I tested Turtle Beach's Mario-themed controller and headset for Nintendo Switch 2 — and they surprised me for 5 key reasons | Tech Radar

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I tested Turtle Beach's Mario-themed controller and headset for Nintendo Switch 2 — and they surprised me for 5 key reasons

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It’s been a pretty big year for Nintendo’s Italian plumber so far. We’re in the midst of his 40th birthday celebrations, we recently had Mar 10 Day, we just got Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup In Bellabel Park, and right now, the Super Mario Galaxy Movie is playing in theaters.

In light of this Mario-crazy year, then, game accessory manufacturer Turtle Beach has released some Switch 2 gear that’s centered around Nintendo’s most iconic character. And what do you know, I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on some of these new Nintendo Switch 2 accessories myself.

Specifically, I’ve been able to test a new version of the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, which features both Mario and Luigi, as well as a Mario-themed version of the Turtle Beach Airlite Fit Wired Gaming Headset. And even though these come in at fairly modest price-points — especially compared to first-party alternatives — I’ve had a pretty good time with both so far.

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And so, I’m here to tell you about my time with Turtle Beach’s newly released Switch 2 accessories, and reveal the five things that surprised me the most about them. Interested? Of course you are — so let’s-a-get into my list!

Rematch Wireless Controller: terrific TMR thumbsticks

Given that the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller does not feature Hall Effect or similar tech, I was wowed to see the Rematch’s inclusion of TMR thumbsticks.

These TMR thumbsticks provide strong responsiveness and precision, and also reduce your chances of encountering stick drift. When I previously reviewed the Rematch, I already appreciated the fluid, smooth feel of the thumbsticks, and as you’d expect, they’re a hit once more on this Mario Bros-adorned model.

Turtle Beach’s controller is on the market for around

Rematch Wireless Controller: bountiful battery life

Talking of key selling points, it’s really hard to look past the Rematch controller’s battery life. That’s right, Turtle Beach claims that you get as much as 40 hours of playtime from this model, which is ideal for people like me who always forget to charge their gadgets.

I’ve been using the Mario Bros. version of the Rematch controller to fuel my full-blown and semi-problematic addiction to Pokémon Pokopia as of late. And I have to say, that 40-hour figure seems accurate in my experience — I’ve barely had to re-juice the battery.

That 40-hour amount is also equal to the costlier official Switch 2 Pro Controller, which we currently rate as the top controller in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

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Air Lite Fit Wired Gaming Headset: a shockingly low price

Let’s move on over to the Air Lite Fit now, a wired headset which is optimized for Nintendo Switch 2. And one thing shocked me about this Mario-equipped gear right out of the gate: its exceptionally low price.

That’s right, this headset comes in at just

Given that the officially licensed Power A Wired Earbuds for Nintendo Switch 2 have a list price of $24.99 / £19.99, it seems as if Turtle Beach’s headset is priced very generously indeed.

Air Lite Fit Wired Gaming Headset: genuinely solid mic quality

I was delighted to see that the Air Lite Fit had a noise-cancelling mic, and I made sure to put it to the test for video calls, voice recording tests, and for Game Chat.

Although you won’t get the most technologically sophisticated noise canceling ever on the Airlite Fit, background noises are certainly dimmed to a decent effect. In addition, I was very pleased to hear little to no background static when recording my voice — something a lot of cheap headsets fall foul of. More generally, my voice was clear, and my speech sounded well-defined, rather than muddy or tinny.

I also love how the headset's mic is flip-to-mute, meaning you simply flick it upwards and your friends — or indeed enemies — will be unable to hear you. Not bad, eh?

Rematch & Air Lite Fit: their personality-filled designs

Let’s bring these Mario-themed accessories together for a moment, and talk about something they both nail: their eye-catching designs.

Now, a lot of budget accessories have a plain black build and struggle to stand out in a fairly convoluted market. But Turtle Beach’s new accessories surprised me with vibrant, personality-filled designs that are genuinely a joy to behold.

I’ll start with the controller, and while Mario and Luigi aura-farming while standing back-to-back caught my eye, it was something else that really piqued my interest. See, when the model is in use, a bunch of Super Mario power-ups light up across the face of the controller, including mushrooms, stars, boomerangs, shells…you name it! You can even cycle between four different lighting modes, which keeps things fresh.

As for the Air Lite fit, I’m a fan of the semi-translucent design, as well as the inclusion of Mario on each earcup. The red and black colorway is enticing as well, and mirrors how the Switch 2 console has an understated design with tasteful pops of color.

Both accessories look great, in my view, and they surpassed my expectations in many areas. Oh, and they’re both compatible with the original Nintendo Switch as well as its successor, making them readily available to a whole lot of players.

➡️ Read our full guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 games

1. Best overall: Donkey Kong Bananza
2. Great for multiplayer: Mario Kart World
3. A sequel for the ages: Hollow Knight: Silksong
4. A timeless adventure and remake: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
5. Best Pokémon: Pokémon Legends Z-A

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Harry is a Reviews Staff Writer for Tech Radar. He reviews everything from party speakers to wall chargers and has a particular interest in the worlds of audio and gaming. Harry has a background in business tech journalism, particularly around the telecoms industry.

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• I tested Turtle Beach's Mario-themed controller and headset for Nintendo Switch 2 — and they surprised me for 5 key reasons