Tuesday, January 05, 2021
When it comes to console racing, the Xbox One spoils its owners with the best titles around. Whether you're a Forza fan or prefer Project Cars 2 or F1 2019, Xbox is the place to be for racing on the console. If you're getting serious about your virtual racing, you'll be interested in moving away from whatever the best Xbox One controller you have is and up to a wheel like the superb Logitech G923.
Best Overall - Logitech G923
The Logitech G923 is, on balance, the best of the bunch. And part of that is based on its likely longevity; Logitech releases wheels and supports them for a long time. It's also very good value, but it's not good only because of its price. Logitech may not churn out new wheels that often, but when they come, they're excellent.
The G923 is a well-built wheel with all the creature comforts you need to go racing. That includes a built-in vibration motor that provides a new, more accurate force feedback to feel the surface you're driving on, a 900-degree rotation, a leather grip, and a full three-pedal setup.
This means you can use the optional gearshift with it if you prefer, though it is an additional purchase. For most, though, the metal paddle shifters will be plenty. It's also worth highlighting the location of the console buttons because they're placed perfectly for easy access without the need to take your hands off the wheel, and compared to its predecessor, it has additional controls like a dial and a nifty dual-clutch feature.
Pros
- Excellent design and construction
- Attractive price
- Three-pedal setup
- Great force feedback
Cons
- Stick shift additional purchase
Best Overall
Logitech G923
On balance, an excellent wheel for all
The Logitech G923 is well made, well priced, and performs to such a high standard any virtual racer will be happy with it.
Best for Serious Racers - Thrustmaster TS-XW
If you're searching for the ultimate racing wheel to go with your Xbox One, this is it. The Thrustmaster TS-XW is pricey, but it's the closest thing you'll get to reality without having to put a helmet on.
A big part of what makes it so good is the partnership with Sparco, which makes the TS-XW's rim an actual recreation of a real-life racing wheel, the P310, right down to the authentic Alcantara trim.
The force feedback on this wheel is incredible, paired with a dual belt-pulley system and metal ball-bearing axle and 1080 degrees of rotation for the ultimate in realism. The companion three-pedal setup also allows for an optional stick shift. Perhaps the only thing you might not like is that this thing is massive!
Pros
- Excellent design and construction
- Modeled on a real-life wheel
- Three-pedal setup
- Incredible accuracy from force feedback
Cons
- Quite Pricey
- Heavy!
Best for Serious Racers
Thrustmaster TS-XW
As close to real as you can get
This wheel from Thrustmaster is as close as you can get to the real thing without having to go outside and put a helmet on.
Best for Beginners - Thrustmaster TMX
Thrustmaster doesn't just cater to the super-serious sim racers out there, the company has a whole range of different wheels, and the TMX is particularly useful for those making their first steps.
The TMX retains features you'd find on more expensive wheels, such as a 900-degree rotation, leather trim, and paddle shifts, but cuts back in areas such as the pedals being plastic, not metal to help keep the cost down, as well as there only being two so it doesn't go with a stick shift. But even then, the pedals are still adjustable, the paddles are strong, and the force feedback is excellent.
The TMX is a comfortable wheel to use. It's also a high-quality product designed to appeal to the newer sim-racers or those on a tighter budget. But neither of those things means you should miss out on features, and that's why it's such a good wheel for beginners. You're not missing out on much at all.
Pros
- 900-degree rotation
- Great force feedback
- Leather trim
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Only two-pedal setup
- Plastic pedals
Best for Beginners
Thrustmaster TMX
A great first step
An excellent wheel for beginners or those on tighter budgets that still delivers on features and experience.
Best Budget - Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive
Not everyone is hunting for super-realism and the price that goes with it. If you're searching for something budget that'll still give you a bit more immersion in your racing, the officially licensed Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive isn't a bad choice.
Rotation is limited to just 270-degrees, but for most racing games, that's just about enough. It's got a beautiful design, a grippy rubber trim, and a bonus touch, an adjustable dead zone on the top of the wheel. The latest refresh also has the Xbox Series X|S share button built in for instant captures.
The pedals are also excellent. While there are only two, so no stick shifting, they have a retractable footrest for added comfort as well as being full-sized. The pedals are also fully adjustable, so you've still got control over how the setup feels when you're on the virtual track.
Pros
- Fantastic price
- Licensed by Microsoft
- Grippy rubber trim
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Only two-pedal setup
- Rotation limited to 270-degrees
Best Budget
Hori Racing Wheel Overdrive
A super-affordable way to get into using a wheel
An incredibly affordable way to have a more immersive and enjoyable experience in your Xbox One racing games.
Best Direct Drive: Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel Formula
If you want to get really serious about your sim racing, then you're going to want to jump up to a direct drive wheel. While everything else on this list relies on a system of belts and gears, direct drive wheels attach the rim directly to the motor. The benefit here is the best quality force feedback, unlimited rotation, and the absolute best accuracy. It's the closest you can get to a real race car in your own home.
Fanatec now has a direct drive wheel that fits into its extensive ecosystem of products. The Podium also supports consoles, with both Xbox One and PS4 support possible, and the bundle here has an F1 style wheel to get you going. What you get with the podium is smooth, accurate, highly realistic racing.
It boasts peak torque of 20nm and a holding torque of 15nm, a built-in hub, carbon fiber, and Alcantara in its construction and a built-in OLED display on the base for easy tuning. You've got a host of buttons to map and an integrated display on the actual wheel. All you need to do is get some pedals, which aren't included, and you're off.
Pros
- Ultimate realism
- Superb build quality
- Also supports console
- Ecosystem of accessories
Cons
- Expensive
- Pedals aren't included
Best Direct Drive
Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1
Like driving the real thing in the comfort of your home
Direct drive wheels require a significant investment, but the realism is worth it, and with Fanatec's ecosystem, you're in safe hands with the Podium.
Racing best on Xbox One
The Xbox One has a great selection of top racing titles for fans of console racing. There is also some equally excellent hardware to go with them if you want to get serious. For most, the Logitech G923 will be a perfect wheel.
It's well designed and beautifully made, well priced, and comes with a full three-pedal setup to use with the optional stick shift. Beginners and more experienced racers alike will appreciate this wheel. Logitech has a history of making great wheels, and the G923 is just the latest in that lineup, and you can also use it with a PC.
It's not the cheapest wheel you can get, but it's also far from the most expensive, while still packing the sort of force feedback and build quality you'd expect from something that costs much more. It's a wheel with middle of the road pricing, but performance that even the most serious sim racers will appreciate.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming,
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