Our Verdict
Pros
- Incredible design
- Huge range of adjustment
- Incredibly tactile gameplay
- Easy to assemble and mount
- Tool free adjustments thanks to the resistance knob
- Short shift upgrade available
- Easy to mount to any sim rig
- 3 year warranty
Cons
- PC only
- Light grey shifter knob stands out (Not in a good way)
- Loud during use
- Slight echo with each shift
- Included USB-C cable too short for some setups
When Sim-Lab release a sim racing product, the general consensus within the community is, this thing is going to be excellent.
- The P1X Pro cockpit? One of the best 8020 rigs you can buy.
- The XP1 pedals: An excellent all-round pedal set.
- The Mercedes-AMG F1 wheel: A true piece of art.
So when the SQ1 shifter launched earlier this year, expectations were pretty high. I’ve had this shifter, along with the XB1 Handbrake on my rig for a little while now thanks to Sim-Lab sending them over. And in this review, I’m going to look at whether this little shifter lives up to the hype and praise that the rest of the Sim-Lab lineup receives.
Watch our Sim-Lab SQ1 Shifter Review
Review coming soon.
Price of the Sim-Lab SQ1 Shifter
Before jumping into specifics, I want to address the price. This Sim-Lab SQ1 shifter costs just $199 or €195. Here in the UK, we can currently grab it for under £175. In the grand scheme of sim racing peripherals, that is actually on the lower end.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Sim-Lab SQ1 Shifter | EU: €195 US: $199 |
For a premium sim racing brand such as Sim-Lab, who offer premium cockpits, and eye-wateringly expensive steering wheels, this is rather conservative. In comparison, similar shifters on the market range from the equally great value Aiologs shifter at a very similar price point, through to the Fanatec Clubsport shifter at over $/€250, and premium shifters such as the Heusinkveld MagShift at over $/€300.
What is the SQ1 Shifter?
The Sim-Lab SQ1 aims to do one thing, and that is be the best sequential shifter on the market. With a price tag of around $/€200, things are pretty positive from the start. This isn’t a do-it-all product like the Fanatec shifter, or even the Thrustmaster TSS which transforms between handbrake and shifter.
The SQ1 is a humble sequential shifter, and that is it. The form factor is small, the design is clean, and there is a surprising amount of adjustability.
Unboxing and what’s included
When you open the incredibly small box, you’re greeted with the essentials. There’s a 1.5 meter USB-C cable, which is way too short for my rig. To span the gap between my shifter and USB hub, I needed to upgrade this to a 3 meter cable.
You then get the base of the shifter, which is a gorgeous single sheet of aluminium that wraps around the entire base. You then get the shifter handle broken into a few pieces. The main shifter arm, which is again constructed entirely of metal and coated in black. And the shifter knob which has a silver finish.
You also get all mounting hardware included, and a range of different roller profiles which can affect the feel and noise of the shifter. Finally, there is the base plate which allows for easy mounting to your rig.
Assembly
Assembly is super quick. The shifter shaft screws directly into the base, followed by the shifter knob which again screws directly onto the shaft. Flipping the SQ1 over, we can install the mounting plate, which attaches by three countersunk screws.
This base allows for incredibly easy top down mounting with plenty of positional adjustment thanks to the two slot gaps. This is exactly how a sim racing peripheral should be designed. For complete ease of use.
Adjustments
With everything assembled, it’s about time we start taking it apart again. There are multiple ways to adjust how this shifter feels. The first is the large blue adjustment screw. Turning this one way increases the tension, making for a stiffer shifter activation. While, rotating it the other loosens everything up, allowing you to pull incredibly quick and effortless shifts.
You can also adjust the haptic feedback of each shift. And this is where the roller profiles come into play. These roller profiles are the internal elements that the shifter rolls across during each activation. They feature an uneven surface which is what generates the two-stage feel of each shift.
Out of the box, the roller labelled B is fitted, and this provides a tactile two-stage feel. You pull the shifter and the initial activation is smooth. Then, there is a distinct bite where the shifter activates.
You also get three other versions;
- Tactile Soft which is similar to the default profile but with a slightly more subtle second-stage engagement.
- Comfort which still very much features two distinct phases, but with less of a tactile feel.
- There is also a silent profile which removes the two stage feel almost completely. It is still there, but its way more subtle, and as a result, each shift is quieter to activate.
Having tried each profile, I stuck with the pre-installed tactile roller. It is the harshest, and provides the most amount of haptic feedback with each shift. But it is really nice to see so much customisation in this element.
Software
The SQ1 is a self calibrating shifter, and with all adjustments configurable manually via the roller profiles and adjustment knob. You don’t even need any software to run this thing. Simply connect it to your PC and away you go.
The design
In terms of its design, this is one incredibly good looking sim racing product. For me, when I think of a sim racing shifter, my mind automatically goes towards the large, black boxes that look incredibly unsightly hanging off your rig.
That is certainly not the case with the SQ1. It has broken this mould of a shifter being clunky in its design, and this is a lot due to the small form factor of the base, and some nice design flares.
The first being the dark silver finish off the base, with its rounded corners, and the carbon fibre texture on the top. The USB-C port on the rear is well positioned so that you can subtly run a cable away from the shifter without really ever seeing it.
There are the mandatory Sim-Lab logos on either side, just so you don’t forget where you bought it. Then on each side are two triangular cutouts, where you can watch the internal mechanism and movement.
Moving up, the normal Sim-Lab colour scheme prevails with the bold blue adjustment knob. Much like the XP1 Pedals that I reviewed, anywhere you see that is blue on a Sim-Lab product means it’s an area of adjustment. This continuity across an entire product range is really nice to see.
The only real part of this shifter that I’m not as keen on is the light grey shifter knob. This adds another colour to the design, and is just a shade lighter than the grey base. I’d have much preferred for this to be black like the handbrake grip next to it. Or if Sim-Lab did insist on it being grey, at least to have matched the colour of the base.
The good news is that Sim-Lab have since released an SQ1 Track Pack. This is a replacement for everything that sits above the base. It includes an all black design, along with a shorter lever. I’ve not tried the short throw lever so can’t comment on its feel, but the straight black knob is much more appealing to me than the silver one.
As a whole though, whether you opt for the all-black addon or stick to the base SQ1, it is hard to deny it’s not a pretty looking shifter. I’d go as far as saying it’s the best-looking shifter on the market right now and is a huge step up from the large boxy designs that brands such as Logitech, Fanatec and Thrustmaster have been using for years.
Performance review
So how does this thing feel on the track. Well first off, mounting this thing is a breeze thanks to the slotted mounting plate. It allows for top down mounting options directly into your sim rig, or through a shifter mounting plate.
And this small detail opens up a lot of mounting options. The only thing you can’t easily do is side mount the SQ1. But in all honesty, the base is so small, the shifter shouldn’t ever feel too high.
When you do get on track, the two-stage shift activation feels so natural. Each shift is incredibly tactile, partially thanks to the roller profile I’ve chosen.
Every time you push or pull a shift, the SQ1 lets you really feel the mechanical elements. Having seen the internal roller profiles, you can really sense the mechanical interaction from each shift as the internal mechanism moves up and down the roller.
Depending on how tight you wind up the adjustment knob, the shifts can range from being easily pulled with one finger, or requiring a fair bit of force.
I have mine dialled in somewhere in the middle, and things feel incredible. For years I’ve typically used the MOZA shifter, and while that thing represents excellent value, and does everything you need. It doesn’t get close to the feel you get from this SQ1.
One small complaint I do have is the noise of each shift. This thing can be fairly loud, especially in the heat of a race. There are four distinct sounds with every shift as the mechanism moves up across the roller to its fully extended position and back to center. When activated quickly, this results in a click clock noise every time you shift.
When mounted directly to my rig, as recommended by Sim-Lab themselves, there is also a slight echo. Whether this is coming from the shifter itself or the P1X Pro shifter mount its hard to pin point.
There is the option of lowering the resistance which decreases noise, or using the quieter roller. Although both of these options come at the expense of tactility and resistance. My solution is simple, wearing headphones while racing, although it does limit my usage to outside of my 9 month old daughters sleep schedule!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the SQ1 is one excellent sim racing shifter. Sim-Lab have once again nailed the exterior design. This is a trend across the majority of their products with my XP1 pedal review claiming those pedals were among the best looking available. And the XB1 handbrake that is sitting proudly next to this shifter is also a stunner.
Outside of its physical appearance, Sim-Lab has offered a tonne of adjustability. With something as simple as a sequential shifter, the amount of customisation is huge from shortening the throw, and adjusting resistance, to completely altering the feel of each shift.
Being primarily a GT or F1 sim racer, sequential shifters are something I can live without. However, this thing is a masterclass in how to create a sim racing shifter, and it’s pushing me more towards racing disciplines outside of my usual comfort zone, just so I can spend a few hours interacting with it.
Frequently asked questions
Sim-Lab launched the SQ1 sequential shifter in late 2024, with pre-orders being shipped in March 2025.
The Sim-Lab SQ1 can be noisy when used with the tactile roller profile. You can lower the sound output by using the silent roller profile, or loosening the resistance knob.
Technical Specifications
Review written by Felix König
