When it comes to PC gaming peripherals, every company has tried their luck at a huge range of different input methods. Logitech has been making PC peripherals, starting with mice, since 1982 when they debuted the P4. In the years since they have become a global superpower, producing anything and everything to do with technology. This includes the subject of this article, force-feedback racing wheels. Today we’re pitting the Logitech G29 vs G920. Whether you’re looking for a wheel to clamp onto your desk, or one to complete a balls-to-the-wall racing simulator setup, a good force feedback wheel is essential. So, Logitech G29 vs G920, let’s see what differences really are.
Let’s have a brief rundown of the contenders, first up is the G290, coming in at a slightly lower price, it represents the potential for a good value for money proposition and is feature-rich. Its older brother, the G29 costs around $80 more, which is confusing given the sheer similarity of these products.
So, here’s the kicker, the only difference present between the G29 and the G920 is the platform compatibility. the G29 is compatible with PS5, PS4, PS3, and PC, whereas the G920 is for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. That’s it, folks. While they may differ in minor, superficial ways. The only difference that matters is the platform you intend to use it on. If you’re PC only, you might prefer the G29 for the small number of additional buttons and the LEDs that flicker at the optimal time to shift gears.
Logitech G29 vs G920 – the features
Now we’ve put that confusing issue to rest, let’s get to the meat of this article. This is the section you’ll need to read to understand why these wheels are excellent for those of you who want to increase your immersion in your racing game of choice. Don’t worry, we’ll have a list of compatible titles for you at the end of this article too.
The force feedback
One of the more impressive features of gaming wheels these days is the motor-driven force feedback. These wheels utilize dual helical gears, each with an individual motor, this provided double the amount of force transferred to the wheel. This allows you to feel minute levels of detail, such as surface changes, bumps, and collisions. This both increases difficulty and immersion, don’t worry, however, as you can dial the intensity up or down to better suit your preferences.
Additionally, the G29 and G920 feature anti-backlash technology, this helps mitigate huge impacts and keeps the pedals and wheel moving smoothly so you won’t be thrown out of the virtual car as you fly around the track.
900-degrees of freedom
Anyone who has used a cheaper racing wheel has experienced the frustrating lack of realism. Realism is one of the primary reasons to purchase a wheel and break free of the keyboard or controller. less-premium wheels tend to only be able to rotate ~90-degrees either way, this is particularly irritating for anyone with any level of knowledge of real cars. The G29 and G920 reject this limitation in favor of a full 900-degrees of free rotation. This means the wheel can be turned two and half times in either direction, this mirrors that of a real car’s wheel motion. Trust us, it’ll be impossible to go back to the aforementioned cheaper wheels once you’ve had a go with one of these.
Additionally, both of these wheels feature a colored stripe at the centerline, this gives a visual indicator to you, communicating how far away from centered the wheel is. This is particularly important given the 900-degrees of freedom you are afforded by these wheels.
The wheel-mounted controls
Unfortunately, reality must be accounted for, so you’ll need to actually have the ability to navigate through menus and change settings between races, or long-haul truck journeys. Both of these wheels feature a full complement of platform-specific controls right on the wheel, eliminating the necessity of grabbing a keyboard and mouse. This is invaluable as it means you can fully concentrate on driving, without having to have the immersion ruined by clumsily grasping for other input devices.
The pedals
In pursuit of the all-important realism, Logitech has outfitted the G29 and the G920 with a pressure-sensitive, non-linear brake pedal. In laymen’s terms, this helps the pedal more accurately replicate that of a real car by increasing the pressure needed to press it as it gets further down. The further down the pedal is, the harder it gets to press it further. This mirrors the hydraulic nature of actual braking systems, and it produces impressively realistic results.
Additionally, if you’re a fan of motorsport, the brake pedal can be repositioned closer to the gas. This allows you to utilize the pro method of heel-toe shifting, allowing you to more closely match the revs as you shift, making for better gear changes in the curves. Also, the pedal base has thick rubberized feet to prevent slippage on hard floors, and extendable carpet-specific feet to produce the same level of grip on softer surfaces.
The optional shifter
For those of you who are either used to a manual transmission or want to experience more than automatic Tiptronic paddle shifting, you can additionally purchase the Driver Force Shifter. This seamlessly integrates next to the G29 or G920 to expand your input opportunity and produce some top-tier realism and depending on what side of the Atlantic you’re on, some additional performance benefits too.
Logitech G29 vs G920 – Final verdict
After establishing the platform-specific difference between these two wheels, we’ve given you a brief overview of the features, specs, and realism capabilities of the G29 and G920. We’d highly recommend them if you want to take your driving games to the next level. Just make sure you buy the right one, otherwise end up disqualifying yourself before the race has even begun.
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