Xbox Nano Controller: Price, Release Date and What You Get for $49.99

The Xbox Nano Controller is Microsoft's smallest controller yet, and it's out on 4 November 2026 for £44.99 / $49.99. Xbox revealed it on 14 October as a cheaper, pocket-sized pad for "younger players, smaller hands, or anyone seeking something portable", and pre-orders are already open at Microsoft Store.

It keeps every button you'd expect on a full-size Xbox controller, works with consoles, PCs, phones and smart TVs, and costs $15 less than the standard controller. There's one catch worth knowing before you buy, though: it doesn't come with a charging cable.

Xbox Nano Controller at a glance

When is the Xbox Nano Controller release date?

The Xbox Nano Controller launches on 4 November 2026, according to Microsoft Store listings in the US and UK. Xbox says it will be available from November in 36 countries, including the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and much of Europe, with more to follow.

How much does the Xbox Nano Controller cost?

It's $49.99 in the US and £44.99 in the UK (including VAT) at Microsoft Store. For comparison, the standard Xbox Wireless Controller starts at $64.99 at Microsoft Store in the US, so the Nano is $15 cheaper. Remember to budget for a USB-C cable if you don't already have one, because there isn't one in the box.

How small is the Xbox Nano Controller?

Xbox says it's "a little over 5 inches in length and just 3.5 ounces", which makes it "lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones." Next to a standard Xbox controller, it's noticeably narrower and flatter, with short, rounded grips instead of the usual long handles. That's why Xbox pitches it at children, people with smaller hands and anyone who wants a pad to throw in a bag.

Despite the size, you don't lose any buttons. It has all 18 standard gameplay inputs, so you get the familiar Xbox layout: two thumbsticks, a D-pad, A/B/X/Y, bumpers and triggers.

What can the Xbox Nano Controller connect to?

Like recent Xbox controllers, the Nano has two kinds of wireless:

• Xbox Wireless for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
• Bluetooth for Windows 10/11 PCs, Android and iOS phones and tablets, and compatible smart TVs.

That makes it a natural fit for Xbox Cloud Gaming, where you stream games to a TV or phone with no console at all. Xbox is leaning into that: in the US, select Samsung TVs this holiday season will come with a Nano Controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members, and there's a similar offer with Meta Quest headsets. Cloud gaming needs a Game Pass subscription that includes it.

Does the Xbox Nano Controller come with a charging cable?

No. The Nano has a built-in rechargeable battery that charges through a USB-C port on the top, but Xbox's product page says it "requires USB-C cable for charging (sold separately)", and the box lists only the controller. Most people already have a USB-C cable from a phone, but it's an easy thing to miss if you're buying it as a gift.

Unlike the standard Xbox controller, it doesn't take AA batteries, so you can't swap in fresh ones when it runs flat. Xbox hasn't said how long the battery lasts on a charge yet.

What is the Action Button?

The Nano has a programmable Action Button that you can set to take screenshots, record gameplay or trigger other shortcuts you use often. You can also remap the buttons in the Xbox Accessories app, like other Xbox controllers.

What we don't know yet

Xbox hasn't published everything. So far there's no official word on:

• battery life per charge
• whether it has rumble or impulse triggers
• whether it has a 3.5mm headset jack
• other colors (only white has been shown)

We'll update this article when Xbox shares more, and once the first reviews arrive in November.

Should you buy the Xbox Nano Controller?

If you need a second pad for a child, a cheap controller for cloud gaming on a TV or phone, or something small enough to carry around, it looks like good value at £44.99 / $49.99. If you play competitive shooters for hours at a time, the full-size Xbox Wireless Controller, or the X25 Special Edition controller, will probably be more comfortable in bigger hands. Either way, we'd wait for the first hands-on reviews to see how the battery holds up.

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Xbox Nano Controller FAQ