PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller Review

You have to hand it to PowerA for continually filling the gaming world with all manner of controllers. It’s they who have provided gamers with a ton of varying options in terms of pads and controllers over the years. We’ve fast lost count of the sheer number that they’ve pushed to the market. 

One that we haven’t forgotten about though is the PowerA FUSION Pro 2 Wired Controller for Xbox, mostly as we absolutely adored the soft-touch faceplate that came boxed with. We liked it so much that it was a solid entry in our ‘Alternatives to the Xbox Elite Controller’ article. 

We first used the FUSION Pro 2 some three years ago though, and in that time PowerA have seen fit to iterate the range. It’s that which has enabled us to discover the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller. Does that step change mean that things are better still?

Well, strangely, we don’t think so. The PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller isn’t a bad controller to have, but no longer would we have this in amongst our absolute favourites. That’s not because of the need of a wired connection, because the USB-C cable included in the box with the Pro 4 is decently long (10ft, 3m), braided to ensure it’s trickier to tangle. And it’s not even because of a lack of features, for the Pro 4 comes with pretty much everything and anything you could want from an Xbox controller, and then some. No, we’re disappointed by the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller because of the way it feels. In fact, we can’t get over it. 

It’s the rubberised texturing on the arms of the controller, moving round to the back which frustrates us. Usually, we’d be all for such an effort, and have enjoyed using many a controller that comes with some form of non-slip offering around the sides. But here? With the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller? It just feels off; dirty, dusty, verging on exfoliating and, well, weird.

We’ve been using this controller for a good few weeks, on and off, and have found ourselves occasionally putting it down, walking away and wanting to wash our hands. Yes, that feel has gotten better over time, but it’s certainly not the most pleasant of experiences. At least not for us, yet we’ve handed this controller to friends and family who don’t have quite such issues. 

Aside from that, the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller does exactly what you would expect, providing players with a decent mid-range alternative to the standard Xbox pads that are doing the rounds. Of course, you’ll have to be able to handle the cable, but if you can, will be reasonably well suited with what is on offer. 

A lightweight pad as a whole due to the non-requirement of an integrated powerpack, the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller weighs in at just 235 grams, running an all-black aesthetic. In fact, it’s a pretty stealthy pad in all, with those dark tones only broken up by a clear volume switch on the front, handy for muting mics and adjusting volume levels without diving into menus. Even the branding and logos are cleverly placed, going under the radar. 

A similar size to a normal pad (there’s none of that previous PowerA Nano nonsense here), if you’ve ever grabbed for an Xbox controller, you’ll be at home with the FUSION Pro 4. Hall Effect thumbsticks feel good to roll, nicely lipped to ensure no thumb-slippage. But they also come with what is (possibly) our most favourite feature of the FUSION Pro 4 – they can be twisted to be raised or lowered. If you’ve been one who has relied on the likes of KontrolFreek to deliver you some longer thumbsticks in the past, you’ll be most appreciative of the opportunity to twist up and dial down the thumbstick length in an instant. It’s a really clever design touch, that helps ensure that this is a controller for the masses. 

Further to that, whilst the D-Pad is small, it is neatly contoured. We don’t think that D-Pad is as good to touch as one of the more modern takes as found on the Elite 2 Core, but it does work well in the heat of the battle. 

A flush-with-the-faceplate Xbox Nexus button sits front and centre, surrounded by a super bright LED status ring, underhung by the trifecta of smaller Menu, Select and Share buttons, whilst darkened face buttons look really good, detailed in grey, popping on the back backgrounds. And those face buttons are standard size too, with a nice click to them as they are depressed. 

Similar texturing to the arms is found on the triggers and bumpers, but very much to a lesser extent, and so these have mostly felt good to pull on, with the triggers running a three-position stop-lock for those really looking to get their aim in. For us, we’ve mostly defaulted to standard use, but if you do need some trigger stops for whatever reason, it’s good that the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller has them included. 

It also has four programmable buttons around the back, again pretty incognito to the overall design, but nicely placed for pulling by your middle and fourth fingers. Each of those buttons can be assigned a role at will, utilising a three-second press of a program button around the back. It’s a system that you should be familiar with by now, but it works well here. When you include the power of PowerA’s free App (albeit one that isn’t the most intuitive to use), that lets you amend more settings, and you’ve got a controller that can easily be set up for a variety of instances, with multiple profiles changeable on the fly.

As a mid-market offering, the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller covers many bases. We don’t personally like the texturing on the arms and rear, but aside from that, this is a clever controller with plenty of features. Twistable thumbsticks are a highlight (so much so that we think that should now be a standard on all controllers), and so should you be looking to build out your controller game, and are happy to run a wire, this is one to chuck right on that consideration list.

Elite killer it is not, but you should well be pleased to get your hands on it. 

Oh, and it comes in a fully recyclable box too. Win, win. 

Huge thanks go out to PowerA for providing the PowerA FUSION Pro 4 Wired Controller for Xbox for review. Hit them up and grab a unit for yourself, expecting to pay $69.99 or £62.99 on Amazon.