X52
From Wiki
After three very simular HOTAS with the X36 Gameport, X36 USB and X45, the Saitek X52 HOTAS introduced a number of significant changes and enhancements.
The X52 introduced a backlit mono display on the throttle to display clock, timer or profile selection information. Unlike the X52 Pro this display cannot display any information from sims or otherwise be made to display user defined information.
The HOTAS has numerous blue lit buttons. Whether these lights are on or their brightness level can be set in the control panel properties, this changes all lights. The MFD backlight has a separate control. It is not possible to control the lights programmatically or individually or change the colours as the X52 Pro can.
The X52 dropped the rocker rudder on the throttle that was a feature of previous Saitek HOTAS. The rudder function is performed by a twist stick, the stick can be locked into place if this function isn't required.
There are many more buttons on the X52 compared to the earlier Saitek HOTAS including toggle switches on the stick.
The stick uses hall effect sensors for the X and Y axes. This provides greater longevitity for the stick over potentiometers. The HOTAS still uses potentiometers for the throttle, twist rudder and dials.
Critisms of the X52 include:
- the dials are significantly smaller and are an odd shape compared to other HOTAS including earlier Saitek HOTAS
- the movement is light with little spring resistance (some people mod the stick to overcome this), however this lightness does prevent your hand from becoming fatigued
- the omission of the rocker rudder, other HOTAS like the Thrustmaster Top Gun Afterburner and Top Gun Afterburner II HOTAS include both a twist stick rudder and rocker rudders
The X52 is a good value HOTAS that is easily programmable and has proven to be reliable. The more recent X52 Pro has many more features but has had some reports on forums for hardware reliability problems. It is difficult to tell whether this is a problem with others reporting reliable use.
