Review Asus ROG Raikiri 2 Xbox Wireless Controller - A Better Elite Alternative

Microsoft's Elite Series 2 controller has been my pro controller of choice for quite some time, with that recommendation living on in both the Eurogamer and IGN best gamepad picks. However, the new Asus Raikiri 2 has now replaced the Elite for me, as it delivers essentially the same core feature-set while being better built, more capable and just plain more satisfying to use.

The core problem with the Elite is that it doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to reliability, with reports of stick drift, misbehaving buttons and even grip degradation. The Raikiri 2 looks immediately better equipped, with more durable microswitches used throughout, joysticks that don't drift and subtly textured plastic grips. I've only tested the Raikiri 2 gamepad for the past three months, but so far it's holding up well.

What I have been able to test out more extensively is the hardware and software on offer, and I've got to say that I'm a huge fan of the responsive feeling the gamepad provides. I'm spoiled by an early conversion to mechanical keyboards on PC, so getting a similar level of clicky and tactile feedback from gamepads with microswitches under the d-pad, face and shoulder buttons suits me down to the ground. Combine that with the precision provided by the tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors in the joysticks and (two-stage) triggers, and the Raikiri 2 feels extremely responsive.

TMR sensors are also more power-efficient than earlier Hall Effect (HE) alternatives, which helps the gamepad last a bit longer. The Raikiri 2 is rated for up to 50 hours, slightly up on the HE-equipped Raikiri Pro's 48 hours, even though the new controller uses a higher 1000Hz polling rate on PC. However, using vibration, RGB and the audio connection will all sap battery life, so expect more like 30 hours with all of the bells and whistles enabled.

Like the Elite Series 2, you get a full kit for £200 of your Earth pounds, which includes the controller, a wireless dongle, a screwdriver for the removable rear buttons, two button caps, a charging dock and a carry case that fits everything within. The charging dock in particular is great, as it ensures the pad is fully topped up whenever you come to use it, and it contains a USB port for the 2.4GHz dongle to reduce clutter.

Those rear buttons are handy too, as they're well-situated towards the periphery of the pad where your lower fingers are likely to rest anyway - and they're not hairy enough to go off unexpectedly. There are some games where I never use rear buttons (Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor) and others where they're practically required (Call of Duty: Black Ops 7), so it's nice to have the option.

Configuring these buttons is, thankfully, something you can do in Asus' web app, so you don't need to keep software running in the background, clogging up your computer's resources. It doesn't look like there's a way to make settings on Xbox though, compared to the Raikiri Pro which had an OLED screen to make changes on the device - so a small downgrade for Xbox-only players there. You can at least set up your profiles on PC, then swap through them on the controller by holding down the pairing button, then pressing Y.

The Raikiri 2 was developed alongside the ROG Xbox Ally X, so it's not too surprising that the controller adds on the same extra buttons (and fine Xbox texture) as the PC handheld. The two additional keys are useful, accessing by default the Xbox game library and Xbox command center. That is handy for swapping between games and quickly making settings changes, but it does mean that the Start and Select keys are right next to buttons that will throw you out of the game. That's not ideal for slower-paced singleplayer fare like Final Fantasy Tactics, where you hammer the Start button a lot in the menus, but it's even worse for Call of Duty as it can leave you vulnerable. I understand the appeal of mirroring the layouts between the Raikiri 2 and the Xbox Ally, but these changes are harder to accept on a controller that may never be used with an Asus handheld.

Otherwise, there's little to complain about here beyond the price. The Raikiri 2 is a low-volume premium controller made with the latest tech, and it's only the presence of significantly cheaper options from the likes of GameSir, 8BitDo and HyperX that really call its value into question. I'd still recommend this high-end option over the Elite Series 2, which remains similarly expensive, but those on more constrained budgets will find plenty of great cheaper options that draw level in terms of features and only lose out in terms of polish and build quality.