Turtle Beach VelocityOne F-RX Formula Wheel
Summary
Turtle Beach is on track to create some householdname Sim Products, and I'm here for it. The sim racing landscape can always use more options, especially at the lower, more affordable price points. The F-RX Wheel itself is a better option for anyone who wants to focus on doing Formula-style racing. I just hope they expand into a more open, friendly ecosystem so others can mix their products in with their already existing setups.
When it comes to Sim Racing, it’s all about immersion, and a big part of that immersion can be achieved with a proper wheel based on the style of racing you participate in. Turtle Beach’s newest release, the VelocityOne KD3 Race Bundle, comes with a round and feature-filled racing wheel; as good as that layout can be, there’s always room for better immersion. Turtle Beach introduced their Formula Style wheel they deemed the VelocityOne F-RX Formula Wheel into their expanding ecosystem, but is it worth your money?
Now I was fairly impressed with the factory wheel that was included with the KD3 Race Bundle for the majority of my experience, but every once in a while I get the urge to do some Formula racing, and nothing goes better with F1 racing than a Formula-style layout wheel to add immersion and even give you some advantages. The F-RX wheel has the standard button layout similar to the included wheel, but with a slew of extra buttons and dials catered to help you in the majority of situations when Formula racing. Not only are there extra dials and buttons to map for several varying traction control maps and such, but also an extra set of Hall effect clutch paddles, which can be a large advantage over others who don’t have the option.
The buttons feel better than the original included wheel, in my opinion, with more of a tactile feel that gave me a more satisfying feeling where I wasn’t afraid of pushing and breaking anything. All the buttons being labeled is a great touch so you can track what button is what, but I do wish they included blank buttons with a sticker pack so you can adjust and fully customize the layout to your personal liking. The paddles feel identical with the same magnetic-assisted system; shifting felt just as good as the standard wheel and not as clicky and loud as some of the competitors, which I prefer personally. All the buttons minus the dials are RGB backlit and fairly bright, allowing you to color coordinate, which I know some people prefer as a way to remember button maps.
The F-RX build quality is made up of an aluminum chassis and rubber grips, giving a premium feel, especially for the considerably strong and competitive price point of $250. Now I know what you may be thinking: $250 for a steering wheel? Well yes, the Sim racing landscape when it comes to wheel prices is fairly high, but you are paying for a premium experience in the majority of cases. At $250, this is one of the cheaper wheels on the market in this formula style, albeit it’s a Turtle Beach exclusive peripheral with no mention of open-source ability. The F-RX is equipped with the same quick-release system as the included steering wheel on the KD3 Race Bundle, which is your typical NRG-style quick-release system allowing for easy swapability.
The weight of the F-RX is around 3 lbs., which offers a nice weighted feel when paired with the stronger feedback; it offers a more precise feel behind the wheel, especially with the smaller size of the F-RX. When swapping wheels, there’s a short, simple process to sync up the different steering wheels, and right away the Tuner app recognizes the switch and allows you to customize the wheel to your liking. At the top of the wheel is an included RPM meter with 10 lights that light up based on the RPM range experienced in your game. A small button feature that was overshadowed a bit was that there are little analog-style sticks on the wheel, which can be used to navigate the pit options in games without the need of a second controller or a mouse, which I found handy and useful.
My overall experience of the F-RX wheel was actually pretty enjoyable, but I just have a few concerns. Firstly, I placed the KD3 Race Bundle as a more beginner-friendly setup, and in most cases for those who may be new to sim racing, dishing out an additional $250 for another peripheral may not be in the cards, especially because of the initial $700 USD investment into the full setup at that rate. The wheel is priced at a fair price point but is only useful for someone who is already in the Turtle Beach ecosystem, where some companies push to make their products have some standalone abilities. My last concern is about the functional ecosystem as a whole: will Turtle Beach expand and continue to support older peripherals or just create another product to replace last year’s model? I feel as if you are someone who does enjoy Formula 1 or even GT-style racing and wants to get in on the fun. This package can be a strong competitive package for any entry-level or even some moderate enthusiast. I was genuinely impressed with Turtle Beach, so much so I still daily drive their VelocityOne Multi-Shifter over my more expensive ThrustMaster TH8A.
Turtle Beach is on track to create some householdname Sim Products, and I’m here for it. The sim racing landscape can always use more options, especially at the lower, more affordable price points. The F-RX Wheel itself is a better option for anyone who wants to focus on doing Formula-style racing. I just hope they expand into a more open, friendly ecosystem so others can mix their products in with their already existing setups.
Well Your at It, don’t Forget to check out my other Turtle Beach Racing Reviews, like the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 Bundle or the VelocityOne Multi-shift USB Shifter .
