MOZA ESX review: the Xbox-licensed aluminum round wheel for ~$129
The MOZA ESX wraps a 280mm round rim and an aluminum alloy face plate around 22 buttons for around $129. That buys a metal-faced, Xbox-licensed wheel at a price where rivals are usually all plastic. The ISF polyurethane grips are the one part that feels its price.
| Type | Round wheel, entry/mid-range, Xbox-licensed |
|---|---|
| Rim | 280mm, aluminum alloy face plate and rim, ISF polyurethane (PU) grips. No carbon, suede, or leather. |
| Inputs | 22 customizable buttons (two joystick-style funky switches), pair of aluminum magnetic paddle shifters, 10 RGB RPM/shift LEDs. No dual-clutch paddles, no rotary encoders. |
| Display | None. 10 adjustable RGB RPM/shift LEDs only, no screen |
| Connectivity | MOZA quick release; powered and run through a MOZA base (no rear USB). Works with R3, R5, R9, R16, R21. Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One and PC. No cross-brand QR. |
| Price | ~$149 USD MSRP, frequently ~$129 on sale |
| Best for | Budget Xbox and PC racers on a MOZA base |
Who it’s for
Section titled “Who it’s for”A first or second round wheel for someone already on, or buying into, a MOZA wheelbase who wants metal and an Xbox license without paying GT-rim money.
Buy it if:
- You’re on a MOZA base (R3 through R21) and want an aluminum-faced round wheel that scales with the base later.
- You need Xbox support. The ESX is the rim that unlocks Xbox on bases like the Moza R5.
- You want a high input count for the class: 22 buttons with two funky switches, not the four or six on a basic round wheel.
Not the one if you race PC-only and want suede or leather grips, where a GT rim like the Simagic GT Neo or the MOZA GS V2P is the better spend.
Build and feel
Section titled “Build and feel”Aluminum face and rim. The 280mm rim and the front face plate are aluminum alloy, not the molded plastic that defines this price bracket. The wheel feels dense and cool to the touch, and the metal face gives the button cluster a solid backing that doesn’t flex when you stab a switch mid-corner.
The grips feel cheap. The hand sections are wrapped in ISF polyurethane, MOZA’s sweat-resistant plastic. It wipes clean and stays put in a long stint, but it has none of the tack of suede or the give of leather. This is the most common complaint about the ESX, and it’s a fair one.
Magnetic paddles, 22 inputs. A pair of aluminum magnetic shift paddles sit behind the rim with a crisp, clicky throw. The face carries 22 customizable buttons, two of them joystick-style funky switches for menu and brake-bias work, plus a strip of 10 RGB LEDs you map to RPM and shift points in Pit House. There are no analog dual-clutch paddles and no rotary encoder dials, so bite-point launches and on-wheel dials stay on pricier rims.
Watch-outs
Section titled “Watch-outs”- PU plastic grips. The ISF polyurethane covering is the wheel’s weak point. It feels cheap and gets sweaty next to the suede or leather on a Simagic GT Neo or MOZA GS V2P.
- MOZA-only, no standalone use. The ESX has no rear USB or RJ port. It draws power and signal through a MOZA base over the quick release, so it won’t run on a non-MOZA base or work as a USB controller on its own.
- No dual-clutch, no encoders. No analog clutch paddles for bite-point launches and no rotary dials, so brake-bias and TC trimming fall to the funky switches.
- No screen. Telemetry is 10 RGB LEDs, not a dash. For lap, fuel, and delta readouts you’re reading the in-game display or a separate dash unit.
Alternatives to consider
Section titled “Alternatives to consider”- Logitech G RS Round Wheel: ~$70 and round, the cheaper way onto a round rim if you don’t need the aluminum face and you’re on a Logitech base.
- Asetek La Prima GT: ~$435 round wheel with a Comfort+ rim and separate button box, for the round shape with premium materials on an Asetek base.
- MOZA GS V2P: ~$369 GT wheel on the same MOZA quick release, with suede grips and more inputs if you want a step up inside the ecosystem.
- Fanatec ClubSport Universal Hub V2: ~$370 if you’d rather bolt your own round rim to a hub on a Fanatec base instead of buying a fixed wheel.
If you don’t already own a MOZA base, price the Moza R5 bundle first, since the ESX only powers up once there’s a MOZA wheelbase behind it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the MOZA ESX work on Xbox?
Yes. It's officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One and also works on PC. The Xbox chip lives in the wheel, not the base, which is why MOZA bases like the R5 only reach Xbox once you fit the ESX rim. There is no PlayStation support.
Which wheelbases does the MOZA ESX work with?
MOZA bases only: the R3, R5, R9, R16, and R21, over the MOZA quick release. The ESX has no rear USB port, so it draws power and signal through the base and can't run on a non-MOZA base or as a standalone USB controller. It's also not covered by the Fanatec Universal Hub or any cross-brand QR.
Does the MOZA ESX have a screen or dual-clutch paddles?
No on both. Telemetry is a strip of 10 adjustable RGB RPM and shift LEDs, not a dash screen, and the only paddles are the two magnetic shifters. There are no analog dual-clutch paddles for bite-point launches and no rotary encoder dials. For those, step up to a GT rim like the MOZA GS V2P.
Is the MOZA ESX worth it over a cheaper round wheel?
If you're on a MOZA base and want Xbox support, yes: ~$129 buys an aluminum face and rim where the Logitech G RS Round Wheel at ~$70 is plastic and locked to Logitech bases. If you race PC-only and want premium grips, put the money toward a GT rim like the Simagic GT Neo instead.