Xbox One S Controller vs Xbox One Controller: What’s the Difference?

The Xbox One S controller (model 1708) adds Bluetooth and a built-in 3.5 mm headset jack, while the original Xbox One controller (model 1537) has neither — everything else, including the AA battery setup and Xbox console pairing, works the same.

Microsoft never actually sold a controller by that name. The “Xbox One S Controller” is shorthand for the third-generation Xbox One wireless controller, model 1708, which shipped alongside the Xbox One S console in 2016. The original controller, model 1537, launched with the console in November 2013. Knowing which model number sits in your hands decides whether Bluetooth pairing is even possible.

How Do The Controller Generations Actually Break Down?

Three generations of Xbox One wireless controller exist, and each one changed a different feature. Model 1537 is the launch version with no Bluetooth and no headphone jack. Model 1697, released in 2015 with the Elite console, added the 3.5 mm jack but stayed Bluetooth-free. Model 1708, the Xbox One S generation, added Bluetooth on top of the jack.

A headphone jack alone tells you nothing about Bluetooth. Plenty of people assume the jack means wireless PC pairing works — it doesn’t on model 1697. Check the model number on the battery door label or the back of the shell before buying anything.

Does The Xbox One S Version Change Anything On The Console?

No — button layout, stick placement, and in-game controls are identical between the two generations. Any Xbox One console accepts either controller through Xbox Wireless, and the pairing process is the same on both.

To pair: turn on the console, hold the Xbox button to power the controller, press the console’s wireless pairing button, then hold the controller’s pairing button until the Xbox button flashes. Pairing completes when the light stays solid. Both models also update firmware the same way, through the Xbox Accessories app or wirelessly from the console — and keeping that firmware current is what Microsoft recommends for reliable performance.

Which Version Should You Actually Buy?

Buy model 1708 if you ever plan to use the controller on a Windows 10/11 PC, Android phone, or iPhone without a dongle, since only that generation has Bluetooth built in. Buy the original 1537 only if it’s cheap and it’s for a console only.

The 1708 is generally discontinued as a new standalone model, so remaining stock, refurbished units, and used listings are what you’ll find, and prices swing with condition and color.

One practical note: Bluetooth is not the same connection as Xbox Wireless. Bluetooth pairing depends on your device, operating system version, and the game itself, and it may not deliver every accessory function. The original 1537 still works fine on a PC through a USB cable or the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows, which Microsoft says handles up to eight controllers at once. If you’re weighing condition against price, this roundup of tested Xbox One controller picks covers both generations side by side.

Both controllers run on two AA batteries, with an optional Play & Charge Kit. Microsoft’s own support documentation is Xbox controller firmware update guidance, and it applies across all three generations.

Common Questions

How do I tell which Xbox One controller I have?

Look at the label inside the battery compartment or on the back of the shell. Model 1537 is the original, 1697 is the mid-generation version with a headphone jack, and 1708 is the Xbox One S generation with both Bluetooth and the jack.

Can the original Xbox One controller connect to a phone?

Not wirelessly. Model 1537 has no Bluetooth hardware, so it only works on a console or a PC through a USB cable or the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows. Bluetooth pairing starts with model 1708.

Does the Xbox One S controller work with the current Xbox Series X?

Yes. Microsoft states that Xbox One wireless controllers work across Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles through Xbox Wireless, so a 1708 pairs with newer hardware the same way it does with an Xbox One.