The PlayStation 5 is a powerful console. My PS5 Slim is one of the best things I've ever spent my hard-earned money on, and the DualSense is a fantastic controller, in my opinion. But that isn't to say it's the best gamepad out there. Gaming giants like Turtle Beach and Razer have made great controllers for Sony's beast — and Razer might have just created my dream gamepad.
Meet the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. Announced today, the Raiju V3 Pro is officially licensed for PlayStation, and barring the Wolverine V2 Pro, it's the brand's only other PS5 controller. It's designed with professional, competitive gamers in mind. Fitted with TMR thumbsticks and Hall Effect "HyperTriggers," the controller enables you to fine-tune your movements and actions by adjusting actuation points and sensitivity.
And that's not all. You get four back buttons, which are not only customizable but also removable, so players who don't use them need not worry about hitting them unintentionally. Usually found in Razer's best gaming mice, the back buttons utilize the brand's best and fastest switches to deliver top-tier performance.
That all sounds great on paper, but what's the controller like to use? I've had early access to the Raiju V3 Pro and I've been using it for a few days now. My full in-depth review will be live soon, but for now, let me take you through my first impressions (spoiler alert: they're very positive).
It's all about TMR
Analog thumbsticks are so old school, and that technology is slowly being phased out by Hall Effect. But even better technology exists in the form of TMR. TMR stands for Tunnel Magneto Resistance, and it's a complex concept involving quantum tunneling and ferromagnets. You don't need to understand the scientific side of it to recognize the amount of precision it offers.
TMR, essentially, allows you to reach even more precise levels of accuracy than what the Hall Effect is capable of by utilizing weak electromagnetic waves rather than strong ones, which means that smaller adjustments and movements are picked up by the sensor. The Razer Raiju V3 Pro features TMR sticks, and boy, are they good!
The Raiju V3 Pro's TMR sticks ensure pinpoint precision in FPS games like Borderlands 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, and those are the two games I played to test the Raiju V3 Pro. If I were using a sniper or a long-reaching rifle in either game, I appreciated the control the TMR sticks gave me. Even the most minute, minuscule movement was registered. I also appreciated the immediate stop when I was using the sticks to control the camera, and I suddenly let go.
Even in racing titles such as F1 25 and Need for Speed Heat, making last-minute maneuvers to turn a tight corner or overtake an opponent was a walk in the park. The thumbsticks were highly responsive, and there was zero input lag.
Pinpoint precision above all
As with many other Hall Effect controllers, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro's triggers utilize Hall Effect sensors, and you can choose either rapid-fire mouse clicks or full analog control, depending on the game you're playing. I'll give you a simple example.
While it isn't a competitive FPS title, I enabled Hair Trigger for battles in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, where I needed to press R2 to initiate a Gradient Counter or counter after jumping — and I'd swap back to a longer press when sprinting. I kept L2 and R2 customized to long presses in Borderlands 3, too, so that I could use the left trigger to aim precisely and comfortably.
But what I love most about the Raiju V3 Pro is its back buttons. They're fully customizable via companion software, and they can be removed. This means that if you don't want to use them or accidentally hit them, you can simply pop them out. If I have them at my disposal, I use them in FPS titles as well as RPGs, but I also know that not every game needs them.
Being able to swap between weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 by simply hitting a back button as I remapped them accordingly proved not only handy, but more ergonomic. I can't wait to see what else I can do with the back buttons as I test the controller more.
Ergonomics galore
A gaming controller could outperform every other gamepad, but it would all be for naught if the controller had poor ergonomics. Thankfully, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro is an extremely comfortable controller. Firstly, it feels premium to hold with great weight distribution. It doesn't feel slippery, thanks to the textured surface, and it's similar in size to the DualSense and DualSense Edge. It doesn't feel plasticky or hollow either.
The controller features symmetrical full-sized thumbsticks that are comfortable to use for long periods of time, and I love the concave triggers, too. I especially love how clicky the face buttons and shoulder buttons are, just like on a mouse, as I mentioned earlier.
A slight hiccup
This isn't a major downside, but it's important to note that the Razer Raiju V3 Pro doesn't feature any vibration or haptics. Now, before you come at me (or at Razer), I can see why that is the case. The controller is designed for esports players and for competitive gaming.
Haptics and vibrations are great, but they can prove distracting when you're trying to win a tournament. They can cause distractions and disrupt your concentration. That's great for FPS titles, but not ideal for story-driven RPGs where you want to feel immersed in the game and like you're the main character. It's just something to keep in mind before you buy the controller.
If it helps, this is also the case with the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. Haptic feedback is also Sony's proprietary technology, so it's not surprising that you don't see it on many third-party controllers.
Looking ahead...
Usually, when I test a controller, I play video games for at least 10 hours (I know, I love my job) to get a good understanding of it, and I haven't done that with the Razer Raiju V3 Pro yet. Rest assured, I will be doing just that before my in-depth review goes live next week.
My first impressions, though? Extremely positive. I think this is a fantastic controller. The TMR thumbsticks feel incredible to use, and the Hall Effect triggers are mighty powerful, and they let you adjust the actuation point/sensitivity depending on the game you're playing. The controller itself feels ergonomic.
Once again, Razer has proved why it's one of the biggest names in the gaming hardware industry, especially for esports players, and I can't wait to see what else the Raiju V3 Pro can do.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
