The Nano controller is designed for young people, anyone with smaller hands, and gaming on the go.The Nano controller is designed for young people, anyone with smaller hands, and gaming on the go.Nov 3, 2026, 5:00 PM UTCPhoto by Tom Warren / The VergeEven though I knew Microsoft’s new Xbox Nano controller was tiny, I still gasped when I unboxed it a few days ago. The compact controller is small enough to slip into a pocket unnoticed, and it has been designed specifically for younger people, or for anyone with smaller hands.I’m not young, but I do have small hands, and I’ve been surprised at how comfortable the Nano is during gaming sessions. At just over 5 inches long, almost everything on this controller has been shrunk down somehow. The ABXY buttons are ever so slightly smaller than a regular Xbox controller, and the thumbsticks feel like miniature versions. Microsoft hasn’t changed the D-pad, though, or the size of the glowing Xbox button at the center of the controller.The big difference I noticed with the Nano over a regular Xbox controller was the size of the triggers. While they are fully analog and pressure sensitive, they have more of a click when you bottom them out compared with the thud on a bigger Xbox controller. They’re noticeably smaller, as you’d expect, and the bumper buttons above the triggers feel less clicky than the regular ones.I thought the Nano controller would feel awkward after a few hours of gaming, but the grips really help with comfort levels — a lot of smaller controllers sacrifice grips to keep the controller thin and lightweight. It does mean the Nano doesn’t sit flush on a table, but at 101 grams (0.22 pounds) it’s still really lightweight.1/10The Nano controller is ideal for young people.I can’t speak for those with bigger hands, but I’d expect the Nano controller won’t be well-suited to everyone. The size makes it ideal for young children, though. I tried to get my 1-year-old son to try the Nano, and he responded with a smile, so I guess he likes it.I haven’t had enough time to get a full idea of battery life yet, but it seems to drain around 10 percent in around 30 to 40 minutes. That suggests a lot less battery life than the 30 hours you’d get on a rechargeable pack for the larger Xbox wireless controller. Thankfully, the Nano charges quickly, and I found I could get from 30 percent to 60 percent charge in less than 10 minutes. You can plug in a USB-C charger to top up the battery and carry on playing while you charge.The only thing missing on the Nano controller that I would have loved is vibration support. I assume it’s not there because of an impact on battery life, because even the smaller Nintendo Joy-Con controllers have rumble support.The Xbox Nano controller will be available on November 4th, priced at $49.99.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Tom WarrenThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Xbox’s smallest-ever controller is surprisingly comfortable
