Selecting the right PC controller isn’t as simple because it as soon as was, however the PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller is an try to unravel a really fashionable drawback.
Again within the day, you might need two completely different gaming programs – normally a PC and a console. Microsoft made this one simple to unravel, 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 principle, you can begin enjoying 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 enjoying on a PC or perhaps a suitable good TV.
It’s a controller constructed for all eventualities, then – one thing that’s echoed by its modular design. The pad contains an attachable cellphone mount, turning your handset right into a handheld, and it additionally options removable grips, lowering the footprint for taking part in on the go or supplying you with an possibility should you desire the scale of old-school controllers.
Execs
- Multi-platform versatility
- Mappable gaming buttons
- Battery degree indicator
Cons
- Buttons lack journey
- Barely awkward format
- Sluggish to begin after waking
Specs
These are the Moga XP-Extremely wi-fi controller specs:
| Connection | Wi-fi, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Platform | PC, Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows 10/11, Android Cell |
| Battery | Built-in 2000mAh, 60 hours (40 hours Bluetooth) |
| Weight | 13.9 ounces |
| Dimensions | 6.3 x 2.24 x 4.33 inches |
Options
Whereas the XP-Extremely is way from the most affordable controller round you actually can’t fault its characteristic 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 line with PowerA), enabling it for use on Xbox, PC, Android, and suitable good TVs. To this finish, it additionally features a one-month trial to Recreation Cross Final.
Versatility actually is the XP-Extremely’s calling card, as it may be bodily configured in 4 other ways. Firstly, you’ll be able to mount or dismount the included Gaming Clip that makes it doable to connect your cellphone (for handheld cloud gaming or, should you’re feeling frisky, some in-your-face streaming).
You can even 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 approach, 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 principle 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. Quite a lot of thought has gone into the design and, total, 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 while you accomplish that.
The XP-Extremely feels satisfyingly chunky with out straying into Duke territory, although it positively 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 reality, 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. Nonetheless, 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 enjoying, can drastically have an effect on issues each positively and negatively (extra on this under).
The Gaming Clip to mount your cellphone may 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 free. Clearly, this top-heaviness will have an effect on the steadiness, however you’ll be able to angle your cellphone to reduce this.
Efficiency & performance
If you’d like 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.
Having 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 should you’re somebody who usually makes use of the Xbox controller as a distant for issues like Netflix, you’ll be glad for a flatter machine that doesn’t slip and nudge the shoulder buttons when you’re watching one thing.
On the similar time, the Xbox controller is considered the best of all time as a result of the ergonomics are near-perfect. So eradicating the grip feels actually bizarre. And regardless of how used to enjoying with out them you get, in some unspecified time in the future (normally while 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 large 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. Nonetheless, the shortage of journey makes it really feel too stiff for just about anything – and that lack of journey is mirrored within the analog sticks and face buttons, making delicate inputs really feel very completely different than they do on normal 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 the hours of darkness (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 just a little 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 seen is that it takes about two seconds after the controller wakes up and connects (with a strong LED indicating a handshake) for inputs to truly register. That is notably noticeable utilizing apps like YouTube when your pad has gone to sleep and also you attempt to wake it up earlier than the following video auto-plays!
Must you purchase the PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller?
• Sure: If you’d like a controller that works throughout completely different platforms
• Sure: If you’d like a wi-fi controller with a protracted battery life
• No: The controls aren’t as seamless as with the official Xbox controller
We actually just like the modularity supplied by the XP-Extremely. Enjoying retro video games with the mini-pad is a blast, and having a sturdy option to mount a cellphone for cloud gaming (and even watching a TV present whereas enjoying one thing sluggish) is good. 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 just a little time to adapt to. After they do, it is a very highly effective and versatile pad – however it by no means feels fairly nearly 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 all the time been the daddy of Xbox controllers. It’s costly however, for final customizability and the perfect really feel within the enterprise, it might’t be beat.
PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller
If you happen to couldn’t care much less about wi-fi use, telephones, or good TVs, the Infinity is probably the most inexpensive pad round – and a superb various to the official Xbox model.
PowerA Moga XP-Extremely Wi-fi Controller: Verdict
Probably the most adaptable controller we’ve ever used, the PowerA Moga XP-Extremely actually is a jack of all trades – however you know the way that saying ends.
