XBOX Reveals Its Smallest Controller Yet, the $49.99 Nano

XBOX’s newest controller is also its smallest, with the XBOX Nano Controller coming in at a little over five inches long and 3.5 ounces, which Microsoft says makes it lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones. Preorders open today at $49.99, and the controller launches in November in the U.S. and 35 other markets, including Canada, the U.K., Japan, and Australia, with more to follow. That puts it $15 under the standard XBOX Wireless Controller, which has sat at $64.99 since the price hike in May 2025.

Despite the size, the Nano keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs in the usual layout, so nothing is missing compared to a full-size controller. It has a rechargeable battery, though the product page notes the USB-C cable is sold separately, and it adds a programmable Action Button that can be set to screenshots, gameplay capture, or other shortcuts through the XBOX Accessories app. Connectivity covers XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth, which means it works with XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC, Android, iOS, and select smart TVs. Microsoft is pitching it at younger players, smaller hands, and anyone who wants something that fits in a bag, using Minecraft Dungeons II, which supports four-player co-op, and Forza Horizon 6 as its examples.

The Nano is also doing double duty as a bundle item this holiday season. In the U.S., select Samsung TVs will come with the controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members, with the idea being that the XBOX app in Samsung’s Gaming Hub lets players use their monthly cloud playtime without a console. That monthly playtime line is a reference to the cloud gaming hour caps that start in November, which limit Ultimate members to 15 hours a month.

Meta is running a similar U.S. offer that packs the Nano and two months of Ultimate in with a Meta Quest purchase, a step down from last year’s Meta Quest 3S XBOX Edition, which bundled a full-size controller and three months of Ultimate for $399.99. Microsoft has the full announcement on XBOX Wire.