Cube Controls Review: F-PRO vs. CSX-3 vs. GT PRO V2 (2026)
Our own F1 sim racing wheel guide names the Cube Controls Formula Pro its "Best Premium Alternative," right alongside the Ascher Racing F64-SC as a no-compromise pro rim. What that guide doesn't cover is that "Formula Pro" today spans two very different wheels -- the F-PRO and the CSX-3 -- plus a third product line, the GT PRO V2, whose name alone tells you almost nothing about what you're buying. Here's the real lineup.
Cube Controls by the Numbers
- 2016: the year Fabio Roberto Sotgiu and Massimo Cubeddu founded Cube Controls in Sardinia, Italy -- the company says it started in the back of a bicycle shop.
- $749.99: the price of the F-PRO, Cube Controls' wireless Formula rim, per Micro Center's current listing (down from a $949.99 list price).
- $1,229: the price of the CSX-3, per FF Performance, an authorized US dealer -- 64% more than the F-PRO despite dropping its wireless connectivity.
- 4 vs. 50: the battery-life range Cube Controls' own F-PRO product page gives for the same 2000mAh battery -- "up to 4 hours" in the spec table, "20 up to 50 hours" in the FAQ section just below it.
The Current Lineup Compared
| Product | Type | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-PRO | Formula rim, wireless | $749.99 | Open-wheel sim racing without a cable to the rim |
| CSX-3 | Formula rim, wired, LCD screen | $1,229 | Wanting a dash display, not bothered by a cable |
| GT PRO V2 (box only) | Button box, no rim | $599.99-$720.66 | Adding switchgear to a rim you already own |
| GT PRO V2 (bundled) | Button box + GT rim | $1,375-$1,468.75 | GT-class sim racing, complete wheel out of the box |
Four listings, two of them sharing a name -- and the cheapest one here isn't the one missing the most features.
F-PRO vs. CSX-3: The Expensive One Drops a Feature
Both wheels share the same control layout: 12 momentary buttons, 2 toggle switches with status LEDs, 4 front rotary encoders plus 2 thumb encoders, 2 multi-directional joysticks, magnetic switchless shifter paddles, and an identical 28.2cm grip-to-grip size on a carbon-fiber front plate. The difference buyers usually expect -- that the pricier wheel does more -- doesn't hold up cleanly. The $749.99 F-PRO runs on USB+Bluetooth Dual-Mode connectivity with a 2000mAh LiPo battery, so it can go fully wireless to the base. The $1,229 CSX-3 connects only through its Q-conn magnetic cable; there's no battery or Bluetooth mode in its spec sheet at all. What the CSX-3's extra $480 actually buys is a 4-inch, 800x480 LCD touchscreen built into the wheel face -- a real feature, just not the one most buyers assume "more expensive" means in a product category where wireless is usually the premium option, not the one you give up.
The Battery Number Cube Controls Can't Agree On
If wireless matters enough to pick the F-PRO over the CSX-3, it's worth knowing that Cube Controls' own product page contradicts itself on how long that battery actually lasts. The spec table lists the 2000mAh LiPo at "up to 4 hours" of use. The FAQ section on the same page, a few scrolls down, says "20 up to 50 hours" depending on RGB brightness -- a number 5 to 12 times higher. Both can't be the headline figure. Until Cube Controls fixes the discrepancy, the safer assumption for a race weekend is the lower one: charge before a long session, keep the Q-conn cable within reach, and treat anything past 4 hours wireless as a bonus rather than a guarantee.
GT PRO V2 Isn't One Product -- It's a Bundle Name
Unlike the F-PRO and CSX-3, which are complete wheels on their own, "GT PRO V2" refers to a button box: 6 momentary buttons, 2 toggle switches with status LEDs, 2 front rotary encoders with RGB, 2 thumb encoders, 2 multi-directional joysticks, and the same USB/Bluetooth Dual-Mode connectivity as the F-PRO, rated for roughly 40 hours on its 1500mAh battery. Sold by itself, US retailers price it around $599.99-$720.66. But Cube Controls also sells the identical GT PRO V2 box pre-mounted to a GT-shaped rim -- the Zero Rubber or the suede-wrapped Reparto Corse version -- for $1,375 to $1,468.75. Same model name, same electronics, and the price more than doubles depending on whether a rim is included. If a listing just says "GT PRO V2" without specifying Zero, Reparto Corse, or "button box only," check the product photos before assuming you're comparing like for like against a one-piece wheel such as the F-PRO or CSX-3.
From a Sardinian Bike Shop to Mercedes-AMG's Race Cars
Cube Controls was founded in 2016 by Fabio Roberto Sotgiu and Massimo Cubeddu, based in Sardinia -- the company itself notes it isn't located anywhere near Italy's Motor Valley, and says the brand began in the back of a bicycle shop rather than a motorsport workshop. It built a name in sim racing on high-end Formula and GT wheels before expanding into a dedicated real-motorsport business unit, supplying steering wheels for Honda's TCR program and, since a 2022 technical partnership, for Mercedes-AMG's GT Track Series and GT2 race cars -- a collaboration that produced the Cube Controls x Mercedes-AMG GT Edition SIM Wheel in 2023. It's a smaller operation than Fanatec or Moza, but one whose hardware has genuinely raced.
Which Cube Controls Product Should You Buy?
Want a Formula-style rim for open-wheel sims and don't want a cable running to your direct-drive base -- the F-PRO at $749.99 is the pick, and it's cheaper than the CSX-3 to boot. Want a dash display more than you want to go wireless -- the CSX-3 at $1,229 adds the 4-inch LCD, cable and all. Already own a Formula rim and just want more switchgear bolted on -- our sim racing wheel rim guide and the Ascher Racing B16-USB cover universal button boxes, but if you specifically want Cube Controls hardware, the GT PRO V2 box alone (around $600-720) is built for that. Racing GT cars and want a complete wheel out of the box -- the bundled GT PRO V2 at $1,375+ is the one to buy, not the box-only listing at a third of the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cube Controls F-PRO or CSX-3 a better F1 sim racing wheel?
It depends on what you're paying the extra $480 for, not on which one is "better" outright. The F-PRO ($749.99) uses USB+Bluetooth Dual-Mode connectivity and a swappable LiPo battery, so it can run wireless. The CSX-3 ($1,229) is wired-only via its Q-conn magnetic cable, but adds a 4-inch, 800x480 LCD touchscreen the F-PRO doesn't have. Both share the same 12-button, dual-joystick, magnetic-paddle layout and 28.2cm grip-to-grip size, so the choice comes down to whether a dash display or wireless freedom matters more to you.
How long does the Cube Controls F-PRO battery actually last?
Cube Controls' own F-PRO product page gives two different answers. The spec table lists the 2000mAh LiPo battery at "up to 4 hours" of use, while the FAQ section on the same page says "20 up to 50 hours" depending on RGB brightness. The wheel also runs wired over its Q-conn cable with Bluetooth off, so a plugged-in session sidesteps the question entirely -- but if you're planning to run it wireless, charge it like a 4-hour wheel and treat anything beyond that as a bonus.
Is the Cube Controls GT PRO V2 a steering wheel or a button box?
Both, and that's the catch. GT PRO V2 is the name of a button box (6 momentary buttons, 2 toggle switches, 2 joysticks, USB/Bluetooth Dual-Mode, roughly $599.99-$720.66 alone) that Cube Controls also bundles with a GT-shaped rim -- the Zero Rubber or Reparto Corse Suede versions -- for $1,375-$1,468.75. Both list under the same "GT PRO V2" name, so check whether a listing includes a rim before comparing its price to a one-piece wheel like the F-PRO or CSX-3.
Where is Cube Controls based, and are its wheels used in real racing?
Cube Controls was founded in 2016 by Fabio Roberto Sotgiu and Massimo Cubeddu in Sardinia, Italy -- the company says it started in the back of a bicycle shop. It has since expanded into a real-motorsport business unit, supplying steering wheels for Honda's TCR program and for Mercedes-AMG's GT Track Series and GT2 cars under a technical partnership that began in 2022, which produced the Cube Controls x Mercedes-AMG GT Edition SIM Wheel in 2023.
The Bottom Line
Cube Controls makes exactly the premium Formula rim our own F1 sim racing wheel guide already points to -- it's just not one wheel, it's a choice between the wireless F-PRO and the screen-equipped, wired CSX-3, and the extra money on the CSX-3 doesn't buy more convenience. If you're shopping the GT PRO V2 name instead, confirm whether the listing includes a rim before comparing its price to anything else on this page. Our sim racing wheel rim guide and Ascher Racing review cover how a premium rim fits into a full F1 sim rig.