Microsoft's New Xbox Controller Is Smaller Than Your Phone
The $49.99 Xbox Nano ditches size and swappable batteries for portability, with pre-orders open now ahead of a November launch.
Microsoft is putting a tiny controller on store shelves. The Xbox Nano, announced today, is a shrunk-down version of the standard Xbox controller aimed at people who want to game without lugging around a full-size gamepad — think kids, players with smaller hands, or anyone who wants something that actually fits in a pocket.
And it really is small. At just over five inches long, the Xbox Nano is shorter than most smartphones, making it Microsoft's smallest controller to date. Despite the compact frame, it keeps every button you'd expect from a standard Xbox controller, so there's no functional downgrade, just a smaller footprint.
It connects the same way a full-size controller does, too. The Nano supports both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth, meaning it can pair with Xbox consoles as well as phones, tablets, and PCs. That flexibility matters for a controller clearly built with cloud gaming and mobile play in mind, where you're just as likely to be hooked up to a phone as a console.
One notable upgrade: Microsoft built in a rechargeable battery, so there's no need for AA batteries or a separate charging accessory, a departure from how most Xbox controllers have worked. A USB-C port on the back handles charging, alongside a pairing button.
The Nano also gets a programmable Action Button, which can be set up to handle shortcuts like taking screenshots or capturing gameplay clips. It's a small addition, but one that fits the controller's overall pitch: strip things down without sacrificing the features people actually use.
Interestingly, the finished product isn't quite identical to what leaked earlier this year. Those early images showed what looked like a tiny built-in screen, possibly meant to indicate whether the controller was connected to the cloud or a console. That screen didn't make the final cut. Everything else from the leaks checks out, though, including the rear USB-C port and pairing button, suggesting Microsoft's design was mostly locked in well before today's announcement.
The Xbox Nano is available for pre-order now at $49.99, undercutting the price of Microsoft's standard controllers while targeting a different use case rather than replacing them outright. It's set to start shipping in November, giving Microsoft a cheaper, pocket-friendly option just as cloud gaming and cross-device play continue to shape how people actually use Xbox hardware.
