🏎️ HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex Review: A Budget-Friendly Gateway to Wireless Racing
The world of sim racing accessories often presents a steep barrier to entry, with high-end wheels featuring force feedback and sophisticated pedal sets commanding premium prices. The HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex (WRWA) for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Windows 11/10 attempts to bridge this gap, offering a licensed, multi-platform, and—crucially—wireless solution for the budget-conscious racer. But does its affordability and cable-free convenience justify the compromises?
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| HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex Review: A Budget-Friendly Gateway to Wireless Racing |
🌟 First Impressions & Build Quality
Out of the box, the HORI WRWA presents itself as a fully-featured, full-sized racing wheel. The addition of wireless connectivity via a USB-A dongle is its main selling point, promising up to 15 hours of gameplay on a single charge and eliminating the usual cable clutter.
The wheel unit itself is primarily constructed from plastic, which is typical for its price point. While this contributes to a lightweight, somewhat 'toy-like' feel, the wheel does feature pleasant rubberized hand grips that feel secure and comfortable during intense racing sessions. All the necessary PlayStation buttons (including the Touchpad button and Share/Options) are present and easily accessible, alongside two plastic paddle shifters located behind the wheel. A physical toggle switch on the base allows for quick switching between PS5, PS4, and PC modes.
The wheel base offers dual mounting options: a sturdy clamping system for desks or tables, and a set of suction cups. Reviewers generally recommend the clamp for stability, as the suction cups may struggle to keep the wheel secure under aggressive steering, especially since the base itself is relatively light.
The included pedal set is, arguably, the weakest link in the package. They are full-sized, but their lightweight, entirely plastic build, and the lack of a strong braking mechanism or decent resistance can make precise throttle and brake control challenging. This is a common trade-off in the entry-level market.
⚙️ Performance and Core Features
The HORI WRWA is designed as a direct replacement for a standard controller, meaning it lacks one of the most significant features of premium wheels: Force Feedback (FFB). Instead, it utilizes a bungee cord system for resistance and vibration feedback (rumble), which, while better than nothing, falls far short of the immersive realism offered by true FFB wheels. Serious sim racers looking for tire slip and road texture feedback should look elsewhere.
Steering and Rotation
The wheel offers a 270-degree turn-ratio, which can be switched on the fly to a 180-degree mode. This limited rotation is adequate for arcade racers like Need for Speed or even more casual-friendly sim-cades like Gran Turismo 7 and F1 24. However, it is a major limitation for serious simulation titles like iRacing or Assetto Corsa, which often require 900 or 1080 degrees of rotation for realistic car handling, especially in drifting or rallying.
The wheel does offer programmable features such as:
Adjustable Sensitivity/Linearity: Allows users to fine-tune how quickly the in-game steering responds to the physical wheel's movement.
Dead Zone Adjustment: Helps to negate any unwanted input from the center position.
This customization is a welcome addition, giving beginners a chance to optimize the wheel's feel to their preference.
Wireless Functionality
The wireless nature is a significant advantage. The easy setup via the included USB-A dongle and the long-lasting internal rechargeable battery (up to 15 hours promised) make for a clean, hassle-free racing setup. For gamers with a living room console setup where running a long, permanent cable is impractical, this is a major selling point that is often missing from much pricier competitors.
🎮 Compatibility and Target Audience
The HORI WRWA shines in its cross-platform compatibility, officially licensed for PS5, PS4, and Windows PC. For a player who owns multiple platforms or simply wants a plug-and-play experience, the versatility is excellent.
Who is this wheel for?
The Budget Buyer/First-Timer: If you are new to racing wheels and want to try the experience without spending a fortune on a Logitech G923 or Thrustmaster T248, the HORI WRWA is a solid, low-risk starting point.
Arcade and Casual Racers: For games where precise, realistic steering is less critical than general control (e.g., Need for Speed, Forza Horizon, or even casual sessions on GT7), this wheel performs admirably.
The Cable-Averse Gamer: The wireless feature is fantastic for clean setups or those who need to frequently put the wheel away.
Who is this wheel NOT for?
Serious Sim Racers: The lack of true Force Feedback and the limited 270-degree rotation are non-starters for the dedicated sim community playing games like iRacing or Assetto Corsa Competizione.
The Realism Enthusiast: The light, plastic pedals will disappoint users looking for a realistic brake feel.
✅ Pros and ❌ Cons Summary
| Pros (Kelebihan) | Cons (Kekurangan) |
| Wireless Connectivity: Excellent for a clean setup; up to 15 hours battery life. | No Force Feedback: Uses simple vibration and bungee resistance only. |
| Affordable Price: Excellent value for an officially licensed, multi-platform wheel. | Limited Rotation: Maxes out at 270 degrees, unsuitable for serious sim racing. |
| Multi-Platform: PS5, PS4, and PC compatibility. | Lightweight Pedals: All-plastic build lacks realistic resistance/feel. |
| Comfortable Grip: Rubberized grips feel good during use. | Overall Plasticky Feel: Build quality reflects the budget price point. |
| Easy Setup: Simple plug-and-play operation. |
🏁 Conclusion: A Highly Recommended Entry-Level Wireless Option
The HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex successfully achieves its goal of being an affordable, versatile, and—most importantly—wireless entry point into the racing wheel market.
It’s crucial to understand what you are buying: this is not a Force Feedback wheel for elite sim racing. It is a competent, feature-rich controller replacement that vastly improves the immersion over a standard gamepad for casual and arcade racing titles.
If your primary goal is to try out wheel racing on your PlayStation or PC, escape the cable mess, and you are willing to accept the trade-off of no FFB for a great price, the HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex is a highly recommendable product and a solid choice for the budget-minded racer.