Nacon’s Pro Compact Controller for Xbox is everything it says in its name. It offers a host of remapping features thanks to an app (Pro), it’s smaller than your typical gamepad (Compact), and it works with Windows 10 and Xbox One/Series consoles (Xbox). This $49.90, wired gamepad has a lot going for it, but keep your hand size in mind.
Small, But Familiar
Like its name implies, the Pro Compact is a bit smaller than most console controllers. It’s about the same width as the Xbox Wireless Controller, but noticeably flatter, with shorter grips. It feels slightly small for my large hands, but dainty-mitted gamers might find it much nicer to hold than the typical Xbox gamepad. Yes, I know it’s practically a meme that game reviewers mention how huge their hands are when they talk about gamepads, but my mitts are genuinely big; big enough that the original Xbox Duke felt comfortable. The Pro Compact is permanently connected to a cloth-wrapped, 10-foot USB cable with a breakaway dongle that prevents your system from getting yanked to the floor if you trip over it.
The Pro Compact’s layout is identical to the standard Xbox controller, with a direction pad, dual analog sticks placed off-angle from each other, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons (including two analog triggers), and Menu, View, Guide, and Capture buttons in the middle. Unlike the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller or Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, the Pro Compact lacks programmable rear buttons or paddles.
Featuring Dolby Atmos Compatibility
The controller also has a 3.5mm audio jack that lets you use a 3.5mm wired headset or earphones. The jack works with Xbox consoles and PCs, and supports simulated surround sound processing apps. In fact, the Pro Compact automatically activates Dolby Atmos if you install the Dolby Access app on your system and plug in the controller, saving you $15 to access the feature.
Customization Options
The gamepad’s back holds a small mode switch that flips the controller between classic mode and advanced mode. Classic mode keeps all the default settings for the Pro Compact, making it act just like an Xbox controller. Advanced mode activates any customization options you might have set in the Pro Compact app for Windows 10 and Xbox, and there are plenty.
The Pro Compact app covers a wide range of controller tweaks, though they aren’t as granular as they are with the Xbox Elite or 8Bitdo Pro 2 software. You can remap all the digital controls, of course, including the direction pad and analog stick clicks (though, oddly enough, not the left and right bumpers). You can set either analog stick to one of five preset response curves, and either analog trigger to one of four response curves, all based on different game genres.
You can also toggle vibration, swap the left and right analog sticks, and even set the direction pad to support eight directions with diagonals (or only four directions). The gamepad doesn’t support macros, and you can’t manually adjust response curves for the sticks or triggers.
Responsive, if Tiny
The Pro Compact worked perfectly with both my PC and Xbox, offering full controls on either as soon as I plugged it in, without any need to map or reconfigure inputs. The headset jack also worked on both platforms, as did the app.
I played Shovel Knight on my PC with the Pro Compact, and it mostly felt good. The buttons, left analog stick, and direction pad were all responsive, though the pad was quite small under my thumb.
I also played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and Doom Eternal on my Xbox Series X. The analog sticks felt a little bit loose in Tony Hawk, and could have used a bit more physical tension for my tastes. Still, I easily performed complex combos and grinds around the park. I didn’t have any problems with the sticks while playing Doom Eternal; aiming at enemies while dashing around felt precise and fluid.
In all cases, the Pro Compact felt small in my hands. It wasn’t entirely uncomfortable, but it required a tighter-than-perfectly-ergonomic grip than the standard Xbox gamepad. Again, I know it’s a cliche talking about the size of my hands, but I’m certain that other people will find the Pro Compact much more natural to hold, and perhaps better than the Xbox Wireless Controller. Regardless, “compact” is in the name, and it can’t be knocked for delivering on that.
A Compact Controller
The Nacon Pro Compact is a solid, feature-rich option for PC and Xbox gamers looking for a slightly more petite controller. It works flawlessly on both platforms, with plenty of remapping options for customizing how it operates. The headset jack and inclusion of Dolby Atmos via the Dolby Access app is a welcome touch, and adds to the gamepad’s value. Customizable rear buttons would have been a nice touch for the $50 price, but the available tweaks provide a bit more flexibility than the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller that lacks remapping software. Just keep in mind its smaller-than-usual frame.
