Razer Wolverine V3 Pro vs SCUF Envision Pro - The Best Premium Controller for PC Gamers
- iamAlikat
- Dec 9, 2025
- 5 min read
Best Premium Controller for PC: My Honest Review
edited by @ReyDreconus
As a lifelong console player turned PC gamer, I knew one thing for sure: I’d still be playing on controller. I don’t mind paying premium prices (both of these controllers are $200+) if the controller feels perfect, but ever since switching to PC, I’ve struggled to find “the one”.
On PS4, my setup was effortless. A standard DualShock + back button attachment + Kontrol Freeks? Perfect.
When I moved into premium territory, my first choice was a Battle Beaver, while my husband chose SCUF. The Battle Beaver was a beast, especially with digital triggers and buttons! However on PC, wireless support required third-party software like DS4 Windows, which came with its own headaches. (If you're interested, I've embedded my Battle Beaver / Scuff video review from a few years ago)
Last year, I started the search again. I wanted a native wireless PC controller and that led me down the path of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and eventually the SCUF Envision Pro. After months of use (and frustration), here’s the real breakdown.
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro: The High Potential Controller With One Big Flaw
I started with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, and honestly? I loved almost everything about it.
Premium Build & Smooth Transition
Switching to Xbox-style asymmetrical sticks wasn’t nearly as awkward as I expected. The controller feels premium out the box with:
A protective carrying case
USB-C charging cable
Wireless dongle
Back button placement is natural, the controller is comfortable, and programming the buttons is easy once you find the right software (use the Razer Controller Setup for Xbox app instead of Synapse).
I love having multiple profiles. I built one for Fortnite and another for Call of Duty since crouch/jump are mapped differently. Switching profiles requires opening the app (a minor annoyance), but it works smoothly.
Performance
Instant triggers feel responsive, even if they aren’t as sharp as Battle Beaver digital triggers.
1000 Hz polling rate (wired) means incredibly low input latency.
Fantastic battery life: I’ve never had it die mid-session.
Hall Effect thumbsticks mean no stick drift.
Interchangeable analog sticks allow for precision customizations.
The only thing I didn’t love were the M-buttons near the top. For some people (especially with larger hands), they get in the way. I personally found them unnecessary and hard to reach.
And Then the Deal Breaker: Phantom Inputs
Just when I thought I’d found my forever controller, something awful started happening…
Phantom inputs.
Imagine being in a gunfight, and your inventory menu suddenly opens without touching the D-pad. After firmware updates, profile resets, and hours of troubleshooting, the issue kept happening. Then I saw other players reporting it too. For a premium controller, that’s unacceptable.
And that’s what ultimately pushed me to try the SCUF Envision Pro.
SCUF Envision Pro: Amazing Customization With a Rocky Start
Ordering the Envision Pro felt like a fresh start especially because I got to customize EVERY aspect of it. So of course I got mine in purple.
On paper, this controller checks every “premium” box:
Wired + Wireless
Adjustable instant triggers
Customizable Hall Effect analog sticks
A redesigned back button system
Extra side action buttons and G-keys
Multiple profiles
But the honeymoon didn’t last....
Software Struggles (iCUE, ugh!)
When I opened the box, the first thing I saw was a big warning: Download software before using. I was disappointed to learn this was iCUE, which is notorious for being bloated, glitchy, and annoying.
I tried premade shooter and battle royale profiles, but they didn’t match my layout, so I built a custom one. That part was clunky but doable. Then I booted up a game…
The back buttons didn’t work. At all.
After a full day of troubleshooting, I learned you can program the controller without iCUE and the moment I closed iCUE entirely, the back buttons magically worked. Turns out, if iCUE is running, it overrides onboard memory. Not a great first impression for a $200+ controller.
Performance
My first Fortnite session felt laggy on wireless. To be fair, it was the day before the live event, so the servers may have been oversaturated and the game itself was laggy. I'm not sure.
When I played Call of Duty (wired), the controller felt great! It was smooth, responsive, and solid. I’ll do more wireless testing to confirm if latency is actually an issue.
The side action buttons got in my way, so I disabled them. The G-keys are interesting. By default, G1 is a Mute button; while this may work for some, I use Discord and an audio mixer so I didn't need another place to accidentally mute. You can also set up the buttons as macros. Unfortunately, macros have been exploited by many to gain unfair gaming advantages and may be flagged by anti-cheats, so I'm avoiding them altogether at the moment. I wouldn't mind a macro to change game audio settings on the fly or join a Discord voice chat and post I'm looking for squad mates. It may be something I'll investigate more, but for now, the G-keys are disabled.
Overall? Great controller, rough software.
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Excellent Build Quality | Phantom input bug (deal breaker) |
High wired polling rate (1000 Hz) | Profile switching requires app |
Long battery life | M-button awkward placement |
Comfortable back button placement | App software not intuitive to find |
Interchangeable hall effect sticks | Uncertain long term reliability |
Multiple profiles | |
Controller case included |
SCUF Envision Pro
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Extremely customizable | iCue software is bloated and not intuitive |
Redesigned, comfy back buttons | Couldn't get back buttons to work without iCUE disabled. MAJOR ISSUE |
Hall effect sticks | Lower polling rate than Wolverine |
Multiple profiles | Side buttons easily mis-pressed (I disabled them) |
Additional price for carrying case | |
Which Premium Controller Do I Recommend?
Honestly? This one is tough. I'm not entirely sure which is the best premium controller for PC.
If the Razer Wolverine’s phantom input issue is truly a rare defect, I’d choose it again in a heartbeat. The performance, feel, battery life, and polling rate are unmatched in this price range. It also comes with a 1-year warranty.
But phantom inputs are a deal breaker and until Razer addresses them publicly, I can’t fully recommend it.
The SCUF Envision Pro has incredible potential, but iCUE holds it back. Once programmed correctly (without iCUE running), it performs well, especially in wired mode. I’m enjoying it so far, but I still need to test wireless more.
If I had to summarize it:
Best Performance (when it works): Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
Best Customization: SCUF Envision Pro
Most Reliable So Far: SCUF Envision Pro (wired)
Most Potential Long-Term: The NEW Wolverine 8K (I’m definitely watching this one)
For now, I’ll stick with the Envision Pro, but if Razer ever fixes the phantom input issue, I might be running right back.
What about you?
Have you used (or considered) a premium controller? What has been your experience? Join a community where CHILL adult gamers share their opinions on products, games, shows, books and more. Oh, we play games too!
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