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Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless: one-minute evaluate
The Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a controller suitable with each Xbox Series X|S and PC. It’s an unabashedly premium product at $189.99 / £199 / AU$349 however, for that worth, it’s splendidly responsive, superbly designed and comes with a very good array of equipment.
First off, the Raikiri II feels superbly effectively constructed. It feels stable and substantial, but it’s ergonomically designed. Elements just like the rear buttons are completely positioned beneath your fingertips to make them simple to entry with out shifting your grasp, whereas its textured grips meant it by no means as soon as slipped in my fingers. Its RGB lighting can be tastefully carried out, simply adequately subtle to not detract from its smooth look and coming with loads of customizable choices.
Both the thumbsticks and shoulder triggers are staggeringly correct, because of Asus’s determination to make use of TMR sensors in every of them. Not solely do I relish not having to fret concerning the dreaded stick drift anymore however I discovered them astoundingly exact, giving me spot-on management over the whole lot from acceleration in racing video games to aiming in FPSes. The undeniable fact that the shoulder triggers will be toggled to utilizing micro-switches is simply the icing on the cake – smashing parries out in opposition to the Paintress in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has by no means felt so satisfying to me.
This superior sensitivity and precision is additional supported by the Raikiri II’s blisteringly quick connectivity, which rivals that of most of the best Xbox controllers. Not solely does it provide an absurdly fast 1,000Hz polling fee however its 2.4GHz wi-fi connection and USB-C connectivity every trim enter latencies down to simply 3.5ms and a couple of.3ms. Naturally, it additionally provides Bluetooth connectivity however, actually, I discovered the previous choices so quick that I’d go for these each time.
Thanks to Asus’s Gear Link software program, you can even customise plenty of the Raikiri II’s performance. On prime of primary choices like button remapping, you can even set discreet response curves and deadzones for every thumbstick, in addition to begin and finish factors for every of the shoulder triggers. There’s additionally the choice to tweak how intense the controller’s rumble settings are and map the pad’s 4 rear buttons to numerous capabilities.
While it can save you all of those settings to one among 5 profiles, this does include a fairly critical caveat. When enjoying on Xbox, you possibly can solely change between them utilizing the Gear Link software program, which means hooking it as much as your laptop computer or desktop every time. To me, this seems like a fairly main oversight – can you actually class this Raikiri II’s Xbox version, if a key a part of the performance is inaccessible to Xbox avid gamers?
This one misstep apart although, the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a severely spectacular controller. While I believe PC avid gamers will get much more out of it than these on Xbox, it’s nonetheless a fantastically responsive pad on both platform, providing some options I’ve not seen on many different merchandise, like these TMR triggers. Yes, it’s comparatively dear at $189.99 / £199 / AU$349 however, when you’re in search of a trailblazing premium controller, it’s an excellent possibility.
Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless evaluate: worth and availability
- Launched December 10, 2025
- Retails for $189.99 / £199 / AU$349
- Offers plenty of equipment for that worth
Having launched on December 10, 2025, the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is on the market now. You can decide it up for $189.99 / £199 / AU$349, placing it firmly up the premium finish of the Xbox controller market.
In return for that spend, although, you get a complete heap of performance, plus a spread of connectivity choices: Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle or wired USB-C connectivity. On prime of this, it additionally comes with a carry case, USB-C cable, charging dock and alternative thumbsticks, so it’s a really first rate package deal for the value.
Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless evaluate: specs
|
Price |
$189.99 / £199 / AU$349 |
|
Compatibility |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC |
|
Connection kind |
Wireless (2.4GHz dongle), Wired (USB Type-C), Bluetooth |
|
Battery life |
Up to 50 hours |
|
Features |
TMR thumbsticks, dual-mode triggers, microswitch buttons, 1,000Hz polling fee (by way of wired connection / 2.4GHz wi-fi) |
|
Software |
Asus Gear Link (PC) |
Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless evaluate: design and options
- Long-lasting TMR sticks
- Excellent dual-mode triggers
- Attractive, ergonomic design
Over the years, I’ve constructed up fairly the grisly mausoleum of lifeless controllers, each Xbox and in any other case. Eventually, the dreaded stick drift has claimed each single one. So it’s a reduction to know that gained’t occur with the ROG Raikiri II’s drift-resistant thumbsticks.
Asus has opted for TMR sticks right here, which it says will not be solely extra correct however devour much less energy than Hall-effect alternate options. While it’s tough to evaluate what sort of longevity you’ll get out of them, from the second I held the ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless in my fingers, the thumbsticks felt extremely responsive and enabled me to make surgically exact actions in a wide range of video games.
But maybe much more than the Raikiri II’s thumbsticks, I actually fell for its dual-mode shoulder triggers. When set to their micro-switch triggers, I discovered they had been lightning quick to activate, making them good for hammering the set off in FPS video games. Meanwhile, their full-range TMR sensor mode is an actual rarity on console controllers – we’ve definitely not examined many with that performance right here at TechSwitch Gaming – and it gave me actually splendidly exact management for video games like Forza Horizon 5.
At first, I discovered the clicky suggestions of the micro-switch face buttons took somewhat getting used to, as I’m extra acquainted with the spongy softness of the Xbox Wireless Controller buttons. But as soon as I’d tailored to their novel really feel, I used to be totally transformed – they activate severely rapidly and provide such a direct response that nearly immediately once you’ve hit your goal.
Its additional rear shortcut buttons are completely positioned, sitting proper beneath the place your center and ring fingers naturally seize the pad. And they’re splendidly versatile. Not solely are they nice if you wish to arrange additional macros in sport however with the ability to set a pair as shortcuts for the shoulder buttons saved me ever having to modify my grip throughout classes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which diminished my response instances in sport considerably.
When it involves seems, the controller types itself after the current Xbox ROG Ally X, riffing off design components like its refined decal. It additionally mimics its textured grips, which I positively discovered made it simpler to maintain maintain of the pad with out them ever feeling tough. In reality, its matt plastic construct all the time feels pleasantly tactile to the contact, whereas the entire gadget feels simply substantial sufficient to keep away from flimsy or hole.
And whereas I do know that for some folks RGB lighting on a controller is an pointless gimmick, I’ve to confess that I’m fully suckered in by the ROG Raikiri II’s lighting. Partly it’s because it’s comparatively refined and restrained, limiting itself to a strip down both aspect and the central ROG button, and it’s totally customizable, permitting you to determine fairly how a lot you need to lean into full-blown esports styling.
Finally, the ROG Raikiri II has a powerful vary of connectivity choices. On prime of Bluetooth, it additionally has 2.4GHz wi-fi connectivity by way of a dongle and a USB-C wired connection. These latter two are significantly spectacular, providing an 1,000Hz polling fee and trimming enter latencies to simply 3.5ms and a couple of.3ms respectively, which means it is best to simply get the drop on most of your enemies in sport.
Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless evaluate: efficiency
- Blisteringly quick response instances
- Brilliantly customisable
- Custom profiles can’t be modified on Xbox
With its 1,000Hz polling fee in PC mode, it’s protected to say I used to be anticipating the Raikiri II to reply to inputs quickly. And it didn’t disappoint. Even when enjoying fast-paced FPSes like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I couldn’t detect the least trace of lag over its low-latency 2.4GHz RF connectivity or USB-C cable.
But it’s not solely its connectivity that make for lightning quick gaming – these dual-mode shoulder triggers are a literal game-changer. When I first tried them out whereas enjoying Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the distinction in comparison with my earlier funds controller was instantly considerable. Especially when utilizing them of their micro-switch set off mode, I instantly discovered myself going from fumbling three-quarters of parries to nailing them 80% of the time. Those triggers reply quick and I definitely discovered it had a palpable influence on my sport play.
And with Asus’s Gear Link software program you possibly can tweak issues even additional to get the type of efficiency you want for every sport you’re enjoying and save them to one among 5 personalized profiles. You can entry this software by hooking up the Raikiri II to your PC and accessing it in your browser.
This methodology does include an unlucky wrinkle, nonetheless. As it is browser-based, there’s no option to entry it on the fly out of your Xbox and the controller doesn’t provide any option to change between profiles as you play. That means you possibly can solely ever entry one tuning at a time in your console earlier than it’s essential return to a PC to modify issues up – which is a bizarre option to make for a controller that actually has ‘Xbox’ within the title.
Honestly, that’s a little bit of a disgrace as, in any other case, the Gear Link software program provides actually granular management over the responsiveness of your controller. For instance, I used to be in a position to set one among my profiles with very fast response and shallow vary for its triggers, making it very easy to fan the hammer when attempting to gun down opponents on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Conversely, for Forza Horizon 5, I set the precise set off to activate over its full vary, giving me actually exact management over the throttle so I might higher handle my pace throughout cornering.
And that’s only the start. You also can set impartial customized curves for every of the TMR thumbsticks, enabling you to tweak how briskly they reply the additional they’re moved, in addition to set the scale of their deadzones. While enjoying Doom, I set the left follow have a fast curve and stored the precise one set as linear – because of this, I used to be in a position to shut the hole between Doom Guy and all these demons far faster, with out having the digital camera whip spherical too violently.
The Gear Link software program additionally unlocks a bunch of different customization choices. You can change the depth of the controller’s vibration haptics, which I think about could be very helpful for individuals who have sensory processing issues or discover it tough to grip on to a controller that’s vibrating too fiercely.
It additionally unlocks some aesthetic tweaks for that RGB lighting. You have the choice to set every zone up individually, whether or not you need it in stable coloration, respiratory, reacting to button presses or coloration biking. My private go-to although? It positively must be battery mode, which lets you set the lighting to particular colours for various battery ranges – I can now get a exact sense of how a lot juice my pad has left at only a look, which is a lifesaver.
Overall, I discovered the efficiency of the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless to be severely spectacular. Don’t get me flawed: there are some odd decisions alongside the best way, particularly the dearth of a hotswap button for saved profiles on the Xbox. But when you’re not flipping by means of totally different genres on the drop of a hat otherwise you’re enjoying on PC, it is an extremely responsive controller with an excellent degree of customizability.
Should I purchase the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless evaluate: additionally contemplate
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless |
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro |
PowerA Fusion Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$189.99 / £199 / AU$349 |
$199.99 / £199.99 |
$79.99 / £79.99 |
|
Compatibility |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC |
|
Connection kind |
Wireless (2.4GHz dongle), Wired (USB Type-C), Bluetooth |
Wireless (2.4GHz dongle), Wired (USB Type-C) |
Wired |
|
Battery life |
Up to 50 hours |
12-13 hours |
N/A |
|
Features |
TMR thumbsticks, dual-mode triggers, microswitch buttons, mappable again buttons, 1,000Hz polling fee (by way of wired connection / 2.4GHz wi-fi) |
Hall impact thumbsticks, round D-pad, microswitch buttons, two-way set off locks, Razer mouse click on paddles, 1,000Hz polling fee (by way of wired connection on PC) |
Mappable again buttons, three-way set off locks, impulse triggers, twin rumble motors, quantity dial, one-touch mic mute |
|
Software |
Asus Gear Link (PC) |
Razer Controller App (Xbox and PC) |
PowerA Gamer HQ App (Xbox and PC) |
How I examined the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless
- Tested it over two weeks
- Used it on each Xbox and PC
- Created a number of customized profiles
I examined the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless over a interval of a number of weeks. I attempted it out on each the Xbox Series X and on PC and tried it out on a variety of genres, from RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, FPSes like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and racing video games like Forza Horizon 5.
Not solely did I attempt the Raikiri II utilizing all three connection strategies – 2.4GHz wi-fi, Bluetooth and wired – however I used the Asus’s Gear Link software program to tweak all of its accessible settings. That included creating a number of profiles with various set off ranges, thumbstick curves and button assignments.
In phrases of my testing expertise, not solely am I TechSwitch’s opinions editor, with expertise of reviewing a big selection of devices, however I’ve been gaming for 35 years. That’s throughout a variety of platforms, together with PC, consoles and gaming handhelds, which means I’ve bought a great deal of expertise in gaming throughout a variety of genres.