Third-party controllers have improved markedly over the decades. Whereas most third-party offerings of the 90s and 00s were decidedly poor, there are some brands these days aim for the feel of the real deal while adding a little extra to the package. Nacon is one such brand and their Pro Compact Wired Controller for Xbox is about as close as you will get to an official Xbox pad for less than fifty euro.
First-Party Impressions
Our white review model is attractive. The two-tone macro contrast mixes well some copper detailing and the traditional four-colour Xbox face button scheme.
Most of the basic functionality of Nacon Pro Compact Wired is close to par with the official Xbox Series X/S pad. The sticks are easy to use; a recess with textured soft plastic keeps the thumbs in place and in control.
The face buttons have a nice snap to them. The four action buttons are a little closer to each other than on first-party hardware, but this is a compact controller. Shoulder buttons have a defined-if-dull click to them.
The triggers make one significant compromise over the official pad. LT and RT don’t have as much travel as the first-party hardware. Racing games demand a little more precision on the brake or accelerator.
Compact Goals
Nacon Pro Compact Wired is quite a bit smaller and a lot lighter than the official pad. Most of the volume is saved by cutting out as much unnecessary bulk as possible. A little is saved by the aforementioned reduced trigger travel and tight face button arrangement.
Nacon Pro Compact Wired does feel a little on the light side but still feels solid and well-built. The grips have enough heft and controller is sufficiently contoured to offer a comfortable feel during long play sessions.
Added Value
Nacon Pro Compact Wired controller comes with a lifetime Dolby Atmos for Headphones subscription. Plug the device in an Xbox and the Atmos sub unlocks on that account. The headphone jack then supports the format for deep and wide 3D audio on stereo headsets.
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Naturally, a better headset will yield better results. You’ll need something with the delicacy to resolve the overtones, undertones, echoes and delays that fool the ears into perceiving the soundstage but the barrier of entry on Dolby Atmos is fairly low.
Stick Play
Another added value feature is the ability to set, and switch between an array of game modes. Profiles are managed via the Nacon Pro Compact app, available on PC, Xbox Series S/X and Xbox One.
These affect the dead zone and linearity of activation of both sticks. For examples the FPS profile may have more sensitivity on the right stick just outside the centre for more precise aiming without compromising the ability to 360 no-scope.
A Sniper FPS profile expands that sensitive zone further from centre for even more precise aiming. The Racing profile offers a smooth left-stick activation curve, aiming to recreate the response of turning a wheel.
The triggers have similar profiles baked in with different activation points for various genres. Players can adjust the 0% and 100% points of the triggers easily using a two-part slider for each.
Players can also change between and 8-way and 4-way D-pad using the app or disable the vibration.
Sweet Spot
Nacon Pro Compact Wired’s price of around €49.99/£42.99 is quite a bit less than the first-party hardware. But it’s also a price where the manufacturer can realistically deliver a high-quality product.
Nacon seem to be aware of this little nook on the pricing chain and have made a solid, reactive and comfortable controller to fill it.
The hardware stands on its own at this price – if you paid fifty euro and solely used Nacon Pro Compact to play games like a first-party offering, you wouldn’t be disappointed.
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Nacon Pro Compact Wired’s added extras aren’t gimmicks to sell a sub-par controller. While there are some compromises made to ensure a compact design, there still isn’t much between Nacon Pro Compat Wired and the first-party Xbox controller.
Review unit provided by PR
