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Turtle Beach Racer: One-minute review
The Turtle Beach Racer absolutely has the potential to shake up the entry-level racing wheels market. Sim race enthusiasts need not apply; the Racer is a relatively basic offering that ditches higher-end features like force feedback and on-screen displays – the likes of which we see from the Thrustmaster T248R et al. But for more arcade-adjacent racing games like Tokyo Xtreme Racer and Forza Horizon 5, the Racer is a bit of a cheat code to unlocking even more fun from such titles.
I’ve had a blast testing the Turtle Beach Racer over the past week. Don’t let its relatively low price point fool you; it boasts surprisingly good build quality and is impressively versatile to boot.
While a pair of clamps on the base means you can mount the wheel on a desk, the inclusion of a pair of lap rests allows you to sit back and essentially use the Racer more like a traditional controller if you prefer to play on the couch. That’s driven (hehe) home even more with the addition of wireless connectivity via a 2.4GHz dongle compatible with Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC. No PlayStation-compatible version exists at the time of writing.
Put simply, the Turtle Beach Racer is one of the best Xbox racing wheels I’ve tested in a while. There are some small issues, like the slight bump you’ll feel every time the wheel travels past neutral, and the lack of a pedal set (you’ll instead use the rear paddles for acceleration and braking by default) puts a dampener on immersion. But overall, this is a very impressive package for the price, and makes for a great product for first-time wheel owners or younger players.
Turtle Beach Racer: Price and availability
- $179.99 / ÂŁ139.99 / AU$299
- Available to buy now
- Pricier than some budget models, but comfortably under the mid-range bracket
The Turtle Beach Racer is available to buy now for $179.99 / £139.99 / AU$299. It’s on the higher end of that budget ballpark, but it is comfortably more affordable than mid-range wheels that offer more features like the Thrustmaster T248R and the Logitech G923. It’s also costlier than similar budget wheels like the Hori Racing Wheel Apex ($119.99 / £99.99), though I do prefer what’s on offer here with the Racer at a slightly higher asking price.
Turtle Beach Racer: Specs
|
Price |
$179.99 / ÂŁ139.99 / AU$299 |
|
Weight |
7.5lbs / 3.4kg |
|
Dimensions |
11.7 x 11.1 x 10.9in x 297 x 282 x 277mm |
|
Rotation |
360 degrees |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C) |
|
Compatibility |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC |
|
Battery life |
Around 30 hours |
Turtle Beach Racer: Design and features
As I mentioned in my initial Turtle Beach Racer preview at Gamescom 2025, it was the product’s build quality that immediately surprised me. It’s not something that many budget-facing wheels are known for, and while the Racer’s build is primarily plastic, it’s of a good quality. Plus, there are a number of flourishes that take the overall build up a notch.
The steering wheel’s rubberized textured grips are extremely welcome, allowing for a slip-free racing experience. The lap rests, meanwhile, are metallic and have a satisfying weight to them. They each have a strip of textured rubber, allowing them to sit firmly in place. The lap rests can be adjusted, too, meaning you won’t necessarily need to squish your thighs together. I preferred to place mine as far out as they could go, and was able to sit comfortably in my Razer Fujin Pro office gaming chair while playing.
On-board buttons aren’t particularly anything to write home about, but they feel good to press and are all within reach of the wheel itself. There’s a good amount here, too. You’re getting a d-pad, face buttons, and three multifunction buttons that you can assign to your preference.
A pair of pressure-sensitive paddles sit on either side of the wheel, and they’re impressively sturdy. That’s important, because you are likely going to use these for acceleration and braking in the absence of a set of pedals. These are the left and right trigger equivalents on the best Xbox controllers, and were assigned as such across all games I tested.
Turtle Beach Racer: Performance
I have very limited desk space at my home office, so I personally think that the inclusion of lap rests with the Turtle Beach Racer is a great, forward-thinking addition to the overall package. What’s important to note here, in relation to performance, is that I felt no loss of control in using the lap rests over the more traditional desk clamps. And having tested both methods for this review, either of them is a fine choice for your racing sessions.
Initially, I did feel as if the default wheel sensitivity was a bit on the low side, across titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Tokyo Xtreme Racer. However, this was quickly remedied with the Turtle Beach Control Center 2 software, which you can download on PC and Xbox consoles. Here, I was able to adjust sensitivity and remap buttons to my liking.
Another issue I had with the wheel is the slightly uncomfortable bump sensation when it returns to neutral. Let go of the wheel, and it snaps back to its default center position almost immediately. This means that while turning left to right, you will feel a bit of a hitch as it passes that neutral zone. I got used to it after an hour or two, but it’s something to keep in mind if you were hoping for an ultra-smooth racing experience.
Besides this hiccup, the Racer is an incredibly enjoyable racing wheel. The pressure-sensitive paddles are a delightful addition and are a decent substitute for pedals if you don’t mind the loss of immersion or tactility. Being able to apply specific amounts of pressure here made several things easier between games, such as drifting in Forza Horizon 5 and long-term tire management in F1 25. If the lap rests are the big winning feature here, then the paddles are certainly the unsung heroes of the package.
I also have to mention the Racer’s wireless performance, and it’s another area the product seriously impressed me. Turtle Beach estimates that the wheel can go up to 30 hours on a full charge. I find this to be accurate, as I didn’t have to charge the device until the tail end of my week of testing.
Should I buy the Turtle Beach Racer?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
Not sold on the Turtle Beach Racer? Here are a couple of similarly priced alternatives worthy of your consideration.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Turtle Beach Racer |
Hori Racing Wheel Apex |
Logitech G920 |
|
Price |
$179.99 / ÂŁ139.99 / AU$299 |
$119.99 / ÂŁ99.99 (around AU$183) |
$299.99 / ÂŁ349.99 / AU$549.95 |
|
Weight |
7.5lbs / 3.4kg |
3.09lbs / 1.4kg |
4.96lbs / 2.25kg |
|
Dimensions |
11.7 x 11.1 x 10.9in x 297 x 282 x 277mm |
11 x 10.8 x 11.3 / 280 x 275 x 286mm |
10.6 x 10.2 x 10.9 / 270 x 260 x 278mm |
|
Rotation |
360 degrees |
270 degrees |
900 degrees |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C) |
USB-A |
USB-A |
|
Compatibility |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC |
PS5, PS4, PC |
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC |
How I tested the Turtle Beach Racer
- Tested for one week
- Tested across Xbox Series X and PC
- Played a wide variety of racing titles
I tested the Turtle Beach Racer over the course of a week, playing titles on Xbox Series X Digital Edition and my gaming PC. Games I played with the racing wheel include Forza Horizon 5, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, Old School Rally, and F1 25.
While lacking the multitude of buttons and immersive features that make it worthwhile for sim racing, I found the Turtle Beach Racer to be ideal for more casual, arcade-like experiences. In that regard, features like the lap rests and pressure-sensitive paddles made for an easy and comfortable testing period, and above all, a very fun one.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed September 2025
Read the full article here
