The Logitech G PRO Direct Drive Racing wheel and PRO Load Cell Pedals have just launched. Bringing TrueForce and Direct Drive technology together to create a truly unique sim racing experience.
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Pros
- High-quality construction with a refined finish
- Suitable for cockpit installation or Table Mount with the included clamp
- Versatile wheel with an ergonomic design suited to many driving styles
- Excellent quick release with no flex
- On Board settings adjustment
- Very quiet operation
- Smooth and Dynamic Force Feedback with an analog feel
- TrueForce integration adds fantastic detail and immersion
Cons
- Buttons feel a little cheap
- Rotation limited to 1080° unlike other Direct Drive wheels
- Force Feedback could be much better with “Friction” and “Inertia” settings
- Only 1 wheel available at the moment
- D shape wheel is not ideal for drifting
- Button plate difficult to directly bolt 3rd party rims
- Large footprint that will obstruct view of low mounted screens
- Some inconsistency in TrueForce experience between different titles
Why is Direct Drive Important?
A Direct Drive wheelbase refers to the method in which the wheel is connected to the Force Feedback motor. As well as being significantly stronger than previous Logitech Racing wheels, the G Pro has some other benefits due to being a “Direct Drive” wheel base.
A belt or cog-driven wheelbase introduces more moving parts and gearing between the motor and wheel rim in order to find the right balance of speed and strength. These additional moving parts inevitably introduce some lash or play between the motor and wheel rim. This reduces the fidelity of the force feedback dramatically, creating a disconnect between the user and their simulator.
As a Direct Drive wheelbase eliminates these additional moving parts, you will get a much more detailed, smooth and quiet force feedback experience.
What are the benefits of Logitech TrueForce?
TrueForce Force Feedback uses a proprietary API to read telemetry and audio data at high frequency (1000Hz READ and processed onboard at 4000Hz) and low latency to produce more detailed force feedback effects. This is beyond the scope of what’s available through the old DirectInput API which has been around for 20 years. In the Logitech G Pro, TrueForce effects are communicated to the driver through the direct drive wheel. There are no additional vibration motors like in some competitor products.
With TrueForce in the Logitech G Pro, Game developers can translate extremely fine details into force feedback signals with the full strength of the 11Nm motor. Details like the changes in track surface as the track temperature changes or rubbers in, tyres wear, etc. This genuinely adds another layer of detail, information and immersion to your driving.
Key Features and Design
Direct Drive Motor
The big selling point of this wheelbase is the 11Nm direct drive motor. This is a very sensible amount of torque for a direct drive wheel base as it is a significant step up from the Fanatec CSL DD which can be a little weak for some users. The CSL DD and GT DD Pro offer 8Nm peak torque with the 180 boost kit. The MOZA R9 which we recently reviewed and were very impressed with has 9 Nm peak torque which has a very similar experience to the Fanatec bases. If you were then to jump up to something like a Fanatec DD1 with 15 Nm peak torque, a lot of people would say that is too strong if using the full dynamic range available. Even with my Simucube 2 Ultimate which can produce a ridiculous 32Nm of peak torque, i generally have that dialed down to the 10 to 15 Nm range with only the biggest impacts coming close to 15Nm.
Quick Release
Although we have no information on addition wheels, the Quick Release wheel system certainly implies we will see them at some time.
While the Logitech Quick Release looks a lot like the Fanatec Quick Release, it is actually far superior. It is a high quality and lightweight design which reduces rotating mass. Pogo pins on the wheel side mate with a floating assembly on the wheelbase side providing a very robust system with no chance of bent pins. There is no slop, play or flex in the quick release, making it one of the best quick release designs we have seen.
On Board Settings Menu
The ability to adjust settings from the wheel offers a huge advantage for console users. 3rd party adaptors generally don’t allow FFB setting to be changed. This has been a stand out feature of the compatible Fanatec wheel and base packages, it is great to see another manufacturer with this functionality.
For PC users, on-board settings changes are a welcome convenience to avoid minimizing your sim to make changes.
RGB LED Strip
The 10 RGB LED rev strip is one of the features which highlights the attention to detail and quality build of the Logitech G Pro series sim racing gear. While it is a basic feature found on a number of comparable units, these are well implemented and impressively refined. There is no light bleed between lights giving them a classy and refined look.
The LIGHTSYNC tab in the G Hub Software gives basic customization of the RGB LEDs with the ability to change colours and rev strip effect.
Mounting
Logitech G Pro wheel base is significantly bigger than a lot of the new generation direct drive wheel bases. As the table below shows, the Fanatec CSL DD and GT DD Pro have a significantly smaller footprint, and the MOZA R9 even smaller still! This is an important factor as it can make a big difference to how you are able to place your monitor. Having your monitor low and close to the wheel is a good way of adding immersion to your driving experience.
Logitech G Pro Dimension
: Width 305mm | Height – 200mm | Length – 290mm
Fanatec CSL DD and GT Pro Dimensions
: Width 160mm | Height – 160mm | Length – 145mm
MOZA R9 Dimensions
: Width 147mm | Height – 124mm | Length – 240mm
Although quite big the Logitech G Pro wheelbase mounts to a desk quite well. The included table clamp is surprisingly effective at securing the base to a tabletop. This is a viable option as long as your desk is solid. Mounting to a cockpit should be fairly straightforward however you may run into some issues with the support tabs on the front of the base making it difficult to line up the mounting holes of the wheelbase to those on your cockpit.
What it’s like to drive with the Logitech G Pro?
The Logitech G Pro Wheelbase provides a very detailed and smooth Force Feedback experience. It is a similar overall quality to that of the Fanatec CSL DD and MOZA Racing R9 wheelbases. The additional strength over those wheelbases is quite significant though, and does allow for a more dynamic experience.
We would definitely benefit from a friction and inertia control. While not a big issue, there is a slight lack in the feeling of connectedness to moving parts of the car and weightiness of turning the wheel.
With TRUEFORCE you really do get another layer of immersion and granular detail. While TRUEFORCE was a bit of a gimmick with the G923, it adds genuine value with the G Pro. The high sample rate enables a huge amount of detail of track surfaces and road textures. Ripple strips in particular feel much more detailed than I have experienced on any other wheelbase.
We had no issues getting the Logitech G Pro up and running in any sim titles. If ease of use is important to you than this is a big benefit. There was some inconsistency in the force feedback and TRUEFORCE between different sim titles. However, the easy to use software made it quite simple to dial each game in to provide a good experience.
Conclusions: Is the Logitech G Pro worth it’s price tag?
Tough call! The Logitech G Pro is significantly more expensive than the CSL DD and MOZA R9. Both of those have a smaller footprint, and a more established ecosystem with different wheels to choose from. The extra torque in the Logitech is significant but not absolutely necessary and its plug-and-play ease of use is superior.
For me, if Logitech had the abundance of choice when it comes to wheels that Fanatec has. I would choose this over the CSL DD/GT DD Pro. I really like what TRUEFORCE adds to the experience and the extra strength is nice.
Get 5% Off
All Logitech G Hardware
Get a 5% discount on all Logitech G computer equipment, including high-performance gaming keyboards, mice, cameras, headsets, and more! Use the coupon code ‘BOOSTED’ at checkout for your exclusive offer.
If Boosted Media Sim Racing Reviews have helped you decide which gear is best for you, support our work at no additional cost. Just use these links while getting 5% off with the exclusive discount code BOOSTED.
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August 10, 2023