Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave Controller Review

A Glowing Rebrand?

Again in early 2023, we received hands-on with the PDP Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox for review. A humble controller, it managed to go toe-to-toe with the assorted customary choices that frequented the gaming market on the time. Because the title urged although, it got here with one distinctive gimmick – RGB lighting infused by the controller, able to lighting up even the darkest of gaming periods. 

If we’re trustworthy, the PDP Afterglow Wave Controller wasn’t a sport changer, as an alternative pleasantly positioned to supply a singular, glowing, alternative for these players needing it. 

However Turtle Seashore clearly preferred what they noticed, a lot so {that a} yr or so later they went and snapped up PDP, allotting a reported $118 million {dollars} for the corporate as an entire. 

It’s with that during which we get to the newly branded Turtle Seashore Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox. 

Wired Wonders and RGB Glow

Let’s not beat across the bush, the Turtle Seashore Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox could be very practically the very same controller as beforehand supplied up by PDP, simply now with some massive previous Turtle Seashore branding on the field, a TB brand plastered on the entrance fringe of the pad, stickered up across the again. When you’ve got the PDP Afterglow Wave, then we actually can’t see a lot of a cause to improve right here. However in case you haven’t…

So what do we have now with the Turtle Seashore Afterglow Wave Controller? Properly, Designed for Xbox and formally licensed for Microsoft’s best, it is a wired controller that’s suitable with each Xbox consoles and PC. All you’ll want is to have the ability to get inside 3 metres of the gadget at hand, utilising the USB-C to USB-A cable that’s included within the field. With out that cable, the Afterglow Wave fails to wake; as lifeless as a dodo. 

Get plugged in although and this factor comes alive, pulsing with veined RGB lighting throughout the entrance plate and round each thumbsticks. 

Normal Format, Subtly Enhanced

As you could count on to listen to, it’s largely customary Xbox controller fare. Face buttons really feel first rate with out being mind-blowing, while the standard Xbox Nexus button is flanked by the triple treats of Menu, Choose and Share. There’s additionally a mic-mute button on the frontplate; one thing that’s tremendous useful when within the warmth of battle. 

Thumbsticks sensible and the Afterglow Wave is nicely outfitted. Every are of size, barely hybrid in fashion with a concave, but convexed, contact to them. There’s quantity of depth to those, with a rim outstanding sufficient to make sure your thumbs gained’t slip while enjoying. 

Additional is the D-Pad. tremendous flush to the pad itself, once more it’s completely superb. The issue is, going from the D-Pad on our Elite Series 2 and alternatives, to this, fails to permit it to promote. It’s tactile sufficient although, and works with out concern. As it is a Turtle Seashore product, we’ve received some audio controls assigned to that D-Pad too, so if you should transfer volumes from celebration to sport chat, it’s easy sufficient to take action. 

Set off Stops and Textured Grips

The Afterglow Wave wouldn’t be an Xbox controller if it didn’t have bumpers and Corridor Impact triggers to tug on both. We’re dissatisfied that neither are correctly textured (the triggers have probably the most minute of texturing that it’s negligible), as an alternative working tremendous clean vibes. Once more, it’s all superb and that, however we’d count on any controller that releases in 2025 to no less than have some correct texturing and grip on the triggers. 

What’s current on the Turtle Seashore Afterglow Wave which we don’t bear in mind from the earlier PDP pad although are some set off stops. If you wish to make these triggers much less travel-y, extra exact for sure in-game conditions, you are able to do so. A sliding change sits across the again of the controller, with three settings. We’ve most popular to maintain issues customary and permit our triggers to run the total size of journey, nevertheless it’s a pleasant contact for Turtle Seashore to be including such an possibility. Kicking round contained in the controller are a few rumble motors for added immersion too. 

Additionally across the again are a few programmable again buttons. Pretty outsized to many different competitor buttons, these sit properly beneath the center finger as you grasp the controller, guaranteeing they’re tremendous simple to hit and pull on. When you’re in want of such an addition to your controller (and we all know of many players who simply couldn’t do with out again buttons on this trendy gaming scene), you then’ll be liking these ones. We’d most likely have preferred it if the slight controller texturing that’s current on each arms of the pad had managed to merge onto the again buttons too, however that’s a particularly private factor. 

Personalizing Your Glow

After all although, we’re some 700 phrases into the assessment and so we should contact on that lighting. In a phrase, it’s extraordinarily nice to sit down with a controller that emits such glows, and with the gray model we’ve been testing (black, white, purple and blue editions are additionally obtainable), we really feel that the sunshine present actually stands out. We notably just like the thumbstick rings that convey the pad to life.

Turtle Seashore state there are eight RGB lighting zones and an identical variety of preset lighting modes on the Afterglow Wave, and it’s simple to maneuver by the choices at hand. For us, we’ve very a lot settled on a pulsing rainbow impact. Some Xbox inexperienced lighting is rarely too far behind both. 

With management of that lighting coming about through the pad itself, holding the identical button that mutes the mic and twiddling thumbsticks and hitting bumpers, or by the free Management Hub companion App, getting this to enhance different gaming merchandise is a cinch. That App is fairly good too, giving the chance so that you can fiddle with digital lifeless zones, vibration, button remapping and the like. However we’re tremendous stunned to see Turtle Seashore sticking with the PDP title for this App, combining manufacturers and merchandise. We’ll simply assume that in some unspecified time in the future in time, all the things will quiet down beneath the standard TB umbrella. 

A Glowing Worth for Cash (If You Don’t Personal the Authentic)

Turtle Seashore branding will instantly see many players drawn to the Afterglow Wave controller for Xbox; most likely extra so than the slightly-less-known PDP that got here earlier than it. However once more, that is nothing however a rebranding of a controller from a number of years previous, with probably the most minute of modifications pushing it ahead in 2025. 

By all means, in case you want some glow in your gaming life, one thing to brighten up the darkest of nights, crack on, because the £34.99 worth of the Turtle Seashore Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox means this feels good worth for cash.  However in case you do have a PDP Afterglow Wave already at hand, there’s nothing that warrants an improve right here. 

Big thanks exit to Turtle Seashore for offering the Turtle Seashore Afterglow Wave Controller for assessment. Hit Turtle Beach up direct in case you want to buy a controller – it is available in a wide range of colors.