PowerA Enhanced Switch Wireless Controller Review: Worth It?
“Don’t hesitate just buy it!” is how one Best Buy reviewer summed up their experience with PowerA Enhanced Nintendo Switch Controller Wireless - Black — and that enthusiasm lines up with its broad 4.5–4.6 star averages across major retailers. Verdict from the crowd: a budget-friendly Pro Controller alternative that nails comfort and wireless play, but asks you to live without rumble and accept some drift risk. Score: 8.4/10.
Quick Verdict
Conditional Yes.
For players who want a full-size wireless pad with back buttons and long battery life for less than Nintendo’s Pro Controller, sentiment is strongly positive. If rumble, Amiibo/NFC, or rock-solid long-term sticks matter most, users say you may want to pay more.
| What users agree on | Evidence from feedback |
|---|---|
| Comfortable, Pro-like shape | Best Buy user jacks called it “the most solid controller yet,” praising how “smooth and firm” the sticks and buttons feel. |
| Strong battery / easy power | Best Buy user brianl said it “holds a charge well” and lets them “play for a long time,” while Amazon reviewers liked swapping AA rechargeables. |
| Great value vs Pro Controller | Best Buy user movie nut bought it on sale to avoid “the oe nintendo price” and found it “work well.” |
| Two rear programmable buttons matter | Best Buy user photo dude said the back button is “key” for Fortnite and helped keep thumbs on sticks. |
| No rumble or Amiibo support | Best Buy user sd diggs said it’s “great… but no rumble nor nfc support.” Amazon specs confirm no HD rumble or NFC. |
| Drift happens for a minority | Best Buy user raineyb warned it “gets stick drift quickly.” A Reddit Gamecube-style thread echoed “horrible drift.” |
Claims vs Reality
Claim 1: “Up to 30 hours of gameplay with AA batteries.”
Marketing for the black Enhanced Wireless model touts roughly 30 hours, and the Lumectra rechargeable variant promises around 20 hours. User feedback largely supports “long battery life,” but the lived experience varies. Best Buy reviewer brianl said it “holds a charge well” and they can “play for a long time without needing to charge or plug in.” Several Amazon reviewers specifically prefer AA hot‑swap; one verified buyer noted: “I like… being able to pop in AA rechargeable batteries on the fly… so I never really run out of battery.”
Digging deeper, a smaller slice reports weaker stamina. Best Buy user jrei liked the controller overall but said “battery seems to go quickly,” and william joked the “battery life seems to early die.” So while the official estimate is 30 hours, reports range from “crazy long battery” to needing swaps sooner depending on use and batteries.
Claim 2: “Pro‑style performance and comfort.”
PowerA positions this as a comfortable, Pro‑like controller with standard layout. Many users echo that. Best Buy user benjamind said it “makes the switch fun again,” and mother pupper was surprised it “held up wonderfully.” Another Amazon verified buyer described it as their “top two‑joystick controller currently” for “feel, weight… rear extra buttons.”
Yet there’s a reality check in comparisons to Nintendo’s Pro Controller. One Amazon reviewer who tried a different third‑party pad still concluded “the pro controller is far superior,” citing better ergonomics and button placement. Another Amazon buyer returning a special‑edition PowerA unit said it felt “lighter… grip is not as great as the pro.” The crowd narrative: comfort is a highlight for most, but Pro Controller loyalists sometimes feel the difference.
Claim 3: “Advanced features like motion controls and mappable back buttons.”
This claim lands strongly in user stories. Best Buy user photo dude described the programmable rear button as “key” in Fortnite, helping “keep your thumbs on the sticks.” Amazon reviewers appreciated mapping “on the fly,” with one noting it’s “insanely useful” and they “won’t buy a controller without it.”
On motion controls, users are generally happy when they need gyro aiming or tilt. An Amazon buyer who bought a “like new” unit highlighted it was “nice to have gyro for less than half the price of a pro controller.” No major complaints about gyro surfaced; the bigger mismatch is what’s missing: rumble and Amiibo.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A recurring pattern emerged around the controller feeling like the Switch’s grown‑up option at a lower price. Many users mention the shape as a direct upgrade from Joy‑Cons for long sessions. Best Buy user hypnotize mike called it “a fantastic old‑school controller” and framed it as relief from “joycons… plenty issues.” For players whose hands cramp on small grips — parents sharing the Switch with kids, or adults playing big RPGs — that “super‑comfortable ergonomics” claim becomes tangible. Best Buy user nathan said it “feels good in hand” and helped their grandson “really get a grip on the gaming experience.”
Wireless reliability and easy pairing show up across Best Buy and Amazon notes. Best Buy reviewer jacks contrasted it with other options that had “connection issues,” saying this one “has no problems.” Another Amazon verified buyer using it as a travel pad said it “doesn’t lose connection, would recommend.” That matters for couch multiplayer and for players who swap between docked and handheld modes without wanting to re‑pair constantly.
Battery convenience is another common win, especially for people who hate tethered charging. One Amazon buyer laid it out bluntly: “I hate controllers that you have to plug in to charge… AA rechargeables are cheap and insanely easy to find.” Best Buy users like brianl and gmoo reinforce the “long battery life” theme, calling it a “great value wireless controller” and urging others to buy.
Finally, the back buttons are repeatedly framed as a competitive or quality‑of‑life perk. For shooter and battle‑royale players, it’s about keeping thumbs on sticks; for casual players, it’s about reducing awkward clicks. Best Buy user photo dude credits the rear button with better Fortnite play, and an Amazon reviewer said the shortcut buttons “help quite a bit,” letting them cycle items without moving hands off controls.
Common Complaints
The loudest, most consistent complaint is the lack of rumble/vibration and Amiibo/NFC. Best Buy user sd diggs praised responsiveness but listed “no rumble nor nfc support” as the key downside. Another Amazon buyer advising friends wrote that saving money comes “at the removal of the rumble part of the controller, which also makes it feel lighter and cheaper.” For Zelda or Mario fans who use Amiibo frequently, that missing NFC is a hard stop; for racers or action players who rely on haptics for feedback, the controller can feel less immersive.
Stick drift is the second recurring issue, though it’s clearly not universal. Best Buy users split between “haven’t experienced any drift” (brianl) and warnings like raineyb saying it “gets stick drift quickly.” The Best Buy review rollup explicitly flags drift as a notable theme, and Reddit GameCube‑style controller discussions include harsher experiences like “awful… horrible drift :( also can’t be recalibrated.” For Smash or shooters where precision matters and sticks take heavy abuse, drift anxiety shows up earlier and more sharply.
A smaller but noticeable complaint is weight and “cheap” feel from being light. Because PowerA omits rumble motors, some users see it as a feature (less fatigue), others as a downgrade. One Amazon reviewer said it “saves weight by not having… vibration motors,” but another said it “ends up feeling a bit cheap” due to being “very light” compared with the Pro Controller. For players who equate heft with durability, this is a sticking point.
Divisive Features
AA batteries versus built‑in rechargeables is a surprisingly polarizing topic. Some celebrate the swap‑and‑go setup. The Amazon reviewer who calls it their top controller said having “AA rechargeable batteries on the fly… so I never really run out of battery” beats being “tethered” to charge. Best Buy users also like the flexibility, with one suggesting buying rechargeables so you can “swap them out and never stop playing.”
Others wish it were rechargeable, especially those coming from the Pro Controller ecosystem. Best Buy user brandonk praised a rechargeable aspect on their unit, but across the data, several people say built‑in charging would feel more premium. The split seems tied to use case: travelers and households with multiple controllers lean AA; solo players used to USB‑C charging lean rechargeable.
Trust & Reliability
Long‑term durability reports are mostly encouraging but not bulletproof. Best Buy user mother pupper expected “a cheap controller that did[n’t] last” but after 1.5 years said it “held up wonderfully.” Another Amazon verified buyer using a branded edition for nearly a year said they’d had “no wear whatsoever” and called it “reliable all the time.” These stories suggest that for moderate use — RPGs, platformers, family play — the build holds.
However, drift complaints complicate trust for heavy, competitive play. Best Buy user raineyb had drift by 1.5 years and would “still recommend the nintendo brand pro controller.” Reddit discussions about PowerA wireless sticks include users saying they tried multiple units and all drifted, and others recommending replacements. The reputation that emerges is “good value with a warranty,” but with a risk profile higher than first‑party controllers.
Alternatives
Only alternatives named in the data are Nintendo’s Pro Controller and 8BitDo options. Many users position PowerA Enhanced Nintendo Switch Controller Wireless - Black as a cheaper Pro stand‑in. Best Buy user movie nut bought it specifically to avoid “the oe nintendo price,” while Amazon reviewers note it’s “an inexpensive alternative.” Still, in direct comfort comparisons, some Amazon buyers say the Pro Controller is “far superior” in ergonomics and grip. The tradeoff is clear in user talk: Pro Controller brings rumble, Amiibo, and heavier premium feel; PowerA brings lower cost and back buttons.
8BitDo appears mainly as a rumble‑seeking alternative in Reddit chatter about PowerA’s GameCube‑style pad. One Reddit user suggested “if rumble is a selling point, the 8bitdo pro+ is your best bet.” That implies a buyer choice: if you want third‑party pricing with haptics, some in the community look there instead.
Price & Value
Retail pricing in the sources clusters between about $48–$70 new, often discounted. Best Buy lists it at $47.99 during sales, calling $69.99 the comparable value, and GameRant highlights discounts down to around $35. User sentiment tracks price closely: the lower it goes, the more “no brainer” it becomes. Best Buy user bscott called it a “very good deal,” and gmoo said it’s “much better than stock controllers” especially “on sale.”
Resale listings on eBay show used units commonly under $30, sometimes far less for pre‑owned bundles. That matches a value narrative: it’s affordable to replace if drift happens, but depreciation is steep compared to Nintendo first‑party pads. Community buying tips lean toward grabbing it on discount and stocking rechargeable AAs if you go that route.
FAQ
Q: Does the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller have rumble or Amiibo support?
A: No. Multiple Best Buy reviewers point out “no rumble nor nfc support,” and the official specs state it “does not support HD rumble… or amiibo NFC.” If vibration feedback or Amiibo scanning matters, users suggest considering Nintendo’s Pro Controller instead.
Q: How good is the battery life in real use?
A: Most users praise it as long‑lasting. Best Buy user brianl said it “holds a charge well,” and Amazon reviewers like swapping AA rechargeables. A minority report faster drain, so results depend on battery quality and play style.
Q: Is stick drift a major problem?
A: Not for everyone, but it’s a recurring complaint. Best Buy rollups mention drift, and users like raineyb say it “gets stick drift quickly.” Others, like brianl, report none. Heavy Smash or shooter players seem most concerned.
Q: Does it feel like a real Pro Controller?
A: Many say it’s close enough to be their main pad. Best Buy user jacks called it “the most solid controller yet,” while some Amazon buyers feel Nintendo’s Pro Controller is more ergonomic and premium. Expect a lighter, simpler feel.
Q: Are the rear programmable buttons actually useful?
A: For many, yes. Best Buy user photo dude said the back button is “key” for Fortnite, helping keep thumbs on sticks. Amazon reviewers also like mapping mid‑game. If you play competitive shooters or action games, this feature stands out.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a Switch player who wants a comfortable, Pro‑style wireless controller with strong battery life and genuinely useful back buttons, especially when it’s on sale. Avoid if you need rumble, Amiibo/NFC, or you’re a competitive player who can’t tolerate any drift risk. Pro tip from the community: follow Best Buy user advice to use rechargeable AA batteries so you can “swap them out and never stop playing.”
