Microsoft revealed the Xbox Nano Controller on October 14, 2026: a smaller, lighter Xbox pad that costs $49.99 USD, is up for pre-order now and starts shipping in November. The company announced it on Xbox Wire, calling it “our smallest controller,” and pre-orders are live on the Xbox Nano Controller page at Xbox.com.
The Details
Microsoft says the Nano is “a little over 5 inches in length and just 3.5 ounces,” which makes it “lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones.” It keeps “all 18 standard gameplay inputs,” so the layout matches the pad Xbox players already know, and it adds a programmable Action Button that can take screenshots, capture gameplay or run other shortcuts.
The biggest change is power. The standard Xbox Wireless Controller runs on AA batteries, per its own spec sheet. The Nano has an internal rechargeable battery instead, though Microsoft’s tech specs note that it charges over USB-C and the cable is sold separately.
Compatibility, per the product page:
- Works with: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Windows, Android and iOS, plus select smart TVs.
- Connections: Xbox Wireless for consoles, and Bluetooth for Windows 10 and 11 PCs, tablets, phones and compatible smart TVs.
- Customizing: button remapping through the Xbox Accessories app.
It ships “beginning in November” in 36 markets, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil and Mexico, “with additional markets to follow.” In the US, Microsoft is also bundling a Nano and two months of Game Pass Ultimate (for new members) with select Samsung TVs this holiday season, and running a similar offer with Meta Quest headsets.
What This Means for Players
Microsoft is pitching the Nano at younger players, smaller hands and anyone who wants a controller for the road, and it calls it an “entry-level” pad. Its Bluetooth support matters most for TV and phone play: on Samsung TVs in select regions, Microsoft says players can use their monthly cloud playtime on Game Pass games through the Xbox app by “simply connecting their controller.”
On PC, the product page lists Bluetooth as the wireless route, so the Bluetooth steps in our guide to connecting an Xbox controller to PC are the ones to follow once it arrives.
One thing to check before ordering: the Nano’s spec sheet does not mention a 3.5mm headset jack, which the standard controller’s page lists. If you plug a wired headset into your pad, wait for full specs or stick with the standard model.
Microsoft’s own examples are Minecraft Dungeons II, where up to four heroes can team up in local co-op, and Forza Horizon 6 for play away from the living room. Forza ranks third on our best Xbox games of 2026.
Source: Xbox Wire, “Meet the XBOX Nano Controller,” October 14, 2026, and the Xbox Nano Controller product page on Xbox.com.