The HORI Racing Wheel Apex is one of the most popular ways onto a PlayStation racing wheel on a tight budget, and its appeal is easy to explain: it is officially licensed by Sony, works on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC, and plays Gran Turismo 7 out of the box. It is a full size wheel and pedal set at a price close to a premium controller. The catch, and the thing to understand before you buy, is that the Apex does not use motor driven force feedback.
This review covers what the Apex does well, where its lack of force feedback shows, and who should reach for a motorized wheel instead. We compared the manufacturer listing with recurring owner feedback, and you can read how we review. If you are new to the hobby, start with Getting Started.
At a glance
| Spec | HORI Racing Wheel Apex |
|---|---|
| Drive type | No force feedback (spring centered) |
| Rotation | 270 degrees, with adjustable output options |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC |
| Pedals in box | Included pedal set |
| Buttons | Full PlayStation button set, programmable |
| Software | HORI Device Manager, up to four custom profiles |
| Licensing | Officially licensed by Sony |
What the missing motor changes
The single most important fact about the Apex is that it centers with a spring rather than a motor. A force feedback wheel pushes back through the rim to tell you when the front tires are loading or sliding, and the Apex cannot do that. It gives you a wheel to hold, a spring that returns to center, and a wider, more natural range of motion than a thumbstick, but the road stays silent in your hands. For many PlayStation players moving up from a controller, that is still a large step forward in immersion and precision. For anyone who wants to learn to feel grip and correct a slide, it is the wrong tool, and the money is better spent on an entry force feedback wheel.
How it drives
Reviewers who race the Apex consistently describe it as a genuine upgrade over a gamepad and a clear ceiling below force feedback. The 270 degrees of rotation, with adjustable output options in the software, cover the sharp inputs of most console racers, though they fall well short of the 900 degrees a road car needs for full lock. Owners rate the wheel comfortable and responsive for casual and semi serious play in Gran Turismo 7, and they are candid that the pedals are light and the centering is vague at the middle. Read the Apex as a well built, officially licensed entry wheel, and it delivers. Ask it to communicate the car and it cannot.
Build, buttons, and software
At around seven pounds the Apex has more presence than the cheapest wheels, and it mounts with a sturdy clamp system that owners find stable on a desk. The button layout is a real strength: a full set of PlayStation controls gives you in game menu and function access without reaching for a pad, which matters in a game like Gran Turismo 7 with its deep interface. The HORI Device Manager app lets you update firmware, adjust settings, and save up to four custom profiles, so you can tune button mapping and steering response to different games. That level of configurability is unusual at this price.
Compatibility and how it fits the HORI line
The Apex is the PlayStation and PC member of the HORI wheel family, licensed by Sony and tuned for Gran Turismo 7, so PlayStation owners get clean compatibility without adapters. It is worth knowing that HORI also makes the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX, a motorized wheel built for Xbox, which is the wheel to consider if feel is your priority. The Apex and the DLX solve different problems: the Apex is the affordable, licensed PlayStation entry point, and the DLX is where HORI adds a motor. Our HORI Force Feedback DLX review covers that side.
Who should buy it, and who should skip it
| Buy the Apex if | Skip it if |
|---|---|
| You want an affordable, Sony licensed wheel for PS5 and Gran Turismo 7 | You want to feel the car through force feedback |
| You are stepping up from a controller and value lots of buttons | You are learning car control and want full rotation |
| You want configurable profiles at an entry price | You race on Xbox (look at the DLX or another wheel) |
How it scores
The WSR Score reflects verified buyer ratings gathered and normalized on a consistent scale, not an editorial rubric. You can read what goes into it on How We Review. On that basis the Apex rates well for a wheel at this price, backed by one of the deepest verified ownership records of any entry wheel we cover, which fits its reputation as a dependable first PlayStation wheel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the DP, LS, and RS modes on the HORI Racing Wheel Apex do?
The DP, LS, and RS switch sets what the wheel’s D-pad sends to the console or PC. Per HORI’s instruction manual, DP is a normal directional pad, LS makes it act as the left analog stick, and RS as the right analog stick. It is a button mapping aid, not a steering setting, since the wheel itself still turns 270 degrees. If a game or menu ignores the D-pad, try another position.
Alternatives worth a look
If you would rather feel the car from the start, our best budget wheels with force feedback guide covers the cheapest motorized options worth buying. If this is your first wheel, our best racing wheels for beginners guide frames the decision, and for the lowest price bracket see the best racing wheels under $150. For the full picture across every tier, start with our best sim racing wheels guide, and browse more options in belt and gear driven wheels.
