The Short Answer
Buy the Thrustmaster T248. It wins on force feedback strength, FFB quality, magnetic paddle shifters, OLED display, and pedal feel. The G29 is 10-year-old gear-drive technology competing against a 2021 hybrid belt+gear design. Unless you find the G29 at a significant discount (under $150), the T248 is the cleaner choice at any comparable price point.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Spec | Logitech G29 | Thrustmaster T248 | |------|-------------|------------------| | FFB type | Dual motor gear drive | Hybrid belt + gear (T-HD) | | Force feedback | ~2.2 Nm | 5 Nm | | Wheel diameter | 28 cm | 28 cm | | Rotation | 900° | 900° | | Paddle shifters | Mechanical | Magnetic (H.E.A.R.T) | | Display | None | OLED (20+ telemetry screens) | | Pedals | 3-pedal (clutch included) | 2-pedal (no clutch) | | PS5 compatible | Yes | Yes | | PC compatible | Yes | Yes | | Price | ~$200–230 | ~$230–250 |
Force Feedback: The Critical Difference
This is where the comparison is decided. The G29 uses a dual motor gear drive producing approximately 2.2 Nm. The T248 uses a hybrid belt-and-gear system (T-HD) producing 5 Nm.
That 2.3x torque difference is audible, tangible, and directly affects lap time. With the G29, you feel big impacts — kerb strikes, grass runs, wall contacts. What you don't feel reliably: the gradual buildup of understeer, the subtle tire slip before a full slide, the weight transfer under trail braking.
With the T248, all of those subtler signals come through. The wheel gets meaningfully heavier under cornering load. You feel the front tires working at their limit before they lose grip. Trail braking communicates itself through the wheel in a way it doesn't on the G29.
The G29's gear drive is also notably noisier. Under hard FFB, the grinding of gear stages produces a distinct mechanical sound. The T248's hybrid system is quieter at equivalent settings.
The G29's One Genuine Advantage: 3 Pedals
The G29 includes clutch, brake, and throttle. The T248 bundle only includes 2 pedals — brake and throttle. If you want a clutch for manual transmission driving in GT7 or Forza, you need to add the T3PM ($130) or T-LCM ($199) to a T248 purchase.
Adding the T3PM to a T248 brings total cost to approximately $360–380, versus $200 for the G29 bundle with its 3-pedal set. At that point, the T248 is more expensive but significantly better on every performance metric.
If you genuinely need 3 pedals and your budget is hard-capped at $250, the G29 wins on value in that specific scenario.
Magnetic vs Mechanical Paddle Shifters
The G29's paddle shifters are mechanical — a physical spring-return mechanism with a click. They work reliably but feel like a gaming peripheral rather than a racing simulator component.
The T248's Mag-Shift paddles use H.E.A.R.T magnetic sensors. There's no mechanical contact — the paddle returns to position magnetically, and the sensor detects it without physical wear. The result is a crisp, fast, consistent shift feel that doesn't degrade over time.
In GT7 competitive play — particularly in wet races where sequential shifting at the corner of your traction limit matters — the T248's paddle response is faster and more confidence-inspiring.
OLED Display vs Nothing
The G29 has no integrated display. The T248's OLED shows gear position, RPM, lap time, tire temperatures, and current FFB settings.
In GT7, the gear display is useful in any race where you're lifting your eyes from the TV to check mirrors or track position. Having your current gear on the wheel means one less piece of information you need to get from the screen. For new sim racers still building driving awareness, this is a real benefit.
Which to Buy: Decision Framework
Buy the T248 if:
- You want the best FFB under $250 for PS5
- You don't need a clutch pedal yet
- You're starting from zero (the 2-pedal set is adequate for learning)
- You want quieter FFB operation
Buy the G29 if:
- You find it at $150 or below on sale
- You specifically need 3 pedals in the initial bundle and can't afford the T3PM add-on
- You're buying used and the price difference is significant
Don't buy the G29 at $180–220: At standard retail price, the value case doesn't hold versus the T248.
Long-Term Upgrade Path
T248 upgrade path: Add T-LCM pedals ($199) → eventually upgrade to T-GT II base (~$499) or GT DD Pro for PS5 (~$499). The Thrustmaster ecosystem has a clear ladder.
G29 upgrade path: Essentially none on PS5. Logitech's G Pro ecosystem isn't compatible with the G29's wheel base, and there's no PS5 load cell pedal upgrade within the Logitech lineup without buying a new wheel base. The G29 is a terminal product for Logitech's PS5 console ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the G29 or T248 better for GT7 Sport Mode?
The T248. The difference in force feedback quality (5Nm hybrid vs 2.2Nm gear) directly affects how well you feel tire grip and understeer during Sport Mode races. The T248 communicates the information you need to race competitively more clearly than the G29.
Should I buy the G29 if it's on sale for $150?
At $150 the G29 becomes a reasonable purchase. At $180–200 (standard retail), the T248 is the better choice. Set a price alert for G29 at $150 or below if budget is the primary constraint.
Can I upgrade the G29 pedals to match the T248?
Yes, but it gets expensive. The Logitech G Pro Racing Pedals ($349) are compatible with the G29 wheel base via USB on PC. On PS5, there's no straightforward standalone pedal upgrade path within Logitech's ecosystem without buying the G Pro wheel base. Thrustmaster's T-LCM ($199) is a simpler upgrade for T248 users.
The T248 is the better wheel, full stop. The only scenario where the G29 makes more sense is at heavy discount ($150 or below) or if you need 3 pedals immediately and can't add the T3PM budget. For everyone else starting out on GT7 with a $200–250 budget, the T248 is the decision.
T248 — Check Price on Amazon →
G29 — Check Price on Amazon →
