Microsoft makes a lot of special edition Xbox controllers, some to celebrate games like the Sea of Thieves controller, and others to show off your favorite brands, like these NFL Design Lab options. Microsoft also sells an array of cool custom designs simply because they can, often with unique patterns and gradients.
The Phantom Black is a little bit special though, with a sexy fading translucent gradient that gives it a quality I haven't seen before in a controller. Let's take a closer look.
Ethereal
Phantom Black Xbox Controller
Bottom line: There's sexy, then there's the Phantom Black controller.
Pros:
- Stunning translucent shell.
- Same Xbox controller you know and love.
Cons:
- Tad pricey at $70.
What you'll love about the Phantom Black Xbox controller
This is the same third-generation Xbox One controller you know and love. 3.5mm jack for your headsets, large base port for chatpads and sound mixers, USB charge port at the top, battery door at the back, and so on. The third-gen version sports textured grips, joining Bluetooth and the 3.5mm jack from the second generation, making the controller a little more tactile in the hand. There's nothing new with the features or overall specification here, but you're not here for that.
The Phantom Black stands out in a crowded Xbox One controller market for its unique fading translucent shell. The controller is coated in a very fine shimmering grey dispersion pattern. It's fitting as a "Phantom" controller, that it should reminisce of the haunted TV static from the movie Poltergeist, as the gray tone disperses towards the top of the controller, allowing you view the internals of the device through the translucent plastic Microsoft used for the shell.
It might sound simplistic in writing, but the subtelty of the pattern gives the controller an ghostly quality. The way the light hits the controller effects just how ethereal the shell appears. When viewed in direct light, it's bright and fully translucent. Viewed at a low angle or in shadows, the translucent parts fade almost completely black.
"Phantom" is absolutely the correct designation for this controller, it's stunning. So stunning, in fact, I'd love to see an entire range of accessories, and Xbox console itself, using this haunting paint job. It's great.
What you'll dislike about the Phantom Black Xbox Controller
There's nothing to dislike about the Phantom Black controller specifically. It's a little pricey at $70, which might seem steep if you already own an Xbox controller. With no new features, this is firmly a collector's item, or a great gift for a friend with Christmas on the horizon.
Final Thoughts
The Phantom Black controller is a unique special edition Xbox gamepad that deserves a place in your collection, if you collect controllers that is. There are no practical features that elevate it above a regular, slightly cheaper $46 Xbox controller. That said, the Phantom Black's design is a real head-turner. The way its delicate dispersion pattern reacts to different angles and lighting gives it an elegant, haunting quality that you won't find in another gamepad.
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