Verdict
The Nacon Pro Compact Controller is a good wired controller for these on a price range, together with some respectable, accessible customisation choices by means of 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 assist: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 lately, it’s genuinely shocking to see how reasonably priced the Nacon Pro controller is at the moment accessible for.
It’s roughly the identical value 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 top-of-the-line sport controllers you should purchase proper now?
Design
Smaller than your conventional Xbox controllerHard plastic development with some texturingSmaller journey on shoulder and set off buttons
One of the primary main issues to notice in regards to the Pro Compact is the actual fact it lacks slightly little bit of physique and stature subsequent to the usual Xbox pad; it felt a a smidgen slim for my palms.
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 onerous plastic you’ll discover protecting nearly all of price range controllers. There’s little or no in the best way of sentimental assist, other than 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 normal. 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 dimension, feeling larger subsequent to every little 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 basically useful if you happen to’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 slightly jarring at timesSoftware-driven customisation does make a distinction
Having examined the Pro Compact throughout a good variety of video games on each Xbox Series X and PC, I’m glad to say that the little man doesn’t half pack a punch.
In working some laps on Project Cars 2, or crashing by means of the countryside on Forza Horizon 4, the Pro Compact carried out fairly properly, providing respectable suggestions as I smashed by means of fences or punted unwitting opponents off-circuit for enjoyable. Its vibration is plentiful – but it surely’s a bit noisy, which might be jarring at first.
The smaller triggers and shoulder buttons have been barely noticeable in my hours of testing, as I used to be nonetheless capable of carry out my normal transfer of flicking open the weapon wheel shortly to seek out the suitable firearm. Controller structure 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 towards the vanilla Series X or One controller is the customisation it affords by means of Nacon’s personal software program, comprising among the normal stuff you’ll discover within the settings menu. This consists of the flexibility to remap buttons for each sport, in addition to altering the trajectory and sensitivity of analogue sticks to be able to swimsuit the sport you’re enjoying.
This isn’t some advertising and marketing ploy, as I first anticipated. There is a distinction between – as an example – the FPS and default modes; there’s a tad much less sensitivity within the former, to be able to make the most 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 properly, with each RT and LT’s journey being customisable to swimsuit presets. The FPS setting proved significantly helpful for Doom Eternal, partly as a result of I solely wanted to press the set off down midway to be able to shoot on the identical velocity as 100% enter would often supply. Nacon additionally affords the flexibility to show the vibration off utterly, invert the triggers, and fiddle with controller lifeless 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 accessible that options so many customisation choices.
You need one thing wi-fi with bodily customisation:While the software program customisations are nice, you may’t swap in new bodily buttons. It’s additionally a pity that you just’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 properly. It affords some good customisation choices and has a smaller kind issue. However, it’s value noting that the vibrations could possibly be slightly an excessive amount of for some, and may take some getting used to. Plus, the actual fact there’s little rubberised assist means consolation ranges might wane in extended gaming periods.
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 might be adjusted in settings to permit for kind of 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 might be as much as 128 audio channels, and these ‘objects’ might be precisely positioned inside a 3D soundscape. This permits soundtracks that assist the expertise to put sounds above and across the listener with suitable equipment.