As the concept of competitive gaming becomes more mainstream and accessible, we’re seeing controller manufacturers worldwide step up to the plate with ‘pro’ peripherals. From GameSir’s range to the DualSense Edge and XBOX Elite series, there’s a bit of something for everyone, and to suit every budget.
The new Razer Wolverine V4 Pro represents the pinnacle of what’s possible in that realm, and in many ways, it’s delivering on the very concepts that these other manufacturers have been trying to copy for a hot minute. The Wolverine has been going for almost a decade, and each iteration has made it more powerful. The latest version is something truly special.
Here’s my full Wolverine V4 Pro controller review.
Wolverine V4 Pro Beats All Comers
I’m a hybrid gamer, which means I use both a controller and a keyboard and mouse, probably in equal amounts. I use a KBM arrangement for games like Escape from Tarkov and Gray Zone Warfare, typically games that can’t accommodate a controller, and I’ll use a controller for games like Call of Duty or Battlefield, typically faster-paced shooters.
The Wolverine V4 Pro landed on my desk recently, and I effectively teleported it out of the box with excitement. This wasn’t my first go-around with Razer’s top-tier controller, so I had some expectations of what I was about to experience.
You’re first grabbed by the presentation of the thing in the box. It feels premium, unlike a competitor like the GameSir G7 Pro, which is handed to you in a white box wrapped in a plastic film, and that’s about all she wrote.
Lifting it out, you’re immediately struck by the quality of the build. It’s firm, it’s durable, the ‘clicky’ buttons feel tactile and superb, and the thumbsticks are absolutely marvelous. You’re not a gamer if you don’t pick up a controller and immediately twirl those sticks around.
Like the other Wolverine controllers that came before, the V4 Pro looks gorgeous. The XBOX-style makeup, complete with the XBOX-branded button, might make PlayStation die-hards baulk, but this is a controller designed for both XBOX and PC.
In the box, Razer has also given you some swappable accessories, including thumbsticks and back paddles, all of which can be chopped, changed, or removed entirely. I’ll admit, that’s something I did. I typically do not get on well with back buttons, regardless of how nice they might feel. It’s just too many buttons for me, but that’s fine. It doesn’t take too much away from the Wolverine V4 Pro.
Even if you do rope off the back buttons, you’ve still got the classic ‘macro bumpers’ that sit atop the Wolverine, and they’re something I actively use.
What are we saying, tech-spec-wise?
The Wolverine V4 Pro uses slick contactless ‘capacitive’ sensors that are the final word in anti-stick-drift technology. They’re grippy, feel accurate as all hell, and seem to be on point when it comes to that stick drift concept. I played around with deadzones and such on multiple games and never had an issue.
Razer ‘HyperTriggers’ are bolted to the back of this thing, and at the flick of a switch, you can lock them and activate mouse-click actuations. Again, call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the full travel of the trigger in my games, so I keep them wide open. And again, that’s not a problem.
If you play wirelessly, you get to lean on an 8000 Hz polling rate, which is typical for most top-end Razer devices now. For instance, I also have a Huntsman V3 Pro HE, and that’s an 8000 Hz keyboard. It all uses Razer’s HyperSpeed technology for almost zero latency.
In terms of customization, you can run the thing via Synapse to tweak every button and input, and you can swap out the faceplate for something fancier, but there’s not a hell of a lot of choice out there.
I think it’s worth stressing that the GameSir G7 Pro, the Edge, and the Elite all do or have these same features and elements, but having used all of them, I’d just like to say that the Wolverine does it all better. You’ve got a 27-hour battery, PBT buttons for increased durability and sweat resistance, and it weighs just 305 grams.
To compare, the DualSense Edge is 325 grams, and the Elite 2 is a hefty 345 grams, but the G7 Pro manages to cut a svelte presence at just 272 grams.
But ultimately, it comes down to price. The Wolverine V4 Pro will set you back a whopping $199.99, which is the exact same RRP as the Edge and Elite range. It’s more than double the cost of the G7 Pro, but out of all of them, the Razer Wolverine is arguably the most worthwhile, prolific purchase you could make.
I’m a huge advocate for the V4 Pro. I feel like it sits nicely in your hand, it has some of the nicest buttons in the range, and the customization depth runs absolutely insane. If you’re an aspiring pro gamer, I’d say to avoid the Scuf and Battle Beaver units out there and invest your time, effort, and money in getting to know the Wolverine V4 Pro.
You won’t be sorry.
Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server if the Wolverine V4 Pro is your kind of controller.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out our review of the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro headset, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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