Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One review: a great beginner’s flight stick
Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: One-minute review
Can you believe the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One has been around for years? Entry-level rocker offers everything you need to get started microsoft flight simulator Or something fancier, with a throttle, a comfortable joystick, and the option to connect or separate them.
The whole setup is cheaper than many flight sticks that don’t require extra throttle, which means you get plenty of volume for your money, if not a blast. The throttle resistance is insufficient, and both halves of the housing are made of relatively cheap-looking plastic material. Thankfully, this does make it lightweight, meaning it can be easily dragged between table and couch setups on PC and Xbox.
Still, 14 buttons and 5 axes are enough to earn you pilot wings, and more in-between features like tactile hat switches and a nifty springy trigger make it feel more well-rounded than similarly priced competitors.
PlayStation gamers will have to look elsewhere, but Hotas One runs on both PC and current-gen Xbox consoles, and it’s available as far back as Xbox One. If you own one of these platforms, the plug-and-play nature makes it easy to get started, and the Xbox buttons replicated across devices make it easy for flyers tied to traditional consoles to jump around.
All this makes it an attractive entry-level flight stick that lacks the extra axes and controls but offers a split throttle and joystick profile closer to the cockpit that’s easy to impress. impression. It doesn’t get any younger, but Thrustmaster continues to re-release it in fresh colorways (including Microsoft flight simulator option), it’s clear that the company is making it the first choice for beginners’ flight sticks.
Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: price and availability
- List price: $99.99/£89.99
- Available in Black and Microsoft Flight Simulator options
- Launched in October 2017
The T-Flight Hotas One has been around for a while (there was a PS3 version, which should tell you how long it lasted), and this particular model has been a hit with PC and Xbox gamers since 2017.
It’s getting harder and harder to find pure black versions these days, but microsoft flight simulator version is the same product with a white finish, indicating that the stick isn’t going anywhere. The new color options are brighter and give the stick a more modern look.
Regardless, you’ll find one for under $100 with discounts, which makes it cheaper than some no-throttle options like Turtle BeachVelocityOne. It is much cheaper than mid-range options such as LogitechThe same goes for the X56 Hotas RGB, which is still a great entry-level option due to its price.
Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Specifications
| price | $99.99/£89.99 |
| aspect | 10.43 x 10.39 x 9.53 in/‎265 x 264 x 242 mm |
| weight | 5.73 lbs/2.06 kg |
| compatibility | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC |
| button | 14 |
| axis | 5 |
| throttle | Yes |
| connect | USB-A |
Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: design and functionality
- Great for desk use
- Plastic feels cheap
- There may be dust accumulated on the throttle base
The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One was the first official flight stick released for the Xbox One (a console launched in 2013), so it has some longevity. Still, its design is very period-friendly—all black and relatively sleek, with some silver accents and a striped F2 button on the rocker.
Still, it’s quite plasticky, which may cause it to squeak during use – thankfully it’s not a real airplane! On the one hand, this may drive down the price, but on the other hand, it feels far from premium compared to more expensive sticks like Thrustmaster’s own T.16000M FCS Flight Pack.
While the buttons can be remapped in individual settings in the game of your choice, as the joysticks are a “universal” option, I’m glad to see the Xbox buttons shown here. Many flight sticks are almost exclusively PC-focused, so it’s nice to see colorful face buttons here for easier identification. There’s even an Xbox button that calls up the Xbox menu on your PC or console.
The rubber underneath the lever helps prevent dust from getting into the mechanism, but the same can’t be said for a throttle that doesn’t have a dust cover or element underneath – that won’t be a problem if you use it regularly, but it’s definitely worth mentioning It may collect dust.
The stick plugs in via USB-A and has a breakaway cable, perfect for when someone tugs on the cable while you’re playing. It’s reminiscent of the original Xbox cable, and you’ll be grateful if it stops your console or PC from tipping over.
Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Performance
- Plug and play on consoles and PC via USB-A
- Splitting sections is easy, although cable management can be a hassle
- The hat switch feels nice
Setting up the T.Flight Hotas One is easy – just plug in via USB-A. While the industry is moving away from it, it’s still here, so keep in mind that depending on your port selection, you may need a USB-C adapter.
Once plugged in, it works on consoles and PCs. I love so much elite danger Within minutes, I was tumbling and swerving like crazy, whether at my desk or on the couch. The joystick is very responsive, and the Z-axis rudder can be used via the stick on the throttle, which I found gave finer control when listing left or right.
One of my favorite parts is the hat switch, which comes in a four-way version. This nifty input on top of the flight stick acts as a directional pad, allowing you to do things like open the landing gear elite danger with press. It’s definitely going to be hard to go back to a mouse, keyboard, or controller, but naturally, the eight-way hat switch will double the commands available and can be done with just one click.
The stick and throttle are easy to take apart, but the two are connected by a cable. Once you have it all back together you may want to run the lower wires through the trench underneath, which in my experience can be troublesome.
The relatively low price of admission can also be felt in the throttle. It’s not bad, it just lacks any resistance, which makes it feel less like a piece of aerospace equipment and more like a toy. When you’re thrust into hyperspace in a space sim like this, it’s hard not to feel like corners have been cut. elite dangerit feels like it lacks any meaningful resistance. That makes sense at this price point, but it’s worth mentioning.
On the other hand, I will say that the trigger on the joystick feels nice and snappy, snapping back into place in a way that feels good and tactile while also ensuring you can line up the laser cannon blasts in a similar way Star Wars: Squadrons and has the trigger ready to fire again almost instantly.
I’m also happy to report that the T.Flight Hotas One fits perfectly microsoft flight simulatorwhich may be expected from its official branded version. The split design means you can place the keyboard halfway between the throttle and flight sticks, which allows for a wider range of commands than the T.Flight Hotas One, which has fewer buttons.
However, as I mentioned before, the plastic construction may cause the stick to squeak a bit, and it’s light enough that it requires relatively little effort to accidentally move it around the table, which isn’t too difficulty.
Should I buy Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also considering…
T.Flight Hotas One still not sold? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One | Turtle BeachVelocityOne | Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack |
| price | $99.99/£89.99 | $122.99/£119.99 | $529.99/£449.99 |
| aspect | 10.43 x 10.39 x 9.53 in/‎265 x 264 x 242 mm | 6.46 x 8.54 x 9.07 inches/164 x 217 x 230 mm | 9.1 x 11.7 x 10.2 inches/231 x 297 x 259 mm |
| weight | 5.73 lbs/2.06 kg | 1.81 lbs/821 g | 7.4 lbs/3.33 kg |
| compatibility | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | personal computer |
| button | 14 | No. 27 | 64 (14 virtual buttons) |
| axis | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| throttle | Yes | No | Yes |
| connect | USB-A | USB-C | USB-C |
How I tested the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One
- After two weeks of testing
- Available in split and single unit modes
- Tested on multiple games on both platforms
I played for about 15 hours elite danger and Star Wars:Squadroneither on a PC or via Xbox Series X.
I played each game for a few hours, then switched platforms and switched back again to ensure consistent performance across games and platforms.
I also played another five hours of Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC, taking the Hotas One apart and using it as a unit to test its comfort in both configurations.
First review time: November 2024
