Power A – XB1 Core Wired Controller review
Power A manufactures officially licensed controllers for Xbox and PlayStation. Often we have trust issues with third-party gaming accessories and want to stick with Microsoft and Sony accessories. But Power A have built a name for themselves in all these years. So I decided to try out one of their controllers.
I have been on the lookout for a controller which is priced under Rs 2,000 but offers great gaming experience. Personally I prefer Xbox type controllers over PlayStation type controllers to play games on my PC (previously I was using RedGear Pro Series wired gamepad).
So, I found the XB1 Core Wired Controller (blue) made by Power A on Amazon and decided to have a go. I ordered the controller for Rs 1,899 and got it delivered last week. I have been using it for the last 3-4 days and now I’m going to share my experience with you.
In the box
The box contains 1 Power A – XB1 Core Wired Controller (blue), 1 micro-USB to standard USB cable and 1 user manual.
Specifications of Power A – XB1 Core Wired Controller
- Officially licensed and compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Windows 10
- Dual rumble motors
- 8-Way plus-shaped directional pad (D-pad) and standard A/B/X/Y button placement
- Left/right bumpers and triggers
- 3.5mm stereo headset jack
- Detachable 8ft micro-USB to standard USB cable
Design and build quality
The Power A – XB1 Core Wired Controller looks like the Xbox One controller on the first glance. It is almost the replica of Microsoft’s gamepads. It has a U-shaped frame with large, curved grips. It is very well built and have a premium look and finish. It offers good grip while gaming and feels smooth and soft as well. The buttons are also sturdy and don’t feel like poor quality.
The gamepad also features a 3.5mm stereo headset jack on the bottom edge, just like the Xbox One controller. This is a new feature for me as almost no other controllers under Rs 2,000 provide this feature. It is a very useful addition. The controller has an 8ft long cable so you can easily play sitting on the couch. Normally, wired headsets don’t have such long wires so you can now plug your headset into the gamepad and enjoy listening to music (it doesn’t support mic connectivity).
The only downside of this controller on the built front I felt is that Power A should have made the micro-USB socket in the gamepad normal. It has a rarely built structure so you can’t use the normal micro-USB cables lying at your homes.
Buttons
The controller has offset dual analog sticks with convex caps. It also features a direction pad, two shoulder buttons and standard A/B/X/Y buttons. The two triggers at the back of the gamepad also feel quite handy and you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged (as it is the case in most of the gamepad in this range).
It has a view and menu button and also a round guide button with the Xbox logo, which seems cool though it doesn’t glow while playing, only a small led below it glows.
The buttons are sturdy and offers great gaming experience. The analog sticks are also well-built and you would have almost no problem with them. It also has dual rumble motors which offer great vibration feedback.
Gaming experience
Latency is one of the most important parts of a controller. The latency must be very low in order to offer a good gaming experience. I usually play FIFA 20 on my PC and I have been playing FUT rivals and championship matches with it. I haven’t felt any delay or latency problem while playing the online matches. The buttons and triggers are also very sturdy and the overall grip of the gamepad is quite nice. It actually feels nice to hold the controller in your hands during playing.
I also tried playing Need For Speed: Heat with this controller. I am quite satisfied with the results. The analog sticks allowed me to control my car very precisely and the triggers offered great acceleration and braking features. The vibration feedback also helps to have the feel of driving a real car.
So the overall gaming experience which the Power A – XB1 Core Wired Controller offers is unparalleled in this price range.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Well-built and offers premium finish | USB slot should have been normal |
| Sturdy and standard buttons | No mic support in the headphone jack |
| Long cable | No advanced gaming buttons |
| Headphone jack | |
| Good vibration feedback |
Verdict
Personally, I fell this is the best controller you can buy under Rs 2,000. It is definitely worth a buy and you won’t regret buying it either. The other gamepads in this price range like the one I was using before didn’t feel premium like this one and didn’t offer such great build quality. The headphone jack is also a bonus.
So if you’re looking to buy a controller in this price range, then you can go for this one. It won’t disappoint you!
Buy the Power A – XB1 Core Wired Controller from Amazon:
