Review: Moga Hero Power and Pro Power Controller

I’ve been using the Hero Power and Pro Power controllers for the past two weeks now, and what can I say? I’m sold. They are fantastic products with a few qualms here and there. Let’s get started!

Unboxing and First Impression

The packaging is fairly minimal. There is a cardboard sleeve, and once you slide that off, you have the box with the controller, a slight manual, and a 3″ USB to microUSB cable for charging. Overall, it’s nice packaging for the controllers, since it doesn’t waste a tree.

Onto the controllers! The Pro Power feels fantastic, and the Hero Power feels so-so. Let’s just say the Hero Power is a modified version of last year’s first Moga controller, the Pocket Controller (the one they were literally giving away for free). If you’ve used last year’s model, you’ll know how cramped the Hero Power is.

The Pro Power, on the other hand, feels extremely similar to an Xbox 360 controller, which is to say, it’s wonderful. It has a black plastic finish on the outside of the controller, and surrounding the buttons, D-pad, and analog sticks are glossy.

These controllers are definitely sturdy, just be careful with the hinge. After opening and closing it a myriad of times, I can definitely see this becoming loose to the point that it might break. Honestly, I’m not worried about it, but it is something that’s worth mentioning.

Day to Day, Play and Play

I played two games with the controllers, Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2. First up, the Hero Power. It was a decent experience. I had a huge problem with the triggers. They are an extremely awkward experience. They are stiff and shallow, and if you’re used to an Xbox 360 controller, you’ll understand what I mean. The Hero Power feels very cramped and small. I have average sized hands and can’t imagine anyone else using this for long stints.

The Pro Power was a fantastic upgrade to the Hero Power. It brought me back to when I would play Xbox 360 for hours on end. It felt nearly perfect, especially with the Xbox 360-like triggers. The one issue I had with this controller was that the trigger started to have less tension after a few hours of playtime. I was playing Asphalt 8 when I noticed less resistance from the trigger. Other than that, it was a joy to use!

Battery, please!

I was able to play Asphalt 8 for about 2 hours on my Nexus 4 and switch to the Nexus 7 for about 30 minutes, and the Pro Power still had about 75% left. Here’s the thing, I didn’t play with the controller charging my phone or tablet. I tested it without that feature at first because I wanted to see how the battery life is, and suffice to say, I’m pretty happy.

However, you’re better off having your phone plugged into an external power source if you’re really wanting to play and charge. Charging on my Nexus 4, wasn’t really a great experience. I didn’t experience any overheating, but if you touched the phone, it was noticeably warm (warmer than just sitting on a charger). It didn’t cause alarm, but it is something to think about. Depending on the game, you might not really notice any benefit from the controller’s charging aspect. While it did charge, it did so at a negative rate. That is to say that my phone had 100%, but after 20 minutes of Asphalt 8 with it charging, the battery dropped to 98%.

I’m pleased with the performance despite the charging feature’s shortcomings. Don’t expect to play for 15-20 hours charging your phone though! If you’re wondering the battery differences, it’s minimal, yet still enough to consider paying more. The Hero Power holds an 1800 mAh battery while the Pro Power holds 2200 mAh of battery juiciness. I haven’t seen anything documented by Moga in regards to the estimated length of use.

Final Thoughts

I think these would be great gifts. They would definitely make the gamer in your family happy. If you have a little one, don’t worry about getting the Pro Power, the Hero Power will more than satisfy them. However, if you are or have a serious gamer, get the Pro Power. It’s more comfortable, and it just feels better. The Hero Power is, of course, the more portable of the two.

The Hero Power retails for $59.99, while the Pro Power retails for $79.99. If you’re thinking those are steep prices, you are right. However, if mobile gaming is where you spend your time, then these are competitive with console controllers, and the cost is definitely offset by the cost of the game.

Get them at Moga’s site and a bunch of other retailers just in time for Christmas!

Hero Power

Pro Power