PowerA Wireless Controller For Xbox Series X|S

I got this mainly to play Apex Legends on Steam on my PC. I prefer a game controller with gyro aiming to a mouse and keyboard. This controller doesn’t have a gyro, but since gyro aiming doesn’t work properly in Apex via Steam Input anyway (although it works perfectly in Titanfall 2, hmm), I don’t really lose anything by using this.
Controls-wise, the analog sticks and face buttons feel pretty good. Since the sticks are the Hall-effect type, you can turn down the deadzones in Steam’s controller configuration to zero. The triggers feel okay too. I just left them on the max pull length, which works fine for me.
However, the D-pad is bad. It’s the mushy silicone membrane style, and not the clicky Xbox style which works better for fighting games. You have no idea if you’re making diagonal inputs or not, because of the mushy lack of feedback. How it’s possible after 40 years to still make a D-pad this bad is beyond comprehension.
I was able to pair this up via the included 2.4GHz dongle just fine on Windows. Note that this controller does not support connecting to a PC over Bluetooth. The 2.4GHz dongle also doesn’t work properly on Linux. There’s supposed to be some software you can use to get it working, but I didn’t try it. It works fine on Linux if you connect it with the (very long) USB cable. Steam reports it as “Generic X-Box pad.”
Other than all that, it’s your typical third-party Xbox controller. Outside of the Hall sticks and triggers, which are nice, the rest of the controller is unremarkable. Well, aside from that embarrassment of a D-pad. I’m really not a fan. Considering the outrageous amount PowerA want for this, it’s a hard no for me.

Great controller, feels good in hand. Bottom part is kinda grippy, top feels like a smooth matte finish. Pretty comfortable, looks pretty cool. Nice clicks from the buttons and triggers. 3 settings per trigger for soft pull, medium, and short pull. So maybe soft pull for driving, medium if you need less throttle control, and short pull for aim and fire. I really like the adjustable triggers, I like soft pull for driving games and short pull for shooters.

I’m not a huge FORTNITE fan but I was very intrigued because this is one of the first officially licensed Xbox controllers with Hall Effect features. This controller specifically offers Hall Effect joysticks and triggers. The triggers are not only Hall Effect but also include adjustable trigger stops, so you can control how far you need to press down when playing. You would probably leave this off if you’re playing driving games but use this when you’re playing shooters.

The buttons are membrane and feel identical to an Xbox controller. The only downside is that the directional pad feels kind of mushy for my liking. The joysticks are absolutely fantastic. I’ve used all other Hall Effect controllers by other third parties but this is some of the best! The joystick literally snaps back into neutral position effortlessly. These joysticks definitely use strong magnets because the joysticks have the perfect amount of tension as if you adjusted these yourself. The thumb grips have some of the best rubberized grips as well. I’m confident that these won’t yellow over time because the white rubber feels top tier.

The overall color scheme is a flat matte finish which I think looks great. Sometimes when controllers use too many shiny colors it might look tacky but this graffiti vibe design just works. Another incredible feature is that the back grips are also rubberized. I would compare these controller grips to something similar to what Scuff controllers use.

I just can’t say enough for the build quality of this controller. The overall weight and balance feels really good in hand. I didn’t know what to expect but once I started gaming for a few hours the controller just feels really comfortable.

I haven’t used the PowerA app as of yet but it gives you plenty of options to map your controller similar to back paddles on an Elite controller. You also have different profiles that you can save. The only thing I question which I couldn’t find in the instructions is that the back of the controller has these charging connections. I assume that this controller might be compatible with one of the PowerA charging bases but I don’t know which one. The price might be a little bit steep but if you keep in mind it’s just about 20 to $30 more of what a basic PS5 and Xbox controller costs and plus you’re getting all the extra premium parts, such as all the rubberized addons and hall effect features.