Xbox owners haven’t had many wireless controller options in the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One eras.
Microsoft’s wireless protocol has largely been limited tostandard first-party controllerand high-endElite Series 2.
Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller
$200
The Stealth Ultra retains the conventional Xbox controller layout.
Face, shoulder, and rear buttons, as well as the D-pad, are all activated via microswitches.
This reduces actuation distance, provides near-instant feedback, and produces a satisfyingclickcomparable to pressing a gaming mouse.
In addition to offering a higher level of precision, the microswitch buttons simply feel great.
If you’ve ever tried the Wolverine, the Stealth Ultra feels quite similar.
If you’re new to microswitch inputs, you’re in for a treat.
There are four remappable back buttons built into the controller.
These textured action buttons are located where your fingers tend to naturally rest, making them easily accessible.
Microswitches are once again utilized to reduce input response time.
The recessed center is clever, allowing you to quickly pivot your thumb in any direction to register movements.
We’ve seen an uptick of controller manufacturers combatting stick drift by using Hall Effect sensors.
Instead, Hall Effect sticks use magnets to accomplish the same task.
This makes the controller, in theory, immune to pesky stick drift.
Like other Turtle Beach products, the Stealth Ultra comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Unlike many other premium controllers, the Stealth Ultra doesn’t have swappable parts.
There’s a pair of concave caps and textured dome caps.
But you won’t find support for swappable D-pads or modules here.
you’re able to think of the small display as built-in customization software.
Turtle Beach gave players a lot to work with here.
The Stealth Ultra has RGB light strips on the handles.
Plus, you’re free to adjust the intensity of the effects.
Don’t worry, though–you could turn the lights off altogether, if you so choose.
Many of the cool features found in Turtle Beach’s other Xbox controllers are present here, too.
The optional Pro-Aim Focus Mode can be activated by mapping it to one of the back buttons.
you could also mix your audio and mic tweaks with sliders.
The Connected Command Display can also display your notifications if you sync your phone to your Stealth Ultra.
Plus, it has some gaming utility if you use Discord while playing online.
Being able to manage controls on the controller itself is a very convenient and useful feature.
Both versions of the app work fairly well and have easy-to-use layouts.
Though I focused on Xbox in this review, the Stealth Ultra is every bit as good on PC.
Alternatively, you might use the lengthy USB-C to USB-A cable provided in the box for a wired connection.
Your mileage here will certainly vary based on lighting effects as well as screen-brightness prefs.
The controller, dock, and cable can be stored in the main compartment of the included hardshell case.
A small zippered pocket has enough room for the thumbstick caps and dongle.
The bottom line
The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a worthy competitor to the Elite Series 2.
If other manufacturers release Elite Series 2 competitors, the Stealth Ultra will be hard to beat.
The bar has been set very high.
Disclosure: Turtle Beach provided a sample of the Stealth Ultra to test for this review.
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