SCUF Instinct Pro Xbox controller review: Is this pricey gamepad worth it?

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Central

SCUF is something of a legend in the controller infinite. Armed with a suite of patents that effectively shape all of our gamepads, the firm is among the simply companies capable of producing wireless third-political party controllers for Xbox. You lot'll notice that Razer, Turtle Beach, Hyperkin, and effectively all other all-time Xbox controllers are wired, as a consequence.

As someone who has sworn off wired controllers for over a decade, the prospect of a tertiary-political party alternative to Microsoft's incredible Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 piqued my interest. SCUF's Instinct Pro does a few things the Xbox Elite Controller doesn't do, while costing slightly less at RRP. Withal, it also doesn't do a whole load of things the Xbox Elite Controller does practice, which makes me question exactly whether or not information technology'south worth the asking price.

Here'southward a look at the SCUF Instinct Pro from Corsair, the only alternative wireless Xbox controller on the marketplace.

Scuf Instinct Pro Se

SCUF Instinct Pro Xbox controller

Bottom line: The SCUF Instinct Pro is not inexpensive, just you get a lot of added features and fashion for those actress bucks. Tactile dorsum buttons and trigger locks Will give you an reward, while those swappable faceplates add a dash of flair well worthy of any game setup. I can't aid but wish it was a bit more affordable, though.

The Good

Hot-swappable custom magnetic faceplates
Tactile back buttons elevate competitive play
Trigger locks shave precious milliseconds off trigger pulls

The Bad

Mic mute push doesn't work with wireless headsets
Frankly miles too expensive

SCUF Instinct Pro: Toll and availability

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Central

The SCUF Instinct Pro is a wireless and Bluetooth-modified Xbox Series Ten|Southward controller, and works with Android, compatible Windows PCs, iOS, and of course, Xbox. It features back buttons, trigger locks, and a magnetic swappable faceplate, which can be purchased separately from SCUF'southward website. It has a large assortment of features, and will set y'all dorsum $170 clams as a outcome. As of writing, the availability on this thing is exceptionally low, with all stock sold out on Amazon and the SCUF website. If you desire to state this controller, y'all may need to keep your eyes peeled.

SCUF Instinct Pro: What's skillful

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Central

The SCUF Instinct Pro is the only third-party wireless Xbox controller on the market. Cheers to SCUF's patent monopoly over gamepad features, it seems to position them uniquely in this space, giving them an advantage over other manufacturers (fairly or not; you make up one's mind). In whatever instance, as someone who has sworn off wired controllers for over a decade, it'south nice to finally go an culling pick to Microsoft'due south standard Xbox controllers, but at that $170 price bespeak, is it really a skilful alternative?

With that cost, the SCUF Instinct Pro positions itself up confronting the Xbox Elite Controller range, complete with back buttons, trigger locks, and swappable thumbsticks. To sweeten the deal, the SCUF Instinct Pro has magnetic faceplates that add a whole host of attractive blueprint options. SCUF sent over this gorgeous dragon-styled design, with shimmering red wyrms on a black background. The paintwork is immaculate, and there'southward a huge range of alternative options over on SCUF's website.

Competitive gaming and trick-shotting have really put a spotlight on hair-trigger locks and back buttons lately. The benefit of dorsum paddles means yous tin can perform reloads, crouching, jumping, and so on without moving your thumbs from the joysticks. Typically to use ABXY, you'd accept to roll your thumb off the movement button briefly to perform these deportment, unless y'all were playing "hook" style. The back buttons eliminate the choice, giving y'all a crucial ergonomic border. To that cease, the back buttons on the SCUF Instinct Pro work extremely well. They're very clicky and tactile. Unlike the Xbox Elite Controller'due south dorsum paddles, they're not easy to actuate by blow, due to their positioning and resistiveness. I'd say I overall prefer them to the Elite Controller's dorsum paddles as a result, even if the upper buttons are a bit harder to press overall. You tin customize which actions they perform using the profile button on the back of the controller too, giving you a large degree of control over your experience.

The SCUF Instinct Pro is a great product, and won't disappoint.

Additionally, the controller has pilus-trigger locks that work well, shaving crucial milliseconds off trigger pulls. If you lot're using a rifle or a pistol, you will fire much faster than a competitor with a standard controller. Equally I found while playing Call of Duty earlier, it won't make upwards for lack of skill (sadly), only if it comes downwardly to two evenly matched players reduced to sidearms, the player with the hair-trigger lock volition win out.

Overall, the SCUF Instinct Pro feels like an enhanced Xbox Series X|South controller for the most role. And, well, that'south because it sort of is. It has the same internals, aforementioned shape, and same pattern, albeit elevated with rubberized grips, those additional features I mentioned higher up, and a mic mute button characteristic right there on the controller. Still, there's a large question of value here, particularly considering the contest.

SCUF Instinct Pro: What's not then good

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Central

Since the SCUF Instinct Pro generally feels so similar to a standard Xbox controller once you lot're using it, you outset to wonder where those extra $120 goes. The back buttons are great, sure, and the trigger locks accept a unique clicky feel that elevates them above even that of the Xbox Elite Controller. Notwithstanding, the Elite Controller feels like it has a mount of extra features, while also including boosted accessories, for just slightly more than the asking cost.

The Aristocracy Controller gives you lot a dock with an absurdly large internal battery, far outlasting even the beefiest AA-style charge packs y'all tin get for this controller. The Elite Controller also has tension command over the sticks, comes included with additional sticks, which are sold separately for the SCUF, and in a lot of means feels nicer to apply. That being said, the Elite Controller and its Series 2 cousin are known for their lack of longevity. The hair-trigger locks on my Elite Series 2 controller roughshod off after a year of dedicated use, and others take reported bumper bug. The truth is that no device with moving parts is going to last forever, but the more standardized build of the SCUF Instinct Pro may run across it last longer than the heavier, potentially more than delicate Xbox Elite controllers. In that location's no way of knowing for sure if that's true until I've used this thing for several months or more, notwithstanding, and I'll be sure to come dorsum and update this review when I accept had more time with it to assess its longevity.

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Cardinal

Beyond the price, at that place's not a huge amount of things to complain about necessarily. I felt like the actuation on the ABXY buttons on the SCUF was not as expert as a standard Xbox controller, since the button travel is reduced due to the custom faceplate magnets underneath. It's a very minor thing to mutter about, though. I think SCUF could take been onto a big winner here if they'd been a bit more generous with the price, but there is a lot of value reflected in that cost, peculiarly if you're a fan of the faceplate feature, which is super squeamish.

SCUF Instinct Pro: Contest

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Central

Ultimately, the SCUF has one single competitor on the market, and that's the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2. The Series ii is often available at a cutting-price for roughly the aforementioned corporeality as the SCUF Instinct Pro, give or take $15-20. If you're spending this much on a controller, I doubt you lot care too much about saving 20 bucks. The Series 2 comes with the most impressive battery life in the history of gamepads, alongside the best charging station ever made for a controller. It as well has a hardshell comport example, boosted sticks with included tension controls, in-app configuration software on Xbox, and feels a bit nicer in the paw.

The SCUF Instinct Pro has better trigger locks, though, and a lighter design. The back buttons on the SCUF too are arguably better, since they are more difficult to accidentally activate, stacked upwardly against the paddle pattern on the Xbox Elite Controller. The SCUF also has a dedicated headset mute button, but the fact it but works with wired headsets reduces its usefulness a bit. I'm likewise non a fan of the always-on LED also, unnecessarily taking up battery life if it'due south non in use.

I call back ultimately, the selection comes down to design. The SCUF Instinct Pro comes with a range of faceplate options that are easily swapped, thank you to its magnetic interface. With the Xbox Aristocracy Controller, what you see is what you go; it also doesn't have a share push button, unlike the SCUF. The SCUF is like a standard Xbox controller massively enhanced, just it falls curt of the full package offered by the Series 2.

SCUF Instinct Pro: Should you buy it?

Scuf Controller Review Source: Windows Primal

The SCUF Instinct Pro is impossible to discuss without mentioning its closest competitor. If this controller was the simply option in the $170 price range, information technology would honestly exist a bit of a no-brainer. The dorsum buttons feel great to use and genuinely provide an advantage, especially in competitive games. The trigger locks are meliorate than its closest competitors too, with tactile clicky activation. Where information technology really shines is in those faceplate designs, which are gorgeous, and like shooting fish in a barrel to swap out and customize.

Y'all should buy this if ...

You honey the faceplate designs
You want back buttons for elevated competitive play
Y'all prefer having a defended share button and wired mic mute button

You shouldn't buy this if ...

You don't remember you'll utilise the dorsum buttons that much
You don't like the faceplate designs, since the Xbox Elite Series ii is probably better value in this scenario

I can't assist but wish it was a shred more affordable, though. It feels like for only a little scrap actress y'all get a lot more bang for your cadet with Microsoft'due south competing Xbox Elite Controller Serial ii. Although, in that location'southward certainly something to be said most longevity.

The Elite Series ii paddles are held on with magnets, whereas the SCUF back buttons are actually built into the controller, making them less susceptible to misplacement. The Elite controllers have besides had a notoriously bad track record with build quality over fourth dimension, with parts falling off or failing. Since the SCUF controller is based on a standard Xbox controller design, it may wind upwards being meliorate value over fourth dimension than its competition. There'southward no way to know for sure without a fourth dimension machine, though.

One thing that I Practise know for certain is that the SCUF Instinct Pro is one of the best Xbox controllers on the market, and comes in only a millimeter backside the Elite Serial 2. And hey, if you like those faceplate options on SCUF's website, you can't put a price on style.

Regardless, the SCUF Instinct Pro is a great product, and won't disappoint if y'all decide to option one upwards.

Scuf Instinct Pro Se

SCUF Instinct Pro Xbox controller

Lesser line: While it'southward certainly pricey, the SCUF Instinct Pro is ane of the best Xbox controller options out at that place, with back buttons that will requite you lot an reward.