Nacon Xbox Controller REVOLUTION X Unlimited
design
Controller shapes can be a divisive thing, but for me, first impressions of the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited were strong. It’s chunky, but while it’s noticeably broader and heavier than a standard Xbox controller, the same overall shape remains. It has a more premium feel than a stock controller though, with a matte smooth finish on the plastic shell and rubberised grips that wrap around the sides and rear of the handles. The texture is pleasant, offering enough purchase to keep things secure without that aggressive sandpaper feel some manufacturers seem to think we’re after.
That said, the thin channel grooves in the rubber do look like prime candidates for becoming gunk traps over time, so have a cleaning cloth handy if you’re the type who games with snacks within reach. It’s also an absolute fingerprint magnet, which isn’t ideal for something you’re meant to constantly have your fingers all over.
Build quality feels premium, which is reassuring given the asking price. There’s no flex or creak when you squeeze the handles, and the overall weight (328g before you start adding the optional extras) gives it a substantial, confidence-inspiring heft. Nacon includes three sets of weights in the box should you want to bulk things up further, though I didn’t feel the need to experiment with them, the stock configuration already sits in my sweet spot for longer sessions.
In terms of what’s in the box, the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited comes impressively well-stocked. You get the controller itself, a hard carry case with dedicated slots for everything, a charging dock with integrated USB dongle, a 3m braided USB-C cable, six interchangeable thumbstick caps (concave and convex options in varying heights), two D-pad tops (4-way and 8-way), four joystick rings, and those weights I mentioned before. It’s a generous haul, and makes the unboxing experience pretty great, you really get the sense you’ve taken a step up in the world.
The charging dock deserves a mention, both for positive and negative reasons. Firstly, it’s nice that it exists at all. It turns your controller into a showcase piece when not in use and it’s nice to know it’s always going to be charged up and ready to go. Design wise it’s compact, looks decent enough on a desk or TV console, and has a USB port for plugging the dongle in so you can take power from the console itself. However, it’s not the most intuitive docking experience I’ve encountered. Getting the controller to line up properly often required a little fiddle and adjustment rather than the firm, satisfying magnetic snap you might hope for.
The LCD screen sits where a touchpad would be on a PlayStation controller, flanked by the menu and view buttons. It’s small but legible, and there’s a dedicated button beside the left bumper to access its menus. The additional S1 and S2 buttons sit at the top of the controller alongside the standard bumpers, while four back buttons occupy the rear of the handles in an unusual configuration, two higher up where your middle fingers naturally rest, and two lower down near the base of the grips.
performance
I’ll preface this by saying I’m no pro gamer. My raw skills are decidedly lacking so I approach this as an avid gamer looking for a better experience over the stock controller, not as a good gamer being held back by the standard option.
The face buttons on the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited are a real highlight. Featuring Omron micro-switches, they deliver a wonderfully clicky, responsive feel that puts the standard Xbox controller to shame. The tactile feedback is excellent, each feels crisp and I found I was able to fire off inputs just as reliably, even if my finger wasn’t perfectly aligned over the middle of the button. The D-pad is similar and might even be my favourite part of the Revolution X Unlimited. It’s somehow simultaneously both light to use but still requires a deliberate press to action. The 8-way disc that comes fitted as standard offers precise directional input with that same satisfying click from the micro-switches, and swapping to the 4-way cross is simply a matter of popping it off and pressing the alternative in place.
The Hall Effect sticks are smooth and accurate, with no inner deadzone out of the box, meaning they respond to even the smallest movements. The tension is noticeably lighter than a standard Xbox controller, which took some adjustment on my part. There’s almost a learning curve to switching to the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited, I found myself less accurate initially as I got used to treating the sticks with a lighter touch, but after a day or two of play across a range of titles, things clicked into place and the precision felt improved. The drift-resistant nature of Hall Effect technology is the real selling point here, of course, and something Microsoft still battles with for the Elite. At this level you really shouldn’t need to worry about drift.
The trigger locks work well and I was pleased to see this is a genuine input change rather than a simple hard blocker like you see on some controllers. Flip the switches on the back and the triggers shift from their full analog range to a short, clicky digital switch input, perfect for shooters where you want rapid fire without the full pull. It’s a feature we’ve seen before, but the implementation here is up to scratch.
Now for the less straightforward bit, the back buttons. The positioning is unusual compared to other pro controllers I’ve tested, with the lower pair sitting further down the handles than you might expect. Combined with their light actuation force, I found myself prone to accidental presses during more frantic gameplay moments. The primary S3 and S4 buttons on the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited are almost too perfectly placed, they are exactly where my middle fingers sit when grabbing the controller. For the right player this could be an asset for speed and ergonomics, but for me it made them a little too accessible. This became enough of an issue that I ended up unbinding them entirely in most games, which rather defeats the purpose of having them in the first place. For comparison, I’ve tested the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 Pro and didn’t encounter the same problem, its back buttons requiring noticeably more deliberate force to activate and sitting further away from my natural finger position.
The LCD screen, accessed via a button beside the left bumper, proves very useful once you get the hang of navigating it. You can adjust audio settings for connected headsets (including game/chat balance and mic monitoring), remap buttons, and switch between profiles without touching an app. It took a little fiddling to become fluent with the menu system, and there are a lot of clicks needed to rebind buttons, but I got noticeably quicker at making adjustments on the fly. A touchscreen would have been slicker and I feel like there’s enough real estate here for it to be viable, but I understand the cost implications.
Speaking of apps, the companion software on console is not a great one. The experience is confusing, with outdated interfaces and workflows that seem to loop back on themselves. It works, technically, but it’s a far cry from the polished software experience you might expect at this price point. Most of the essential customisation can be done via the on-controller screen anyway, which somewhat mitigates the issue.
The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited offers three connection modes, wired via USB-C, 2.4GHz wireless via the included dongle, and Bluetooth for Android or PC. Switching between them is handled by a physical toggle on the back of the controller. Latency is quoted at 1ms wired on PC, 2ms wireless on PC, and 3ms on console, competitive numbers that I had no complaints about in practice and at my standard of gameplay. Battery life is rated at 10+ hours, though I’m not a marathon gaming session type so couldn’t push this to its limits.
summed up
The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is a strong entry into the premium Xbox controller market, and there’s a lot to like here. The face buttons and D-pad are among the best I’ve used, the Hall Effect sticks deliver on their promise of precision and durability, and the LCD screen proves useful day-to-day. The build quality feels appropriately premium, and the bundle of extras (carry case, charging dock, swappable parts) sweetens the deal at a price point that matches rather than exceeds the established competition.
The back buttons, though, are a potential problem. Your mileage may vary, but having to unbind the back buttons because they’re too sensitive and a little too well placed undercuts a core part of the pro controller value proposition. It’s not that they’re unusable for everyone, it’s entirely dependent on grip style and tolerance for adjustment, but it’s a notable flag in an otherwise impressive package.
The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is available in the black trim I tested, with an Xbox 360 Anniversary Edition also available at the same price for those feeling nostalgic.
