PowerA FUSION Pro 2 Xbox Controller Review: ‘Premium features at a low price’

POWERA FUSION PRO 2 XBOX CONTROLLER REVIEW.

I don’t think PowerA gets enough attention for its solid controller offerings. Third-party solutions have gotten so much better in recent generations and PowerA has stood out to me as one of the best. I’m still putting my Fusion Pro Nintendo Switch controller to good use and I continue to recommend it. This time around, we’re looking at the FUSION Pro 2 controller for Xbox. It’s cheap compared to the competition, but is it cheerful enough? This is my PowerA Fusion Pro 2 Xbox Controller review.

Big box of goodies

It’s always a surprise when less premium products come bundled with a bunch of goodies. PowerA’s mid-range Fusion Pro 2 comes packed with the controller itself, an additional faceplate, two extra thumbsticks, a hard protective case, a braided USB-C cable with in-line release, stickers, and a manual. It all feels impressively premium and is on a similar level to the Elite Series 2 and SCUF boxes.

Buy the PowerA FUSION Pro 2 Xbox Controller on Amazon.

The controller is also more premium than I was expecting. From the triggers to the analog sticks, it mostly feels fantastic. The only hiccup is the d-pad, which is a bit of a step backward with its four directional cross. Everything else is super solid, including the bonus microphone mute and volume up and down functions.

When using the pad, I did notice that the trigger and LB/RB buttons didn’t “click” like the first-party units that I own. They still feel tactile, but there’s no bright noise coming from them. I actually prefer this, as it means I’m less likely to wake up my partner while playing late at night.

Swap it out

The attached dark faceplate can be swapped out for the included white faceplate, which is a nice addition considering that it will likely be paired with either a black Series X or white Series S. Analog sticks are just as easy to swap out, which is great to see as they are usually the first points of failure for me.

The rear of the pad shows off the other features. These include trigger locks that prevent the triggers from pushing too far down into the controller and wasting valuable time in between actions. This is great for first-person shooters, especially when trying to rapidly fire a semi-automatic weapon. The trigger locks can then be disabled when not in use.

Paddle adaptation

Then there’s the “Program” button, which allows users to map functions to the four different paddles. These paddles are positioned in a way that makes them very easy to push, which is both good and bad.

I eventually decided to remove two of the paddles and just stick with the lower paddles being mapped to “A” and “B” to make jumping and meleeing possible without removing my right thumb from the analog stick. This is fantastic for games like Halo: Infinite.

PowerA FUSION Pro 2 Xbox Controller Review: The final verdict

At $89.99, the PowerA FUSION Pro 2 controller sits well below the more premium Elite Series 2 and SCUF pads. It’s regularly on sale, too. Of course, the FUSION Pro 2 is wired only, which will be an immediate dealbreaker for some. However, for those who can deal with the cable, this controller offers incredible bang for your buck, incorporating some killer features that can provide a huge advantage in first-person shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone and other games like Fortnite.

PowerA has succeeded in making a great pro-level Xbox controller that doesn’t break the bank. It’s got premium features for a low price and I think a lot of gamers will be interested in that combination.

FUSION Pro 2 Xbox Controller review unit was provided by PowerA.