The Best HOTAS for Elite Dangerous: Our Selection

If one game truly "calls for" a HOTAS, it's Elite Dangerous. Commanders who switch from keyboard and mouse to a stick all say the same: there's no going back. Here's our 2026 selection for every budget.

To start: the accessible duo

Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X / T16000M FCS — The classic entry points. The T16000M, with its precise sensor and its ecosystem (TWCS throttle), is an excellent first HOTAS to discover Elite without breaking the bank. Plenty for trading, exploration and occasional combat.

The commanders' choice: X52 Pro and X56

The Logitech (ex-Saitek) X52 Pro and X56 are historically THE Elite Dangerous HOTAS — the X52 even appears inside the game's ships! Their profusion of buttons, wheels and axes fits Elite's dense controls perfectly. The X56 adds analogue ministicks, precious for lateral thrusters. And it's a fantastic modding platform: our X56 mods guide and our custom plates for X55/X56 — available with Elite Dangerous markings — turn it into a dedicated cockpit.

For the demanding: Warthog and Orion 2

The Thrustmaster Warthog (all metal, legendary throttle — see our mounting guide and dedicated plates) and the WinWing Orion 2 (F/A-18 replica, superb value, plates available) deliver a premium experience that makes every flight session memorable.

The Elite tip

In Elite Dangerous, power management (SYS/ENG/WEP) and lateral thrusters make the difference in combat. Make sure your HOTAS offers enough hats and axes for these — or offload them to a dedicated button panel. Fly safe, commander o7