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Nab 'Tech Series' Xbox Controllers Ahead of Project Scorpio

The first of the series, dubbed the Xbox Wireless Controller – Recon Tech Special Edition, will be available worldwide starting April 25 for $69.99.

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Microsoft is gearing up for the release of Project Scorpio later this year with some new Xbox accessories.

The company plans to launch a new "Tech Series" of Xbox Wireless Controllers. The first—dubbed the Xbox Wireless Controller-Recon Tech Special Edition—will be available worldwide starting April 25 for $69.99, or $10 more than the standard black Xbox Wireless Controller.

"In developing this new controller series, the Xbox team was inspired by military technology and performance patterns, exploring concepts stemming from combat armor and sci-fi mechanical gear," Global Product Marketing Manager for Xbox accessories Bree White wrote in a blog post. To that end, the Recon Tech Special Edition sports "premium finishes like a laser etched texture, gold accents and insignia" on the front, and a "textured diamond rubberized grip for added control and comfort" on the back, White added.

Plus, it has all the same features of the Xbox Wireless Controller, including improved wireless range and Bluetooth for gaming on Windows 10 devices and Samsung Gear VR.

The controller will also work with Copilot, a new Xbox One feature coming as part of the Creators Update later this year that lets two controllers act as one.

"Copilot makes Xbox One more inviting and fun for new gamers or those needing assistance — whether it's parents who want to help their kids play, experienced gamers looking to play with novice players, or gamers who need unique configurations to play (e.g. with hands apart, hand and chin, hand and foot, etc.)," White wrote.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Recon Tech Special Edition is available now for pre-order.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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