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Microsoft Elite Series 2 Renewed Review: A Premium Pad on a Coin Toss

This is Microsoft's Elite Series 2 controller in its Starter Bundle, sold renewed: a unit that has been returned or traded in, inspected and tested by a third-party supplier, and resold with a 90-day limited warranty and Amazon's Renewed Guarantee. The Elite is Microsoft's premium Xbox pad, and buying one renewed is a way to pay less for it. What owners actually received ranges from flawless to broken on arrival, and that spread is the story of this review.

By ZappyZep, Tech Editor Published September 27, 2026 Updated September 27, 2026
2.6Our score
Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed) Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 2 Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 3 Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 4 Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 5 Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 6 Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 7 Microsoft Elite Series 2 Controller - Starter Bundle (Renewed), view 8
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$139.99 Check price on Amazon

Prices shown were correct on September 27, 2026 and change frequently.

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Amazon Renewed Elite Series 2 Controller Worth It?

Get a good one and this is a premium controller for less than new; get a bad one and it may arrive with drifting sticks, a dead bumper or paddles that will not stay in. Renewed Elite Series 2 units are close to a coin toss on condition, and owners hit both extremes. A 90-day warranty and Amazon's Renewed Guarantee make a return straightforward, so the buy only makes sense if you test every button, stick and paddle the day it arrives.

NoFussDeal rates the Amazon Renewed Elite Series 2 Controller 2.6 out of 5 at $139.99. Last updated September 27, 2026.

Key Facts

Color
Black
Warranty Description
90 days limited warranty
Controller Type
Gamepad
Compatible Video Game Console Models
Microsoft Xbox One S
Package Quantity
1
Model Name
Elite Series 2

What Stands Out

  1. Microsoft's Elite Series 2 in the Starter Bundle, sold as an Amazon Renewed product.
  2. Renewed units are inspected and tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers before resale.
  3. Covered by a 90-day limited warranty and the Amazon Renewed Guarantee for replacement or refund.
  4. One owner received every accessory and a charging case that charges as it should.
  5. Stick problems are the most common complaint, from drift to a stick that will not re-centre.
  6. Arrival condition varies widely, so testing on day one is essential.

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

  • A good unit delivers the Elite's premium feel for less than a new one.
  • One owner received every accessory and a charging case that charges properly.
  • The Amazon Renewed Guarantee covers a replacement or refund.
  • A 90-day limited warranty adds some cover after the return window.
  • Faults are usually obvious in a careful first test.

What does not

  • Arrival condition is a gamble, with many units faulty out of the box.
  • Stick drift and sticks that will not re-centre are the most common problem.
  • Dead bumpers, loose paddles and sticky buttons are reported.
  • Some units arrive with dents, loose screws or wrong dead zones.
  • A replacement unit can be faulty too.
  • Only 90 days of warranty on a controller prone to wear.

Features in Depth

01

What Renewed Means for This Controller

Condition Amazon Renewed Warranty 90 days limited Returns Amazon Renewed Guarantee

Amazon Renewed products are pre-owned or refurbished items, usually returns or trade-ins, that an Amazon-qualified supplier inspects and tests before resale, with the aim of working and looking like new. If a renewed item disappoints, the Amazon Renewed Guarantee covers a replacement or refund, and this controller also carries a 90-day limited warranty. For a controller, the gap between tested and like new is where the risk lives. A quick bench test can confirm that buttons register and sticks move, but it will not always catch a stick that is starting to wear, a paddle latch that has loosened, or a problem that appears after hours of play. Owners describe units from more than one refurbisher, and the quality of the inspection clearly varies. One buyer names the seller he bought from and advises avoiding it after two faulty units. Before buying, check which seller is fulfilling the order and read its recent feedback, because renewed quality depends on who did the work.

$139.99 2.6/5 Check price
02

Thumbsticks and Stick Drift

Most Common Fault Stick drift or poor re-centring Arrival Issues Reported Loose or dented thumbsticks Testing Tool Gamepad tester or Xbox Accessories app

Stick performance draws more complaints than anything else about this renewed bundle. Stick drift is when a thumbstick reports movement while you are not touching it, so a character creeps or a camera slowly turns. It comes from wear in the stick's sensor over time, which is why a used controller is more exposed to it than a new one. Owners describe the whole range: one found minimal drift and sticks that returned cleanly to zero, while another's left stick stopped bouncing back to centre within a month, and the replacement did the same. Others report drift appearing quickly, dead zones set wrongly, a completely dead left stick, and thumbsticks that were not fully screwed in on arrival. One buyer found dents in a thumbstick that looked like teeth marks. The fix for loose thumbsticks is simple, but drift is not something to live with on a controller bought for precision. Test both sticks at rest in a gamepad tester during the first days, and again after a week of play.

$139.99 2.6/5 Check price
03

Buttons, Bumpers and Paddles

Controller Type Gamepad Reported Faults Dead bumper, loose paddles, sticky buttons Cosmetic Wear Possible, such as trigger marks

The Elite's extra controls are exactly the parts that suffer in a used unit. One owner's controller arrived with a right bumper that did not work at all, and the paddles fell out of their slots, so they could not be used. Another reports button delay, and a third says the buttons stick. A gouge on a trigger, noted by an owner whose unit otherwise worked perfectly, shows that cosmetic wear is normal too. None of these faults is subtle, which is the good news: a careful first session will expose most of them. Press every face button, both bumpers and both triggers individually, and watch the response in a tester rather than in a game, where a missed input is easy to overlook. Fit each paddle and shake the controller gently to check it stays seated. If a paddle will not latch or a button is slow, that is a return, not a quirk to work around, because these parts are why you are paying for an Elite in the first place.

$139.99 2.6/5 Check price
04

Charging, Power and Accessories

Model Elite Series 2 Bundle Starter Bundle with charging case Listed Console Xbox One S

The Starter Bundle comes with accessories and a charging case, and the one owner who described his box in detail received every correct accessory and a case that charged as it should. Power is not guaranteed, though. One buyer's replacement unit would not turn on at all and showed no lights, whether plugged in or placed in the charging case, and another found a loose screw rattling loudly inside the first unit sent. Check the box against the seller's contents list the day it arrives, then charge the controller in the case and confirm it powers on, pairs and holds a charge through an evening. The controller's model is listed as compatible with the Xbox One S, and owners test it with the Xbox Accessories app, which is also the place to check that it responds normally. Given the variation, keep all the packaging until you are sure the unit is sound, because a return is far easier with everything in its original box.

$139.99 2.6/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on
The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating
2.9 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 27, 2026
How we score
We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the Microsoft Elite Series. Five things come up most in owner feedback: two split opinion and three draw mostly complaints. Its ratings average 2.9 stars (40% five stars, 3% four, 9% three and 48% one or two), so every score starts at 58, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read seven owner reviews in full, including the critical ones, and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 2.9 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Here that takes off 0.3, which gives 2.6. Read our editorial standards

Performance

Results with the controller's performance, with some saying it functions great while others report it doesn't work properly are mixed. Two of the seven owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. 57% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 52: w…

Read the full note (456 characters)

Results with the controller's performance, with some saying it functions great while others report it doesn't work properly are mixed. Two of the seven owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. 57% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 52: we started at 58 and took off 6 because opinion is split.

52Mixed

Quality

Opinion is split on the quality, with some finding it nice while others describe it as not good. None of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. 57% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 46: we started at 58 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

46Needs Improvement

Stick Performance

Six of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. Two gave the product four or five stars and four gave it three or fewer. 57% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 44: we started at 58 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints and took off 2 because the owner reviews that mention it lean negative.

44Needs Improvement

Durability

Amazon Renewed lists the warranty description as 90 days limited warranty. One of the seven owner reviews we read mentions it. That owner gave the product three stars or fewer. 57% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 46: we started at 58 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

46Needs Improvement

Owner Satisfaction

40% of ratings are five stars and 3% are four. 9% are three stars and 48% are one or two. A sizable share of ratings sit low, so weigh the drawbacks below as heavily as the praise. Four of the seven owner reviews we read gave it three stars or fewer. We look for the critical ones on purpose. Score 58: its 2.9 star average on a 100 point scale.

58Mixed

Value for Money

Three of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. Two gave the product four or five stars and one gave it three or fewer. 57% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 52: we started at 58 and took off 6 because opinion is split.

52Mixed

Specifications

Materials and warranty

Color
Black
Warranty Description
90 days limited warranty

Other specifications

Controller Type
Gamepad
Compatible Video Game Console Models
Microsoft Xbox One S
Package Quantity
1
Model Name
Elite Series 2

What Buyers Say

Performance splits opinion down the middle. Owners with a good unit describe excellent feel, a full set of accessories and a charging case that works, and feel the saving was worth it. Quality, stick performance and durability draw more complaints than praise: controllers that arrived with a dead bumper, paddles that fell out, a stick that would not re-centre, a loose screw rattling inside, dented thumbsticks, or a unit that would not power on at all. Value divides too, and depends almost entirely on which unit arrived.

Based on 75 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 2.9 out of 5, recorded 27 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars 40%
4 stars 3%
3 stars 9%
2 stars 9%
1 stars 39%
★★★★★

Great refurbed controller for the price.

This controller was shipped with all correct accessories and works as expected. I tested it with gamepadteseter.com and with the Xbox accessory app, and it functions great, with minimal stic… Read it on Amazon
Dean · July 8, 2026 · Verified
★★★★★

Great controller

Only thing is the price, excellent feel and performance. Comes with everything you would want a controller to have and more.
Ryan W. · March 21, 2026 · Verified
★★★★★

It work great!

Do not need return! It's all good!
Steven Regenold · June 20, 2026 · Verified

Setting It Up

  1. Check the box

    Compare the contents with the seller's list and look over the controller for dents, loose parts or rattles before anything else.

  2. Charge and power on

    Place the controller in the charging case, confirm the charging light comes on, then turn it on and pair it with your console or PC.

  3. Test every input

    Use a gamepad tester or the Xbox Accessories app to press each button, bumper, trigger and paddle, and watch that both sticks rest at centre.

  4. Seat the thumbsticks and paddles

    Make sure the thumbsticks are fully fitted and each paddle latches, then shake the controller gently to confirm nothing comes loose.

  5. Play, then decide

    Use it for several sessions inside the return window and retest the sticks. If anything is wrong, claim a replacement or refund straight away.

Common Questions

What does renewed mean for this controller?

It is a pre-owned or returned unit that an Amazon-qualified supplier has inspected and tested before resale. It is not new, and its condition can vary.

What warranty does it have?

A 90-day limited warranty, plus the Amazon Renewed Guarantee, which covers a replacement or refund if you are not satisfied.

Is stick drift common on renewed units?

It is the most common complaint. Some owners find minimal drift, while others report sticks that drift or will not re-centre, sometimes on the replacement too.

What should I check when it arrives?

Check the accessories, charge it in the case, then test every button, trigger, bumper, paddle and both sticks in a gamepad tester or the Xbox Accessories app.

Does it come with a charging case?

The Starter Bundle includes a charging case, and one owner confirmed his charged as it should. Check that yours powers the controller before the return window closes.

Is a replacement likely to be better?

Not necessarily. Three owners received a second faulty unit, so test a replacement as carefully as the first.

The Verdict

2.6Out of 5

A renewed Elite Series 2 can be a genuine bargain. When a unit arrives in good condition, owners get Microsoft's premium controller, a full set of accessories and a working charging case for less than new, and they are delighted. The trouble is how often that does not happen. Stick drift and poor re-centring, dead bumpers, paddles that will not stay in, sticky buttons, loose screws and units that will not power on account for a heavy share of low ratings, and more than one owner received a faulty replacement too. The Amazon Renewed Guarantee and a 90-day warranty make returns straightforward, which is the only reason to consider it. Buy it if you are ready to test every input on day one and send it back without hesitation; otherwise, a new controller costs more and saves the hassle.

Who should buy it

  • Players who will test every input on day one
  • Former Elite owners who know how a good unit should feel.
  • Buyers comfortable returning a faulty unit, possibly more than once.

Who should skip it

  • Anyone who wants a controller that simply works out of the box.
  • Anyone buying it as a gift they cannot test first.
  • Players who cannot tolerate even slight stick drift.

Worth the gamble only if you test it thoroughly and return it quickly when it fails.

Check price on Amazon

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