Review unit provided by PowerA
3rd party accessories for gaming peripherals are a dime a dozen, but PowerA is known to provide both excellent quality and affordable pricing when it comes to their accessories and gear. The newest addition to their performance line of Xbox controllers, the Fusion Pro 3, undoubtedly stands out as a remarkable choice for anyone on the market looking for a new controller. Think of it as an elite tier controller at a reasonable price!
First and foremost, let’s get the not-so-great facts out of the way. The official MSRP price of the controller is $79.99, which pushes the limit of what I would consider a budget controller. Keep in mind the Microsoft Elite Series 2 controller has a price of $179.99 whereas the Microsoft Xbox Wireless controller has a price of $59.99. The Fusion Pro 3 is unfortunately a wired controller, and given we live in a wireless age, this might be a deal breaker for some.
From an aesthetic and visual perspective, the Fusion Pro 3 doesn’t look too different from the Fusion Pro 2, and overall feels very similar to the official Xbox stock controller. The review unit I received was in the Midnight Shadow colorway, which features a very unique design with abstract textures imprinted on the controller. The classic ABXY face buttons offer a great contrast of color compared to the sleek black design. The only downside, if any, to this is that this specific version doesn’t feature rubberized grips. That being said, the ergonomics are still exceptional, and feel comfortable when held for long periods of time. Its sturdy construction, textured grips, and responsive buttons lend a premium feel to the controller.
Designed to cater to the needs of competitive gamers and casual enthusiasts alike, the Fusion Pro 3 boasts an array of features that promise to elevate your gaming experience to new heights. Right out the box, you are treated to a sturdy and luxurious protective case that stores the controller itself and its peripheral accessories. You also get two great looking graffiti-themed stickers. The actual Fusion Pro 3 itself features 4 customizable back buttons, a detachable magnetic faceplate, and replaceable thumbstick caps. Included is also a durable 10 foot long USB-C to USB cable to plug your controller in. It’s a bit of a bummer that another faceplate isn’t included, but there are 2 extra thumbstick caps included with each purchase.
You also have access to a convenient capture button for taking photos or videos in-game and then sharing them. These are quite standard with stock Xbox controllers so there’s not much to highlight in this regard. What does stand out as a staple of PowerA is the handy dandy volume dial for when you have headphones plugged into the 3.55mm jack and the microphone control button for when you play online matches with buddies. I don’t really play games with headphones, so it’s not really a benefit for me, but it’s nice to have nonetheless.
Perhaps the most versatile feature is the 3 way trigger locks that are incredibly easy to toggle with the switches provided at the back of the controller. The idea behind having this is to reduce the distance needed for your fingers to press down on the triggers when playing certain games, such as first person shooters. During my time testing this, I found out it doesn’t work sometimes depending on what game you’re playing. For example, in Cyberpunk 2077, I toggled the trigger lock to the minimum distance needed to push down, and my guns wouldn’t fire at all, whereas swinging my melee weapons did register.
The Fusion Pro 3 excels in delivering precise and responsive controls, making it an excellent choice for fast-paced games. The actual controller itself functions perfectly and in every way you would expect it to. There’s little to no input lag, especially considering it’s wired. All the buttons are responsive and nice to touch, and I’ve experienced no weird connection issues. What’s nice is that PowerA is providing 2 year warranties for all purchases on these controllers, so if you ever run into any issues, rest assured that you can get it sorted out. The controller is also plug and play friendly as it works right out the box, without any setup needed.
At the end of the day, the PowerA Fusion Pro 3 Xbox controller is a premium-on-a-budget gaming accessory that balances aesthetics, customization, and performance. It works great on both Xbox consoles and PC, and features top-notch build quality and responsive controls. If you’re willing to accept the fact that this is a wired only controller, then what you’re getting is an impressive piece of hardware with a luxurious travel case.
