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.

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. Best VPN providers 2020: Learn about ExpressVPN, NordVPN & more 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.