Xbox Nano Controller Announced: $49.99, November Release, Pre-Orders Live (2026)

Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox Nano Controller, its smallest gamepad ever, priced at $49.99 with pre-orders open now. The company announced the pocket-sized pad on October 14, 2026 through Xbox Wire, calling it a controller “designed to fit nearly every pocket and budget.” It will be available beginning in November across 36 markets.

The Xbox Nano Controller, Microsoft's smallest Xbox gamepad, shown in official Xbox artwork with Minecraft Dungeons II characters — The Xbox Nano Controller in official Xbox artwork. Image: Microsoft / Xbox

The headline numbers are striking. The Nano measures a little over five inches in length and weighs just 3.5 ounces, which Microsoft says makes it lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones. Despite the shrunken footprint, the pad keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs in the familiar Xbox layout, so players get the same buttons they already know in a body that can slip into a bag or a hoodie pocket.

The Nano also fixes one of the longest-running complaints about Xbox controllers. Where the standard Xbox Wireless Controller still runs on AA batteries, the Nano carries an internal rechargeable battery, a first for the standard Xbox pad line. It charges over USB-C, though Microsoft’s tech specs note that the cable is sold separately. Alongside the battery, the Nano adds a programmable Action Button that can be assigned to taking screenshots, capturing gameplay clips, or other frequently used shortcuts.

Connectivity is broad. The Nano uses Xbox Wireless for Xbox consoles and Bluetooth for everything else, with support for Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Windows 10 and 11, Android and iOS devices, and select smart TVs. Button remapping is handled through the Xbox Accessories app, according to coverage of the announcement.

Microsoft is pitching the controller at younger players, people with smaller hands, and anyone who wants a portable option for play on the go. In the announcement, Xbox named two games to make the case: Minecraft Dungeons II, where up to four heroes can team up for local co-op, and Forza Horizon 6, which Microsoft says is ready to travel beyond the living room. The pitch is clearly aimed at couch co-op sessions, travel, and cloud gaming on phones and tablets.

The Nano arrives as part of a broader Xbox hardware push. It was revealed one day after Xbox announced Xbox Labs, a small internal group of game makers, engineers, and scientists tasked with turning emerging ideas into things players and developers can experience. The compact controller also lands in a market where third-party brands like 8BitDo and CRKD have already proven demand for smaller, cheaper gamepads, so Microsoft is now defending its own turf.

In the US, Microsoft is pairing the Nano with Game Pass for the holiday season. Buyers of select Samsung TVs will be offered a Nano plus two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members, and a similar bundle is being lined up with Meta Quest headsets. The Game Pass push continues a strong run for the service, with Battlefield 6 joining Game Pass in October. The tie-in matters because the Nano’s Bluetooth and TV support make it a natural match for cloud play through Samsung’s Gaming Hub, where players can stream Game Pass titles by simply pairing the controller.

There are a few caveats. According to Notebookcheck, Microsoft confirmed the Nano does not use Hall effect or TMR drift-free thumbsticks, so stick drift remains a theoretical risk over time. Microsoft has also not disclosed the battery life, the launch colors, or the full range of Action Button customization options. And while the pad was long rumored, with leaks earlier this year showing a small display indicating cloud or console connectivity, the final shipping model drops that screen, according to The Verge.

At $49.99, the Nano undercuts the standard Xbox Wireless Controller, which has sat at $64.99 since a price hike in May 2025. That makes the smaller pad both the most portable and the cheapest first-party option in the lineup.

What it means for readers is simple. If you have been looking for a travel-friendly second pad, a smaller controller for kids, or a cheap way to play Game Pass games on a phone or smart TV, the Nano is the first official Xbox answer. Pre-orders are live now, with shipping expected to begin in November.

Sources: Xbox Wire, Notebookcheck, HowToVideoGame

Axee Davies

Axee Davies is the founder of AxeeTech, publishing gaming guides, codes, and Windows how-tos since March 2013. A tech enthusiast for 13+ years — starting with smartphones and Android rooting — he now runs a site that puts out a new guide every day for Roblox players, traders, and Windows users. More about AxeeTech

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