SCUF - VALOR Wired TMR Performance Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC - Black

Scuf has been around for about 15 years bringing high quality controller alternatives to the industry. Scuf has even helped pave the way for 3rd party and OEM innovations with over 100 patents all trying to give the player the edge they need. The Scuf Valor Pro is no exception to their good name or quality. The Wired controller is much lighter than the OEM wireless versions, even though they are the same size. The weight difference comes from the absence of the battery pack. The lighter controller is actually easier to handle and use. The lighter controller even feels less fatiguing over extended hours of play. Even though so many of the Valor Pro parts are meant to be removed easily for customization, the controller still has a very solid feel to it. The face plate is held on with several high strength magnets, and never even wiggles or moves a hair during play. Both the thumbsticks are easily removed after the faceplate is taken off just by simply pulling up on them. The controller does come with alternate height and shaped sticks (concave and domed), to be able to be customized for any type of gameplay and game. Keep in mind that replacing these sticks does not replace the hard wired electronics that actually register the sticks movements. With most traditional controllers, stick drift becomes a problem over time and with heavy use. So, even though you can not trade out those types of electronics on this controller, Scuf is using a much better design than what current OEM controllers use. This controller uses TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) for the thumbstick inputs. TMR , Hall Effect, and Potentiometer are the three primary sensor technologies used in gaming controllers today. The technology differs in how they function and how much contact between the components. Potentiometer is the traditional and most widely used technology, relying heavily on mechanical contact to sense the directions and inputs from the thumbstick. This can be pretty accurate but suffers from what most would consider early wear and malfunction typically seen as stick drift. Hall Effect is a contactless magnetic system where moving the joystick shifts a magnet over a sensor, detecting positional changes via shifts in voltage without any physical rubbing. Hall Effect controllers are typically immune to stick drift because they simply lack the components that would cause the failure. While extremely durable, this design can be an issue if power consumption is a concern. TMR is the latest contactless magnetic evolution. Similar to Hall Effect, but it measures resistance changes in a magnetic tunnel junction rather than voltage. It offers the highest precision and resolution with incredible durability; and it's very power-efficient. Even though this model isn't wireless it does come with a 10 foot braided USB to USB-C cable to give you ample distance from your console or PC. Wired controllers are usually the first choice for competitive gamers because they don't suffer from any form of wireless lag. The Valor Pro even offers a 1K polling feature for the fastest possible controller responses and communication. Polling the controller 1000 times per second means all of your inputs will be executed with lightning fast speeds.This feature is only possible on the PC, because the XBOX only runs at and allows 125 Hz. The controller can be put into the 1K polling mode by turning the controller on and simultaneously press and hold the share, menu, and A buttons. To exit 1K Polling mode, simultaneously press and hold the share, menu, and B buttons. The controller will reset itself going into and coming out of this mode. You might also have to download the Valor Pro companion app from the Microsoft Windows store. The controller can also quickly switch from analog full range triggers to instant short press triggers with the slide switch located near the triggers. One of my favorite features of this controller is the built-in audio control system. It has two volume scroll wheels opposite the audio input jack. One wheel is for game volume and the other wheel is for your chat volume. The reason I love this feature is because sometimes one of the people you are chatting with can be too loud, while others in the group can be too soft spoken. It gets pretty annoying either not hearing some of the people or going deaf hearing the louder people. Not to mention that sometimes all I want to hear is the game audio. This design lets you adjust all this on the fly without having to open an app or setting somewhere. Another thing to mention is that the inner paddles on the underside of the controller can be removed if you don't like or require them for a specific game. It is very easy to pop them back on at any point. You can choose from the low profile inner paddle or the higher profile design. At the center of the underside of the controller is the quick profile swap button. There are three preset profiles that can be easily identified at the top of the controller above the "X" button, by the color of the LED light directly above the "Menu" button. It will cycle between red, blue and green to indicate the selected profile. The preset profiles simply offer different button configurations for the undersided paddles. These profiles can be edited in the app to anyone's preference. The companion app is very useful. You can swap any of the buttons and functions. You can even adjust the "dead zones" (or no read spots) for the triggers and thumbsticks. The controller can also be configured through the app if something ever seems off. In the companion app, you can also adjust how the triggers and thumbsticks read the inputs, as far as it being more of a linear scale or a more aggressive arching scale to even something in between. Overall this controller has been great to use, it's at a very reasonable price for what you get and it has been very reliable. The textured rubber grip on the underside feels great and helps to keep the controller from sliding in your hands. All the buttons are very responsive and have a slightly better feel to them than the OEM controller. The D-pad design is a little more pronounced than the OEM controller, but still feels comfortable and to be honest it makes finding the direction a little easier. All the main directions of the D-pad seem very precise and don't accidentally blend with the other directions as much as with some other controllers. The triggers are even at a comfortable angle so as not to cause too much strain on your fingers from heavy repeated use. The additional paddles on the underside can be removed and shut off (in the app)if you are not interested in having the additional inputs. Scuf has pretty much included everything anyone would want into this controller for the best competitive edge possible.

I was able to use the SCUIF Valor Pro Wireless before this one and besides only being wired and about 40g lighter, it has all the same features. The TMR thumbsticks are super smooth and responsive. It comes with two different thumbstick versions to swap out. The triggers can switch from analog to digital. You can have 3 built in profiles then quickly switch between different programs on any of the buttons and have different response and dead space for each profile. It also has built in 3.5mm audio with two volumes for chat and game audio with click to mute. The way the 4 paddle buttons are on the rear of the Valor controllers is really comfortable and quick for me. It’s like my finger easily rests between the two and makes reactions so much quicker. If you don’t want all 4, you can pop the two middle ones out and replace it with the plastic caps included. Leaving only the two grip buttons if you choose so. The Valor Pro Companion App is where you can customize everything. I don’t like how it has to run like a fullscreen Xbox app on the PC. But, it really lets you fine tune everything. You can pretty much reassign most of the buttons/triggers to be any of the other buttons if you really want to make things your way. Nice if you have a game that doesn’t have in game way to remap them. The feel and design of this controller sits well with me. I have played many hours of various games with it and any time I pick up my basic controller, it makes me realize how much I have grown used to using the paddles. They just feel so natural and make some games all that much easier, like not having to let go of the thumbstick to jump and still rotate your shots. Overall, comparing this with the Pro wireless version, there is nothing physically different other than weight. Of course this one is only wired with the USB-C cable for PC and Xbox, but for me, that is how I prefer to use it anyways. Solid performance and overwhelming customization.

4/5 Stars — Reliable upgrade from Best Buy. I recently received the new Scuf Valor Wired controller and it has performed very well. I have used standard Xbox controllers for years and frequently dealt with stick drift after several months of regular use. The Scuf Valor Wired (Steel Gray) from Best Buy for is $100, and it provides a noticeable improvement without the higher cost of more expensive custom models. The Hall Effect thumbsticks are a significant advantage. They have shown no signs of drift, feel smooth, and respond accurately from the first use. The textured grip on the handles is effective and comfortable, even during extended gaming sessions. The overall shape is more ergonomic than the standard Series X controller, which suits longer playtimes. The four rear paddles are straightforward to map and offer useful customization. The instant triggers provide a clear benefit in shooters by reducing response time. The bumpers have a larger surface area, making them easier to press quickly. I also appreciate the built-in audio controls for adjusting chat volume and muting without navigating system menus. Since it is a wired controller with a USB-C connection and a good-length cable included, it delivers consistent performance with no input lag. It connects directly to my Xbox Series X or PC and functions reliably every time. For my setup, the wired design is preferable as it eliminates concerns about battery life or wireless interference. The build quality feels solid and well-made for the price. It is lightweight yet durable, with the option to swap stick heights if needed. The faceplates have a clean appearance. Remapping is handled through onboard controls without requiring additional software. One small note: the thumbsticks felt slightly stiffer than my previous Elite controller initially, but I adapted to them within a day and now find the precision beneficial. Also the triggers don’t have the same click feel that others have but I think that more a personal preference If you are looking for a competitive Xbox or PC controller that addresses common issues like stick drift while adding professional features at a reasonable price, this is a strong option available at Best Buy. It has become my primary controller and delivers excellent value.

The SCUF Valor wired TMR Performance Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC is a quality controller. This controller feels great in my hands - I love the feel of the non-slip grips, and I find the whole thing to be really well balanced. I think this controller may be a bit smaller than previous controllers I have used, and this fits very well in my small hands. The "new" wraparound bumpers are a well-thought out idea. Included with the controller is USB-C to USB-A 10 foot braided cable, which is a great length for me. They also include 2 blanking "plates" for the back which I really appreciate since I was accidentally hitting those buttons when using the other 2 back paddles. They were really easy to pop off and replace. By the way, they were included in a tiny white unlabeled box that I thought was empty until I shook it and looked inside. They also include a short and a long domed thumbstick which were not quite as easy to replace - but they can be removed with a pull, then just pushed back on. The faceplate is held on magnetically and quite easy to remove. Corsair claims the "Endurance TMR" thumbsticks are somehow more durable and thereby will prevent drift and jitter later on. This is something I can't speak to now. All I can say right now is that the thumbsticks do feel firm, but not too much. Overall, I am thrilled with the SCUF Valor wired TMR Performance Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. It is made by Corsair - I had never heard of SCUF and thought that was the brand, but it's not. This controller feels great in my hands, I love the grips and I absolutely love the look. The steel gray with orange accents makes me happy. I would easily recommend this controller for anyone looking for a box Series X|S, Xbox One or PC controller. I use this with my ROG laptop and it works great!

The SCUF Valor Pro Wired is a fully featured and customizable controller for Xbox and PC users. I have been a long term user of Xbox Series X, Elite, and Turtle Beach controllers. Only the Turtle Beach controller (Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded) has Hall effect thumbsticks like the Valor. After going through several controllers over the years due to stick drift I have decided to just upgrade any controller that dies from that at this point. This is my first wired controller in some time, but looking at the cost difference between this and the wireless version, I can see an argument for sticking to a corded solution. The Valor comes with a modest amount of physical customization. You can swap out the faceplate for a custom one to get the look of your choosing. The controller comes with extended length thumbstick stalks that you can swap over to. There are also blanking buttons for the 2 inner backside buttons in case you desire to remove their functionality. The triggers come with a trigger lock, which allows for full trigger travel or mouse-click mode for rapid firing. The bundled cord is removable with a USB-C attachment at the controller, and a standard USB attachment to the system. The included cord has a braided jacket, an attached rubber cable tie, and a 10ft length. I am able to comfortably sit on my couch and use the controller, so it was the perfect length for me. The controller features a standard button layout on the front. There are indicator lights at the top – right is the button profile in use, and left is the audio status. The controller has a 3.5mm connection for wired headsets and built in dials for game audio volume, and chat volume. Clicking the left wheel will mute the game audio, and clicking the right wheel will mute your mic. The rear of the controller features assignable back buttons – 2 on left and 2 on the right. The inner 2 buttons can be blanked off if you don’t want them. You can program your profiles directly on the controller without any software. However, the SCUF app on the Xbox works great, so I just used that for any changes. The back buttons can only be bound to controller functions, so no keyboard bindings if you are looking for that. Within the SCUFF app you can tinker and fine tune your settings far more in-depth than without it. You can setup your thumbsticks desired deadzone and the how your movements are interpreted – the preset is Linear. You can also choose to have an Exponential response, Dynamic (quick response in the beginning and end of travel, and flattish in the middle), Aggressive (sharp response through most of the range that flattens towards the end), and Custom. The triggers have the same customization available with the same response profiles. Playing FPS games I prefer a linear response on the sticks and triggers, but I will tinker with the trigger profiles for my racing games. You can also dial in your vibration response, which is zoned between left and right, further divided by trigger and grip. I prefer a strong vibration response so I left these alone. Picking the controller up I could tell that it felt light, and it is. It clocks in at 260g, which is 20g lighter than the standard Series X controller, and 85g lighter than the Elite 2. The soft touch plastic on the shell feels great in my hands, and the textured grips ensure a stable grip. I like the feel of the grips over the textured plastic of the standard controller, and I think I prefer it over the rubberized grips on my Halo Infinite Edition Controller. The triggers have a similar feel to the Xbox, but the bumpers are noticeably softer on the click and a touch lighter on the actuation force. The back buttons have a reasonable actuation force that is easy to get used to. I swapped out the left inner button for the blanking panel since I found myself not using that button enough, and wanting to rest a finger there. I used the right inner button more frequently, so I kept that in use. I played a bunch of Halo: Infinite to get a feel for the controller. Its been my go to game for awhile, and I can easily compare performance that way. Right off I was easily able to settle into using the controller. Coming from a standard Xbox controller to the Valor should not be an issue for anyone. The controller responds really well and it handles the same inputs that I would give an Xbox controller without issue. The mouse-click trigger feature came in handy when using semi-auto weapons – it gave a slight edge over the full trigger travel, even though I needed to adjust to its feel. The jury is still out on the Hall effect triggers, but seeing as how I have lost 4 controllers in the last 2 years to moderate play, I am happy to see how well these age. Inputs are well read and I could not discern any input delay. Stick movement felt accurate as well – I didn’t notice any wayward movements or misread inputs. After a couple of rounds I messed with the deadzones on the triggers and sticks to see how that affected my gameplay. I ended up lowering the deadzone percentage on the triggers to 5% (down from the default 7) for slightly quicker trigger action, but I left the stick deadzone at the default for the time being. I customized a few different profiles in the SCUF software and tested them out. You are able to cycle through your profiles mid game with the button in the middle of the controller back, which makes it easy to adjust things on the fly. I can see changing your back button bindings depending on the game you are playing if the loadouts are varied enough. The only thing I found I needed to get used to was the softer bumper feel. I found myself desiring a stronger click feedback, and the muted feel wasn’t as satisfying. This is a small gripe, but that’s just my preference. Overall, I liked the gaming on the Valor. It has a very close feel to the Series X controller, which I am a fan of (aside from the stick drift issue). I felt the controller had plenty of adjustability and tweaks available to satisfy a wide range of players. The controller has performed well and held up through several hours of gameplay without any issue. I would have no problem recommending this controller.