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Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: one-minute review
The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is the latest premium Xbox controller from the gaming brand, and I think it’s the company’s best effort yet. Essentially an upgrade over the PS5-compatible Revolution 5 Pro (though sadly, there’s no PlayStation compatibility to be had with this new gamepad), the Unlimited offers a similar experience with some notable new features.
Your eyes will immediately be drawn to the Unlimited’s built-in LCD display. Typically, I’m not a fan of these on gamepads, as I feel they can often overcomplicate the play experience. On the Unlimited, though, the display is very intuitive. It trims the fat, strictly offering options for button mapping, connected gaming headsets, wireless pairing, and battery saving. As such, I find this to be a direct upgrade over the Revolution 5 Pro.
The Revolution X Unlimited does pack a premium price tag, but to sweeten the deal, Nacon has included a selection of swappable parts as well as a charging dock for quick and easy battery top-up. Throw in a pair of sublimely smooth Hall effect thumbsticks, tactile micro-switch face buttons, trigger locks, and a set of four remappable buttons, and you have a premium suite that’s worth the investment.
There are, sadly, some drawbacks that keep it outside of contention for the premium spot in our best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers guides. For one, it’s quite a bulky controller, and an over-reliance on plastic means that build quality isn’t quite what you’d expect from a luxury pad.
But overall, if you’re in the market for a high-end Xbox controller or PC controller with tons of features and intuitive on-the-fly customization for your favorite games, I still highly recommend considering the Revolution X Unlimited.
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: Price and availability
As a premium pad, the Revolution X Unlimited commands a price tag of $199.99 / £179.99. You can purchase one for yourself at Nacon’s own website as well as Amazon in the US and Argos in the UK. This is similar to the Revolution 5 Pro which retails at $199.99 / £199.99, albeit the X Unlimited is £20 cheaper in the UK.
That price puts the Unlimited in the ballpark of other premium Xbox controllers such as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199.99 / £179.99), the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 ($169.99 / £149.99), and the official Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 ($179.99 / £159.99).
All offer similar feature sets, including swappable stick and button modules, remappable keys, and controller layout profile creation.
I think the Revolution X Unlimited has the edge over the eSwap X2 and Elite Series 2, thanks to its inclusion of Hall effect sticks (they’re sold separately for Thrustmaster’s pad) and that built-in display that I found genuinely useful here. However, I do prefer the near-perfect build quality offered by the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: specs
|
Price |
$199.99 / £179.99 |
|
Dimensions |
6.5 x 4.5 x 2.2in / 164 x 115 x 56mm |
|
Weight |
11.53oz / 327g |
|
Compatibility |
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4Ghz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
Around 10 hours |
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: design and features
Aside from the controller itself, you’re getting quite a lot of goodies in the Revolution X Unlimited box. The pad is housed in a tidy carry case, where you’ll also find a charging dock, 2.4GHz USB dongle for wireless connectivity, a 3m USB-C cable, a thin dust cloth, and a small box that stores swappable accessories.
Said accessories include two D-pads (a four-way and an eight-way with the latter on the controller by default), six thumbstick caps (two concave, four convex of varying sizes), two metal stick rings for placing around the thumbsticks, and a set of six weights (two 0.35oz / 10g, two 0.49oz / 14g, and two 0.56oz / 16g) which can be slotted into the controller’s grips for some additional heft if you need the pad to rest in your hands a little more firmly.
The Unlimited itself has that recognizable Xbox Wireless Controller-esque silhouette, but it is ever so slightly wider and taller than Microsoft’s gamepad. This results in the Unlimited being better suited to players with larger hands.
Meanwhile, overall build quality certainly isn’t terrible, but I’ve never been a fan of the use of cheap-feeling plastic on Nacon’s controllers that’s also present here. I did get used to it, but it definitely feels less robust in the hands than my go-to Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.
The standout feature this time is undoubtedly the built-in LCD display. As mentioned, I’m typically not keen to see these on controllers like the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra or the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot. They’re usually quite sluggish and aren’t particularly intuitive in a pinch.
Nacon has nailed it here, though. A quick press of a button found next to the left bumper activates the display’s menu. The UI is incredibly responsive and limits options to the essentials: audio for gaming headsets (including volume, mic monitoring, and a game/chat mixer), button mapping, and wireless pairing options.
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: performance
I’m seriously impressed with the Revolution X Unlimited when it comes to overall gaming performance and play experience. I’m glad that Nacon has opted for Hall effect sticks here, of course, but the sticks themselves are some of the smoothest in the business. If you’ve read my Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller impressions, it’s a similar story to that, where the sticks feel hyper-tuned for accuracy and responsiveness. Certainly, it’ll be a boon for the best FPS games where carefully-placed shots mean everything.
Micro-switch buttons are becoming increasingly common with contemporary gamepads, with even cheaper models like the GameSir T4 Kaleid offering them. They’re also present on the Revolution X Unlimited, and they’re satisfyingly tactile.
This is another element that positions the Unlimited as a competitive-focused controller. Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful for any kind of game, and I had a blast testing it with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Xbox Series X as well as A Hat in Time and Final Fantasy 14 Online on PC. But it really comes alive with multiplayer-oriented games like Tekken 8 and Fortnite, thanks to those buttery smooth thumbsticks and rapid button actuation.
Battery life is a slight letdown as you’re only getting around 10 hours on a full charge. It does charge up fairly quickly in around two and a half hours with the included charging dock, but do expect to have to top up the controller regularly if you prefer wireless play.
Should I buy the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: Also consider
If the Revolution X Unlimited isn’t quite doing it for you, have a look at these Xbox and PC controller alternatives.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited |
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro |
Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot |
|
Price |
$199.99 / £179.99 |
$199.99 / £199.99 |
$129.99 / £119.99 |
|
Dimensions |
6.5 x 4.5 x 2.2in / 164 x 115 x 56mm |
6.2 x 4.2 x 2.6in / 157 x 106 x 65mm |
6.3 x 4.7 x 2.5in / 160 x 119 x 64mm |
|
Weight |
11.53oz / 327g |
10.7oz / 304g |
10.6oz / 300g |
|
Compatibility |
Xbox, PC |
Xbox, PC |
Xbox, PC |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
Around 10 hours |
12-13 hours |
22 hours |
How I tested the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller
- Tested for one week
- Tested across Xbox Series X Digital Edition and PC
- Compared directly to the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
I tested the Revolution X Unlimited controller over the course of a week, playing both single and multiplayer games across Xbox and PC. On my Xbox Series X Digital Edition, I took the controller for a spin with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered and Avowed. I went more multiplayer-focused on PC, with titles like Tekken 8, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Street Fighter 6 filling up much of my playtime with the controller.
First reviewed April 2025
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