Turtle Beach is known for outstanding gaming headsets and peripherals. Quality, design, and value are the typical tropes we can expect from Turtle Beach and the latest ATOM mobile gaming controller is no different. This iOS mobile controller is designed to bring console-quality gaming in the pocket of every gamer. You may remember we reviewed this mighty controller a few months back for Android devices but we finally got our hands on the iPhone-centric version. I can tell you, it does not disappoint.

What’s In The Box

Turtle Beach ATOM iOS Controller
USB C Charging Cable (3 feet)
Smartphone Support Pads
Travel Pouch

Aesthetics And Build Quality

Let’s start with the looks. This controller has a very sleek and profound look to it. The midnight blue and metallic orange accents really make this controller pop with subtlety while maintaining a low-profile look. I really appreciated this change over the vibrant black and yellow design of the original. The input buttons are marked with a simple black and white colorway, still maintaining that minimalist design. It gives off a much more mature look.

The controller comes in two pieces, the left and right sides. Both sides are incredibly lightweight barely add any weight to your phone once connected. The analog sticks seem to be the same size you would expect to find on a console controller and each has smooth movement and clicks. The sticks also have great textured grips around the edges to really cling to your thumbs. I found this to be very useful for someone like me who suffers from constantly sweaty hands. The face buttons feel like they are made of good quality with decent depth and virtually no click feedback. I personally loved this because, unlike the Xbox controller which is notoriously known for loud face buttons, these were quiet like a dream, making your mobile gaming sessions even more incognito no matter where you game.

The D-pad is a bit mediocre and is my least favorite button in terms of design. It is quiet but it does roll a bit too much for my liking. I prefer a steadier D-pad for precise clicks, especially for fighting games (yes I use D-pad for fighting games and I know I am in the minority here). The triggers and the shoulder buttons are the real standouts here. Both of these have a subtle texture that feels like raised dots. It's not much to prevent fingers slipping but it's defined enough for me to feel it. The shoulder buttons do make a satisfying click sound similar to a computer mouse and the triggers are both silent. The trigger pull has a bit more tension than a typical Xbox controller but less pull time.

The Bluetooth connection feels like it has virtually no latency and makes for a great experience on mobile games as well as streaming. During my time with the ATOM Controller, I never lost connection and it always connected instantly to my iPhone. Some may prefer a wired connection for split-second differences for competitive play, but I doubt competitive gamers will be playing their games via streaming and on a mobile device for their preferred experience. The Bluetooth worked great for me whether it was a platformer or a match of WarZone.

Specs And Special Features

The two-piece ATOM Controller has a massive 20+ hour battery life for optimal wireless performance and endurance. It can be charged with the provided USB-C cable (more on that later) in roughly 2.5 hours. That’s a lot of gaming for such a short charge time. The controllers connect to your iPhone via Bluetooth and communicate with each other via a 2.4 GHz wireless link to avoid latency issues.

Each piece also has adjustable clamps to fit a variety of iPhone models ranging from iPhone 11 to iPhone 14 Pro Max and everything in between. Turtle Beach also includes a set of “Smart Phone Support Pads” that can help you achieve a more snug fit for your phone. It’s also very cool to know that the controllers fit most slim-fitting cases as well, so no need to take the case off of your phone when wanting to game.

The two-piece controllers also have magnetic locks that allow them to clamp together seamlessly and charge at the same time. It also serves a secondary purpose of creating a formfitting controller that is ideal for travel. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket comfortably.

What It Could Have Done Better

If you use a thick phone case, this probably won’t fit your phone. However, if you prefer a slim formfitting case, like myself, then you will love the fact that you won’t ever have to take off the case in order to use the controller. I think it would have been great for Turtle Beach to figure out a way to accommodate thicker cases or maybe offer a larger option that fits these types of cases.

Also, what’s up with the USB-C cable? This controller is built for iOS specifically in mind so why doesn’t have a lightning connector? Having an all-in-one system would have been nice knowing that I only need to bring one cable to charge all of my equipment when I travel. Having to remember to bring a USB C cable with me along with the phone charger is a bit of a letdown.

Verdict

Turtle Beach has done it again with the introduction of the iOS ATOM Controller. Providing a sleek, compact, and quality gaming experience on the go to iPhone users everywhere. I must say I absolutely recommend this controller to any iPhone gamer looking to up their gaming experience. The price is right and the quality is undoubtedly there.

Turtle Beach’s ATOM Controller for iOS is available now on their official site and most major retailers!

This unit was reviewed using an iPhone 13 mini and an iPhone 11.