SCUF is a trusted name in gaming controllers, and this year alone, the company has released the Valor Pro and Valor Pro Wireless controllers for Xbox and PC. The wired Valor Pro offered fantastic features at a budget-friendly price, while the wireless version is aimed at power users who want untethered freedom. There’s no Valor Pro version for PlayStation users, but you don’t necessarily need one when you’ve got the Reflex Pro.

The SCUF Reflex Pro is one of the better-known performance controllers for the PS5, with the Reflex series already released years ago. The controller offers precision gameplay, paired with pro features that make it your go-to choice for your PS5.

SCUF Reflex Pro Review

As mentioned, the SCUF Reflex isn’t a new product line, but since we only got to test it this year thanks to a review unit, it certainly feels new to the touch, unlike any other PS5 controller we’ve tried. Mostly adapting the look of a DualSense controller, it will feel immediately familiar, but with a clear upgrade in the rubber grips. These grips are indeed grippy, even grippier than the recently released Valor Pro, and really help with long sessions or sweaty palms.

Design-wise, the SCUF Reflex Pro adopts an extremely stealthy look and feel, with a combination of black shades across the front and back. It looks sleek, especially with the D-pad and face button markings removed, reinforcing an all-black motif with minimal branding on the left grip. It is hefty but also noticeably lighter than the DualSense Edge, which is impressive considering the added mechanism on its back.

Flipping the controller over, you’ll notice a custom module integrated into the SCUF Reflex Pro that controls the profiles for the back paddles. We’ll get to the profiles later, but I’d like to point out that the back paddle placements will be a hit-or-miss for some players. Back paddles are tricky to get right due to preference, but the SCUF Reflex Pro gets part of it right.

The P1 and P4 paddles are placed perfectly where your middle or ring finger would usually land, but I can’t say the same for P2 and P3. That said, I prefer the placement of the SCUF Reflex Pro over the Valor Pro, as I didn’t need to overextend my fingers, which felt unnatural.

One other thing you’ll notice with the SCUF Reflex Pro is the lack of LR trigger customization. Other controllers, like the Valor Pro, have a toggle switch that lets you switch the adaptive triggers to a more FPS-oriented click, which is notably missing here.

Going back to the front, the SCUF Reflex Pro holds all of the buttons you would expect from a DualSense controller, including the home/PS button, mute, touchpad, and built-in mic and speakers. All of these are kept tidy in a black hardshell case that, weirdly, cannot fit the included USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable. It can fit the analog stick attachments, though, so there’s that.

Built for the PS5, the SCUF Reflex Pro pairs seamlessly with the console. There’s no special setup required, and you can connect it like a regular DualSense controller, wired or wirelessly. With these connections, the SCUF Reflex Pro can also be used on your PC through Bluetooth. The wireless connection was very stable throughout the entire room we tested it in.

Sony’s DualSense Edge controller offers in-console options for remapping the back paddles, giving it a definite edge over the SCUF Reflex Pro. There is some customization here, and you can switch between 3 built-in profiles: FPS, Sports, and Racing. Each of these will map different buttons to the paddles depending on your chosen game, and while a more extensive form of customization is welcome, this is serviceable.

Another edge (heh) that the DualSense Edge has over the SCUF Reflex Pro is how easy it is to customize the thumbsticks. Sony sells replacement thumbsticks to address stick drift, and switching to them is relatively painless, but the same cannot be said for the SCUF Reflex Pro. While removing the plate is easy, fiddling around and replacing the analog attachments is hardly worth the trouble, and you’re probably better off purchasing rubber attachments that can offer a convex/concave feel.

This isn’t such an issue, as the SCUF Reflex Pro now comes with hall-effect sticks, known for their durability and for directly addressing stick drift. Stick drift has been a real problem for many controllers, so it’s nice to see peripheral manufacturers adopting more durable technology.

The SCUF Reflex Pro shines in actual performance, delivering precise movements and pinpoint accuracy without any delay, even during wireless gameplay. The D-pad and face buttons feel similar to those on a DualSense Edge, satisfying to press and silent. The adaptive triggers on the DualSense Edge are slightly more resistant, but you’ll hardly notice it unless you have both of them side by side. All features work well in games that support them, such as Ghost of Yotei, Returnal, and other first-party Sony titles.

The battery life of the SCUF Reflex Pro is a bit of a mixed bag. While it offers around 7-8 hours of playtime depending on the game, at its price point and “Pro” tag, you would expect more, especially when other controllers offer upwards of 10 hours. Interestingly, it fits in the official DualSense charging station, but you’ll have to play around with contact placement to charge correctly.

Overall, the SCUF Reflex Pro is a great controller for the PS5, but it comes with glaring caveats. Despite the use of hall effect sticks and the addition of back paddles and a profile switcher, battery life remains on the short side, and its $249 price point is a tough barrier to overcome, as it is more expensive than the DualSense Edge.

You will, however, get a premium, durable controller that looks good and feels equally great to play with. Whether that’s for you is another topic altogether, but if you’re in the market for a premium controller upgrade, the SCUF Reflex Pro is worth a look.