Scuf Valor Pro review: A superb quality PC controller with one compromise

The Scuf Valor Pro is an Xbox controller and PC controller that is stuffed with masses of extra features and includes premium upgrades such as using Hall Effect sticks and switchable quick-press triggers. Its big compromise, though, is that it’s wired-only. However, this is reflected in a price that’s far lower than a controller of this quality would be with a wireless connection.

With most premium options on our best PC controller guide tending to use a wireless connection, and feeling all the more convenient for it, Scuf‘s new controller is inherently going to have more limited appeal. However, if you want high-end build and features but without spending too crazy an amount of money, this is a very tempting option.

Specs

Features

The Scuf Valor Pro is absolutely packed with features. For a start, you get your standard selection of Xbox controls, all of which feel largely like a standard Xbox controller, rather than the buttons being swapped for mouse-button-like micro switches with a pronounced click. As such, the feel of the main features here is entirely familiar.

Not that there aren’t extra features lurking within these standard controls. The thumbsticks have been upgraded to use Hall Effect magnetic sensors, which means they effectively don’t wear out and thus start to introduce more and more stick drift. The sticks themselves can also be removed and swapped for round-topped ones, one of which is longer to provide a wider range of motion for greater accuracy.

To remove the thumbsticks you also have to engage another of this controller’s extra features, which is a removable faceplate. This is held on with magnets and fits so neatly that you’d never know it wasn’t permanently attached. As with other Scuf controllers, you can swap it for a host of more colorful options, which is good as the default one is decidedly drab.

The next most obvious extras are two little scroll wheels on the front edge of the controller. The left one mutes and controls the volume level of any headsets connected to the 3.5mm audio jack on the front edge. Meanwhile, the right one controls the game/chat mix and mutes your connected headset’s microphone.

Flip the controller over and you can see where the bulk of the rest of this controller’s extras reside. Like most premium controllers, the main addition over a standard Xbox controller are rear paddles These consist of two wide-set paddles tucked into the sides of the controller grips along with two inner paddles that sit more flat against the undersurface of the controller.

The outer paddles are permanently in place and have a firmer feel which means they take a bit more effort to press. This prevents you hitting them accidentally but some gamers might prefer a lighter touch. Meanwhile, the inner buttons are of a much lighter micro switch-style, which means they are quite easy to activate accidentally, but if you find this a problem you can remove these and just blank off the space where they were with the two included plastic inserts.

Just above these paddles are sliding switches for converting the main analog triggers to instant triggers with a short travel distance. Unlike some controllers that just reduce the travel distance of the trigger, the Valor Pro flips the triggers to using micro switches, for a really precise, snappy feel.

The final main extra feature is a profile button that sits in the middle of the back of the controller. This lets you cycle between three different controller configurations at the touch of a button. An LED on the top of the controller will change color to indicate the profile you’re using.

In lieu of a wireless connection, Scuf includes a reasonably long 3m USB-A to USB-C cable in the box. It’s a fairly thick, braided cable so should prove quite tough, though isn’t as supple as some. Like with most controllers, the cable isn’t held in place by any special mechanism, so it’s relatively easy to pull the plug out of the controller, for better (prevents the cable pulling the controller out of your hands) or worse (ensures a caught cable will unplug you from your session).

Design and comfort

Let’s face it, the Valor Pro is a bit boring looking. Call it utilitarian, call it professional, call it what you like, but a few orange highlights on black and gray isn’t the most exciting. Moreover, it doesn’t have that cool sleekness of an all-black look either.

Thankfully, though, the ability to swap the faceplate of this controller means you can completely transform its look. Our favorites are the plain black – without the orange highlights – and the white and cherry blossom shown below.

Nice as the swappable faceplates are, what they can’t resolve is the lack of lighting on this controller. None of the main buttons are backlit and there’s none of the fun inner lighting of options such as the Big Big Won Rainbow Pro 2 or Turtle Beach PDP Minecraft controller.

What the Valor Pro lacks in designer flourishes, though, it more than makes up for in build quality. Despite being a wired controller that doesn’t have the extra weight of a battery, this controller has a reassuring heft to it and weighs in at 261g. That’s a touch lighter than an official wireless Xbox controller but quite a bit heavier than many cheaper options.

That weight isn’t just the addition of lead, either, as the plastics used throughout feel really strong, with the controller having zero flex when trying to twist it. The surfaces of the plastics are all finished in a quality way too. The faceplate has a lovely matte, soft-touch coating that feels silky smooth yet slightly grippy. These coatings can have a tendency to degrade over time but the swappable faceplate means you can just replace this part. The body of the controller doesn’t have this coating so shouldn’t have any such issues, yet it still feels nice in the hand.

Covering the lower, underside of the grips is a reasonably thick layer of rubber that really helps you to grip the controller securely without straining your hands. This grippy section isn’t swappable, so if the rubber degrades it won’t be rectifiable, but the layer here is much thicker than a typical soft touch coating so should hold up for much longer.

While the overall shape of the Valor Pro is all but identical to a standard Xbox controller, there are some subtle differences. It has a slightly more compact design – helped by the lack of a battery pack – and there are slight tweaks to the shape of its bumpers.

Performance

In short, the performance of the Scuf Valor Pro is superb. On every level, it just feels precise, comfortable, intuitive, and easy to use.

Starting with its thumbsticks, Hall Effect or not, they feel smooth and precise in a way that clearly feels like a step up from more budget controllers. That said, there isn’t any tension adjustment here, as you get on some premium controllers, so the default feel is all you get, without swapping for the different height thumbsticks.

As you’d expect for a brand-new controller, stick drift isn’t an issue, but the use of Hall Effect should ensure this remains the case for many years to come.

I ended up using the optional taller, rounder-topped thumbsticks for most of my testing, as I much preferred the accuracy of the longer stick and the smoother movement allowed by the rounded tops, but the option’s there for you regardless.

As for the main ABXY buttons, they feel solid if not obviously that much snappier than a standard controller. However, most other buttons, including the D-pad, have a really precise, responsive feel without that slightly dull mushiness that many controller buttons possess.

The triggers also feel particularly nicely balanced with a fairly strong resistance but a smoothness of motion that makes it really easy to modulate how much you’re pressing on them. Then, flick the switch on the underside and the microswitch triggers provide a really rapid response. They’re not quite as light to press as a mouse button, but I found I liked this as it prevented any accidental button presses.

Price

The Scuf Valor Pro price is $99, which makes it a premium controller but makes it notably cheaper than premium wireless options that tend to demand $150 or more. Meanwhile, it sits directly in competition with other premium wired options.

Alternatives

Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition

At this price, the clear main alternative to the Scuf Valor Pro is Razer’s wired version of its Wolverine V3. With an identical price, it actually has more buttons, thanks to a pair of extra bumper buttons, and has microswitch-style main buttons. However, its build quality isn’t as nice, it lacks the swappable faceplates, and has a less familiar shape.

Read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review (the wireless version of the same controller).

Scuf Envision

The Scuf Envision offers most of the same core features as the Valor Pro but adds six extra programmable buttons along its front edge. The Envision also isn’t an Xbox controller but PC only and has a slightly different layout and shape. It’s a great choice for PC, so long as you like its layout and shape.

Verdict

It’s hard to look past the limitation of being forced to use a wire with a $99 controller. However, if you really want to step up to the improved feel and sense of control you get with a premium controller, without spending over $150, the Scuf Valor Pro has become one of our favorite options.

The Scuf Envision may suit some gamers more, thanks to its extra buttons and PlayStation-style layout, while the Razer Wolverine also brings a similar set of features, but the former lacks Xbox support and both offer a less familiar shape overall.

Perhaps the least successful addition as a PC controller is the volume wheels, as they’re essentially redundant for most PC gamers, so it might have been nice to see these omitted and another $10 knocked off the price. However, they’re undeniably useful for Xbox use and do work really well.

If you’re looking for more ways to control your PC games, check out our best gaming mouse and best gaming keyboard guides for our top KBM options.