Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless RGB PC Controller review

We’ve all had those times when we just needed to get a decent controller. Maybe you aren’t in the position to pop on one of those high-end controllers, like the upcoming Ultra II, but you want something a step above the big box store’s low-end brand. In modern PC gaming landscape, the Xbox layout has become the de facto standard. With Turtle Beach’s Rematch, you get a familiar form factor, a wireless receiver, and access to a surprising bit of visual and technical customization for about the same as a name-brand Xbox controller.

Turtle Beach has been in the game controller space for quite a while. They know what they’re doing, and the Rematch does nothing to dissuade from that opinion. For $60, I would expect to get a competent controller with a decent feel and no bells or whistles. What Turtle Beach delivered is largely in line with standard offerings at the same price point, but it has a few nice features that are worthy of consideration.

The controller’s construction is fairly standard. It features TMR thumbsticks in a standard molded plastic shell. The shell has a nice texture on the grips to make it easier to hold. The TMR joysticks alone would make this an easy choice over a name-brand Xbox controller, since you’ll never have to worry about stick drift. On top of that, the triggers also use Hall-Effect hair triggers and feature a 3-way stop, giving you options for your preferred physical throw distance. If all of that weren’t enough, the Rematch has two programmable buttons on the back of the controller.

I almost think it goes without saying, but TMRshould be the modern gold standard when it comes to thumbsticks. They’re sensitive and precise and, thanks to the inherent technology that makes them effective, they prevent the wear and tear previous thumbsticks held that caused stick drift. The Rematch’s thumbsticks feel great. They’re tensioned to a comfortable level, ensuring a solid rebound to center when you’re not actively using them. After a couple dozen hours of Modern Warfare 4 and Phantom Blade 0, I’ve become quite fond of the tactile experience this controller provides. The TMR thumbsticks combined with the Hall-Effect triggers deliver a tight, snappy experience you’ll appreciate. 

That said, it took me a little while to get used to the rubber coating on the thumbsticks, which frankly don’t feel as grippy as I’d prefer. A bit of knurling or texturing could have gone a long way in that department. I’m also personally not a fan of how the programmable back buttons are laid out. The buttons are located in such a way that they’re primed for you to hit them with your middle finger on either hand as you wield the controller. The problem I ran into, though, is that playing tight, intensive games often left me gripping the controller tightly after an intense confrontation. This would often lead to accidental button presses. It wasn’t uncommon for me to get up close and personal with an enemy and accidentally toss a flashbang, blinding myself in the process. I got used to the placement with some time, but it’s worth noting.

Designed with PC users in mind, it should be no surprise the Rematch works with a wired USB-C connection. For $60, you get a 2.4 GHz wireless receiver and 1000 Hz polling rate for quick, responsive action. The Rematch also works with Bluetooth, in case you want a controller for your phone, tablet, or smart TV. This smart little beast is even verified on the Steam Machine and Steam Deck.

I have to give Turtle Beach some kudos here. The Rematch PC controller becomes surprisingly customizable with their Swarm II software. In here, you can re-map Xbox buttons to any layout you want. That’s probably to be expected, but I was more surprised that you can adjust the start and end dead zones for each thumbstick and trigger. You can also customize the LED lighting, so it isn’t just color cycling forever. Heck, you could turn the lights off and save some extra battery, if you want. Speaking of battery life, one thing worth noting is that a normal Xbox controller purports 20-40 hours of battery life, whereas the Rematch only advertises ~20 hours on the high end if you turn off the built-in sound control.

At the end of the day, the Turtle Beach Rematch for PC is priced competitively, and it offers enough features to warrant serious consideration. The TMR thumbsticks will be reliable for as long as you have the controller, and the Hall-Effect triggers are a nice touch. The thumbstick caps are a bit slicker than I would prefer, and the placement of the back buttons got me into some trouble, but you’ll get used to those with no major issue pretty quickly. When you add in tri-mode connectivity, RGB personalization, and a host of functionality tweaks through their Swarm II software, the Rematch is an easy recommendation. If you want a great wireless controller for your PC, Smart TV, or Steam Machine, but you don’t want to drop the cash a premium controller requires, look no further.