Thrustmaster T598 vs Moza R3: a first direct drive
On PlayStation there is no question, because the R3 does not work there and the T598 does. On PC or Xbox the decision is about budget: the R3 has the lower official price of the two and is already true direct drive; the T598 gives far more force and its pedals can grow into a load cell brake. To stay for years, the T598; to try direct drive for less money, the R3.
Thrustmaster T598
Who it is for: On PlayStation, or if you want more force and a brake that can improve without changing pedals.
Moza R3 Racing Bundle
Who it is for: On PC or Xbox, to get into direct drive for as little as possible.
The specs side by side
| Thrustmaster T598 | Moza R3 Racing Bundle | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | Direct drive | Direct drive |
| Force (torque) | 5 Nm | 3.9 Nm |
| Rotation | 1080° | unlimited |
| Works on | PlayStation, Xbox, PC (Xbox as a separate version) | Xbox, PC (Xbox as a separate version) |
| Pedals | Raceline LTE, two magnetic pedals (2) | SR-P Lite (2) |
| Load cell brake | Can be added | No |
| Rim | Rubber grips | Aluminium rim with PU grips |
| Display and lights | Race Dash screen | RGB RPM lights |
| Base weight | not published | not published |
| Software | not published | MOZA Pit House |
In bold, what differs between the two. Figures from each manufacturer's official sheet; "not published" means the brand does not give it. We do not show prices because they change every week.
The Nm are not measured the same way
Moza publishes 3.9 Nm of PEAK torque: the most it reaches. Thrustmaster publishes 5 Nm of CONSTANT torque, plus an overshoot of up to double for short effects. So the real gap between them is wider than it looks in the table. The T598 motor is also not an ordinary direct drive: it is axial flux, and Thrustmaster promises it avoids the pulsing feel typical of these motors, which for now is the manufacturer's word.
Pedals: both bring two
Neither has a clutch. The R3's SR-P Lite are steel with Hall sensors and stay as they are. The T598's Raceline LTE are metal, with interchangeable springs and three adjustment notches, and Thrustmaster announces a separate kit adding a third pedal with a load cell. It is the upgrade you feel most under braking, and the one the R3 will not let you make without changing pedals.
Consoles and rotation
The T598 has one version for PlayStation and PC and another for Xbox. The R3 works on PC and its licensed bundle is the Xbox one; PlayStation is out. Moza gives unlimited rotation and Thrustmaster 1,080 degrees, which does not matter in a Formula 1 game: a single seater turns far less. Both accept rims from their own brand, formula ones included.