PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch: Official GBAtemp Review

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PowerA has created a number of Switch controllers, a few of which we've reviewed on GBAtemp. This time, we have a PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller, with a brand new design featuring Princess Zelda from Breath of the Wild. It's shaped more like an Xbox One controller than a Switch controller, but can it do an effective job at replacing a first-party offering?

:arrow: PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch: Official GBAtemp Review
 
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NoNAND

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Might add this one to my collection of pro controllers as well. Not a fan of princess Zelda but i really like the design of this one
Much better than the big and bulky switch gamecube battle pads made by hori
 

Daisy

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But is it any good? My wired power-a controller is garbage
I've heard a lot of people complain about PowerA controllers, but I've never had any issues myself, even with my wired controllers (except for the fact they're MicroUSB...).

I think it's fine, myself, but I still prefer my Pro Controller.
 
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Satellizer

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I've heard a lot of people complain about PowerA controllers, but I've never had any issues myself, even with my wired controllers (except for the fact they're MicroUSB...).

I think it's fine, myself, but I still prefer my Pro Controller.

My powerA controller works, it just is loud and feels like cheap crap. Reminds me of the madcats controller i had on the gamecube back in the day
 
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leon315

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Yesterday i played Cuphead on switch using dualshock 3!

when u can use ur ps3/4 controller with magic NS, Who needs third party unlicensed controller??
 

ssssss13

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Have you managed to turn on the switch with this controller? I have it paired but it doesnt work, I have to manually turn on the switch and then press home button in controller
 

Daisy

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I will pair it again or something...Thank you
I wasn't actually expecting it to work, since someone in the thread I made for the announcement of this controller mentioned that third-party controllers don't seem to be able to wake the system.
 

Rahkeesh

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I will say that it doesn't always wake the first time I press home. Often I'll need to press a second time. It does work though, and yes this is a feature most unlicensed wireless controllers lack. None of 8bitdo's can do this for example.
 

Daisy

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I will say that it doesn't always wake the first time I press home. Often I'll need to press a second time. It does work though, and yes this is a feature most unlicensed wireless controllers lack. None of 8bitdo's can do this for example.

I have to do that with my Pro-Controller too, though.
 

Clydefrosch

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i dont get it, they're so expensive.
for just a little more, you can just get a real pro controller.
only way i'd see these as an actual alternative would be at half price
 

LightyKD

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I got rid of all my Power A controllers. They all had faulty left sticks. Between that and Power A's inability to reply to my messages in a timely fashion I just gave up on them. It's a shame because they make beautiful controllers but beautiful controllers that don't work are just pretty paperweights.
 

burial

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just get the pro controller you'll thank me later

Pro controller is not worth the price until they fix the "dpad" its horrible as of now.

I have the BOTW themed PowerA controller and it was good, besides feeling cheap, but for some reason now I cant get my Switch to detect it anymore....
 

Kioku

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Pro controller is not worth the price until they fix the "dpad" its horrible as of now.

I have the BOTW themed PowerA controller and it was good, besides feeling cheap, but for some reason now I cant get my Switch to detect it anymore....
None of the pro controllers I've owned has a bad dpad .. A lot of these videos that allegedly show the issue also show the person tapping the corner ..
 

burial

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None of the pro controllers I've owned has a bad dpad .. A lot of these videos that allegedly show the issue also show the person tapping the corner ..

The dpad on mine is the same as the 4 buttons on the left joycon....I can push down the entire dpad....its just a "dpad" placed on top of 4 buttons, nothing like past Nintendo controllers.
 

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