The Thrustmaster T248 racing wheel is available now for Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, having been previously released for PlayStation in November 2021.
Thrustmaster has priced the T248 at £299.99 (Both the Xbox/PC and PlayStation/PC version), pricing it between entry-level and intermediate sim racing wheel and pedal sets. But for the extra money, you'll get a lot of cool new features that are worth the additional outlay. The T248 features a full dashboard display, dynamic force feedback controls, 25 'action buttons' which offer loads of customisation, magnetic paddle shifters, a magnetic pedal set and most importantly, Thrustmaster's Hybrid Drive system.
Thrustmaster claims that their Hybrid Drive system, which features a mixed belt and gear mechanism, delivers up to 70% more powerful force feedback compared with previous TMX models. This technology is interesting because most entry-level/intermediate racing wheels feature either belt or gear mechanism to produce their force feedback, not both.
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And the results are impressive, with the wheel producing not just more powerful force feedback than other wheels at this price point, but more detailed force feedback too, giving you an edge in traction zones and sideways moments. It's nowhere near as powerful or as detailed as direct drive wheels, but these advanced wheels are priced much higher. You can also customise the force feedback to suit your preferences or the game you're playing, with three preset modes included.
The superb T3PM pedal set is also included, which features Thrustmaster's proprietary H.E.A.R.T magnetic technology, providing 12-bit thousandth-of-a-second braking precision, which really improves the immersion and racing experience. You also get four different spring configurations, which can be used to optimise performance for different setups. The magnetic paddle shifters feature similar technology, giving you snappy gear changes that feel very satisfying.
The wheel itself, which is wrapped in leather and designed to be suited to all racing disciplines, features a really cool interactive race dashboard that also serves as a menu, allowing you to change settings quickly and easily. It also acts as a rev counter, gear indicator and a speedometer when in-game, which is a really nice touch.
Thrustmaster's T248 doesn't look or have the same quality feel as the Logitech G923, its nearest competitor, but all the additional features more than make for that slight shortcoming, and who looks at their wheel when racing, right?
Although there are many cheaper racing wheels out there, and even ones that look better to the eye, the T248's Hybrid Drive technology helps it surge past the competition. The Thrustmaster T248 is one of the best entry-level/intermediate racing wheels on the market right now, both in terms of performance and additional unique features.
You can get the Thrustmaster T248 Xbox version from Amazon and others, with the Thrustmaster T248 PlayStation version available at Argos, Ebuyer and others.
Get ready to master each track with the new T248: Thrustmaster's next-generation hybrid drive wheel, officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Compatible with PC. Xbox version available on March 15th 2022, PlayStation version is out now.
