Customers highly value the build quality, RGB lighting, and programmable back buttons of the Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S. Many appreciate the long cable and customizable color options, finding the controller comfortable to hold and enjoyable to use. However, some customers reported issues with stick drift and trigger malfunctions after relatively short periods of use. These issues detract from the otherwise positive user experience.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 227 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Cable length, Rgb
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome controller for PC or Xbox
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Posted . Owned for 7 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This controller has been perfect. On PC the controller is recognized as a USB controller and works just like a wired controller that came with the Xbox one X.
The benefits of this controller are that it looks great, the RGB is extensive and has a ton of customization.
The buttons feel good, size and weight is similar to the Xbox controller.
The thumb sticks feel superior to Xbox, ps4 and ps5 controllers as they're slightly stiffer. Some of that may be due to the other controllers having significantly wear as this is our newest controller.
It has been used heavily since February with no issues at all. I have not tried it on Xbox but I have no doubt that it would work flawlessly.
Another benefit is that is has a detachable cable that is super long, braided, and seems to be high quality.
The cable has a retention lock and fits tight in the port so you won't damage the port or cable. I did test another cable and it worked. Most, if not all micro USB cables should work with it if you desire. Maybe you want to use a short cable, dog chews it, etc. I'm pleased with it, and my older son will grab it to use off my youngest son's desk when the youngest isn't around even though he has plenty of other standard Xbox/ps5 controllers to use. I do not think this controller will work with a PlayStation and I don't believe it's intended to, but I haven't tried.
If you need a Xbox or PC controller it's a great option.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Quality, Rgb
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Solid RGB Controller!
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great build quality similar to original Xbox controller or even better. Front has an awesome matt finish which makes it feel premium. There are two programmable gaming buttons on the back and two buttons to control trigger locks. You can change RGB colors brightness in 3 different zones.Comes with a solid braided cable with a clip which keeps the cable securely connected to the controller.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Back buttons, Cable length
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Xbox cord controller
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I enjoy this controller. Nice long cable and the buttons and sticks feel very good
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
love it
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Posted . Owned for 1.5 years when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
does everything i need out of a controller without the hefty pricetag
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Stick drift
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Buy!
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Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This controller is a great buy. I have had it for over 7 months now and i havent even gotten any stick drift and all buttons still work like the day i opened it. Good stuff!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Lighting
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Cool light up controller
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Cool light up controller. Wish the A,B,Y,X buttons were see through and there was a wireless option but otherwise a pretty nice controller.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
My controller
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love this controller. The looks of it are amazing and the colors are absolutely fire !!! The only problem with it is that the switches on the back break. Get the warranty or whatever on it and you’ll be fine !
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great alternative Controller
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Posted . Owned for 9 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Probably the best non-xbox controller on the market for the price. I prefer this controller over my pro controller for most casual gaming. Works well the Xbox and PC gaming.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Power A spectra controller
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Best purchase I made. Like this controller and recommend this to anyone.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
DO NOT BUY: Faulty LT/RT buttons
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've had two of these controllers, which have both broken in a consistent way through minimal use. The mechanism inside the LT/RT buttons are made of plastic and fracture in the same place through minimal use. When you purchase this product, you'll find in a short time the buttons will stop working, and there will be an internal rattling. PowerA support does not care to acknowledge or amend this issue in any way.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from PowerA Team
Posted .
Hi. Thank you for letting us know about this. Please know that PowerA always aims to provide you with a great gaming experience with our products. We can assist you further with a testing on the item or a replacement under warranty. Kindly reach us at https://www.powera.com/support/. Stay safe!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great Xbox controller !
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Feels like the original Xbox Series controller but better with elite functions (2 extra button + 3 triggers settings at a greath price!
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Versatile and brilliant!
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
These work well off this Raspberry Pi 400 setup for some fun retrogaming. I have these pair of controllers setup for Player 1 in "Alien Green" against Player 2 in "Federation Red & Blue".
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cable length, Quality, Rgb
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Better Than I Thought
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've got a Power A controller for my Nintendo Switch and to be honest, the only thing that really saves it for me was the price. I just used it for a secondary pro-type controller. there's no rumble and the battery isn't all that great. But after using this Spectra Infinity controller, I can see they actually put some consideration in putting this one together. It looks like an Xbox Series controller mixed with the Switch pro and that's not really a bad thing. The kicker here is that this one is a wired controller, so I prefer to use this for my PC gaming. Super responsive and really comfortable to grip. Programmable key layout is a plus and the 3 trigger settings is an awesome touch, for those with the itchy trigger fingers. The color scheme is very pleasing. The RGB lighting makes this controller look even cooler than it is. The only gripes I have with it is the use of a micro USB port, in lue of a Type-C. The 10 foot threaded & detachable cable gives me the ability to get some distance between my console or PC, but that can also be a problem , if you've got kids or pets that tend to walk in front of you while you're gaming. There's a volume switch for when you've got headphones attached ( kind of a useless feature for me, but I can see how it can be useful to others. All in all, it's a well built and comfortably priced controller that I can gladly recommend to others. The fact that it's wired is okay, since the rumble feature is in tact. Definitely better than I thought.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Controller
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very nice controller for the price. Love the led colors.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cable length, Rgb
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I love these controllers!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’m an actual user of the older model of the PowerA Spectra for Xbox One. So I had the opportunity to try the new one from PowerA I was super excited. I was so happy to hear they made a version of my favorite version of my controller for the Xbox series X|S. I am not a fan of wired controllers at all but this one has won me over. This model pretty much have the button layout and egomaniacs of an Xbox Series controller with a few additional features.
First thing first; it’s RGB. I don’t know why that’s a big deal but it is. If you are into RGBs well there is no better controller that does it right with design. The RGB gets bright enough and looks awesome in hand. Black with colors changing just looks so good. Funny enough RGB has been improved from the old controller model. This one has three zones of lighting throughout while the older one had one zone. Another thing is that the controller also works on PC so matching an RGB setup with this controller is beautiful. They have different modes for color changing like a “breathing mode” for colors.
The controller feels good in the hand albeit a tad cheap feeling. D-pad feels good and I feel confident about playing 2D/fighting games with it. Buttons feel solid and doesn’t feel “loose” after a button press like cheap controllers do. Like the old model spectra for Xbox One you can have mappable buttons to customize your experience and the return of the three way “Trigger lock” is here but it’s not improved. It is about the same as before but they work fine. Most improvements are not mechanical but just more compatible for the newer Xbox.
One new feature you might notice is a huge dial in the middle of the controller. That is a headset dial with a mic mute/unmute switch. It’s nice to have it right there on the fly but messes with the controllers design a bit. It’s very functional to use when you don’t want the whole party to hear your voice. The braided cable is 10ft long giving you tons of room to move around in.
This Spectra PowerA controller is affordable as they always have been but this model looks so good with three zones of lighting. Like a moth to a flame the colors are attractive. The extra features are great and love mappable buttons but the RGB is the defining feature that’s good look nice next to your setup. If anything I feel like this will be why you are buying the controller in the first place. The first model served me well. This one is just more beautiful with RGB. Last thing to note is that PowerA actually sent some stickers with this controller, not really useful but was kind enough for it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Trigger
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Don’t buy.
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Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have bought 3 of these and after about 3 months the triggers break on them. I’m so tired of buying new ones every 3 months.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from PowerA Team
Posted .
Hi, Scott. We're sorry to hear about the controller's issue. We're here to help you about it. Please know that PowerA always aims to provide you with a great gaming experience with our products. You can reach us at https://www.powera.com/support/ so we can assist you with a replacement under your controller's warranty. Stay safe!
Pros mentioned:
Quality
Cons mentioned:
Trigger
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good controller, clicky claky
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very good quality controller expect that the right trigger broke.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cable length
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
RGB power!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I am a big fan of wired controllers. No batteries, quicker response times and no chance of wireless interference. This cable is detachable with a snug fit, snap-in micro-USB connector that relieves any stress from the actual USB connector. It is braided and fairly stiff with it being long enough to reach from my couch to the TV. The only drawback is that you now have a wire that a certain puppy might chew on and it isn’t something you can easily replace as they have no way to order the cable alone.
The controller itself is like a semi-elite controller. Instead of four paddles like the Elite/Pro controllers have, it has a left and right grip button which can be easily programmed to any other button. I actually prefer this method as the paddle style prevents you from gripping the controller or resting it on a round surface. It has physical trigger stop switches that are nice for certain games, but can prevent some functions as it literally keeps you from pulling the trigger any further. It also has a built-in volume rocker and mute switch for headsets. Everything feels smooth and responsive and the thumbsticks are some of the grippiest I have ever had (see picture).
The main feature of this controller are the LEDs, cause every gamer knows that having RGBs makes you a pro… (sarcasm intended). It is neat, if you can have RGB keyboard/mouse, why not a controller. The way this lights up is a lot like how mid-range RGB keyboards look. There isn’t individual key lighting, but there are zones which kind of bleed into each other giving a mixed color look. Settings are built into a button on the back that you can tap on/off or hold to change settings. Controlling the settings after it flashes is by the A/B/Y/X for colors, which has 5 variations of each color per button, and the D pad for brightness, cycling zones and changing to solid or breathing mode. The zones aren’t isolated and if you use a different color in each zone, you get a bit of that color in the other zones. Though, what is isolated is the volume rocker turning red when you have it on mute, which I found sometimes the click to mute isn’t 100%, so having the light up switch confirms you are muted. It also has the standard share button that Series S/X controllers come with.
Overall, I like this controller. The lights are cool and having the two remappable buttons, trigger switches and volume rocker give you advanced options for a reasonable price. Plus, it comes with a two year warranty, which is better than some other brands that usually only come with 90 days.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Rgb
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Wired Elite-lite w/RGB+grip buttons+trigger stops
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Although I have an Elite and Elite Series 2 wireless controller, we have an Xbox, 3 gaming laptops, and 3 gaming PCs in the house, so I'm always on the lookout for another comfortable, high quality controller to use with my family and friends, for travel, or especially when the batteries die in one of our wireless sets. Bottom line: the PowerA Spectra Infinity controller is definitely a solid choice if you're looking for budget-friendly, zero-latency, hassle-free wired gaming on either the Xbox or PC--and this controller throws in just enough of a splash of RGB and extra features to make it stand out from the crowd.
Construction is pleasantly solid-feeling though slightly on the lighter side; the finish is smooth with a satin-touch like feel on the front and a diamond-cut texture on the back to help with grip during the heat of battle. The controller itself is essentially the same size as an Elite controller so it's perfect for regular adult-sized hands (which has not always been the case with some other wired controllers we have tried like the PDP models). The 10-foot braided cable is heavy duty and just a bit stiff so it feels like it will stand up to quite a bit of punishment. The controller features a micro-USB connector at the top which is a little disappointing given how fragile such connectors can be; however, PowerA has designed the controller with a DEEPLY recessed USB-port and a matching VERY secure click-lock USB connector on the cable end. This design not only prevents accidental disconnection, but completely isolates the connector from any kind of cable strain during use so the controller itself will likely fail long before the connector gives out.
The 3.5mm combo audio/mic port on the bottom of the controller works just the same as any regular Xbox controller and provides plenty of ear-blistering power to drive standard headphones to discomfort if needed. The volume rocker switch is labeled for vol -/+ adjustments; volume increments are fairly large and change quickly so you can completely silence your game or blast your ears out pretty fast by holding the rocker in either direction; a tone confirms when you have held the switch long enough to completely mute the audio. The switch is not part of the controller's RGB scheme, but it does illuminate red when the mic is muted which is accomplished by pressing down on the volume rocker button itself.
Face buttons are labeled & colored which is actually a pleasant change from the all-black face buttons on the Elite controllers--if you have younger players (okay, maybe older ones, too) who like seeing the controller buttons match the colors of any on-screen button prompts/icons, the PowerA Spectra fits the bill. Face button throw feels basically the same as our Elite 2 controller; however, the triggers definitely feel a bit lighter with slightly less resistance. Thumbstick action is reassuringly solid with zero drift or feelings of lazy imprecision; though, again, resistance is not quite as high as the Elite 2 (which is to be expected given that there's more than $100 price difference between the two). The thumbstick tops have strongly knurled edges which definitely help for maintaining grip and control, but if you're used to playing with perfectly smooth, rounded, or mushroom-topped thumbsticks, you might actually find the knurled edges a little too grippy or sharp for comfort until you get used to the feeling. The D-pad throw is much longer than the action on the Elite 2 controller and it feels a bit mushy as opposed to quick and clicky. Shoulder button throw is very shallow for ultra-quick activation; my only real criticism about the design is that the shoulder buttons lay flat across the top rather than raised or arched slightly upwards to meet the natural curvature of your fingers.
Like the Elites, the PowerA Spectra controller features three selectable trigger stops on the back which are set independent for each trigger; this is definitely a nice touch to allow customization of the controls where trigger action can vary depending on whether you need speed/constant activation or precision. There are also two rear programmable grip buttons that are placed pretty much perfectly for activation with your pointer fingers when gripping the control--however, they are small enough that they don't really get in the way (like the Elite's paddles sometimes do) if you want to play a game without any rear controls at all. Programming is accomplished on the controller itself (no settings app on the Xbox or PC) via the Program button in the middle of the back. The process is fairly simply--holding down the Program button activates a small flashing LED beneath the Xbox button on the front; press the button/control you want to assign to a grip button, then press the grip button itself and you're done. Thankfully, the grip button assignments are retained in the controller's memory even when disconnected so you don't have to go through this programming step every time you power up your console or PC.
Finally, the fun gimmick here is the RGB which is cool, if not a bit basic in its execution. The controller loosely confines its RGB illumination to three slightly overlapping zones that shine through the outlines of the face buttons, D-pad, and thumbsticks; and the translucent piping around the outer edge of the controller. If you want to use the same color for all the lighting zones, the effect is fairly uniform and quite striking. However, when you mix color settings, the lighting zones are not discreet and therefore the effects outlining the controls tend to blend with the colors from the neighboring zones. So, if you wanted to have the face button cluster lighted independently from your thumbsticks or the D-pad, I'm afraid you're out of luck; but the variety here over a single LED color is certainly a fun twist. Sadly, there are no swirling, visor, chasing, color cycle, or other rainbow-style effects to the RGB patterns that run across the entire controller, either; the best you can do is set each zone independently to one of 5 shades of the four basic color choices (handily enough, your color choices roughly correspond to the color of the face buttons you use to select them) and then set the lighting effects to either breathing or static at one of 10 preset brightness levels.
RGB programming is slightly complicated, but not overly so; again, all is accomplished in-controller as there is also no app or external program to set the lighting effects. Holding the LED button on the back enters the programming mode. D-pad right cycles through each of the three lighting zones; face buttons select one of the four color choices while continued face button presses cycle through the 5 available shades of the selected color. D-pad Up/Down varies the brightness of the RGB zone, and D-pad left selects static or breathing. When you're done, hold the RGB button again to lock in your choices. It's not entirely intuitive, but it's simple enough that you probably won't need the manual lying around more than once or twice to get the hang of it. If you want to turn off the RGB entirely, a quick press of the LED button turns off all RGB lighting. Sadly, the LED button is relatively small and is exactly the same shape as the Program button. The two sit in close proximity on the back of the controller so it may take a bit to get used to feeling for the button by touch alone--I often mistakenly pressed the Program button while looking to activate or turn off the RGB effects.
During play, the PowerA feels and performs exactly like an Xbox controller should--the Share button is also here though I don't tend to use that feature, and the rumble motors work with supported games to provide a little kick of immersive feedback. Again, if you want, or can live with, the wire snaking out the back, this PowerA controller is definitely a keeper with a few advanced features to help tweak your gaming performance and just a little bit of RGB flair to help spice up a dimly lit game room.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
POWER-A SPECTRA IS A GOOD XBOX WIRED CONTROLLER
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
REVIEW POWERA - SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER FOR XBOX SERIES X|S - SPECTRA INFINITY
Model:1522360-01
Best Buy Tech Insider Network
POWER-A SPECTRA IS A GOOD XBOX CONTROLLER
SUMMARY:
As far as affordable controllers with lots of bling, the SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER is a perfectly fine controller. For a lot less than an XBOX wireless controller there is a lot the like. Simply plug and play and you are off and running. You can activate the LED’s by pressing the LED button on the back and if you press and hold it for a few seconds then you can also play with colors and effects.
I also want to note that it also works perfectly fine on my XBOX One and PC as well and it is the exact same size as my Xbox Controller.
It is nice that you can control the effects directly from the controller without extra software to load. There is a super long cord that allows you to sit back about 8 feet from you console. If that is not enough, then you can use a standard USB extender cord.
The mute and volume controls on the controller are very convenient. I like that you can control the sensitivity of the triggers and even remap buttons if you want to.
Overall, it is a decent controller.
Some very picky issues on my side, and I have to say up front I’m picky about my gaming gear.
The controller (black) shows prints and smudges easily.
I found the buttons not as satisfying as the official Xbox controllers. Less resistance on all the buttons. The left stick for example was very “clicky” and my thumb kept slipping off the stick, which is not an issue I’ve ever had with Xbox Controllers. I have a game for example that just uses the left and right sticks for controls and I had a hard time with precise control.
Because I change around a lot between PC/Xbox/PS/SWITCH, I sometimes need reminders about the button labels (YXAB). Even when lighted, the buttons are muted (the letters themselves are not backlit, just the rings around them. So the YXAB don’t really pop in the dark.
The lights (as you can see even in the official pictures) have lots of bleed through to the next zone, which to me, ruin the LED lighting effect. There are 3 light zones you can control and if you choose different colors for each zone, they all sort of bleed into each other. Instead a crisp modern “Tron-Like” color trim, it is just sort of sloppy looking. (unless, you have all the colors the same). If you are going to have 3 light zones, then they should be isolated from each other. Otherwise, just keep one color for everything.
I’m also a very tiny bit bugged by the lack of USB-C where the cable plugs into the controller. I get that most XBOX controllers that are wired use Micro USB, but this is 2021 after all. Chances are you will only plug it in one time then never unplug it.
SUMMARY
I think the SPECTRA ENHANCED WIRED CONTROLLER is perfectly fine, and worthy of a test for you and your gaming rig or console. The lights can be fun but the bleed through of lighting zones ruins the effect for me.