Verdict
The Nacon Pro Compact Controller is a superb wired controller for these on a price range, together with some respectable, accessible customisation choices by the software program. It’s small and compact, making it comfy to carry – however that may affect button journey and luxury for extended utilization.
Pros
Compact designDecent construct qualitySoftware customisation is cool
Cons
Lack of rubberised supportShorter shoulder buttons
Availability
UKRRP: £44.99
USARRP: $49.99
EuropeRRP: €49.90
Key Features
Wired connection:The Pro Compact comes with a stonkingly lengthy 3m cable
Customisation choices:Nacon has offered an app for each Xbox and PC, permitting gamers to fiddle with the Pro Compact’s triggers and sticks
Xbox and PC help:The Pro Compact works with the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC
Intorduction
The Nacon Pro Compact Controller is an reasonably priced wired gaming controller, providing a set of options, together with app-controlled adjustable set off sensitivity, button mapping and customisable analogue sticks.
With customized controllers for each next-gen consoles costing a ten-a-penny nowadays, it’s genuinely stunning to see how reasonably priced the Nacon Pro controller is at present out there for.
It’s roughly the identical worth as an official Xbox controller from Microsoft, however Nacon’s providing is wired versus wi-fi, with software-driven customisation, in a barely smaller general design
This explicit Nacon controller is designed particularly for the Xbox, whereas additionally supporting PC. But is it among the best sport controllers you should buy proper now?
Design
Smaller than your conventional Xbox controllerHard plastic development with some texturingSmaller journey on shoulder and set off buttonsOne of the primary main issues to notice in regards to the Pro Compact is the actual fact it lacks a bit of little bit of physique and stature subsequent to the usual Xbox pad; it felt a a smidgen slim for my arms.
According to Nacon, the Pro Compact is 15% smaller than the official controller. That’s to not say the Pro Compact isn’t comfy to carry: its 203g weight is noticeably lighter than the near-300g of the standard Series X controller.
In phrases of construct, the Pro Compact is wearing the usual arduous plastic you’ll discover masking nearly all of price range controllers. There’s little or no in the best way of soppy help, aside from the textured rubber tops of the thumbsticks. The criss-cross textured again is designed to assist the Pro Compact really feel comparatively comfy in hand; it feels alright, however some rubberised grips will surely have been welcome.
The Pro Compact’s smaller stature has resulted in a barely dinkier D-pad, and in addition some smaller triggers and shoulder buttons on the highest. This leads to journey that isn’t as pronounced as regular. These are fabricated from a extra shiny, hard-wearing plastic and supply respectable tactility and a satisfying click on when pressed down.
Its solely the A-B-X-Y buttons that really feel barely out of kilter to the Pro Compact’s general measurement, feeling greater subsequent to every thing else on this controller. Oh, and the super-long 3m, USB-A-ended cable for plugging the pad into both an Xbox or a PC is actually useful in case you’re sofa is a distance out of your monitor or TV.
Performance
A pleasure to make use of on each Xbox and PCGood vibrations, though a bit of jarring at timesSoftware-driven customisation does make a differenceHaving examined the Pro Compact throughout a good variety of video games on each Xbox Series X and PC, I’m comfortable to say that the little man doesn’t half pack a punch.
In operating some laps on Project Cars 2, or crashing by the countryside on Forza Horizon 4, the Pro Compact carried out fairly nicely, providing respectable suggestions as I smashed by fences or punted unwitting opponents off-circuit for enjoyable. Its vibration is plentiful – however it’s a bit noisy, which will be jarring at first.
The smaller triggers and shoulder buttons had been barely noticeable in my hours of testing, as I used to be nonetheless capable of carry out my regular transfer of flicking open the weapon wheel shortly to search out the appropriate firearm. Controller format was additionally noticeably nice, providing a well-known expertise, albeit with that texturing on the controller’s reverse serving to consolation.
Where the Pro Compact wins in opposition to the vanilla Series X or One controller is the customisation it affords by Nacon’s personal software program, comprising a number of the regular stuff you’ll discover within the settings menu. This consists of the power to remap buttons for each sport, in addition to altering the trajectory and sensitivity of analogue sticks as a way to go well with the sport you’re taking part in.
This isn’t some advertising ploy, as I first anticipated. There is a distinction between – as an illustration – the FPS and default modes; there’s a tad much less sensitivity within the former, as a way to reap the benefits of extra exact aiming. Or, throughout the Arcade Fighting preset, which operates on the steepest of curves, offering virtually instantaneous response occasions to any inputs.
It’s an analogous story with the triggers as nicely, with each RT and LT’s journey being customisable to go well with presets. The FPS setting proved notably helpful for Doom Eternal, partially as a result of I solely wanted to press the set off down midway as a way to shoot on the similar pace as 100% enter would normally supply. Nacon additionally affords the power to show the vibration off fully, invert the triggers, and fiddle with controller useless zones.
Best Offers
Should you purchase it?
You need an reasonably priced and customisable controller:The Nacon Pro Compact Controller is without doubt one of the least expensive third-party controllers out there that options so many customisation choices.
You need one thing wi-fi with bodily customisation:While the software program customisations are nice, you possibly can’t swap in new bodily buttons. It’s additionally a pity that you simply’re restricted to a wired connection.
Final Thoughts
Nacon’s first effort to make a controller for the inexperienced aspect of console gaming has gone remarkably nicely. It affords some good customisation choices and has a smaller type issue. However, it’s price noting that the vibrations may very well be a bit of an excessive amount of for some, and may take some getting used to. Plus, the actual fact there’s little rubberised help means consolation ranges might wane in extended gaming classes.
FAQs
What platforms does it work with? Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. Is it comfy? For essentially the most half, sure. Is it wi-fi? No, it makes use of a wired connection.
Specs
‹
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
Manufacturer
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Connectivity
Switch Type
Cable Length
Nacon Pro Compact Controller
£44.99
$49.99
€49.90
Nacon
2020
28/06/2021
Wired
Mechanical
3 Meter
›
Jargon buster
Deadzones
A small space round a controller’s thumbstick that does not reply to stay motion. These will be adjusted in settings to permit for roughly exact inputs.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is an object-based audio format. It expands on 5.1 and 7.1 soundtracks by including overhead channels. Sounds are known as “audio objects”, of which there will be as much as 128 audio channels, and these ‘objects’ will be precisely positioned inside a 3D soundscape. This permits soundtracks that help the expertise to put sounds above and across the listener with suitable equipment.