PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S Review: ‘Best budget pad’

POWERA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER REVIEW FOR XBOX SERIES X|S.

I usually leave discussing the price of a product until the end of a review, as it so often changes and is normally reduced over time. However, with the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S, the $34.99 price tag needs to be at the forefront of readers’ minds as they hear what this pad offers. Frankly, it’s a damn steal. Here’s my PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S review.

Straight in there

The no-frills packaging is expected at this price point and I quickly tossed it to the side. All that mattered to me was the controller and the required cable. Unsurprisingly, this is a permanently wired controller, with no wireless functionality. The wire is detachable, however, making it easy to replace. The downside here is that the pad uses a 10ft Micro-USB cable, not the USB-C that the official Series controllers have incorporated.

Buy the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S on Amazon here.

Back buttons are a winner

Moving from the minor cable niggle to the big highlight of this pad: it has remappable back buttons. Yep, this $34.99 controller boasts the big selling point of other more premium solutions. Back buttons give a huge advantage in games like Call of Duty and Fortnite, where the ability to jump using the back button while aiming with the right stick can mean the difference between winning and losing a gunfight. There are other applications, too, like mapping the melee button to make for quicker close-quarters takedowns.

I can’t overstate how useful back buttons are and, once you’ve gotten used to the advantage they provide, it’s tough to go back.

Bonus headset control

In addition to the remappable back buttons, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller also has a dial for headset volume, as well as a mute switch. It’s a neat little add-on that worked well in my testing.

Aside from those features, this is pretty much your standard Xbox Series controller, which is a great thing when looking at a third-party pad. Gone are the days when going third-party meant dealing with some weird shape that felt uncomfortable. No, PowerA has nailed the Xbox Series style and it feels great, albeit slightly cheaper and “plastic-y.” It’s also lightweight, which I prefer as it’s less fatiguing on my hands over longer gaming marathons.

That first-party feel

Though they aren’t quite up to the standards of the official gamepad, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller buttons are perfectly fine. The LB/RB buttons and triggers are a little easier to push in than normal, but I don’t mind that. The d-pad is a cross shape, as seen on the more expensive PowerA FUSION Pro 2, which differs from the norm and may be a dealbreaker for fighting or retro enthusiasts.

Top-tier sticks

As for the analog sticks, I’m happy to report that they have a grippy texture and their size makes them compatible with KontrolFreeks. The stick tension is also great and is certainly not loose. These are some finely-tuned sticks that I am more than happy with.

So many colors

Though I got to try out the Midnight Blue version, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller comes in many other different colors. This makes it very easy to match a certain setup’s theme.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S Review: The final verdict

At $34.99, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S is a no-brainer for those hunting for a cheap and cheerful Xbox pad. Even as a primary controller in highly competitive games, this is a winner. Those back buttons are a huge advantage that people had to pay good money for in the past, but this product enables anyone to get that gameplay boost.

Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S review unit was provided by PowerA.