Cube Controls F-PRO Steering Wheel
As we mentioned in our review of the Mercedes-AMG GT, during our conversations with the Cube Controls team at Sim Formula Europe in January and the ADAC Simracing Expo in October, we had the opportunity to evaluate three of their steering wheels: the Mercedes-AMG GT Edition, the F-PRO, and the GT-X2. An offer we, of course, couldn’t refuse!
The next in this review series is the Cube Controls F-PRO, an evolution of the previously reviewed Formula Pro Steering Wheel.
The Cube Controls F-PRO steering wheel is available via the Cube Controls webshop. We received the version with the black hub, which at the time of writing is priced at €1,104.00. There is also a variant with a blue hub, priced at €1,140.00. Both prices exclude any potential shipping costs.
Packaging and Contents
We received several individual packages from Cube Controls via DHL Express, delivered three business days after shipping. The products arrived in plain brown shipping boxes. One of these packages contained the F-PRO steering wheel; the other packages will be discussed in the reviews of the two other wheels.
Upon opening the brown shipping box, we found a sleek black product box with blue accents and the Cube Controls logo. Opening the product box, we were greeted by a blue foam layer featuring the quote: “Make It Real.” This inviting message immediately sparked curiosity about the contents. Removing the foam layer revealed the F-PRO steering wheel, neatly wrapped in a fabric cover and securely nestled in a custom foam cutout.
Above the wheel, there was a covered compartment containing a pouch with a Q-conn magnetic connection cable, tools, and various bolts and nuts. At the very bottom of the box, we found a detailed sticker sheet.
In short, an impressive package that had us ready to get started right away!
The Cube Controls F-PRO Steering Wheel
The Cube Controls F-PRO steering wheel is, as previously mentioned, an evolution of the Formula Pro wheel. Its foundation consists of a sturdy aluminum housing, finished with a 4 mm thick carbon front plate, resulting in a robust yet lightweight construction.
The wheel features a butterfly shape, meaning the center is narrower than the outer edges. With a diameter of 280 mm and a weight of approximately 1,100 grams, the wheel feels solid and well-balanced. The grips are made from an elastomer material, striking a good balance between firmness for a secure hold and flexibility for long-lasting comfort.
Frontside
The front of the F-Pro features twelve push buttons, evenly distributed with six on each side. These buttons are surrounded by button guards to prevent accidental presses. Each side is also equipped with two multi-directional joysticks that double as rotary encoders, strategically positioned at thumb height for easy access.
Integrated into and next to the grips are two rotary encoders on each side, fitted with aluminum dials. Slightly above these are two on/off toggle switches with built-in status LEDs. At the center of the F-Pro, there are four additional rotary encoders with aluminum knobs.
Both the push buttons and the center rotary encoders are equipped with RGB LEDs, which can be customized using Simhub or Cube Controls’ CubeSet software.
Backside
On the back of the steering wheel, we find the signature Cube Controls shift modules on both sides, with double-clutch paddles located just below them. These modules are crafted from sleek black aluminum, complemented by carbon paddles that are infinitely adjustable in width. The modules themselves are also highly adjustable, ensuring an optimal fit and distance for any hand configuration.
At the center of the wheel is the aluminum hub, featuring a 70 mm bolt pattern for mounting a quick-release system or adapter. Surrounding the hub are an on/off button, a Bluetooth antenna, and the connection port for the Q-conn magnetic cable. Above the aluminum hub, the F-PRO logo is prominently displayed.
The wheel is equipped with an internal battery, enabling wireless operation via Bluetooth. It can also be charged using the included Q-conn USB cable.
Assembly
We mount the F-Pro steering wheel onto our Simucube 2 Sport wheelbase using a Simucube Quick-Release. The wheel comes with a standard aluminum hub on the back, to which we attach the Quick-Release using the three included M5 bolts.
Unlike the Mercedes-AMG GT steering wheel, it’s not possible to mount the Simucube Quick-Release directly onto the F-Pro. This is due to the compact placement of the shift modules beneath the aluminum hub.
After mounting the steering wheel onto the Simucube wheelbase, we connect the Q-Conn magnetic cable to the wheel. Next, we plug the USB connector into an available USB port on the PC. From there, the F-Pro steering wheel can be configured using SimHub or the CubeSet app from Cube Controls.
Software
The F-Pro steering wheel can connect via both USB (wired) and Bluetooth (wireless). In Bluetooth mode, the wheel runs on its internal battery. While in pairing mode, the blue LED flashes. Pairing is straightforward: select the wheel from your PC’s Bluetooth settings and establish the connection. Once paired, the wheel automatically connects whenever it’s turned on. The Bluetooth range is approximately 10 meters, depending on obstacles.
In USB mode, the Bluetooth LED turns off, and you can connect the wheel directly via the Q-Conn magnetic cable, which also charges the internal battery. We prefer USB mode due to its stable connection and because our PC doesn’t support Bluetooth, making the choice even easier.
SimHub
To use the LED and telemetry features, we added the F-Pro wheel to SimHub. This process has become simpler since most steering wheels are now natively supported in SimHub. By selecting Cube Controls as the brand and F-Pro as the model, and clicking ‘Ok,’ the wheel is added to the software. This enables all basic functionalities, allowing us to proceed with setting up the RGB LEDs and the button and encoder telemetry.
In SimHub, it’s easy to create and modify one or multiple profiles with telemetry effects and functions. We opted for the default profile and customized the RGB LED colors to match our personal preferences.
CubeSet
In addition to SimHub, Cube Controls also offers its own CubeSet App (current version v1.19). This app is only compatible with the latest steering wheel models; older Formula and GT wheels are not (yet) supported. With CubeSet, you can calibrate the shifters and clutch modules, as well as perform firmware updates, in addition to functions available in SimHub. The app also allows you to reset the wheel to factory settings and check the battery status. The battery status function is only available when using Bluetooth.
Driving with the Cube Controls F-Pro Steering Wheel
We’re comfortably seated in our Sim-Lab P1X Pro, with the Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel mounted on the Simucube 2 Sport. We can’t wait to test this wheel thoroughly. For this review, we’ll be testing it in Assetto Corsa, driving different open-wheel cars. Once we launch the game, we just need to assign the buttons and encoders to the correct in-game functions. After that, we’re ready to race!
From our first virtual drive in Assetto Corsa, the quality and comfort of the Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel stand out. The elastomer grips not only feel comfortable but also provide excellent grip. Whether you’re driving with or without gloves, the grips stay comfortable and prevent your hands from sweating. We don’t have a strong preference for driving with or without gloves, though this likely depends on personal preference. Even after several weeks of intense use, the grips remain surprisingly clean and don’t become sticky easily. This is a feature we really appreciate!
The steering wheel feels solid thanks to its full aluminum housing and carbon front plate. With a compact size of 280 mm, it’s perfect for open-wheel and formula cars. However, it’s less suited for GT cars, which limits the wheel’s versatility. During driving, we don’t experience any flex or play, which results in a reliable and enjoyable driving feel. The force feedback is precise and detailed, even when we lower the force of the Simucube 2 Sport wheelbase to less than 10 Nm. This makes the F-Pro steering wheel compatible with a wide range of wheelbases, from entry-level models to high-end systems.
The steering wheel also features an internal battery for wireless Bluetooth operation, but we didn’t test this feature since we don’t have a Bluetooth connection available. Additionally, we prefer a wired connection, as it feels more stable to us. The battery is rechargeable via the Q-Con USB cable.
Front Controls
The build quality of the front of the Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel is excellent. Every detail, from the push buttons and button guards to the aluminum knobs on the rotary encoders, exudes premium quality and feels that way too. The multi-directional joysticks are conveniently placed at thumb level, making them easy to operate without taking our hands off the wheel. They feel smooth and responsive, allowing for quick and precise inputs. However, to use the joysticks as rotary encoders, we need to use both our thumb and index finger, meaning we briefly have to remove our hand(s) from the wheel.
The push buttons provide clear, clicky feedback with every press, ensuring a pleasant and responsive experience while racing. They are all easy to reach and well-positioned. The on/off toggle switches are similarly well-placed and easy to operate.
The rotary encoders in and beside the grips have a tactile click when turned, making adjustments during driving simple. Unfortunately, the encoders next to the grips are less accessible, which makes them harder to use. On the other hand, the encoders in the grips turn smoothly and respond excellently, making them very user-friendly. The same goes for the four rotary encoders in the middle of the wheel, although we do need to briefly take our hand off the wheel to operate them.
A nice extra feature is that both the push buttons and the four rotary encoders in the middle of the wheel are telemetry-controlled. With software like SimHub, we can set the LEDs of these inputs to display specific telemetry data, such as flag situations or spotter information. This adds valuable insights and extra immersion while racing.
The steering wheel also comes with a neat sticker sheet that allows us to personalize the push buttons and rotary encoders. What makes this extra special is that the text on the stickers is cut in such a way that the functions of the buttons and encoders light up beautifully. This gives the Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel a personal and stylish touch.
Rear Controls
One of the first things that stands out about the Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel is the solid build quality of the modules on the back. The shift paddles are positioned conveniently, right at the level of our middle fingers. When shifting, the shift modules produce an audible click and are, in our opinion, fairly quiet. This is in contrast to the shift modules of the Mercedes-AMG GT steering wheel, which we recently reviewed. The paddles have a short travel, allowing for quick shifting. Additionally, the modules and paddles are fully adjustable, making them suitable for different hand sizes and preferences. We made slight adjustments by positioning the paddles a bit farther away from us, which made shifting even more comfortable for us.
Below the shift modules are two analog modules. These have, as expected, a slightly longer travel. However, apart from the travel and paddles, the modules themselves are not adjustable and, in our opinion, are positioned a bit too far away. The resistance of the spring in these modules is quite high, making them harder to operate with our pinkies. With our ring fingers, it’s much easier. This could, of course, depend on the strength in our hands. The contactless hall-effect sensors ensure we don’t experience any friction when operating these modules. If needed, the settings and calibration can be easily adjusted through the CubeSet software. However, this wasn’t necessary for us out of the box.
On the back of the wheel, there is also an on/off switch. Once the wheel is turned on, it automatically powers off when the PC is shut down and powers back on when the PC is restarted. SimHub immediately recognizes the wheel and automatically sends telemetry data, providing seamless integration and ease of use.
Conclusion
With the Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel, Cube Controls introduces a high-quality successor to the Formula Pro, specifically designed for the demanding sim racer. The steering wheel is especially suitable for fans of open-wheel and formula cars. The F-Pro excels in build quality and ergonomics, offering a wide range of features that appeal to both beginner and experienced sim racers. The comfortable elastomer grips provide excellent grip, whether you’re driving with or without gloves. Even after long-term use, the grips remain clean and don’t become sticky.
The F-Pro steering wheel offers versatility with both USB and Bluetooth connections. While the wireless mode with the internal battery is a convenient option, we prefer the USB mode due to what we feel is a more stable connection. Integration with SimHub works seamlessly, making it easy to set up telemetry effects and RGB LEDs. Additionally, the CubeSet App provides extra features like shifter calibration and a battery status display, further enhancing usability.
The build quality of the wheel, both front and back, is excellent. The push buttons and encoders provide clear feedback and are well-positioned, although the rotary encoders beside the grips are a bit harder to use. The solid shift paddles and adjustable modules on the back contribute to a great racing experience. The contactless hall-effect sensors in the analog modules ensure smooth operation without friction. However, we found the spring a bit stiff, and since the modules are not adjustable (apart from the paddles and travel), the distance for operation is just a bit too large for our taste.
The Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel is, in our opinion, an excellent choice for sim racers focused on open-wheel and formula cars. We tested the steering wheel on our Sim-Lab P1X Pro, combined with the Simucube 2 Sport Wheelbase and P1Sim Mistral pedals. Excited after reading our review? The Cube Controls F-Pro steering wheel is available through the Cube Controls webshop, starting at €1,104.00, excluding shipping costs.
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