Great review! Happy with my switch from Fanatec. While first Fanatec felt premium versus a toy like Thrustmaster, the same thing happened when going to Simagic.
Just for everyones infromation. The gt neo now has a v2 varaition with some changes. A bit better frips. More sturdy in towards the side of the connecting points newr the grips for it to be stronger. Little led changes and some other things. So yes we have a new v2 model. Imo its no1 for best budget wheel and no2 is the mclaren wheel from fanatec. So yeah they actually fixed some of the areas lacking like you said about the grips. They still feel very similiar but wont wear as easily.
@Max__apex the led changes are around the rotary knobs on the front. The grips are very similiar in feel not harder. Thank god bevause if it was harder it would be worse. I feel they are already almost to hard for me. Im used to very very soft grips. But the texture is very nice on the new one. It feels good all improvements have been made great. Its improved the sturdiness of the wheel also they updated that little piece in the middle on the sides towards the grips. I guess to make it stronger there? Idk but yeah all good
Great review Laurence. I have been loving mine for 8 months now on the alpha u. It sees regular use and I have found it is also baby proof as my 1 year old spends lots of time using it with me. She loves the bright colors and the clickiness of all the buttons and knobs as we take casual drives through the country side in AC. Not sure that you mentioned it. I think it was the later firmware allows two of the front rotary knobs to become positional and show a different color led in the position selected. Also thank you for the book. I love it and will be using it with the baby and the older teenage kids as it contains great information. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Keep up the great work.
I've been MIA for awhile and saw this vid.... I gotta say I'm disappointed. Not in you. You're excellent as always. But 20k subscribers?! You should be at 200k at least. I'm very surprised. You keep going and you'll get there man. Can't believe you're not already there. Keep going Laurence! Much love and Merry Christmas ❤
What a great review, Laurence. Nice one, mate. I agree with everything you said. I have not seen extraordinary grip wear, but I use the wheel a fraction of the time you do.
I've had mine about a year now and it's still my favorite wheel. It worked flawlessly on the Fanatec Clubsport DD with maglink and a Leoxz QR2 (no podium hub needed) and now it's on my Alpha U base. I don't have a problem with the grips on any of my equipment looking worn. I'm not that obsessed with everything I have looking brand new. My problem with the Neo grips is they feel like they're made of stone. There's zero cushion and I get blisters with or without gloves on enduro races. I see that they are held on with screws. Simagic or a 3rd party should make some alternative/replacement grips for the wheel. It's my only gripe. Everything else is perfect.
I really like this wheel for ACC and LMU. I replaced the plastic encoder knobs and funky switches with aluminum ones. I also replaced the paddles with forged carbon plastic or whatever, basically it matches the wheel. Just cosmetic stuff but makes the wheel feel even more premium.
Absolutely love mine, have it about 5 months now. Everything on it feels solid and good quality. If the Neo X hub is anywhere near the quality to price ratio, I'll probably go down that route for a round wheel.
The Moza KS competes from a functionality point of view. The moza GS competes. Fanatec’s new Porsche rim is a big step up from previous rims in that range.
@@LaurenceDusoswaTo be hones i used Moza KS 6months with Moza R12 Wheelbase and after upgrade to GT neo the moza ks wheel felt like a toy while holding it and my moza wheel costed 80eur more then the GT neo. 1 Question: to use GT Neo with the moza wheelbase i had to buy the Moza quick release but i still dont know why because the simagic quick release seem to work with moza wheelbase as well? Or am i wrong? thanks! 🙋🏽♂️
Hey Laurence. Thanks for the review. There are a couple of other alternatives to getting a wheel matched to another manufacturer's base: Logitech have their version which enables the G Pro base to be used with any wheel, and there is a product called DriveHub which allows wheelbases and peripherals of all types to be mixed. I have a DH, and bought it to 'unlock' the full 11nm of the Logitech G Pro in GT7 (which it does), but this device will allow me to use, for instance) a Fanatec H-shifter or handbrake, etc etc.
Iirc there was a firmware update to allow you to assist bite point with a button combination. There's also another update to change the face encoders from direction switch to absolute position
@@LaurenceDusoswa While pulling one of the clutch paddles fully use the right thumb rotary to adjust the bite point. Saw on the simagic discord and it worked for me.
Nice review. I hope simagic will make a f1 equivalent of the neo one day. Call it the f1 or fx neo. Basically nearly the same as gt neo but 3 cm narrower and formula handles.
I have a use case for six paddles; I'm a paraplegic sim racer and I manage throttle and brake with my left hand, the latter using a Simagic TB-RS so my left hand is off the wheel when braking. Unless I come up with a decent way to add a downshift button on the brake (like Alex Zanardi uses) I have up and down shifting on my right. Good review though and it clarified that I should probably go with the Asetek Forte for a GT wheel - especially as I have an Asetek base (and Forte button box / round wheel).
You said its made out of plastic but the core centre part is made out of carbon composite. Which is still a legit racing material, for example it is used to make Valentino Rossi's BMW M4 GT3 wheel etc. Thanks for the long term review, i hope they change the grips to real leather but that probably wont happen. No idea on roughly when the change will happen to the third version of grips?
i been using this wheel with lots of endurance races on it. the only problem is the grips that wear out fast with or without gloves. i have it wrapped with badminton grips now lol
@@usleadershipareliars there is another way btw, altough smelly and a bit so so, but overall thicker. over the length of tire tube you cut it in half and you get the same thing just thicker. thats what we used for ice climbing tools.
349€ is a click bait price… especially for europe. With shipping taxes and stuff it’s more like 450 . If you want the wheel on a non simagic base it’s more like 550€. And to be honest it’s sold out everywhere since weeks now
Ohhh that’s a tough one… I prefer the GS buttons… I like the real carbon fiber on the GS. But yeah I think pretty much everything else is better on the GT NEO.
You mean the S is for Sim Racing book? New stock arrived so all outstanding orders will be fulfilled this week. Just so everything is in order, can you give me your order number please?
I doubt it cause if they want the license to make it compatible without a adapter on Xbox n Ps5 the price will increase and tat probably why Fanatec is expensive
350€ maybe last summer and only for simagic bases …, for e.g. fanatec its 500€. Its an ok wheel, not more And come on… the buttons are premium ?really ? You are kidding Sorry man , Too many hype, to less realistic informations
I bought one of these wheels on launch date and it's amazing and still is that good.
No issues whatsoever.
Thank you, Sim magic,
Great review! Happy with my switch from Fanatec. While first Fanatec felt premium versus a toy like Thrustmaster, the same thing happened when going to Simagic.
Just for everyones infromation. The gt neo now has a v2 varaition with some changes. A bit better frips. More sturdy in towards the side of the connecting points newr the grips for it to be stronger. Little led changes and some other things. So yes we have a new v2 model.
Imo its no1 for best budget wheel and no2 is the mclaren wheel from fanatec.
So yeah they actually fixed some of the areas lacking like you said about the grips. They still feel very similiar but wont wear as easily.
1. How are the led lights different ?
2. Are the new grips softer or harder ?
Are they silicone like original ones ?
@Max__apex they arent harder they feel very very similiar.
@Max__apex the led changes are around the rotary knobs on the front. The grips are very similiar in feel not harder. Thank god bevause if it was harder it would be worse. I feel they are already almost to hard for me. Im used to very very soft grips. But the texture is very nice on the new one. It feels good all improvements have been made great. Its improved the sturdiness of the wheel also they updated that little piece in the middle on the sides towards the grips. I guess to make it stronger there? Idk but yeah all good
@@reviewforthetube6485 mine have some white marks on the grips will they replace under warranty ?? White Marks or not a lot
@Max__apex if they don't replace it, you can hit me up and I may just send you my extra gt neo 😉.
Just in time! Gives me more reassurance that my purchase this holiday was well worth it!
Great review Laurence. I have been loving mine for 8 months now on the alpha u. It sees regular use and I have found it is also baby proof as my 1 year old spends lots of time using it with me. She loves the bright colors and the clickiness of all the buttons and knobs as we take casual drives through the country side in AC.
Not sure that you mentioned it. I think it was the later firmware allows two of the front rotary knobs to become positional and show a different color led in the position selected.
Also thank you for the book. I love it and will be using it with the baby and the older teenage kids as it contains great information.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Keep up the great work.
I've been MIA for awhile and saw this vid.... I gotta say I'm disappointed. Not in you. You're excellent as always. But 20k subscribers?! You should be at 200k at least. I'm very surprised. You keep going and you'll get there man. Can't believe you're not already there. Keep going Laurence! Much love and Merry Christmas ❤
What a great review, Laurence. Nice one, mate. I agree with everything you said. I have not seen extraordinary grip wear, but I use the wheel a fraction of the time you do.
Nice. Happiness is the main measure of any product. Glad you’re having a similar experience to me
I've had mine about a year now and it's still my favorite wheel. It worked flawlessly on the Fanatec Clubsport DD with maglink and a Leoxz QR2 (no podium hub needed) and now it's on my Alpha U base. I don't have a problem with the grips on any of my equipment looking worn. I'm not that obsessed with everything I have looking brand new. My problem with the Neo grips is they feel like they're made of stone. There's zero cushion and I get blisters with or without gloves on enduro races. I see that they are held on with screws. Simagic or a 3rd party should make some alternative/replacement grips for the wheel. It's my only gripe. Everything else is perfect.
Great review Laurence! - Loved to see the DNR profile getting a run out, that Gulf theme is HOT
Yeah I floated between gulf and my custom theme. Thanks for all that you do!
@ 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I really like this wheel for ACC and LMU. I replaced the plastic encoder knobs and funky switches with aluminum ones. I also replaced the paddles with forged carbon plastic or whatever, basically it matches the wheel. Just cosmetic stuff but makes the wheel feel even more premium.
Absolutely love mine, have it about 5 months now. Everything on it feels solid and good quality. If the Neo X hub is anywhere near the quality to price ratio, I'll probably go down that route for a round wheel.
Agreed. I’m hoping the new range follows this trend of exceptional value.
Glad you could get this review done❤
About time 😂😂😂 sorry it took so long!
The community deserves to have an other brands compete with the GT Neo. Sim racing is not cheap. No one needs another 1500 wheel drop in the market.
The Moza KS competes from a functionality point of view. The moza GS competes. Fanatec’s new Porsche rim is a big step up from previous rims in that range.
It either Simagic and MOZA if u want ur first direct drive and affordable pricing
@@TkoddaLee fanatec too, but i see why people have gripes with them
@@LaurenceDusoswaTo be hones i used Moza KS 6months with Moza R12 Wheelbase and after upgrade to GT neo the moza ks wheel felt like a toy while holding it and my moza wheel costed 80eur more then the GT neo.
1 Question: to use GT Neo with the moza wheelbase i had to buy the Moza quick release but i still dont know why because the simagic quick release seem to work with moza wheelbase as well? Or am i wrong? thanks! 🙋🏽♂️
The Simagic QR will fit moza just fine. It just won’t connect ‘wirelessly’
I have the newer one and holy moly is it INCREDIBLE
NICE! I kinda wish I had the newer one now 😂😂😂
Nice review! Can you replace the grips?
Hey Laurence. Thanks for the review. There are a couple of other alternatives to getting a wheel matched to another manufacturer's base: Logitech have their version which enables the G Pro base to be used with any wheel, and there is a product called DriveHub which allows wheelbases and peripherals of all types to be mixed.
I have a DH, and bought it to 'unlock' the full 11nm of the Logitech G Pro in GT7 (which it does), but this device will allow me to use, for instance) a Fanatec H-shifter or handbrake, etc etc.
Iirc there was a firmware update to allow you to assist bite point with a button combination. There's also another update to change the face encoders from direction switch to absolute position
Oh I must have missed that! Can you confirm? Is this in any change notes or are there any instructions?
@@LaurenceDusoswa While pulling one of the clutch paddles fully use the right thumb rotary to adjust the bite point. Saw on the simagic discord and it worked for me.
Nice review. I hope simagic will make a f1 equivalent of the neo one day. Call it the f1 or fx neo. Basically nearly the same as gt neo but 3 cm narrower and formula handles.
Wow, it's crazy to think that you've had that wheel for a year 😮
I’ve had it a bit less than that, to be fair. But they announced it a year ago
Hmm, I got mine in late August and it appears to be the newer version. It's been perfect for the price, and the grips are just like day 1 still.
Oh amazing!!! Glad to hear that. It’s definitely great for the price
I have a use case for six paddles; I'm a paraplegic sim racer and I manage throttle and brake with my left hand, the latter using a Simagic TB-RS so my left hand is off the wheel when braking. Unless I come up with a decent way to add a downshift button on the brake (like Alex Zanardi uses) I have up and down shifting on my right. Good review though and it clarified that I should probably go with the Asetek Forte for a GT wheel - especially as I have an Asetek base (and Forte button box / round wheel).
You said its made out of plastic but the core centre part is made out of carbon composite. Which is still a legit racing material, for example it is used to make Valentino Rossi's BMW M4 GT3 wheel etc.
Thanks for the long term review, i hope they change the grips to real leather but that probably wont happen. No idea on roughly when the change will happen to the third version of grips?
This is brilliant, but I like the GT4 much more. For 389 CAD, the GT4 is an absolute steal given the quality of the paddles, buttons and knobs.
Dumb question will it take a FANATEC QR2
i been using this wheel with lots of endurance races on it. the only problem is the grips that wear out fast with or without gloves. i have it wrapped with badminton grips now lol
i hope this is where the sim racing stuff goes bc i would love to use that wheel on my pxn v12 light
Is it possible to buy a quick release for that base that will fit the GT NEO?
@LaurenceDusoswa I think so but not 100% I just got mine like 3 weeks ago and have not had extra money to try lol
I have rhis wheel and asetek la prima, Vers easy to hide the cable in the qr, juste 4 soldering and a php2 connecter, or buy asetec qr from srm
Doesn’t sound easy 🤷♂️
this wheel is unbeatable at this price range makes the gt4 rim practically obsolete
I read that I shouldn't use my Simagic GT Neo wheel while wearing gloves. Is that true?
Tennis racket grip tape will fix the grips, I use em on the Forte wheel
I have them on my V1 Neo. Definitely an improvement.
for the thickness or for the wear?
@@P3ktoRis both
@@usleadershipareliars there is another way btw, altough smelly and a bit so so, but overall thicker. over the length of tire tube you cut it in half and you get the same thing just thicker. thats what we used for ice climbing tools.
@P3ktoRis it makes sense.
Where do you guys buy it for 350? i see it everywhere for 450-500 euro
349€ is a click bait price… especially for europe. With shipping taxes and stuff it’s more like 450 . If you want the wheel on a non simagic base it’s more like 550€.
And to be honest it’s sold out everywhere since weeks now
I show an EU dealer’s website with the EU price in the video. It’s in the section titled “price”. Hope that helps :)
360€ in germany from domestic dealers with shipping included
It $300 in the U.S
@@inot88j24 not available since end of october. and the ptice is not for any base , as the video stated..
1year with mclaren v2 no deteriorate at all.. ❤
and its 150$ cheaper..
and good news : it comes with QR2lite for free now
I wrapped my GT Neo grips with a thin and tacky grip tape. It's so much better now.
Could you use it on console?
I love mine 🙋🏻
I’m waiting for Simagic to drop their new wheel in 2025 😂😂😂 I’ve alrdy bought the mini base for Christmas just waiting for some new steering wheel
I even like the Neo a lot more than the Moza GS
Ohhh that’s a tough one… I prefer the GS buttons… I like the real carbon fiber on the GS. But yeah I think pretty much everything else is better on the GT NEO.
@@LaurenceDusoswathe contouring on the grips immediately felt right to me compared to the GS.
wheres all our books?
You mean the S is for Sim Racing book? New stock arrived so all outstanding orders will be fulfilled this week. Just so everything is in order, can you give me your order number please?
Nice wheel fpr the price but all so easy to do when you do not need xbox or ps compatibility
Nice wheel but not really that beneficial for VR sim racers. We will spend more on haptic feedback and immersion enhancers like motion and audio.
Fact: Once other brands get licensing for Xbox and PS5, Fanatec will be bankrupt again.
I doubt it cause if they want the license to make it compatible without a adapter on Xbox n Ps5 the price will increase and tat probably why Fanatec is expensive
Simagic is the worst, good luck getting customer support for repairs, etc for me, it's been 6 months on a defective dsx8 shifter.
350€ maybe last summer and only for simagic bases …, for e.g. fanatec its 500€.
Its an ok wheel, not more
And come on… the buttons are premium ?really ? You are kidding
Sorry man , Too many hype, to less realistic informations
What’s your preferred budget wheel?
Bought for €299 at black friday, 2024
@@dauntae24 using the simagic fx pro
The buttons are every bit as good as cube controls and GSI buttons.