The HORI Racing Wheel Apex is one of the most affordable entry points to wheel racing on PlayStation. Officially licensed by Sony for PS5 and PS4, it is built for the player who wants a basic wheel-and-pedal setup at a fraction of the price of a force-feedback unit. It uses non-force-feedback steering with a vibration motor, ships with a two-pedal floor set and supports a generous list of PlayStation racing titles. This HORI Racing Wheel Apex review covers what you get, what you do not, and whether the budget price makes sense in 2026.
HORI Racing Wheel Apex for Playstation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC - Officially Licensed by Sony - Compatible with Gran Turismo 7
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HORI Racing Wheel Apex at a Glance
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Force feedback | No true force feedback — rumble vibration motor only |
| Compatibility | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC (Windows) |
| Wheel diameter | 10.6 inches (270 mm) |
| Rotation degrees | 270 degrees (selectable rotation) |
| Pedals included | Two pedals: throttle and brake |
| Shifter included | No — paddle shifters only |
| Materials | Rubberised rim, ABS plastic chassis, metal paddles |
| Connection | USB to console or PC (no AC adapter required) |
| Approx price | around $129 |
Force Feedback and Feel
The most important thing to understand about the Apex is that it does not have true force feedback. Instead, it uses a built-in rumble motor that vibrates the wheel in response to in-game events — collisions, kerbs and engine load — but the wheel itself does not push back against your hands the way a real force-feedback system does. That means you will not feel the front tyres washing or weight transfer through the rim. What it does deliver is the geometry of a real wheel: you can take it from lock to lock the way you would in a real car, which is still meaningfully more engaging than a controller for most racing games. For a player coming from a controller, the difference is real, even without force feedback.
In Gran Turismo 7, this means the Apex works well for casual cruising and Sunday-driver missions but lacks the feel you would want for licence tests and seriously competitive online racing. In F1 24 and other modern racing games it is a similar story — the Apex is enough wheel to enjoy the games, but for time-trial chasing and league play, a force-feedback wheel is the right tool. Set against its price, that is a fair trade-off; the Apex is not pretending to be a sim wheel, and as an entry into wheel-based play it does its job. The internal spring centring is firm enough to be useful, and the rumble adds enough information that you feel kerbs and contact even if you do not feel the cornering load.
Compatibility and Platforms
The Apex is officially licensed by Sony for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and also works on Windows PC over USB. Supported games include Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, Assetto Corsa, WRC and many others, with HORI maintaining a published support list for the headline titles. It is plug-and-play on PS5 — no software or pairing — and works similarly on PC. Xbox owners cannot use this wheel; HORI’s equivalent for Xbox is the Racing Wheel Overdrive.
Pedals and Build Quality
The Apex’s two-pedal floor unit is light plastic, with throttle and brake — there is no clutch pedal. The pedals have a short travel and are linear in feel, with no progressive resistance. Build quality is consistent with the budget price: the rim is rubberised over a plastic frame, the spokes are plastic, and the chassis is ABS rather than the aluminium and leather you would see on more expensive wheels. The trade-off is that the whole package is light and easy to clamp to a desk for short sessions, and easy to pack away afterwards. Two locking clamps on the underside of the base hold it to a desk.
Software, Buttons and Controls
The Apex carries a full PS5 button layout — D-pad, face buttons, options, share, touch-pad area and PS button — so you can navigate the console without picking up a DualSense. Behind the rim sit two paddle shifters and a 270-degree rotation range that the wheel can scale to match each game. No PC software is required; the wheel registers as a generic HID input device under Windows and works straight out of the box. Selectable rotation lets you set 270, 180 or 90 degrees of travel for arcade titles.
What’s in the Box
The box includes the wheel with attached USB cable, the two-pedal floor unit and the desk-clamp hardware. There is no AC adapter to manage because the wheel draws power over USB. A printed quick-start guide is included.
Who It’s For
The Apex is for the budget-conscious PlayStation racer who wants the basic wheel-and-pedal experience without spending Logitech G29 money. If your priority is to play Gran Turismo 7 or F1 24 with a wheel and you do not yet know whether sim racing will become a long-term hobby, the Apex is a reasonable first step. It is also a sensible option for younger players or as a gift for casual racers. It is not for serious sim racers — the lack of true force feedback is a real ceiling, and anyone who already knows they want to race seriously should save for a G29 or G920.
Verdict
The HORI Racing Wheel Apex is exactly what it sets out to be: a low-cost, plug-and-play wheel for casual PlayStation racing. The lack of force feedback is significant and means it cannot be compared on feel terms with a G29, but the basic wheel-and-pedal geometry is still a real upgrade from a controller for casual play. At around $129 it sits well below the next tier of force-feedback wheels, and for buyers in that price band it makes sense. For PC racers looking for capable gaming hardware to pair with this wheel, see our best gaming laptops under $1,200 guide.
Within the budget tier, the Apex’s main rivals are the PXN V3 Pro and the SUBSONIC SV250, both of which target a similar price point. The Apex’s advantage is its explicit PlayStation 5 licensing and HORI’s published list of supported PS5 titles — that matters when you are buying for Gran Turismo 7 or F1 in particular. If your priority is multi-platform compatibility across PS, Xbox and Switch instead, the V3 Pro or SV250 may suit you better. For PlayStation-first casual racing, the Apex is the safer choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the HORI Racing Wheel Apex have force feedback?
No. It uses a rumble vibration motor rather than true force feedback, so the wheel does not resist your inputs the way a Logitech G29 or Thrustmaster T300 would. Vibration provides some feedback for collisions and kerbs.
Is the HORI Racing Wheel Apex officially licensed for PS5?
Yes. The Apex is officially licensed by Sony for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and works on PC over USB as well.
How many pedals does the HORI Apex come with?
Two — throttle and brake. There is no clutch pedal, and no shifter is included, so the wheel is best suited to paddle-shift and arcade-style racing.
Can you use the HORI Apex with Gran Turismo 7?
Yes. The Apex is supported in Gran Turismo 7 and is one of the most affordable wheels for that game, though the absence of force feedback is a noticeable limitation in GT7’s detailed driving model.
More Racing Wheel Reviews
- HORI Racing Wheel Overdrive Review: Budget Xbox Sim Wheel
- Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider Review: Entry Xbox Wheel
- Thrustmaster T300RS GT Review: Belt-Drive PS5 Sim Wheel
- Thrustmaster TMX Review: Belt-Drive Xbox Sim Wheel
- PXN V3 Pro Racing Wheel Review: Universal Budget Sim Wheel
- SUBSONIC Superdrive SV250 Review: Multi-Format Budget Wheel
- GTPLAYER Sim Racing Stand Review: Wheel Stand for Logitech, Thrustmaster, Fanatec
- Logitech G29 Driving Force Review: Sim Wheel for PS5/PS4/PC
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