Thrustmaster vs Logitech: Which Sim Racing Wheel Is Best for Beginners?

A wheel changes sim racing more than any other upgrade. Not because it makes you quicker straight away — it won't, for the first few weeks — but because it turns driving into something you do with your hands and feet instead of your thumbs.

For most beginners the choice comes down to two names: Thrustmaster and Logitech. Both make capable entry-level wheels with pedals between $200 and $400. Here's how they actually differ, and which one suits which kind of buyer.

The two contenders

Logitech G923

• Wheelbase: Gear-driven
• Pedals: Three-pedal set included (clutch, brake, throttle)
• Force feedback: TRUEFORCE
• Price: around $299–$399
• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox — separate console versions

Thrustmaster T248

• Wheelbase: Hybrid belt and gear drive
• Pedals: Three-pedal set with magnetic throttle and brake
• Force feedback: Belt-assisted, plus a display on the wheel face
• Price: around $249–$399
• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox — separate console versions

Build quality and design

The Logitech G923 is the more premium object of the two: leather-wrapped rim, metal paddle shifters, a weighted pedal base that stays put. It feels finished in a way the price doesn't quite explain.

The Thrustmaster T248 is more utilitarian — more plastic, rubber grip — but it adds a small digital display on the wheel face for telemetry and settings, which the Logitech doesn't have.

Edge: Logitech on materials, Thrustmaster on features.

Force feedback and driving feel

This is the real difference between them, and it's worth understanding before you spend anything. Both wheels put a motor behind the rim; what changes is the mechanism between that motor and your hands.

The G923's gear-driven system is sharp and immediate. Its TRUEFORCE layer adds engine and road-surface detail in supported titles, which is genuinely convincing. The trade-off is that gear drive can feel slightly notchy through fast direction changes — you can feel the mechanism working.

The T248's hybrid belt system is smoother and quieter, with a little more torque. Belt-driven feedback is generally closer to how a real steering rack loads up, and at this price that's the more grown-up sensation.

Edge: Thrustmaster for realism, Logitech for immediacy.

Pedals

The G923 wins here, and pedals matter more than beginners expect. Its progressive brake uses a rubber cone rather than a spring, so you brake by pressure rather than travel — which is how real brakes work, and it's what makes trail braking learnable rather than guesswork.

The T248's set is a real step up from older Thrustmaster pedals, with magnetic sensors on throttle and brake, but the Logitech brake is still the better teacher.

No matter which system you choose, the it's extremely important to mount the pedals to something solid to promote braking consistency. The best rig in the world won't perform well if it's moving around under heavy breaking.

If you're the kind of driver who wants three pedals in a real car too, our take on manual versus automatic covers why that pedal feel matters.

Edge: Logitech, clearly.

Game and platform support

Both work with the major titles — Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, Assetto Corsa, iRacing, F1 and Project CARS.

The catch is console lock-in. Both brands sell separate Xbox and PlayStation versions, and buying the wrong one is the single most common and most expensive beginner mistake. PC players get the most flexibility. Check the box against your console before you order.

Room to grow

Thrustmaster's ecosystem is the more open one — add-on shifters, handbrakes and swappable rims across the range, so upgrades carry forward instead of being thrown away.

Logitech is more closed. You can add their shifter, but broadly you're buying the setup you'll keep.

Edge: Thrustmaster, if you expect this to become a hobby rather than a phase.

What else you'll need

The wheel is not the whole cost, and this is where most first-time buyers get caught out.

• Something rigid to mount it to. Both clamp to a desk, but a desk that flexes ruins the feedback and gets loud. If yours has any give, budget for a wheel stand from the start.
• Floor space. Roughly a metre of depth once the pedals are down, plus somewhere to store it all. The wheels clamp on and off in about a minute, which helps if the setup shares a room.
• A way to stop the pedals sliding. On carpet they walk away from you under braking. A strip of rubber matting or a pedal tray solves it for very little money.

FAQ

Do I need a wheel stand, or can I clamp it to a desk?

Either works, but the desk has to be rigid. A flexing desk kills the force feedback and gets loud — the wheel ends up fighting the furniture instead of talking to you.

Is a three-pedal set worth it if I don't drive manual?

Yes, for the brake alone. The clutch only matters in older cars and rally sims, but a good brake pedal improves your lap times more than any other single upgrade.

Will these work on both PlayStation and Xbox?

No, and this is the expensive mistake. Both brands sell console-specific versions. Match the version to your console, or buy the PC version if that's where you race.

Should I skip these and save for direct drive?

If you already know you're committed and can stretch the budget, yes — entry-level direct drive has come down a lot. If you're not sure sim racing will stick, either of these is the cheapest way to find out.

How much space do I actually need?

More than people expect once the pedals are on the floor. Roughly a metre of depth, and somewhere to put it all afterwards.

So which one?

Buy the Logitech G923 if you want the thing that works best on day one, with the better pedals and the easier setup. For most beginners, that's the right call.

Buy the Thrustmaster T248 if feedback quality matters more to you than out-of-box polish, and you can picture yourself adding a shifter and better pedals over the next year.

Either one is a significant step up from a controller. Neither will make you faster on its own — that part is still on you.

We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no cost to you.