Courageous is the corporate that dares slap RGB and an LCD display onto its premium recreation controller and nonetheless declare to have higher battery life than Sony’s DualSense, however Turtle Seaside has completed it with the Stealth Extremely. This gamepad seems to be just a little just like the designers at Turtle Seaside sat all the way down to commerce concepts on learn how to problem the Xbox Elite Collection 2. However the assembly obtained just a little out of hand, perhaps some beers had been concerned, and this hilariously OTT unit resulted.
It is a powerful factor straight out of the field. Ensconced in its personal zipped service, it seems to be bulbous and imposing in comparison with the inventory customary PC gamer workhorse, the Xbox controller. It is noticeably larger at 160mm broad (6.3 in), in comparison with the Xbox’s 152mm (6.02 in), and its inbuilt lithium ion battery is presumably to thank for its lightness in comparison with the usual Xbox controller, which requires heavier AA batteries.
Additionally packaged is a charging dock, into which the two.4GHz wi-fi USB dongle discreetly nestles through magnet. You may forgo the charging dock and plug the dongle straight into your PC, however I do not know why you’d. 4 rubber thumb stick covers and a protracted USB-C to USB-A twine are additionally included.
Just like the Elite 2, the Stealth Extremely has ribbed handles. The presence of a 1.4 inch LCD display and a brand new entrance dealing with button makes for a crowded-looking system. Truthfully, I do not assume it is a lovely factor to have a look at. The RGB strips working on the shores of the ribbed handles might impress some individuals, although not onlookers, since your palms will impede this dazzling mild present throughout use.
Stealth Extremely specs
Compatibility: Home windows 11, Xbox, Android / iOS (through Bluetooth)
Connectivity: 2.4GHz wi-fi, Bluetooth
Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm stereo headset jack
Thumbstick format: Uneven
Weight: 246g
Dimensions: 120x160x64.2mm
Value: $200 | £179
Alongside the highest is the USB-C enter and two switches for adjusting the depth of the left and proper set off switches. The again of the unit has 4 paddle buttons which can be functionally an identical to the Collection 2’s P1-P4 switches, although the Stealth Extremely’s paddles can’t be eliminated. In different phrases, the hand that giveth additionally taketh: some extra granular customisation discovered within the Elite Collection 2 has been sacrificed within the Stealth Extremely in favour of that display and all of the on-the-fly customizability it entails.
The software program used to manage the Stealth Extremely is of various use and high quality. The cellphone app is mainly ineffective, although it’s good to set up it in order for you social media notifications despatched out of your cellphone to the controller’s show. Doing that is tedious and never price it anyway, because the controller’s show reveals such a truncated model of the notification it is simpler simply to have your cellphone subsequent to you. That stated, for those who’re solely utilizing it to see the approaching and goings of buddies on Discord, it most likely does not matter.
The desktop app is helpful, although it has some minor issues. It opens straight into fullscreen and exceeds the dimensions of my show, that means I am unable to see among the choices with out doing a bunch of fiddling. As soon as it is displaying correctly it is a first rate app: adjusting set off and stick deadzones specifically is a breeze, with a extremely helpful interface exhibiting how each stick and set off actions react to the chosen deadzone in real-time.
Regardless of its upsides you may forgo the app solely, as a result of virtually every part price doing with the Stealth Extremely may be completed on its LCD display. That features capabilities like that deadzone adjustment, although fussier gamers would possibly want the extra detailed UI of the desktop model.
I used to be nonetheless impressed by how a lot stuff I might do onboard. Assigning capabilities to the P1-P4 switches in every of the ten onboard profiles is painless, as is adjusting sound settings on a per-profile foundation. The latter consists of not solely mic monitoring and quantity, but additionally some EQ choices. To entry these capabilities there’s an additional button beneath the same old Xbox share button which toggles the display between controller use and menu use. Positive, it isn’t as intuitive as a touchscreen, however the display provides rather a lot to the Stealth Extremely, and is certainly not only a gimmick.
The Stealth Extremely makes use of Corridor Impact thumb sticks which, due to their friction-less, contact-less sensors, won’t ever undergo the vagaries of stick drift. Moreso even than that display, this is what elevates the Stealth Extremely above the Elite Collection 2 controller for me. An “elite” or in any other case costly controller must have some assure of longevity given the exorbitant entry value, particularly on this age of ubiquitous stick drift. It is good to know that for those who fork out for the Stealth Extremely it will not be rendered ineffective inside a few years by this explicit blight on controllers.
I am undoubtedly not forking out massive bucks for a controller with out Corridor Impact sticks.
One other boon are the microswitches beneath the d-pad and face buttons, which lend a mechanical tactility to every press. Not like the Elite Collection 2 the d-pad is not swappable, so the concave d-pad is the one choice right here. I play a variety of platformers and hate the concave d-pad on the traditional Xbox controller, however the aforementioned microswitches on the Stealth Extremely enhance the expertise a fantastic deal: precision requires the sensation {that a} press is enacted correctly, and that “click on” definitely helps.
Left and proper triggers have adjustable depths, with two switches on the again of the controller that may toggle between a default deep stroke and a way more shallow stroke. That is one much less choice than the Elite Collection 2, and whereas that does not trouble me, it could affect gamers who’ve grow to be used to the latter controller’s center floor choice.
Purchase if…
✅ You need a premium “elite” controller with Corridor Impact sticks: The Stealth Extremely’s paddles, its microswitches, and its customizability are bolstered by thumbsticks that will not, in concept, break within the subsequent 24 months.
Do not buy if…
❌ Your Elite Collection 2 continues to be alive and kicking: No have to improve, and it is certainly nearing time when Microsoft will reveal a brand new era of its personal premium gamepad.
It appears inevitable that Microsoft will dole out an Elite Collection 3 one in all lately, and if it does not have Corridor Impact sticks persons are going to spew. What it virtually definitely will not have is the Stealth Extremely’s onboard customisation which, as soon as you’ve got come to grips with it, is really helpful, making it straightforward to experiment with these paddle switches with out having to tab-juggle between recreation and software program.
And whereas there is no denying the Elite Collection 2 is a neat little bit of equipment, in 2024 I believe I would spring for the Stealth Extremely first. That is mainly as a result of I need the paddle buttons however I am undoubtedly not forking out massive bucks for a controller with out Corridor Impact sticks.
It has been almost 5 years because the Collection 2 launched and, thanks primarily to Pleasure-Cons and DualSenses, stick drift might be extra feared now than it ever has been (amusingly, Sony’s eye-wateringly costly DualSense Edge does not have Corridor Impact sticks, although they’re replaceable. Please, Microsoft, do not do that). Add to that the on-the-fly customisation, microswitches, and roughly 25 hour battery life, and the Stealth Extremely proves itself a stunning hit.