Built from the ground up to improve on every aspect of the Razer Wolverine lineup, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro takes everything great about the V3 Pro and refines it. From the new capacitive thumbsticks to the ultra-low latency, the new Wolverine V4 Pro elevates the controller experience. In the category of pro controllers, Razer’s Wolverine V4 Pro is at the top of the list.
On the surface, the Wolverine V4 Pro looks very similar to its predecessor. As noted in the Wolverine V3 Pro review, I love the look, feel, and premium feel of this lineup, and the V4 Pro carries over many of the features that make the line so good. The size and weight remain virtually identical, with button placement, rubberized grips and quality switches all present and accounted for.
However, as with the jump from the V2 Pro to the V3 Pro, Razer has made some subtle but key updates that work to refine the controller on many levels. Some visible changes include removing all Chroma RGB, a smart choice for a wireless controller. Interestingly, while I liked the illuminated logo on the V3 Pro, I soon turned it off to extend battery life. Two years with this controller, and I cannot remember the last time I turned the RGB on.
The latest iteration also removed what little gloss finish was present in the previous generation, namely the face buttons, and replaced it with a matte finish, which simply looks better. I often find gloss finishes to reveal fingerprints more quickly. The only other visible change is the new cable retainer located over the USB-C connection port. It’s designed to provide a more secure connection and reduce the chance of it disconnecting during play.
All in all, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro’s design is excellent; it feels great in hand and, like its predecessor, is my preferred controller to use. While these subtle visual updates are great, this alone is not enough to warrant a refresh of the lineup. What is, though, is what is happening beneath the surface. Razer has taken the best parts of both the Wovlerine V3 Pro and V3 Pro 8K and merged them into the V4 Pro.
Starting with polling rate, the new V4 Pro is rated for 8,000 Hz polling on PC in both wired and wireless modes, a carryover from the V3 Pro 8K. What the V3 Pro 8K lacked, though, was connectivity options, and it was a PC only controller. The V3 Pro offered adaptable connectivity between PC and XBOX but capped its polling rate at 1,000 Hz on PC. Razer has brought this all together in the new Wolverine V4 Pro, and it seamlessly switches between XBOX and PC, offering true 8,000 Hz polling on the latter.
The second notable hardware update is the swapping of the Hall Effect sensor in the thumbsticks of the V3 Pro and TMR (Magnetic Field Direction) thumbsticks of the V3 Pro 8K for new capacitive (electrical capacitance) switches in the V4 Pro. With this comes refined sensitivity, virtually zero stick stutter and exceptionally low power usage.
When A/B testing between the V3 Pro and V4 Pro, I have to confess that it was hard for me to note the difference between the two during gameplay. That being said, the new V4 Pro feels exceptional to play with, providing incredibly smooth thumbstick response. I also appreciate the adjustable triggers, a returning feature, that are included with the V4 Pro. The locked mode provides a mere 1.3mm of travel, providing a mouse-like clicking experience that is exceptionally quick and satisfying to use. For those wanting a more traditional trigger experience, unlocked mode delivers with the full 8.2mm of travel.
Also back are the micro-switch face buttons and the six programmable buttons, four mouse-click back buttons and two clap grip bumpers. The notable difference with the V4 Pro version is that the four back buttons can all be removed thanks to their magnetic design, along with hot-swappable thumbgrips (four additional as well as the two attached), providing gamers with a very customizable user experience.
“All in all, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro’s design is excellent.”
The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro also includes adjustable haptic feedback and a plethora of fine-tuning options that can all be handled from both Synapse and the XBOX App. The final note is on battery life, which sees an improvement over the V3 Pro. In testing on XBOX, I achieved around the rated 27 hours of use, though mileage will vary once the polling rate is turned up and if you go hard on haptic feedback.
The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro is an excellent controller. It easily earns its stripes as a pro controller and is one of the best on the market. While this latest iteration isn’t a huge departure from what has come before, it does offer meaningful upgrades that, if you don’t currently own a V3 Pro / V3 Pro 8K, could be worth picking up, especially if you are a PC and XBOX player. While the price to play is high at $199.99, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro is a top-tier controller worth considering.
- HIGH-PRECISION DRIFT-FREE CONTROL – Stay locked on target with capacitive anti-drift thumbsticks featuring contactless sensors for reliable accuracy, smoother tracking, and consistent aiming in FPS, sports, and competitive multiplayer games
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE – Configure four removable mouse-click back buttons and two claw grip bumpers to execute commands faster, remap inputs, and maintain control without lifting your thumbs from the sticks
