If you want a gamepad with a removable USB-C cable, two rear buttons, in a normal Xbox kind issue, and solely need to spend about 40 bucks, it’s best to contemplate the Turtle Beach React-R.

The React-R is just a little hole feeling and lightweight, which makes it really feel like essentially the most “budget” of “budget” gadgets right here. It additionally means this controller is reasonably loud. Button presses and thumbstick actions reverberate at a really audible stage. The USB-C jack may also give bigger cables an issue as they threat not becoming into the housing. Either use the offered cable (not pictured) or stick with slim USB-C cables. But don’t dismiss this one simply but.

The buttons and triggers all really feel responsive sufficient, if not as fast and snappy as dearer controllers (and even some which can be on this checklist, in actual fact). They roughly have the identical really feel and sound related to one another when being pressed. Vibration could be hit and miss on PC although, because it wouldn’t at all times work with some video games. When it did although, this factor undoubtedly rumbles.

The two assignable rear buttons are type of formed like huge, the other way up Ls, that means you’ll be able to press them by squeezing the grip in your center finger towards your palms, or you’ll be able to push your fingers up into the controller to actuate them.

The d-pad “satellite dish” that’s commonplace on fashionable Xbox controllers is a bit spongy, but it surely doesn’t float round in its slot or something. The gamepad additionally has a number of textured surfaces that really feel just a little prickly at first, however these will probably put on down over time. Given its further options, notably the rear buttons, it is a good worth in case you simply need that easy backup controller, one thing you fish out of a drawer a couple of instances a month. It additionally makes use of a USB-C cable, so that you gained’t have to hold monitor of a distinct or proprietary cable if most of your peripherals have moved on to the newer commonplace.

But actually the perfect a part of this controller is the low-cost of entry to begin getting used to professional setups with assignable rear buttons. Rear buttons should not for everybody, and arguably they largely profit aggressive video games (notably shooters). But contemplate the Turtle Beach React-R (and even a few of the different controllers on this checklist) as an reasonably priced method to do this function out in case you haven’t but. Think of it as a “trainer” and develop a little bit of muscle reminiscence for rear buttons earlier than spending two or 3 times on an Xbox Elite or Scuf controller. You would possibly discover you don’t use them, after which can both dangle on to this controller or improve to one thing like an everyday Xbox Core gamepad down the road, and save your self the cash of getting a tricked out professional controller once you possibly don’t want or don’t use these options.

Fortunately, mapping the rear buttons on this controller is a breeze. Double faucet the middle button, then faucet the rear button you need to assign, adopted by the button you need to assign to it and there you go. Quick sufficient even to reset it throughout a respawn counter if you wish to check out some totally different setups.

Figuring out easy methods to benefit from rear buttons would possibly contain some trial and error in case you’re new. That’s why it’s generally higher to clock these coaching hours in on one thing extra reasonably priced, than it’s to place mileage on a dearer system once you’re simply studying the ropes. Basically, once you’re prepared to maneuver on from this controller as a result of it runs its course otherwise you’re fascinated with a extra premium system, the React-R goes to inform you whether or not you need to prioritize rear-assignable buttons or not. For that, I believe it is a stable worth.

The React-R additionally has a novel function referred to as “Superhuman Hearing.” You hit a button within the middle space and, if in case you have headphones related to the three.5mm braveness jack on the underside, the audio of the sport might be processed otherwise. I’m hesitant to name this a gimmick, however I truthfully can’t consider a situation the place this might actually be helpful to me, even in a recreation the place extra perceptive listening to is important like, say, Siege (and I wouldn’t be caught lifeless taking part in that recreation on a controller anyway). So, yeah, I believe it’s form of a gimmick.

But what does this even do? Well, I ran a fast EQ check on the output of the audio when this mode is turned on, and I’ve deduced that it have to be working the sport’s audio by means of some form of light low-pass filter and/or it’s in all probability boosting some mids and highs on the EQ spectrum. In lay phrases, it principally means the controller juices the sport quantity and better frequencies, so clicky, clacky, sharp appears like reloading, and footsteps, are theoretically louder. It’s remixing the sport audio to intensify the areas the place these sounds are most clearly outlined. That does make a form of sense, however I don’t see this catching on the best way assignable rear buttons have.

Listening to this mode at full quantity over a big time frame is more likely to get exhausting, if not doubtlessly damaging to your listening to. Turtle Beach intends for this to be a fast factor you activate within the second to get a sonic edge on sneaky opposition, however I’m both not taking part in the best video games or am not satisfied of this. It’s a neat function, however I by no means used it exterior of working some audio assessments on it to determine what it’s doing.

The Turtle Beach React-R additionally has a barely dearer sibling which is able to generally come up in search outcomes once you’re in search of this one: The Recon. Though it’s typically on sale for beneath its $60 price ticket, its checklist worth does put it in competitors with the Xbox Core controller greater than anything on this checklist. For that motive, the Recon might be a subject for an additional day…however in case you can snag one on sale for about the identical worth because the React-R, it’s a extra premium system and has the identical options—together with the foolish listening to mode one.