Logitech GSaitek X52 Pro Flight 3M System with Metal Part Gas Control and Simulation Joystick, LCD Display, Dual Suspension, Illuminated Buttons, 2 USB Connections - Black

My old Saitek Cyborg Evo finally gave up the ghost so it was time to replace it with something new. I definitely wanted a joystick with a Z rotation and having read many reviews after some deliberation (as the comments were mixed) I decided to go with the Logitech branded X52 Pro. I did ensure that I got the Logitech rather than the older Saitek version which has had some very poor reviews.The two units are mainly plastic but feel robust and the cable that joins them seems to be good quality. On plugging into a USB port the drivers are automatically downloaded and you’re ready to go. There is some software as well that you can download but I haven’t bothered with it as the units already have more buttons than I need.The joystick action has a nice light feel which I particularly like, the button placement is good and being lit with LED’s you can change the colour and intensity. With deadzones set to 0 I couldn’t see any evidence of drift from the properties page but running in X4 Foundations with zero deadzone there was an almost imperceptible drift on the X axis. Upping to 1% in X4 Foundations stopped it but it was really not enough to worry me in first place.The throttle is a little stiffer than I would like ideally. There is an adjustment wheel which helps but it doesn’t seem to make a huge amount of difference. I soon got used to it though as the action is very smooth. The lower detent seems mainly imperceptible, the upper one is noticeable which I quite like though it’s not to everyone’s taste. Again there are a number of buttons, well placed on the handle and a MFD display that I don’t see the point of myself, but if you’re in MS Flight Sim it’s probably very useful.The units also come with some rubber sucker feet to hold the units in place on a desktop. I found I didn’t need them myself as the units are quite large and stable but if you’re someone that twists and turns a lot when you play a combat sim then no doubt you would find them useful.I have been very pleased indeed with both these units and would certainly recommend them based on my experience with them so far

I read a lot of bad reviews about how these units seem to fail pretty quickly. I've deliberately held off posting a review about it until now, to give me plenty of time to put it through it's paces.It's worth noting at this point that I did void the warranty within a week of unboxing it. I bought this primarily for use with flight simulators, which meant I had to get rid of two things, both of which I had researched and planned before even buying the product:1) The centring spring on the stick;2) The throttle detent.Depending on what you want to use this product for, the setup out of the box may be suitable for you. For me, however, a self-centring joystick is unrealistic for flight simulators, especially when the centring spring has heavy tension and is not adjustable. So I removed it completely.With the throttle (in my case, used primarily as the collective lever for helicopter simulation), it had a nasty detent which prevented smooth, precise input required during flight, especially hovering.These mods are easy to do and the details can be easily found online through various forums. Bear in mind that ANY modification WILL void your warranty!Now onto the important stuff. I've clocked up around 200 hours of usage on this product, and it's still going as strong as the day I unboxed it. The build quality is great and is as to expected with any other Logitech product, and the ergonomics feel comfortable and natural. Anyone planning long sessions using this product should be able to do so without worrying about fatigue or aches and pains. All of the buttons and switches are within easy reach, and it doesn't take long to get used to their respective positions, so you can find them easily even if you happen to be wearing a VR headset.The Logitech profiling software could really use a HUGE update to make it simpler and easier to use. Again, searching online for tips and advice was the way forward for me, as the software really lacks any sort of help or guidance regarding it's usage.Ultimately, this product continues to perform above and beyond my initial expectations. It's precise, it's responsive, and I don't think it's possible to run out of fingertip control with the huge array of buttons and switches available. It's completely transformed my flight simulation experience!