Moga PRO Power Review

Introduction

Last year, one of the most notable gaming focused accessories that we reviewed was the Moga Pro Controller – a Bluetooth gamepad meant for serious gamers. It was something we regarded as a must-have item for anyone sporting an Android device, seeing that the gamepad eliminated the need to rely on a games’ on-screen controls. Well, its popularity eventually brought on the development of its successor, the Moga Pro Power Controller. This year is looking to be a banner year for mobile gamepads, so will this one continue Moga’s success in the space?

The package contains:

• USB charging cable
• MOGA Boost charging cable
• Tablet stand
• Owner’s manual

Design

Unchanged for the most part, but it still has a home console-like controller feel.

Following after the success of its predecessor, the Moga Pro Power’s design for the most part remains identical – save for a couple of minor aesthetic changes. Quite frankly, it looks like the XBOX 360 controller, which is a good thing because it has an ergonomic feel and an ideal button configuration layout. It’s still constructed out of plastic, but there’s enough weight to give it a very sturdy build quality.

We’re sad to know that the rubberized grips on last year’s Moga Pro have been removed, so the handles of the controller don’t have as much of a grippy feel in the hand. Instead, it feels a bit more slippery due to the bare plastic casing of the controller. Aside from that, we have no other major complaints, mainly because it’s exactly like a home console controller.

Just like before, it features two full-sized analog sticks that are precise and have great snapping feedback – the kind of thing we want to feel when moving around in a first person shooter. Additionally, its directional pad and 4 action buttons have the elements, like being raised and offering tactile responses when pressed, to enhance the gaming experience for mobile so that it’s similar to a home console. Rounding things out, two shoulder buttons and two analog triggers are positioned in familiar areas so our fingers are able to quickly wrap around them.

Keeping our smartphones in place, its updated “SMRT Lock” arm is now able to accommodate larger sized smartphones – like the HTC One max and Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 to name a few. On top of a microUSB port that allows us to charge its internal 2200 mAh battery, there’s a full sized USB port nearby to enable the charging of other devices using the appropriate cable.

Battery

Expanding more on its battery, we wouldn’t necessarily go as far to say that we can rely on the Moga Pro Power to completely charge our devices. It’s not meant to act as a dedicated charger, but rather, it’s merely something that can maintain the battery level of our device as we’re playing a game. Just think about it for a moment, mainly because today’s gaming titles are more processor intensive than ever before – causing dramatic battery drain in the process. So rather than having that low battery indicator pop up after playing a game, the Moga Pro Power maintains the battery life throughout that time.

Performance

An uncompromised experience that eliminates the cluttered view of on-screen controls.

If you want a home console gamepad experience, the Moga Pro Power Controller delivers just that for the mobile experience. Just like its predecessor, the Moga Pro Power is exactly the kind of gamepad that adheres to the needs of serious gamers. Not only is it armed with the same button configuration we see with home console controllers, but the overall feel is also identical.

First person shooters really benefit from the Moga Pro Power Controller the most, due to the fact that we’re no longer fighting with on-screen controls. As a result, we have more visibility to see the action unfolding – instead of constantly moving our view with the on-screen controls. Best of all, there’s a healthy selection of games in the Google Play Store that support the controller. And the list of games continue to grow!

Are you not into today’s modern games? Well, you’re in luck because the Moga Pro Power Controller works well with a variety of emulators too. Whether it’s an old school Super Nintendo or Sega Master System one, most of them allow us to map buttons to the controller. Bearing that in mind, it just goes to show the added level of functionality that’s attached to it.

Knowing that it relies on a Bluetooth connection, lag is always a concern to any hardcore gamer. Fortunately, the lag on this one is non-existent. However, it manifests more when we connect our smartphone/tablet to a high-definition television. On one hand, we can use the controller independently to give it a dedicated home console feel, but on the other, the result with this setup is the noticeable delay with the response of the controller. It’s not terrible per se, but enough to stand out for us to take notice.

And finally, the other new feature here with the controller is the multiplayer support using the same smartphone/tablet. Although we’re unable to test it out, it basically allows up to four Moga Power series controllers to connect to a single device for multiplayer play. In fact, there are 4 LED lights near the four action buttons that corresponds to each players’ number.

Conclusion

To quickly recap, the Moga Pro Power maintains its predecessor’s functionality and most of its design characteristics, but the only major change we see here is the new feature of being to charge our device on the go. Alas, the pricing with this controller has increased to $80, which is an increase of $30 from last year’s Moga Pro Controller.

It’s without question more expensive to own, but it’s hard to deny the fact that it’s a serious gamepad that doesn’t make any compromises with the gaming experience. If you’re looking to save some money, Moga’s other Power series controller, the Hero Power, is an option to think about. However, if money isn’t a concern, or if you really yearn for a home console-like gamepad, the Pro Power is a mesmerizing mobile gaming accessory that’ll give you the edge.