Our Verdict
Pros
- Build quality
- Features
- Value
- Modularity
- SimHub integration
Cons
- Connectivity add-on requirements can be confusing
Should you buy it?
Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing
After recently covering the all-new Simagic Zeus Formula, today I am back with another of Simagic's new Zeus Series steering wheels, this time in the guise of the Simagic Zeus Sport. Simagic made some pricing changes to the Zeus Series, with the Simagic Air Link now included as standard. The Zeus Sport, with MagicDash 4, can be yours for $469, making it the cheapest option in the all-new Zeus lineup.
Hailed as an all-round use-case wheel, the Zeus Sport features a fully modular design and includes a round rim as standard. It offers interchangeable rims, a customizable screen, and paddles, with multiple rim options available separately so racers can build the Zeus Sport to their liking.
Simagic is also giving you plenty of input options, combining 8 RGB buttons, 2 seven-way multi-position rotary switches, 2 rotary encoders, and 2 thumb rotary encoders to unlock up to 50 inputs for complete control over assignable functions. Simagic nailed it with the Zeus Formula, and I am hoping it's more of the same with the Zeus Sport, but this time, with the flexibility to cover more driving styles out of the box. Let's dive right in then and take a look at this latest offering from Simagic.
Packaging
Simagic delivers the Zeus Sport in a premium-looking box, with full-color printing throughout. The front shows the wheel and the MagicDash 4, with the Simagic and Zeus Series logos at the top.
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The rear shows the dimensions, along with information on what is included in the box.
Simagic retains the same QR codes we have seen on multiple products, so you can show off your new purchase and get help and support when needed.
Unboxing the Simagic Zeus Sport
Lifting off the top of the box reveals the included accessory box and tweezers for decal application. Simagic includes their usual suite of add-ons: a USB cable, Allen Key, Quick Start Guide, and stickers. One thing I really like about Simagic products is the ability to use the included decals to label buttons, rather than having them predesignated and printed from the factory.
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With the top layer removed, I am greeted with the steering wheel itself, enclosed in a nice fabric cover. I received both the Zeus Sport and Formula at the same time, so when I covered the more expensive Formula, I was surprised it only came with a plastic bag; here, it feels more premium in presentation and helps keep the wheel clean and free of dirt in storage. Below the wheel are the MagicDash 4 and MagDock, nestled in the open-cell foam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open a question for an answer from TweakTown's coverage of this review, or ask your own below.
What are the exact contents included in the box with the Simagic Zeus Sport?
How do I install the MagicDash 4 onto the Zeus Sport and how secure is the connection?
What input controls and how many configurable inputs does the Zeus Sport provide?
Which wheelbases and mounting options are supported for the MagicDash 4 (MagDock, Maglink Pro, Simagic Air Link)?
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Even without the MagicDash 4 installed, the wheel looks beautiful. In standard form, the Zeus Sport measures 320mm and features a perforated leather center section, with Suede trimming out the top and bottom of the rim. Simagic notes that smooth, stitch-free zones are present at key hand positions to help prevent irritation while maintaining precise control.
D-Shape, Rally Round, and Square interchangeable wheel rims are available separately and again in a variety of material options. I have one here, so I will show you how to change it later in the review. The rear housing uses die-cast aluminum and CNC-machined parts, which provide much of the Zeus Sport's stiffness. The front features injection-molded and carbon-fiber accents for a refined look.
The wheel includes 8 RGB buttons, 2 seven-way multi-position rotary switches, 2 rotary encoders, and 2 thumb rotary encoders, all surrounding the MagicDash 4 enclosure. With the Zeus Sport, nothing is pre-labeled, leaving you to decide the layout. The center features 15 fully customizable RGB shift lights, providing clear shift points for every turn. Of course, Simagic has its own SimPro Manager software, and Sim Hub can also control everything required. While you can use the RPM LEDs independently, they will be hidden when paired with the included MagicDash 4.
All button and dial positions feel comfortable and natural when holding the Zeus Sport. Running my hands around the rim, you feel the change in materials, and it feels premium. The same premium button feel as the Zeus Formula is present, with rotary encoders that feel positive and definitive. It would have been nice for the rotary encoders to include push-button functionality, but there are enough controls here to keep you going.
As with the Zeus Formula, orange rotary encoder metal caps, stitching, and center stripe on the Zeus Sport are all orange, denoting the Zeus Series. The stitching around the center looks neat and gives about 35mm of clearance to both the top and bottom of the side spokes where your hands will sit. As with all premium wheels, I'd recommend investing in a pair of gloves to protect the materials and keep them clean.
Around the rear, the Zeus Sport uses the standard Simagic 50mm quick release, again featuring an orange finish. An adjustable-length magnetic shifter and carbon fiber hall sensor clutch paddles are included, with the option to upgrade the Zeus Sport to a 3-paddle shifter module, as shown in the Zeus Formula review. Shifter paddles feel nice and snappy, while clutch paddles are smooth in operation. While not everyone will use 6 paddles, it's good to have the option to swap them over if you want the upgrade. Below the clutch paddles, a USB-C port is included for PC connection.
I won't spend much time on the MagicDash 4 unboxing; again, I covered this in the Simagic Zeus Formula review. The MagicDash 4 features a 4-inch, 400x800 resolution display with touch functionality. Installing the dash expands the number of included LEDs from the original 15-segment RPM strip to include three more lights on each side for telemetry.
Installation is simple: remove the magnetic cover on the Zeus Sport and slot the MagicDash 4 into place. It snaps into place with a positive click, and the magnets are strong, so the screen won't fall out when you change direction in a hurry.
With the MagicDash 4 installed, the Zeus Sport weighs 1.56kg, so overall it's not particularly heavy, given the Zeus Formula comes in at a bit more, 1.63kg. With the Zeus Sport ready to go, it's time to set up SimPro Manager and then take a look at connectivity options before giving you my final thoughts.
Installation & Software
Obviously, the first thing we encountered was an upgrade: SimPro Manager to V3.2.0.13127, and then, with the Zeus Sport and MagicDash 4 connected, they also required updates before we could adjust any settings. The upgrade and installation ran flawlessly; SimPro is easy to use and navigate, and it's quite intuitive.
Input LED effects and colors are changed the same way as the Zeus Formula, with all buttons and encoders configurable, including digital encoding. You can also find clutch-paddle calibration here.
One thing to note is the rear of the Zeus Sport, where SimPro Manager shows buttons that aren't actually included with the wheel itself. I spoke with Simagic about this, and they are going to release a fix in the next SimPro Manager update.
Finally, the MagicDash 4 also includes its own section within SimPro Manager. Still, I covered that in the Zeus Formula review, so please check that out for more information rather than me copy-pasting it here. That said, Simagic offers some great dash screens, with SimHub support included to run your favorite dashboards.
With software covered, another aspect of installation is the variety of ways to run the Zeus Sport. While Simagic Air Link can be used, as seen in the Zeus Formula review, today we'll briefly cover other ways to connect the MagicDash and Zeus Sport to your wheel base, whether Simagic or third-party.
One of the options available is to use the all-new MagDock, allowing you to bolt the MagicDash 4 to the front of an Alpha series wheelbase. If the spacing pattern aligns, you can also fit this to third-party wheelbases or surfaces that will accommodate the MagDock. You could also mount this to an aluminum profile off to one side, or wherever else is convenient for you.
Maglink Pro is another alternative, being Simagics' new version of Maglink. This version supports Zeus and Neo X series wheels, as well as the GT Neo. Maglink Pro offers extra power delivery for the MagicDash 4 and can be used with third-party wheelbases, with 32Nm of magnetic force for a firm connection. You'll need to do some additional work to mount the connections on both the wheel and your cockpit to get it up and running, but it only takes about 10 minutes total.
Finally, before heading to the pit lane, there is one last thing to cover: swapping out the standard round 320mm rim for the square ZS-310CS. As the name suggests, this changes the grip ergonomics to a square shape while reducing the overall width by 10mm. I ran some testing sessions before doing this with the original round rim, but it makes sense to include the changeover process here.
Six screws are all that need to be removed to separate the outer rim from the button module. Two are located on either side, above and just below the gear paddle, with the final two on the center bottom spoke. Simagic includes spacers in the new rim accessory pack to space out the gear or clutch paddles as needed, depending on the rim you use. With the round or square design, the Zeus Sport looks amazing either way. The ZS-310CS comes in leather, as I have, with a suede option also available.
Kris' Sim Racing Test System Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (Buy at Amazon) |
| Motherboard | MSI B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi (Buy at Amazon) |
| RAM | Team Group T-Force Delta DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 x2 (Buy at Amazon) |
| SATA SSD | Samsung 870 QVO 1TB (Buy at Amazon) |
| NVMe SSD (Primary) | Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB (Buy at Amazon) |
| NVMe SSD (Secondary) | Seagate FireCuda 540 2TB (Buy at Amazon) |
| HDD | Seagate BarraCuda 2TB 3.5-inch (Buy at Amazon) |
| GPU | ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4080 OC Edition (Buy at Amazon) |
| Power Supply | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000W (Buy at Amazon) |
| Cooler | be quiet! Pure Loop 3 360mm (Buy at Amazon) |
| Case | Corsair Frame 4500X (Buy at Amazon) |
| Keyboard | be quiet! Dark Mount (Buy at Amazon) |
| Mouse | Logitech G502 HERO (Buy at Amazon) |
| Sim Rig | Trak Racer TR120S V2 |
| Haptics | Trak Racer Haptic Kit 2x 100W Puck |
| Display 1 | Acer XV322QK KV (Buy at Amazon) |
| Display 2 | Acer VG272U V3 (Buy at Amazon) |
| Lighting | Govee H6056 Flow Plus Light Bar x2 (Buy at Amazon) |
| Macro Pad | Mountain Display Pad (Buy at Amazon) |
Final Thoughts
I ran a variety of sims for testing, with Assetto Corsa being the main focus. I connected the Zeus Sport to my system via the Maglink Pro, with the standard round rim installed initially. Right from the off, I have to say it's another great wheel from Simagic, and throughout my testing, I never once felt any flex with the Zeus Sport; it's certainly well built.
In standard form, the Zeus Sport is so versatile for racing multiple disciplines, with the option to add more to the mix with the additional Zeus Sport rims that are available (D-Shape, Rally Round, and Square), so that will open up more for the end user without having to purchase a whole new wheel, and reduce the cost. With the Zeus Sport, you are essentially buying a button box with a bundled rim; granted, it means bolting on a different rim again, but it takes only a couple of minutes, so it isn't a real concern. The additional rims retail at $89 on the Simagic store, so it's a reasonable price to pay for the benefit and varied use cases they bring. For those who race multiple disciplines, rally, road, drifting, etc., the Zeus Sport has you covered on all fronts.
Reaching for buttons, encoders, and on-screen information is easy and intuitive, thanks to the well-designed button placement, and my only real query is the lack of thumb encoders that can be adjusted without moving my hands. It's not a complaint as such; it's a great wheel, and more of a wish-list item should there ever be a revision. You can add more versatility with the optional three-paddle unit that Simagic offers, but I think Zeus Formula users will likely take advantage of that more than Zeus Sport users.
Swapping over to the square replacement rim, I still felt very much at home with road cars, GT, Touring, and more. One thing I did notice is that the space for your thumbs on the square rim is a little small, so those with larger hands, and while using gloves, may want to stay with the standard round rim potentially. If you do opt for the square, it's still quite usable; just bear it in mind. With either rim installed, the Zeus Sport is a little more forgiving than the Formula, given the larger real estate; it feels more controlled, relaxed, and predictable. Gear shifts are nice and quiet, button clicks are positive, and I know if I have pressed something without even looking down.
The modularity the MagicDash 4 provides is fantastic. If you prefer to use this standalone, then, of course, you can, and just rely on the standard RPM LEDs in race, glancing to one side to check the screen data. Personally, I prefer to have this information right in front of me, so it takes less time to focus on what I need and get my eyes back on track as soon as possible. As with the Zeus Formula, the MagicDash 4 makes swapping from Simagic templates to SimHub easy, and don't forget you also have mouse pad integration with the touchscreen, saving you from sliding in your keyboard tray for menu navigation.
Overall, I think the Sport is the best wheel in Simagics' new Zeus Series lineup, given how adaptable and modular it is, not to mention its competitive price. The premium feel, build quality, and functionality tick many boxes, and perhaps the hardest decision you will make is which optional extra rims you want and in which material. Unless you are an avid open-cockpit fan and purely race the F1 calendar, the Zeus Sport is certainly the new go-to option from Simagics' premium lineup.
