Pros
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Programmable buttons
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Unique appearance
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Multi-device compatible
Even with its handful of cool features, the Raikiri Pro feels underbaked.
About the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro
Credit:
Reviewed / Chris Coke
The design for the Asus Rakiri Pro feels familiar, but has been slightly upgraded with a small OLED front screen.
- Price: $170
- Connectivity: Wireless 2.4 GHz (PC Only), Bluetooth 5.0, Wired (detachable USB Type-C to Type-A)
- Dimensions: 4.05 x 6.10 x 2.52 inches
- Weight: 330 grams (11.64 ounces)
- Cable: 9-foot, braided, detachable
- Device Compatibility: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One S, Xbox One, PC, Android
- Material: Plastic
- Special features: Trigger locks, four programmable rear buttons, 128 x 40 pixel OLED display
The ROG Raikiri Pro is intended to be a top-of-the-line controller and has an array of features to match. That begins with feeling comfortable in the hand, and if you’ve used a standard Xbox controller or an upgraded version like the Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2 Core, it should feel immediately familiar. The size, shape, and layout are all largely the same, but there are a few changes that make it stand out.
The most obvious is that Asus has added a small OLED screen to the front of the controller. It displays animated wallpapers and the settings menu, navigable with a pair of extra shoulder buttons around the USB port. Within, you can choose your platform and connection method, as well as see status information like the current battery level.
There are four programmable buttons on the back of the controller that can carry custom commands, including dropping sensitivity for a sniper button. Between the rear buttons is a small compartment that holds the wireless dongle for PC when not in use.
A $100 ROG Raikiri non-pro model is also forthcoming, but lacks wireless connectivity and only has two back buttons.
What we like
It’s a looker
Credit:
Reviewed / Chris Coke
Not only is this controller sleek, but it’s bound to feel comfortable in your hands during gaming.
If there’s one thing Asus knows how to do, it’s create great looking products and the ROG Raikiri Pro is no exception. It immediately catches the eye thanks to the flashy OLED screen and bright RGB strip that slashes across the front and wraps around the right joystick. The impression is only enhanced by the mix of smoky translucent and opaque textured plastic on its front. It’s one of best-looking Xbox controllers we’ve ever tested, so you get your money’s worth in the looks department.
The Raikiri Pro is filled with tiny details that encourage you to take a closer look. Behind the translucent plastic are small accents and well-placed curves and lines that look almost cybernetic. The texture on the left side is actually created from tiny ROG logos. It’s as if the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and the ROG Strix G15 gaming laptop had a baby, and we’re here for it.
Looks aren’t everything, but when you’re spending big bucks on a top-of-the-line controller, you want it to look the part. The Raikiri Pro definitely does.
It’s compatible with multiple devices
Credit:
Reviewed / Chris Coke
Although it can connect to multiple Xbox gaming consoles, the device’s connectivity is still limited
Multi-device connectivity is one of the best features you can have in a high-end controller. After all, if you’re spending upwards of $150, being able to swap between devices on the fly makes that investment feel more worthwhile.
The Raikiri Pro leans into that with compatibility with Xbox Series X|S and One|One S (but only wired) support, along with PC, tablets, and smartphones via Bluetooth. It doesn’t support the PlayStation 5, but it’s easily playable just about anywhere else, including with the new Asus ROG Ally handheld.
Using a pair of small buttons on either side of its OLED screen, you can navigate the controller’s menu and select your platform of choice and how you’d like to connect. The console’s wired-only connection is recognized right away, but on PC you can choose between wired, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth connectivity. Pairing over each of the three is fast and seamless, and the Raikiri was able to quickly pick-up the connection across play sessions.
It’s not perfect. The menu is a bit cumbersome and not being able to play wirelessly on Xbox is a big omission, but swapping devices does work as intended.
Great onboard audio
Asus has been a leader in headset audio quality for several years, and it’s bringing those chops to the controller market. While headphone jacks are standard on controllers, the Raikiri Pro uses a high-quality ESS digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to make your gaming headset, or even normal headphones, sound better than ever.
DACs are a key component in any quality listening setup. Theiy turn the digital signal sent by your audio source into analog impulses that can be interpreted by your wired headphones. A high quality DAC raises the ceiling on audio quality, allowing you to hear more details in your games and music. Asus doesn’t disclose which ESS DAC the Raikiri Pro uses, but including a brand named chip is a marked improvement from most other controllers on the market.
It won’t transform a terrible headset into a good one, but it can certainly ensure you’re hearing everything your game has to offer. That applies whether you have one of the best gaming headsets or even a great budget pick like the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2.
What we don’t like
Console play feels like an afterthought
Despite the green branding and “Designed for Xbox” stamp on the front of the box, the Raikiri Pro puts console play firmly in the backseat. Look no further than the wire, because you’re stuck with it. On console, you’ll need to stay plugged in despite it costing as much or more than some of the best Xbox controllers available.
There’s also no way to remap buttons without connecting the controller to a PC and installing Asus’s Armoury Crate software. That’s a little ridiculous when even budget controllers like the $35 HyperX Clutch Gladiate feature on-the-fly remapping. The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma, for instance, allows you to remap controls with a mobile app over Bluetooth.
Despite Bluetooth support and the existence of a mobile Armoury Crate app, the Raikiri Pro isn’t supported. There aren’t even pre-populated profiles to use out of the box. If you don’t use Armoury Crate, the rear buttons simply don’t work.
In practice, that means either knowing all of your keymaps ahead of time or keeping a laptop open next to you while you play. That’s the opposite of being designed for Xbox and simply isn’t worth the trouble.
The menu is a pain to navigate
Once you do have the Raikiri Pro set up the way you’d like, you’ll still have to contend with its poorly designed menu system. The OLED screen is a novel feature that could be genuinely useful but winds up feeling like a gimmick (it was implemented much better in Asus’s ROG Azoth keyboard).
Despite having two buttons, virtually all of your navigation will be done with the right button. The right button is held to bring up the menu, tapped to navigate down, and held to make a selection. The left button is only used for backing out of those menu options. It’s clunky at best.
Something as simple as swapping a profile can take 20-30 seconds on the Raikiri Pro. Changing your platform takes even longer. These are all options the controller industry figured out years ago via dedicated profile buttons. This is a case where the screen exists to look cool while actual usability takes a backset.
It’s not modular
Credit:
Reviewed / Chris Coke
For the price that this controller is offered at, we were disappointed in its lack of customization features.
At the same price as the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2, it’s reasonable to expect similar customization features, but the Raikiri Pro falls short. While the Elite controller offers swappable thumbsticks, two different D-pads, and four detachable rear paddles, the Raikiri Pro offers nothing other than its PC-constrained rear paddles.
Asus tries to add value in other ways, like the built-in ESS DAC, stylish design, and the ability to play over Bluetooth on tablets and smartphones. The Xbox Elite Controller has also had regular complaints about its long-term durability which the Raikiri Pro may well avoid (we won’t know until it’s been out in the wild for a while). That said, Asus neglected to include Hall Effect joysticks (which use magnetic fields to determine input and won’t wear down over time), an oversight given that the excellent Gulikit KingKong 2 Pro includes them for only $70.
The stock Raikiri Pro buttons and triggers feel on par with the bundled controller for the Xbox Series X, but without any modularity, it’s impossible to make the controller completely your own.
The rear buttons aren’t ergonomic
Credit:
Reviewed / Chris Coke
If you’re looking for a set of impressive rear paddles that feel natural while gaming, you won’t find it on this controller.
Usually, programmable rear buttons are a fantastic feature. In first-person shooters, they allow you to keep your thumbs on your joysticks and your aim at the ready. In action and racing games, you can map dodge and drift. They’re genuinely useful, but they need to be easy to access.
The Raikiri Pro uses a total of four paddles on the back of the controller. Reaching them doesn’t feel natural, and I had to actively think about where I was placing my fingers instead of reacting to the game. The lower paddles are taller and angled, making them easier to identify, but the top buttons feel flat against your fingers.
It’s hard to be confident you’re in the right place when the buttons feel almost identical to the edges of the cover for the USB dongle.
Should you buy the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro?
Credit:
Reviewed / Chris Coke
When it comes to the Asus Rakiri Pro controller, you can skip this purchase.
No, it’s overpriced and doesn’t offer enough options
The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro is intended to be a flagship controller. It’s one of the best looking Xbox controllers we’ve tested to date, with a genuinely cool mix of surface finishes, an eye-catch RGB strip, and OLED screen. It offers a handful of more advanced features like programmable buttons, trigger locks, a high-quality DAC to elevate your game audio, and the ability to connect to your PC with a high-speed 2.4GHz wireless dongle.
But even with the handful of additional features, the end result feels underbaked. It leans into the gimmick of its OLED screen and is less functional as a result. Simple things like profile switching require arduous journeys into a too-slow menu. The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 simplifies this with a simple profile button, and adds modularity and customization that the Raikiri Pro also lacks. There’s no way to remap buttons without connecting it to a PC, which is fine for PC gamers, but even a budget pick like the HyperX Clutch Gladiate offers on-the-fly programming and better positioned rear buttons.
Ultimately, the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro swings for the fences and misses. Even for PC gamers, who feel like the intended audience, the only advantage is the wireless dongle. Design, ease of use, and modularity all fall by the wayside, and it’s not worth it, especially if you play on a console.
Asus ROG Raikiri Pro
The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro is a notable visually appealing gaming controller equipped with an OLED screen, but it lacks a variety of features.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Meet the tester
Chris has been specializing in PC and audio-related tech since 2015. Find him at IGN, Tom’s Hardware, PC Perspective, MMORPG.com, and more.
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