Summary
Hori manufactures affordable wheels and pedals that introduce gamers to the thrilling world of sim racing. Although enthusiasts often shun the manufacturer’s gear, they have some advantages over higher-end options. One of those considerations is price, since building asim cockpitcan cost thousands of dollars. An upcoming PS5 and PC wireless racing wheel from Hori will offer affordability and a cordless form factor that solvescable managementissues. The new Apex Wireless Racing Wheel is now available forpre-order at Amazon, ahead of its October 24th release date.
Hori Apex Wireless Racing Wheel for PS5/PS4/PC
The Hori Apex Wireless Racing Wheel is an affordable way to bring authentic racing sim action to living and gaming rooms. Designed with PS5 compatibility in mind, the wheel also connects wirelessly to the PS4 and PC through an RF USB dongle. Shipping with a pedal set, the wheel offers a 10-hour battery life and is rechargeable with the included cable. The Hori Apex Wireless Racing Wheel easily secures desks and tables with a clamp and can be placed up to 32 feet away from the wireless receiver.
This isn’t Hori’s first attempt at a wireless racing wheel with a pedal set. The company previously released a similar configuration for the PS4, later pushing out a firmware update to accommodate PS5 titles. However, only a few PS5 games, includingGran Turismo 7, were supported, which is likely why Hori developed a new wheel.
While the newest Apex Wireless Racing Wheel looks similar to its predecessor, there are some notable differences. Instead of connecting to PlayStation consoles through Bluetooth, the wheel and pedals ship with a wireless RF USB receiver that uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The Bluetooth approach did not require a dongle, but an RF connection could potentially provide lower latency. On the other hand, improved responsiveness often comes at the expense of battery life. Sure enough, the upcoming cordless Apex wheel has a battery that lasts 10 hours, while the previous PS4 version could endure 15 hours of racing action.
Design-wise, Hori isn’t reinventing this PS5 wheel, which sports the same flashy red trim below the controls as the Apex Wireless for the PS4. As with many budget and mid-rangeracing wheels, the latest Apex affixes to tables or desks with an attached clamp. The device isn’t completely wireless, since the included pedal set connects to the wheel with a cable. Still, gamers should be able to race up to 32 feet away from their consoles or PC.
The new wheel’s button layout only has minor differences from the PS4 peripheral, and gamers have access to a fullPS5 controllerscheme. Virtual racers can change gears with side paddles and navigate menus with a d-pad and options button.
Force feedback is troublesome for wireless racing wheels, and there is no evidence the Apex Wireless PS5 will include it. The feature provides tactile feedback for g-forces and different road surfaces, but its motor would undoubtedly quickly drain the internal battery. This wheel also lacks the more basic vibration effects that the PS4 version boasted.
The Apex Wireless PS5 has a somewhat limited maximum 270-degree wheel rotation with an adjustable turn ratio. That’s still enough for various racing titles, including open-wheel and rally titles. The real strength of the Apex Wireless is its support for more PS5 games likeEA Sports WRCandLEGO 2K Drive. Gamers may have to toggle between Normal and Steering modes, which can prevent some in-game controls from working. PC users have a variety of racing games to choose from, with popular titles on Steam and the Xbox Game Store.
Don’t Want to Wait for the Hori Apex Wireless?
Buyers looking for immediate alternatives to the Hori Apex Wireless won’t find many cordless options. Pricier modular wheels may communicate wirelessly with wheel bases, but the wheel bases themselves still need a USB connection to PCs and consoles. Gamers can save money if long, unwieldy cords aren’t as much of a concern.
The most obvious target for budget shoppers is the non-wirelessHori Apexfor the PlayStation and PC. Features-wise, it’s almost identical to the wireless versions, but gamers can enjoy some potent rumble effects. For Xbox owners, the equivalent is theHori Racing Wheel Overdrive, which supports platform exclusives likeForza Motorsport.
For marginally more money than the Hori Apex Wireless, gamers can experience some impressive force feedback. TheThrustmaster T128relies on a dual belt and gear system to generate powerful and nuanced responses to racetrack forces. However, the wheel and the pedals are compact, so it’s best suited as a peripheral for small hands and younger gamers.
Game Rant often recommends theLogitech G920/G29as one of the most well-rounded wheel and pedal sets. While it costs more than the Hori Apex Wireless or Thrustmaster T128, the Logitech offering comes with full-sized pedals, complete with a clutch. Also, typical of higher-end wheels, gamers have more flexibility to customize settings on the Logitech wheel, with 900 degrees of rotation.
Despite the competition, the Hori Apex Wireless looks to be a promising starter wheel with unique wireless connectivity. Since gamers often position their PS5s long distances fromlarge smart TVs, the wheel prevents the need for long cable runs. Game Rant will inform readers about any new developments with the Apex Wireless leading up to its October 24th release.
FAQ
Q: Can you use a Hori steering wheel without pedals?
Players should be able to use Hori racing wheels without an attached pedal set. Assuming it’s possible to reassign controls, gamers can easily remap acceleration, brake, and clutch commands to other buttons.
Q: Why are racing wheels expensive?
If a racing wheel features force feedback, it needs a powerful motor to produce realistic effects. Many wheels also try to replicate the very expensive components in racecars which must have impeccable build quality.
