Finding the perfect balance between price and performance in flight simulation hardware is often a struggle. For a long time, I thought I knew who the “budget kings” were, but a new player has changed my mind. After several weeks of testing, I’m ready to talk about the WinWing Ursa Minor Space/Fighter HOSAS.
At just under €200, these sticks offer a value proposition that is hard to ignore, especially for space sim pilots in Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous, and X4: Foundations.
Here’s a link to their website: https://winwingsim.com/ (not sponsored)
Unboxing and First Impressions
The Ursa Minor comes in a straightforward package. Inside, you’ll find the sticks (including an angled version for the left hand, which is perfect for throttle control), an angled USB-C to USB-A cable, and Allen keys [01:24].
One of the best “quality of life” features is the quick-access panel at the base. Unlike other brands where you have to take the whole base apart, here you can access the interior dampers and clutches in seconds to adjust the tension to your liking [03:00].
Technical Specs: What’s Under the Hood?
Despite the entry-level price, WinWing hasn’t skimped on the internals:
- Gimbal: A plastic pincer gimbal using glass fiber reinforced nylon and ball bearings [06:39].
- Sensors: Non-contact magnetic resistance sensors on the X and Y axes for precision [06:49].
- Haptics: A built-in vibration motor in the stick head provides haptic feedback—a rare find at this price point [04:06].
- Build: Industrial-grade ABS plastic construction. While it’s almost entirely plastic, it feels solid and responsive [06:22].
Hands-On Gameplay
The button layout is fantastic for space sims. You get multiple 4-way hats, an analog stick with a round cutout (which I love), a two-stage trigger, and plenty of buttons on the base for things like landing gear or engine start-up [05:00, 10:24].
I tested these across the “Big Three”:
- Star Citizen & Elite Dangerous: The sticks are plug-and-play and worked seamlessly out of the box.
- X4: Foundations: The distinct center on the axes helps prevent unintentional strafing, making docking and precision flying much easier [08:15].
The Elephant in the Room: Quality Control
I have to be honest with you: during my review, one of the hats on my stick actually broke [11:19].
However, this gave me a chance to test their customer support. I reached out via their ticket system and received a response within three minutes during working hours. They were ready to replace the item once I provided a video of the fault [12:05]. If you buy these, my advice is to use a reputable retailer with a good return policy, just in case you hit a “Monday model.”
The Verdict
Are they perfect? No. The hats can feel a bit mushy, and the buttons on the stick are slightly wiggly [09:26, 10:02].
But when you compare the WinWing Ursa Minor to the aging Thrustmaster T.16000M, there is simply no contest. For under €200, the Ursa Minor offers more features, better adjustability, and a much more modern flight experience. If you are looking to upgrade from a basic setup without spending VKB or Virpil money, this is your new best bet.
YouTube Video: The MOST Value For Your Money? – WinWing URSA MINOR Space/Fighter HOSAS Review