The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited (RXU) marks the brand’s latest entry into the premium controller space, this time stepping away from the PlayStation ecosystem, as seen with the Revolution 5 Pro, and diving headfirst into the Xbox arena with a new officially licensed gamepad designed for both console and PC players.
With a price tag of $199.99 (£179.90), it positions itself firmly in the elite tier of gaming controllers; the kind that promise cutting-edge tech and customization options aimed at pushing your performance to the next level. That’s the idea, in theory, anyway. Fortunately, I have been lucky enough to receive the RXU for testing to see if that theory holds here.
Design and Build Quality
The overall build quality of the RXU is good and pretty much in line with what I expected at its price point, although maybe just a little below that in places, especially with the plasticky feel of the back panels. That said, it definitely feels premium to hold, particularly with the rubberized grips running up the sides and across the handles, offering a solid grip during longer sessions.
The matte black finish also helps to give it a sleek, premium look, and the small splash of green branding on the left handle is a nice nod to Xbox's signature style. It’s officially licensed, too, so the design closely mirrors standard Xbox controllers.
At around 330g (my own measurement without any extra weights), it’s not overly lightweight, and its overall shape is chunkier than a regular Xbox controller, which might mean it's a bit of a stretch to hold if you have small hands. If that's the case, you may also struggle to reach all the extra buttons comfortably. Speaking for which...
The number of buttons can be a bit much at first, but I quickly got used to the layout. For me, the additional back button placement is good, with them falling into a natural position for my fingers, and while I’m not usually a fan of additional top triggers, these ones are well-positioned and work surprisingly well.
The extra inputs mean you rarely need to take your thumbs off the sticks, which is a big plus for FPS games, in particular. However, the S5/S6 buttons sit too flush to the handles, which makes it difficult to know if your fingers are above them and whether you've actually pressed them in the heat of battle. Having paddles, or more protruding buttons in place of these, would be one improvement I would make here.
The whole RXU set (more on what you get later) comes in a hard, zip-to-close case that's handy not only to keep your controller safe, but to keep all the accessories in one handy place if you take the device on the road.
Also, the controller features four vibration motors (two in the handles, two in the triggers) that are subtle by default but can be boosted using the companion app. Plus, the included charging dock is a nice bonus, offering a magnetic connection, a stable base, and taking about six hours for a full charge (according to Nacon).
Finally, on the design front, the buttons feel great. They’ve got a crisp, mechanical click that’s super satisfying, and the micro-switch tech gives a really responsive feel and provides tactile feedback to press. However, it's worth noting that the typical Start and Select buttons are poorly placed. I frequently moved to where I felt they would naturally sit and would end up pressing the controller rather than the buttons. I'd often take my eyes off the screen so I could look down and find the Start button to pause my game, which is far from ideal when you're playing fast-paced action titles like Call of Duty.
Features and Customization
The RXU really shines when it comes to features and customization. One of the standout elements is the built-in LCD control screen, which lets you tweak settings on the fly without needing the companion app.
It's incredibly intuitive, with a simple press of the button on the top left of the controller giving you access to everything, including audio, button mapping, and general settings. You can simply navigate through options using the controller itself, which I found particularly useful when swapping back button assignments (S3/S4 and S5/S6) between Fortnite and FC 25 without going into the companion app and taking time away from gaming.
The controller features two modes: Classic Mode (C Mode), which runs like a standard Xbox or PC controller, and Advanced Mode (A Mode), which unlocks deeper customization via the companion app. You get four Xbox and four PC profiles, plus room for custom profiles, meaning there is plenty of space for experimenting across different games.
Also, it comes with Instant Triggers, which are another great addition. It's easy to switch between regular trigger and instant input with the flip of a back switch, which works independently for each trigger. And, with the Instant Trigger activated, I really did notice a difference in my reactions when being shot at. They definitely gave me a split-second advantage that I found made a big difference, though the time itself may seem minimal.
Physically, it’s incredibly customizable too. It comes with three sets of weights (though I didn’t really use them), six joystick heads, two D-pads, and four joystick rings, giving you over 60 possible combinations according to Nacon.
Swapping the sticks and D-pads is pretty easy once you find the right alignment, which I struggled with at first, although that was entirely down to my incompetence... Anyway, I liked using a tall stick on the right for aiming, and a shorter concave one on the left for movement. They also have a rubberized texture that means they're incredibly grippy, though the taller caps weirdly lack the same textured surface on the top as the shorter ones. I did find that meant they weren't quite as grippy as their shorter counterparts.
The RXU also features a High-Performance PC Mode, which I feel is a major bonus. It drops the latency to 1ms when wired and 2ms wireless, which, once again, helps you gain a split-second advantage over your average controller gamers. Plus, it features gyro support and keyboard key mapping, which I didn't experiment with too much, but I can appreciate they're both nice additions to have in the locker.
Performance and Gameplay Experience
When it comes to performance, I would say the RXU is impressive. The standout feature has to be the Hall Effect Magnetic technology in the joysticks and triggers. This makes a huge difference to both precision and durability, as I found the controller has zero stick drift, zero accuracy issues when testing the circular movement, and probably some of the smoothest stick control I’ve used.
Ultimately, aiming and tracking felt sharp, especially when using the longer stick cap. And, in theory, this tech should also extend the life of the controller, though I haven’t had it long enough to say for sure. With that being said, I’m always fearful about the damage that may occur to the accuracy of the sticks whenever a controller includes the option to replace the stick caps. But, in this case, I haven't noticed a decline in precision thus far.
The instant trigger switch also deserves another shout. It’s a simple but effective system where you can swap between a full press and a fast “clicky” actuation of the triggers, which I would say is more like a mouse click than a gradual trigger. Some controllers overcomplicate this with multiple levels of adjustment, but I actually prefer the straightforward approach here. Works great for fast-paced shooters, but still gives you the option for gradual input when needed in slower games.
Also, the PC Mode adds even more to the experience. With latency reduced to just 1ms wired and 2ms wireless, you’re getting near-instant responsiveness, as mentioned before. I did feel this made a difference in-game, making me quicker and able to win gun fights I would typically lose.
What I would say, though, is the RXU isn't overly comfortable to use during long sessions. Its bulky design plays a big part in that, although the grippy handles help claw some element of comfort back, and I did find most of the key buttons are still within easy reach. If you're interested in buying this Nacon device, though, definitely keep in mind its size before you make the purchase.
Connectivity and Compatibility
Connecting the RXU was mostly smooth, especially when using it in wired mode, which is what I stuck with for the most part due to the lower latency. That said, I did run into the occasional hiccup where my PC didn’t immediately recognize the controller. This was nothing major, as it just needed to be unplugged and plugged back in, but something to note if you're interested in buying the device yourself.
Wireless options are solid, too. You’ve got both 2.4GHz wireless via a USB dongle and Bluetooth. Pairing over Bluetooth is simple, as it just involves flicking the switch on the back, activating pairing via the LCD screen, and connecting from your device. The dongle pairing was even easier. I flipped the switch to wireless mode, activated pairing through the screen, and it connected straight away.
I experienced no dropouts or random disconnects during my testing in either wireless mode, which is reassuring, especially if you plan on using this controller for competitive play. Still, if you're chasing ultra-low latency, I'd definitely recommend going wired.
If you do use it wirelessly, be wary of the battery life, as it sits at around 10+ hours per charge. That’s fine for most sessions, but it’s worth noting it falls behind some rivals like the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro (around 20 hours) or the Xbox Elite Series 2 (which can go 40+).
The manual claims about 3 hours to fully charge, but I didn’t really put that to the test since I mostly had it plugged in during use. Also, it is said to take six hours for a full charge from the docking station (pictured below), which I would say is too long to get back to 100% when you're itching to get back to gaming.
Software and User Interface
The software side of the RXU is a bit of a mixed bag. When it works, it’s well laid out and offers a solid range of customization options, but I found getting to that point a bit frustrating.
My initial experience wasn’t great, as the controller update crashed midway through, and the app refused to reload properly afterward. The update process itself took quite a while as well, though I’m not sure if that was down to my PC or the software itself. I have read in other reviews that people have experienced the software update getting 'stuck' at certain percentages, which happened to me at 16% as well. Stick with it, though, as the controller will eventually update itself; it might just take closer to an hour rather than a couple of minutes...
Once you're in, the customization options are pretty comprehensive. You can import up to four custom profiles per platform and program the six shortcut buttons however you like. There’s also joystick range adjustment, audio mixer settings, and a set of pre-made profiles tailored for different game genres.
I actually found those presets really useful as a starting point to build my own custom profiles around, though I mostly stuck to the Shooter and Precision Shooter loadouts.
Furthering this, I would say the app’s UI is pretty clean and intuitive when it runs properly, but it doesn’t always start up smoothly, and I noticed it seemed to be locked in full-screen mode, which I found incredibly annoying. Therefore, I would say the software has potential and definitely adds value once it’s up and running, but it could do with a bit more polish, particularly around stability and how it handles controller connectivity. If Nacon can iron out those bugs, it’d take the whole experience up a level.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited
The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited does a lot right. For instance, the customization is top-tier, Hall Effect Magnetic technology delivers on the precision and durability front, and it’s packed with some nice extras like swappable components, a carrying case, and a magnetic charging dock. And, for competitive gamers, especially, the low-latency wired and wireless modes are real assets.
But at $199.99 (£179.90), it’s not without some drawbacks. Compared to similarly priced rivals, like the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and Xbox Elite Series 2 (which is cheaper and frequently on sale), the RXU lands somewhere in the middle. It’s arguably more customizable than the Wolverine V3 Pro, but it loses points for its shorter battery life. Versus the Elite Series 2, it trades back paddles for fixed buttons, which won’t be to everyone’s taste, yet upgrades on it with the Hall Effect technology. However, it definitely suffers from slightly awkward button placements with the Start/Select, and its chunky design means it's not overly ergonomic for smaller hands.
Then there's the companion software, which, while easy to navigate, can be frustratingly buggy, and that does impact the overall experience. So, while the RXU has standout elements, particularly in precision and performance, it falls just short of justifying its premium price outright. A good controller overall, but not quite the great one it’s trying to be.
