The PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless Controller for Xbox is frustrating with distracting RGB lighting and trigger locks that are not fit for purpose

PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox: One Minute Review

It doesn’t make me content to say that the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless Controller for Xbox is the most disappointing product I’ve tested in the brand’s catalog to date. PowerA is admittedly a brand that I have had mixed feelings about in the past. Sometimes it delivers real winners, like the improved PowerA wireless controller, which I consider a solid alternative to the official Nintendo Switch Pro controller. Other times it doesn’t quite hit the mark, as we’ve seen recently with the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 wired controller and even the Fusion Pro for Xbox.

First and foremost, the best Xbox controllers should provide a satisfying gaming experience with minimal frustrations, but this PowerA pad is loaded with them. From the uncomfortable D-pad and rough-textured grips, to the terrible Lumectra RGB lighting and trigger locks that just don’t work most of the time, this is a controller that unsuccessfully tries to punch above its weight class at a ridiculously high price.

Not everything is bad. At least you’ll get a carrying case and a charging station in the box. Battery life is quite long, and a neat audio switch allows you to instantly adjust the headset volume or mute the microphone. I also like the PowerA’s quick-rotation sticks, which provide three levels of height adjustment. Additionally, they feature a Hall effect, which means they will be able to withstand stick drift much longer than conventional analog sticks. Still, these high points aren’t enough to outweigh the countless frustrations I have with this controller.

PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox: price and availability

• List price: $169.99 / £149.99 / AU$199.95
• Comparable in price to Nacon Revolution X Unlimited and Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
• There are plenty of cheaper and better options available on Xbox and PC

I would feel a bit more comfortable recommending Fusion Pro for Xbox if it weren’t for that eye-watering price. The $169.99/£149.99/AU$199.95 price tag borders on the premium territory of Xbox pads like the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited and Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

If the Fusion Pro offered a great controller experience, the price would be easier to swallow. PowerA’s problem is that there’s no shortage of excellent Xbox and PC-compatible controllers like this one available for less than half its price, including the 8BitDo Ultimate 2, the GameSir Kaleid, and even the official Xbox Wireless Controller.

PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox: Specifications

PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox: Design and Features

The initial package out of the box is promising. PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox comes with a carrying case and a customizable charging dock – both extremely useful accessories that can be attached to any gamepad. Both are also solidly made. Especially the charging station, which is well-built, circumspect and can be placed in any gaming setup, ready to charge the pad via USB-C. The transport case is solid and has a compartment for a USB-C cable.

The pad itself bears a striking resemblance to an official Xbox wireless controller, which is certainly not an anomaly in the broader Xbox controller market. It feels slightly heavier than Microsoft’s pad, thanks to features like trigger locks and a magnetic charging dock connector.

Continuing with the good stuff, the controller’s high-speed thumbsticks are truly brilliant. Turning them clockwise raises the shaft of the stick, and turning it counterclockwise lowers it. There are three height levels and I personally find the middle setting to be the most comfortable. They lock firmly in place even after adjustment, so there’s no unnecessary fumbling.

Apart from the handy headset audio adjustment switch, that’s about where my praise ends for the PowerA Fusion Pro. For this purpose, I simply couldn’t deal with a lot of RGB lighting. By default, the controller is covered in a dazzling rainbow effect, revealing a pre-set tribal-style silhouette. It’s a nice design, but I find it very distracting while playing.

You can change the RGB pattern profile (or turn it off completely) using a dedicated button on the back of the controller. I decided to leave it off because some of the other pulse-like patterns weren’t much better.

The overall experience of the controller also leaves much to be desired. The textured grips feel a little too gritty on my hands, making for rather uncomfortable long gaming sessions. The D-pad is also quite listless, on one hand it feels good and on the other it feels awkwardly spongy and complex to press. Admittedly, this may be a problem specifically with my device, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to buy one.

PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox: Performance

Despite my criticisms, I can at least say that the PowerA Fusion Pro works as a controller. If you ignore the awkward directional pad and gritty grips, performance is perfectly reasonable.

However, the main problem is that 3-stage trigger locks simply do not work. When set to the center point, you have to press the trigger really demanding to register the press. And on the most severe setting, the triggers stop working completely.

This happened to many games I tested with the controller, including Hello InfiniteFortnite, AND Final Fantasy 14 online. I like the shallow trigger in games like this because it allows me to fire my weapon (or access hotbars in the latter case) much faster, but I couldn’t do this on the Fusion Pro.

On a more positive note, the Fusion Pro’s battery life exceeded my expectations at around 25-30 hours when used wirelessly via a 2.4 GHz connection. I tested the controller for a week on both the Xbox Series X Digital Edition and PC, and found that I didn’t need to charge the controller until my last few sessions with it. Impressive stuff, and it beats out many other Xbox controllers – both cheaper and more steep than this one – in terms of overall battery life.

Should I buy PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox?

Buy if…

Don’t buy if…

Also consider…

I’m being candid here; PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox would be a demanding sell at most price points. Consider these two great alternatives if you’re currently shopping for a up-to-date gamepad for your Xbox and/or PC.

How I tested PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox

• Tested for a week
• I played a few games on Xbox and PC
• Compared to competitors from Razer, Nacon, 8BitDo and others

To write this review, I used PowerA Fusion Pro for Xbox for a week. During this time, I played a wide range of titles on Xbox Series X Digital Edition and PC, including Fortnite, Silent Hill f, Tekken 8, Hollow Knight: Silk Song, and much more beyond that.

Given the high price of this controller, I compared it directly to similarly priced competing Xbox gamepads such as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and Nacon Revolution X Unlimited. These pads are a bit more steep, but offer more satisfying play thanks to better build quality and advanced features (not to mention trigger locks that actually work).

Even then, I loved cheaper controllers, including the GameSir Kaleid and 8BitDo Ultimate 2. Both offer sublime features like Hall effect or TMR sticks, clicky microswitch-powered buttons, and a tasteful amount of RGB that doesn’t distract the eye too much.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2025