PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus Review
Purchases made through this link may earn us an affiliate commission.
Portable gaming has been around for almost 50 years. Before Nintendo popularized the concept with the Game Boy, Mattel, Coleco, and Milton Bradley had handheld devices. We sure have come a long way from no backlight and burning through batteries (looking at you Game Gear) to the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. Of course, outside of the traditional handheld device, there is an increase in cloud based/streaming devices like Google Stadia (RIP now but was kind of sort of portable if you think about it), Microsoft Game Pass, and Nvidia GeForce Now to name a few. No console is even needed to enjoy everything from small indies like Tunic to big AAA titles like Forza Horizon 5 or Deathloop. How, you ask? Well PowerA may just have that solution.
Introducing the MOGA XP7-X Plus:
Through and through, this is a Xbox controller. While capable of other uses (more on that later), this controller was designed with Game Pass in mind. While slightly longer, it handles just as well as the controllers you get with the purchases of a Xbox console.
The controller feels good. Real good in fact. Weight-wise, it’s about the same as a standard Series S/X controller. Even the buttons feel very similar to console controllers including the pressure sensitivity on the triggers to the clicking of the buttons and sticks. As this was designed to work without a console, there are a few extra buttons which all go largely unnoticed. On the bottom of the controller are the USB/Bluetooth toggle and the program button. The top has a Bluetooth pairing button and the power bank on/off switch (the controller has a built-in wireless charger - that’s what the large center area is). Behind the two handles (is that what you call them?) are two extra remappable buttons that can be programmed in a matter of seconds. The center of the controller houses a detachable stand over the wireless charger that can allow for an easy swap to tabletop gaming.
To be honest, when I hear mobile gaming, I think two things: 1) any number of those games you see advertised on Facebook or during YouTube videos and 2) gaming on the go i.e. traveling or commuting to work. Of course, I know point one is far from the truth. Mobile is not just on the go anymore. With the Switch and Steam Deck, you can pick up from the couch and/or your desk and just move around the house. Check out this box art:
It only tells part of the story though. With both Bluetooth and USB connectivity, the MOGA can be used not just with phones but also tablets or Chromebooks and even your PC. With the Game Pass app, I was able to successfully play several cloud games on a Pixel 6 Pro, a Kindle Fire HD 10, and an Acer Chromebook Spin 11. It even worked on my PC with the Game Pass desktop app. Mobile is more than just on the go gaming now. Outside of Game Pass, the controller did work with some apps (subject to compatibility outside of the control of PowerA) like Dead Cells and Torchlight Infinite and worked with multiple Steam games that have controller support. Connections were nearly instantaneous with every device used during the course of the review.
While minor, there are some issues to be aware of if in the market for this type of controller. There is no iOS support and the charging cable is microUSB (an adapter is provided). Admittedly, microUSB is slightly annoying especially when in a household where almost every device uses USB-C but the battery did not require constant charging (experiences may vary) so I was able to leave the charging cable in one location.Large phones like the Pixel 6 Pro fit fine but are very awkward to get in place. It would have been nice to lock the controller in place when pulling apart each side. Lastly, as the controller is slightly larger than the stock Series S/X controllers, it’s not exactly portable in that you will not be traveling only to place it in your pocket when you reach your destination.
At $99, the MOGA XP7-X Plus is comparable in cost to the Razer Kishi V2 and the Backbone. While larger in size, it more closely resembles the console controllers thus requiring less adjustment to use. Add in a wireless power bank and the versatility of use, the latest offering from PowerA should be at the top of any list for consideration if in the market for this type of controller.
