PowerA Moga XP-Ultra Wireless Controller review

Choosing the proper PC controller isn’t as straightforward because it as soon as was, however the PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller is an try to resolve a really trendy drawback.

Again within the day, you may need two totally different gaming programs – normally a PC and a console. Microsoft made this one straightforward to resolve, because the finest Xbox controllers are cross-compatible with PCs. However what a few pad that additionally works with the cloud? Your cellphone? Your good TV?

The PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller guarantees to be the one finest PC controller pad to rule all of them. In idea, you can begin taking part in in your console, go from the sofa to the cloud by choosing up in your cellphone, then get to another person’s home and resume taking part in on a PC or perhaps a appropriate good TV.

It’s a controller constructed for all eventualities, then – one thing that’s echoed by its modular design. The pad consists of an attachable cellphone mount, turning your handset right into a handheld, and it additionally options removable grips, decreasing the footprint for enjoying on the go or supplying you with an choice in the event you want the dimensions of old-school controllers.

 Execs

• Multi-platform versatility
• Mappable gaming buttons
• Battery stage indicator

Cons

• Buttons lack journey
• Barely awkward format
• Sluggish to start out after waking

Specs

These are the Moga XP-Extremely wi-fi controller specs:

Options

Whereas the XP-Extremely is way from the most cost effective controller round you definitely can’t fault its function set. Chief amongst them is its cross-platform compatibility (being “the primary licensed wi-fi controller for Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox One,” in response to PowerA), enabling it for use on Xbox, PC, Android, and appropriate good TVs. To this finish, it additionally features a one-month trial to Recreation Go Final.

Versatility actually is the XP-Extremely’s calling card, as it may be bodily configured in 4 alternative ways. Firstly, you’ll be able to mount or dismount the included Gaming Clip that makes it potential to connect your cellphone (for handheld cloud gaming or, in the event you’re feeling frisky, some in-your-face streaming).

It’s also possible to take away the hand grip – the “handles” of the controller that sit in your palms – for a dealing with expertise extra like 16-bit controllers discovered on the SNES and Genesis. You’ll nonetheless retain rumble options both manner, as twin rumble motors are current in each the grip part and the mini-pad.

The grip additionally possesses a pair of mappable buttons, AGL and AGR, located on the rear the place they are often activated by your center or ring fingers. The primary pad, in the meantime, features a Share button in addition to a battery standing button – the latter with 4 LEDs so you’ll be able to immediately see how a lot juice is left in your pad so that you’re by no means caught brief mid-game.

Design

Excessive reward has to go to the general modularity of this controller. A number of thought has gone into the design and, general, the thought has been good. We love the truth that you’ll be able to shrink the pad down for various use circumstances, particularly because you don’t lose rumble whenever you accomplish that.

The XP-Extremely feels satisfyingly chunky with out straying into Duke territory, although it undoubtedly packs extra heft than a regular Xbox pad. And whereas most inputs are the place you’d anticipate them on a Microsoft pad, the View and Menu buttons are positioned abnormally excessive whereas the Xbox button is unusually low (in truth, their relative positions are successfully swapped).

The highest of the analog sticks are pleasingly deep and textured, and the plate-like D-Pad is flatter and extra input-accurate. Nevertheless, like all of the inputs on the controller, it has a lot much less journey – which, relying on what you’re urgent and what you’re taking part in, can drastically have an effect on issues each positively and negatively (extra on this beneath).

The Gaming Clip to mount your cellphone could be very sturdy, in contrast to a few of the cheaper and flimsier equipment you discover on third-party controllers, and fortunately sits a smartphone with out concern of something coming unfastened. Clearly, this top-heaviness will have an effect on the stability, however you’ll be able to angle your cellphone to reduce this.

Efficiency & performance

In order for you a controller that duplicates the expertise of a first-party pad, this isn’t it. The XP-Extremely does some issues that we want Microsoft pads may do but additionally does others that we’re glad they don’t.

With the ability to detach the grip and play with the smaller mini-pad appears and feels unusual at first, however can come into its personal relying on what you’re utilizing the controller for. Youngsters with smaller palms, for instance, might get on nice with the mini-pad. And anybody who grew up utilizing NES or SNES controllers will really feel proper at house after a half hour or so. And in the event you’re somebody who typically makes use of the Xbox controller as a distant for issues like Netflix, you’ll be glad for a flatter system that doesn’t slip and nudge the shoulder buttons whilst you’re watching one thing.

On the identical time, the Xbox controller is thought to be the best of all time as a result of the ergonomics are near-perfect. So eradicating the grip feels actually bizarre. And irrespective of how used to taking part in with out them you get, in some unspecified time in the future (normally whenever you miss a buzzer beater in NBA 2K or a headshot in Halo) you’ll be able to’t assist however really feel it’s as a result of your palms had been making micro-adjustments for the grip not being the place it’s purported to be.

The D-Pad is superior for some issues, and terrible for others. As massive Tetris followers, that is our go-to controller for Tetris Impact as a result of it is vitally trustworthy – no unintended diagonal slides right here. Nevertheless, the shortage of journey makes it really feel too stiff for just about the rest – and that lack of journey is mirrored within the analog sticks and face buttons, making delicate inputs really feel very totally different than they do on commonplace pads.

The inverted placement of the View / Menu and Xbox buttons is an actual head-scratcher, too. Whereas we’re glad that there’s no large glowing “X” blinding us after we play at nighttime (changed by a small, separate LED to point connection), the variety of occasions we hit the Share button and took a screenshot as an alternative of going house was somewhat annoying. As was lifting a thumb to leap right into a menu and dropping treasured moments whereas having to seek for it.

A minor frustration we observed is that it takes about two seconds after the controller wakes up and connects (with a stable LED indicating a handshake) for inputs to truly register. That is significantly noticeable utilizing apps like YouTube when your pad has gone to sleep and also you attempt to wake it up earlier than the subsequent video auto-plays!

Must you purchase the PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller?

• Sure: In order for you a controller that works throughout totally different platforms
• Sure: In order for you a wi-fi controller with an extended battery life
• No: The controls aren’t as seamless as with the official Xbox controller

We actually just like the modularity provided by the XP-Extremely. Taking part in retro video games with the mini-pad is a blast, and having a sturdy strategy to mount a cellphone for cloud gaming (and even watching a TV present whereas taking part in one thing sluggish) is sensible. The battery life is nice and, for some video games, we love the D-Pad.

For others, nonetheless, the D-Pad is a ache – and between the shortage of journey and the unnatural positioning of secondary buttons, it is a controller that may take your palms somewhat time to adapt to. Once they do, it is a very highly effective and versatile pad – but it surely by no means feels fairly pretty much as good as a first-party one.

If the PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller isn’t for you

Xbox Elite Wi-fi Controller Sequence 2

The Elite has at all times been the daddy of Xbox controllers. It’s costly however, for final customizability and the most effective really feel within the enterprise, it may well’t be beat.

PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller

Should you couldn’t care much less about wi-fi use, telephones, or good TVs, the Infinity is essentially the most reasonably priced pad round – and a very good various to the official Xbox model.