The Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch with Lumectra (Lumectra for short) is the latest offering from peripheral manufacturer PowerA. Featuring full wireless support for everyone’s favourite Nintendo console that could, the Enhanced Wireless is packed with features and technology that help it stand out in a sea of third-party controllers. With multi-zone RGB, Rechargeable battery and full motion control support, the Enhanced Wireless aims to be a solid alternative to the standard Nintendo Pro controller.
The ergonomic design of the Enhanced Wireless feels very similar to the Xbox Series X/S controller and weighs in at 261g, a mere 13g more than the official Switch Pro controller. The palm grips offer a textured pattern that aids in securing the controller in hand while gaming. In hand, the controller feels sturdy and well-constructed.
On the face, the Enhanced Wireless mirrors the Pro’s button and stick layout with a few notable differences. The thumb grips on the Enhanced Wireless have a much more pronounced, rubberized cover, making them much more comfortable and providing a better grip even after hours of playtime. Additionally, the start, select, screenshot and home buttons are also more pronounced making it much easier to locate without looking down at the controller.
As for the bumpers and triggers, they feel similar to the Pro controller with a bit more of a tactile response when pressed. The underside of the controller is where PowerA has decided to deviate from the standard design. Two programmable buttons called the Advance Gaming Buttons occupy the bottom of the palm grips (one on each side).
“The ergonomic design of the Enhanced Wireless feels very similar to the Xbox Series X/S controller and weighs in at 261g, a mere 13g more than the official Switch Pro controller.”
They are positioned perfectly so that the middle finger on each hand naturally rests on them. In the center are two additional buttons. The top one is for programming the buttons as mentioned earlier while the bottom one gives access to one of the most interesting features of the Lumectra, LED Control.
The Enhanced Wireless offers 4 individual lighting zones with 24 unique colours per zone to select from. With 3 distinct lighting modes (solid, breathing and cycle) to choose from, the Lumectra offers customization options for players. More impressive still is how easy it is to swap colours and settings without the need for additional software.
Thanks to the aforementioned LED button, Swapping the RGB effects is as easy as switching the controller into RGB mode and using the various buttons to program each zone. The online manual does a great job of explaining the process. Once set up the controller saves the created profile automatically.
On the note of programming, the Advanced Gaming Buttons are also exceptionally easy to set up and use. Following the same method as the RGB controls, the controller can be placed in programming mode with two button presses, the first being the button you would like to assign and the second being one of the AG buttons. Rinse and repeat for the second AG button and everything is ready to go.
The lack of dependence on additional software is perhaps one of the best features of the Lumectra controller. While there are some other RGB and programmable button-enabled controllers on the market, many require cumbersome software support to leverage all of the features. PowerA has made a smart decision with the Enhanced Wireless, making it easy to manage its features without the need for additional support.
PowerA has done an excellent job at making the programming process, both for RGB and the AGB, easy and streamlined. This is a theme with the Enhanced Wireless controller in general. Connecting to the Nintendo Switch follows the same standard process as connecting a pro controller. The Nintendo Switch immediately recognizes the Lumectra and assigns it to a position on the console.
As for how the Enhanced Wireless performs, across the board, everything works well. In testing the Lumectra was as responsive as the Pro controller and had no issues with latency. All buttons felt responsive in regards to input as well as tactile feedback. Likewise, the Thumsticks were responsive and felt great to use. While the Enhanced Wireless lacks hall effect switches and sticks, which would have been a nice addition, the controller nonetheless feels solid and durable to use.
“…the Enhanced Wireless is a budget-friendly, feature-rich wireless controller solution for your Nintendo Switch.”
While I’m not a fan of motion controls, for the sake of science, I tested the feature on the Enhanced Wireless, and it did exceptionally well. Though my gaming skills didn’t improve with the motion controls active, the controller was responsive and accurate. For those looking for a solid motion controller solution, the Lumectra is more than up for the task.
Battery life on the Enhanced Wireless is also quite impressive. While there are factors that will impact the length of usage between charges, such as RGB light settings, the Enhanced Wireless is rated for up to 20 hours of play before charge. In testing, with RGB off, I averaged closer to 18 1/2 hours before needing to plug into the included 10ft USB cable. While this number does reduce some with RGB enabled, it is nonetheless an impressive amount of play time for a wireless controller.
There is a cost to the battery length though. It comes in the form of no HD rumble, IR camera or Amiibo NFC support. While the latter two have no real impact on the play experience, the lack of HD rumble was a bit a of letdown. With HD rumble being a standard feature in most third-party controllers I was a bit surprised to not see it present in this latest PowerA offering. Granted, with an impressively long battery life, it’s a bit of a toss-up as to which I would sacrifice given the choice.
Despite these minor critiques, the Enhanced Wireless is a budget-friendly, feature-rich wireless controller solution for your Nintendo Switch. While it does lack a couple of the Pro Controller features, it makes up for it with customizable RGB, Advanced Gaming buttons and impressive battery life. The Enhanced Wireless Controller with Lumectra from PowerA is well constructed, easy to program and use and is incredibly responsive for gaming on the Nintendo Switch. Priced at USD $59.99, it is a controller worth considering.
