Asus launches ROG Raikiri 2 Pro controller with 8Khz polling rate and 75-hour battery life

When the ROG Raikiri 2 controller was announced last year, it was expected that a pro model would launch alongside it, but that didn't happen. Nearly a year later, Asus has announced the ROG Raikiri 2 Pro controller, albeit in China.

The ROG Raikiri 2 Pro arrives almost three years after the launch of its predecessor, the Raikiri Pro, and while the wait has been a long one for fans, the new controller arrives with some notable upgrades. The controller was announced alongside a handful of other ROG products as part of ROG's 20th anniversary celebrations.

The ROG Raikiri 2 Pro has been redesigned thanks to some of its new features. For starters, the controller now has a full color display that replaces the monochrome OLED display of the previous generation. Asus has also redesigned the D-pad and added a row of five backlit buttons below it. The ROG Raikiri 2 Pro also features RGB light strips on the handle grips.

According to the spec sheet, the ROG Raikiri 2 Pro controller is equipped with TMR thumbsticks. Asus has also bumped the polling rate to 8,000Hz, a significant improvement from the 250Hz of the original, and the 1,000Hz of the standard Raikiri 2 controller (available on Amazon for $189.99).

Asus has also joined the likes of GameSir and 8BitDo by giving the ROG Raikiri 2 Pro two extra shoulder buttons. The controller also features adjustable triggers and removable back keys, and like its predecessor, it can connect via Bluetooth, wired USB, and 2.4GHz wireless. It also has a battery life of 75 hours, a notable upgrade from the 48 hours of the Raikiri Pro.

The ROG Raikri 2 Pro will be available in two colors this time — Black and White. However, details about its price and availability are yet to be revealed.