Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot: one-minute evaluate
The Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot is an Xbox and PC controller that I wish to love. It will get a ton proper, from its strong construct high quality and spectacular battery life to its drift-resistant thumbsticks and all-around great-feeling buttons, bumpers, and triggers. As a controller, it ticks all the correct packing containers on its option to being a simple advice.
I’m an enormous fan of that titular characteristic, too. The pad’s two ‘Pivot’ modules let you swap from that conventional two thumbstick structure to one thing well-suited to arcade and combating video games. As such, the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot is impressively versatile and well-suited to each aggressive and easy-going retro play.
There are some design flaws, nevertheless, that cease the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot from being a slam dunk. For one, the act of ‘pivoting’ these modules is a reasonably cumbersome three-stage course of that requires you to unlock these modules, swivel them manually, after which lock them again into place.
Moreover, I’m somewhat baffled by the inclusion of a Turtle Seaside Stealth Extremely-like show. It’s definitely good to have and its intuitiveness makes customizing your controller expertise a breeze. However it has nearly definitely made the Stealth Pivot value greater than it might’ve been with out and considerably muddles the design of the controller general.
I just like the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot so much. However I really feel that its distinctive promoting level may shine extra at a cheaper price level with out the on-board show and with some extra refinement to the general pivoting course of.
Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot: value and availability
- $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95
- Obtainable from Turtle Seaside and different main retailers
- A value in between the Recon and Stealth Extremely
The Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot is available for purchase now for $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95. It may be purchased from Turtle Seaside immediately or from retailers corresponding to Finest Purchase within the US, Argos within the UK, and Amazon in all areas.
Within the broader vary of Turtle Seaside controllers, the Stealth Pivot finds itself a lot pricier than the Turtle Seaside Recon controller ($59.95 / £49.99 / AU$99.95) but in addition less expensive than the premium Turtle Seaside Stealth Extremely ($199.99 / £179.99 / round AU$329.95. General, the Stealth Pivot finds itself in roughly the identical value bracket because the Xbox Elite Wi-fi Controller Sequence 2 Core ($129.99 / £114.99 / AU$189.95).
The Stealth Pivot seems to come back in at a reasonably first rate mid-range value, then. Nevertheless I really feel it may have been a extra tempting choice had been it to be nearer to the $100 / £100 mark and if it solely centered on the Pivot characteristic – saving that inbuilt display solely for the Stealth Extremely as an alternative.
Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot: specs
| Worth | $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95 |
| Dimensions | 6.3in x 4.7in x 2.5in / 160mm x 119mm x 64mm |
| Weight | 0.66lbs / 300g |
| Compatibility | Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, PC |
| Connection kind | Wi-fi (2.4 GHz, PC solely), Wired (USB Sort-C) |
| Battery life | 20 hours |
| Software program | Management Heart 2 (Xbox and PC) |
Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot: design and options
- General wonderful construct high quality
- Pivot tech is the standout characteristic
- Additionally encompasses a built-in show, which doesn’t really feel important
The Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot largely impresses within the design division. It’s a largely plastic construct right here, nevertheless it’s all of a really prime quality and feels good within the palms – even when it’s a contact bulkier than most Xbox Wi-fi Controller-silhouetted gamepads.
Whereas the rear of the grips isn’t textured right here, the entrance options subtly textured pads that relaxation straightforward in opposition to the palms of your palms. In the meantime, the bumpers, triggers, and rear remappable buttons have a extra pronounced, bumpy texture that feels nice general. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the graceful, round d-pad which I discovered to be wonderful for combating video games.
The Stealth Pivot fits the combating recreation style to a tee, really. And that’s the place we get into the pad’s standout characteristic: these bespoke Pivot modules. There’s one on both sides of the controller, each kitted with two distinct layouts. By default, the controller’s pivots are set to the normal two-thumbstick structure. The left module’s different facet encompasses a d-pad and two buttons, whereas the correct bears a six-button structure.
It’s a neat characteristic that goes an extended option to making the Stealth Pivot stand out from the group. It’s a disgrace, then, that the entire pivoting course of may be fairly awkward. For starters, you’ll must unlock the pivots by toggling the unusually stiff switches on the rear of the pad. Then, you twist the thumbsticks clockwise to press them inwards, guaranteeing that they are often housed throughout the controller. Subsequent comes the swivel itself earlier than locking the Pivot modules once more. It’s a reasonably clumsy course of general and one I really feel may use some refinement if the Stealth Pivot ever will get an improved follow-up.
Except for some very efficient set off locks with distinct analog and digital settings, the remaining standout characteristic of the Stealth Pivot is its built-in show. It’s efficient and unintrusive, activated by urgent a small ‘+’ button on the backside of the controller. The Stealth Pivot’s inputs will then work together with the show’s choices as an alternative of your recreation till you hit that ‘+’ button once more.
The show’s choices are easy however have just about all the pieces you’d need whereas gaming with out overcomplicating issues. You may swap between as much as 5 button profiles (which you’ll be able to create by way of the downloadable Management Heart 2 app on Xbox and PC), monitor battery life, alter headset quantity ought to you have got one plugged in by way of the three.5mm port, and verify for firmware updates.
It’s a pleasant addition, however one I really feel isn’t a lot of a necessity, particularly because it doesn’t actually improve the distinctive promoting level of these Pivot modules. As talked about, I wouldn’t have minded if the controller caught to the Pivot modules because the one standout characteristic, which can have allowed it to come back in at a barely decrease asking value whereas nonetheless sustaining what makes this controller particular.
Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot: efficiency
- Turtle Seaside’s AntiDrift sticks are sharply responsive
- Wonderful feeling buttons, triggers, and bumpers
- Excels at aggressive shooters, combating video games, and retro titles
It’s a lot much less of a combined bag for the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot on the efficiency entrance. The Corridor effect-like AntiDrift thumbsticks listed below are chic, for starters. Not solely are they seemingly long-lasting, however they’re additionally extremely clean and responsive, making them excellent for fast-paced aggressive video games like Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6 and Marvel Rivals. The set off stops work nicely right here, too, with the choice for quick-press digital triggers proving a boon in stated shooters.
Whereas I’ve points with the implementation of these Pivot modules, they’re really nice in observe. When you’re an everyday combating recreation participant, you’ve successfully obtained two controllers in a single right here, with the six-button setup on the correct Pivot module being paying homage to the Victrix Professional BFG’s devoted struggle pad module. I discovered this to be wonderful for Road Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 the place having fast entry to these further buttons allowed for a lot smoother play general.
This extra arcade-like button structure additionally means the Stealth Pivot is a superb match for retro gaming. I examined varied old-school compilations with the controller, together with Marvel vs. Capcom Combating Assortment: Arcade Classics, Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Assortment, and UFO 50. The choice controls introduced by the Pivot modules enable for a really snug expertise right here for video games which can be largely higher fitted to d-pad controls and fast, responsive button presses.
By way of battery life, I managed round 21-22 hours on a full cost right here, which is in step with the quoted ‘20+ hours’ on Turtle Seaside’s web site. Nevertheless, remember that a wi-fi connection by way of the included 2.4GHz dongle solely works on PC and cell. For Xbox Sequence X, Xbox Sequence S, and Xbox One, you’ll sadly must depend on a wired connection.
Do you have to purchase the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account…
If the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot isn’t fairly doing it for you, try these comparisons with two different controllers that is likely to be to your liking as an alternative, together with a funds and extra premium choice.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot | GameSir Tarantula Professional | Razer Wolverine V3 Professional |
| Worth | $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95 | $69.99 / £69.99 | $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349.95 |
| Dimensions | 6.3in x 4.7in x 2.5in / 160mm x 119mm x 64mm | 6.2in x 3.9in x 2.4in / 157mm x 99mm x 61mm | 6.2in x 4.2in x 2.6in / 157mm x 105mm x 65mm |
| Weight | 0.66lbs / 300g | 0.72 lbs / 325g | 0.67lbs / 304g |
| Compatibility | Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, PC | PC, Nintendo Change, Android, iOS | Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, PC |
| Connection kind | Wi-fi (2.4 GHz, PC solely), Wired (USB Sort-C) | Wi-fi (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB Sort-C) | Wi-fi (2.4 GHz), Wired (USB Sort-C) |
| Battery life | 20 hours | 12 hours | 12-13 hours |
| Software program | Management Heart 2 (Xbox, PC) | GameSir Join PC app | Razer Controller App (Xbox, PC) |
How I reviewed the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot
- Examined for every week and a half
- Performed all kinds of video games together with shooters, combating video games, and retro titles
- Frequent use of the Pivot modules for sure video games
Whereas it seems I’ve scored the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot fairly harshly, I had a number of enjoyable testing the controller and enjoying a variety of video games with it. I completely liked utilizing the Pivot modules for titles like Road Fighter 6, Tekken 8, UFO 50, and Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Assortment. I additionally obtained liberal use out of the usual thumbstick structure, loading up some Ultimate Fantasy 14 On-line, Marvel Rivals, and Path of Exile 2.
I largely performed on PC, with some testing on the Xbox Sequence X Digital Version paired with an LG CX OLED TV and Razer BlackShark V2 X gaming headset. General, I conclude that the Pivot modules give the controller a moderately area of interest attraction as a consequence of their efficient nature with sure recreation genres. Nevertheless, for gamers who often play aggressive shooters or combating video games, this might simply be a four-out-of-five or larger gamepad for you.
First reviewed December 2024
