Reach new heights with the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S. Officially licensed by Xbox, this beautifully designed and brilliantly engineered controller is packed with performance-driving features. Get a gaming edge featuring two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons that you can program quickly mid-game. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S and Xbox One helps you take your gaming to the next level. Immersive gameplay is enhanced by dual rumble motors that put the power of the game in the palm of your hand. Feedback in both left and right grips means a completely immersive gaming experience, from nuanced quivers to climactic rumbles. Share your glory with the new Share Button for Xbox Series X S, which gives you the ability to share screen grabs and short clips with fellow gamers or simply save screenshots of your most awesome in-game action. Enjoy the familiarity of the controller’s intuitive layout and super comfortable ergonomics. Featuring textured rear grips, this gamepad will be your ultimate go-to controller for intense battles and long gaming sessions.
Reach new heights with the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S. Officially licensed by Xbox, this beautifully designed and brilliantly engineered controller is packed with performance-driving features. Get a gaming edge featuring two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons that you can program quickly mid-game. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S and Xbox One helps you take your gaming to the next level. Immersive gameplay is enhanced by dual rumble motors that put the power of the game in the palm of your hand. Feedback in both left and right grips means a completely immersive gaming experience, from nuanced quivers to climactic rumbles. Share your glory with the new Share Button for Xbox Series X S, which gives you the ability to share screen grabs and short clips with fellow gamers or simply save screenshots of your most awesome in-game action. Enjoy the familiarity of the controller’s intuitive layout and super comfortable ergonomics. Featuring textured rear grips, this gamepad will be your ultimate go-to controller for intense battles and long gaming sessions.
Reach new heights with the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S. Officially licensed by Xbox, this beautifully designed and brilliantly engineered controller is packed with performance-driving features. Get a gaming edge featuring two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons that you can program quickly mid-game. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S and Xbox One helps you take your gaming to the next level. Immersive gameplay is enhanced by dual rumble motors that put the power of the game in the palm of your hand. Feedback in both left and right grips means a completely immersive gaming experience, from nuanced quivers to climactic rumbles. Share your glory with the new Share Button for Xbox Series X S, which gives you the ability to share screen grabs and short clips with fellow gamers or simply save screenshots of your most awesome in-game action. Enjoy the familiarity of the controller’s intuitive layout and super comfortable ergonomics. Featuring textured rear grips, this gamepad will be your ultimate go-to controller for intense battles and long gaming sessions.
Reach new heights with the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S. Officially licensed by Xbox, this beautifully designed and brilliantly engineered controller is packed with performance-driving features. Get a gaming edge featuring two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons that you can program quickly mid-game. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X S and Xbox One helps you take your gaming to the next level. Immersive gameplay is enhanced by dual rumble motors that put the power of the game in the palm of your hand. Feedback in both left and right grips means a completely immersive gaming experience, from nuanced quivers to climactic rumbles. Share your glory with the new Share Button for Xbox Series X S, which gives you the ability to share screen grabs and short clips with fellow gamers or simply save screenshots of your most awesome in-game action. Enjoy the familiarity of the controller’s intuitive layout and super comfortable ergonomics. Featuring textured rear grips, this gamepad will be your ultimate go-to controller for intense battles and long gaming sessions.
Last updated at 05/10/2026 07:08:38
Powera Metallic Ice Controller Clear
Delivery $19.99
PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller For Xbox Series X|S (Metallic Ice)
Delivery $15.99
originally posted on ebay.com
This controller has more features and allure then The Xbox Elite controllers which retail for $120-$150 or x3.5/4 times as much as this controller. -You can remap the controller regardless of game menu settings. Every game can be customized to preferred layout. -Back Paddles. -High quality, sturdy build. -Nice, responsive buttons. -Pleasant texturing on grips. Added features [Compared to Elites] -Built in mic control (+/- & mute) -Customizing trigger button strength (how far to depress trigger) -Does not use batteries- environmentally friendly. -And obviously the integrated LEDs. Changing LED settings will definitely need the instructions for the first time. The LEDs have a surprising amount of colors/shades as well as having great brightness settings. Max ... MoreThis controller has more features and allure then The Xbox Elite controllers which retail for $120-$150 or x3.5/4 times as much as this controller. -You can remap the controller regardless of game menu settings. Every game can be customized to preferred layout. -Back Paddles. -High quality, sturdy build. -Nice, responsive buttons. -Pleasant texturing on grips. Added features [Compared to Elites] -Built in mic control (+/- & mute) -Customizing trigger button strength (how far to depress trigger) -Does not use batteries- environmentally friendly. -And obviously the integrated LEDs. Changing LED settings will definitely need the instructions for the first time. The LEDs have a surprising amount of colors/shades as well as having great brightness settings. Max brightness is enough to see vibrant color in a lit room and the dimming allows it to not be overwhelming in the dark (or extremely bright in the dark). The 10ft cable was long enough to play on a sofa/TV but I could see how this could be an issue in larger rooms. The cable being micro-USB is also unfortunate. Those are the only Cons I can think of. Amazing build quality on a sturdy and vibrant controller with all the perks and more compared to a far more expensive controller.
originally posted on walmart.com
I've gone through about eight of these. I keep buying them because they have the features that I like that are not available on any other comparably priced controller- but they usually only last about a month or two before the stick drift gets so bad that they're unusable. The first one I bought lasted quite a few months but every subsequent controller has not lasted more than two months. It's just stick drift. I never encountered any other problems except button input sometimes doesn't seem to work but I'm not sure if that's the controller or the interface with the computer. I don't know if the company designed them to fail after a few months or if it's just really low quality materials but yeah the sticks get gummy or something and cleaning them does almost ... MoreI've gone through about eight of these. I keep buying them because they have the features that I like that are not available on any other comparably priced controller- but they usually only last about a month or two before the stick drift gets so bad that they're unusable. The first one I bought lasted quite a few months but every subsequent controller has not lasted more than two months. It's just stick drift. I never encountered any other problems except button input sometimes doesn't seem to work but I'm not sure if that's the controller or the interface with the computer. I don't know if the company designed them to fail after a few months or if it's just really low quality materials but yeah the sticks get gummy or something and cleaning them does almost nothing and you get really weird and unfavorable controller input from the sticks. They either lose functionality or start displaying incorrect input. And sometimes when you try to go left it'll go up or down. They're just really inferior products and someday I'm going to find a controller that does what I want but is not made out of junk.
originally posted on powera.com
I'm usually a bit hesitant with aftermarket controllers because they don't seem to hold up to official products. But this one is great. I own several wireless ones. And while I do prefer wireless, I really enjoy using this one with the button mapping feature. For the price, it's an excellent alternative to the Elite. Without the battery pack, it's much lighter in my hands which took some getting used to. The trigger clicks are louder but not noticable with a headset. The textured grip on the joysticks is great. Same with button response time.The volume bottom on the controller is a nice touch. Anyone who lands in the pregame lobby for COD Warzone will appreciate it.All-in-all this is a great controller, especially for the price. All controllers (including the ... MoreI'm usually a bit hesitant with aftermarket controllers because they don't seem to hold up to official products. But this one is great. I own several wireless ones. And while I do prefer wireless, I really enjoy using this one with the button mapping feature. For the price, it's an excellent alternative to the Elite. Without the battery pack, it's much lighter in my hands which took some getting used to. The trigger clicks are louder but not noticable with a headset. The textured grip on the joysticks is great. Same with button response time.The volume bottom on the controller is a nice touch. Anyone who lands in the pregame lobby for COD Warzone will appreciate it.All-in-all this is a great controller, especially for the price. All controllers (including the Elite) experience controller drift at some point in their life. Time will tell with PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller, but so far, it's great!
| Release date Australia | April 8th, 2021 |
| Developer | PowerA |
| Game Edition | Standard Edition |
| Game Platform | Xbox Series X |
| Box Dimensions (mm) | 240x160x70 |
Powera Metallic Ice Controller Clear
Delivery $19.99
PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller For Xbox Series X|S (Metallic Ice)
Delivery $15.99
This controller has more features and allure then The Xbox Elite controllers which retail for $120-$150 or x3.5/4 times as much as this controller. -You can remap the controller regardless of game menu settings. Every game can be customized to preferred layout. -Back Paddles. -High quality, sturdy build. -Nice, responsive buttons. -Pleasant texturing on grips. Added features [Compared to Elites] -Built in mic control (+/- & mute) -Customizing trigger button strength (how far to depress trigger) -Does not use batteries- environmentally friendly. -And obviously the integrated LEDs. Changing LED settings will definitely need the instructions for the first time. The LEDs have a surprising amount of colors/shades as well as having great brightness settings. Max ... MoreThis controller has more features and allure then The Xbox Elite controllers which retail for $120-$150 or x3.5/4 times as much as this controller. -You can remap the controller regardless of game menu settings. Every game can be customized to preferred layout. -Back Paddles. -High quality, sturdy build. -Nice, responsive buttons. -Pleasant texturing on grips. Added features [Compared to Elites] -Built in mic control (+/- & mute) -Customizing trigger button strength (how far to depress trigger) -Does not use batteries- environmentally friendly. -And obviously the integrated LEDs. Changing LED settings will definitely need the instructions for the first time. The LEDs have a surprising amount of colors/shades as well as having great brightness settings. Max brightness is enough to see vibrant color in a lit room and the dimming allows it to not be overwhelming in the dark (or extremely bright in the dark). The 10ft cable was long enough to play on a sofa/TV but I could see how this could be an issue in larger rooms. The cable being micro-USB is also unfortunate. Those are the only Cons I can think of. Amazing build quality on a sturdy and vibrant controller with all the perks and more compared to a far more expensive controller.
I've gone through about eight of these. I keep buying them because they have the features that I like that are not available on any other comparably priced controller- but they usually only last about a month or two before the stick drift gets so bad that they're unusable. The first one I bought lasted quite a few months but every subsequent controller has not lasted more than two months. It's just stick drift. I never encountered any other problems except button input sometimes doesn't seem to work but I'm not sure if that's the controller or the interface with the computer. I don't know if the company designed them to fail after a few months or if it's just really low quality materials but yeah the sticks get gummy or something and cleaning them does almost ... MoreI've gone through about eight of these. I keep buying them because they have the features that I like that are not available on any other comparably priced controller- but they usually only last about a month or two before the stick drift gets so bad that they're unusable. The first one I bought lasted quite a few months but every subsequent controller has not lasted more than two months. It's just stick drift. I never encountered any other problems except button input sometimes doesn't seem to work but I'm not sure if that's the controller or the interface with the computer. I don't know if the company designed them to fail after a few months or if it's just really low quality materials but yeah the sticks get gummy or something and cleaning them does almost nothing and you get really weird and unfavorable controller input from the sticks. They either lose functionality or start displaying incorrect input. And sometimes when you try to go left it'll go up or down. They're just really inferior products and someday I'm going to find a controller that does what I want but is not made out of junk.
I'm usually a bit hesitant with aftermarket controllers because they don't seem to hold up to official products. But this one is great. I own several wireless ones. And while I do prefer wireless, I really enjoy using this one with the button mapping feature. For the price, it's an excellent alternative to the Elite. Without the battery pack, it's much lighter in my hands which took some getting used to. The trigger clicks are louder but not noticable with a headset. The textured grip on the joysticks is great. Same with button response time.The volume bottom on the controller is a nice touch. Anyone who lands in the pregame lobby for COD Warzone will appreciate it.All-in-all this is a great controller, especially for the price. All controllers (including the ... MoreI'm usually a bit hesitant with aftermarket controllers because they don't seem to hold up to official products. But this one is great. I own several wireless ones. And while I do prefer wireless, I really enjoy using this one with the button mapping feature. For the price, it's an excellent alternative to the Elite. Without the battery pack, it's much lighter in my hands which took some getting used to. The trigger clicks are louder but not noticable with a headset. The textured grip on the joysticks is great. Same with button response time.The volume bottom on the controller is a nice touch. Anyone who lands in the pregame lobby for COD Warzone will appreciate it.All-in-all this is a great controller, especially for the price. All controllers (including the Elite) experience controller drift at some point in their life. Time will tell with PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller, but so far, it's great!
The Spectra Infinity Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S is one heck of a great choice in the wired sector of controllers. The main structure and feel is very close to the original controller you use on a daily basis with some great added features.Yes, it is wired, and I know most hate wires but guess what, wired is faster input and the best part, NO batteries to die when you are in the middle of a good game. The 10ft cable is enough for most but if it is not, a good USB extension cable is cheap and is helpful, I have to use one for my setup in the living room so kids do not trip.Now, take the traditional design and feel we are used to and add in two mappable buttons on the back that your fingers just happen to fall on naturally, they could not have placed them ... MoreThe Spectra Infinity Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S is one heck of a great choice in the wired sector of controllers. The main structure and feel is very close to the original controller you use on a daily basis with some great added features.Yes, it is wired, and I know most hate wires but guess what, wired is faster input and the best part, NO batteries to die when you are in the middle of a good game. The 10ft cable is enough for most but if it is not, a good USB extension cable is cheap and is helpful, I have to use one for my setup in the living room so kids do not trip.Now, take the traditional design and feel we are used to and add in two mappable buttons on the back that your fingers just happen to fall on naturally, they could not have placed them any better in my opinion. Also, the mapping is on the fly adjustable as well which is great for switching gameplay at any moment.The 3 way trigger locks are a nice touch, but I have not had to use them much personally but they are a nice option to have, I personally like the standard full throw but you can adjust them for shorter distance reaction.The LED lighting is one of the big features that is just a gimmick for selling, is doesn't make you a better player but on stream, it looks awesome and I had a few in chat ask what the controller was and how I liked it. To switch the lighting, it is super easy and you can even change it per zone and the breathing mode is neat and matches the LED mouse and keyboard I use for a full color show.The 3.5mm audio jack works as it should and has clear and clean sound along with it still utilizing the Dolby Access, it is a clear winner in the audio category for me.The share button is a cool touch but I only used it a few times before I went back to my normal setup. If you are not a streamer, the share button would be way more easily used.Another button is the one touch mute, very nice touch there and I give PowerA a 10/10 just for adding that to the design.And last, this controller does work on PC, I have made it my PC controller for now but the test above was based off my use on the Xbox X.If you want a great controller for gaming without the crazy price tag, but the PowerA setup and save your money!!
I did not expect to love this controller as much as I do. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is an amazing Controller and I can honestly say that I prefer it over my Microsoft xbox branded controllers. This Controller has great weight to it and feels very high quality, it has the feel of a Microsoft xbox Controller, but it has more features. I think the headset dial is a very nice touch so that I can adjust the volume of the game/chat volume. I was concerned when I saw that I could not plug in my headset mixer which allows me to adjust the game and chat volume separately, but the headset dial did the job for me. Another thing that I love and that sets this Controller apart from other is the advanced gaming buttons. I love having the ability to program buttons onto ... MoreI did not expect to love this controller as much as I do. The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is an amazing Controller and I can honestly say that I prefer it over my Microsoft xbox branded controllers. This Controller has great weight to it and feels very high quality, it has the feel of a Microsoft xbox Controller, but it has more features. I think the headset dial is a very nice touch so that I can adjust the volume of the game/chat volume. I was concerned when I saw that I could not plug in my headset mixer which allows me to adjust the game and chat volume separately, but the headset dial did the job for me. Another thing that I love and that sets this Controller apart from other is the advanced gaming buttons. I love having the ability to program buttons onto the back of my Controller. As a FPS gamer I like having the option to customize my button layout so I can play and move faster in game. The Controller runs smoothly and the analog stick are also smooth and comfortable to use. Overall this Controller is a 10/10 and I will definitely be buying more controllers from this brand. I also want to add that the wired adaptor is nice and long so I was able to game from my usual set-up with no problem. No more worrying about recharging my batteries!
REVIEW POWERA - SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER FOR XBOX SERIES X|S - SPECTRA INFINITYModel:1522360-01Best Buy Tech Insider NetworkPOWER-A SPECTRA IS A GOOD XBOX CONTROLLERSUMMARY:As far as affordable controllers with lots of bling, the SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER is a perfectly fine controller. For a lot less than an XBOX wireless controller there is a lot the like. Simply plug and play and you are off and running. You can activate the LED’s by pressing the LED button on the back and if you press and hold it for a few seconds then you can also play with colors and effects.I also want to note that it also works perfectly fine on my XBOX One and PC as well and it is the exact same size as my Xbox Controller.It is nice that you can control the ... MoreREVIEW POWERA - SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER FOR XBOX SERIES X|S - SPECTRA INFINITYModel:1522360-01Best Buy Tech Insider NetworkPOWER-A SPECTRA IS A GOOD XBOX CONTROLLERSUMMARY:As far as affordable controllers with lots of bling, the SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER is a perfectly fine controller. For a lot less than an XBOX wireless controller there is a lot the like. Simply plug and play and you are off and running. You can activate the LED’s by pressing the LED button on the back and if you press and hold it for a few seconds then you can also play with colors and effects.I also want to note that it also works perfectly fine on my XBOX One and PC as well and it is the exact same size as my Xbox Controller.It is nice that you can control the effects directly from the controller without extra software to load. There is a super long cord that allows you to sit back about 8 feet from you console. If that is not enough, then you can use a standard USB extender cord.The mute and volume controls on the controller are very convenient. I like that you can control the sensitivity of the triggers and even remap buttons if you want to.Overall, it is a decent controller.Some very picky issues on my side, and I have to say up front I’m picky about my gaming gear.The controller (black) shows prints and smudges easily.I found the buttons not as satisfying as the official Xbox controllers. Less resistance on all the buttons. The left stick for example was very “clicky” and my thumb kept slipping off the stick, which is not an issue I’ve ever had with Xbox Controllers. I have a game for example that just uses the left and right sticks for controls and I had a hard time with precise control.Because I change around a lot between PC/Xbox/PS/SWITCH, I sometimes need reminders about the button labels (YXAB). Even when lighted, the buttons are muted (the letters themselves are not backlit, just the rings around them. So the YXAB don’t really pop in the dark.The lights (as you can see even in the official pictures) have lots of bleed through to the next zone, which to me, ruin the LED lighting effect. There are 3 light zones you can control and if you choose different colors for each zone, they all sort of bleed into each other. Instead a crisp modern “Tron-Like” color trim, it is just sort of sloppy looking. (unless, you have all the colors the same). If you are going to have 3 light zones, then they should be isolated from each other. Otherwise, just keep one color for everything.I’m also a very tiny bit bugged by the lack of USB-C where the cable plugs into the controller. I get that most XBOX controllers that are wired use Micro USB, but this is 2021 after all. Chances are you will only plug it in one time then never unplug it.SUMMARYI think the SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER is perfectly fine, and worthy of a test for you and your gaming rig or console. The lights can be fun but the bleed through of lighting zones ruins the effect for me.
I was super skeptical about this PowerA-Spectra and was just positive that it was going to be just a knockoff piece of junk... IT'S NOT! I was so surprised that it is a quality piece of equipment. I have been using this controller nonstop since I received my testing model, and I am starting to love it enough to keep it as my daily driver. The controller was plug and play on my XBOX, XBOX series X, and PC. Setting up the RGB and button mapping did take a couple of minutes to digest the instructions and successfully achieve. But I did and now I can easily change color schemes and map buttons quickly between game changes. I find myself playing with the color schemes like all the time, like a nervous twitch. Just when I have settled on one pattern, I switch to another. ... MoreI was super skeptical about this PowerA-Spectra and was just positive that it was going to be just a knockoff piece of junk... IT'S NOT! I was so surprised that it is a quality piece of equipment. I have been using this controller nonstop since I received my testing model, and I am starting to love it enough to keep it as my daily driver. The controller was plug and play on my XBOX, XBOX series X, and PC. Setting up the RGB and button mapping did take a couple of minutes to digest the instructions and successfully achieve. But I did and now I can easily change color schemes and map buttons quickly between game changes. I find myself playing with the color schemes like all the time, like a nervous twitch. Just when I have settled on one pattern, I switch to another. The ease of use is my enemy here, jk but for real. I think I was most impressed in the quality of the build. Again, I was not giving the controller any precredit so the fact that it feels as well built as a normal XBOX controller is actually POG. The sticks are tight & the three tier trigger stops feel quicker than my Elite. These two factors alone have definitely contributed to a few cqc engagements on WZ that I have won and for that matter a few snipes that I normally would not have won or have hit. The paddles are perfectly placed underneath for my hands (I am 6'2") and very responsive when pressed. A couple of gripes or at least things you should keep in mind before buying. It is not wireless, and the cable is a specially designed 10' cord. You cannot just plug in any micro-USB because of the ferrite core on the cable. This is more of a pro/con, but the lack of a battery pack keeps the weight down and does not allow the possibility to go wireless, so you must be within 10' of the consoles. I understand this device is meant for the Xbox, but I played with it on the PC a ton. The first night on PC, I did think I felt input lag here and there, but I have not experienced that since (?). Finally, the breathing effect for the RGB. You can make so many distinct color patterns but only get two display options, breathing or solid. I do really enjoy the mute indicator being so well lit up.Now I want to be perfectly clear, I am still skeptical and wonder how long the controller will last in the long run. Nonetheless, my mind has been forever changed about the “Generic” aspect of the PowerA brand as opposed to the original Xbox branded goods. My Elite (series 1) is about three years old now and still feels and plays quite well. But the Elite was over $200. The PowerA - Spectra is rivaling my Elite at less than a quarter of that price. My thoughts here are that this is a solid purchase for anyone since the performance is extremely competitive and it lights up. I mean no brainer :P
This controller has been great for gaming with my kids. We've been playing Halo Infinite and FarCry with it and not had any issues so far. I really appreciate the programmable buttons near the triggers on the underside of the controller that you can remap to other functions - This lets you keep your fingers near the triggers and not have to pull your thumbs off the joysticks. I like the long 9+ft USB cable that lets me sit far back from my console and still have plenty of slack. It looks like a standard USB-A to Micro-USB cable that can detach from the back of the controller. I was able to plug it into my Windows 11 laptop and play Minecraft immediately without installing any software or drivers. So far, the joysticks and buttons have held up well to gameplay. I've ... MoreThis controller has been great for gaming with my kids. We've been playing Halo Infinite and FarCry with it and not had any issues so far. I really appreciate the programmable buttons near the triggers on the underside of the controller that you can remap to other functions - This lets you keep your fingers near the triggers and not have to pull your thumbs off the joysticks. I like the long 9+ft USB cable that lets me sit far back from my console and still have plenty of slack. It looks like a standard USB-A to Micro-USB cable that can detach from the back of the controller. I was able to plug it into my Windows 11 laptop and play Minecraft immediately without installing any software or drivers. So far, the joysticks and buttons have held up well to gameplay. I've not noticed any extra give or looseness in the joysticks, but I've only been using it for about a week. Overall, this is a solid, lightweight controller that I can use with my Xbox and my laptop.
Although I have an Elite and Elite Series 2 wireless controller, we have an Xbox, 3 gaming laptops, and 3 gaming PCs in the house, so I'm always on the lookout for another comfortable, high quality controller to use with my family and friends, for travel, or especially when the batteries die in one of our wireless sets. Bottom line: the PowerA Spectra Infinity controller is definitely a solid choice if you're looking for budget-friendly, zero-latency, hassle-free wired gaming on either the Xbox or PC--and this controller throws in just enough of a splash of RGB and extra features to make it stand out from the crowd.Construction is pleasantly solid-feeling though slightly on the lighter side; the finish is smooth with a satin-touch like feel on the front and a ... MoreAlthough I have an Elite and Elite Series 2 wireless controller, we have an Xbox, 3 gaming laptops, and 3 gaming PCs in the house, so I'm always on the lookout for another comfortable, high quality controller to use with my family and friends, for travel, or especially when the batteries die in one of our wireless sets. Bottom line: the PowerA Spectra Infinity controller is definitely a solid choice if you're looking for budget-friendly, zero-latency, hassle-free wired gaming on either the Xbox or PC--and this controller throws in just enough of a splash of RGB and extra features to make it stand out from the crowd.Construction is pleasantly solid-feeling though slightly on the lighter side; the finish is smooth with a satin-touch like feel on the front and a diamond-cut texture on the back to help with grip during the heat of battle. The controller itself is essentially the same size as an Elite controller so it's perfect for regular adult-sized hands (which has not always been the case with some other wired controllers we have tried like the PDP models). The 10-foot braided cable is heavy duty and just a bit stiff so it feels like it will stand up to quite a bit of punishment. The controller features a micro-USB connector at the top which is a little disappointing given how fragile such connectors can be; however, PowerA has designed the controller with a DEEPLY recessed USB-port and a matching VERY secure click-lock USB connector on the cable end. This design not only prevents accidental disconnection, but completely isolates the connector from any kind of cable strain during use so the controller itself will likely fail long before the connector gives out.The 3.5mm combo audio/mic port on the bottom of the controller works just the same as any regular Xbox controller and provides plenty of ear-blistering power to drive standard headphones to discomfort if needed. The volume rocker switch is labeled for vol -/+ adjustments; volume increments are fairly large and change quickly so you can completely silence your game or blast your ears out pretty fast by holding the rocker in either direction; a tone confirms when you have held the switch long enough to completely mute the audio. The switch is not part of the controller's RGB scheme, but it does illuminate red when the mic is muted which is accomplished by pressing down on the volume rocker button itself.Face buttons are labeled & colored which is actually a pleasant change from the all-black face buttons on the Elite controllers--if you have younger players (okay, maybe older ones, too) who like seeing the controller buttons match the colors of any on-screen button prompts/icons, the PowerA Spectra fits the bill. Face button throw feels basically the same as our Elite 2 controller; however, the triggers definitely feel a bit lighter with slightly less resistance. Thumbstick action is reassuringly solid with zero drift or feelings of lazy imprecision; though, again, resistance is not quite as high as the Elite 2 (which is to be expected given that there's more than $100 price difference between the two). The thumbstick tops have strongly knurled edges which definitely help for maintaining grip and control, but if you're used to playing with perfectly smooth, rounded, or mushroom-topped thumbsticks, you might actually find the knurled edges a little too grippy or sharp for comfort until you get used to the feeling. The D-pad throw is much longer than the action on the Elite 2 controller and it feels a bit mushy as opposed to quick and clicky. Shoulder button throw is very shallow for ultra-quick activation; my only real criticism about the design is that the shoulder buttons lay flat across the top rather than raised or arched slightly upwards to meet the natural curvature of your fingers.Like the Elites, the PowerA Spectra controller features three selectable trigger stops on the back which are set independent for each trigger; this is definitely a nice touch to allow customization of the controls where trigger action can vary depending on whether you need speed/constant activation or precision. There are also two rear programmable grip buttons that are placed pretty much perfectly for activation with your pointer fingers when gripping the control--however, they are small enough that they don't really get in the way (like the Elite's paddles sometimes do) if you want to play a game without any rear controls at all. Programming is accomplished on the controller itself (no settings app on the Xbox or PC) via the Program button in the middle of the back. The process is fairly simply--holding down the Program button activates a small flashing LED beneath the Xbox button on the front; press the button/control you want to assign to a grip button, then press the grip button itself and you're done. Thankfully, the grip button assignments are retained in the controller's memory even when disconnected so you don't have to go through this programming step every time you power up your console or PC.Finally, the fun gimmick here is the RGB which is cool, if not a bit basic in its execution. The controller loosely confines its RGB illumination to three slightly overlapping zones that shine through the outlines of the face buttons, D-pad, and thumbsticks; and the translucent piping around the outer edge of the controller. If you want to use the same color for all the lighting zones, the effect is fairly uniform and quite striking. However, when you mix color settings, the lighting zones are not discreet and therefore the effects outlining the controls tend to blend with the colors from the neighboring zones. So, if you wanted to have the face button cluster lighted independently from your thumbsticks or the D-pad, I'm afraid you're out of luck; but the variety here over a single LED color is certainly a fun twist. Sadly, there are no swirling, visor, chasing, color cycle, or other rainbow-style effects to the RGB patterns that run across the entire controller, either; the best you can do is set each zone independently to one of 5 shades of the four basic color choices (handily enough, your color choices roughly correspond to the color of the face buttons you use to select them) and then set the lighting effects to either breathing or static at one of 10 preset brightness levels.RGB programming is slightly complicated, but not overly so; again, all is accomplished in-controller as there is also no app or external program to set the lighting effects. Holding the LED button on the back enters the programming mode. D-pad right cycles through each of the three lighting zones; face buttons select one of the four color choices while continued face button presses cycle through the 5 available shades of the selected color. D-pad Up/Down varies the brightness of the RGB zone, and D-pad left selects static or breathing. When you're done, hold the RGB button again to lock in your choices. It's not entirely intuitive, but it's simple enough that you probably won't need the manual lying around more than once or twice to get the hang of it. If you want to turn off the RGB entirely, a quick press of the LED button turns off all RGB lighting. Sadly, the LED button is relatively small and is exactly the same shape as the Program button. The two sit in close proximity on the back of the controller so it may take a bit to get used to feeling for the button by touch alone--I often mistakenly pressed the Program button while looking to activate or turn off the RGB effects.During play, the PowerA feels and performs exactly like an Xbox controller should--the Share button is also here though I don't tend to use that feature, and the rumble motors work with supported games to provide a little kick of immersive feedback. Again, if you want, or can live with, the wire snaking out the back, this PowerA controller is definitely a keeper with a few advanced features to help tweak your gaming performance and just a little bit of RGB flair to help spice up a dimly lit game room.
Purchased Nov 1, Reviewed on Nov 4Believe the older reviews nothing has improved since then.1. Massive stick drift after less than 24 hours play time on both sticks.2. "Trigger Locks" aren't real. Setting 1 (none) and 2 are pretty much the same and setting three does not work unless you nearly snap off the trigger with force.3. The headset jack "works" but is very robotic and distorted making it unusable.4. The finish of the controller attracts oils and debris making it look gross after the first session of play.5. Underside buttons are placed directly in the way so if you use them and you have a tight grip you will be accidentally activating them constantly.5. The RGB works (Surprisingly)So in conclusion a sub $10 controller masquerading as something ... MorePurchased Nov 1, Reviewed on Nov 4Believe the older reviews nothing has improved since then.1. Massive stick drift after less than 24 hours play time on both sticks.2. "Trigger Locks" aren't real. Setting 1 (none) and 2 are pretty much the same and setting three does not work unless you nearly snap off the trigger with force.3. The headset jack "works" but is very robotic and distorted making it unusable.4. The finish of the controller attracts oils and debris making it look gross after the first session of play.5. Underside buttons are placed directly in the way so if you use them and you have a tight grip you will be accidentally activating them constantly.5. The RGB works (Surprisingly)So in conclusion a sub $10 controller masquerading as something more. If you bought it as just a cheap controller and aren't worried about the issues above or the stated functionality then you will be fine, but there are cheaper alternatives with less added frills to jack up the price. Xbox should enforce a strict quality standard before allowing these companies to become "officially licensed".
| Release date Australia | April 8th, 2021 |
| Developer | PowerA |
| Game Edition | Standard Edition |
| Game Platform | Xbox Series X |
| Box Dimensions (mm) | 240x160x70 |
