Currently running a Futaba 3PV or 4PM. Thinking of upgrading. All set up for Futaba with 5 or 6 receivers.

But, I don't like to let convenience be the deciding factor. So, upgrade to a 7pxr or go to a Sanwa M17?

Sanwa is significantly more popular here. I've run Futaba most of my life. Neither will get me into the winner's circle more frequently than I am now.

I switched from Futaba to a M17 and pro performance servos and it was a huge improvement and lap times and consistency.

I upgraded from a 3PV to an M17. The feel of the brake throw was a big improvement, but otherwise lap times didn't really change. See if you can try someone else's radio to see how it feels in your hand, and get the one that feels more comfortable.

If you actually use the options in your menus and you are used to Futaba's well organized structures, you should not even consider Sanwa.

As a user of the T7XC (stickversion of the 7PX) I have no complains. If you already have some futaba receivers you will safe a lot of costs by getting the 7PXR, keep in mind the Sanwa receivers are more expensive.

One thing Sanwa is for sure beteer with is the SSR support. More brands have servo's and ESC's supporting this protocol while with Futaba its SR protocol it is hard to find other options than only Futaba.

M17 and Pro Performance servos also, the combination is amazing

Both are exceptionally good radios. It ends up with personal preference. The only thing I do not like about my M17 is the short battery run time. I cannot go for a full day on our track without having to recharge - battery life on my previous M12 was much longer. No idea how that is on the Futaba.

Please stop turning every radio thread into a Pro Performance sales pitch.

The battery life does suck, but I hate the touch pad interface more.

Right. I forgot that, since I navigate the screen with the trim switches and the dial, so for me, yes, utterly useless feature, that touch pad.

I love my M17. I switched from an m12 and liked all the differences. I kinda half use the touch pad and scroll knob to navigate. Its pretty easy to learn and adjust things especially if you change the trim buttons to stuff you use all the time.

I've driven my friends cars with his 7pxr and its also super nice. Both are high end radios and have a great high quality feel.

As for the m17 battery life, I never had issues until I used a simple car usb charger to charge the radio on the way to the track. After that battery failed I bought a protek pack that sucked so I made a 4500mah 1s2p pack out of an old race pack so I get a lot of on time and its lighter and faster to charge than proteks crappy 3000 or 5500mah or whatever ones they offer. But like with everything else with a battery if you only have it on when you use it I've found battery life was great with any battery I've used. I'd try to get hands on with both radios before you buy but sanwa is the most common radio manuf you see for a reason.

I agree that one the trim buttons are set you have a pretty easy time.
I really liked the weight and ergonomics of the m17 over the guys a for me. I use it at full drop and the angled wheel and it fits my hand very well.
I did however wrap it with a layer of grip tape as well. so far I have been fine using the supplied lipo but I’m only club racing.
see if you can find someone with a similar car on a club night and try both radios. The receivers are expensive but you can find rx482 for 60-70 all the time here in the classifieds.

I think I'll buy a receiver and see if I can use a radio a bit on club night before I decide. Worst case is I sell it and lose a little.

Id say the m17s menu was a massive improvement over the m12 but but if most people are skipping one of the main new features in favour of using the trims i think thats a bit of a fail heh.
having been on sanwa since 2011 i took a big chance going back to futaba this year but bo regrets what so ever. I dont think most people could feel the latency difference if there is one, it would just come down to the physical feel in tour hands and how the pots feel. You can adjust both radios however you see fit. In my case the steering was bang perfect out of box and the throttle was different but im starting to like it more. Or my driving is reflecting it i guess. I like how you can customize the menu to have your most used settings right up front in the user menu and you can pretty much forget about everything else.
the screen is very easy to read even in the sun.

big reason i shyed away from the m17 was the 1s battery. Battery life with my mt44 was horrific on the 1s 3000mah. Where my futaba or any 2s tx will go weeks and weeks. I have the 2s life and ive only had to charge it once since early july racing every few weeks and tinkering at home.
As with any device ymmv. You cant really make a bad decision so just go for the one you get excited looking at/holding.

The issue is the consistency of the touchpad sensitivity. Sometimes I swipe and nothing happens. Sometimes I swipe and it moves, but the moment I lift my finger off it so I can click the confirm button, the act of lifting my finger causes it to jump a few items.