The controller you use can be sometimes be the difference between clutching victory or tasting defeat. My weapon of choice for the past six years has been the PowerA Fusion Pro controller series on the Xbox. And now, the latest Fusion Pro series has released two new controllers. The first is the PowerA Fusion Pro 4 Official Xbox controller costing £62.99/€74, a wired offering and a direct follow on in the series.
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The other is the all-new Fusion Pro Wireless, which also has RGB features and is a bit of an evolution by all accounts.
Solid Sequel
Our review model PowerA Fusion Pro 4 is a nice piece of kit, and a strong upgrade from Fusion Pro 3. PowerA Fusion Pro 4 also brings a few new elements to the table. It even features some of the shinier pro gaming features of the Wireless model, like back buttons and remappable controls.
When you first get the controller in hand the new textured grips will likely be the first thing you’ll notice. They are both comfortable and ergonomic. PowerA Fusion Pro 4 Official Xbox controller feels good in the hand, and will allow you play as long as you like.
Itchy Trigger Finger
PowerA Fusion Pro 4 also sports trigger stops, which let you set a long or short pull. This can be toggled at the flick of a switch on the back, and the feature is very useful in game.
However, I found that in some games, a false input could be read when the stops were set. I would randomly fire a single round from my gun, or find my car would brake for a second. It was an odd issue that did pop up a little more often than I would like.
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PowerA Fusion Pro 4 Official Xbox controller also has a new adjustable thumbstick system. But, having had the past models, I feel they handled it better.
The ‘twist and pull’ system to get some extra length on the sticks is great. But, it’s the fact you can’t remove the thumbplates that’s my issue. I bought 30 pairs from eBay to replace ones worn out from my regular use. I am just a little worried that you may not be able to swap out thumbsticks as easily since the adjustable height feature is baked into the sticks. Whether the thumbsticks can survive years of play remains to be seen.
Price Pointer
To be fair, this is the only area I felt that you can feel the cost cutting element. The Fusion Pro 4 is £62.99/€74, while the 3 was about £89.99/€110, so PowerA did well to pinch pennies without affecting quality all that much.
For the substantially lower price, you still get Hall Effect sensors, mappable rear buttons, which have evolved with each Fusion Pro release. The team have really nailed their placement and form to give players maximum advantage from them.
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There is also an extremely useful and handy headset volume dial built into the controller. PowerA Fusion Pro 4 Official Xbox controller allows for super easy adjustments to volume, and, more importantly, muting of your mic when you need to.
The PowerA Fusion Pro 4 is much more affordable than many of its competitors. The device offers unbeatable value for money, both in terms of features and feel. There is no question that the controller is worth the price. It’s packed with features that let it sit easily in the ‘pro controller’ category.