PowerA Enhanced Xbox controller overview: The perfect small brother controller

Game consoles have prolonged considering that moved to wireless controllers as the regular, but there are nevertheless explanations to take into account a wired version. For a person, you really do not have to fear about link issues or battery stages. Much more importantly, wired controllers like the PowerA Increased Xbox Controller tend to be cheaper. That can be crucial when the to start with-celebration gamepads are reaching at any time-larger selling price factors. 

The PowerA Increased Xbox Controller has all the functions of the official model for just fifty percent the cost—it can be yours for beneath $30 most days. It even adds some valuable extras like programmable buttons and a quantity toggle. The cable is the greatest drawback, but the come to feel and build top quality also acquire a action down when compared to Microsoft’s Series X/S controller. If almost nothing else, the PowerA Controller is a good “little brother controller.”

At a look

Expert's Rating

Professionals

• Much lighter than official controller
• Physical volume toggle
• Only charges about $30
• Programmable buttons

Drawbacks

• Works by using previous microUSB port rather of USB-C
• Mushy d-pad
• No wi-fi connectivity

Our Verdict

The PowerA Increased Xbox Controller may well be a funds solution, but it is no slouch. It arrives with tons of functionality both equally for use with the Xbox and all those who require a controller for Computer gaming as very well. In the end, it performs nearly as effectively as the formal controller but prices only half as a lot.

Greatest Selling prices Right now: PowerA Improved Xbox controller

$31.99

PowerA Enhanced controller: Style and create top quality

At 1st glance, you may well not comprehend that the PowerA Increased Xbox Controller is a third-party accent. It has the typical Xbox form, a glowing Xbox button in the center, and all the buttons in the suitable sites. However, it is a bit chunkier, supplying it a hand-really feel closer to the earlier-gen Xbox A person controller. There is a diamond texture etched into the grips, but it’s far less grippy than the tiny dots on the official controller that ships with the Collection X and S. 

Even however the chassis is larger sized, the PowerA controller is incredibly gentle at just 208g (7.33 ounces). The inventory Series X controller with AA batteries set up is a whopping 300g. Luckily, the cable is removable, but the port (between the triggers) is an aged-fashioned microUSB. Present-day-gen controllers from Microsoft and Sony use the more recent USB-C typical. These cables are reversible and much more long lasting, but microUSB is effective fine, and the controller will come with a prolonged 10-foot cable. 

The base edge hosts a 3.5mm headphone jack, and just above that on the face of the controller is the quantity toggle. This is the most apparent departure from the inventory controller, which doesn’t have any dedicated hardware buttons for volume control. Flip it more than, and you’ll see the other components tweak—a pair of programmable buttons on the grips and a button in the middle to configure them. The controller also has 8 uncovered screw holes on the underside, creating the PowerA controller glance much much less expensive than the formal controller, which fits collectively with no seen screws. 

Ryan Whitwam

You could possibly also recognize that the d-pad is of the regular moreover-shaped range, whilst the official Series X/S controller has moved to a more exact dish-shaped pad. The PowerA ABXY cluster has a lot more travel (they protrude a bit far more from the physique) with much less tactility than Microsoft’s controller. The other buttons glimpse about the same—PowerA even has the share button introduced with the Series X and S (despite the fact that, it’s spherical instead of tablet-shaped, and it is a little bit wobbly)

.

PowerA Improve controller: Options and arms-on experience

As we pointed out in the Xbox Wi-fi Controller evaluation, Microsoft’s newest gamepad is louder than the very last a single. The PowerA will make that 1 feel whisper-peaceful by comparison. Aspects like the triggers and thumbsticks have quite difficult, loud landings when pressed. The thumbsticks are also stiffer and rougher than the formal controller, but the variance is negligible adequate that you won’t see unless you have both of them side-by-facet for comparison. 

The programmable buttons are put conveniently on the inside of of the grips—perhaps a minimal too conveniently. It doesn’t take significantly pressure to depress them, so they are simple to strike accidentally if you squeeze the controller as well tightly. That stated, they can be useful if you don’t like the site of just one of the other buttons. Merely prolonged-press the program button in the center of the rear panel and push the control you want to replicate. 

The previous-type d-pad could possibly be the most significant bodily downgrade in comparison to the initial-get together Xbox X/S gamepad. It has the vintage as well as-shaped layout, alongside with the basic mushiness. Preventing games and others that make significant use of the d-pad won’t be as fulfilling with this controller. The addition of the quantity-handle toggle is pleasant, even though. If you participate in online online games with a wired headset, the change lets you raise and lessen the quantity without digging about in settings. You can also push the switch to mute the microphone. 

Ryan Whitwam

Although the lack of wireless connectivity is a bummer, you’d have to hope that purchasing a wired controller. The lower controller fat is an interesting consolation, while. As long as you can run the 10-foot cable to your Computer system or console, the PowerA Improved Xbox Controller is comfy to use for extended intervals of time.

PowerA Increased controller: Compatibility

The PowerA controller should really operate with your Xbox just as effectively as an formal controller. All you require is a free of charge USB port on your console, and the very same goes for a Home windows Laptop. The only components element you’ll completely reduce is the option to connect extras, like a keyboard or headset, that use the enlargement port, which does not exist on the PowerA controller. Yet another disadvantage: This controller are not able to turn on the Xbox Series X/S console. 

This controller also performs with smartphones but not as quickly as the inventory controller. Given that the formal gamepad works by using USB-C, you just will need a C-to-C cable to link to an Android cell phone, and it also supports wi-fi Bluetooth connectivity. With the PowerA, you need to use the cable (or a different micro USB cable) and an adapter that can convert the rectangular USB-A into USB-C. We have examined this with Google’s Pixel USB adapter, and everything operates in spite of getting clunky.

Ryan Whitwam

Remaining views

The official Xbox Series X/S controller is definitely a much better device—it’s wi-fi, seems nicer, and has much better create good quality. It is also expensive at $60. The PowerA Increased Xbox Controller has 90 % of the performance at just 50 percent the cost. We also take pleasure in that PowerA provides the controller in so lots of shades. 

The lack of a battery helps make the PowerA controller significantly lighter than wireless ones, and most of the buttons really feel pretty much as responsive and tactile as the official controller. There are a couple of excess buttons, too, enabling you to replicate any of the standard controls on the programmable grip paddles. We never really like the previous in addition-formed d-pad, which is mushier than the 1 on the hottest Microsoft controllers, and the programmable buttons are a little bit way too effortless to press by accident. 

The Xbox arrives with just one controller, and that is plenty of for some folks. If you need added controllers for your console and do not extravagant investing $60 on just about every of them, the PowerA is a fantastic buy. For Laptop players, the PowerA Improved Xbox Controller is a affordable way to get all the Home windows Xbox integrations on the low-cost. Even so, anybody searching for a cellular controller should really move alongside. The lack of wi-fi connectivity or a USB-C port indicates you will have to offer with cables and adapters just to get the PowerA Increased Xbox Controller linked to your cellphone.