TL;DR: Microsoft introduced the Xbox Nano Controller on October 14, 2026, a $49.99 gamepad that measures a little over 5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces.

Microsoft made the announcement on October 14, 2026, according to Xbox Wire, and coverage by The Verge followed the same day. The product is called the Xbox Nano Controller. The author listed on the Xbox Wire announcement is Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor. James Hunter, General Manager, Xbox Accessories, is listed on the page in connection with the announcement. The announcement describes the device as designed to fit nearly every pocket and budget. The Verge described it as a smaller and cheaper controller that is designed to fit into a pocket. The announcement positions it as a portable option for play on the go.

How small is the Nano?

The Xbox Nano Controller is a little over 5 inches in length, according to Xbox Wire. It weighs just 3.5 ounces, according to Xbox Wire. Xbox Wire calls it the company's smallest controller. The Verge also calls it Microsoft's smallest controller. Xbox Wire says it is lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones. The Verge says it is shorter than most smartphones at just over five inches in length. Engadget reported the same measurements, describing the controller as just over five inches long and weighing 3.5 ounces. The compact dimensions are central to how Microsoft describes the product. Xbox Wire says the compact design offers an option for younger players. The same announcement says it offers an option for smaller hands. It also says it offers an option for anyone seeking something portable for play on the go. The Verge quoted that same positioning, noting the controller is designed for younger players, smaller hands, or anyone seeking something portable for play on the go.

The pocketable design is described as easy to slip into a bag, according to Xbox Wire. The announcement also says it is easy to bring along for the day. Xbox Wire lists traveling as one example of when the portable design can be used. Visiting friends and family is another example listed by Xbox Wire. Taking games beyond the living room is another use described by Xbox Wire. The announcement names Forza Horizon 6 as a game that can be taken beyond the living room. It also names Minecraft Dungeons II as an example for shared play. In Minecraft Dungeons II, up to four heroes can team up for local co-op in the living room or online, according to Xbox Wire. The announcement says the Nano gives players an approachable option for jumping in and sharing the fun. It says the controller is an easier way to be ready for games the whole family can play together. At $49.99, the announcement says the Nano gives players a new, approachable option for shared play.

What controls are included?

The Xbox Nano Controller includes all 18 standard gameplay inputs, according to Xbox Wire. The Verge reported that it has all the regular buttons found on a normal Xbox controller. Engadget reported that it offers the standard Xbox controller layout in a more compact format. Xbox Wire says the 18 inputs deliver a familiar controller layout players already love. 9to5Toys reported that Microsoft kept the full set of controls intact instead of turning the device into a stripped-down mini controller. The 18-input count means the compact body retains the familiar Xbox arrangement, according to Xbox Wire.

The controller also includes a programmable Action Button, according to Xbox Wire. The Verge reported that Microsoft added a programmable Action Button to the Xbox Nano controller. Engadget described it as an action button that can be programmed through software. The button can be customized for features like screenshots, according to Xbox Wire. It can be customized for gameplay capture, according to Xbox Wire. It can be customized for other frequently used shortcuts, according to Xbox Wire. The Verge reported that the button can be customized to take screenshots, gameplay capture, and other Xbox shortcuts. Engadget reported that the button can be programmed via the Xbox Accessories app to take screenshots or gameplay videos, for example. 9to5Toys reported that the rechargeable battery and programmable Action Button are extras included even though the body is smaller.

Power and charging

The Xbox Nano controller includes a rechargeable battery, according to Xbox Wire. The Verge reported that the controller includes a rechargeable battery. Engadget reported that the controller has a rechargeable battery. The Verge reported that it does not require AA batteries. The Verge also reported that it does not require a separate charging pack like most Xbox controllers. That distinction matters because most Xbox controllers use AA batteries or a separate charging pack, according to The Verge. The Nano uses a built-in rechargeable battery instead, according to Xbox Wire and The Verge. TechPowerUp reported that the Nano connects over Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth and runs on a built-in rechargeable battery. TechPowerUp also reported that Microsoft had not shared battery life details. The announcement itself does not list a battery-life figure. It also does not list color options in the text published by Xbox Wire.

The controller includes a USB-C port at the rear, according to The Verge. It also includes a pairing button, according to The Verge. The Verge reported that the rest of the controller looks identical to earlier leaks, including those two hardware details. The USB-C port provides a wired connection point on the back of the unit, according to The Verge. The pairing button is located at the rear area alongside the port, according to The Verge. Those physical details were visible in the images published with the announcement, according to The Verge.

How it connects

The Xbox Nano controller includes Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth support, according to Xbox Wire. The Verge reported Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth support for connecting to Xbox consoles and phones, tablets, and PCs. Engadget reported Bluetooth support alongside support for Xbox consoles and PCs. Xbox Wire says the dual wireless support lets the controller connect across a range of compatible devices with ease. The compatible devices include Xbox consoles, according to Xbox Wire and The Verge. They include Windows PCs, according to Xbox Wire and Engadget. They include iOS devices, according to Engadget. They include Android devices, according to Engadget. They include select smart TVs, according to Xbox Wire and Engadget. The Verge also listed phones and tablets as supported device categories.

Bluetooth support makes the controller compatible with iOS and Android devices as well as certain smart TVs, according to Engadget. Xbox Wire says the controller connects across a range of compatible devices with ease because it supports both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth. 9to5Toys reported that the support for both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth means the controller can be used across compatible consoles and other supported devices instead of being tied to one setup. The Xbox app is available through the Gaming Hub built into Samsung TVs, according to Xbox Wire. Players in select regions can use monthly cloud playtime to play hundreds of Xbox Game Pass titles by connecting a controller, according to Xbox Wire. The announcement links that Samsung TV setup directly to simply connecting a controller, according to Xbox Wire.

Price and where to preorder

Players can preorder the Xbox Nano Controller beginning October 14, 2026, for $49.99 USD, according to Xbox Wire. The Verge reported the same $49.99 price and said the device is available to preorder starting that day. Engadget reported that preorders are now open and that the peripheral costs $50. TechPowerUp listed the price as $49.99. 9to5Toys reported preorders are live at $49.99 shipped. The Verge reported preorder availability at Amazon, Walmart, and Microsoft. The Amazon listing cited by The Verge prices the Xbox Nano at $49.99. The announcement links preorder shoppers to the official Xbox Nano Controller page, according to Xbox Wire.

The $49.99 price is described as an approachable option for jumping in and sharing the fun, according to Xbox Wire. Xbox Wire says the price gives players a new, approachable way to be ready for family play. 9to5Toys reported that the $49.99 price comes in below Microsoft's standard wireless controller. That publication described the Nano as a more affordable add-on for shoppers who want an additional controller. The announcement itself says pricing and availability vary by country. It directs shoppers to visit a local Microsoft Store or authorized retailer for more information, according to Xbox Wire.

When and where it launches

The controller will be available beginning in November, according to Xbox Wire. Engadget reported that it will ship in the United States on November 4. TechPowerUp reported that the controller is launching on November 4 across 36 markets. 9to5Toys reported that Microsoft said the controller will begin rolling out in the United States and several other markets in November. Xbox Wire says additional markets will follow after the initial November availability. The November window covers the initial group of countries listed by Xbox Wire. Pricing and availability vary by country, according to Xbox Wire.

The initial November markets listed by Xbox Wire are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, and Canada. They also include China, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, and Finland. They also include France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, and Ireland. They also include Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, and New Zealand. They also include Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, and Slovakia. They also include Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States. That group totals 36 markets named for the November launch, according to Xbox Wire and TechPowerUp. TechPowerUp specifically noted that the launch group includes the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and much of Europe. After those markets, additional markets are to follow, according to Xbox Wire. 9to5Toys reported that more regions are set to follow later. Engadget reported that the controller will be available in 35 other countries next month besides the United States and will hit other markets down the line.

Samsung and Meta holiday bundles

Microsoft is teaming up with Samsung on a special Xbox Nano Controller offer, according to Xbox Wire. The offer includes two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members, according to Xbox Wire. It is available in the United States with the purchase of select Samsung TVs this holiday season, according to Xbox Wire. Engadget reported that Samsung is bundling the controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate access for new subscribers with select TV purchases in the United States during the holiday season. 9to5Toys reported that select Samsung TV purchases in the United States will come with an Xbox Nano Controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members. The Xbox app is available through the Gaming Hub built into Samsung TVs, according to Xbox Wire. Xbox Wire says players in select regions can use monthly cloud playtime to play hundreds of Xbox Game Pass titles by connecting a controller in that Samsung setup.

Microsoft is also working with Meta on a holiday offer in the United States, according to Xbox Wire. That offer includes an Xbox Nano Controller, according to Xbox Wire. It includes a two-month Game Pass Ultimate subscription for new members, according to Xbox Wire. It is tied to the purchase of a Meta Quest, according to Xbox Wire. Engadget described a similar offer in the works for Meta Quest headsets. 9to5Toys reported that a similar bundle will be offered with select Meta Quest hardware. TechPowerUp reported that select Samsung TVs and Meta Quest headsets are coming with a Nano Controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members as part of United States holiday bundles. The Samsung and Meta offers are both described as holiday-season offers in the United States, according to Xbox Wire. Both are tied to new Game Pass Ultimate memberships, according to Xbox Wire.

What changed since the leak?

The Xbox Nano originally leaked earlier in 2026, according to The Verge. The leaked version appeared to have a tiny screen to indicate cloud or console connectivity, according to The Verge. That screen is not part of the final shipping model, according to The Verge. The Verge published an image caption stating that the Xbox Nano no longer has a tiny screen like leaked images showed earlier in the year. The rest of the controller looks identical to the leaks, according to The Verge. That includes the USB-C port at the rear and a pairing button, according to The Verge. The Verge reported that the final controller is otherwise visually consistent with what leaked.

The final model keeps the compact pocket-oriented shape shown in the leak images, according to The Verge. The final product images show the compact controller without the small display, according to The Verge. The removal of the screen is the main visible change between the leaked version and the shipping version, according to The Verge. The announcement does not mention a screen, according to Xbox Wire. It instead emphasizes the 18 standard inputs, rechargeable battery, programmable Action Button, and wireless support, according to Xbox Wire.

Who it is for

Xbox Wire says the Nano is a great option for younger players. It says it is an option for smaller hands. It says it is an option for anyone seeking something portable for play on the go. Engadget reported that Xbox says the controller, with its rechargeable battery, could be useful for younger players and others with smaller hands. 9to5Toys reported that Microsoft says the device is a better fit for younger players with smaller hands. That publication also reported that Microsoft positions it for shoppers looking for a compact gamepad for travel or cloud gaming on the go. The travel positioning aligns with the bag-friendly design described by Xbox Wire. The family-play positioning aligns with the Minecraft Dungeons II example described by Xbox Wire. The on-the-go positioning aligns with the Forza Horizon 6 example described by Xbox Wire.

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