Turtle Beach rarely misses the mark when it comes to gaming accessories, from headsets to controllers, we often recommend their well-made and reasonably priced gaming peripherals. Turtle Beach has already dabbled in the cloud gaming market with the Recon Cloud Hybrid controller, but the Atom controller is its first model that fully integrates with your smartphone, a direct competitor to offerings from Razer and GameSir.
Admittedly, when I first saw the Turtle Beach Atom controller press release, my reaction wasn’t entirely positive. The design was so different from anything I’d seen before in the mobile controller space, I thought it was almost ugly. However, the more pictures I’ve seen, followed by seeing the controller in person, I’ve changed my mind. This controller isn’t ugly, it’s eccentric in its design and completely unique. I have come to love it.
The chunky but modern design has proven to be comfortable and functional, and has surpassed the Razer Kishi V2 as my new favorite controller to use when I want to fire up Xbox’s cloud gaming service.
Turtle Beach Atom Controller: Price, Availability, and Specs
The Turtle Beach Atom Controller is available directly from the Turtle Beach website for $99.99. It is also available on Amazon.
The controller comes in three colors, black/yellow, black/teal, and red. The Black/Yellow unit is officially certified ‘Designed for Xbox’ and features the familiar X home button, but all three designs will work with Xbox Cloud. The yellow edition comes bundled with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
| Category | Tortuga Beach Controller |
|---|---|
| connectivity | 2.4Ghz wireless between modules, Bluetooth connection with smartphone |
| included in box | USB-C to USB-A charging cable, travel pouch, |
| Compatibility | android devices |
| Battery | 20 hour battery life with fast charge |
Turtle Beach Atom Controller: What’s Good
When I first held the Turtle Beach Atom out of its box, I was impressed with how compact it actually was. Despite the controller’s initial bulky appearance in press images, the split-design sides actually latch on with magnets to make it pleasantly portable. The included pouch is also useful for protecting your device when you toss it in a backpack or bag before hitting the road. The compactness is comparable to the original Razer Kishi, but what I liked about this one was the ease of sliding the two sides apart. The original Kishi needs a few tries to get back into place (at least for me).
My favorite benefit of split modules is the ability to slide your phone in either side without removing the phone case. The lack of a backbone means there is no length limit to the device you can put on this controller. The retaining clips are impressively generous, as I’ve tested both a slim and a thick case on my Samsung S21+ without any issues.
I have a common complaint with most cloud drivers. They miss the mark when it comes to clip-and-play convenience on the go because they don’t address the fact that most people keep their expensive cloud-enabled phones in a case. I don’t want to have to remove the case to play a quick game, and if I have to, the controller inevitably sits in a drawer and not in my bag for a sneaky cloud gaming session on breaks from work. The Turtle Beach Atom is a nearly perfect solution. I say almost as I have seen that others who use phones with a bulkier camera lens like the Google Pixel 7 Pro have had more difficulties. However, for my purposes, Atom has been perfect.
I don’t want to have to remove my case to play a quick game, and if I have to, the controller inevitably sits in a drawer.
Setup was easy too, as I didn’t even need to look at the instructions. Simply power on the controller and press and hold the Bluetooth logo button on the base to pair it with your smartphone. It’s worth mentioning here that since this is a split device, you need to remember to turn on the left and right units individually before pairing.
It is not completely necessary to install the Turtle Beach Atom app as the device is ready to go without it, but it is highly recommended as firmware updates roll out to keep the device running at its best. The app can also be used to customize the stick and trigger responses to your preference, but for my use, the default settings seemed perfect.
Playing games on Atom was a joy. The thicker form factor is very comfortable to hold for long periods of time, and the buttons are satisfying to press. The joysticks have rubber grips similar to the standard Xbox Series X|S controller, and I played a variety of games from Vampire Survivors to Citizen Sleeper without issue.
PowerA Nano Enhanced: what is not so good
While the Atom controller’s buttons and joysticks are a joy to use, the same can’t be said for the triggers. The triggers are one of the few things that let this controller down and they feel spongy to use. For that reason, I would not recommend this controller if your primary use is for shooting games.
Another slight annoyance was that despite the attractive combination of yellow and black casing, I found it to be a magnet for dust and fingerprints. When photographing the device, it was almost impossible to get a photo of this thing looking clean and respectable, it seems to attract dust from across the room. While this has no impact on the functionality of the device, I wonder what it will look like after a few weeks of traveling in my bag.
The 20-hour battery life it offers is more than generous.
One last minor issue is the lack of charge transfer that most mobile controllers come standard with. The Turtle Beach Atom only charges when it’s in its compact travel mode, so you can’t play with it if the battery is low or charge your device. However, I classified this as a minor complaint, as the 20-hour battery life it offers is more than generous.
In general, I have little to say about this controller.
Turtle Beach Atom: The Competition
The MOGA XP7-X Plus, which I recently tested ahead of the Turtle Beach Atom, is similarly generous in that it fits most smartphones, though the MOGA’s battery life was poor in my tests and offers no the same compact. form factor when traveling. What it does provide, though, are great triggers, so if you’re looking for something more suited to shooters, then it’s a viable option.
Other Bluetooth options include the GameSir X2, which comes in a Bluetooth-only variant, but can be uncomfortable for smaller hands for extended periods.
USB-C options can be attractive since they don’t need to be charged and there’s little risk of latency, but they can be more limiting with larger-screen smartphones. My Razer Kishi V2 can only be used with my Samsung S21+ if I remove the case, but it has surprisingly responsive and satisfying controls, as well as pass-through charging if my phone is low on power. GameSir X Pro is a cheaper option but it doesn’t look as fancy as the Razer option.
Turtle Beach Atom: Should You Buy?
You should buy this if…
- You want a controller for Xbox Cloud Gaming that’s perfect for traveling and easy to store.
- You have larger hands and would appreciate the chunkier form factor.
- You have a phone with a large screen and/or case.
- You want a controller with a standout design.
You shouldn’t buy this if…
- You want to play and charge your device at the same time.
- You are put off by Bluetooth connectivity and its possible input lag.
The cloud gaming market is becoming more active by the day, and it’s worth remembering that these mobile devices not only work with Xbox Game Pass, but can also be used for native Android, GeForce Now, and Steam Link gaming. Xbox recently committed to a deal to put their games on NVIDIA GeForce Now if they can get the Activision Blizzard fusion over the finish line, so cloud gaming options will only get more exciting.
While there are standalone devices on the market now, like the Logitech G Cloud and the Razer Edge handheld, these can be an expensive investment for most. Controllers like the Turtle Beach Atom provide a great bridge between console and cloud gaming, and I for one think I’ve finally found my perfect cloud companion.
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Turtle Beach Atom Controller – $99
“Split the Atom and Get Games”
This Turtle Beach Cloud Gaming Controller fits Android 8.0+ phones without removing the case thanks to its split design. Available in three colors, with the yellow variety designed specifically for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
