The Best Flight Sim Joysticks
Verified by
Ryan V. Editor-in-Chief
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The Logitech G X56 HOTAS wins because it packs the most usable inputs in the mainstream range. Propelrc named it the best flight stick overall and PCGamesN called it the best value HOTAS, both citing its 189-plus programmable controls, twin throttles, and two mini analog sticks. Four swappable stick springs and adjustable throttle friction let you tune the feel, and at around $200 it undercuts the all-metal enthusiast rigs while offering more inputs than anything near its price.
What It Won't Do
The twin throttles use potentiometers rather than hall-effect sensors, so they lack the drift resistance of our value pick, and the plastic-heavy stick feels a step below an all-metal unit. It is also PC only.
The Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS is the starting point almost every roundup recommends. SimRacingCockpit and comparewize both point to its H.E.A.R.T hall-effect sensors, which read the stick contactlessly and resist the drift that wears out potentiometer sticks. At around $60 with Thrustmaster's T.A.R.G.E.T mapping software and an ambidextrous base, it delivers precision usually reserved for pricier hardware.
What It Won't Do
The bundled throttle slider is basic next to a dedicated throttle unit, and sixteen buttons is fewer than the X56 offers for the busiest airliners. It is PC only.
Who Should Buy Which
Logitech G X56 HOTAS
The most input-rich HOTAS most pilots will ever need
- Hobbyist pilots flying complex airliners or space sims who want the most inputs
- Players who like to tune spring weight and throttle friction to their grip
- Buyers who want a full twin-throttle HOTAS without paying metal-rig prices
Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS
Hall-effect precision at an entry-level price
- Newcomers who want genuine hall-effect precision on a budget
- Pilots planning a dual-stick HOSAS setup, since the base swaps hands
- Anyone who values Thrustmaster's deep mapping software at a low price