The controller is very comfortable to hold and allows you to play for hours without tiring your hands. The controller's shape is well-designed, the buttons are well positioned and not slippery. This is one of the reasons, the Xbox 360 controller has been the first go-to for many experienced gamers.
Compared to the wireless option, this controller is lighter and less bulky, since it doesn't have a battery pack at the back of the controller. On the contrary, since it's wired, it does have a limited range. This means you can not move very far from the screen.
The A-B and X-Y buttons are swapped on this controller, compared to SNES controllers. Swapped controls can be confusing if you mainly play SNES(Super Nitendo Entertainment System) games.
The controller needs an extra cable to convert the old connection to USB, if you plan to use it on anything else than an Xbox. The cable costs under $20, but can be found for much less.
The headset input on the controller is 2.5mm, instead of the most common 3.5mm. Your headphones probably use a 3.5mm jack and you will need an adapter to use them with this remote.
There is a large supply of these Xbox 360 controllers on the second-hand market. This is an easy way to get them for a much lower price, especially since many people don't care about price they sell it at or just aren't aware of the value of this controller.
The controller has a green LED circle around the home button, which shows what number player you are from 1 to 4. This can save you from confusion while focused on gameplay.
It's a convenient plug-and-play controller. There's rarely any hassle - the controller tends to always work without problems. You never have to change batteries either, which saves you from another headache.
The controller has a strong force feedback, which adds to the gaming experience. Since the controller is wired, the vibration is stronger than on the wireless option. In addition to Xbox, many games on PC can also make use of this feature.
Since the controller is wired, it has a lower response time compared to wireless options. Though the difference is usually just a few milliseconds, then in competitive gaming every millisecond of reaction time counts.
If you are playing less demanding and simplistic 2D games, a simple remote with only a few clickable buttons does a great job. There are enough buttons for all the actions in the game, and no distracting sticks for movement in a 3D environment. For some it may even be more comfortable to use than the modern console controllers.
The 480mAh battery lasts around 18 hours and is rechargable in just 1-2 hours via USB. Recharging is convenient and the battery lasts long enough for a few days of gaming.
The thumbsticks are low-quality and unconvenient to use. The overall button layout is awkward, so it's easy to accidentally slide over the wrong buttons.
The buttons are overall well-positioned and you don't have to reach for any of them. Compared to the older Xbox 360 controller, the buttons are also very crisp and clicky, at the same time making less noise. None of the buttons are slippery, while some of them even have rubber padding on them.
The controller feels very solid in hand - it doesn't give you a feeling that it could break. The shape is comfortable for longer playing sessions, even for people with bigger hands. At the same time it's noticeably lighter than the old Xbox 360 controller.
The shoulderbuttons(L1 and R1) are a little cumbersome for many users. They also click differently on the inner and outer side of the buttons, requiring different amount of force.
The Xbox One controller can be used wirelessly, but it comes with a cable, which allows you to use it on Windows. For a wireless connection you need to purchase an Xbox wireless adapter for Windows.