Saitek (MadCatz) new HOTAS: X-56 "Rhino"

[VTJS17_Fire]

MadCatz (former Saitek) will offer a new HOTAS in the next month(s), the X-56 "Rhino".

 

Based on the X-55 with some new features and slightly redesigned, this HOTAS and fill the price class between the X-52 Pro and the Thrustmaster "Warthog". On amazon, preorder price is about 250 Euro.

 

MadCatz promises, that they listened to all the feedback from the X-55 and its issues/ bugs. They use some new materials (maybe metal?) and added some new features to the HOTAS.

 

+ On the throttle and stick are two new mini analog stick controls.

+ The hand rest is adjustable, again (like in the X-52 models).

+ The X-56 uses 16bit hall sensors, which offers high precision flying.

 

Here some bugs on the X-55, which were be addressed on the new HOTAS.

X-55 issue: too much glue used on the throttle, this caused a tough movement

solution X-56: issue solved, MadCatz has a new supplier which uses higher production quality

 

X-55 issue: bad ergonomics, some buttons are hard to reach

solution X-56 : the hand rest is adjustable, again. Some tweaks with the button placement

 

X-55 issue: short long-life cycle of some buttonsand controller

solution X-56: new materials should increase the long-life cycle

 

X-55 issue: some failures due to USB 2.0 and its amperage (with USB 3.0 it should already work)

solution X-56: now solution known

 

 

>> www.saitek.com

>> Tomshardware

>> Q&A with a Madcatz developer on reddit

 

 

[Dudikoff]

I guess the main question is the quality of those two analogue sticks. I felt that X-55 was too gimped with those cheap looking buttons on the front of the throttle and the side of the stick instead of the three hats on the X-65F, but if those sticks are at least as useful as the analogue stick on the X-65F (unlike the low quality one on the X-52 Pro), it might be a decent set, if rather overpriced given that cheap spring-based gimbal on the stick.

 

It remains to be seen what Thrustmaster has in store for us. Whatever it is, hopefully the stick will have some new and improved gimbal design on the Warthog one.

Edited April 13, 2016 by Dudikoff