If you’ve been shopping around for your next gaming controller, you’ve probably come across the term “Hall Effect” in relation to the sensors inside. Essentially, Hall Effect sensors measure the strength of a magnetic field to detect motion, unlike traditional input sensors that rely on physical contact. This means they don’t wear out like traditional devices, avoiding stick drift and a host of other issues. The problem is that controllers with this sensing method often don’t come cheap.
PowerA’s new controllers are surprisingly affordable, though. There’s the OPS v1 for $50 and the OPS V3 Pro for $100. Both are input devices with the now-familiar Xbox-like shape, asymmetrical thumbsticks, and a host of features. Importantly, though, both feature Hall Effect sensors underneath the thumbsticks and triggers, which should make them immune to stick drift.
The cheaper of the two, the PowerA OPS v1 is pretty feature-rich for the same price as a standard Xbox wireless controller. You get 3-way trigger locks, four assignable rear buttons, a programmable turbo button, and a rechargeable battery – along with those fancy sensors, of course. That rechargeable battery is a boon for the money, as it still annoys me that the standard Xbox controller requires you to swap batteries in and out by default in 2024.
The PowerA OPS v3 Pro expands the number of rear buttons to six, along with a larger battery, included charging dock, and glossy multi-zone RGB lighting. You also get tactile mechanical switches beneath the D-pad, front buttons, and shoulder buttons, as well as height-adjustable thumbsticks.
That’s quite a feature set for a $100 controller. Our current pick for the best premium controller, the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, has many of the same features but lacks the all-important Hall effect extras. It also has an MSRP of $160, though admittedly you can sometimes find it cheaper if you shop around.
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However, it feels wonderfully high quality and time will tell if the PowerA models can keep up in terms of build quality.
The best Hall Effect controller we’ve tested so far is the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, one of which costs $200 but has a fancy built-in color screen. However, considering that even the OPS v3 Pro costs literally half as much, Turtle Beach seems to have some serious competition.
We’ll try to get our hands on these for some proper testing, but just looking at the spec sheets suggests you’re getting a lot for your money here. However, the feel in the hand is what really matters with controllers, so hopefully PowerA hasn’t skimped on the materials to get them to such a reasonable price.
After all, smooth sensors aren’t the be-all and end-all of controller design. It’s a pretty good start, though, and getting your hands on a controller with these sensors for so cheap is promising. Is this the start of all major controllers getting Hall-effect sensors and proper integrated battery solutions, even at the lower end? One can only hope.
