Sure it’s a wired-only gamepad, but the Turtle Beach Rematch Core stuns with its performance — and it costs just $29

I’m an avid gamer, and considering I play video games at every opportunity I can, I’m no stranger to knowing what makes or breaks the best PC game controllers. Turtle Beach is well-known for producing some fantastic gamepads, and it’s done it once again with the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox — a wired controller that stuns with its performance.

Costing just under $30, the Rematch Core is a formidable and capable gamepad. Its analog triggers and thumbsticks (sorry, Hall Effect fans) are extremely responsive and quickly register your commands. It’s comfortable to use for long periods of time, and its dual rumble motors make titles more immersive. I also love its companion software, which allows for extensive customization.

Should you buy it? For this price, I don’t see why not. For the complete breakdown, read my full Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox review.

Turtle Beach Rematch Core (Xbox) review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A wired-only controller for Xbox consoles and Windows 11 machines
• Who is it for? Anyone who wants a controller that performs extremely well for a small price tag
• How much does it cost? Very little! The Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox is available for $29 / £24
• What do we like? The lovely, ergonomic design, responsive triggers and thumbsticks, user-friendly companion software, and powerful rumble
• What don’t we like? It’s wired only, and it doesn’t feature Hall Effect triggers or sticks

Turtle Beach Rematch Core (Xbox) review: Specs

Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox review: The ups

From its ergonomic design and lovely colorways to its responsive sticks and triggers, the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox is a mighty controller — especially for the price.

Comfortable and ergonomic

I’ve always appreciated gamepads with asymmetrical joysticks because they feel more comfortable and less fatiguing on the hands as compared to symmetrical ones — like controllers designed for PlayStation consoles. That’s why I love the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox. It’s officially licensed for Xbox, so you get the classic ABXY layout.

The Rematch Core feels great to hold in my hands, measuring 6.3 x 4.7 x 2.6 inches. It’s the exact same size as the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave ($49) and similar in size to the Turtle Beach Rematch for Nintendo Switch 2 ($59).

I also like that the Rematch Core is a little on the heavier side, weighing 16.6oz, so it’s heavier than both the Rematch (14.7oz) and the Afterglow Wave (10.5oz). While lighter controllers are less fatiguing over long periods of time, I much prefer how heavier controllers handle. The Rematch Core feels solid and firm to hold.

Lovely design

The Turtle Beach Rematch Core is officially licensed for Xbox, so alongside sporting the classic ABXY asymmetrical layout, it carries the “X” logo that serves as the Home button. Its colors perfectly complement the Microsoft consoles, too, especially the White/Green and Ghost Black Camo/Green models.

There are a few other colorways to choose from, but I love the Camo ones the most. The front face is covered in — you guessed it — a camouflage wrap, which sets it apart from boring ol’ gamepads, like the GameSir Cyclone 2 ($49). There isn’t any RGB lighting, though, and if that’s something you value, I’d recommend grabbing the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave instead.

Fantastic gaming performance

The Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox is a no-frills controller. It doesn’t feature fancy Hall Effect technology and instead, it keeps things old-school by utilizing analog thumbsticks and triggers. And you know what? It performs extremely well — especially for the price (more on this very soon).

The Rematch Core is compatible with Xbox Series S and Series X, Xbox One and Windows 11. To test it, I played a few games on our shared office Windows 11 laptop: Lies of P, Hitman and Rise of the Tomb Raider. The gamepad didn’t let me down in any of these titles. Firstly, I love how comfortable the textured and indented thumbsticks are, as it meant I could keep playing for long without tiring out my thumbs.

Secondly, the sticks and triggers are extremely responsive. The Rematch Core promptly registered all of my commands. Using LT to aim with my gun in both Hitman and Rise of the Tomb Raider was easy and precise, and I could quickly tap RT to shoot and go back into cover to stay hidden from NPCs.

Button mashing proved to be a breeze, too. Rise of the Tomb Raider features several quick time events (QTEs) to get out of sticky situations — like escaping an animal trap digging its spikes into Lara Croft’s leg. I found the Rematch Core to be responsive here, and I found the ABXY buttons within easy reach to rapidly smash the button displayed on screen.

The Rematch Core’s D-pad features patented audio controls for adjusting game/chat volume mix and master volume, plus a dedicated mic mute button. The D-pad doesn’t feel as stiff as on the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave either, which is great to see.

Great rumble

I love a good vibrating controller, as, to me, it makes games feel more immersive and fun, and the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox does just that. It features dual rumble motors that make the earth shake. Okay, it isn’t that powerful, but it did shake our bank of six desks in the office.

In Rise of the Tomb Raider, every time Lara Croft held her breath underwater, the Rematch Core would pulse and the rumble would increase in intensity as she began to run out of oxygen, which somehow made the stakes feel much higher. I’m glad Turtle Beach has included rumble motors in the Xbox version, as the Switch 2 version (the Rematch Wireless) doesn’t feature any rumble at all.

You can also use the Turtle Beach PDP Control Hub (more on that next) to adjust the gamepad’s vibration intensity. I kept it at 100% as I enjoy feeling the controller shake in my hands, but you can tone it down any time you like.

User-friendly companion software

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To customize the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox, you’ll need to download the Turtle Beach PDP Control Hub on either your Windows machine or your Xbox console. The software is detailed and extremely easy to use, thanks to plenty of signposting.

Here, you can adjust each thumbstick’s and trigger’s dead zone, rumble intensity and audio settings. You can even remap buttons and triggers. Also, the software has a Diagnostics tab that can help troubleshoot any issues you’re having with the Rematch Core.

Very, very cheap

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly controller that performs well and looks great, then the Turtle Beach Rematch Core is the one for you. It retails for just $29 / £24, making it the cheapest gamepad I’ve used or reviewed (so far). It’s even cheaper than the HyperX Clutch Gladiate ($35). Yes, it isn’t wireless, but at this price, I wouldn’t expect it to be.

Turtle Beach Rematch Core (Xbox) review: The downs

The Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox doesn’t have any major flaws, but it’s worth noting that this gamepad isn’t wireless, and it doesn’t feature Hall Effect triggers or sticks.

Wired only

Like I mentioned up top, the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox is a wired-only controller, so you need to plug the USB-A to USB-C cable into your Xbox console or your PC. The 2.5m cable should be long enough to connect to your console while you’re sitting on the couch — that’s usually the recommended distance anyway.

No Hall Effect triggers

Hall Effect sensors used in gamepad triggers and TMR sticks are all the rage these days. Magnetic triggers and sticks negate the possibility of stick drift; they’re more responsive and allow for fine movements. Who needs analog anymore, right? The Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox, alas, features analog triggers and sticks, so no magnetic features here.

This doesn’t make the controller outright bad, and considering it costs less than $30, it would be unfair to knock off major points for not possessing sought-after tech — and that’s okay. Not everyone needs magnetic triggers and sticks. Yes, they’re nice to have, but not necessary. You’ll need to spend more on the likes of the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave ($49), the GameSir Kaleid ($46) or the Scuf Valor Pro ($99) if you want magnets.

Turtle Beach Rematch Core (Xbox) review: Verdict

Considering the Turtle Beach Rematch Core for Xbox costs less than the average weekly grocery shop, it’s hard to fault it. While it’s a wired-only gamepad that doesn’t feature Hall Effect sticks or triggers, it still stuns with its performance. Responsive analog triggers and sticks make quick work of most FPS and RPGs, and user-friendly companion software makes customization very easy.

If you love a good controller with powerful rumble, you’ll love the Rematch Core. It’s also extremely comfortable to hold, and all the buttons feel great to press. If you want a good-looking gamepad that doesn’t break the bank, I really can’t recommend the Rematch Core enough.