Microsoft has announced the Xbox Nano Controller, a smaller and cheaper Xbox pad. It was unveiled on Xbox Wire on October 14, 2026, by James Hunter, general manager of Xbox Accessories. It costs 49.99 dollars in the United States, pre-orders opened the same day and it goes on sale in November 2026.
Size and controls
Microsoft calls it its smallest controller yet: just over 5 inches long and 3.5 ounces, which it says makes it lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones. For comparison, VGC puts the standard Xbox Wireless Controller at about 6 inches and 10 ounces.
Despite the size, the layout matches a standard Xbox controller:
- All 18 standard gameplay inputs
- A programmable Action Button in place of the capture button, which can be set to shortcuts such as screenshots or recording clips
- A built-in rechargeable battery, where the standard controller uses AA batteries or a separately sold battery pack
- Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth, so it can also be used with PCs, phones and smart TVs
Microsoft has not given battery life figures.
Price, date and countries
Xbox Wire lists a price of 49.99 dollars for the US and says pricing varies by country. VGC reports a UK price of 44.99 pounds and a release date of November 4, 2026. Microsoft has not published a price in euros in its announcement.
The controller launches in 36 markets, including Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Korea, with more countries to follow.
Bundles with Samsung and Meta
In the United States, Microsoft will also include the controller in two holiday offers. Buyers of select Samsung TVs will get a special version of the Nano Controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate, for new members only, to play through the Xbox app on Samsung’s Gaming Hub. A similar offer applies to the purchase of a Meta Quest headset.
This article was written with AI assistance from the sources linked above.