In the early 2000s, if you weren’t using a first party controller, things would just feel off. The weight, dimensions, and even grip surfaces were so overdesigned and inflated that most third-party options (especially those with a turbo feature) would just feel lesser than the stock options when it comes to overall feel. In 2026, this is far from the case, with many third-party options having a premium feel and added functionality to make the gamer more efficient at doing battle.
There has been an influx of higher-end controllers that most gamers refer to as “pro” controllers. These almost always feel good in your hands and often come levied with features to give players a leg up on competitors. That’s what HyperX brings to the table with the HyperX Clutch Talon Wireless Gaming Controller for Xbox, a controller that feels undeniably great to hold and use.
Like the higher-end options, the HyperX Clutch Talon arrives in full case, attachments, and cord refinery. Inside the included case there are four stick replacements of multiple sizes and grips, two different-feeling sets of back paddles, a D-pad replacement, an adapter for mobile gaming, a cord to recharge the batteries (and for an easier sync), and (unfortunately) an required dongle for connectivity.
The surface of the controller sports a stylish two-toned look, with a glossy outer chassis and silver metallic faceplate. The HyperX Clutch also curves in the proper places to assure hand comfort when playing. Switching peripherals on the HyperX Clutch Talon is incredibly fast and doesn’t require a tool; you can pry off the faceplate and swap components at a moment’s notice. For all intents and purposes, the HyperX Clutch Talon has a great overall feel and feels premium in your hands, made for comfortable gaming experiences.
One of the biggest headaches when using a controller that has multiple parts is when one of the pieces gets lost or broken. That’s where the HyperX Clutch Talon takes a page from the HyperX Pulsefire Saga gaming mouse—you can 3D print custom parts for your own Talon. While printing pieces for a controller would’ve bordered on science fiction in the 2000s, HyperX included 3D printing files to make the Talon your own. While I don’t have a 3D printer to test this functionality, it is a super cool concept that needs to be mentioned.
“When attached to the PC, the 1000 Hz polling rate is no joke, and the HyperX Clutch Talon makes any game react with lightning-quick precision.”
Another unique addition under the chassis of the HyperX Clutch Talon Wireless Controller is the ability to swap interior battery components. You can turn over the controller, flip off the back panel and peel up the back sticker to access three T6 screws (which does require a specialty tool); and once unscrewed, you can replace the battery in the controller directly. Like piece replacement, this is an innovative design choice and allows the HyperX Clutch Talon to last longer than its forecasted expiration date.
Like all other pro controller options, the HyperX Clutch Talon utilizes the HyperX NGENUITY software to adjust extra functionality like back paddle button mapping, modify trigger actuation points, and navigate stick dead zones. Under the shell, the HyperX Clutch Talon sports frictionless, hall effect enabled analog sticks and triggers, so drift shouldn’t be an issue (and it wasn’t for my time testing) but the function is there if necessary. Using the software is incredibly streamlined, as NGENUITY recognizes the device, and you can start customizing nearly immediately.
But how does the controller play? While it does function admirably and the controller offers a lot of flexibility, there are numerous shortcomings that hurt the overall experience for this premium device. At first, I immediately noticed when you remove the back paddles, the area where they insert into feels sharp and unpleasant, and this makes it so that you have to always have button inserts in the controller to avoid getting your middle finger stuck in a divot.
When attached to the PC, the 1000 Hz polling rate is no joke, and the HyperX Clutch Talon makes any game react with lightning-quick precision. When comparing a Destiny 2 Iron Banner playtest on XBOX Series X to PC, with the polling rates as the variable, it felt like much more unfairness happened on XBOX. Input delay is basically extinct with the HyperX Clutch Talon on PC.
While the controller plays well, performs excellently, and feels dang good to hold, it still does face design flaws that hold it back from being a great option. First off, when the controller falls off of a coffee table and hits the floor, it might as well be rings blasting out of Sonic the Hedgehog after a nasty hit. It basically explodes and the pieces usually go in every direction. The metal faceplate, although held in place by magnets, falls off with a slight amount of pressure, so often I would lose my D-pad.
More on that, the equipped eight-dimensional D-pad is fundamentally unusable. When pressing one side down, the other side picks up nearly halfway, forcing inputs for upper and lower diagonals. This is an absolute nightmare for Tekken 8 players and Crash Bandicoot players alike, as both require near-perfect inputs to succeed.Thankfully, the controller comes with a basic four-way D-pad which works great, but it is billed as eight-dimensional, and nearly every other pro controller I’ve used (including the Victrix BFG) uses the eight-dimensional circle pad better.
Another baffling design decision not immediately detected is the inability to charge the controller from a separate outlet and play your XBOX at the same time. Where nearly every other controller on the market allows players to plug a controller into an outlet and play at the same time, the HyperX Clutch Talon Wireless Controller says, “Not so fast.” It works perfectly when wired to the console directly, but the controller cannot connect while using an external power source, regardless of the equipped 2.4 GHz dongle.
“Unfortunately, despite all of the bells and whistles attached to the HyperX Clutch Talon Wireless Controller, some basic design flaws keep it from crossing the finish line.”
Lastly, the biggest design flaw of the HyperX Clutch Talon is its need to remind the player that the controller is always dying unless it’s above 50% charge. While the controller does perform as advertised with a 30h battery life (even after a month of heavy testing), it’s constantly flashing the “low battery” warning on XBOX—whether that’s true or not. Most other options give you a better representation here, and there’s no way to adjust this setting.
The HyperX Clutch Talon Wireless Controller for XBOX is a seriously attractive and innovative device. While other controller options ask the player to foot the bill when parts break or are misplaced, HyperX gives fans the power with Printable (for FREE, no less) to create extra parts for the controller. Modular design choices, such as allowing a battery swap, let HyperX Clutch Talon stay in the fight even after its batteries have failed.
Unfortunately, despite all of the bells and whistles attached to the HyperX Clutch Talon Wireless Controller, some basic design flaws keep it from crossing the finish line. A nagging low-battery notifier, loose parts, and a plug-and-not-play design when using a wall outlet are all flaws that are not game-breaking, but all together make this premium option a little less worth it when considering the price point.
- OFFICIALLY LICENSED FOR XBOX – The HyperX Clutch Talon is fully compatible with Xbox consoles, PC, and Android devices; With the detachable mobile clip, you can play with precision wherever you go
- SLAY LIKE THE PROS – Hall effect sticks and triggers deliver drift-free control, three-stage trigger locks let you set the pace of each engagement, and reprogrammable back paddles provide custom control
