Versatile management persist with quirk
At the start of November, Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne Flight, which prices round 370 Euros, needed to show itself in our take a look at lab and left a superb general impression. Now the identical producer has launched a less expensive flightstick. What the 130 euro enter system is able to, how nicely the fascinating extra features (similar to touchpad and flight administration show) work in follow, and through which areas enhancements are nonetheless wanted, is clarified in our take a look at.
Space-saving and can be utilized ambidextrously
Already when unpacking the VelocityOne flightstick, two options catch the attention: Firstly, the system – in contrast to the favored Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One, for instance – has a relatively compact footprint (21.68 x 16.41 cm) and might subsequently simply match on small desks. On the opposite hand, the joystick together with thrust management is appropriate for each left- and right-handed customers. This flexibility is made attainable by a palm relaxation that may be mounted on each side, and the peak might be adjusted to 5 totally different ranges. Once the specified place has been discovered, the entire thing is tightened with a threaded screw – and that is it. No instruments are wanted for this.
Despite a complete of 27 assignable keys, the look of the VelocityOne flightstick is uncluttered.
The state of affairs is totally different with the three included M5 screws. These are positioned on the underside of the VelocityOne flightstick and are used for mounting on appropriately ready surfaces. Too unhealthy: The VelocityOne Stand, which is accessible as an adjunct, is simply supposed to be used with the VelocityOne Flight, and Turtle Beach doesn’t presently supply an official desk mount. However, the latter could be fascinating, as a result of the flight stick tends to take off throughout hectic flight actions and fast backward pulls because of its average weight of 810 grams and the dearth of suction cups. At least if you happen to solely use the persist with one hand, which ought to hardly ever be the case, for the reason that different hand often rests on one of many two thrust controls on the left and proper.
Successful thrust controllers, half-baked RGB lighting
Keyword thrust sliders: They supply a nice however not too sturdy resistance and have clearly perceptible engagement zones in each the higher and decrease areas. When a slider reaches the higher or decrease most place, this additionally triggers the keys B9 and B10 (each left) in addition to B11 and B12 (each proper). It’s additionally good that you could pull the rubberized button off the sturdy steel lever beneath and swap it with the marginally in another way formed button of the opposite thrust controller. Another good element that Turtle Beach makes use of to woo each left- and right-handed customers.
On the again, there are three USB-C ports. One is for connecting to the PC or Xbox console (a 3-meter cable is included), and the opposite two are for exterior equipment. Looping by way of the VelocityOne pedals must be attainable quickly.
Turtle Beach installs 4 rectangular motion buttons in a vertical association beneath every of the thrust controllers, all of which have a stable strain level and are straightforward to acknowledge even at midnight because of RGB lighting that may be switched on at any time. The solely downside: The illumination all the time applies to your complete four-key block and can’t be adjusted individually per key, as is understood from present gaming keyboards. It stays to be seen whether or not future firmware updates and a revised companion app will add this function.
The Xbox navigation keys, i.e. the house, view, screenshot and choice keys are positioned within the middle of the motion keys. All 4 are simply accessible with the thumbs of each arms and the strain level can be okay. Unfortunately, the RGB lighting doesn’t work right here. Turtle Beach solely opted for a small energy indicator LED positioned between the buttons. It lights up as quickly as the ability is turned on.
Strong management stick, charming mini joystick
But now to the guts of the VelcocityOne Flighstick, the central joystick. It feels precious and sturdy, flatters the arms with a nice rubber floor and finds a steadiness of resistance and smoothness on all axes (left/proper, ahead/backward, rotation). Whether it is the numerous planes and helicopters from Microsoft Flight Simulator, the quite a few star fighters from Star Wars: Squadrons or totally different area gliders from Elite Dangerous – the VelocityOne flightstick leaves nothing to be desired by way of the precision of the primary management unit.
The wrist relaxation on the stick might be mounted in 5 totally different positions.
The 8-way POV on the highest left of the stick and the mini-analog keep on with the fitting have been additionally convincing within the sensible take a look at. Not least as a result of each have a small melancholy from which the thumb does not slip off so simply. The mini-analog stick additionally facilities shortly when not in use and might be pushed in like present gamepad analog sticks. The identical applies to the rubberized trim wheel within the space beneath the aforementioned sticks, which is primarily supposed for nuanced changes of the flight altitude. However, reconfigured accordingly, it can be used to change by way of weapon methods or radar targets, for instance.