Video summary

Can WINCTRL's Entry-Level Joysticks Compete with the Best? | WINCTRL Ursa Minor Review

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

WINCTRL / Winwing “Ursa Minor” entry-level HOTAS/joystick(s) for flight & space sims (noted games: DCS, Elite Dangerous, Star Citizen), positioned as a budget competitor to higher-end sticks.

Key features mentioned

Control set / inputs

  • 43 total buttons (implied overall total; explicitly stated: 29 buttons on the grip)
  • Grip includes four 5-way hats
  • Dual-stage trigger
  • Second 2-way trigger
  • Thumbstick with center click
  • 6 axes total (pitch/roll/yaw/throttle/gimbal)
  • 14 buttons on the base

Haptic feedback (built-in)

  • Not force feedback (no force movement)
  • Uses subtle vibrations/rumble tied to in-game events, such as:
    • explosions, landings, firing weapons, taking damage
  • Especially promising for DCS and Elite Dangerous
  • Expected to be even better once Star Citizen support improves

Hall effect magnetic sensors

  • Applied to all axes
  • Claimed smooth/precise operation
  • Reports of no noticeable lag or dead zones

Connectivity / setup

  • USB-C plug-and-play
  • Base includes anti-slip silicone pads
  • Pre-drilled holes for cockpit mounting

Build quality & ergonomics (user experience)

Pros

  • Durable, solid materials: ABS engineering-grade plastic with a “premium feel”
  • Grip feels substantial (not too heavy)
  • Good button placement: comfortable for long sessions; minimal awkward reach
  • Dual-stage trigger feels great
  • Gimbal smooth movement (glass fiber reinforced nylon + ball bearings), though not as advanced as higher-end systems

Cons

  • Hats feel “mushy”
    • Winwing uses 4-way nav switches (contrasted with VKB’s tactile “T switches” on the VKBC Gladiator NXT Evo)
  • Damper strength/behavior is weak compared to VKB

Performance (precision / responsiveness)

  • Hall effect sensors are a major highlight:
    • Accurate and smooth response during dogfighting and fine adjustments
    • No noticeable lag or dead zones reported
  • Best suited to precision-oriented scenarios (e.g., DCS and Star Citizen combat)

Major functional drawback (throttle use)

  • The damper issue is described as the biggest problem:
    • If the reviewer uses the left stick as a throttle and removes the Y-axis spring, the damper doesn’t reliably hold the stick position
    • Result: the stick falls forward/backward when setting a fixed throttle angle
    • This is described as “serious” for precise throttle control
  • Dampers are also described as generally less strong than those on VKB’s NXT Evo, producing a lighter feel (“not as planted”)

Software / settings experience

  • Winwing Sim App Pro
    • Straightforward for remapping buttons and adjusting haptic feedback settings
    • Described as less feature-rich than some users may expect from VKB software or other advanced tooling
  • Overall setup is simplified by plug-and-play design

Comparisons made

Compared against VKB Gladiator NXT Evo (main competitor)

  • Internals described as similar or in the same class, with Winwing tweaks to reduce cost
  • NXT Evo advantages called out:
    • Better hat switch feel (“crisp and firm” vs Ursa Minor’s “mushy” hats)
    • Stronger dampers
    • Overall better build quality / button feel / planted feel
  • Conclusion: NXT Evo wins if you’re willing to pay more

Mentions of other budget alternatives

  • Thrustmaster T16000
  • Logitech sticks
  • Ursa Minor is framed as strong value vs these, mainly due to its:
    • feature count
    • hall effect precision
    • haptics

Unique points mentioned (consolidated list)

  1. Budget price targeting premium features
  2. 43 buttons; 29 on grip plus 14 on base
  3. Six axes
  4. Dual-stage trigger + 2-way trigger
  5. Thumbstick with center click
  6. Four 5-way hats
  7. Built-in haptic feedback (vibration/rumble; not force feedback)
  8. Haptics improve immersion in DCS/Elite Dangerous and are expected to matter more for Star Citizen
  9. Hall effect sensors on all axes for smooth/precise control
  10. Anti-slip silicone pads
  11. Pre-drilled mounting holes for cockpits
  12. USB-C plug-and-play
  13. Similar internal components to VKB Gladiator NXT Evo, with Winwing lowering cost via tweaks
  14. Durable ABS engineering-grade plastic; premium feel
  15. Ergonomics suited to long sessions; comfortable reach
  16. Dual-stage trigger feels great
  17. Gimbal uses glass fiber reinforced nylon + ball bearings; smooth but not top-tier resistance
  18. Accuracy praised in dogfighting and fine trajectory adjustments; no lag/dead zones noted
  19. Damper problem when used as throttle if the Y spring is removed
  20. Mushy 4-way nav hats vs VKB’s crisper T-switch feel
  21. Dampers weaker overall than VKB; lighter feel
  22. Winwing Sim App Pro is easy to use but not as feature-rich as some users expect
  23. Recommendation depends on whether you prioritize strong dampers/throttle stability vs value/features

Speakers / multiple viewpoints

Only one main reviewer voice is present; no clearly separated multi-speaker perspectives are indicated.

Overall verdict / recommendation

Recommended for

Players who want an entry-level budget joystick with:

  • Hall effect precision
  • Built-in haptics
  • Solid ergonomics
  • Plug-and-play setup Especially for DCS / Elite / Star Citizen style inputs.

Not recommended for

Users planning to use it specifically as a throttle (e.g., left-stick throttle) and relying on stable throttle angles, due to:

  • Damper reliability problems when the Y-axis spring is removed
  • Generally weaker damper strength

Bottom line

Excellent value and performance for the price, but VKB Gladiator NXT Evo is the better choice if you prioritize button feel, hat crispness, and stronger dampers/throttle stability.

Original video