Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Review: ‘Fantastic Flight Sim System for Xbox and PC’

TURTLE BEACH VELOCITYONE FLIGHT UNIVERSAL CONTROL SYSTEM REVIEW FOR XBOX SERIES X|S, XBOX ONE, AND PC.

Yes, you read that right: Turtle Beach has released a flight sim control system! In a surprise move — I found it surprising, at least — this primarily audio-focused company has launched a flight sim yoke/throttle/many-other-things system for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. And the order of that list isn’t random either, as this unit is clearly built with Xbox users in mind, without skimping on features for the PC crowd. Cutting right to it: this thing is fantastic! It has a number of advantages that set it apart from the competition when it comes to enhancing the flight sim experience. This is the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight review.

A perfect take-off

Though it comes in a massive box, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne is relatively light when compared to competitors. There’s a lot of plastic here, but that actually largely works in its favor, resulting in a product that is easy to set up when gaming and then move out of the way when not in use. Most other flight systems are made to live permanently at a dedicated desk or “battle station.” The lightweight VelocityOne is designed to be moved around, which will be especially appealing to those playing on an Xbox in their lounge area.

Buy the Turtle Beach VelocityOne on Amazon here.

Adding to the portability is the fantastic clamp system. An included Allen wrench lives in the top of the unit, hidden beneath a magnetic flap. This is always ready and available to loosen or tighten the desk clamps. It’s quick to attach and remove, making the setup process a breeze. I could definitely see this being combined with a TV tray for couch-play, even!

Compact yet comprehensive

In addition to the light weight, the overall compactness of the unit is also worth mentioning. Everything is tightly packed together, without being too crowded. It’s impressively designed and ideal for those who lack room in their gaming space, but still want as many features as possible. Despite the small amount of room it takes up, the yoke itself is still large and very comfortable to use, even with my bigger-than-average hands.

A display on the front of the yoke assists with initial training, showing what each button does and minimizing guesswork, while also helping with rebinding and profile setup. However, I found that the existing profiles already worked well enough in-game. It’s as plug-in-and-play as it gets with this kind of enthusiast-level peripheral.

With how intimidating units like this can be, to the point of requiring hours of tweaking and learning before enjoyment is finally achieved, I must say Turtle Beach has done an incredible job with accessibility. It is ready to go with Microsoft Flight Simulator and even the most novice of users will get up and running (flying?) in 10-15 minutes.

A lot to fiddle with

Looking at the number of inputs, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne has a lot going on. Though compact, there are many elements that control part of the aircraft. Most of these feel great, despite the heavy use of plastic on the outer shell. Metal is incorporated in the parts that matter most, resulting in smooth movement and an especially great-feeling trim wheel. The trim wheel’s tension is just right and it feels superb in use.

The only element where the tension could be better is the throttle system. These move a little too easily and I’d love the ability to go in and tweak them. It’s a shame that this is the weakest point when it comes to feel, as it’s one of the most used parts. Otherwise, using this product feels great, especially for the price.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Review: The final verdict

At $379.95, Turtle Beach is delivering a ton of functionality that will make Xbox users especially happy. Though there are competing control systems for PC, prices quickly climb, and so the VelocityOne is a fantastic option for PC players, too. I’m particularly impressed with just how easy this product is to attach and remove from a desk, making it super portable and fantastic for those who don’t have the room or desire for a full-time flight sim setup living in their home.

I might have been skeptical about Turtle Beach diving into the flight sim game, but clearly the company knows better than I, as it has completely blown me away with this unit and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

VelocityOne Flight review unit provided by Turtle Beach.