SCUF Omega review: premium feel with impressive features, but at an equally high price

The SCUF Omega is a premium, officially licensed third-party controller for the PlayStation 5 that also supports Windows PCs and mobile devices. It offers extensive customization through additional buttons, interchangeable components, and multiple connectivity options, but lacks standard DualSense features like haptics and adaptive triggers. Priced at $219.99, the controller is praised for its build quality and flexibility, though its high cost and missing features are notable drawbacks.

SCUF Omega review: premium feel with impressive features, but at an equally high price Table of Contents When it comes to after-market controllers, SCUF is one of the biggest names in the game, particularly after being acquired by Corsair back at the end of 2019. Now it’s expanded on its selection of peripherals with the new SCUF Omega, an officially licensed pro controller for the PlayStation 5. SCUF’s Omega isn’t exclusively for consoles, though, supporting both Windows PCs and mobile devices iOS and Android . With connection options consisting of Bluetooth, wireless via dongle, and wired, it has a rather flexible use case. That puts it in a similar space to the DualSense Edge, albeit with more emphasis on customization thanks to its additional side and rear inputs, upgraded thumbsticks, and interchangeable switches. The real question, then, is whether those added features justify the premium price tag. - Compatibility: PS5, Windows 10/11, iOS, Android - Weight: 253g/8.92oz - Buttons: Standard PS5 + customizable 2x side buttons, 4x back paddles, 5x G-keys - Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wireless with USB-A dongle, Wired USB-C - Range: Up to ~10m/32ft - Ports: 3.5mm - Dimensions LxWxH : 164 x 115 x 64mm When it comes to quality third-party controllers, the SCUF Omega is a very high-quality and impressive option – especially when it comes to competitive gaming anyway. With plenty of connectivity options, lots of customizability, and a lightweight design, the controller is very good. But to achieve that, it lacks some of the niceties the DualSense usually comes with, like haptics, vibration, and adaptive triggers. With that, games feel more bland and not as impactful. However, with the Omron/ TMR switches and modular design, it does offer excellent longevity and that quality feel, so it might have a good market if you can afford it. - Great customization options and easily adjustable - Top build quality and hand feel - Plenty of additional buttons and features - Fantastic Omron and TMR switches - Easy to customize and set profiles in the app - App is just limited to mobile - No haptics, adaptive triggers, or vibration - Very expensive What’s in the box If you’re picking up the controller, there are a few extras included in the box. - 1x Omega controller - 1x 2m/6ft USB-C to USB-A cable - 1x Dongle - 3x additional varying thumbsticks - 4x button covers - 1x tournament cable lock - 1x universal case The controller’s modular design also adds a welcome level of flexibility. Alongside the extra programmable inputs, SCUF includes interchangeable components that let you tailor the experience to your preferences. If you’re not a fan of the side or rear paddles, for instance, you can swap them out for covers that neatly fill the gaps instead. There’s also a selection of alternative thumbsticks included, featuring different heights and textured finishes, making it easier to find a setup that feels comfortable and responsive for your playstyle. Price and availability SCUF has released the controller with a price tag of $219.99/£209.99 in the US and UK. These can be found on SCUF’s own website or on Amazon, with the latter offering a more limited color range. Amazon only offers black, gray, or maybe white, while the official site has plenty of team-based designs and special colorway options for a slightly higher price. That is a rather expensive controller, well above the basic models and even the Steam Controller. In comparison, you can get the basic DualSense for $74, while the Edge is slightly more comparable, priced at $199. Overall, despite the high price point, there are still gamers out there who will pay the premium for all the extra functionality and high-end features this controller offers. Design & features The SCUF Omega takes inspiration from Sony’s DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers, building on the familiar design rather than reinventing it. Like Sony’s controllers, it uses a symmetrical layout, with the thumbsticks and face buttons mirrored on either side – instead of adopting the offset layout commonly found on Xbox controllers. SCUF has made a few notable changes of its own, however. The touchpad remains positioned at the top, flanked by buttons on either side, but it’s been redesigned into a simpler rectangular plate with a removable faceplate and custom patterning. Compared to the standard DualSense touchpad, which widens as it stretches outward, the Omega’s approach feels cleaner and more modular in execution. Other changes include the button setup at the bottom. Where the Edge has a mode and function buttons, the SCUF uses a profile button and an array of G-keys – all of which are customizable, except when in PS5 mode, which keeps the middle 3 the same, and only G1 and G5 are programmable. It also keeps the 3.5mm jack for plugging in your headset, which can be controlled via the volume buttons. It also houses an LED status light bar below it that indicates battery level, connectivity, and profile status. The SCUF controller keeps the sides interesting, too, as near the top, in between the seams of the two plates, there is quite a wide button. The two side buttons are by default L1 and R1, but can also be remapped to something else. Sticking to the default L1 and R1 controls, however, does add extra responsiveness to your play. At the top edge of the controller, we find a more simplified setup. On either side, you have the bumpers and triggers that are slightly textured, adding a bit more grip. In between those is the USB-C port that sits on a raised bed where the tournament lock can be attached and holds the cable in place, supporting wired usage for minimal latency. On the back, there’s plenty going on. Firstly, the trigger switches are found directly at the back, right below the top. While this is a bit inconvenient to reach if you don’t have some fingernails to flick the switch, at least they don’t interfere with the body when pulling the trigger. Further below are the two extra buttons and triggers – another layer of customization – to make use of without having to move other fingers. These two buttons, alongside the side ones, do have blanks if you don’t like them. But they are a useful addition for speed; they just take getting used to. The handle grips do have a rubberized texture for some decent grip, especially when it all gets a bit sweaty. The last big feature of the controller is the removable faceplate. Held in by several magnets embedded inside, it offers easily replaceable and customizable parts. That includes the faceplate, touchpad, thumbsticks, and buttons. It is also where the connection controls and modes are based for changing between PC and PS5, Bluetooth, wireless, and wired. Usability & performance As someone who hadn’t used a SCUF controller before, getting started with the Omega was a little less intuitive than expected. Straight out of the box, it took some trial and error to figure out exactly how everything worked, especially since there’s no printed instruction manual included in the package. I eventually had to look up the setup process online to get a full understanding of the controller’s features and customization options. Out of the box, the Omega defaults to wired mode, which is how I initially used it after learning that the faceplate needs to be removed to switch connection modes. That process also opens the door to the controller’s companion app, which thankfully does a much better job of guiding you through setup and customization. While the feature set is somewhat more limited on PS5, the PC software offers far greater flexibility, including customizable profiles that can carry across multiple platforms, making it much easier to tweak settings on the fly. Once I had it set up and working, one of the things I noticed immediately was how light the controller was. The SCUF Omega weighed in at just 253g. In comparison, the DualSense came in at 282g with the Edge at an even heavier 335g. Similarly, I’m used to my Xbox Elite 2 Series 2 controller, which came in at a similar 339g. So it definitely is on the light side of things. That, of course, comes with some drawbacks and missing features. It still manages to add in a battery that can even be removed after some disassembly, allowing for it to be wireless and fairly repairable. What it lacks is some of what makes the DualSense the impressive controller it is, but SCUF is focused on gaming and competition, rather than the more casual gamer. For instance, it loses the adaptive triggers, general haptics, rumble, and the onboard speaker found in the DualSense. Those are the ones that make gaming on the PS5 more enjoyable and immersive. It adds that extra feeling to the game that lets you feel every hit and explosion. So without that, it feels surprisingly bland and light without all that. Although I don’t game on console much, particularly the PS5, I tested the controller on both console and PC. Using the app, I easily set it to be the same setup as my Elite 2. Then, jumping back into Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, of which I’m about 50 hours in, it was fairly easy to get back in. Although adjusting to the new PlayStation layout took a sec and was a bit awkward, the controller felt responsive and great to use. With the short trigger actuation point, it felt incredibly responsive to inputs – with a nice clicky sound to boot. That’s thanks to the Omron switches SCUF uses on the controller, providing crisp and ultra-responsive inputs made for speed. What was slightly inconvenient were the extra buttons; I’m not used to the side buttons. I kept accidentally pressing those and making inputs I didn’t want, particularly on the left side, where my ring rested. On the back, I found the paddles easy to adapt to and genuinely useful in gameplay, but the additional rear buttons were a different story. They require a more deliberate grip and awareness of finger placement, and when my hands naturally shifted or relaxed, I occasionally hit them unintentionally – ultimately leading to my character falling to their death. That said, once I became conscious of their positioning and adjusted my grip accordingly, it became much easier to avoid misclicks, though it’s still an adjustment compared to standard controllers. The same learning curve applied to the interchangeable thumbsticks. Removing the pre-installed sticks initially took far more force than expected; despite being instructed to simply pull them off, it felt like something was going wrong because of how tightly they were fitted. After more effort than I anticipated, they eventually came free. For a system built around modular thumbsticks, the tolerance feels almost too tight for comfort, particularly for users who might be hesitant to apply that level of force. Using it on a PC, the touchpad also doubles as a mouse and a clicker, so it has multiple uses, too. But for gaming, it felt great, and with the replaceable thumbsticks with TMR switches on them. So with precision and durability, they do last a long time. - Compatibility: PS5, Windows 10/11, iOS, Android - Weight: 253g/8.92oz - Buttons: Standard PS5 + customizable 2x side buttons, 4x back paddles, 5x G-keys - Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wireless with USB-A dongle, Wired USB-C - Range: Up to ~10m/32ft - Ports: 3.5mm - Dimensions LxWxH : 164 x 115 x 64mm Conclusion If you’re looking to have the ultimate cutting-edge responsiveness and lightweight controller, the SCUF Omega is a great option for the PS5, PC, or mobile. But for that, it does remove some of the nice-to-have features the DualSense is well known for, and costs a pretty penny, too. So it’s certainly for a more niche market, but it stands up to the task of being a pure competitive gaming sensation.