The Simagic NEO X is a control hub to which I can add my chosen rim. After a week of testing, I particularly appreciate its rigidity, modular paddles and connection options. It answers a practical cockpit need: keeping useful functions and adjustments under my fingers when using a round or dished rim.
A hub for choosing a rim
A simple rim attached to a quick release is enough for driving with a separate shifter, but provides no buttons. The NEO X adds controls for wipers, navigation, ABS or brake bias. It belongs to the NEO range, positioned below Simagic’s most expensive products, and to the modular UP+ family.
On a Simagic base, it uses the brand’s intended power and communication system. On another base, it requires USB connection to the PC and appropriate mounting. I therefore distinguish connection freedom from immediate compatibility with every brand.
Construction and controls
The body uses a carbon-fibre-reinforced composite with a steel structure. It feels rigid immediately after unboxing. Four backlit buttons and two illuminated encoders sit alongside two thumb wheels and two multifunction switches. A light strip indicates engine speed.
The controls are shared with the GT NEO. They represent a compromise compared with Simagic’s more expensive models, particularly in click travel and rotary construction. Their operation suits me, and the supplied stickers identify assignments. There is no screen for adjusting the base directly through the hub.
Fitting the rim and choosing paddles
Conventional installation uses the 70 mm front mounting pattern. Countersunk screws and a central cover create a tidy assembly. I also made a rear-mounted arrangement for a dished rim with a spacer and suitable attachment. That configuration cannot retain the paddles or MagLink, so it should be considered a specific installation rather than a consequence-free variation.
Paddles are selected separately. After removing the covers, I connect the modules and screw them to the hub. Their height and distance are adjustable. Over the week, I refined their position and appreciated their distinct, fairly quiet click. The module with analogue clutch paddles is presented as an option I did not test here.
USB, MagLink and software
The NEO X already works with a conventional USB cable. MagLink is therefore optional: it replaces the rear plate and adds a magnetic connection with a more organised coiled cable. The required quick release and any base-specific adaptation must then be used. For MOZA, I specify in the video that the board inside the Simagic quick release must be disconnected.
On my Alpha Mini, the hub receives power from the base and communicates wirelessly. SimPro Manager updates hardware, adjusts colours and brightness and assigns telemetry information. USB connection also opens SimHub use for additional effects. I distinguish these possibilities from plugins still described as forthcoming at the time of filming.
Ergonomics and total cost
With my 30 and 33 cm rims, controls remain accessible and the extra weight does not bother me. However, their position is fixed: I cannot move buttons towards or away from the centre. An additional 50 mm mounting pattern would also expand rim options.
The budget must include the hub, rim and any paddles. My main regret is the lack of a version without the included quick release for people using another brand’s attachment. The supplied unit is not necessarily easy to reuse on a simple rim. Nevertheless, the NEO X provides a solid solution that is enjoyable to personalise.
What we liked
- Rigidity and freedom to choose a rim.
- Adjustable paddles with a distinct, quiet click.
- Illuminated controls and USB possibilities.
What we liked less
- Fixed button positions.
- No 50 mm pattern for attaching a rim.
- An included quick release even when it will be replaced.
