hands-on with Xbox One’s new Elite wireless controller.

The controller looks to be all sorts of awesome. But at $150, translating to R1820 before import duties, is it really all that?

The Elite is made out of plastic for the most part, with modular parts such as analog sticks, D-Pads and backside paddles.

All of the modular parts look to be premium and made of metal.

Generally, when the essential parts of the controller are made of metal this means a better build quality is expected in return.

A really cool feature is that the modular parts all attach magnetically to their assigned placements on the body of the the Elite controller.

A worrying downside to this is that the magnetism could wear away after a long period of time.

On a more positive note, the controller comes with three different sets of analog sticks, all at different heights.

All the modular parts of the controller. Image courtesy of Mashable.

The analog sticks include: one pair which are the standard Xbox One analog sticks, a pair which are similar to the PS3/PS2 DualShock sticks, and a tall pair of analog sticks for those who need the height.

Check out those back paddles, oh yeah. Image courtesy of Mashable.

The Elite also has high quality back paddles which can be assigned to replicate other buttons, via an app.

In many ways, the back paddles are reminiscent of a Scuf controller, but Mashable feels that the paddles are better than anything third party. A plus is that not much pressure is needed to actuate the back paddles, merely a simple press.

Mashable also commented that the new polygonal D-pad cover is pretty solid piece of kit. However, they were unable to test it with any fighting games.

Here is the controller in its naked glory. Image courtesy of Mashable.

Negatively, they did say that the Elite’s ABXY buttons don’t feel as much of an improvement over the standard controller. Perhaps, mechancial buttons which are far clickier. That’s a word, right?

What this means for the competitive scene will only been seen once the controller makes it ways into pros hands.

As an investment for serious gamers, this may be just the controller, especially with all the functionality attached.

The price tag is just slightly off-putting. Yet a Scuf controller at the same price-point would be just as expensive, if not more so.