Turtle Beach PDP Realmz Wireless Controller: Minecraft Diamond Print review

Novelty PC and Xbox controllers are nothing new, with all method of untamed, great, and wacky designs having adorned them through the years. Nevertheless, this new Minecraft controller from Turtle Seashore/PDP must be among the many most enjoyable we’ve ever seen, even when it does have the ridiculously lengthy official identify of Turtle Seashore PDP Realmz Wi-fi Controller: Minecraft Diamond Print.

With Turtle Seashore no stranger to crafting among the finest PC controller designs round, this new Minecraft model has a powerful pedigree, and because of a eager eye for design, the corporate has crafted maybe the proper reward for the most important Minecraft followers in your life.

Specs

Options

Outdoors of its elaborate design, the Minecraft Diamond Print is a comparatively normal Xbox-style controller, but it surely does have a number of extras of word. On the entrance, becoming a member of the usual array of Xbox-layout twin thumbsticks, D-pad, ABXY buttons, Xbox button, and three major face buttons is a perform button. Double faucet this and it’ll mute the microphone of any headset connected to the controller’s audio jack, plus it may be utilized in mixture with different buttons to carry out further actions.

One such set of actions is that in case you press the perform button with the D-pad instructions, you possibly can alter the controller’s audio. Faucet up and down to regulate the headphone quantity, or left and proper to change the combination of your sport and chat. It’s a very neat system and it’s handy that the audio options don’t seem in Home windows till you plug in a headset, so that you don’t have the annoyance of the controller interrupting your audio the second you plug it in.

On the rear of the controller are two paddles/buttons for offering a few further fast entry capabilities. As with the opposite buttons, these may be remapped utilizing PDP’s Management Hub software program.

One other key improve over a regular Xbox wi-fi controller is that the battery right here is an in-built rechargeable unit, which the producer claims can last as long as 40 hours, although it doesn’t give the mAh score for the battery, and doesn’t specify the influence of the vibration motors and LED lighting on battery life.

Outdoors of this, although, the Minecraft Diamond Print doesn’t boast any of the opposite extras of some premium controllers. So, you don’t get triggers that may change to a short-throw mode, there are not any swappable elements, and the thumbsticks and buttons are normal. There’s not one of the Corridor Impact thumbsticks or microswitch buttons of some choices. It’s simply a regular Xbox controller design with a few little extras.

Design

As with its options, the core form and really feel of the Minecraft Diamond Print may be very a lot that of a regular Xbox controller, however with ever so barely wider entrance palm grips. As a substitute, it’s the look of this controller that makes it actually stand out from the gang.

The whole unit is constructed from clear plastic, letting you see the internal workings of the controller and naturally gaze upon the statue of Steve. The little figurine is held from the again, so he seems to be floating within the heart of the right-hand grip, with the LED lighting that shines from additional contained in the controller illuminating his proper aspect.

Different enjoyable design touches embrace the creeper painted onto the floor of the left grip, the placing gentle inexperienced coloring, and the funky patterns that adorn the highest of the PCB contained in the controller. It’s a mixture that’s simply so pleasant.

I had thought, and maybe hoped, that the Steve determine can be suspended inside so that may transfer round, and even that it is perhaps detachable, however sadly that’s not the case. From a product longevity viewpoint, although, it’s a good selection to have him in a set place.

General construct high quality feels superb – even when the sticky plastic used to  present the ultimate wrap of the controller appears amusingly token – with agency, responsive controls and a solidity to the entire unit. Nevertheless, the plastic used may be very shiny, so any dents or scratches will present up fairly prominently. The texture of the plastic additionally makes me suspect it will be barely extra crack-prone than some. As such, whereas this can little question convey a lot pleasure to the youthful Minecraft gamers in your life, it might not put on the trials and tribulations of a gaming life fairly so nicely as a controller with a textured end or rubberized sections.

Efficiency

That very same shiny end additionally barely impacts the efficiency of this controller by way of its really feel. By and enormous, I didn’t discover its slick end brought about points, but when your palms are notably dry or begin to get sweaty, the sleek floor received’t present as reassuring a grip as textured controllers.

In any other case, the efficiency of this controller is essentially on par with a regular Xbox Wi-fi Controller. The buttons and sticks really feel decently responsive with loads of management achievable with the latter, although a regular Xbox Wi-fi Controller is only a contact smoother. I’d say this controller feels barely extra on par with $50 choices by way of total thumbstick/button really feel.

Likewise, you don’t get any ultra-high polling charge choices right here, however I didn’t discover any lag when utilizing the controller wirelessly or related on to the PC through its USB-C port. Stick drift will ultimately grow to be a difficulty with this controller, simply because it does with a regular Xbox controller, because it makes use of normal thumbsticks, but it surely’s rock strong out of the field.

In terms of battery life, this controller simply lasted for every week of informal use with no top-up, with its 40-hour complete battery life amounting to over 5 hours of gaming every single day. For many players, a top-up each week or two will suffice.

Software program

A fast phrase on PDP’s software program for this controller… It’s okay. Infuriatingly, it requires you to enroll in a PDP account to entry it, plus it’s unusually gradual to load, and you need to reload the software program to get it to acknowledge your controller, in case you neglect to plug it in earlier than opening the app.

As soon as loaded, although, it’s a slick-looking app with capabilities pretty clearly laid out. I notably favored the truth that the icon for this controller precisely matches the Minecraft model, not a generic model.

Capabilities embrace with the ability to alter the lifeless zone dimension, swapping the thumbsticks, inverting their axes, adjusting audio ranges, tuning set off lifeless zones, altering the vibration depth, and re-mapping buttons. One essential perform you possibly can’t change, although, is the LED lighting.

Nevertheless, whereas the lights can’t be modified, they aren’t simply on on a regular basis. They’ll glow inexperienced when the controller is powering on and searching for a wi-fi connection,n however then stay off whereas gaming till you faucet a button (transferring the thumbstick doesn’t depend) at which level they flash a uninteresting white. Faucet one other button and the sunshine flashes barely brighter, after which in case you hit plenty of buttons the lighting will flip shiny inexperienced.

That will sound somewhat distracting however, in apply, it’s not too dangerous, and is the truth is hardly noticeable in a well-lit room. In a darkish room it’s undoubtedly extra noticeable but it surely by no means outright bothered me.

Worth

The Turtle Seashore PDP Realmz Wi-fi Controller: Minecraft Diamond worth is $79.99, making it $5-$10 costlier than a regular Xbox Wi-fi Controller. As such, given its barely decrease high quality in some areas, you’re undoubtedly paying a premium for the enjoyable Minecraft design, however that is nonetheless an inexpensive worth choice contemplating the hassle put into its design.

Alternate options

Xbox Wi-fi Controller

At this worth, the clear major different to this Minecraft controller is to simply get a vanilla Xbox Wi-fi Controller. They’re nicely constructed, work reliably (stick drift put on however), and are first rate worth.

Learn our full Xbox Wi-fi Controller assessment.

Verdict

The Turtle Seashore PDP Realmz Wi-fi Controller: Minecraft Diamond Print clearly isn’t going to grow to be a brand new go-to choice for these looking for a top-tier sport controller, or one that gives the very best worth for the efficiency you get. Nevertheless, for players into Minecraft, although, the design right here is completely charming, and the options and efficiency of the controller are strong sufficient to go together with it.

You undoubtedly pay a premium for the design right here, with the texture of the controls being extra in step with controllers which can be round $20 cheaper. Nevertheless, you do get an in-built rechargeable battery and a wi-fi connection, which the vast majority of cheaper choices don’t embrace. Plus, the efficiency right here remains to be greater than first rate sufficient, most crucially for enjoying Minecraft.

For those who’re searching for extra methods to regulate your PC video games, try our greatest gaming mouse and finest gaming keyboard guides for our prime KBM choices.