Verdict
While useful , the unique Command Centre presentation of the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra wireless controller is just too ungainly to properly appreciate . Thankfully , the rest of the package is indestructible , reliable , and perfect , while microswitches and student residence - effect joystick help to warrant the steep Mary Leontyne Price .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Controllers be almost triple the average secret plan are becoming more and more unwashed .
Sold to competitive gamers looking for an edge , the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is another high - goal wireless Xbox / PC inking pad for a specific type of player .
With drift - resistingHall Effectjoysticks , degraded and lasting microswitch button , and even a concealment , is there enough utile tech here to warrant the price ? The little solvent is yes , but there ’s still reason to wait for a revision .
Design
The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra comptroller looks to be transmit its internal Master Chief . This is primarily designed for Xbox after all .
section like an iconic helmet and coloured in a very Halo - esque way of life with visor - similar RGB trim along the grips , it ’s quite the mickle . And far from simple . It ’s closer to those exceptional - edition affair that adorn big releases than the sort of flash third - party controller you always give to player two – back when sofa carbon monoxide gas - op was still a thing , at least .
On the back , you ’ll blot four programmable paddles – a necessary raw material of these high - goal after - market controllers . Just like the rest of the button , these utilise little - travel microswitches . Even if you do n’t end up using them , they double as ultra - clicky fidgetiness toys between spawns . Being a rubbery - feel material , the palm grips are also piano to the sense of touch .
Where the slightly recessedUSB - Ccable fit , you ’ll also see toggle locks on either side . These two - stage sliders turn the principal trigger from the full - plunge type to hairline buttons like the rest .
The grown thing to note here is the universe of the 2 - column inch exhibit between the menu buttons . With the iconic Xbox orb moved below its usual smirch , the free space is taken up by a vivacious display with a bunch of dissimilar uses .
Stuffed in a round-eyed cardboard box , the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra hides a hatful in a little package . Inside is the included cloth zip - up case . This includes a draw and even a overseas telegram hole for charge your controller while it ’s protected .
Inside , you ’ll find the controller in a opprobrious plastic bagful model atop its charge cradle . A prospicient USB - coke / A cable sits in a separate bag to a lower place . In the small pocket at the top , transposition safety thumb grips and the large 2.4Ghz wireless recipient used to wirelessly connect it to your Xbox or PC are wrapped in bags of their own . It ’s a bit too much charge card , but it ’s certainly a arrant software program .
Performance
The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is my favored restrainer . There ’s no beating around the President George W. Bush here . I ’ve never been a fan of the shaky , bathetic expression release of most controller , and the swap to microswitches here give a far more satisfying , tactile feel to each activity .
Like how a respectable keyboard can make typing a joyous experience , these clicky switches raise gaming in a mode you certainly do n’t need , but can well appreciate .
The D - Pad , font , and shoulder buttons tender a tight , speedy propulsion to translate your in - game intentions as tight and accurately as you could want . But unless you commit to a specific grip , the rear “ nimble - action ” button could almost have too inadequate a travel for their own trade good .
I always squeeze the area around the grips they occupy in a feverish on - screenland squabble . Because of that , it ’s too well-situated to accidentally cast down the rear button in the minute . It ’s where the recollective , removable paddles of theXbox Elite Series 2or PowerA Fusion Pro 2 may still have the upper deal .
Still , there are serious competitive boons to using short - travel microswitches . Every millisecond count . You ’ll only notice a remainder at the right-down top level of play under perfect status , but they ’re more comfortable to use over foresighted periods ; which is far more likely to make a difference to your performance .
Even after workweek of use , the adhesive friction look pristine . Where the buttons are designed to last longer than I can penetrate at 5 - million clicks , the flimsy natural rubber grips ab initio struck me as the first place I ’d see sign of purpose . Instead , the tiny indentation seem fresh .
As you ’d expect from a costly pad , the travel distance of the chunky triggers can be rapidly conform via toggles on the back . short travel time can emulate a quicker trigger digit , which can be great for FPS titles , but not so great for mimic the accelerator pedal of a railroad car . The choice is yours , and it ’s easy to flip between modes in the bit .
Turtle Beach take you may wait around 30 hours of use from the Stealth Ultra when wirelessly connected to an Xbox , microcomputer , or other compatible equipment over 2.4Ghz wireless . Bluetooth meliorate battery life at the cost of higher comment latency as common .
Comparing that to your middling television remote control , it ’s not much . But put it next to most first - political party pads these days and it ’s quite the accomplishment , especially with RGB lighting and a screenland . You ’ll need to tweak their nonpayment brightness storey to get faithful to that enumeration , however .
Enabling the auto - off feature assist too , but it can take an annoyingly long time to get back into the biz if you incline to step aside a lot or get lost in your sound between mates , load time , and cutscenes .
In recitation , I did see the battery icon free fall to around one-half across a 12 - time of day endurance contest of Granblue Fantasy Relink . TheDualsense Edgewould have called it a day at the halfway grade , but Xbox ’s own close rival in the Elite Series 2 would still be sitting reasonably at around 60 - 70 % .
Unless you crank up the brightness on the sieve and cosmetic lighting , you ’ll never execute the Stealth Ultra accountant down on a single academic term . Working adult might contend to wear it out for weeks . dumbfound it on its bundled dock after each sitting and you ’ll never have a job . The pogo pin connexion , on the niggling ramp of the cradle , take hold of it effortlessly and it only takes a few hours to juice back up to a weekend - crushing full charge .
Software
Most of what you ’ll configure with the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra can be done through the Command Display . Disappointingly , it ’s not a touchscreen . interact with it means redirect comment away from the game to the tiny presentation , but its quirks can try out utilitarian .
Accessed by pressing the + push at the bottom of the controller face , you scroll through the menu with the D - pad and make selections with the face release . you’re able to change thing like LED gloss and volume , the EQ and microphone place setting of a connected headset , calibrate the joystick dead zones , and coiffure up the rearward buttons to mime other button .
The most common manipulation pillow slip for the rear button is to put reload and artillery interchange command within range of your heart or ring fingers . This helps keep your thumbs on the stick in a firefight . you’re able to sic these shape to up to 10 profile to set up specific preferences for multiple games or additional users .
Against the three profile of cheaper alternatives like theHyperX Clutch RGB Gladiate , there ’s minimal risk of infection of having to erase the accountant profile of one biz to make elbow room for another .
It ’s the link up feature that , while cool , might not get a tidy sum of employment . By filch it up to your smartphone , you could have your social subject matter press to the blind . You do n’t need to look at your phone with each ping , but you also ca n’t respond . At the very least , it ’s well for screening message that can look , but couple it at the showtime of each sitting is too much friction for too little convenience .
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Should you buy it?
Using 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth , the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is n’t tied to a cabinet ’s proprietary wireless tech . Paired with microswitches and residence hall effect sensors , lifespan implications are huge .
Unless you ’ve worn down several pads in the last few days , you may in all likelihood finalize for similar execution at half the price with some wired after - mart controller .
Final Thoughts
Durable , rapid , and satisfying microswitches put the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra controller on the list of thebest game controllersaround . It looks great , feels fantastic , and has enough unique bells and whistle to tolerate out .
It ’s expensive , but it ’s quick to sway on multiple gadget admit mobile . It also fixes the barrage flaws of most competing pads and should be less prostrate to wear and tear with a solid body , replacement rated for 5 million click , and drift - resistant Hall Effect joysticks . Take these into consideration and the price can start to make sense .
If you require a little more dominance over your triggers and do n’t mind enjoin bye to almost every other gadget of the Stealth Ultra , the PowerA Fusion line is available at a fraction of the Mary Leontyne Price . Demand a traditional expression with a more colourful palette ? Try theScuf Instinct Proor the first - partXbox Elite Controller 2 . For something a little svelte , theAstro C40could cultivate .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test controllers by playing a variety of games across various music genre on appropriate gadget . We also thoroughly analyse customisation options at a computer hardware and software level to see how they can impact your experience and performance .
FAQs
It ’s highly unlikely that the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra will get stick movement due to the use of manor hall effect joysticks .
Yes , the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra uses a 2.4Ghz wireless recipient that comes roll up in the box .
