I still talked about Gran Turismo 7, I thought it was a good opportunity to get my hands on a racing wheel. And since the consoles are expensive, the games have risen to 70 euros and people can no longer afford to spend too much money on accessories, I said to choose a model from a friendlier price category. And so I received a HORI Racing Wheel Apex steering wheel in tests, or as my friends call it, RWA.
This is the new version of a steering wheel that is already a bestseller on eMAG, and the big news is the Sony license that certifies its compatibility with the PlayStation 5.
HORI Racing Wheel Apex is made of plastic, which makes it quite easy to carry and install compared to other models we have tested. The buttons are pleasant to the touch and provide pretty good feedback, and the steering wheel itself is comfortable to handle and sturdy.
The only fear I had was that it was invalidated when I started playing, and the plastic pedals, which gave me the impression that they were fragile, proved to be quite solid, so they resist pressure. healthier. Overall, the construction is decent, but some people may complain that it is a cheap product. This is strictly about tastes, and the audience for such a model is not like the fans.
A simple installation process, along with a decent list of specifications
There is not much to say about installation; I didn’t even have to look at an instruction manual to mount the steering wheel on the first try. The mount is classic, vise type and can be adjusted for almost any type of office.
The cables are long enough that you can route them wherever you want, and the pedals connect to a port on the back of the steering wheel. This means that you can install them at the end, without having to readjust.
In terms of specifications, the HORI Racing Wheel Apex offers 270-degree rotation, well above other models in the same price range. Most affordable steering wheels offer a 180 degree radius, so we see a massive improvement here.
Unfortunately, the Force Feedback feature is missing from this model. It gives you a few vibration motors, but it doesn’t come close to the experience of a steering wheel with this feedback technology. You will not feel as good as the road or the various changes in the car or the weather, but you will have some response to the actions.
To make up for the lack of functions, HORI scored in another important category. On the customization side, the software provided by the manufacturer offers everything you could need. You can choose the sensitivity of the pedals, you can lock the steering wheel at 180 degrees for certain games, you can set the buttons and what they do individually and you can create different profiles, depending on the game.
Read Also: LCD or OLED as a display – which matrix is better?
HORI Racing Wheel Apex works on both consoles and PCs
I tested the steering wheel in Gran Turismo 7 on the PlayStation 5, but I also connected it to the PC. Everything went quickly on the console: I took everything out of the box, mounted the steering wheel and pedals, plugged the USB cable into the PS5 and selected the corresponding mode on the steering wheel. No adjustments, calibration, or software installation were required.
The latter was necessary on the PC, where the experience was somewhat more detailed. I switched the steering wheel to PC mode and connected it to a USB. After that I installed the HORI application and got acquainted with the quite friendly interface.
The experience became a little more unpleasant when I tried to play Forza Horizon 5. The list of steering wheels compatible with this title is small, and this model is not found on it. That translated into a few input issues, and even though it might make it work, whatever settings I chose, I couldn’t enjoy this game.
The problem disappeared in GRID Legends, and this is a title that worked smoothly on PC. Therefore, the implementation of the software must be taken into account, as the experience will vary from one game to another.
The Sony license also comes with benefits, and the level of customization that can be achieved on the PC through the dedicated application will soon be possible on the PlayStation 5.
Read Also: ALL ABOUT GRAN TURISMO 7
HORI will launch a console application, the first of its kind, through which you can change steering wheel settings as you wish. It is a step forward and I would really like to see such an approach from larger manufacturers as well.
For about ₹16,999 Proximality $96 , HORI Racing Wheel Apex is a good steering wheel. It offers quality construction and extensive customization options, and the user experience has been enjoyable.
It also has shortcomings and lacks some features found in more expensive models, but strictly related to the budget it falls into, it is one of the best choices on the market at the moment.
About Post Author
HORI Racing Wheel Apex Review
Summary
It offers quality construction and extensive customization options, and the user experience has been enjoyable. It also has shortcomings and lacks some features found in more expensive models, but strictly related to the budget it falls into, it is one of the best choices on the market at the moment.