PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller review

Anyone who plays a lot of games, that is, who plays more than 20 hours a week, knows that the controller is pretty robust, but it doesn’t last forever. Most people will need to replace the controller or buy a second or third controller at some point. The problem is that it’s not cheap. You are also fighting a very busy market. With so many different brands, models and manufacturers, it can be difficult to choose the right one. But within the scope of PowerA and its Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller, there isn’t much of a mistake.

I was able to try some of these controllers. I was quite impressed with both Spectra for Nintendo Switch and Spectra Infinity for Xbox. In fact, I’m probably saying it’s one of the best third-party controllers I’ve reviewed recently. They are for different consoles, but the designs are so similar that what applies to one applies to the other. The only real difference is on the console side. Connecting the USB to the switch is obviously more difficult than the Xbox.

The only real caveat here is that these controllers are wired. We know that many people prefer wireless, but if you have the space to use the wire and you don’t mind dragging it, using the wire isn’t that bad. On the positive side, you don’t have to charge or replace the battery during a boss battle.

Spectra is also a nice looking controller. With a matte black finish, Infiniti in particular is often mistaken for a brand controller. They are comfortable, heavy and solid in your hands. This is very important to me for the controller. I like the feedback that I feel something sturdy in my hands when playing games. The button layout is the same as the Xbox or Switch Pro Controller, but there are some mapable turbo switches on the back of the pad that can be further personalized. Both have a capture button and a share button in the same place as the first-party pads.

Immediately noticeable was that I didn’t realize I was using a third party pad. That may not make much sense, but usually something feels a little sick about using an unbranded controller. The problem is that the button is too deep or too shallow, or there are too many dead zones for trigger clicks or sticks. The Spectra feels much like an Xbox pad, which makes a big difference. Infinity can also lock the trigger depth. This is a feature you won’t know if you need it until you give it a try. The momentary difference it makes can tilt the scale of single-shrink-based games like shooters and fighters.

I’m also a suction cup for RGB lighting, and PowerA Spectra’s 8-color LEDs enable a customizable light display that accentuates the edges of pads, sticks, buttons, and cross keys. It may not be that important to you, but it feels good and the colors are impressive for the black finish. Being able to program three separate zones on the controller adds an additional element of razzle-dazzle that I didn’t expect.

Overall, for less than £ 40, all you lose is wasting time replacing the battery. The PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller is a great alternative to the Xbox or Nintendo Switch branded controllers. Ergonomic, comfortable and good looking, these feature-rich gamepads are worth a look if you’re looking for a second pad for controller replacement or gaming with friends.