Turtle Beach Racer Review: Top Budget Gaming Headset With Clever Features
▼ Summary
– The Turtle Beach Racer is an affordable, entry-level racing wheel praised for its solid build quality and value, making it ideal for newcomers.
– It is designed for casual, arcade-style racing games like Forza Horizon 5, not for serious sim racing due to the lack of force feedback and pedals.
– A key feature is the inclusion of lap rests, allowing the wheel to be used comfortably on your lap without needing to clamp it to a desk.
– The wheel offers wireless connectivity for Xbox and PC and includes pressure-sensitive paddles that serve as substitutes for acceleration and braking.
– Minor drawbacks include a noticeable bump sensation when the wheel returns to its neutral center position and the absence of a pedal set.
The Turtle Beach Racer makes a compelling case for itself as a top-tier budget gaming wheel, delivering a surprisingly robust experience that punches above its price class. Designed with accessibility in mind, it forgoes advanced features like force feedback and a dedicated pedal set, focusing instead on clever, user-friendly design. Its most notable innovation is the inclusion of lap rests, which eliminate the need for a permanent desk mount, a significant advantage for gamers with limited space who prefer playing from a couch.
This wheel clearly targets players of arcade-style racing games rather than hardcore simulation enthusiasts. During testing, it proved to be an absolute joy with titles like Forza Horizon 5, where its straightforward approach enhances the fun factor. The build quality stands out immediately; while the construction is primarily plastic, it feels solid and well-made. The steering wheel features rubberized textured grips that provide excellent hold, preventing slips during intense sessions. The metallic lap rests add a satisfying heft and stability, with adjustable positions to fit different users comfortably.
Connectivity is a strong suit, offering both a wireless 2.4GHz dongle for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and a wired USB-C option. The onboard controls are comprehensive, including a d-pad, face buttons, and three customizable multifunction buttons. Since there are no physical pedals included, the pressure-sensitive paddles on the back of the wheel handle acceleration and braking. These paddles are impressively responsive, allowing for nuanced control like gradual braking or throttle modulation, which works wonderfully for drifting or managing tires in various games.
Performance is generally excellent, though there are a couple of minor quirks. The default steering sensitivity might feel a bit low out of the box, but this is easily adjustable through the Turtle Beach Control Center 2 software on PC and Xbox. A more noticeable issue is a slight bump felt when the wheel passes through the neutral center position. It’s something most users will adapt to quickly, but it does prevent the experience from being perfectly smooth.
Priced at $179.99, the Turtle Beach Racer sits at the higher end of the budget category but justifies its cost with superior materials and unique features compared to rivals like the Hori Racing Wheel Apex. It is not the choice for sim racing purists who require force feedback and a full pedal set, for that, options like the Logitech G923 are better suited. However, for someone entering the world of racing wheels or seeking a convenient, high-quality option for casual play, the Racer represents outstanding value.
Testing was conducted over a week on both Xbox Series X and a gaming PC with a range of racing titles. The combination of wireless freedom, clever lap-rest design, and reliable performance makes the Turtle Beach Racer an easy recommendation for its intended audience. It’s a thoughtfully designed product that maximizes enjoyment for arcade and casual racing fans.
(Source: techradar)
