Scuf Instinct Pro: Why I Still Choose This Xbox Controller After Five Years

It was one of the first (and really only) products I reviewed that I've been able to keep and use long-term - I remember sitting on the phone with the chap from Corsair who took down my notes for customisation, and soon enough, this controller landed at my doorstep.

Even after hundreds of hours of use in everything from generations of Forza to GTA Online, EA FC, and otherwise, it still feels as fresh as a daisy in my book. In the time I've owned it, I've reviewed dozens of other controllers that have arrived, impressed me for a fortnight, and then gone back in their boxes. The Instinct Pro has remained the one constant.

If you want an Instinct Pro, it's currently £163.90 from Amazon in the blue colourway (used - like new), which is the best price I've found at the time of writing. It's more expensive than a lot of other, newer controllers (including Scuf's own Valor Pro that builds on the good work the Instinct Pro laid down), but I still feel confident enough to give it a whole-hearted recommendation after my extended period of use. It even features in IGN's best Xbox controller roundup as well, and is touted as the "best competitive" gamepad for those on Xbox and PC, scoring a 9/10 rating. High praise indeed!

I first reviewed the Instinct Pro back in September 2021, and noted then how strong the build quality was. It's noticeably heavier than a standard Xbox controller, although the heft feels justified because of the more premium finish and the lovely texture to it. Even after nearly five years, it's still got the original domed and concave thumbsticks I chose and they're showing little wear. The ABXY face buttons have a short and snappy travel, while the rear paddles are easily within reach on the controller's reverse side. In my experience, some Xbox controllers can feel quite large in hand, and the Instinct Pro feels remarkably compact.

In some ways, I think Scuf got the ergonomics more right than many of its competitors. For instance, Microsoft's own Elite Series 2 always felt a little fussier to use, particularly when it came to its paddles, and a touch bulkier around the rear grips. By contrast, the Instinct Pro strikes a balance between feeling substantial and never becoming tiring to hold.

The only niggle I had with build quality is that the rubberised grips on the rear have gotten quite shiny from the natural oils in my hands - the same way cheaper ABS keycaps can go after long-term use. They contribute to making this controller especially comfortable for extended periods, although the fact they've gone a bit shiny isn't brilliant for long-term aesthetics. Nonetheless, the grips have remained intact, and aren't peeling away from the chassis, as they did with my original Xbox Elite controller.

If anything, the biggest reminder of the Instinct Pro's age is cosmetic rather than functional. As mentioned, the rear rubber grips have gone a smidgen shiny, and the ridiculous purple-and-orange shell now feels wonderfully of its time, harking back to an era when every custom controller seemed determined to look as loud as possible - I miss those days a tad to be truthful. I probably wouldn't choose quite the same colour combination today, but I can't imagine replacing it either. It's become part of the controller's personality and nonetheless adds a welcome pop of colour to a room that's otherwise a blend of grey and black.

Details

From a technical perspective, I've never had any issues with the Bluetooth or Xbox Wireless connections that you get with this controller, and it's worked without a hitch on Xbox and PC. Pairing is nice and simple with the dedicated button on the top side near the shoulder buttons and triggers, and it's completely fine. One thing to note here is that you don't get a higher polling rate 2.4GHz USB-A connection as with more modern controllers.

For me, the Instinct Pro's innovative paddle system remains one of the standout features. Scuf has used two sets of switches at different angles, rather than the four flat paddles you'll normally find. It means you barely need to move your fingers to activate the different inputs, which could save you precious time in quick-draw scenarios. In my case, I remapped the paddles to shifting gears in racing games, and features such as reloading and jumping in FPS titles. They've been that way for years, and it's almost instinctive to use them for those purposes. They still feel clicky and tactile, and not at all mushy. At the time, Scuf said you could map the paddles with up to 16 different functions - I must admit I never tried it, but if you're playing MOBA or MMO titles, then I can kind of see how it could be quite useful.

At the time of its release, Scuf touted up to 30 hours of runtime from the Instinct Pro, which I think is still largely true. However, measuring battery life for my use case is quite fiddly, as the controller spends a lot of its time on a third-party Xbox controller charging dock I've had since I purchased my Series X on release day 2020. Therefore, it has spent most of its life in use or on charge. One small gripe I have with it in this regard is that it doesn't technically work with the dock I have - sure, it'll take the rechargeable battery pack inside, but it infuriatingly doesn't sit on the dock to charge, meaning I've had the fun of swapping batteries between it and a more standard first-party Xbox Series X controller for the last five years. Apart from that, no real issues.

What's perhaps more impressive is that, in the years since I first reviewed it, the premium controller market has become a whole lot busier. When the Instinct Pro launched, your main choice on Xbox was Microsoft's own Elite Series 2, and you had very little else. Now there are excellent alternatives from Razer, Turtle Beach, GameSir and others, many of which boast Hall effect thumbsticks, mouse-click face buttons or ultra-fast wireless polling rates for competitive PC play. The Instinct Pro doesn't have much, if any of that, but it's still been a very reliable choice for me at least.

The Instinct Pro isn't therefore the newest, fastest or most technologically advanced controller you can buy anymore. There are objectively better-equipped options if you're chasing every last competitive advantage or want the reassurance of Hall effect sticks. For all the controllers I've reviewed since, this is still the one I instinctively reach for whenever I actually want to play - read into that what you will.

In that regard, there's something to be said for hardware that simply disappears into the background. I don't find myself thinking about what might have been if I'm being punted in a Forza Horizon 5 open lobby or attempt to survive another chaotic GTA Online heist with my mates. What I notice instead is whether my thumbs naturally find the sticks, whether I can comfortably play for three hours without my hands cramping, and whether every button still feels exactly where I expect it to be. The Instinct Pro still passes those tests with flying colours, and that's good enough for me.

Reece Bithrey is a twenty-four-year-old freelance journalist who reviews and writes about shiny things for a living. He's been featured in Trusted Reviews, PC Gamer, PCGamesN, Custom PC magazine, TechRadar, Eurogamer and The Guardian. He also has his own blog, UNTITLED. He is a mechanical keyboard nerd, so you'll usually find him tinkering there when not writing, or bellowing at virtual footballers on Football Manager.