Summary
Nacon is well-known for its controllers, headsets, and even video games, producing quality products that gamers can trust. While they tend to focus on PC andPlayStation peripherals, their limited edition Nacon Pro Compact Colorlight controller is perfect for Xbox players looking to add vibrant LED lighting to their gaming experience.
Fully lit, customizable RGB controllers are few and far between. The brightest options feature a clear plastic shell and at least four LEDs. Nacon’s gamepad takes a similar approach, though with a few notable, if minor, enhancements that may make it the perfect option for RGB fans on Xbox.
Related:The Best Xbox Controllers
The Nacon Colorlight wired gamepad was tested for a few weeks on both Xbox and PC. The games used for testing varied from shooters to racing games, including titles likeFortnite,Hi-Fi Rush, andVampire Survivors. Each test served to determine how the controller performs within different game genres, each making unique demands of the device.
Design
Xbox players who love the traditional controller shape popularized by Microsoft probably won’t be overly pleased with the design of Nacon’s Colorlight. The wider, shorter shape is more similar to traditional fight pads andSwitch Pro controllersthan normal Xbox controllers. In fact, there were many instances when it felt intuitive to adopt the Switch button layout, despite the obvious fact that the controller was plugged into an Xbox.
This is mostly because the wide face of the controller pushes its over-sized buttons to the sides and places the menu buttons far from the center, just like with Switch controllers. The button layout can take some time to get used to, with everything being off-kilter compared to standard Xbox controllers, especially for those who often game on the Switch. However, the large ABXY buttons are still well-placed and easy to hit, given the somewhat unique design of the controller.
That being said, the rest of the buttons are normal-sized, leaving a lot of room for discomfort and a bit of a learning curve. Those over-sized ABXY buttons make for a great experience when playing fighting games or rhythm games, but the standard triggers and wider body are downright uncomfortable when playing shooters. Players with smaller hands likely won’t have any complaints at all, but average and large hand sizes will have to adopt an awkward grip to feel ready to pull the trigger at a moment’s notice.
In other ways, the Colorlight excels with its shape. While other RGB controllers, like theHyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB, struggle to strike a balance between a smooth finish and a decent grip, Nacon’s Pro Compact design is sculpted for gamers’ hands. The material isn’t much different from any other clear-shell controller, but the contoured handles make it easy to pick up and manipulate without ever feeling like it might slip out of a player’s grasp.
At the same time, the stippled left joystick and the right stick featuring a raised Nacon emblem only serve aesthetics, providing no noticeable texture. There aren’t even raised borders on the joysticks, though they are slightly concave. However, this does allow for a small bit of extra customization, as the joysticks are more primed for unique thumbstick caps than with most controllers.
Going along with these ergonomic bonuses is the controller’s very light build, which is nearly three ounces lighter than the core Xbox controller. Unfortunately, the biggest drag on this controller is the unwieldy wire. While it’s a clear attempt to mimic HyperX’s fairly malleable and convenient cord, Nacon misses the mark. The braided fabric cord is entirely too stiff and heavy, to the point that it’s very easy to knock things off of a table or trip pets who like to confidently stride across rooms, while simultaneously being somewhat difficult to rearrange on the fly.
Regardless of wire woes, the shape and size of the Colorlight are ideal for players who rely on the ABXY buttons more than anything else while gaming. Fans of fighting games and beat ‘em ups will find little to complain about, while FPS fans may want to just focus on the pretty lights.
Performance
Aptly named, the Nacon Colorlight features six LEDs that are super bright yet not blindingly sharp, striking a laudable balance between style and function. While most RGB controllers advertise a wide spectrum of available colors, Nacon takes it one step further by using dual-toned LEDs, allowing extremely dynamic lighting. Additionally, there are reflective plastic panels strategically placed near each light that cause lots of colorful refractions, maximizing the glow horizontally rather than through an increase in brightness beaming straight toward a user’s face. The soft lighting perfectly avoids being a serious distraction while gaming, without sacrificing vibrancy. Although some players would like the controller to be as bright as the maximum level on similar RGB controllers, most gamers find those sharp lights to be simply too powerful.
Outside of lighting, the controller offers fairly standard performance for Xbox gaming. The vibration can be a little noisy when activated, sounding a bit like a cawing bird rather than a gamepad, but it’s still much quieter than theGameSir G7 SE wired controller. All of the buttons are responsive with no noticeable latency on Xbox thanks to the wired connection.
On PC, the controller offers a somewhat poorer experience. There was some lag when playing a few older titles, with the dead zones for the triggers and joysticks needing significant adjustment through Steam. Considering that the design doesn’t lend itself well to shooters and that fighting games aren’t as popular on PC as on consoles, it’s tough to suggest this controller to a PC player looking to be competitive even at an amateur level.
Regardless, Xbox players get the best of both worlds with the Colorlight. Xbox gamers can enjoy a beautiful display while playing with a reliably responsive controller in a variety of button-heavy games.
Customization
RGB lighting is cool, but what really makes it special is the unique touch each player can add to their controller. Using a simple button on the back, the lights can be changed between eight colors and two multicolor options: one static and one cycle setting. More customization can be had through Nacon’s Pro Compact app, which is a quick download and easy to use, although it’s fairly sparse on details.
Each LED can be customized individually or all together, with 25 different colors available to choose from. Additionally, there are four lighting effects and three cycle speeds that can change the appearance of the controller. The lights can also be dimmed all the way off, while still offering a super bright max level. All in all, the lighting customization is exactly what players want to see in an RGB controller. Once a custom lighting layout has been selected, players can choose between their design and one of the ten presets using the left-to-right switch on the back of the controller at any time.
The rest of the customization options are okay, but many players will find them lacking. Both the triggers and the joysticks can be adjusted, but only with a handful of preset options. These presets are named after different game genres and show an unmarked performance graph. However, they offer no other explanations, so players need to be familiar with controller customizations in order to choose the most optimal settings. One thing that was missing that would have been a nice touch was vibration customization settings, which are starting to become standard among new controllers.
While the customization options for the lighting and colors are well-executed, the rest of the custom options may not be worth spending much time on for many gamers, especially considering that at least some amount of tech knowledge is needed to choose the best settings.
Overall Impression
Almost everyone agrees that RGB controllers are more focused on aesthetics than performance. Despite this, plenty of LED Xbox controllers leave a lot to be desired and focus a bit too much on style alone.
The Nacon Pro Compact Colorlight wired controller is a welcome outlier, featuring truly dynamic lighting that isn’t so bright as to be annoying at any time. Nacon has nailed creating a fantastic RGB controller, to the point that it’s tough to find many cons. The heavy cord is a bit bothersome, but with a clear path between a user and their Xbox, it will hardly be noticed. The button customization may leave much to be desired, and FPS players are likely to deal with an adjustment period due to the unorthodox shape, but these shortcomings hardly undermine the Colorlight’s main attraction: the six dual-toned LEDs.
Plus, the lightweight and over-sized buttons make this a great controller for gamers who love titles that rely on ABXY functions, such as fighting games, adventure RPGs, and rhythm games. Those who like RGB lighting will be hard-pressed to find a better option, even if the Colorlight isn’t quite the same shape that they’re used to. At the end of the day, Nacon’s RGB gamepad is a very affordable, incredibly beautiful controller that Xbox gamers may not want to pass up.
Nacon Pro Compact Colorlight Controller
The Pro Compact Colorlight controller is the newest RGB peripheral, pushing the boundaries of customization on Xbox and PC. Featuring a plethora of vibrant colors to choose from, players can customize any or all of the six LEDs housed behind the clear plastic shell. These strategically placed LEDs display up to 25 different colors and offer an unmatched, dynamic look. Players can also choose from four lighting effects and three cycle speeds to make a player’s controller an extension of their style.
There are plenty of alternative options for players who aren’t completely smitten by the Nacon Pro Compact Colorlight:
Hall effect sensors
Traditionally shaped
FAQ
Q: Can you use a Nacon controller on PC?
Yes, most Nacon controllers are compatible with PC, including the Pro Compact Colorlight.
Q: Are RGB controllers worth it?
RGB controllers are typically lower quality than other controllers, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad controllers. Rather, RGB controllers are worthwhile to gamers looking for more stylish accessories over more competitive ones.
