Xbox has revealed a surprise alternative controller design dubbed the Nano. While it’s not literally one billionth the size of a standard pad, the petite peripheral is notably lighter and shorter, while also being more affordable to boot.
The firm announced the Xbox Nano controller via a blog post, while also opening pre-orders ahead of the November launch. You can secure yourself a unit for £44.99 / $49.99, a welcome £15 / $15 cheaper than a standard pad.
You can see the Xbox Nano’s smaller size relative to a standard controller in the image above, measuring just over 5in in length and weighing a mere 3.5oz. Despite the reduction in size, this pad retains all 18 inputs you’ll find a full-size alternative, albeit with less space between face buttons and shallower triggers.
The biggest different that the Xbox Nano brings the table, other than size, is the adoption of a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery in place of modular AA batteries. The controller charges via USB-C, but you’ll need to source your own cable to give the pad some juice as there won’t be one in the box.
Like the standard Xbox controller, the Nano supports both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth connections, meaning it will work across consoles and a variety of other devices. The company hasn’t explicitly stated that a wired connection over USB-C is possible, but this seems likely given the push for feature parity with the bigger pad.
While my hands comfortably wrap around an Xbox controller, as they have since the days of Xbox 360, I certainly see value in the Nano for others. The form factor seems ideal for younger players, or simply those with smaller hands. This is all theoretical, of course, as we won’t know how well the pad sits in such potential palms until we go, well, hands-on.
Check out our Asus ROG Xbox Ally X review to keep the Xbox hardware conversation going.
