With the growth of cloud gaming, many players are turning towards more convenient options to make the most of their gaming needs. Plenty of cloud gaming services are now available, freeing people from the PC desk or sofa and instead being able to access high quality games on things like mobile devices. Having a good controller can make all the difference here, and this is something that the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus is looking to deliver.
The PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus is a controller designed with mobile gaming in mind, but matches the build and size of the current generation of Xbox controllers. The Bluetooth controller was designed specifically with Xbox Game in view, although the controller actually has a few extra buttons with customizable mapping to give players a little bit extra. It's an excellent choice for Android players, although the versatility of the controller goes beyond this specific purpose.
One of the most important aspects of any controller is the structural quality of its build, and the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus certainly excels here. It sits comfortably in the hand and the buttons themselves feel more rugged to the touch than most other mobile-compatible controllers, and indeed better than most third party controllers in general. There are a few differences from the mainline Xbox controllers of course - a key one being the rigid feel of the central Xbox button rather than the softer push of the traditional controller - but it's as a good a mirror as players are likely to get for cloud gaming.
Of course, a mobile controller has its own separate criteria for a controller to reach, and here the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus hits the mark too. It's an extremely lightweight controller, which is surprising given the quality of its construction, meaning that it's an easy choice to chuck into a bag for portable gaming or to take on an overnight trip somewhere. In spite of its lightweight size, the included cradle for the player's phone never feels like it's going to tip over, either.
Some of the extra features that the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus includes also make it a worthy addition to a gamer's controller collection. Alongside the aforementioned customizable button inputs, the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus has the option to charge your phone as you use it thanks to an integrated power bank, meaning that the dread of running out of battery life on your mobile for more pressing matters than gaming is entirely removed. The player can keep track of charge with a handy gauge at the bottom of the controller, too.
As mentioned, the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus is Bluetooth compatible, but there's also the option to connect via cable if the player so chooses. Switching between the two is easy enough to do as well, thanks to a simple toggle underneath the Xbox button, so there are plenty of options there. Speaking of options, the functionality of the controller goes beyond simply being used for Android devices; it's compatible with other platforms too so PC players can use it if they so choose, and it falls into that rare breed of Mac compatible controller that is actually enjoyable to use. In spite of its branding, however, it's not Xbox console compatible, so players should watch out if they're looking for a quick extra controller there.
With that in mind, it's worth noting that this controller isn't necessarily made to be a top tier competitor for at-home platforms, and those expecting something to compete with the likes of the Xbox Series X/S or DualSense controllers may find it wanting, particularly with triggers that offer little resistance for things like driving games. However for cloud gaming - particularly at this competitive price point - it is certainly a good choice for gamers.
It is worth checking the full level of compatibility for mobile devices, beyond the obvious choices of operating system and hardware. As one example, the clip is meant for phones up to 79mm in size, so players should be mindful that their own phone will fit into the cradle correctly. Some s have also reported that the clamp on the cradle can interfere with things like the volume button on their phone, so it's worth having a look to see if there have been complaints about a specific device. When tested with a Samsung Galaxy S21 the clip ran into no such problems, however.
Overall, the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus is a remarkable controller for mobile gaming. It's been designed with Xbox cloud gaming in mind, but that feeds through to plenty of exceptional features that make it an adaptable controller for all kinds of gaming situations. It's certainly a device for gamers to consider should they want to have a strong level of control while out on the go.
The PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus is available now on the PowerA website and online retailers such as Amazon. Screen Rant was provided with a PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus controller for the purposes of this review.