Logitech Extreme 3D Pro review: A PC joystick for the masses

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 consists of 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 usually need to spend properly 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 searching for the finest PC controller for flight sims and house flight fight, however don’t have an enormous sum of money to spend on a HOTAS system, then that is the joystick for you.

Specs

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 gives a surprisingly safe footing on any giant and steady flat floor.

In the meantime, the stick itself feels properly planted, with solely a modest quantity of wobble in its middle 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 positive if a button had been triggered or not.

I additionally discovered the grip of the stick with be very comfortably contoured, with all of the controls falling into the suitable place and the resting platform for the aspect 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 aspect, although, as this may make the entire stick’s design a bit extra ambidextrous – you possibly can 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 stunning for the value. When you don’t get wherever 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 remains to be satisfyingly responsive in its middle, and has a a lot smoother transition from its middle to excessive angles than the Logitech X56 HOTAS. The throttle management additionally works properly 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, nonetheless, making it barely extra tiring to carry in place for lengthy durations – 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 manage rudder motion on plane, however I discovered this isn’t really as intuitive as utilizing a separate rudder management in most situations. As a substitute, it comes into its personal for house flight, the place you’re actually controlling all three axes of twist directly. In contrast to the Logitech X56 HOTAS, you don’t get onboard dials for permitting management of all thrust vectors as properly, so that you’ll must spend money on a second joystick if you’d like analog management of these inputs.

My solely actual gripe with the Logitech Excessive 3D Professional is the very primary software program. Logitech does present an app to program all of the buttons, however assist isn’t built-in into the corporate’s major gaming software program app, and the separate app clearly hasn’t been up to date in years. For such a serious peripherals producer, I anticipate extra up-to-date assist.

Value

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 provides 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 perfect 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 searching for an incredible joystick that received’t value over the percentages, then that is completely the stick to purchase proper now.

For those who’re searching for extra superior flight controls, and have some extra money to spend, then take a look at our information to the perfect PC joysticks, the place we cowl a spread of choices to swimsuit all budgets.