At least right out of the box, the PDP Afterglow Wave makes a great first impression. When you turn on your system with the gamepad connected via USB-C, a beautiful RGB lighting effect will cascade down the grips and light up the area around each analog stick. It’s an eye-catching pad that would work well with games that use a lot of RGB. The lights are the main reason people go to the Afterglow. The grips of the controller are lit up with RGB lights. There are three places on each side where the light can shine through. Both of the thumbstick holes also light up. Users can also change how the lights are set up to fit their needs.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Description
The controllers are a lot lighter than a regular controller, mostly because they don’t have batteries. However, this doesn’t make them feel cheap at all. At first, the change is very strange, but after a while, you get used to it. For extra comfort, the grips, thumbsticks, and triggers have what they call a “laser-etched” feel, which I think is a great addition. You’ll need to get the PDP app from the store, but once you do, the tools will really start to shine. As soon as you plug in your controller, it will know what kind it is and if it needs any changes.
If there are, you’ll have to do it before you can even change the settings. It’s quick, though; it took me less than a minute. The RGB lighting on the PDP Afterglow Wave is probably the most eye-catching part of its design. It’s some of the best RGB lighting I’ve seen on an Xbox Series X|S controller. I like how the light trail cascades down the sides of the grips, and the RGB ring around each analog stick is also a nice touch. Even better, if you play on PC, the PDP Control Hub app lets you fully adjust your lighting profile, including colors, patterns, and speed.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Price and Avaialbility
Right now, you can buy the PDP Afterglow Wave for $44.99, £34.99, or AU$69. You can buy the gamepad from PDP’s website or from big box stores like Amazon, Best Buy, and Gamestop. If you don’t like the black color that comes as the baseline, you can also choose white or gray.
PDP Afterglow Wave Specifications Table
The two thumbsticks are in the usual spot and have a deep concave feel to them, just like an official version would. From there, we have a well-recessed D-Pad that is very flush with the controller’s cover. This D-Pad works well and is much less clicky than the ones we’re used to.
| Details | PDP Afterglow Wave |
|---|---|
| Device type | Gamepad |
| Gaming platforms supported | PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X |
| Gaming control function buttons | D-pad, Menu button, Share button |
| Connectivity technology | Wired |
| Device interface | USB |
| USB connector type | USB Type-C |
| Power source | Cable |
| Windows operating systems supported | Windows 10 |
| Cable length | 2.43 m |
| Check Price |
PDP Afterglow Wave: Design
When you open the box and look at the controller, it doesn’t look like much. It’s black and has a wave shape that doesn’t stand out. But everything changes once you plug it in. Even though it’s still early, why not talk about the RGB? What caught your eye on the box? When you connect the Afterglow Wave to your game or computer, soft colors come out of it and make it look beautiful. The circle well around the thumbstick is also filled with RGB, which makes it look great. Even though I like that part, I wish the matte finish on the controller was a little harder.
It’s a little hard to hold because the grip is mostly smooth, except for a few small bumps underneath. It’s not bad at all, but you might notice it when things get really heated. This could be because the shape of the controller is slightly different from the one I usually use. This one seems to be a bit thinner and longer than a regular Xbox controller. My tight grip on the controller while playing could also be a factor. In the end, it will come down to what the user wants.
When I took the PDP Afterglow Wave out of the box, my first thought was that PDP didn’t do anything too unbelievable and kept the shape close to that of an Xbox Series X/S joystick. The only real difference in how it looked was that the bumpers and triggers were flatter and more square, and there were two paddle buttons on the grips. There was also a small change in how the buttons were made. The setup of the buttons is pretty much the same as a regular Xbox controller, with the X, Y, B, and A buttons on the right and a joystick on the left. Between the d-pad and the right joystick, there is a button to mute the microphone. This is one more button than a normal Xbox controller.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Features
The PDP Afterglow Wave is a wired Xbox controller that is best known for its cool RGB lighting. The grips, thumbsticks, and thumbstick rings are all lit up with RGB lighting in 10 different zones. The lights can be changed to many different colors and effects, and they can even be timed to work with other PDP gaming accessories. The PDP Afterglow Wave controller is a great choice for gamers because it has a lot of great features, including RGB lighting.
On the underside of the grips, the controller has two paddle buttons that can be programmed to do any function on the controller. The controller also has an audio jack and a microphone jack built in, so you can play games with your favorite headset. The Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs can all work with the PDP Afterglow Wave controller. It comes with a USB-C cable that is 10 feet long, so you can play games with plenty of room to move.
🌈 10 zones of RGB lighting: The grips, thumbsticks, and thumbstick rings all have RGB lighting. The lights can be changed to many different colors and effects, and they can even be timed to work with other PDP gaming accessories.
🎮 Paddle buttons: On the bottom of the controller’s grips are two paddle buttons that can be programmed to do any function on the controller. This can give you an advantage in games by letting you do complicated things quickly and easily.
🎧 Built-in audio jack and microphone jack: The controller has a built-in audio jack and microphone jack, so you can use your favorite headset while gaming. This lets you talk to your teammates and opponents without having to take your hands off the controller.
🔄 Compatibility: The controller works with the Xbox Series X/S, the Xbox One, and Windows PCs.
🔌 10-foot USB-C cable: The controller comes with a 10-foot USB-C cable, so you can play games with plenty of space.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Compatibility
Xbox has approved the PDP Afterglow Wave controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11. It is a wired controller, so you will need to use the 8-foot cable that comes with it to connect it to your console or PC. The Afterglow Wave controller works just like a regular Xbox controller on the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. You can use it to play any game that works with an Xbox controller and to move around the dashboard and menus.
Most games that work with Xbox controllers also work with the Afterglow Wave controller on Windows 10 and Windows 11. But the Xbox controller might not work until you install the official Microsoft drivers for it. In general, the PDP Afterglow Wave controller works well with a wide range of devices. It’s a great choice for gamers who want a wired controller that works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Customization
The PDP Afterglow Wave really shines when it comes to being able to be changed. With the PDP Control Hub App, you can change everything about how your controller is set up, including the Dead Zone of the triggers and joysticks, the way buttons and paddles are mapped, the color of the RGB lights, and the audio settings. The Control Hub app also has a diagnostic option, which allows you to test and adjust any buttons or audio functions on your own device.
They truly do make you feel as like you have been given complete authority over the controller’s configuration, which is why they called the application the PDP authority Hub App. You have a total of 4 separate profiles, each of which is fully modifiable, so you can easily swap between profiles depending on the game you’re playing. These profiles have the ability to entirely change not just the appearance of your controller but also its performance, which is an incredible level of personalisation.
The RGB’s customisation is incredible, with in-depth settings that let you get exact with the controller’s LEDs to match your own personal tastes and preferences. You are able to make changes to and exercise control over the LEDs through the use of lighting zones and the assignment of colors to the various zones of your controller. You even have the opportunity to customize the style of the lighting effects, with a selection that includes static, breathing, cycle, and stick.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Performance
Since the PDP Afterglow Wave can only be used with a wire, you can expect very little input lag, which is always nice. Wireless features would have been nice, but at this price point, they aren’t common. The USB-C cord that comes with the game is at least 10 feet long, so you should be able to play while sitting down.
Overall, the controller’s features don’t do much to impress. Almost every part of the controller feels too stiff, including the sticks, bumpers, and triggers. They have a bit more resistance than what I’m used to, especially when compared to the Xbox Wireless Controller that came with the game and the Victrix Gambit made by the same company. This was a problem in racing games like Forza Horizon 5 and shooting games like Halo Infinite, where managing the trigger is very important.
The only good thing about this is that the back paddle buttons work well, and both of them feel good when you press them. I often used these buttons to do things like open additional hotbars in Final Fantasy 14 Online, and I thought the Afterglow Wave did a great job with this. It’s too bad that the rest of the controller’s features are not as good as this one.
PDP Afterglow Wave: Pros and Cons
The PDP Afterglow Wave is a wired controller for Xbox and PC. It has RGB lighting that can be changed and back buttons that can be programmed. It has a unique lighting effect that looks like waves falling and is easy to hold. The Afterglow Wave is a good choice for gamers who want a wired controller with extra features but don’t want to use wireless technology.
Pros
- Fantastic RGB lighting
- Two programmable back buttons
- PDP Control Hub App is great and available on Xbox
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Stiff sticks and triggers
- Wired only
Final Words
Amazing performance with these wired PDP Controllers. They are easy to use, the app is intuitive and packed with functions, and altering the colors of the Afterglow is a lot of fun. Other benefits include the app’s entire feature set and its user-friendliness. It’s true that people these days adore wireless technology and have grown accustomed to using it, but I can’t really criticise what PDP has done in this regard.
