In this highly competitive sim racing landscape using a joystick or a crappy steering wheel is no longer an option.
You really need a proper wheel and pedals set if you want to race and compete at the highest levels of online sim racing.
But with so many racing wheels on the market, which one should you actually buy?
In this Hori wheel review, we’ll help you take a step closer towards that decision.
What is the Hori Apex Wheel good at?
The Hori wheel is a very affordable steering wheel that offers features usually found in more expensive wheels such as the Fanatec and Thrustmaster ones.
For example, it has programmable buttons, sequential paddle shifters and a maximum rotation angle of 270°, which gives you more precision, consistency and control when pushing the car to the absolute limit.
Moreover, it also offers a pretty decent force feedback which is both responsive and accurate, thus allowing you to control the car better and improve your lap times.
It also has got a pair of sequential paddle shifters which guarantee smooth upshifting and downshifting, exactly as you would have in a real GT3 car.
In addition, the Hori comes with a 2-pedals set made out of hard plastic which will allow you to brake really hard and progressively trail the brakes into the corner.
Unfortunately though the pedals aren’t really adjustable, so it may be tricky to find the optimal driving position.
What is the Hori Apex wheel not so good at?
Although the Hori has got tons of great features, there are a couple of drawbacks that you should be aware of.
First of all, the look and feel of the Hori isn’t quite as professional and realistic as an F1 steering replica like for instance most Fanatec wheels.
For that reason it looks more like a GT3 wheel than an actual F1 steering wheel.
In addition to that, the force feedback is nowhere near as precise and aggressive as other Fanatec wheels and so you may not feel the steering as “heavy” as in real life racing.
Moreover this wheel is only compatible with PC and Xbox therefore you won’t really be able to run it on any Playstation console.
Other than that, it should be clear to you by now that the Hori Apex is actually a pretty good choice for anyone looking for an awesome wheel at an affordable price.
But don’t just take our word for it, let’s now get in depth with our review of the Hori Apex wheel!
Does the Hori Apex come with a wheel base?
Yes, it does, and that’s really great considering that most steering wheels require it to be purchased separately, like the Fanatec wheels for instance.
In case you were also wondering, the wheel is not really detachable from the wheel base and so you’ll have to store it all together in case you decided to take it with you while travelling.
What about its Force feedback (FFB)?
The Hori Apex comes with a pretty simple, yet effective force feedback which will make you feel every bumb and kerb on the track.
This will substantially increase your driving precision and ability to race on track even when things get tough, for example in extreme wet conditions.
Is the Hori good for beginners?
Yes, the Hori is actually a really good wheel for total beginners.
In just a few laps you’ll be able to start feeling the grip from the car and begin setting personal best lap times in your favourite race tracks.
That is really crucial since not everyone is a pro driver and finding the complete confidence to push the limits of the car further and further each lap isn’t exactly an easy task to do.
What games are compatible with the Hori Apex?
The Hori wheel is compatible with most PC and Xbox racing games including iRacing, Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5.
Some of the games compatible with the Hori Apex are:
- iRacing
- Assetto Corsa
- Assetto Corsa Competizione
- Forza Horizon 5
- rFactor 2
- RaceRoom
- Nascar Heat 5
- WRC 9/ WRC 10
- and many more…
As you can see there are plenty of options to choose from and you’re definetely not going to get bored anytime soon.
Is the Hori wheel easy to set up?
Yes, the Hori wheel is actually pretty straightforward to setup as it doesn’t require any special drivers or software to install.
You just need to connect it to your PC or Xbox via USB and you’re ready to race.
What’s included in the box?
The Hori comes with:
- Hori steering wheel
- Integrated Wheelbase
- Integrated Paddle shifters
- Set of 2-pedals (Throttle & Brake)
- USB cables
- instruction booklet
Can I use the Hori Apex on PS4 and PS5?
No, unfortunately the Hori is only compatible with Xbox and Windows PCs with an OS of Windows 10 and above.
Does the Hori Apex work on PC and Laptop?
Yes, the Hori works both on PC and Laptop with an operating system of Windows 10 and above.
However, we highly recommend avoid running it on laptop since it most of the time won’t have the right graphics card and CPU making the whole experience quite laggy and unpleasent.
What are people saying about the Hori Apex wheel ?
After doing some online research and analysis we’ve found that the general consensus for the Hori is quite positive despite some negative comments referring to the fact that it’s too basic and that feels cheap.
Apart from that, the most common comment was that the wheel allows you to realistically feel the grip of the car which is really key for any sim racing wheel, despite having a not so aggressive and realistic FFB, which pro sim racers like to have.
And also its extremely affordable 100$ price makes it quite affordable for anyone that’s looking to get into sim racing without breaking the bank.
Will the Hori wheel make me faster?
We can’t guarantee that by 100% but it will surely help you improve your driving skills thanks to its paddle shifters and force feedback.
You can check dozens of raving reviews online from people that have actually bought the Hori wheel and now have improved their lap times by quite a chunk.
How much does the Hori Apex cost?
The Hori wheel is currently being sold at around 100 dollars, which makes it a pretty incredible bargain considering that it comes with a wheelbase and a 2 pedals set.
It’s actually incredibly affordable compared to other Fanatec wheels selling between 750$ to 1,800$, so this is definitely something you should keep in mind if you’re trying to spend as little as possible.
Where can I get the Hori Apex?
You can get the Hori wheel on Amazon and we actually encourage you to check its current prices and latest reviews here.
By the way, you can also purchase it at GameStop, BestBuy, Walmart and other similar retailers.
Bottom line: Is the Hori Apex worth it?
So, is the Hori really worth buying?
The answer is definitely yes if you’re planning to take your sim racing skills to a whole new level and its ridiculously affordable price make it one of the cheapest on the market.
The Hori wheel is definitely a pretty good steering wheel that comes with features that are usually only found in more expensive models.
It’s perfect for anyone looking for a realistic driving experience, from beginners to more experienced sim drivers.
Having said that, we highly recommend having a look at its Amazon Reviews to make your final decisions! 🙂