Simagic's new Alpha Evo lineup delivers stunning performance and value, particularly the Alpha Evo Ultra. I've been testing the top dog of Simagic's new Alpha Evo lineup, the Alpha Evo Ultra, and it overdelivers in every area.
The sim racing hardware market is more competitive than ever before, with established brands like Fanatec, Thrustmaster, Asetek, Moza Racing, Simucube, Logitech and more, all attempting to nail the most important part of any sim racing set-up, the wheelbase. Simagic is a brand that hasn't been around for that long, but they've made an impact in the sim racing market. And, on paper, their new Alpha Evo lineup looks to be a really strong value, but how does the top-of-the-line model, the Alpha Evo Ultra, perform against the competition? Let's find out!
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra design and features
The Alpha Evo Ultra delivers 28Nm of torque, putting it up against some of the most powerful, market-leading wheelbases in the market. It's got a lightweight, small-diameter motor, which Simagic says 'reduces inertia for tighter, more responsive control', and claims to have zero-cogging tech through the use of a 5-pole-pair servo motor. Its 21-bit high-resolution encoder claims to deliver smooth, precise feedback with over 2 million steps per rotation. The wheelbase itself is made from CNC-machined aluminium, which also features tons of connection ports, 11 to be exact, from USB-C, USB-A and RJ45 ports which support CAN, CAN FD and USB.
A really cool feature of the Alpha Evo Ultra is that it's compatible with most magnetic dashes; they just snap directly onto the wheelbase, so no external accessory is needed, which is a nice touch. It's the first time I've used a Simagic wheelbase, but I've been really impressed with how easy it is to mount, attach the wheel using the quick release, and then just get racing. You can mount in pretty much any way, including front, side or bottom mounting. It also comes with an external kill switch that you can plug in, so you can just cut off the device completely with one button. And, for all the gamers out there, it comes with an RGB ring right behind the wheel! It feels and looks like a super premium product, which is very impressive given the price point.
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra design and features: 4.5/5
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra performance
I've tested many, many wheelbases in my time reviewing sim racing equipment, from almost all the major brands, and I don't say this lightly, but the Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra is by far the smoothest, most responsive, and most natural-feeling wheelbase I've ever used. There's no feeling of cogging or torque ripple, with the feedback feeling smooth yet very refined, and a superb level of feedback from track surfaces, under traction, and weight transfer. This level of feedback adds a lot to immersion and gives you the confidence to attack corners, while also allowing you to correct slides quickly and intuitively with responsive feedback.
It's hard to accurately describe this wheelbase's responsiveness, but essentially, compared to others, it gives you more time to react to situations like bumps, kerbs, and traction losses. It feels incredibly natural, and easy to use, while also providing a deep level of detail, when you most need it. Something I have to mention, and I do in every review, is that 28Nm is a strong headline figure, but for the best sim racing experience, you'll never go anywhere near that figure. I think the sweet spot is between 10Nm and 16Nm value, in my opinion, and in those ranges, the wheelbase is at its very best, and is where I performed most of my testing. The 28Nm value gives you the headroom, so when you turn it down to the value you're most comfortable at, you know that the wheelbase is going to perform consistently, and retain the level of force feedback you need.
I also found the performance to be incredibly consistent across games, even those that require a different driving style, including F1 25, Le Mans Ultimate, Forza Horizon 6, and Assetto Corsa Evo. I also found the Simagic SimPro Manager software to be incredibly easy to use and to have some really useful features. It has presets built in for every major sim racing title, which is incredibly handy, and allows you to get up and running quickly, and then tweak from there, which saves so much time. There are loads of advanced settings, and you can even program the RGB ring light settings for different in-game situations, like ABS activation or even different flags. As for the Simagic ecosystem, it's pretty stacked these days, with a big selection of wheels, pedals, shifters, handbrakes and more accessories, including a QR-A adapter that allows you to use third-party wheels through a USB-C connection.
Considering the price of this wheelbase, which we'll touch on shortly, the performance is nothing short of extraordinary.
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra performance: 5/5
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra value for money
It just keeps getting better and better, because as far as value goes, it's the new benchmark for premium wheelbases. The Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra is priced at just $969.00, which is roughly £721. For the amount of torque you get and the performance, the value is phenomenal. To put that price into perspective, other wheelbases around the Nm value of the Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra include the Fanatec Podium DD ($1,199.99, roughly £950), Simucube SC3 Pro (£1,399.00), Moza R25 Ultra (£899) and the Asetek Invicta (just over £1000). It's essentially more than £200 cheaper than its closest competitor, while offering a higher level of performance. Insane!
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra value for money: 5/5
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra overall thoughts
The Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra is a phenomenal wheelbase, offering a stunning level of performance, premium build and features, solid software support, and a large ecosystem, all at a lower price than the competition. I can't fault it. If you're looking for a powerful sim racing wheelbase, the Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra is an easy recommendation, and the performance, considering the price point, is genuinely stunning.
Simagic Alpha Evo Ultra review score: 5/5
