Turtle Beach has become a name synonymous with game accessories. Although they are better known for their excellent range of helmets, they are slowly developing towards other types of accessories, such as controllers.
This brings us to the brand new Turtle Beach Recon controller. This controller has been designed for Xbox and is fully compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC. Let's take a look at how this wired controller compares to other third-party controllers.
The first thing you will notice when unpacking the Turtle Beach Recon controller is how much the controller face seems busy. In addition to the standard buttons that you will find on the Xbox Series X controller, you will also see a collection of buttons just above the Xbox button. This collection of buttons is really what distinguishes this controller from other third-party controllers. With these commands, you will have a full audio control of the helmet, the ability to map the two additional buttons on the back of the controller, and more. I really appreciated this approach. Some third parties need PC software or other ways to operate their added functions - Turtle Beach has just added all the necessary buttons directly on your face.
Unlike some third-party controllers, the two additional mapping buttons are integrated at the rear of the controller. They are located where the major rests, which makes them incredibly accessible. For me, I mapped the left rear button on the left button of my D-pad, which makes it easier to spot / target in games like Fortnite. The right rear button I chose to use with the exclusive pro-AIM focus mode to Recon. When the PRO-AIM focus mode is activated, the movement with the right joystick is considerably reduced, allowing a more accurate aim. Does he replace a mouse and a keyboard? No. But if you have the drop on an enemy, you have much better chance of making a shot with this precision aim. It should also be noted that there are 4 different pro-AIM focus mode settings, allowing you to decide how much the speed of movement is reduced.
As a Turtle Beach controller, it is logical that some of their greatest innovations revolve around the helmet audio. Once you have connected a headset to the 3.5mm port, you can switch some of the additional buttons at the top of the controller. There are separate volume and discussion buttons, allowing you to increase or decrease the volume of the game or group discussion. There are four preset equalizer settings - the exclusive "Sound Sound" from Turtle Beach, Bass Boost, Bass & Treble Boost and Vocal Boost. There is a very practical MIC mute button, perfect when your partner enters the room and starts to shout on it about the dirty dishes in the sink. And finally, there is the Superhuman Hearing button. This button uses what I can only assume being magic to improve specific sound effects in the game such as the footsteps of the enemy. This is not perfect - sometimes other less relevant sounds are also improved (read: stronger) - but it's always helpful.
As noted previously, it is a wired controller - and it comes with a 10-foot USB-A USB-C cable (3 meters). Although a 10-inch cord seems to be the norm among wired controllers, it is not ideal for everyone - me including. My living room is just too wide, so during my time with this controller, I mainly tested it on my pc. Let's hope that companies will start packing 15 feet cords with their wired controllers at some point. As for the controller itself, it is easily one of the most comfortable controllers I have ever had the pleasure of using. The handles include these neat micro-cooling channels that help keep your hands cool during the long sessions of play. The bumpers, the trustees and the rear buttons are covered with a bumpy handle that looks like the language of A cat that toilet your fingers. Honestly, I can not find any fault in the shape or sensation of this controller - it's the perfect size for my hands.
I am very impressed by the RECON controller of Turtle Beach. It's nice to hold. The textures of the buttons and the handles work perfectly. The two rear buttons are brilliantly placed and definitely improve the overall experience. Although I did not find myself to use the pro-AIM Focus mode as often as I thought, it is always nice to know it's there. The sound features are a nice touch. I can use any wired headset and the controller will take care of all heavy tasks, including the chat and volume settings. Superhuman hearing is a very interesting and useful feature. Honestly, if the joystick was delivered with a longer cable, it would be my favorite Xbox Series X controller. Unfortunately, because of the size of my living room, I will have to stick to the wireless for the moment. That said, if you are looking for a new Xbox Series X controller, I strongly suggest you to consider the Turtle Beach Reconire.
Still not convinced? Discover the 5 main reasons why we love the Turtle Beach Recon controller.
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