Microsoft's new Xbox Nano Controller is a $50 pocket-sized gamepad

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Nano Controller, a $49.99 pocket-sized wireless gamepad that is open for pre-orders today ahead of a November 4 release. Measuring just over five inches long and weighing 3.5 ounces, it's the smallest official controller Microsoft has ever produced, making it both shorter and lighter than a typical modern smartphone.

It's legitimately cute, which is not an adjective anyone could have applied to Xbox hardware back in 2001 when the original console launched with the gargantuan "Duke" controller. Microsoft did follow that up with the smaller Controller S (originally designed for the Japanese market), and the Xbox 360 pad settled into the ergonomic shape the company still uses today, but first-party Xbox gamepads have always favored wide grips and AA battery compartments.

Pocket-sized pads have mostly been left to third-party manufacturers like 8BitDo and CRKD. Those tiny Bluetooth controllers are great for tossing in a bag, though they usually require a wired connection or an adapter if you want to use them on an actual Xbox console. Because the Nano is first-party hardware, it includes both standard Bluetooth and Microsoft's proprietary Xbox Wireless radio, so it pairs directly with an Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One right out of the box alongside Windows 10 and 11 PCs, iOS, Android, and smart TVs.

Eighteen inputs and no USB-C cable in the box

Despite the shrunken shell, Microsoft didn't strip out buttons to save space. The Nano keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs and adds a programmable Action Button that can be mapped to shortcuts like taking screenshots or recording gameplay clips. I'm curious how comfortable clicking both analog sticks while holding both triggers will actually feel on a five-inch frame during longer sessions, though Microsoft is pitching this just as much for kids and smaller hands as it is for travelers.

Unlike standard Xbox controllers that still ship with two AA batteries, the Nano's official store listing notes that it runs on an internal rechargeable battery. It charges via USB-C, though you'll have to supply your own cord since Microsoft isn't including a cable in the box. At $49.99, it undercuts the standard $64.99 to $69.99 Xbox Wireless Controller by fifteen to twenty bucks, making it a relatively cheap spare pad for four-player couch co-op in upcoming games like Minecraft Dungeons II, Grounded 2, or Bluey's Happy Snaps.

Bundled with TVs and VR headsets

The Nano also fits neatly into Microsoft's ongoing push to get people playing Game Pass without buying an Xbox console. Since 2022, Samsung has built the Gaming Hub directly into its smart TVs for cloud streaming, and Meta has added a native Xbox cloud app to its Quest headsets so players can stream flat-screen games like Forza Horizon 6 onto a virtual display.

To push that ecosystem angle this holiday season, Microsoft is running two US promotional bundles for new subscribers. Buying select Samsung TVs or a Meta Quest headset will include an Xbox Nano Controller paired with two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.