Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller review: excellent for Xbox, awful for Android

Two-minute review

The Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller is a more expensive variant of the Turtle Beach Recon Controller that introduces a detachable phone mount and wireless support for Android devices and PC.

Despite these new additions, it maintains all the functionality of the original Turtle Beach Recon Controller when used as a wired controller for Xbox or PC. This makes it a solid wired option, though the cheap-feeling phone mount and input latency while playing in wireless mode make it difficult to recommend considering the high asking price.

Like the Turtle Beach Recon Controller, the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller has a lot in common with the standard Xbox Wireless Controller. It has roughly the same shape, satisfying buttons and robust thumbsticks, a similar concave D-pad, and equally smooth triggers. Everything feels reassuringly familiar in the hands – but there are several key additions that really set the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller apart.

For starters, there are the on-board audio controls that sit just above the Xbox Home button. With a headset plugged into the controller’s 3.5mm jack, these can be used to adjust the overall game volume, adjust chat volume, quickly mute the microphone, and alternate between a range of in-built equalizer (EQ) settings. There’s also a Pro Aim Focus Mode, which decreases the sensitivity of the right thumbstick for more careful aiming, and a Superhuman Hearing mode that boosts the sound of key in-game audio cues like enemy footsteps. Each of these settings is accompanied by a bright LED indicator and, while it all makes for quite a complex-looking set of controls, it’s surprisingly easy to get used to.

On the back of the controller, you’ll find two rear buttons that can be mapped to a range of inputs using either the controller itself or the compatible Turtle Beach Control Centre software. In addition to the 3.5mm jack, the bottom of the controller offers a switch to toggle between the wired and wireless modes and a small Bluetooth pairing button. A standard USB Type-C port is located on the top of the controller, above a screw hole for the detachable phone mount. This phone mount itself is very simple and features an extending clasp that can fit a wide range of models. Thanks to the presence of a small kickstand, it can also be used as a basic standalone phone stand when it’s not attached to the controller. Unfortunately, while the controller feels high-quality, the phone mount is mainly constructed from a thin and cheap plastic. 

Worse still, slotting in a phone makes the controller extremely top-heavy and therefore massively uncomfortable to use. I tested the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, and found that the uneven weight quickly left both of my wrists feeling sore. This is a complete deal breaker for a mobile controller, as it renders the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller almost impossible to use for an extended period of time while you’re out and about. By far the best way to play is to use the phone mount’s kickstand to position your phone on a desk – though at this point, you’re better off saving some cash and picking up the standard Xbox Wireless Controller (which is also readily compatible with Android) instead.

Throughout my testing, there were occasional instances where the controller would feel sluggish as a result of input latency. None of the games I tested were ever unplayable, but it definitely detracted from my enjoyment of fast-paced mobile titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile. This issue persists while using the controller with game-streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Amazon Luna, exacerbating any existing delay caused by your internet connection. Many of the best features of the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller, like the onboard audio controls, are also completely unavailable in Bluetooth mode, which seems like a bizarre limitation.

It’s worth noting that the controller can also be used with a PC via Bluetooth, where it feels much snappier than on Android, but you still lose quite a bit of functionality. Strangely, there’s no way to use the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller wirelessly with an Xbox. All of this is a huge shame given the impressive 30-hour battery life, not to mention its superb performance as a wired controller. In wired mode, the controller is fast and responsive. The onboard audio controls are hugely useful if you often play online with friends and are a great match for games that require frequent communication like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction or Fortnite. 

As all of these features are already available on the more affordable Turtle Beach Recon Controller, there’s very little reason to consider the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller instead.

Price and availability

•  $79.95 / £69.99
•  Available from Turtle Beach and other retailers in the US and UK
•  Not widely available in Australia

The Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller costs $79.95 / £69.99 and is available from Turtle Beach and other retailers such as Amazon. It costs $20 / £20 more than the Turtle Beach Recon Controller, which comes in at $59.95 / £49.99, so you’re paying a hefty premium for the removable phone clip and the addition of Android functionality. This price also puts the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller at roughly $20 / £15 above the Xbox Wireless Controller. As the Xbox Wireless Controller works well with Android, those after a peripheral to use with their phones would be better off buying one and using the leftover cash to pick up a third-party phone stand.

Specs

Should I buy the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

 Also Consider

If you’re not keen on the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller, these two lower-cost alternatives are definitely the way to go. 

How I tested the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller

• Tested for over 11 hours
• Used with Xbox, PC, and Android
• Compared to hands-on experience with other controllers

I went hands-on with the Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Controller for more than 11 hours. During this time, I endeavored to spend a good amount of time testing the controller with an Xbox Series S console, a PC, and a compatible Android phone. 

On Xbox and PC, I tested a broad range of games including online titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Fortnite where I aimed to try out the on-board audio controls with a SteelSeries Tusq gaming headset. I also spent some time in a range of single-player games including Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix+ and Fallout 4.

In order to evaluate the mobile performance, I tested the controller with a Samsung Galaxy S23+, playing popular mobile titles such as Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Vampire Survivors, Diablo Immortal, and Genshin Impact. I also utilized a range of game streaming services, including Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and Antstream Arcade in order to test the streaming performance.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2024