The PC controller market may not be as crowded as the console space, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t options for gamers who prefer a gamepad over a keyboard and mouse. Enter PowerA’s OPS line, and more specifically, the v1—a wireless controller built with PC, cloud, and mobile gaming in mind. I’ve had the chance to get my hands on the v1 to see if it really is the solution for gamers seeking a controller experience that can keep up with the precision of mouse and keyboard users.
For this review, I was sent the special Fortnite Edition of the v1, priced at $54.99/£54.99, which is just $5 more than the standard model. This puts it in the budget-friendly range compared to other PowerA controllers I’ve tested, like the Advantage, FUSION Pro Wireless, and FUSION Pro 4. Interestingly, it sits right in the same price bracket as the Xbox Core controller, which also offers great PC compatibility. So, how does the v1 measure up in the battle for your hands? Let’s find out...
Design
The first thing that caught my eye when unboxing the Fortnite Edition of the OPS v1 was its bold, special-edition branding. The controller itself is predominantly white, with “FORTNITE” stamped in black across the front and a metallic gold logo on the left handle for a little extra flair. Along with the visual appeal, the package includes a code for the Assault Bomber Glider, as shown below. While these cosmetic touches don't affect performance, they do make up the $5 premium over the standard v1, so it's worth noting if you're torn between the two.
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+ 4As for the controller as a whole, I found it to be quite comfortable, with a light design that makes it easy to hold during extended gaming sessions. PowerA lists the weight as 0.593 lbs, but when I weighed it myself, it came in a bit lighter at 0.496 lbs, which seemed more accurate to me.
Although the controller doesn’t feature any flashy RGB Lumectra lighting (which I'm fine with since that usually adds unnecessary cost), it does have a textured back grip. It’s not rubberized, so it doesn’t have the premium feel you might expect from more expensive models, but it still managed to do a job on both the comfort and grip front.
When it comes to functionality, the OPS v1 offers three connectivity options: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless with a USB adapter, and wired via USB. I mostly stuck to the wired and 2.4GHz wireless modes, both of which worked pretty seamlessly. While I didn’t get to fully test the quoted 20-hour battery life, I didn’t encounter any issues with battery depletion during my time with it. Plus, if it did run out of juice, plugging it in to recharge is a simple fix.
Feature-wise, the v1 is packed with useful options. It comes with four mappable back buttons, dual rumble motors, independent three-way trigger locks, a Turbo button on the front, Hall Effect thumbsticks and triggers, and two additional thumbstick caps (shown below) that you can use to increase the height for more precise control.
click to enlarge + 4Some things that stood out about the design of these features:
- The four back buttons felt significantly sturdier and more satisfying to press compared to the softer, easier-to-misclick buttons I’ve experienced on previous PowerA controllers. That said, they’re positioned quite close together, which might be a bit cramped for some users.
- The switches for adjusting trigger height on each side were notably stiff and required a fair bit of force to move. While this may sound like a downside, I appreciated it—it meant there were no accidental adjustments mid-game.
- In terms of the actual trigger height, I found the shorter distances to be, well, slightly shorter than what I experienced using the PowerA FUSION Pro Wireless, especially at the lowest setting.
- The trigger caps had a chunky, tall design with a concave surface, which initially made me hesitant. On top of that, they were pretty tough to snap on—I had to use a surprising amount of force, which made me worry about the long-term durability of the thumbsticks, especially after repeated use of putting them on and taking them off.
But the real question is, did all these features actually enhance my gameplay? Let’s dive into that next…
Performance
I'll start by saying that I didn’t thoroughly test the Turbo button, but I can appreciate it as a handy extra feature for those who might need it. As for the dual rumble motors and wireless connection, I have no complaints. The rumble motors did exactly what they should, adding a subtle but welcome layer of immersion to gameplay, and the wireless connection was fairly solid. I experienced no more lag than usual, with inputs feeling as responsive as you’d expect. The real test, however, came from putting the controller through its paces in games like XDefiant, FC 25, and, of course, Fortnite.
Let's begin with the trigger locks. Through trial and error, I’ve found that my best setup is having the right trigger on the shortest or middle height, while the left trigger sits at mid-distance. With this configuration, I actually won the first game of Fortnite I played. My reactions felt sharp, and I genuinely noticed a performance boost from the trigger locks—whether it was a real advantage or just a placebo, it worked for me.
As mentioned, I had some initial doubts about the thumbstick caps, particularly regarding their height and size. However, my skepticism turned out to be misplaced. The caps significantly improved my aim, especially with fine adjustments. I was notably more accurate, achieving over a 2.5 K/D in XDefiant while sniping—a tough test of accuracy and a relatively impressive feat for me, considering I’m far from the best at the game. While I liked using both caps for symmetry, I think most players would find it optimal to use just one on the right stick, leaving the left stick free for quicker movements.
That said, the thumbsticks weren’t without their flaws. Despite the Hall Effect technology, I still encountered stick drift—something I’ve unfortunately experienced with several PowerA controllers. When tested using Gamepad Tester, neither stick would return to a dead-center position after being moved. Although the drift was minimal, there were times when the right stick would be more noticeably off-center. In fact, during a session of XDefiant, I noticed the right stick drifting up and to the left without any input, as shown in the screenshots below (taken about 10 seconds apart). While this drift didn’t always translate to in-game movement, it happened frequently enough to be a concern.
click to enlarge + 4Thankfully, PowerA's PC HQ software includes a recalibration feature, which did help reset the sticks temporarily. However, after moving them around again, they would quickly fall slightly off-center once more.
In the end, Gamepad Tester showed the OPS v1’s sticks to be only marginally more accurate and “drift-free” than my 3+ year-old PS5 DualSense controller, which lacks Hall Effect technology altogether. To me, that’s a bit concerning.
Software
PowerA’s PC HQ software is the go-to tool for testing, calibrating, remapping buttons, adjusting the turbo function, fine-tuning the joysticks, modifying the triggers, and testing the rumble force on the OPS v1.
The software feels like an upgraded version of PowerA's Gamer HQ—cleaner, more intuitive, and easier to navigate. The menus are well-organized, with clear instructions throughout, making it a smoother experience overall.
click to enlarge + 4I primarily used the software for recalibrating the controller, but I also found it more convenient for mapping the four back buttons compared to the onboard method (which involves pressing the middle back button, followed by the button you want to remap, and then the back button you’re assigning it to).
You’ll notice the software interface says "Profile 1" in the top left corner, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a way to save multiple profiles, which would’ve been a useful feature. According to PowerA’s website, the PC HQ software is still in BETA, so hopefully, profile saving will be something they introduce in a future update.
Verdict
Overall, this controller is tough to pin down. While it has its share of flaws, some of its simple but practical features, like the thumbstick caps and adjustable triggers, really stood out to me. Yet, it feels like there's a "but" attached to every positive aspect. For instance:
- It keeps things simple without overcomplicating the design, but some elements feel a bit on the cheap side.
- The four additional back buttons are solid and satisfying to press, but one could argue they're a bit too close together for comfort.
- The thumbstick caps did improve my precision and accuracy, but they’re concave, which goes against the common belief that convex sticks are better for aiming. Plus, they require a fair amount of force to snap on, which could affect the sticks’ long-term accuracy with repeated use.
Speaking of accuracy, the stick drift issue is a major concern, especially considering the use of Hall Effect technology. While the drift was minimal during my testing, it’s a problem that shouldn’t exist in the first place and could easily worsen over time.
Taking everything into account—the pros, the cons, and the fact that I did enjoy using the controller overall—it’s clear that it offers a lot of features for its price, especially if you opt for the standard OPS v1. I think the score I’ve given below is fair. However, I’ll add that the score could easily drop by a point or two if the stick drift worsens and starts impacting gameplay down the line.
Where to buy the controller *
* prices are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change
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