Scuf Valor Pro
MSRP $100.00
“The Scuf Valor Pro is a fine premium controller out of the box, but its design quirks add up.”
Pros
Hall impact joysticks are a plus
Handy onboard audio mixing
Easy set off locking
Lots of customization potential
Cons
Tricky audio wheels
Awkward again buttons
Few further components included
Pricey for a wired controller
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Design and luxury
Customization and options
Limited use
The 4 12 months mark of a console technology is a vital milestone. It’s usually a midway level, the place the primary few years of hype settles into routine. That presents a problem for third-party accent producers who all the time want to search out new methods to boost merchandise like headsets and controllers for gamers who’ve collected loads of good add-ons over time. How many extra methods are you able to make the identical product really feel contemporary?
That’s the problem Scuf faces with its newest Xbox controller, the Valor Pro. The new wired gamepad brings some premium options to Xbox Series X/S and PC gamers, although nothing that’s precisely new. There aren’t any scarcity of the way to get again paddles, adjustable triggers, onboard sound mixing, replaceable components, and corridor impact joysticks on a controller in 2025. The Valor Pro collects all of these disparate staples into one $100 buy, but it surely’s a more durable promote now than it might have been in a much less crowded market three years in the past.
Design and luxury
There are a whole lot of options packed into the Scuf Valor Pro, but it surely’s your normal Xbox controller at its core. It comes full with an X-shaped house button and a well-known ABXY format. Every button is the place you’d anticipate it to be and the construct high quality feels excessive sufficient, although I can see the place its face buttons might get a bit sticky over time. The solely main enchancment over the usual Xbox Series X controller is that it consists of corridor impact joysticks, which theoretically ought to make them extra sturdy. Any premium controller would really feel incomplete with out them in 2025, so I’m glad that the Valor Pro delivers out the gate.
There’s much less room for error proper now than there was just a few years in the past now that the competitors is stiffer.
As for the opposite facet, the Valor Pro packs in 4 again buttons. There are paddles on both facet that bleed into the grips and two small buttons between them which can be formed like crystals. The format right here is practical although a bit unusual. The again paddles take a little bit of drive to press down, whereas the central buttons click on down with ease. They’re so delicate, the truth is, that gamers have the flexibility to take away them altogether and slot flat stoppers of their place. I tailored to the texture after some time, however they do pale a bit subsequent to some extra inventive rivals.
The again button format has a slight affect on consolation, too. To maintain it and entry these buttons, I discover that I would like to lift my grip a bit, letting my palms hover over the grips reasonably than laying completely flush in opposition to them. It doesn’t really feel fairly as pure in my fingers as a regular Xbox gamepad.
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
Similarly awkward is its quantity management methodology. With the Valor Pro, gamers can independently modify their sport and chat quantity utilizing two wheels nestled onto a ridge between the grips. Both wheels might be reached simply sufficient with my thumbs and pressed into mute both channel on the fly. The wheels are a bit stiff, although, and inset pretty far again into the controller’s body. It takes just a few flicks to totally spin them, as I’ll find yourself unintentionally muting channels if I press my thumbs in too laborious so I can get a agency rotation in.
None of those quirks are sufficient to make the Valor Pro really feel low cost. It nonetheless seems like a strong gamepad that’s nonetheless pretty comfy as soon as you discover one of the best ways to carry it. It’s simply consultant of a working theme with the Valor Pro: There’s much less room for error proper now than there was just a few years in the past now that the competitors is stiffer.
Customization and options
Where the Valor Pro appears to face out is in its customization potential, an space the place Scuf fortunately excels. There are a number of components that may be simply eliminated and changed right here due to magnetic components. That begins with the translucent faceplate, which might be snapped off with little effort and simply as simply popped again on. Even if you happen to solely loosely match it the place it must be, it can firmly snap into place and keep there.
The components beneath the faceplates might be eliminated too. Both joysticks might be plucked off with ease, as can the D-pad (although it takes a bit trial and error to determine one of the best ways to get a grip on it). The solely design quirk is that it may be a bit tough to fit the joysticks again on, as there’s a reasonably skinny slot within the cap that the module must be slotted into. The again buttons have that downside in reverse, as they are often awkward to pry off (by the use of a skinny fingernail groove), however they slot again in with ease. Even with some inconsistency throughout the board, there’s some nice design ingenuity right here for people who like to tinker with components.
What’s extra disappointing is how little truly comes with the bundle contemplating its price ticket. For $100, you solely get two further joysticks and a pair of again button stoppers. You’ll need to pay further if you would like completely different sticks or D-pads. It additionally solely comes with one pretty drab faceplate and extra ones will price you $30. Usually a premium bundle like this comes with just a few further components — simply have a look at the wonderful Victrix Pro BFG. The Valor Pro feels a bit stingy by comparability, although I think about that any extra extras would have made for an expensive bundle judging by Scuf’s different controllers.
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
In phrases of precise enter customization, the Valor Pro does pack in some good extras. First, there are its triggers, every of which might be modified to a fast faucet by way of two easy-to-reach levers on the again. When I lock one in place, it basically turns that set off into a brief button press that clicks like a mouse. I did discover some awkward conduct with the triggers throughout my testing, although. While taking part in Avowed, I discovered that left set off holds weren’t all the time registering. Every as soon as and some time, I’d must press it down once more to entry my grimoire’s spell menu. I fear about the long run sturdiness right here if that’s already occurring in just a few weeks.
As for the again buttons, every one might be remapped to your liking. There’s additionally a profile button between them, which holds some primary format presets (ABXY, D-pad, and many others). That’s a useful characteristic, although it may be a bit awkward to make use of on the fly. When I change profiles, I momentarily lose button performance till I select. All meaning is that that is the sort of controller you’ll must set to your liking earlier than you begin reasonably than making an attempt to make fast tweaks throughout gameplay.
Limited use
When I record out the options, it sounds just like the Valor Pro is loaded sufficient to justify its price ticket. The actuality, although, is that it’s principally doing what its rivals are doing with an additional half upsell on prime. That already makes it a tricky proposition, however that will get a bit tougher due to a few of its restricted performance. For one, it’s completely a wired controller — a right away sticking level contemplating the fee. Naturally, you’re paying for the customization right here, however I’ve not often ever seen a wired controller this technology price greater than $80. Its closest parallel is the PowerA Fusion Pro 2, which throws in an additional faceplate, a carrying case, and a 3rd set off lock place for the same price ticket.
The Valor Pro is a greater worth that it appears.
I’ve had some points with machine compatibility in my testing, too. The Valor Pro works with Xbox Series X/S and Windows 10/11 by way of a USB connection, although I discovered that some PC video games weren’t appropriately recognizing it when plugging it in. I additionally tried connecting it to my Razer Handheld Dock Chroma by way of USB to play with a docked Steam Deck to no avail. It works most reliably as a wired Xbox controller, although I did run into one occasion the place I needed to disconnect it and plug it again in to get my machine to register it.
As characteristic wealthy because the Valor Pro is, these little caveats do add up. It’s pretty strong as an all-in-one controller that pulls each stylish third-party characteristic from the final 4 years into one place, however loads of different gamepads do what it does higher. Want a modular controller you can tinker with? Get the Victrix BFG Pro. Want a gamepad with onboard sound mixing? The Turtle Beach Recon does far more for $60. And in fact, the Xbox Elite Series 2 continues to be the one premium controller to rule all of them, even when it prices a fairly penny.
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
The Valor Pro is a greater worth that it appears, although; I’d argue that you just’re getting the options of a $180 controller right here even with the tradeoff of its wired connection. Heck, it’s a steal in comparison with the the $200+ Instinct Pro. Scuf is aware of the way to load a controller up with bells and whistles that really feel so naturally applied that they won’t even register as extras at first. It’s pretty price efficient as a premium possibility, however that’s largely as a result of it doesn’t include a lot in the best way of further components. You’ll must shell out for these, probably bringing your whole worth again in keeping with the most effective Xbox controllers.
All of this makes for a sophisticated suggestion. If you merely need a controller that feels premium sufficient out of the field and don’t thoughts taking part in wired, the Valor Pro is a reasonably good possibility even with its quirks. Beyond that, it’s outclassed by different rivals that both implement comparable options higher or embody extra within the field for an inexpensive quantity further. A Scuf controller is a dedication, as you’re investing in a single go-to gamepad you can tweak over time with components. Whether or not it is sensible to start out that course of 4 years into the Xbox Series X’s life is as much as you.