Our Verdict
A surprisingly low worth, succesful efficiency, and an honest function set makes the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional a standout discount. For those who’re a flight sim participant in search of a top quality joystick on a good funds, then they do not get higher than this proper now.
- Nice construct high quality
- Extremely low worth
- Stable motion and sensitivity
- Throttle management
- Fundamental software program
- No separate rudder management
- No HOTAS
It’s astonishing simply how low the value of succesful joysticks can drop. The Logitech Excessive 3D Professional prices simply $34.99 at its MSRP, but it contains three-axis stick management, a throttle management, and 12 programmable buttons, together with an eight-way HAT swap. The flight stick market sits in stark distinction to racing wheels, the place you typically need to spend effectively over $150 to get even a satisfactory expertise.
However again to the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional, this joystick doesn’t simply impress with the sheer variety of options for the cash, however with its construct high quality too. For those who’re in search of the best PC controller for flight sims and house flight fight, however don’t have an enormous amount of cash to spend on a HOTAS system, then that is the joystick for you.
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Specs
| Axes | 3 |
| HAT swap | 8-way |
| Throttle management | Sure |
| HOTAS | No |
| Buttons | 12 |
| Rudder management | Twist stick |
Design
Whereas the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional is all created from plastic, it’s actually weighty and well-built. All of it feels stable sufficient to outlive loads of years of gaming abuse, in addition to tumbles onto the ground. The bottom additionally has a plentiful 200 x 200mm footprint, which offers a surprisingly safe footing on any giant and steady flat floor.
In the meantime, the stick itself feels effectively planted, with solely a modest quantity of wobble in its heart earlier than every axis’ resistance is engaged. The buttons aren’t absolutely the crispest and most satisfying ones to press that I’ve examined, however they’re nonetheless good for the cash – there have been no events the place I wasn’t certain if a button had been triggered or not.
I additionally discovered the grip of the follow be very comfortably contoured, with all of the controls falling into the fitting place and the resting platform for the facet of my hand serving to to take the pressure off my arm. It’s a little bit of a disgrace Logitech didn’t simply lengthen that platform spherical to the opposite facet, although, as this may make the entire stick’s design a bit extra ambidextrous – you’ll be able to in any other case nearly get away with utilizing the stick along with your left hand.
Efficiency
It’s the motion and sensitivity of this joystick that’s most shocking for the value. Whilst you don’t get anyplace close to the accuracy and smoothness of top-end sticks, such because the CH Merchandise Flightstick Professional or Thrustmaster Warthog, the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional continues to be satisfyingly responsive in its heart, and has a a lot smoother transition from its heart to excessive angles than the Logitech X56 HOTAS. The throttle management additionally works effectively and easily. For simply $39.99, this joystick is astonishingly achieved.
The stick motion of the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional is a bit of stiffer than the likes of the CH Merchandise Flightstick Professional, nevertheless, making it barely extra tiring to carry in place for lengthy intervals – particularly when you’re additionally twisting the stick on the similar time – though it’s nonetheless manageable.
In the meantime, the twisting stick motion permits it to regulate rudder motion on plane, however I discovered this isn’t truly as intuitive as utilizing a separate rudder management in most cases. As a substitute, it comes into its personal for house flight, the place you’re really controlling all three axes of twist without delay. Not like the Logitech X56 HOTAS, you don’t get onboard dials for permitting management of all thrust vectors as effectively, so that you’ll have to spend money on a second joystick if you need analog management of these inputs.
My solely actual gripe with the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional is the very fundamental software program. Logitech does present an app to program all of the buttons, however assist isn’t built-in into the corporate’s essential gaming software program app, and the separate app clearly hasn’t been up to date in years. For such a significant peripherals producer, I count on extra up-to-date assist.
Worth
The Logitech Excessive 3D Professional worth is $34.99 at MSRP, making it an absolute steal for the options and high quality on supply. For those who don’t want the superior options that include costlier flight sticks, and simply desire a stable joystick, this stick presents tremendously good worth.
Verdict
Don’t let the low worth of the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional put you off. Whereas its stick motion can’t compete with the most effective joysticks on the market, it’s surprisingly succesful and places a number of costlier fashions to disgrace. With true 3D management, loads of buttons, and throttle management, it covers all of the necessities for getting began in most terrestrial and house flight sims. For those who’re in search of a fantastic joystick that received’t price over the chances, then that is completely the stick to purchase proper now.
For those who’re in search of extra superior flight controls, and have some extra money to spend, then try our information to the best PC joysticks, the place we cowl a spread of choices to go well with all budgets.
