Whether Fanatec or Thrustmaster is the better racing wheel brand will ultimately come down to your personal tastes and budget. The definitive sim racing wheel for Xbox One and PC with hand-stitched leather and steel-constructed components. If you're on a tighter budget, fear not. The best racing wheels can be found across a wide variety of budget scopes, and we've endeavored to include both affordable and more premium setups. Still, it's worth thinking about the kinds of games you're going to play with a racing wheel. The best racing games that benefit most from a wheel setup are those with more realistic or sim-like elements. There’s a solution, but it’s not cheap. These wheels are actually part of a system – you can get other steering wheels and more advanced pedalboards, the T3PA and the fab T3PA Pro. There’s even a manual gearbox if you want a proper old-school driving feel.

The exterior of the steering wheel part itself is also all-plastic, without the metal parts that make these wheels seem a bit less toy-like. There's still sports car-like metal spoke shifters behind the wheel, though. Just looking at the Fanatec CSL Elite, you can tell it’s made by nerdy obsessives. After all, who else would choose that funky grey disco ball effect on the base? Not all will love the look, but at least it’s not super-shiny.Fanatec wheels are perfect if you're looking for a supremely accurate and immersive racing experience. Fanatec's options tend to be on the pricier side. But you'll usually get a lot of extra bells and whistles as a result. What is the best budget F1 racing wheel? First, the G29 is more affordable than the direct Thrustmaster alternatives, the T300 series wheels. The quality of the wheel itself is great too.There’s a metal core and leather stitched over the parts your hands grip.

It's worth noting that iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Snowrunner, Gran Turismo Sport, and Grid are the only games fully compatible with the G923 at the time of writing. Don't expect too many oldies to be added, since it requires more work from the developers. As a result, the Hori is also much lighter than any other wheel here. You’ll still need something to clamp it to, but this is the one wheel here that won’t seem hard done by if it’s not treated to a proper frame or wheel stand. Thrustmaster has a wider range of racing wheel options and its products are perfect if you're looking for an entry-level experience. That might mean you're getting a no-frills experience, but the brand makes some of the best and most accessible racing wheels on the market.If you're on a budget, then, we'd recommend either the Thrustmaster T150 or the Hori Overdrive wheel for Formula 1 and other racing sims. They're fantastic entry-level wheels that, unlike the Thrustmaster T300 RS, won't cost the earth.