Razer Raiju V3 Pro vs Razer Wolverine V2 Pro: Two premium PS5 controllers, but only one is worth buying this Black Friday

Advantages

Gorgeous drift-hitting TMR joysticks
Razer's mouse click technology still feels sublime
Fully functional touch panel
Trigger locks are super satisfying
Carrying case included

Cons

Build quality is not as high as the Wolverine V3 Pro
The USB-C notch is strangely annoying

Razer Wolverine V2 Pro

Advantages

D-pad microswitch and face buttons
Four remappable palettes
Pairs perfectly with PS5 and PC

Cons

It doesn't justify its price.
Doesn't feel premium
Lacks key DualSense features

Black Friday will take place at the end of November and has been proven in the past to be one of the best times of year to pick up premium PS5 controllers for less.

If you primarily play on PS5, you might be looking for comparisons between the Razer Raiju V3 Pro and the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, two high-end gamepads that are compatible with the console.

In truth, there is a clear winner in this comparison, which boasts huge improvements and at the same time is considerably cheaper than its previous counterpart. Both controllers will most likely receive discounts during the Black Friday sales period, so I'm here to help you make the right decision if you're planning on picking up one of these high-end PS5 pads.

Razer Raiju V3 Pro vs Razer Wolverine V2 Pro: Price and Value

Now, neither the Razer Raiju V3 Pro nor the Wolverine V2 Pro are what you would necessarily call affordable. These are premium-priced controllers with a specific target audience: namely, competitive multiplayer gamers looking for features like remappable buttons, interchangeable joystick caps, and the like.

Let's start with the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. It was officially launched in October 2025 and costs $219.99 / £199.99 (around AU$339). It is available in two colorways: black and white, and can be purchased directly from Razer's website or in retail stores. This also applies to the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, both in availability and color options, but expect to pay $249.99 / £249.99 (around AU$379) at retail price here.

What's very important to note here is that the Wolverine V2 Pro is the more expensive option of the two, despite being a few years older than the Raiju V3 Pro. But why is this? The main culprit is probably the Wolverine V2 Pro's use of RGB lighting strips around the grips and touch bar. RGB lighting can inflate the price of any controller, and the fact that it's absent on the Raiju V3 Pro could have led to its lower price.

This isn't entirely to say that the Wolverine V2 Pro isn't worth considering. From a sales standpoint, both are more likely to receive a deep discount during Black Friday. That said, it's worrying that the controller has maintained its $249.99/£249.99 retail price for a long time in both the US and UK. However, during sale periods we've seen it drop as low as $179.99/£179 at Amazon and other major retailers. Something to think about if you want to save money between the two options here.

Razer Raiju V3 Pro vs Razer Wolverine V2 Pro: Specs and Performance

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	Razer Raiju V3 Pro	Razer Wolverine V2 Pro
Price	$219.99 / £199.99 (around AU$339)	$249.99 / £249.99 (around AU$379)
Weight	9.1oz/258g	9.8oz/279g
Dimensions	6.6 x 4.5 x 2.6 inches/168 x 113 x 65mm	6.6 x 4.2 x 2.5 inches/168 x 105 x 65mm
Compatibility	PS5, PC	PS5, PC
Connection type	Wireless (2.4 GHz), wired (USB-C)	Wireless (2.4 GHz), wired (USB-C)
Battery life	10-20 hours	10-20 hours (depending on RGB usage)

As you can tell from this specs table, both the Raiju V3 Pro and the Wolverine V2 Pro are very similar on a surface level. However, when it comes to performance, there are a number of differences that set each controller apart.

Most notable is the Raiju V3 Pro's use of tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) levers. Like the Hall effect, these help eliminate the risk of stick drift, but retain a feel closer to that of traditional analog sticks that rely on a physical connection. Basically, you get the best of both worlds here.

However, the Wolverine V2 Pro does not use TMR or the Hall effect, making it more susceptible to drift over time. So the Raiju is the clear winner here, offering sticks that are more satisfying to use and will last much longer.

Both controllers also have their own approach to remappable rear buttons. On the Raiju V3 Pro, they're more in line with what we see on the Xbox-compatible Wolverine V3 Pro, being much more discreet and adopting Razer's mouse click technology for more tactile and satisfying presses. I always found the Wolverine V2 Pro's equivalent buttons disappointing, as they were positioned too close to the center to be useful in competitive scenarios and felt rather listless compared to those nice mouse-like clicks.

However, both have incredibly satisfying microswitch-operated face buttons, as well as well-implemented trigger locks for quick, responsive presses. Additionally, you can freely configure button profiles within the PC Razer Controller app, and your settings and profiles are also transferred to the console.

Battery life is one area where both controllers are comparable. For the Raiju V3 Pro, Razer's website lists an estimated battery life of 36 hours. However, in my review tests, I only managed to get between 10 and 20 hours of battery life before needing to charge it. Your mileage may vary here. The Wolverine V2 Pro is a little more interesting, offering up to 10 hours with RGB enabled and around 20 hours without. So your aesthetic preference will play a role here.

Razer Wolverine V2 Pro

(Image credit: future)

Razer Raiju V3 Pro vs Razer Wolverine V2 Pro: Design and dimensions

If you're looking at both controllers for the first time, it can be difficult to tell the differences between the two, given that they have an extremely similar silhouette. The Raiju V3 Pro is essentially an upgraded version of the Wolverine V2 Pro and therefore bears a striking resemblance.

The Raiju V3 Pro loses the RGB lighting, which is probably the most obvious difference here. However, both controllers are virtually identical in weight and dimensions, as you can see in the specifications table above.

So the newer controller may not be as aesthetically pleasing, but it more than makes up for it in other aspects. As mentioned above, the rear remappable buttons have been completely redesigned. On the Wolverine V2 Pro, these were awkwardly grouped in the middle of the pad, and the bottom two had a strange trigger-type design.

Another big difference is the location of the joysticks. The Wolverine V2 Pro adopts an offset design for its joysticks. Meanwhile, the Raiju V3 Pro offers something more familiar to the DualSense with symmetrical levers found below the touchpad. This might be a more comfortable setup for you if you primarily play on PlayStation consoles.

Razer Raiju V3 Pro

(Image credit: Razer)

Razer Raiju V3 Pro vs Razer Wolverine V2 Pro: Verdict

For my money, there is no competition between these two Razer controllers. The Raiju V3 Pro is by far the best and most capable gamepad. The lower price is, of course, one thing, as it makes the Raiju much more palatable at face value. But it is the improvements it provides compared to the Wolverine V2 Pro that place it quite a few steps above.

Like the Wolverine V3 Pro, I love almost every aspect of the Raiju's design. Improvements to the d-pad, remappable back buttons, and the use of tactile microswitches make it feel like a much more responsive controller for competitively minded gamers. The Wolverine V2 Pro, by comparison, feels a little dated by today's standards, lacks any kind of drift resistance on its joysticks, and comes with an incredibly high price tag.

The Wolverine V2 Pro is more likely to get bigger discounts this Black Friday. But the only thing that will do, most likely, will be to put it at a more comparable price to the Raiju V3 Pro. The Raiju may get minor discounts of 5-10% during the sales period, but it is the one I wholeheartedly recommend over its predecessor; now, or really any time of the year.

Still, you might want to consider the Wolverine V2 Pro if it gets an especially deep discount next month. Personally, given its age, I'd like to see a price drop closer to $149.99/£149.99, or maybe a little less. It just can't compare to the Raiju V3 Pro at any price above that.