Comparison PXN V9 Gen2 vs Artplays V-1200

— Steering Wheel. Ready-to-use gaming steering wheels that can be plugged in and played right out of the box. Such a set usually includes the wheel with a base, mount, and cables, but without pedals or a separate gearbox, so acceleration and braking may be assigned to buttons or paddles. This option is suitable for arcade races, simple racing simulators, and cases where a basic kit without extra accessories is needed.

— Steering Wheel with Pedals. A more complete racing kit that, in addition to the steering block, includes a separate pedal platform for the accelerator, brake, and sometimes the clutch. This set is noticeably closer to real car control than just a wheel without pedals, as speed and braking are controlled with your feet. It's a convenient starting option for Forza, Gran Turismo, F1, Assetto Corsa, and other racing games.

— Steering Wheel, Pedals, and Gearbox. Contains the three main elements at once: a steering block, pedals, and a separate gear shifter. Here, the gear shifter refers to a standalone shifter that mimics manual shifting, not paddle shifters on the wheel. This set is better suited for simulators, drifting, truck games, and fans of manual gear shifting, where more realistic seating and control are important.

— Steering Wheel with Gearbox. Kits where the gear lever is provid...ed along with the wheel. Unlike kits with a separate gearbox, here the lever is often located directly on the same base with the wheel, making the set more compact and not requiring separate space for the shifter. This option is convenient for arcade races, simple simulators, and users who want manual shifting without complex modular assembly.

— Steering Wheel. A separate interchangeable part of a gaming steering wheel, designed to be mounted on a compatible steering base. This option is considered a more professional solution because the user assembles the simulator modularly: separately choosing the base, wheel, pedals, gearbox, and other accessories. This allows you to customize the shape, diameter, grip, buttons, and style of the wheel for specific races — for example, formula, rally, drift, or GT races.

— Steering Base. The main power block to which the steering wheel is connected and which is responsible for rotation, resistance, and Force Feedback feedback. The base itself is not a ready-to-play wheel, as it usually requires a separate steering wheel, pedals, and other accessories. This option is more often chosen for modular simulators where power, precision, and the ability to assemble the kit yourself are important.

— Pedals. An independent accessory for a gaming steering wheel that is responsible for the accelerator, brake, and in some kits, the clutch. They are purchased to replace the basic pedal block, upgrade a simulator, or assemble a kit from separate components. For example, more advanced pedals can more accurately transmit braking force and better suit serious racing simulators.

— Gearbox. A gear shifter for gaming steering wheels and racing simulators. It mimics the operation of a manual or sequential gearbox, depending on the model's design. This accessory is especially useful for car simulators, drifting, rally, truck simulators, and games where players want to control gears with a separate lever instead of paddles.

— Handbrake. An accessory for a racing simulator that mimics a lever for a parking or hydraulic brake. It is especially useful in drifting, rally, and some arcade races, where you need to quickly break the rear axle into a slide or take a corner sideways.

The size of a gaming steering wheel usually refers to the diameter of the wheel in round and D-shaped forms and affects the realism of control, rotation speed, and grip comfort. Compact wheels, around 20 – 24 cm, are more common in simple models and are suitable for arcade racing but feel less realistic. A size of 27 – 30 cm is considered more versatile and closer to an actual car steering wheel, making it convenient for simulators, GT, rally, and everyday play. Larger wheels, 31 – 35 cm, are more often used in advanced setups, especially for trucking simulators, drifts, or the most realistic seating.

For formula wheels or steering wheels with a cut-off shape, the size is more often indicated by the maximum width between the outermost grip points.

Compatibility shows which devices a gaming wheel can work with: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch or specific console generations. It is important to check this parameter before purchasing because a PC wheel does not always fit a console, and models for PlayStation and Xbox often have different versions (PS3, PS4, PS5) due to the proprietary license and electronics inside the base.

Special attention should be given to steering wheels that have specific compatibility with bases. In most cases, all bases from the brand are suitable, but it is better to confirm this additionally.

The total number of buttons provided in the manipulator's design.

The more buttons, the more additional functions can be "assigned" to the manipulator, reducing the likelihood of having to use other control devices (e.g., a PC keyboard) during gameplay. However, many gaming consoles (see "Platform Compatibility") require a certain minimum number of buttons for a compatible gamepad — having fewer buttons would simply not allow full use of all the console functions. For instance, the standard controller for the PlayStation 4 has 11 buttons.

Note that the D-Pad manipulator (see below) is not counted in this calculation: it is considered a specific control device, although it is based on buttons.

Type of feedback provided in the design of the controller (if it is available at all).

Feedback is the controller's response to certain events occurring in the game. Such a response enhances the "immersion effect," creating the impression for the player that they are holding a real airplane joystick, car steering wheel, etc. It can be as follows:

— Vibration. Feedback in the form of vibration allows imitation of, for example, the shaking from driving off-road, the shudder of an airplane when firing onboard weapons, or entering a turbulence zone, etc.

— Force. Controllers with force feedback are capable of creating certain resistance to the player's efforts—for example, to imitate the difficulty of turning the steering wheel with wheels stuck in the mud.

— Vibration/force. Controllers supporting both of the feedback types described above. This option is the most advanced and at the same time the most expensive.

D-pad controller helps control the menu, camera, and additional functions directly from the gaming wheel without resorting to the keyboard or gamepad. It is usually a cross-shaped pad with up, down, left, and right presses, and some models also support diagonal commands. This element is convenient for switching cameras, navigating settings, selecting menu items, controlling onboard functions, or issuing quick commands during a race.

Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, which can be pressed with fingers without removing hands from the wheel, are most often used for gear shifting. Basic models usually have two paddles: the right one is for shifting up, and the left one is for shifting down. More advanced wheels may have 4 or 6 paddles, with additional pairs used for clutch, manual start, DRS, car adjustments, or other commands in simulators. The more paddle shifters there are, the more convenient it is to control important functions directly from the wheel, especially in F1, GT, and other racing simulators.

Types of pedals included in the manipulator package.

This parameter is specified only in controllers designed for auto racing (in flight simulators, pedals have only one specialization — rudder control — and specifying it further is unnecessary). Most of these "racing" controllers are wheels (see "Device Type"), however, pedals can also be released completely separately. In any case, the minimum necessary for more or less effective car control is two pedals, gas and brake. Meanwhile, for enthusiasts of maximum realism, more expensive three-pedal controllers are produced, which also include a clutch; this complicates control but provides many additional possibilities unavailable with two pedals.

Mounting demonstrates how a racing wheel is secured on a work surface to prevent movement during turns, vibrations, or force feedback.

— Clamps. Clamps (screw clamp mounting) secure the racing wheel to the table by mechanically pressing it to the tabletop. This option is more reliable than suction cups and better suited for wheels with vibration or force feedback, as the base shifts less during sudden turns. When choosing, it is important to consider the thickness of the table and the shape of the edge so the clamp can properly grab on and securely fix the wheel.

— Suction cups. Suction cups hold the wheel by sticking to a smooth table surface. This option is simpler and quicker to install, but usually less reliable, especially on rough, dusty, or uneven surfaces. Suction cups are more suitable for lightweight wheels without powerful feedback and for temporary setups, when you don't want to screw in clamps each time.

— Bolts. A rigid method for installing pedals, gear shifters, handbrakes, where the device is bolted to a cockpit, stand, or special platform through mounting holes. Such mounting is more reliable than clamps and suction cups because the device does not shift even during active driving.