Fickle requirements
While overall the X56 is outstanding in it’s price bracket (it basically has no competition at all except Logitech’s own X52 pro) and all the features it offers (split throttle, pinky trigger, loads of hats, analog ministicks and more buttons than you will ever need) it does come with a couple of caveats.

The first and by far most important is that you really, REALLY do not want the stick and the throttle plugged into the same USB root hub on your motherboard (use USB tree software to make certain) otherwise you WILL experience ghost inputs from the throttle whenever you move it with the stick also moved, they will interfere with each other.

Second, the devices are much much bigger than you think, if you have small hands, look elsewhere. You’ll also need to be quite strong to move the throttle (it has some kind of dampening grease applied at the factory) and the stick’s z-axis is significantly stiffer than even the stiffest of the four available tension springs for the stick itself (and the location of the C ministick will make it harder to turn without also activating the ministick with your thumb by mistake).

Lastly, the throttle hats, there are two and they’re very VERY close together making it hard for someone who’s hands are big enough for the stick to be able to accurately use them, also they do not seem to have much in the way of tactile feedback when used making it hard to know when you’ve successfully pressed the direction you wanted.

Those three quibbles aside, and if you can live with them, this thing is amazing, you simply cannot get a better hotas without spending multiples of the money asked for this (although there are good arguments for spending a little less and going with the X52 or X52 pro, mainly the absolutely awesome covered safety button!!).

Seems like the best value at this price poi
In a nutshell I think this is probably the best throttle and stick at this price point. In fact it’s a really good price for what you get. I’m very happy with this buy.

The only negative thing I can say about the throttle is that it lacks 0%, 50% and 100% detents (e.g. for afterburner). Otherwise, tons of switches, ability to split the throttles, multiple modes.. all you need.

The stick’s great. Again plenty of buttons which feel really satisfying to use, the spring in the can be adjusted if you want an easier time moving the stick, or if you want to make it more difficult.
In terms of feel it’s good, but not incredible – going higher end would get you that, but we’re in the mid-range. I am totally satisfied with the quality here.

The software’s garbage. You’ll probably find yourself having to clear profiles every time you boot your PC, since you’ll be using the ones in the game. Don’t discount the X56 just because of the two clicks it takes to do that.

Logitech X-56
Plus points:
Throttle controls can be bound or unbound together to work as one lever or 2
Momentary switches spring back with good response.
Everything easily within reach.
Programming buttons – software allows adjustment of basically everything for use within games / Sims. Very very adjustable so many buttons.
RGB lighting also very adjustable as well as brightness.
Has mounting holes on the units to mount to desk / sim pit style brackets. Although the rubber feet do allow to be placed direct on a desk without it moving too easily.

Bad points –
Lack of an internal cable management for excess cable length.
The throttle resistance knob is a bit sticky and often won’t allow rotation. Even a minor adjustment results in either no resistance at all or stiffer than would be desirable.

Summary – Having used HOTAS style controls in the past this is certainly my favourite to obtain. Controls are very adjustable and the ergonomics are superb.
The build quality appears very sturdy as it should be for its cost.
Would certainly do sim pit pilots proud.
Only drawback being the throttle resistance knob

Great joystick so far.
The joystick itself for me is very good and I am happy with it. The look stick for POV on the actual flightstick has a thumb bevel. This gets stuck if you push it forward. I will take the stick apart later on and fix it myself. Other than that brilliant rgb lighting, all the buttons and functions work perfectly fine. I have played X wing 1993, Tie fighter, mechwarrior series, and many other sims for over half my life.

I have owned CH Flightstick Pro, thrustmaster products and this one is a very solid build. It is light weight, and requires a separate usb power hub to avoid ghosting problems, so if you buy this just make sure nothing else is connected in that usb 3.0 slot.

Which is one reason why laptops are not recommended for use with this product. As the bus inside the main board only has one hub for all usb ports. Great stick arrived sooner than was expected very grateful.

– Brian
Reykjavik Iceland

Surprisingly poor ergonomics for smaller-handed people
8 years ago I bought a Saitek X52 Pro joystick which after years of great service had suffered mechanical degradation and a hat had broke.

Taking the opportunity to ‘upgrade’ I thought I try Logitech’s X56, hoping this would be at least a ‘spiritual successor’ , but sadly no.

It was clear before I’d even assembled the joystick to it’s base that the ‘stick had poor ergonomics for smaller-handed people. And addition I found the positioning of the ‘sticks ‘A’ & ‘B’ buttons very odd but worst of all was the ‘stick’s square-edged trigger button that barely travelled 2mm. Certainly no where nearly as comfortable as the X52 Pro’s round-edge, dual-switch, deep travel trigger.

Unlike the Saitek X56 Pro, the ‘stick has no facility to adjust to different sized hands.

Thanks for Amazon for issuing a full refund for this rather dissapointing joystick. I’ve now placed an order for the X52 Pro 🙂

Good build quality. Throttle could be better.
A good, well built stick. Build quality compared to my old X52 Pro is miles ahead.

All the switches feel solid and have a positive, crisp response when depressed or thrown; not mushy and wobbly like some joysticks.

A choice of springs for the stick meaning you can adjust the heaviness of the force required to move the stick.

The RGB LEDs are a nice touch although they have a heavy blue tinge to them so you can’t get pure white easily. It would be nice to have the joystick automatically dim the LEDs if you don’t use the controls for a while.

The only real complaints I’d have are with the throttle. It is too heavy even on the lowest stiffness setting so you often end up lifting the whole unit off the desk whilst trying to move the throttle quickly.

Also, the graduations on the base of the throttle don’t match with where the throttle is set, so when the throttle is at 50% the graduations say about 35%. I thought at first the throttle was working logarithmically but it doesn’t appear to be sadly.

Great bit of kit.
Four stars awarded simply for the well documented and only issue I have with this HOTAS. That is the sticky throttle. When you first move the throttle after a period of non use it’s very stiff, a couple of sharp forwards and backwards movements whilst the PC starts up is all it takes to clear the issue and from then on for the session it works great.

The buttons are plentiful and intuitively places to allow full fingertip controls and with the additional pinky trigger fitted to the stick it effectively doubles the amount of buttons.

I use this stick for various flight sims and elite dangerous. I never find myself needing the mouse or keyboard and this setup really adds to the immersion.