HomeHardwareTurtle Beach Stealth Ultra controller review – good, but not great

Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra controller review – good, but not great

Our Verdict

The Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely is an good controller finally let down by the absence of an actual concentrate on uncooked efficiency and, at instances, noticeable enter lag when used wirelessly on a console. Whereas its total value simply can’t be justified, I did discover the command middle to be a cool and distinctive addition, however I worry a lot effort went into cramming this into the controller that little else was given the required thought and a focus it wanted to make this an excellent controller.

Causes to purchase

  • Command Middle is a cool function
  • Tactile microswitches are nice on controllers
  • Charging dock is helpful and properly designed
Causes to keep away from

  • Latency points on console
  • Priced too excessive vs present efficiency

Sometimes, a controller comes alongside that tries its hardest to revolutionize how we play video games. The Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely isn’t any totally different in its targets, with it taking the perfect components from different merchandise and packing all of them into one handy unit. Most prominently, it features a show that can be utilized to test on the standing of the controller, customise its settings, and even have it learn out your Whatsapp messages. It’s an attention-grabbing addition however elsewhere this controller doesn’t do something really distinctive from a management perspective, merely refining what different controllers began.

There are some issues to love in regards to the Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely, nevertheless it’s a stretch to name it probably the greatest PC controllers in the marketplace proper now. Just a few recurring software program and connectivity points that are actually fastened ought to present hope that the initially tough launch is behind us, however I’m cautious that these issues may rear their ugly heads as soon as once more and spoil what may in any other case be an excellent gaming peripheral.

Why you’ll be able to belief our recommendation ✔ At , our specialists spend hours testing {hardware}, video games, and VPNs. We share trustworthy, unbiased opinions that will help you purchase the perfect. Discover out how we take a look at.

Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra controller settings

Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely options

The Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely is a wi-fi Xbox and PC controller constructed round its command middle show that means that you can mess around with audio and RGB settings on the fly, whereas additionally connecting to your telephone as a way to enable social notifications to return by to your controller. Whereas it’s a visually attention-grabbing design, it sadly seems like an excessive amount of effort has been put into together with this command middle, leaving different much more necessary options behind.

A charging dock is included to supply the controller a pure resting place when not getting used, and it ought to assist make sure you by no means attain for the controller to search out it low on battery. RGB strips function on each controller grips and are totally customizable to fit your private style.

4 extra inputs are positioned on the rear of the controller they usually’re simply essentially the most natural-feeling buttons of this sort, in comparison with many different premium peripherals. All face buttons, bumpers, rear inputs, and the d-pad are tactile microswitches, leading to a mouse-click sound when pressed. These are nice for figuring out when a button press has been initiated and you may sniff out any lag points far simpler with no need to be hooked as much as extra software program. The triggers additionally function sliding locks so you’ll be able to alter their responsiveness at a second’s discover. 

A charcoal carry case with purple trim is included to maintain the Stealth Extremely secure for those who’re taking it with you on the go. There’s a mushy lining inside in addition to a small compartment to maintain extra thumbstick covers and a USB-C charging cable. 

Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Controller docked on an Xbox Series S

Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely design

Similar to with the options of the Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely, essentially the most distinctive side of its design is the command middle show. The one comparable product that involves thoughts is the Asus ROG Raikiri Professional, however even then, the performance of each shows is sort of totally different. 

The small display is sort of helpful if you wish to change your audio settings on the fly (wired headsets solely), or if you wish to join your telephone to obtain social notifications. It additionally means that you can alter the RGB coloration and sample. To entry it, you press a + button located just under the Xbox social button. From there, the controller is then used to navigate the command middle and you need to again out to regain management of your recreation.

Past this, the Stealth Extremely takes on the form of a conventional Xbox controller, with asymmetrical joysticks, an ABXY face button structure, frivolously textured triggers and grips, and a 3.5mm jack on the backside of the controller. The rear buttons are additionally textured, with two on both aspect of the controller. The structure is finished in order that one button is on the rear, and one is on the curve of the grip, this permits anybody to activate each buttons utilizing only one finger, a a lot better different to having to claw your hand round 4 buttons or paddles.

It has a mechanical/industrial sample sprayed throughout the entrance, whereas the again stays plain black save for an information label and the golden charging contacts. Talking of the charging dock, you’ll be able to plug the wi-fi adaptor into this to avoid wasting taking on two separate USB-A ports, which was a intelligent transfer that deserves kudos. 

The Stealth Extremely and charging dock have fairly a powerful magnetized connection, which means the dock will snap to the controller, and eradicating it requires a good bit of pressure. Consequently, the dock can battle to remain in the identical place, so maybe take into account sticking it to a floor to stop it trying untidy each time that you must seize or dock your controller.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Ultra in case with accessories

Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely efficiency

The primary and second phases of testing the Stealth Extremely have been drastically totally different. Initially, there have been lag spikes and losses of connection that appeared very unusual. I really put it all the way down to my Xbox Sequence S because of the manner that it might seem to freeze whereas the controller was nonetheless lively and the interactive command middle menu was nonetheless usable. 

Steadily, I noticed that the controller was shedding reference to the wi-fi adaptor, however not reporting it in any manner, corresponding to flashing the white LED connection indicator. Fortunately, proper as I used to be about to achieve out to Turtle Seashore about this difficulty, they rolled out a brand new firmware replace for each the controller and adaptor, fixing the whole lot.

Since this replace, responsiveness has improved massively, and a few clear latency points have been utterly eradicated, which means the “low latency” promise slapped onto the field is now a actuality, however there may be nonetheless typically a transparent hole between it and even a regular Xbox wi-fi controller. 

I can also’t assist however worry that these issues may return, and for those who select to depend on the Stealth Extremely as your solely controller, a latency-breaking bug may successfully rule out any gaming till it’s fastened, nevertheless it’s price noting that Turtle Seashore was very quick to behave when the preliminary issues arose, so their monitor file with fixes is nice. 

I did, nevertheless, come to be distrustful of the Stealth Extremely in key moments. Even when taking part in single-player video games like Yakuza: Like a Dragon, timed fight prompts have been repeatedly not registering regardless of the distinct mouse-like click on of a button being pressed on time. This was an extremely uncommon prevalence, nevertheless it’s simply so noticeable when it occurs, that it’s onerous to disregard.

Connectivity and latency points are additionally far much less prevalent on PCs. Testing the identical video games throughout console and PC, the slight quirks that hardly ever interfered with play on an Xbox, outright by no means occurred on PC.

Do you have to purchase the Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely?

Until it utterly transforms the way you play video games, it’s genuinely onerous to recommend {that a} $200 controller is price shopping for. Does the Stealth Extremely do that? No. It provides comfort within the type of its charging dock, and customization with its RGB and thumbsticks, however little or no about it’s one thing we haven’t seen on different, cheaper controllers.

Regardless of these cool options, and even the Corridor Impact joysticks, which go utterly unlisted on the field, the Stealth Extremely simply doesn’t do sufficient over its opponents to justify the associated fee.

Options

Microsoft Xbox Elite Sequence 2

When you’re searching for a confirmed winner in the case of efficiency, and you intend to utilize the 4 customizable again paddles, then the Elite Sequence 2 ought to be your go-to controller and it’s a bit cheaper at $169 / £159.99.

Learn our full Microsoft Xbox Elite Sequence 2 overview for extra.

Nacon Revolution 5 Professional 

Nacon brings Corridor Impact joysticks and triggers in its newest premium controller, in addition to PS5 compatibility nevertheless it’s a lot better suited to PC play. A excessive stage of customization can also be doable which means you’ll be able to design your configuration round the kind of video games you play most. It holds the identical MSRP because the Stealth Extremely at $199.99 / £199.99.

Learn our full Nacon Revolution 5 Professional overview for extra.

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