Luna Wireless Controller review: a decent gamepad for Amazon Luna aficionados
One-minute review
As the name would suggest, the Amazon Luna Wireless Controller is designed specifically for the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service. Although it looks just like most other gamepads, its flagship feature is integrated Wi-Fi functionality that connects the controller directly to Amazon’s servers, cutting down latency by removing your PC or mobile phone from the equation.
This feature alone makes it worthwhile if you’re a dedicated Amazon Luna user, as it does make a noticeable difference to play. While I never found Amazon Luna to be hugely unresponsive when playing with a conventional controller or a keyboard and mouse, the Luna Wireless Controller feels considerably snappier.
The Wi-Fi functionality also enables a few neat tricks, like the ability to seamlessly switch between multiple devices if they’re all connected to the same network. Because of its reliance on Wi-Fi, however, the controller must be set up using the compatible Luna Controller mobile app which might be a dealbreaker for some.
Although Amazon Luna is the clear focus, the Luna Wireless Controller is still compatible with a small number of other devices via Bluetooth. This includes iOS and Android phones in addition to PC, though enabling PC functionality requires a dedicated driver that’s buried in a support page on the Amazon customer service website. The experience on PC isn't anything too exceptional compared to many of the best PC controllers, but it would be a solid choice in a pinch.
Price and availability
$69.99 / £59.99
Available from Amazon in the US and UK
Not available in Australia
The Luna Wireless Controller costs $69.99 / £59.99 and is available to purchase from Amazon. Like the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service, the controller is available in both the UK and US but is not currently offered in Australia.
At this price, the Luna Wireless Controller comes in more expensive than alternatives like the Xbox Wireless Controller, which costs $59.99 / £54.99 and is also fully compatible with Amazon Luna. While the Xbox Wireless Controller lacks the ability to connect directly to Amazon’s game servers, meaning that it suffers from more latency, it's still going to be a solid option for most players.
Specs
Design and features
In terms of overall design, the Luna Wireless Controller is about as standard as they come. It has a layout that is almost identical to the Xbox Wireless Controller, with roughly the same overall shape and button layout. It is constructed from an impressively high-quality plastic though, offering grips that are very sturdy with a slightly dimpled texture that makes them extremely comfortable in the hands. In addition to the standard controller face buttons, which are pleasantly tactile and very responsive, the Luna Wireless controller has the standard home button, start button, and select button on top of a much less conventional Alexa button.
The Alexa button launches Amazon’s voice assistant, which you speak to through the controller’s integrated microphone. It’s quite useful if you need to set a timer or create a quick reminder during a game, but sadly this feature is only available when you’re playing on a Fire TV meaning that most won’t be able to take advantage of it. The home button is also rather unique, as it features a colorful LED ring that glows with a soft purple hue while the controller is in use. This color changes to convey important information about the controller, like if it’s low on battery or currently in pairing mode, which is a great touch.
On the top of the controller are the expected triggers, shoulder buttons, and a USB-C connector. Although the Luna Wireless Controller is powered by two AA batteries, which disappointingly last around four hours at most, it can be used with Amazon Luna in a wired capacity if you’re willing to forgo the Wi-Fi connection.
The bottom of the controller is then home to the 3.5mm headphone jack, which can be used with any compatible wired gaming headset.
Performance
The thumbsticks are smooth and responsive, decorated with charming purple highlights that lend the otherwise plain black and gray controller a much-needed dash of color. The D-pad is perfectly functional overall, but its large and mostly flat shape makes it a poor fit for certain genres. In a fast-paced beat-em-up like River City Girls, for example, I found that it was quite unwieldy when it came to quickly swapping between left and right movements.
The shoulder buttons on the Luna Wireless Controller are excellent, with a similar level of clickiness to the face buttons, but the triggers do leave a lot to be desired. They have a bizarre level of resistance and require a fair amount of force to pull which I found left my fingers feeling sore after particularly long sessions in first-person shooter (FPS) games like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction.
All in all, the Luna Wireless Controller is a pretty robust package with a few clear areas for improvement. While it will certainly satisfy many Amazon Luna fans, it’s not a controller that’s going to win over anyone not already fully invested in the service - especially given its high asking price compared to the competition.
Should I buy the Luna Wireless Controller?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also Consider
If you’re looking for a controller that works well with Amazon Luna, you should also consider these two alternatives.
How I tested the Luna Wireless Controller
Tested for over a month
Used with Amazon Luna and PC
Compared to other gaming controllers
I tested the Luna Wireless Controller for over a month. During this time I used it as my main controller while playing the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service, experiencing a wide variety of different games to assess its performance in a range of genres. This included plenty of Fortnite, the bulk of a Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars playthrough, some River City Girls, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction, Elex 2, Overcooked 2, and more. I tested the features of the Luna Controller app using an iPhone 15 Plus and also made sure to try out the controller’s 3.5mm headphone jack with a SteelSeries Tusq gaming headset.
Outside of Amazon Luna, I briefly used the controller with my PC. Here I played a couple of rounds of Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons and ran around the sun-soaked streets of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth in order to compare the experience with other gamepads.
First reviewed May 2024
