Turtle Beach has introduced a high-end controller for PC and Xbox with the Stealth Ultra. But is the price of 200 Euros worth it for the controller? MeinMMO editorial staff member Benedikt Schlotmann has tested the controller and reveals what you get for your money.

Turtle Beach has introduced a high-priced gaming controller with the Stealth Ultra. After all, the manufacturer charges 199.99 Euros for the model. The most well-known high-end controller for PC and Xbox, the Elite Wireless 2, currently costs around 150 Euros. For the Scuf Instinct Pro, you pay 239.99 Euros.

I have taken a detailed look at the controller for you and will explain what you get for your money.

Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra in Test, Quick Overview:

• Scope of delivery, design and construction
• Processing
• Software
• Ergonomics, weight and battery life
• Gameplay
• Conclusion

Who tested it?

I have a penchant for hardware and tech and currently own over 20 gaming mice, as well as numerous keyboards and controllers. Since 2019, I have been testing hardware for MeinMMO for our readers. In addition to PC and PS5, I also play on the Steam Deck.

Our device is a review sample provided to us by Turtle Beach for testing.

Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO

Scope of delivery, design and construction

What does the scope of delivery include? The scope of delivery of the controller includes

• a charging station with transmitter
• a USB cable,
• 4 grip caps for the thumbsticks
• a transport box that is padded on the inside.
• the obligatory manual.

How is the controller built? The Stealth Ultra adopts the typical asymmetric Xbox design and slightly modifies it. Thus, the menu buttons move slightly upwards, while the Xbox button shifts to the lower edge of the controller.

At the top of the controller, there is a small display that can show you certain information. On the back, there are a total of 4 buttons, 2 on each side. However, they are not real back paddles like on the DualSense Edge or the Elite Wireless 2. Additionally, the controller features a built-in battery, unlike the standard Xbox controller.

The controller can be used both wired and wirelessly via the transmitter. However, the controller charges fastest via the docking station. Also practical: the transmitter can be attached to the docking station, allowing you to use the docking station not only for charging but also for connecting to the PC or console.

Via Bluetooth, the controller can also connect to a smartphone or other mobile devices.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Wireless Gaming-Controller mit Schnellladedock, Anpassbare Trigger-Stop...	No ratings yet		Zu Amazon

*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!

Processing

Turtle Beach relies on components in its high-priced controller that promise high durability: On the one hand, micro-switches are located under all buttons that are not only supposed to be particularly fast but also particularly durable.

Furthermore, Hall effect sticks are used in the thumbsticks. These use magnets inside, so there is no friction from components inside. Theoretically, the sticks are immune to annoying stick drift.

In direct comparison to the “Xbox Elite Wireless” controller from Microsoft, the Stealth Ultra has to come up short: the D-pad, parts of the back, and the metal paddles just feel better than the plastic on the Stealth Ultra.

I really like the transport bag and it offers enough space for the controller as well as the additional button caps. Only the charging cable cannot be accommodated anymore. That’s a shame, but not too bad.

Software

Turtle Beach relies on software called “Control Center 2.” This can only be downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

Basically, you can change almost all controller settings via the software, reassign buttons, and also turn off the RGB lighting to save energy.

However, the software does not really convince me. It feels somewhat cluttered, quite bulky, and the color scheme (purple on black) fits the manufacturer but is hard to read. The same goes for the gray menu on a black background. Whoever designed that.

In addition, the software is rather slow and only available in English.

I had no problems connecting the controller to the PC or console. You connect the transmitter to the PC or console and then hold the Xbox button for several seconds until the controller starts. And then it connects right away.

Ergonomics and Weight

Weight: The Stealth Ultra is surprisingly light compared to other high-quality controllers. I weighed all devices with a regular kitchen scale:

• The Stealth Ultra weighs 253 grams.
• The official controller for the Xbox Series X weighs 269 grams.
• The Xbox Elite Series 2 comes in at 342 grams.
• The DualSense Edge still weighs 334 grams.

Especially during longer gaming sessions, I find the Stealth Ultra significantly more comfortable to hold, as my wrists have to support almost 100 grams less than with the Elite Series 2. By the way, my partner confirms this about the weight: While the Stealth Ultra weighs similar to the official controller, the Elite Series 2 feels almost like a “brick” in comparison with its significantly higher weight.

Ergonomics: The Stealth Ultra is a few millimeters larger than the standard Xbox controller or the Elite model. Ergonomically, it fits excellently in my large hands. With a hand length of 19 centimeters, I have relatively large hands.

Especially the buttons on the back are easily accessible. The action buttons are exactly where my fingers normally rest and grip the controller. Thus, they are easily accessible and well within reach. Thanks to built-in micro switches, the back buttons feel excellent. The same applies to the other buttons.

Gameplay: Fantastic feel thanks to micro switches

How does it play with the controller? In everyday life, I’ve tried various genres with it. For example, the very fast fighting game Brawlhalla or the more leisurely Age of Wonders 4. Both are games that offer native controller support.

Especially Brawlhalla plays impressively with the controller because I really like the micro switches: the satisfying click with each confirmation gives me not only more precision but also just feels great. The Wolverine V2 from Razer, which I was able to test for MeinMMO, clicked similarly well. The triggers can also be shortened with a button on the back, making them react faster.

The small, integrated display (Connected Command Display) is also an exciting idea that has proven to be useful in everyday use several times. Here you can make numerous settings on the controller, such as adjusting the vibration, switching profiles, adjusting the lighting, or calibrating the sticks. You can also quickly access corresponding options via the plus button on the controller without needing additional software.

Battery life: If I turn off the lighting, I get about 25 hours of battery life with the Stealth Ultra. With active lighting or fully lit display, the battery life drops, not surprisingly. However, I only see the remaining battery life in percentage when I connect the controller to the docking station and not during everyday use. The battery icon that depletes is not very practical.

At least: With the included docking station, the controller can be fully recharged within 2 hours. That’s usually enough for me in everyday life when I want to play a few rounds with friends in the evening.

Conclusion: Great controller if you want to pay the high price

Who is the controller worth it for? First of all, 199 Euros is not a small amount of money for a gaming controller. However, you get a high-quality controller with many comfort features and theoretically very durable hardware: This is at least supported by the micro switches and the magnetic thumbsticks. Theoretically, you get a controller that will accompany you over the next few years, if the technology holds up as promised.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Wireless Gaming-Controller mit Schnellladedock, Anpassbare Trigger-Stop...	No ratings yet		Zu Amazon

*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!

Technically, the Stealth Ultra may not seem as well made, but it looks significantly more modern than the Elite 2, which has been around for 5 years now (released in 2019) and for which Microsoft has yet to issue an overhaul, but hopefully will.

From a pricing perspective, the official Xbox Elite 2 Wireless remains the alternative, as you can regularly get it for 130 Euros with accessories. The paddles still feel somewhat better than the back buttons on the Stealth Ultra. The Scuf Instinct Pro is even more expensive at 239.99 than the Elite 2 or the Stealth Ultra tested here.

Razer Wolverine V2: Controller for Xbox Series X and PC in test