Mobile gaming’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. Unfortunately, touch controls become frustrating when keeping up with the frantic action. With shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone landing on the iPhone, mobile controllers are essential. The Turtle Beach Atom has full-size analog sticks and buttons, yet remains compact. Until its current discount, there was no similarly priced controller with these advantages.
What is the Genius of the Atom’s Design?
Many mobile controllers have backplates that feel sturdy, but compromise portability. The Turtle Beach Atom takes a different approach, splitting itself into two modules. Despite the lack of a backpiece, the controller attaches securely to iPhone 11-15 models. Its design also doesn’t interfere with slim-fitting iPhone cases. Turtle Beach supplies two sets of adhesive pads that can achieve a tighter fit, depending on the phone and case.
Turtle Beach Atom Controller for iOS
$28 $80 Save $52
The Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller is designed to provide a convenient and comfortable gaming experience on iPhones. Its compact shape conveniently and magnetically fuses together, making it easy to take on the go. With a low-latency Bluetooth connection, it’s ideal for cloud gaming on platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and PS Remote Play.
The controller’s familiar controls provide a console-like gaming experience on a mobile device, while adjustable phone clamps fit iPhone 11–14 models. With a 20+ hour battery life and quick-charging capabilities, gamers won’t have to worry about interruptions.
- Brand
- Turtle Beach
- Platform
- iOS, Apple TV
- Battery
- 20+ hour
- Connectivity
- RF, Bluetooth
- Colors
- Cobalt Blue
With magnetic, interlocking halves, the Atom’s major selling point is its collapsible construction. Competing controllers add more bulk to a carrying bag, defeating the purpose of gaming on the go. However, the Atom doesn’t compromise on the control scheme, which resembles an Xbox controller. However, the Atom doesn’t have the Hall Effect sticks found on many GameSir mobile controllers. Still, the regulation analog sticks feel substantial, and the face buttons can take abuse. The controller is ergonomically sound too, with bulges and grooves that support palms.
Each half of the Atom pairs to phones through a low-latency Bluetooth connection. Then, the halves communicate with each other using a 2.4 GHz wireless signal. This process does add some complexity, and both modules have internal batteries. Fortunately, battery life is an excellent 20 hours, and USB-C quick-charging provides hours of gameplay without excessive waiting. Once connected, gamers experience minimal latency, even compared to controllers using physical connections. As competitive mobile gaming gains popularity, any input delays can spell disaster.
The Turtle Beach Atom embraces cloud gaming and a long list of compatible titles. Unlike some popular mobile games, services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now support Bluetooth controllers. Turtle Beach offers a companion app that suggests other games that maximize the Atom’s potential. Users can also adjust dead zones and other settings in the software.
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My Turtle Beach Atom review praised its clever, compact design. Its comfortable shape and familiar controls eliminate the need to haul around a standard controller. That said, there are many well-built mobile controllers available with other advantages. The GameSir G8 Galileo is a great option for iPhone 15 owners. Instead of Bluetooth, the Galileo connects using USB-C, eliminating recharging. It also has drift-resistant Hall Effect sticks, which the Atom lacks. Also worth considering is the Backbone One, which benefits from powerful software. Although its sticks are smaller, the app acts as a hub to launch compatible titles from many services.
Every mobile controller has shortcomings resulting from a downsized form factor. Regardless, at over $50 off its MSRP, this Turtle Beach Atom deal is a low-risk way to enhance mobile gaming.
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