The SCUF Valor Pro Wireless is the natural evolution of a controller that already earned serious praise. When the SCUF Valor Pro was released earlier this year, we loved almost every bit of it, from the design to its durable build, but docked it for being a purely wired controller.

That changes with the Valor Pro Wireless, as SCUF took the ergonomics, features, and everything that made the wired model great, and added tri-mode connectivity, a rechargeable battery, and several quality-of-life improvements to make it a controller worth considering in this highly competitive space.

SCUF Valor Pro Wireless Review

Comfort and Grip

One thing the wired version of this controller did well was comfort, and that continues here with the Valor Pro Wireless. We still get the Xbox controller form factor, right down to the placement of the analog sticks and D-Pad, along with some rubber grips and back paddles for that extra edge. In fact, it’s tough to point out an exact difference, design-wise, when you place both the wired and wireless controllers side by side. That’s not a bad thing, by any means, especially when the original was already good enough.

Of course, the Valor Pro Wireless is slightly heavier due to its somewhat larger casing, which accommodates the rechargeable battery, but this is hardly noticeable. Other than that, there are subtle differences, with the rubber grip of the Valor Pro Wireless feeling slightly more grippy than that of the previous version. It’s possible that I’ve used the wired version so much that the grip has become smoother and worn out. Either way, the no-slip grip isn’t just for show, and is a godsend for those with sweaty palms.

The face buttons feel and sound more muted when pressed in the Valor Pro Wireless. Where the wired version featured an audible sound press on the face buttons, this one is more silent. Additionally, the L and R buttons of the wired version are significantly quieter compared to the mouse-like clicks of the wireless version.

The back buttons that hug the grips sit flush against the hands, allowing for easy presses. However, the “paddles” seem to be positioned a bit too far to the center, requiring an extra stretch to press. Considering I have larger-than-average hands, I can imagine those with smaller hands having a hard time with it, so I wish there were an actual paddle replacement accessory available rather than another button.

Unfortunately, one of my major complaints about the wired version reappears in the Valor Pro Wireless, and that’s the contoured bumpers. My gripe about the L and R buttons is that their trigger points extend too far to the side, making accidental presses a common occurrence. Some games where you need your L and R buttons at the ready may benefit, but it’s generally a bad thing when you accidentally press any button you don’t really mean to. Speaking of L and R, you can also toggle trigger mode on your LT and RT buttons to switch from a full press (useful for racing games) to a mouse-like click for rapid-fire situations.

Compatibility and Customizability

The Valor Pro Wireless, like its wired counterpart, is specifically designed for use with Xbox and PC. Supporting Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Windows 10/11, this controller is compatible with a wide range of devices and features tri-mode connectivity, allowing players to use it wired or wirelessly via a dongle or Bluetooth. This is arguably its most significant upgrade from the wired version, allowing for untethered freedom. All modes, including Bluetooth pairing, are straightforward, and its connectivity options make it really flexible in terms of usage.

Due to its numerous buttons and modes, customizability is another strong suit of the Valor Pro Wireless. Four rear paddles are fully remappable directly on the controller, and you can save three onboard profiles for instant switching between loadouts. The best thing about it is that you can remap without any external tools, making switching button configurations easy. While I wish that there were more back paddle attachments, similar to the DualSense Edge, the default buttons are serviceable, given you’ve considered my aforementioned gripe about button placement.

Customizability extends to the Valor Pro Wireless’s appearance and feel, with the option to easily change faceplates by simply popping off the front plate, which is held together by magnets. It’s painless to attach and remove, and by doing so, you can also change the thumbsticks, so you can tune stick height, concavity, and tactile feel depending on whether you’re in an FPS, racing, or sports title.

Elsewhere, the Valor Pro Wireless features audio scroll wheels located beside the 3.5mm jack, allowing players to adjust in-game volume and chat volume separately.

Durability and Battery Life

Drawing inspiration from the wired version, the Valor Pro Wireless features new endurance TMR thumbsticks that are buttery smooth and built with just the right amount of resistance to give you complete control over your movements. It feels a teeny tiny bit heavier to move around compared to other controllers like the DualSense, but there’s no friction whatsoever, and it feels really precise.

Elsewhere, the Valor Pro Wireless feels sturdy and solid, more so than the wired version due to the rechargeable battery. The individual components exude quality, as the package includes a durable braided USB-C cable for the rare occasions when you suddenly need to charge, complementing the 17 hours of advertised battery life. This should give you almost enough juice to last a week, provided you play for about 2-3 hours a day. This is double or even triple the battery life of other first-party controllers on the market.

Overall, the Valor Pro Wireless is a superb choice for a controller, offering nearly all the features you need. While its platform compatibility is limited to PC and Xbox, leaving PlayStation users begging, its fantastic connectivity options, customizability, and ergonomics all hit the right notes, especially now that it has fully wireless functionality.

Of course, all this means that the Valor Pro Wireless is significantly more expensive than the wired version, at $189.99. Even so, you’re getting the whole package all wrapped in the trademark SCUF trimmings that we all know from the brand. The big question is whether you feel that wireless freedom is worth the additional cost compared to the fantastic wired version, which is a $100 consideration. Since both the wired and wireless versions are similar in most respects, potential buyers need to decide whether the price difference is enough to justify the freedom from wires.

The SCUF Valor Pro Wireless is now available for $189.99.