Turtle Beach Afterglow Review: A $65 Switch 2 Controller With Full RGB and TMR Sticks

Engadget described the Afterglow as looking like a handheld cosmic gemstone. Its chassis is clear plastic except for a shiny black strip between the triggers and shoulder buttons, which houses the USB-C charging port and Bluetooth connection. Even the grips lack texture, giving the pad a crystalline look whether the lights are on or off. The controller is similar in size and weight to Nintendo's official Switch 2 Pro Controller, which costs $90, while the Afterglow costs $65 and is often on sale for less.

The review said the gamepad has hard, clicky face buttons, cushioned trigger pulls and mappable rear paddles. The back buttons work independently but are connected by a matte black bridge, providing a secondary sensory pop under the opposite fingertip with each press. The Afterglow has motion-control capabilities but no haptics, so there is no rumble. Its analog sticks use TMR technology, which promises long-term accuracy without drift, and they make a clacky sound when they hit the sides of their enclosures. The thumbstick tops have high, defined edges with a textured divot for the thumbpad and are easy to press in even at an angle.

Engadget said the lack of texture on the grips was not an issue even after several hours of playing Resident Evil Requiem, and the controller remained comfortable and secure during first- and third-person play. The review also said the Afterglow handled Hello Kitty Island Adventure well.

The review criticized the readability of small face buttons, calling them nearly impossible to read, including on Nintendo's own Switch 2 controllers. The Afterglow has a dedicated GameChat button in the center, plus and minus buttons above that, and Home and Capture above those. Engadget said the reviewer accidentally took several screenshots while reaching for the minus button to open the map in Resident Evil Requiem and never fully shook off the incorrect muscle memory. The review said highlighted icons would make the small buttons easier to read at a glance.

In the box, the Afterglow includes a 1-meter charging cable. Turtle Beach rates battery life at 40 hours without RGB lighting, Engadget said, while the company's Switch 2 controllers generally get 12 hours of playtime with RGB effects on; the review expects the Afterglow to match that. The controller cannot wake the Switch 2, but it connects seamlessly once the console is on.

The Afterglow has four lighting modes, adjusted by holding the small circle beneath the right thumbstick and pressing the L or R bumpers. The settings are steady on, pulsing in one color, cycling through all colors and reacting to stick movement. Colors and brightness can be adjusted on the fly. Engadget said the lights are vibrant and fill the gamepad with a clean radiance, and the favorite setting was the input-responsive mode, which changes color depending on the analog stick's direction and creates a rainbow light show during play. Even with the lights off, the review said, the controller remains slick-looking.