The PowerA Fusion Professional 3 is a stable choice should you’re in search of a wired various to the official Xbox Wi-fi Controller. Manufactured below the Designed for Xbox seal of high quality, you possibly can anticipate a reliable – if considerably unremarkable – controller from PowerA right here.
The place the Fusion Professional 3 shines is with its further options that you simply received’t discover on Microsoft’s Xbox Sequence X|S pack-in pad. 4 absolutely programmable rear buttons are a wonderful addition to the controller, and could be mapped simply utilizing the Program button situated on the again.The three-way set off locks, mic quantity swap, swappable thumbsticks and faceplate all additionally work as supposed and are extraordinarily welcome additions.
What lets the PowerA Fusion Professional 3 down, relative to the most effective Xbox controllers in its value vary, is total construct high quality and really feel. For all its pro-adjacent options, the gamepad has lower some corners by way of design. That’s particularly obvious with the cheap-feeling triggers and shoulder buttons. General, the Fusion Professional 3 remains to be value taking a look at should you’re after a mid-range wired controller with some superior trimmings.
PowerA Fusion Professional 3: value and availability
The PowerA Fusion Professional 3 is in the stores now for $79.99 / £79.99. Within the US, you should purchase straight from PowerA’s official retailer web page (opens in new tab), or from Amazon. Within the UK, it’s stocked by retailers together with Recreation, Argos and Sports activities Direct. No Australian pricing or launch date has been provided presently, nevertheless it’s positive to observe within the coming weeks.
PowerA Fusion Professional 3: design
The PowerA Fusion Professional 3 units impression out of the field. It comes nestled in its personal carrying case; which is at all times a implausible further with regards to pads on the pricier aspect. Pop open the case and discover the controller itself, its 10ft braided cable, and two swappable thumbsticks. One tall concave and the opposite a tall convex stick. It could’ve been good to have two of every, however that doubtless would’ve jacked the controller’s value up much more.
General construct high quality is a slight lower above cheaper pads from the identical producer, however doesn’t fairly have the stable really feel of the Xbox Wi-fi Controller; a disgrace given the Fusion Professional 3 is pricier than Microsoft’s pad.
There’s an inexpensive, light-weight really feel to the Fusion Professional 3 that may be laborious to disregard should you’re used to a few of the finest Xbox controllers. That extends to the somewhat flimsy feeling of the triggers and shoulder buttons, too. Fortunately, these hair set off locks assist to offer your fingers some further buy, so I’d advocate switching them to the midway setting. By default, the triggers do really feel barely free.
However that’s the place the dangerous information ends with regards to design. PowerA has finished a terrific job with the sticks and face buttons, each feeling responsive and tactile. The identical could be mentioned of the D-pad; it’s not the most effective on this planet, however I respect the raised ends of every route that enables your thumb to relaxation simply within the middle.
One other good contact is the detachable face plate. If you happen to discover the default plain black to be a bit bland, you’re simply in a position to click on it misplaced and put in one other PowerA branded plate, a lot of which boast formally licensed designs.
PowerA Fusion Professional 3: efficiency
The place the PowerA Fusion Professional 3 actually shines is with its ancillary options. Its 4 mappable rear buttons work extremely nicely and have a pleasant tactile really feel. You may assign inputs to them simply by simply holding the Program button on the rear of the pad. Sadly, although, you received’t have the ability to set a number of profiles, so anticipate to do loads of button swapping should you’re hopping between video games.
Hair set off locks generally is a blended bag with regards to third-party controllers, as we noticed with the HyperX Clutch Gladiate the place they have been typically unresponsive. Nonetheless, they work excellently on the Fusion Professional 3 no matter platform, be it Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One or PC. Although as talked about earlier, I appreciated maintaining the set off locks on the center setting to use a bit extra sturdiness to them. Nonetheless, the tightest setting is nice for fast set off fingers in video games like Halo Infinite and Fortnite.
One other good contact is the mic quantity swap, discovered between the D-pad and proper analog stick. Flicking this in both route will increase or decrease the mic quantity if in case you have a headset linked. Urgent it down within the middle may also mute the mic. It’s a terrific on-board characteristic that I want extra controllers had, skirting the necessity to open your Xbox’s settings individually.
As for total efficiency, the PowerA Fusion Professional 3 gives an sufficient expertise when its further options aren’t taken under consideration. It’s a really stable – if considerably fundamental – controller that’s a good selection should you’re in search of a spare pad or a strictly wired various.
Ought to I purchase the PowerA Fusion Professional 3?
Purchase it if…
You want Professional-adjacent options
The PowerA Fusion Professional 3 has you lined with mappable rear buttons, swappable sticks, devoted mic quantity swap and extra.
You want customization
The swappable faceplate on the Fusion Professional 3 is a good further contact, good for many who wish to trick out their pads on a funds.
You play shooters on-line
The Fusion Professional 3’s set off locks are wonderful for first and third-person shooters.
Do not buy it if…
You’re on a good funds
The Fusion Professional 3 is a contact on the costly aspect, bordering on a mid-range value.
You’re after a wi-fi controller
The Fusion Professional 3 is strictly wired, although the cable is lengthy sufficient to assist rooms and setups of most sizes.
You need a premium really feel
The controller feels a bit of low cost and flimsy for its value vary, although the buttons, sticks and D-pad do enhance issues right here.
