Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot GBAtemp review
Hardware
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://eu.turtlebeach.com/products/stealth-pivot-controller
Gaming controllers have adopted a fairly standard design, with only a few daring to attempt to innovate. Turtle Beach has thrown its hat into the latter camp with the Stealth Pivot. With its innovative rotating mechanism, it introduces a new approach to modularity in controller layout. We’ll take a closer look at it in this review.
Contents and specs
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot is available at an MSRP of $129.99/£119.99/€129.99 and comes with the following items:
- Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Controller
- Wireless USB Transmitter
- 8’ / 2.5m USB-A to USB-C Cable
- Quick Start Guide
Specs of this controller are as follows:
- Wireless Compatibility: Windows 10 & 11 PCs
- Bluetooth® Compatibility: Windows 10 & 11 PCs, Android 8.0+ Mobile Devices, Smart TVs with Bluetooth®
- Wired Compatibility: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 & 11 PCs, Smart TVs
- Audio Input/Output: 3.5mm audio port for stereo audio output & microphone input
A controller with a pivotal design
At a glance, the Stealth Pivot looks like another third-party Xbox-style controller, with its asymmetric layout and a few extra buttons. But this is far from your regular controller as it integrates a unique rotating mechanism that allows its face buttons to adopt a new layout. The default is the asymmetric Xbox configuration, and by pivoting the modules to which the face buttons are bound to, the controller adopts a layout that is more suitable for fighting or D-pad-oriented games.
There is an ingenious pivot mechanism that involves rotating the thumbsticks to sink them, allowing the modules to move back by a simple push. There’s also a lock to ensure they remain in place once the desired configuration has been achieved. This also allows you to adjust the height of the thumbsticks, although also enabling them to move up would be appreciated.
Switching between configurations is quick and easy. Doing so does not require any other accessory and the modules are held tightly in place when in use. However, I am concerned about the longevity of such a mechanism, as the components are not easily user-replaceable. For a modular controller that allows easier replacement of parts, I’d look at the Thrustmaster ESWAP X 2 Pro.
That said, Turtle Beach has used premium materials in crafting the Stealth Pivot. It has a nice heft to it, and the rubberised handles provide added grip. The thumbsticks use Hall Effect sensors, which are quickly becoming the norm to bypass stick drift concerns.
Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot: innovative design, decent gaming experience
When in use, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot feels comfortable, with all buttons easily accessible. Whether I’m roaming around 15th century Bohemia in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on PC, going on a flashback trip in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage on Xbox or duking it out in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, each input of the Stealth Pivot has been accurate and responsive in both wired (Xbox) and wireless (PC) modes. With the included 2.4GHz wireless dongle, the latter mode is reliable and stress-free. With up to 20 hours of battery life, there is added peace of mind to using the Stealth Pivot in this mode. But this controller would be more attractive if it also supported wireless connectivity with Xbox, as the protocol has been opened up to third parties.
As for the tactile feedback, it is a similar, smooth feeling to that of a regular Xbox controller thanks to the linear switches used. However, this familiarity is double-edged as the “fight stick” configuration buttons would benefit from the more clicky, audible feedback of tactile switches; especially for competitive gaming. Given the modular aspect of this device, having one side using linear switches and the other side using tactile switches would make sense as it would cater for more needs.
Of note, I found the thumbsticks to lack resistance when using them. They glide more than I would like them to. This can make fine-tuned controls more challenging and can be a disadvantage for competitive experiences. This was surprising considering the focus of the controller. This could be addressed if the modules could be swapped but this is not the case here.
On the modularity aspect of the Stealth Pivot, it is undeniably innovative and we need such bold takes in the industry. You can quickly and easily switch between configurations based on the game you are playing. The standard layout works great for FPS or adventure games, and pivoting the modules makes the controller a better fit for fighting, arcade games and D-pad-oriented games. For the latter case, I would prefer having a more traditional D-pad design, but the current one allows for easier input of diagonals in fighting games, which is the apparent focus of this controller.
Some additional degree of customisation is possible as the Stealth Pivot features adjustable trigger stops and mappable P-buttons. There are two P-buttons at the back and two on the right front-facing module. These can be mapped to any other input and the configuration can be done on the device itself thanks to its integrated screen. The latter also enables you to receive notifications and perform other controls such as volume adjustment and switching between profiles. More customisation is available through the companion app but being able to tune the controller on the device, with on-board storage, is a great advantage over fiddling with yet another app.
As a fan of mappable back buttons, I was thrilled to see them included in the Stealth Pivot. However, having four is more optimal as the extra buttons provide the user with a higher degree of customisation to meet their needs.
Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot is a decent gaming controller with a unique modular mechanism. Nevertheless, it is not as versatile as it could have been, especially within its price range, and the tactile feedback is sub-optimal. For this reason, I prefer the Thrustmaster ESWAP X 2 Pro's approach, even if it is pricier, as it allows more customisation based on the user’s needs and preferences. That said, I hope that Turtle Beach does not give up on this design and improves upon it with a new iteration.
Verdict
- Innovative, modular pivot design
- Versatile controller that adapts to different gaming genres
- On-device customisation and remapping
- Lack of resistance when using the thumbsticks
- Would benefit from a mix of layouts using linear and tactile switches
- No wireless support on Xbox
