Xbox entrepreneurs haven’t experienced many wi-fi controller choices in the Xbox Collection X|S and Xbox 1 eras. Microsoft’s wi-fi protocol has mostly been constrained to normal initially-social gathering controller and substantial-close Elite Sequence 2. Good third-bash wired controllers exist for Xbox, but we’re only now starting off to see formally accredited wi-fi controllers from suppliers exterior of Microsoft. PowerA released a stable mid-range Xbox controller previously this calendar year, and now Turtle Seashore has joined the occasion with the officially certified Stealth Extremely, a top quality alternative to the Elite Series 2. Turtle Beach’s Stealth Extremely is pricey at $200, but it can be an extraordinary controller which is truly worth your consideration.

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The Stealth Ultra retains the conventional Xbox controller format. However it isn’t going to have the same heft to it as the Elite Collection 2, it has superb ergonomics with textured grips and a premium end. As considerably as inputs go, I actually favor the Stealth Extremely to the Elite Collection 2, which was a surprise given that the Elite Collection 2 has extensive been my favorite controller. Buttons, triggers, and sticks are a lower higher than their Elite Collection 2 counterparts (and most controllers in standard).

Deal with, shoulder, and rear buttons, as nicely as the D-pad, are all activated by means of microswitches. This lowers actuation distance, delivers in the vicinity of-immediate suggestions, and makes a gratifying click similar to pressing a gaming mouse. In addition to supplying a larger amount of precision, the microswitch buttons merely really feel good. Turtle Seashore is not the very first company to carry out microswitches into its controller Razer’s Wolverine line for Xbox and PS5 delivers microswitch inputs, too. If you’ve got at any time experimented with the Wolverine, the Stealth Extremely feels really identical. If you are new to microswitch inputs, you might be in for a take care of.

There are four remappable back buttons designed into the controller. These textured action buttons are positioned the place your fingers are likely to normally rest, producing them effortlessly available. Back buttons and paddles are usually the very first function you hope with a aggressive controller, and they don’t disappoint here. Microswitches are once yet again used to decrease enter reaction time.

The just one-piece, stable design and style of the Stealth Ultra’s D-pad appears to be like peculiar at initially glance, but my skepticism disappeared immediately after spending some time with it. The recessed centre is clever, allowing you to promptly pivot your thumb in any route to sign up actions. Up, down, left, and correct inputs are lifted larger than diagonal directions that involve urgent in two instructions. It really is relatively very similar to the default D-pad that will come with the Elite Collection 2, with the major difference currently being the microswitches that offer you increased velocity.

We’ve noticed an uptick of controller makers combatting stick drift by working with Corridor Influence sensors. Unlike ordinary analog sticks, Corridor Influence sticks don’t depend on elements rubbing against each and every other to sign-up movements. Rather, Hall Outcome sticks use magnets to achieve the identical process. This would make the controller, in principle, immune to pesky adhere drift. I cannot discuss on the longevity of the Stealth Ultra’s sticks still, but they really feel excellent, and Turtle Seashore is obviously fairly confident in them–the phrase “antidrift” is emblazoned under each individual stick. Like other Turtle Seaside items, the Stealth Ultra will come with a a single-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Compared with numerous other quality controllers, the Stealth Extremely won’t have swappable parts. Actual physical customization attributes are constrained to set off locks and two pairs of rubber caps that wrap all around the default sticks. You will find a pair of concave caps and textured dome caps. The key advantage of these is they correctly make the sticks bigger, so they could be valuable for these with larger hands (the default analog adhere toppers are the very same sizing as the initially-social gathering Xbox controller). But you is not going to obtain support for swappable D-pads or modules right here. Considering all of the controls are exemplary by now, the lack of swappable sections won’t come to feel like a significant loss–specifically when there’s so a great deal to enjoy with the interior customization.

I saved this element for previous because if the main practical experience with a $200 controller is anything at all brief of remarkable, it isn’t going to really subject that it has a developed-in show that can be applied to tinker with all kinds of settings. But the Stealth Extremely, as a pure controller, is without a doubt quite good, so its novel attribute only enhances an previously terrific device.

You can imagine of the smaller screen as designed-in customization software program. Whereas the , 8BitDo Greatest, Razer Wolverine V2, and other professional-type controllers involve a proprietary app to make in-depth changes, the Stealth Ultra allows you personalize your practical experience on the fly. With the press of the “+” button, you can swap from managing the action on your Television to tinkering with configurations on the compact color display, dubbed the Linked Command Display.

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Turtle Beach front gave players a large amount to do the job with in this article. For starters, you can cycle by 10 diverse profiles–a good deal a lot more than the normal three for these kinds of controllers. Inside of each and every profile, you can remap the four again buttons on the fly, make dead zones for sticks and triggers, alter vibration intensity on still left and/or appropriate sides, and modify lighting coloration and outcomes. You can remap the again buttons to most inputs, with a single notable omission becoming RS and LS clicks. Considering the fact that many games use a adhere push to initiate a run, it can be always pleasant to map a back button to that motion rather.

The Stealth Extremely has RGB gentle strips on the handles. My fingers blocked a portion of the light strip while taking part in, but the lights had been noticeable upcoming to the encounter buttons and left adhere. Along with a wide assortment of hues, the light-weight strips can pulsate, cycle by several colors, breathe, and so on. Moreover, you can modify the intensity of the outcomes. Gradient shade settings failed to look to perform from time to time on my controller, but general the lights characteristics are very amazing. Really don’t fret, though–you can transform the lights off altogether, if you so choose.

Several of the amazing capabilities observed in Turtle Beach’s other Xbox controllers are existing right here, way too. The optional Professional-Aim Focus Mode can be activated by mapping it to 1 of the back again buttons. When on, Professional-Intention briefly alters thumbstick sensitivity, which you can use for things like extensive-range pictures. With a wired headset related to the 3.5mm audio jack, you can boost and blend your audio with onboard presets and sliders. What is great here is that Turtle Beach’s presets, while constructed into the manufacturer’s headsets, function with any wired headset. The marquee one particular, Signature Audio, in fact does generate crisper, cleaner audio–even so, if you have a DAC, you are going to continue to want to use that instead. Other presets alter bass and treble, and the final of the 4 enhances voices (chat and in-match audio). You can also blend your audio and mic options with sliders.

The Related Command Display screen can also show your notifications if you sync your cellphone to your Stealth Ultra. It truly is a quirky aspect that I guess stops you from searching at your telephone whilst enjoying (although you are even now seeking absent from the display screen and won’t be able to reply on the controller). Individually, obtaining texts or social media notifications although gaming sounds hellish to me, but this will almost certainly be of fascination to some. Additionally, it has some gaming utility if you use Discord although participating in on the internet.

Becoming able to manage options on the controller itself is a extremely handy and valuable element. Having said that, if you want to tinker with configurations on a more substantial show, Turtle Beach front has produced Command Centre 2, a new Computer and Xbox application that syncs to the Stealth Extremely. Equally versions of the app do the job fairly well and have straightforward-to-use layouts. The major problem I experienced is the app detected the improper facet ratio for several of my monitors, so I experienced to tinker with it to see all of the fields. The mobile edition of the app is mainly for notifications, but you can cycle via profiles on it.

Even though I centered on Xbox in this evaluate, the Stealth Ultra is every little bit as fantastic on Laptop. In addition to supporting the 2.4GHz dongle used for the wireless connection on Xbox, you can sync the Stealth Ultra by means of Bluetooth on Computer system (as effectively as Android). Alternatively, you can use the lengthy USB-C to USB-A cable provided in the box for a wired relationship. I did not notice any input latency with the dongle link–it performs as nicely as official Xbox controllers.

I was ready to get 25-30 several hours of battery lifestyle on a whole cost with the LED lights turned off. Your mileage here will certainly range based mostly on lights effects as very well as display-brightness configurations. But if you run out of juice while enjoying, the Stealth Ultra’s docking station–which shares its design with the Elite Sequence 2–will completely charge the battery in two several hours. The controller, dock, and cable can be saved in the primary compartment of the involved hardshell scenario. A small zippered pocket has ample area for the thumbstick caps and dongle.

The bottom line

The Turtle Seashore Stealth Extremely is a worthy competitor to the Elite Collection 2. At $200, it really is pricier, especially when you take into account how usually Microsoft’s pro-design and style controller is on sale, but the characteristic set provided here helps make it stand out in a significant way. Quality create high-quality, nicely-designed controls, and the onboard suite of customization options make the Stealth Ultra a controller which is hard to knock in any meaningful way. In contrast to some third-celebration possibilities for competing platforms, you’re not losing out on any major attributes by opting for Turtle Seaside over Microsoft (other than currently being ready to switch your console on with the Xbox button). When I nonetheless assume the Elite Collection 2’s weighty feel is unmatched, every thing else on the Stealth Extremely is a notch previously mentioned. The significant concern mark with the Stealth Extremely is how all the inside tech, particularly the display, will maintain up in excess of time. If other producers release Elite Series 2 competition, the Stealth Ultra will be tough to conquer. The bar has been established very substantial.

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Disclosure: Turtle Beach front offered a sample of the Stealth Extremely to test for this critique.