After spending countless hours with the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition, I can confidently say that it has become my go-to controller for gaming sessions, thanks to its pro-grade features and affordable price tag. Coming from someone who’s been through their fair share of controllers, this one truly stands out.
It’s well-known that the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is among the top Xbox controllers available today. However, it’s not necessary to shell out $200 to acquire 95% of its characteristics.
Apart from the Razer V3 Pro, Razer also offers the wired version, the Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition. It shares a similar design and comes with all the advanced controls, but it’s priced at just $99.99 at Best Buy, which makes the absence of wireless connectivity a fair trade-off.
This high-quality, wired gaming controller works well for both Xbox and PC, but the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition doesn’t quite overcome the shortcomings of its upmarket counterpart and introduces a few unique issues. Although it’s wired, a dependable connection isn’t always guaranteed, the vibration motors have a rough feel, and I still harbor some doubts about the controller’s long-term robustness.
Wolverine V3 TE review: Pricing and specifications
Pricing highlights
- The Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition retails for $99.99, or half the price of the Wolverine V3 Pro.
- The two controllers share many similarities, including an identical design and set of controls.
- The Wolverine V3 TE drops wireless connectivity, the Razer Chroma-lit logo, and the premium carrying case and cables to achieve its new price point.
The Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition, available at Best Buy for $99.99, is a more budget-friendly, wired alternative to the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. Instead of an internal battery and wireless capabilities, it features a 10ft cable connection. Meanwhile, the V3 Pro, priced at twice as much or $199.99 at Best Buy, comes with those additional features.
The Razer Wolverine V3 TE comes at a higher price point compared to most wired controllers due to its high-end design and exclusive array of features and additional controls. However, it delivers an almost identical gaming experience as the V3 Pro for roughly half the cost. Inside the package, you’ll discover the Razer Wolverine V3 TE, a 10ft USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable (not braided), and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C adapter.
The basic version of the Wolverine V3, unlike its professional counterpart, doesn’t come with a tough transport case or top-quality braided cables. However, both controllers are protected under Razer’s standard one-year warranty. You can extend this to two years and also secure coverage for one accidental drop or spill over a three-year period by opting for the RazerCare Elite plan offered by Razer.
Wolverine V3 TE review: The good
The pros highlights
- All of the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition’s positives are pulled straight from the Wolverine V3 Pro.
- It’s the same comfortable, compact design with excellent build quality.
- You also get all the same controls, including the Mecha Tactile face buttons, mouse switch rear paddles, Hall Effect thumbsticks and triggers with mouse switch trigger stops, and two additional mouse switch bumpers.
In essence, my earlier praises for the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition, as shared with Richard Devine in our review of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, largely hold true. For a comprehensive examination of this exceptional controller and its unique features, I recommend reading our full review. To save space here, I’ll limit my comments to avoid repetition.
In simpler terms, the Wolverine V3 TE is almost identical to its high-end counterpart, featuring the same design and nearly matching dimensions. This means you’re getting a compact controller that offers a comfortable grip. However, it retains the same issue of a rather large trigger housing that affects its ergonomics. Essentially, the Wolverine V3 TE sheds its internal battery (and some weight), removes the RGB-illuminated Razer logo and replaces it with a simple white LED dot, and switches from glossy to matte finish on the face buttons, unlike the V3 Pro. Personally, I prefer the look of the V3 Pro’s glossy finish.
In essence, you’re enjoying all the top-tier controller features this device offers. The face buttons are equipped with Razer’s distinctive “Mecha Tactile” switches, which blend clicky microswitches with comfortable membrane switches for a fantastic feel. The thumbsticks ward off stick drift thanks to Hall Effect sensors, and the triggers employ the same technology for smooth and precise tracking. Furthermore, you get six extra remappable buttons (four paddles and two bumpers) using Razer’s renowned tactile mouse switches, while the triggers also feature built-in trigger stops using these very same mouse switches.
This control unit is abundant with unique features, making it rare to find similar ones elsewhere. Its versatility and customization make it ideal for complex or competitive gaming scenarios, earning Razer’s nickname for the Wolverine V3 as “the esports controller.” Similar to the Wolverine V3 Pro, the Tournament Edition excels in performance, outmatching most other controllers due to its swift, dependable, and accurate controls. Additionally, it offers a 1,000Hz polling rate on PC for enhanced performance.
Configuring this controller with all its additional buttons might require some time in each game due to the customization options, but the end result is definitely worth the patience. You can enhance these customizations further by utilizing Razer Synapse on your PC or the Razer Controller Setup app on Xbox, which offers additional features for testing and personalization. However, if you choose not to use the associated software, a dedicated button on the Wolverine V3 TE controller allows you to access its unique features directly from the device itself.
Wolverine V3 TE review: The bad
The cons highlights
- Like the Wolverine V3 Pro, the compact shape and oversized trigger housing may make this controller less comfortable for some players.
- The rumble motors in the Wolverine V3 TE also feel significantly rougher than on the Wolverine V3 Pro.
- Finally, the included cable isn’t very high quality and does introduce some connectivity issues at times.
In contrast to Richard Devine, I didn’t feel as enthusiastically about the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro as he did, and my review reflected a more critical stance towards the controller. As for the Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition, I share a similar sentiment.
In the previous part, I brought up issues with the ergonomics, yet I also want to express minor worries regarding the controller’s long-term robustness. My Wolverine V3 Pro has experienced a loose rear paddle and some chassis creaking, which might just be my ill fortune, but it’s worth noting as a potential concern.
On the other hand, the Wolverine V3 TE has encountered two fresh problems. Firstly, its rumble motors are quite aggressive. They produce a sharp, whining sound and fail to deliver a comfortable experience. To add to my frustration, I struggled to get the Razer Controller Setup app to progress beyond “0%” while connecting this controller, making it impossible for me to test or adjust the intensity of the rumble.
A key strength that a wired controller like the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition should possess is unfailing connectivity, but this particular model seems to fall short. The cable doesn’t match Razer’s usual high-quality braided construction and feels rather flimsy. Additionally, its connection is somewhat loose, leading to problems where the thumbstick inputs would occasionally lock up or freeze. This meant that my camera or movement would sometimes continue in the last direction I had inputted even after I had stopped giving the input.
Wolverine V3 TE review: Final thoughts
You should buy this if …
✅You want a pro-grade controller without the pro-grade price
These three controllers – Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, and Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra – all offer wireless connectivity and additional premium features, but they each come with a price tag exceeding $100. Interestingly, the Razer Wolverine V3 TE preserves about 95% of its costlier sibling’s advanced capabilities while being priced significantly lower at around half the cost of the Wolverine V3 Pro, making it available for less than $100.
✅You’d actually prefer to have a cable
Opting for a wired connection ensures freedom from interference and battery concerns, but it typically involves trading off some features or quality. However, the Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition minimizes such trade-offs significantly, sharing almost identical specifications with the Wolverine V3 Pro, save for its absence of wireless functionality.
You should not buy this if …
❌You won’t use those extra buttons
If you’re thinking about the Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition and find that you won’t fully utilize its six additional buttons or trigger stops, you can significantly reduce your costs by opting for Xbox’s official wireless controller or a budget-friendly wired option from a brand like GameSir. These controllers are competitively priced within the “esports” market, though they’re not exactly inexpensive either.
Wrapping up my review, I’m eagerly looking forward to getting back to gaming with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. However, there are two minor inconveniences: needing to keep it charged and occasionally dealing with connection issues when using it on my Xbox Series X.
The Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition continues to receive high praises. At just half the price of the V3 Pro, it offers the same top-notch core gaming experience and extra buttons, while its wired connection ensures instant and reliable connectivity. Given that it retails for $99.99 at Best Buy compared to its more expensive sibling’s $200 price tag, it presents a highly attractive choice. In terms of overall performance, this controller surpasses the Xbox Wireless Controller, which is often considered the default standard.
Despite the fact that the Wolverine V3 TE retains some design flaws from the Wolverine V3 Pro, the vibration motors seem less powerful, and using a lower-quality cable could lead to occasional connectivity problems. If not for the last issue, I might be more understanding, but in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, I’ve lost games due to brief disruptions in connection affecting my aim or movement, which is unacceptable for any controller intended for competitive gaming.
By the way, did the designs of my Razer Wolverine V3 controllers grab your interest during this review? Generously provided by Razer, I was able to test some unique skins for these controllers. Although they can be tricky to install due to their incredibly thin design, these skins are top-notch and visually appealing. If you’re intrigued, you can purchase your own Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition or V3 Pro skin for as low as $9.99 directly from Razer.
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2024-11-17 15:10