Logitech’s first sim racing wheelbase to feature a direct drive system is here, as the company known for its entry-level G-series wheels looks to compete in the upper tiers of the sim hardware market.
Logitech supplied the PRO wheel for this review free of charge, though the opinions and words are my own. The wheel was tested on PC using Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Automobilista 2 and DiRT Rally 2.0.
The aim of the PRO series appears to be to establish Logitech as a maker of not only entry and mid-tier wheelbases like the G27, G29 and G923, but also a manufacturer of professional-grade sim hardware.
Within this base is a motor capable of 11 Newton-meters of peak torque. This figure places the PRO Wheel into a space competing with the Fanatec CSL DD and Boost Kit, the Simagic Alpha-mini / M10, and the Moza Racing R9.
The PRO base is capable of mounting directly onto the wheelbase plate of a cockpit using the threaded holes on the bottom of the unit or can be fastened temporarily to a desk using the included clamp.
At the rear of the wheelbase are the connection ports for power, USB micro, and peripherals. The USB micro connection is used to connect the PRO wheel to either a PC or console. Both PlayStation and Xbox versions of this Logitech wheel are available.
Configuration of the PRO wheel is achieved either via the G Hub software on PC, or by setup menus displayed on the wheelbase’s OLED screen navigated by the rotary encoders on the steering wheel.
The included steering wheel is leather-wrapped and primarily constructed of metal. It features magnetic shift paddles and dual analog clutch paddles at the rear. There is an included quick release for connecting to the wheelbase. Power and data are communicated between the wheel and wheelbase without external cables. The wheel includes two rotary encoders, an 8-way joystick, and 11 additional buttons inspired by the respective console.
The PRO Wheel also utilizes Logitech’s TrueForce technology. This system uses in-game audio and telemetry to recreate select force feedback effects that might otherwise be missed.
The PRO wheel provides an impressive level of strength and definition in its force feedback. The G Hub software allows for individual game profiles to be configured, and presets for most common driving simulators are included. In addition, Logitech provides recommended in-game settings on their website.
Road bumps, curb details, vehicle impacts, rolling resistance and more are recreated in impressive detail. The TrueForce system supplements this in games that support the technology, and does add some welcome detail. Users can tweak the active force feedback profile to their specific needs and find a balance of strength and detail.
The steering wheel is well built and feels both comfortable and robust in hand. The overall design and button layout is not particularly inspiring or visually appealing, but there does seem to have been considerations to ergonomics during design, as all the buttons can easily be reached during normal driving.
Shifting using the magnetic paddles is precise and doesn’t generate as much noise as some offerings in the sim racing space. The analog paddles for clutch or handbrake function also perform well, and offer a long, smooth travel.
Logitech has established themselves as a leading brand in the beginner and entry-level sim racing hardware market, but the PRO series hardware elevates them to a higher market level. The $999 / €1,099 price point for a Logitech wheel is likely to surprise some people, but seems less imposing in context.
Mid-tier direct drive wheel and wheelbase solutions including features like the magnetic shifters, quick release, and analog clutch pedals from companies such as Fanatec and Simagic sell for roughly the same price. Moza Racing offers a cheaper mid-tier wheel and wheelbase with similar features, but it lacks console compatibility.
Beating instead of matching their competitors’ price for a mid-range direct drive solution could have potentially positioned Logitech as the company to beat in this space, but priced as it is, consumers will have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the PRO system versus the competitors.
Because this PRO Wheel represents Logitech’s first entry into the enthusiast or professional market, it has the disadvantage of a small supporting product line. Pedals are currently offered in the PRO series, and a new cockpit looks to be in the late stages of design, but other steering wheels or a PRO series h-pattern shifter or handbrake are notably absent at this time.
Its performance is an impressive opening salvo into this new space, but questionable aesthetic design choices such as the plastic wheelbase housing and the overall size of the base may turn consumers off.
Impressive force feedback detail and strength, strong game compatibility across PC and console, magnetic shifters, analog paddles and a high-quality, comfortable wheel offered in a single solution from a reputable brand seems to justify the price. At $999 / €1,099 absent pedals, the PRO Wheel will appeal to a much narrower audience than previous G-series wheels but should be given serious consideration for those with that budget in mind or chasing similar performance and features in a sim racing wheel.
An expanded line of offerings such as a formula wheel of equal grade to the wheel currently included with the PRO Wheel, plus peripherals such as an h-pattern shifter will be crucial for Logitech to establish themselves as a leader in this new space they are entering, but this wheel is certainly a good start.
The Logitech PRO Wheel easily ranks among the best sim racing wheels I have tested in terms of its performance. Driving with it puts any questionable aesthetic choices out of mind, and lets you enjoy the sensations of driving in your favourite sim with a level of haptic detail few offerings can match.
Pros:
Logitech supplied the PRO wheel for this review free of charge, though the opinions and words are my own. The wheel was tested on PC using Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Automobilista 2 and DiRT Rally 2.0.
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Logitech’s PRO series represents a new business direction for the hardware manufacturer. In addition to the wheel featured in this review, Logitech has also released a new three-pedal set with a load cell brake.The aim of the PRO series appears to be to establish Logitech as a maker of not only entry and mid-tier wheelbases like the G27, G29 and G923, but also a manufacturer of professional-grade sim hardware.
Logitech PRO Wheel Features
The external appearance of the PRO wheel seems to betray the concept of competing in the pro-grade market, as the shell of the wheelbase is plastic. This shell is exceptionally large for a sim racing wheelbase, measuring 300mm (about 12”) at its widest point, and 220mm (nearly 9”) deep. The base is more stylized than many other offerings on the market, with the shell tapering both upward and rearward.Within this base is a motor capable of 11 Newton-meters of peak torque. This figure places the PRO Wheel into a space competing with the Fanatec CSL DD and Boost Kit, the Simagic Alpha-mini / M10, and the Moza Racing R9.
The PRO base is capable of mounting directly onto the wheelbase plate of a cockpit using the threaded holes on the bottom of the unit or can be fastened temporarily to a desk using the included clamp.
At the rear of the wheelbase are the connection ports for power, USB micro, and peripherals. The USB micro connection is used to connect the PRO wheel to either a PC or console. Both PlayStation and Xbox versions of this Logitech wheel are available.
Configuration of the PRO wheel is achieved either via the G Hub software on PC, or by setup menus displayed on the wheelbase’s OLED screen navigated by the rotary encoders on the steering wheel.
The included steering wheel is leather-wrapped and primarily constructed of metal. It features magnetic shift paddles and dual analog clutch paddles at the rear. There is an included quick release for connecting to the wheelbase. Power and data are communicated between the wheel and wheelbase without external cables. The wheel includes two rotary encoders, an 8-way joystick, and 11 additional buttons inspired by the respective console.
The PRO Wheel also utilizes Logitech’s TrueForce technology. This system uses in-game audio and telemetry to recreate select force feedback effects that might otherwise be missed.
Performance
Logitech’s PRO Wheel might be confused for an entry to mid-level offering by dint of its plastic shell, but the performance of the wheel across a variety of racing sims erases any such confusion.The PRO wheel provides an impressive level of strength and definition in its force feedback. The G Hub software allows for individual game profiles to be configured, and presets for most common driving simulators are included. In addition, Logitech provides recommended in-game settings on their website.
Road bumps, curb details, vehicle impacts, rolling resistance and more are recreated in impressive detail. The TrueForce system supplements this in games that support the technology, and does add some welcome detail. Users can tweak the active force feedback profile to their specific needs and find a balance of strength and detail.
The steering wheel is well built and feels both comfortable and robust in hand. The overall design and button layout is not particularly inspiring or visually appealing, but there does seem to have been considerations to ergonomics during design, as all the buttons can easily be reached during normal driving.
Shifting using the magnetic paddles is precise and doesn’t generate as much noise as some offerings in the sim racing space. The analog paddles for clutch or handbrake function also perform well, and offer a long, smooth travel.
Value
Apart from the plastic exterior of the wheelbase, the price is what is likely to draw the most criticism of the Logitech PRO wheel.Logitech has established themselves as a leading brand in the beginner and entry-level sim racing hardware market, but the PRO series hardware elevates them to a higher market level. The $999 / €1,099 price point for a Logitech wheel is likely to surprise some people, but seems less imposing in context.
Mid-tier direct drive wheel and wheelbase solutions including features like the magnetic shifters, quick release, and analog clutch pedals from companies such as Fanatec and Simagic sell for roughly the same price. Moza Racing offers a cheaper mid-tier wheel and wheelbase with similar features, but it lacks console compatibility.
Beating instead of matching their competitors’ price for a mid-range direct drive solution could have potentially positioned Logitech as the company to beat in this space, but priced as it is, consumers will have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the PRO system versus the competitors.
Because this PRO Wheel represents Logitech’s first entry into the enthusiast or professional market, it has the disadvantage of a small supporting product line. Pedals are currently offered in the PRO series, and a new cockpit looks to be in the late stages of design, but other steering wheels or a PRO series h-pattern shifter or handbrake are notably absent at this time.
Summary
Logitech’s PRO Wheel represents a positive step forward for the company as they evolve from being an entry and mid-tier sim hardware company to a company with offerings for enthusiasts with larger budgets and higher expectations.Its performance is an impressive opening salvo into this new space, but questionable aesthetic design choices such as the plastic wheelbase housing and the overall size of the base may turn consumers off.
Impressive force feedback detail and strength, strong game compatibility across PC and console, magnetic shifters, analog paddles and a high-quality, comfortable wheel offered in a single solution from a reputable brand seems to justify the price. At $999 / €1,099 absent pedals, the PRO Wheel will appeal to a much narrower audience than previous G-series wheels but should be given serious consideration for those with that budget in mind or chasing similar performance and features in a sim racing wheel.
An expanded line of offerings such as a formula wheel of equal grade to the wheel currently included with the PRO Wheel, plus peripherals such as an h-pattern shifter will be crucial for Logitech to establish themselves as a leader in this new space they are entering, but this wheel is certainly a good start.
The Logitech PRO Wheel easily ranks among the best sim racing wheels I have tested in terms of its performance. Driving with it puts any questionable aesthetic choices out of mind, and lets you enjoy the sensations of driving in your favourite sim with a level of haptic detail few offerings can match.
Pros:
- Force feedback quality
- Console compatibility
- Individual game presets and in-game settings suggestions
- Desk clamp or hard-mounting options
- Easy-to-use and strong quick release
- OLED screen for wheel tuning
- Plastic wheelbase shell
- No formula wheel or peripherals at release
- Large wheelbase footprint
- Generic looking steering wheel
