Manufacturer: PowerA
Where to Buy: Amazon
RRP: £34.99
I got the chance to get hands on with the latest Power A Controller, inspired by the charming, epic, and action-packed Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. The controller is beautiful in its design with images of Tina, her trademark bunnies and D&D inspired dice covering the shell. The contrast between the chaotic artwork and purple sticks and bumpers really does make this controller one of the best looking 3rd Party peripherals you can get you hands on.
There are two reasons to buy a wired controller now that wireless controllers are the standard. Most manufacturers are marketing it to assure a reliable connection with little input latency and missed inputs. However, there is another, more apparent reason: it is less expensive. The next-generation version of PowerA’s wired Xbox One gamepad, the Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X/S, places a strong emphasis on the second factor.
It costs £34.99, which is a considerably lower price than the normal Xbox Series X controller, which costs £59.99 (at time of writing). Even if you choose convenience above performance and consider a wired connection to be a defect, it’s simpler to accept as a trade-off that keeps money in your pocket.
The Enhanced Wired Controller Series X is an excellent controller. Though certain components of it look and/or feel just like the imitation you’d expect, it operates admirably in every manner that matters, and even has a handful of handy bonus features.
Apart from the MicroUSB-powered detachable cable and a few more buttons, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller resembles the conventional Series X controller in appearance and feel. The design is slightly larger than a standard Series X controller, measuring 6.00 x 4.13 x 2.53 inches (WDH). It’s surprisingly light, weighing only 208g. It doesn’t feel “uncomfortably” light whilst using it, but it’s a lot lighter than the Series X controller (287g) and coming from using the Elite Series 2, which weights in at a whopping 345g
In many ways, the Enhanced Wired Controller is essentially identical to Xbox controllers: the main button, trigger, and stick layouts are all the same. Its face buttons have a little longer travel, but the tactile push is the same. The sticks are sensitive in the same way. Because this is an Xbox Series X upgrade, the new share button from the Series X/S controller is prominently displayed in the middle of the face, directly below the Xbox button.
Though I primarily regard the Enhanced Wired Controller as a cost-effective alternative to the original controller, it does have a few handy added capabilities. It contains a pair of programmable back buttons, just as the Enhanced Wired Xbox One controller, situated at the base of the grips where your middle fingers naturally rest. Using the programme button in the centre of the controller’s back, you may programme the buttons to emulate any of the face buttons, bumpers, or triggers.
While restricted in comparison to the Xbox Elite: Series 2, this feature is typical on most third-party Xbox controllers. It’s one of the better two-button rear input systems I’ve used, despite its simplicity: They seem more intuitive than other back buttons and paddles, so anyone can pick them up and operate them without any effort or unpleasant acclimation.
The Enhanced Wired Controller now incorporates a transparent headset audio control switch at the bottom of the gamepad, which is new to the Series X edition. The dial, which sits just above the 3.5mm headphone socket, allows you to change the volume of a wired headset by pressing left or right, as well as mute the microphone by pressing in.
The Enhanced Wired Controller provides an experience that is like that of the basic Xbox Series X controller. Apart from the wired connection, which has its own set of performance perks and possibly difficult logistical limits, I hardly notice what controller I’m using. That may come out as dismissive, but it’s a compliment: the controller is roughly half the price of the first-party default, so “similar” is a huge accomplishment.
Conclusion
In almost every sense, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller seems exactly like a standard Xbox Series S/X controller but for almost half the price and with a stunning finish, PowerA have came out with a winner in my eyes!
Hardware provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.Want to keep up to date with the latest Xt reviews, Xt opinions and Xt content? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
