Simucube 3 Ultimate Review: Is the Flagship Wheelbase Worth the Premium?

Introduction

The Simucube 3 lineup has quickly established itself at the very top of the direct drive wheelbase market. The Sport and Pro models set a new benchmark for performance, combining exceptional smoothness with remarkable detail. Now the Ultimate arrives as the flagship option, priced at more than double the cost of the Pro. The question is whether that massive price jump translates into a proportionally better driving experience.

The Ultimate shares the same ecosystem and core architecture as its siblings, but it introduces a fundamentally different motor design. After extended testing across a variety of racing disciplines, the Ultimate proves to be objectively better than the already excellent Pro. Whether it is worth the premium is another matter entirely.

Who This Product Is For

The Simucube 3 Ultimate is aimed at sim racers who want the absolute best force feedback experience available, with no compromises and no lingering doubts about whether something better exists. It is a product for enthusiasts who treat sim racing as a serious pursuit and are willing to pay a significant premium for the final few percent of performance.

This wheelbase is not for budget-conscious buyers. The Sport and Pro models already deliver an outstanding driving experience that satisfies the vast majority of sim racers. The Ultimate targets those who simply must have the top of the line, regardless of cost.

Hardware and Design

At first glance, the Ultimate looks nearly identical to the Pro model. It is slightly longer at 323 millimeters compared to the Pro’s 303 millimeters, but the difference is minimal and does not affect mounting or cockpit ergonomics. The control module is exactly the same as the Sport and Pro, featuring an anodized aluminum emergency stop button, standby and power buttons, and a control dial for adjusting settings.

All three models share the same 23-bit absolute encoder with 8 million steps of resolution. This high-resolution encoder contributes to the smooth and refined feel across the entire lineup. The similarities end there, however. While the Sport and Pro use surface permanent magnet (SPM) motors, the Ultimate employs an interior permanent magnet (IPM) design. This is a fundamentally different motor architecture, the type commonly found in electric vehicles, offering greater durability and better performance at both high torque and high speeds.

Internally, the Ultimate looks nearly identical to the Pro. The motor housing, control circuitry, and power delivery are all the same. Both the Pro and Ultimate use the same Meanwell switch mode power supply, rated at 360 watts maximum at 240 volts. This is notable given that the Pro delivers 25 Nm of torque while the Ultimate pushes that to 35 Nm.

Main Strengths

The driving experience is where the Ultimate truly distinguishes itself. The level of responsiveness is a clear step above the Sport and Pro, and this holds across the entire dynamic range. Even when dialed down to 8 to 10 Nm, the Ultimate retains excellent fidelity and detail. Many high-torque wheelbases lose their character when turned down below their efficiency range, but the Ultimate does not suffer from this issue.

The refinement is immediately noticeable. Over curbs and bumpy surfaces, the wheel remains composed and controlled, delivering detailed feedback without becoming hyperactive or robotic. The force feedback feels natural and intuitive, making it easier to catch slides and transition through drifts. The Ultimate also scales linearly across its dynamic range, so adjusting strength does not compromise the quality of the feedback.

The build quality is solid, though not quite at the industrial-grade level of the previous Simucube 2 Ultimate. Standard spade connectors are used for the motor phases rather than plated terminals, but this has no practical impact on performance.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is the dominant consideration. The Ultimate costs more than twice as much as the Pro model, and that premium is difficult to justify on driving performance alone. The difference in feel is real, but it is incremental rather than transformative.

The Ultimate also inherits the same ecosystem limitations as the Sport and Pro. The LightBridge technology and relatively locked-down ecosystem may not suit everyone, particularly those who prefer more open platforms with USB pass-through and broader wheel compatibility.

At 35 Nm, the Ultimate is almost absurdly powerful. Most drivers will never need more than 15 to 20 Nm, and the full 35 Nm output is genuinely difficult to handle. The extra headroom is useful for avoiding clipping, but the raw strength is more than anyone realistically needs.

Buying Advice

For the vast majority of sim racers, the Simucube 3 Pro remains the better value proposition. It delivers nearly all of the Ultimate’s performance at a significantly lower price. The difference between the two is real, but it is not worth the substantial premium for most people.

The Ultimate makes sense only for those who want the absolute best and are not concerned about cost. It is objectively and subjectively better than the Pro, but that improvement comes at a price that is hard to justify. If you are considering the Ultimate, it is worth waiting to see if the upcoming SimLab DDS or other open-ecosystem alternatives offer comparable performance with more flexibility.

Conclusion

The Simucube 3 Ultimate is an exceptional wheelbase that pushes the boundaries of force feedback performance. It is smoother, more responsive, and more refined than the already excellent Sport and Pro models. However, the massive price premium over the Pro is difficult to justify for most sim racers. The Pro delivers nearly the same experience for a fraction of the cost, making it the smarter choice for all but the most dedicated enthusiasts.