There is something entertaining about a company deciding to build a product simply because it can. Most keyboards exist to hit a price point or fill a slot in a lineup. The new Huntsman Signature Edition ($499) exists because someone at Razer clearly said, “What if we made the most overbuilt Huntsman possible?” and nobody in the room stopped them.

The result is a limited-edition showpiece that feels more like a celebration of the Huntsman platform than a normal retail product. It is expensive, shiny, and completely unnecessary for most people, which also makes it a lot of fun to test.

Update: As this review went live, the first drop of this keyboard sold out in just minutes. You can be notified of the next drop at Razer.com.

Razer had no input, nor did it see the contents of this review, prior to publication.

What it is (and why)

Razer has a habit of letting its engineers run wild on small, high‑end projects that exist mostly to prove what the company is capable of. The $279 Viper Mini Signature Edition was the most recent example. It was a magnesium alloy mouse that felt like a science experiment that somehow escaped the lab. The Huntsman Signature Edition follows the same spirit. It is not meant to replace the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL 8K. It is meant to celebrate how far the Huntsman platform has come and what it can be when the usual limits are removed.

At its core, this is still a Huntsman. You get the same Gen 2 Analog Optical Switches, Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, adjustable actuation from 0.1 to 4.0 mm, and full 8,000 Hz polling. The Signature Edition takes that foundation and builds a luxury object around it. It is a showcase piece that highlights the engineering behind the Huntsman line and the attention to detail that usually never makes it into a mainstream product.

This is Razer asking a simple question: what happens if we build the ultimate Huntsman with no shortcuts.

What is different about it

The Signature Edition looks and feels like a completely different class of keyboard. The chassis is CNC milled from 6063 aluminum alloy, which gives it a heavier and more substantial feel than the Huntsman Pro TKL 8K.

How heavy? I'm glad you asked, as I weighed it myself. Just the keyboard by itself weighs 3.05 lbs (1.38 kg)! Most premium boards fall between 2.0 and 2.8 lbs. Something like the GMMK Pro is heavier at 3.3 lbs, but that's with a brass plate, for goodness ' sake. And Razer's own Huntsman V3 Pro TKL 8K, which this is based on, is ~1.8 lbs (0.8 kg).

The bottom case and accent pieces go through a physical vapor deposition process and are then polished by hand. Razer says the polishing takes around 50 hours. The result is a mirror finish that looks closer to high‑end watchmaking than gaming hardware. It immediately reminded me of Seiko’s Zaratsu polishing, where artisans spend days creating distortion‑free reflective surfaces. The Signature Edition has that same sense of precision and craft.

The packaging reinforces the idea that this is a special project. The keyboard arrives in a large presentation case with a vegan leather sound dampening mat, a PVD polished triple-headed snake keycap, a cleaning cloth, a keycap puller, magnetic rubber feet, and a Speedflex USB-C cable. It feels more like unboxing a collector’s item than a gaming keyboard.

Inside the chassis, Razer uses a full stack of acoustic materials. There is EPDM foam, EVA foam, an FR4 plate, and a silicone rubber sheet. The switches are individually lubricated and factory calibrated for true 0.1 mm precision. The reviewer’s guide highlights this directly:

The result is a deeper and more controlled sound profile. The Signature Edition has a full, rounded tone that feels closer to a premium custom board than a mass produced gaming keyboard.

How it compares to the Huntsman Pro TKL 8K

The Huntsman Pro TKL 8K is already one of the fastest gaming keyboards available. It uses the same switches and the same 8K polling. It has Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap. It is a performance monster. The Signature Edition does not change the fundamentals. What it changes is the experience around those fundamentals.

The Pro TKL 8K has an aluminum top plate, but the Signature Edition is a full aluminum chassis with hand-polished PVD metal. It is heavier, larger, stiffer, and more refined. The Pro TKL 8K has a sharper, higher-pitched sound. The Signature Edition is deeper and more consistent thanks to the internal foam layers and lubrication. The Pro TKL 8K feels fast and responsive. The Signature Edition feels smooth and controlled.

The Pro TKL 8K arrives in a standard retail box. The Signature Edition arrives in a display case with accessories that feel curated rather than bundled.

Both keyboards deliver the same competitive performance. The Signature Edition simply wraps that performance in craftsmanship and materials that belong in a different category.

tl:dr This isn't the same Huntsman Pro TKL 8K, but in metal. It's completely rebuilt from the ground up, but uses the same design principles and components.

Who should buy it

This is a 499 dollar keyboard. That alone tells you who it is for. It is for enthusiasts who appreciate materials and finishing work. It is for collectors who enjoy limited production hardware. It is for people who want the best version of the Huntsman platform and are willing to pay for it.

It is also worth noting that this is still 100 dollars cheaper than the new ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme 20th Anniversary Edition, which puts the price into perspective. Razer is selling the Signature Edition in limited drops on Razer.com, and only 1,337 units will be made. If you want one, you will need to move quickly.

This is not a keyboard for everyone. It is a keyboard for people who enjoy the idea of owning something rare and overbuilt.

Should you buy it?

You should buy it if ...

✅ You always wanted Razer's best keyboard, but at 3lbs, $499, limited edition, and with polished metal.

✅ You're a hardcore gamer, or someone who only wants the best.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You don't clean your keyboard.

❌ You have to think about that $499.

If you want the best performance for the money, the Huntsman Pro TKL 8K is still the smarter choice. It gives you nearly everything the Signature Edition offers at a much lower price (or see my recent Razer Huntsman V3 TKL 8K review for even more affordability).

The Signature Edition is not about value. It is about craftsmanship, exclusivity, and the satisfaction of using something that feels special.

If that appeals to you, the Signature Edition delivers. If not, the Pro TKL 8K remains the practical pick.

But hey, there's something special here, and I'm glad Razer does stuff like this. For one, it's fun, and two, it often learns from these projects, and from them, that tech could trickle down into its normal projects.

And yeah, it's awesome to just use it for work for typing on, too! It's so solid, stable, and consistent it's like the world's most precise keys built into a rock.

Finally, I should also mention that, for $499, you are getting a 5-year warranty on the Razer Huntsman Signature Edition, compared to the 2-year warranty of its standard keyboards. This is the longest warranty Razer offers on any keyboard and is meant to reflect the premium materials and the limited‑edition nature of the product.

In summary, you can practically hear the moment Razer’s engineers snapped and decided to build a keyboard for the gods, and I think they nailed it.

I have reviewed a mountain of Xbox controllers in my time, and it's getting increasingly rare that something truly fresh comes across my desk. That's why I was pleasantly surprised with Flydigi's first Xbox licensed option, dubbed the Vader 5S.

I haven't used a Flydigi product before, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. And I have to admit, I wasn't exactly impressed with the device at first glance.

The controller's gold accents aren't my cup of tea, but the spec sheet makes the design choices much easier to overlook. Is it among the best Xbox controllers you can get? Let's take a look.

Flydigi Vader 5S: Specs and features

The Flydigi Vader 5S has some really impressive specs on paper, and yes, while it is wired, those who don't mind that aspect of it have a lot to enjoy here.

Hall Effect sticks (or TMR) have become a must for me in 2026, so it's good they've ticked off that box. The Xbox Elite controller I purchased only last year has already started to drift, annoyingly (although there are new ways to fix Xbox controller stick drift emerging over time). I sorely hope every Xbox controller being made now and in the future carries Hall Effect or above.

Additionally, we have a mountain of buttons to configure here, which you can do via Flydigi's Space Station for Xbox app. There are two buttons on the reverse, an additional two on the front plate, and two extra bumpers across the top as well.

It has all the standard Xbox buttons on top, including the standard ABXY and the Xbox share button, view, menu, and nexus buttons. Rumors have it that Xbox is adding C and Z buttons as standard for developers to leverage, so Flydigi is well-positioned for the future as well.

We have vibration motors in both the controller and in the triggers, as well as two-stage trigger locks, a 3.5mm audio jack with mute shortcut buttons, and a lengthy braided cable in the box.

The app itself is capable, giving you custom profiles that you can switch out on the fly. You can tailor the RGB light bar across the bottom, configure the buttons to your liking, and set up response curves and things like that.

The best feature here, though, has to be the customizable tension rings. Around each thumbstick is a steel dial that can be turned to increase or decrease motion tension. So, say for example you're playing Call of Duty and want to have a large degree of control over your aiming, you could ramp up the tension on the stick while also increasing the sensitivity in-game, allowing you to make more precise adjustments to your crosshairs.

On the flip side, if you were playing a non-hitscan hero in Overwatch, you could lower the tension to give you a more rapid turning circle for heroes that don't need precision aiming, like Moira or Reinhardt.

It would take some practice, but it would offer some clear advantages for those willing to min-max their playstyle. It's a really cool feature.

Flydigi Vader 5S: Ergonomics and design

You'll be pleased to hear the controller is also fantastic in the hand. It's actually one of the best-feeling controllers I've used, and the shoulder button designs in particular surpass Microsoft's home-grown best.

The buttons and d-pad all have a pleasant and clicky actuation, which also feels great, and the paddles on the back also retain good positioning.

My gripes about the controller all pertain to cosmetics, which is minor ultimately in the grand scheme of things, but if you are someone who takes pride in their gaming setup, you might find this controller difficult to fit in.

The Xbox nexus button placement, for some reason, has these odd gold flecks which look more like dust/dirt. The gold in general is an odd choice, and feels incongruous with how Xbox accessories generally show up. The incongruent design choices even extend to the braided cable, which has inexplicable blue accents, despite the fact that there's no presence of blue anywhere else here.

The loud and gaudy gold accents also undermine the RGB light bar across the bottom ... which, by the way, doesn't even come close to color accuracy. It can't output red, for example, reaching as far as pink only. No colors, besides yellow, really match up with gold, making the RGB lighting pointless. They should've removed it and shaved a pit off the price point instead, probably.

Sure, it's all cosmetic, but it shows that Flydigi didn't really think the visuals or finer details through too much when building this controller.

Flydigi Vader 5S: Competition

The tension rings are a really nice touch here, and it's a far better implementation than I've seen in some other controllers that do similar things. The Xbox Elite controller, for example, requires a tool to adjust the stick tension, which isn't exactly convenient.

The kicker here is that you're paying a fair premium for what is ultimately, potentially, a pretty niche feature. As wired options go, the GameSir G7 HE is probably still a superior value overall, and the GameSir G7 SE is cheaper still, doesn't compromise on the fundamentals, and comes with customizable faceplates for those who are into their aesthetics. There's also the wired Razer Wolverine V3 option, which comes in at the same price point.

Also, in the short term, we are most likely going to see the debut of new Xbox controllers very shortly, in the form of the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3, so you may want to hold off to see what Microsoft has cooked up for us there, too.

Ultimately, you're going to really need to want the tension adjustment feature to justify this one, I would say. And it would be a fair shout. The Flydigi Vader 5S has a fair price at $60 in my opinion, particularly when you factor in the included Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month card it comes with.

Flydigi Vader 5S: Conclusion

Like I said, ultimately this product revolves around its thumbstick tension feature, which is admittedly very good. The design isn't to my personal liking, but that might not be an issue for you. Otherwise, Flydigi nails all of the fundamentals here with superb ergonomics, features, specs, and a very fair price.

There's a ton of competing similar options out there, though. Tension adjustment rings alone might not be enough to see Flydigi across the finish line with this one. Also, I'm not sure what the market is like for wired controllers in 2026 ... wireless is simply too convenient to give up for me personally, but going wired does shave a fair bit off the final price point.

If you pick this up, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed. It's a great option and one I'm happy to recommend. Is it mind-blowing? Probably not. I think Flydigi could've paid more attention to the details, but it's still a fantastic option overall, and a great first entry into its Xbox accessory line-up. I'm pretty intrigued to see what they do next.

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ASUS's Republic of Gamers (ROG) has, over the past 20 years, become one of PC gaming's most recognized brands. Encompassing gaming laptops, desktops, monitors, headsets, peripherals, and more, ROG products find a home in countless gaming rooms.

ASUS is taking advantage of Computex 2026 to highlight two decades of ROG, and it has launched a new 75% ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 mechanical keyboard to celebrate. The keyboard landed on my desk well ahead of launch, and it's been in full use for the past couple of weeks.

ASUS had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.

How much does the ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 cost?

The ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 makes its debut at $599.99, a full $100 more expensive than the regular, non-anniversary Azoth Extreme model. It's available to pre-order now at Best Buy and Newegg.

The keyboard is expected to launch on July 19, when it will also show up at Amazon and Micro Center.

ASUS is also selling 20th Anniversary ROG Keycap Mystery Boxes for $24.99. These kits come with six randomized special-edition keycaps related to the history of ROG. The kits are available at Best Buy and Newegg.

There's a 1/48 chance of landing a 20th Anniversary Special Edition ROG keycap, but I didn't get so lucky. What I can say is that these special keycaps are top quality, to the point that each one is hand-painted. I'd say pick up a kit of six if you're a real ROG enthusiast; otherwise, stick with your own designs.

What's in the box?

The ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 comes with the keyboard, gold-plated nameplate, USB-C cable, four magnetic feet, keycap puller, switch puller, USB dongle, USB extender, three extra switches, extra silicon pins and foam stickers, and a wrist rest.

A high-end redesign inside and outside

The ASUS Azoth Extreme keyboard isn't exactly new. It's technically been around since 2024 as a flagship mechanical gaming option, but it's never looked as good as this Edition 20 model.

What does that mean? Well, rather than the regular black finish across the board, ASUS has gone heavy on the gold accents and transparent keycaps. Let me break it down.

The outside edges of the keyboard, including the areas around the port outlets and the built-in control, have a gold finish. It's also found on the inner edges that surround the keycaps.

The magnetic feet? The wrist rest baseplate? The control knob? Also finished in gold. ASUS tops it all off with a 24K plated gold nameplate that attaches to the bottom of the keyboard to cover the gasket control and the USB dongle garage.

These accents offset nicely against the otherwise black aluminum alloy chassis, which features a bladed pattern that sort of gives it a carbon fiber look.

Transparent keycaps are a nice touch with the gold and black

Rather than using full black keycaps like on the regular Azoth Extreme, ASUS made a change to transparent caps with black tops. With the right RGB lighting, it sort of looks like a bunch of shining crystals.

A carbon fiber positioning plate surrounds the keycaps, but that's just one layer. Below is a layer of PORON dampening foam, a PORON switch pad, and a silicone pad. This stack dampens annoying "pings" from switches and also helps make typing as comfortable as possible.

I can attest that the Azoth Extreme Edition 20 is the most comfortable keyboard I've ever used for regular work. At this point, I've typed thousands of words on it when not gaming, and I can't get enough of the feel and sound of the switches.

Something I've never had on a keyboard before is an adjustable gasket. With just one toggle, you can transform the typing feel from soft to hard. I keep it on soft while working and switch it to hard when gaming for a more responsive feel.

The only complaint I have has to do with keycap legibility. The black finish on the top and a lack of transparent lettering make it hard to see the font in most conditions. The fully transparent keycaps are not quite so hard to make out (and I do love the custom graphics on most of them), but they're still not perfect.

I can't get enough of the ROG NX Edition 20 mechanical switches

ASUS is offering two different types of switches. I have ROG NX Snow Edition 20 switches, which have the most satisfying, full sound. These switches have a 1.8mm actuation point, 40gf of initial force, and 53gf of total force.

If you prefer a more clacky experience, I'd recommend you stick with ROG NX Storm switches. In any case, the switches come pre-lubed and ready to go. I appreciate that each switch has a "walled" design that helps keep out dust and dirt, and I also love that they're hot-swappable.

On some keyboards, wider keys like the spacebar (with just one switch in the middle) can feel wonky. Not the case here, thanks to stabilizers that keep all keys feeling the same.

Easy to control, easy to customize

In the top-left corner of the keyboard is a 1.47-inch OLED touch display attached to a control knob. The screen is small enough not to be intrusive, but big enough to be legible from a distance.

The screen's animations can be customized through Armoury Crate software, or you can swipe between a bunch of presets. No matter the backdrop, the little screen displays things like Caps Lock, profile, connection, battery, and the function carousel (showing things like volume, brightness, etc.).

Using the control knob next to the screen makes switching between per-key RGB setups easy, and it also controls screen/RGB brightness, music, and volume. You can customize the knob with your own commands as well.

Customize your keys any way you see fit

As long as you don't mind jumping into Armoury Crate on your PC, every key (except Fn) on the ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 is customizable. You can also set up any number of macros to help automate your flow.

This is also where you can sync your keyboard's lighting with Aura Sync.

Performance and battery life

The ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 connects with USB-C, Bluetooth, and a 2.4GHz dongle. These modes are easily toggled with a built-in switch.

ASUS uses its proprietary SpeedNova tech for 2.4GHz connections, boosting battery life up to 1,600+ hours with all lighting disabled. At least that's what ASUS claims — I still haven't had to charge in the two weeks I've been using the board.

More realistically, with RGB lighting and OLED display enabled, you should be able to get about four days of constant use out of the board before the battery runs dry.

1,000Hz polling rate can be boosted to 8,000Hz

ASUS includes a nifty little ROG Polling Rate booster dongle in the package. You can plug it into your PC and use it like a wireless dongle, or you can plug the keyboard into your PC through the booster.

Either way, it bumps the stock 1,000Hz polling rate up to 8,000Hz, something I'm sure some competitive gamers can appreciate.

Should you buy the ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 keyboard?

You should buy it if ...

✅ You're a rabid ROG fan and want to celebrate 20 years of gaming hardware.

✅ You're a fan of premium mechanical keyboards that are ideal for work and gaming.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already have a hard time seeing the lettering on keys.

❌ Your $600 could be better spent on PC performance hardware upgrades.

The ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 is hands-down the best mechanical gaming keyboard I've ever used. It's built better than any peripheral I've tested or otherwise purchased myself, and it has everything I need for both gaming and work.

That's really the selling point here, especially at an eye-watering $600; the keyboard is just as good for having fun as it is for typing thousands of words every day. It sounds good, it feels good, and it looks good.

My only qualm has to do with the font visibility on the main set of keycaps. They can be very hard to read, backlight or not, in low-light conditions.

Other than that issue, which is fairly minor for anyone who doesn't have to look down when typing or gaming, the only other impediment is the price tag. The ROG Azoth Extreme was firmly in the enthusiast camp, and a $100 price bump makes it even more so.

ASUS's Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand is turning 20 this year, and to celebrate, the company has launched a 20th Anniversary edition of its ROG Harpe II Extreme gaming mouse at Computex.

I was lucky enough to get the new Edition 20 mouse a couple of weeks ahead of the announcement, so I've had plenty of time to test it out in many a real-world situation. If the idea of a gold-plated mouse tickles your fancy, read on to see if it's worth buying or not.

ASUS had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.

How much does the ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 cost?

The new ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 mouse makes its debut at $259.99. It's available for pre-order at both Best Buy and Newegg, and it's expected to launch fully on July 19.

After launch, it will also be available at Amazon and Micro Center.

Considering the regular ROG Harpe II Ace, on which this special Edition 20 is based, costs about $170, you're looking at roughly a $90 cost difference.

What's in the box?

Alongside the ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 mouse, the special display case has an ROG SpeedNova 8K receiver and extender, an ROG paracord, grip tape, extra mouse slides, stickers, a cleaning cloth, and documentation.

What I love about the ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20

The new ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 is based on the Harpe II Ace that launched in late 2025. And just like its sibling ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 keyboard, it's been given a makeover with gold accents, improved internals, and special anniversary branding.

Impeccable design that's comfortable to hold

The Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 has been in use on my desk for gaming and for work for a couple of weeks, and it's just as comfortable to hold at the start of the day as it is at the end.

Its sidewalls are lightly tapered to fit my fingers, and it has an ideal shape that rests firmly under my palm. It's the perfect size for me, though I can see it maybe being a bit too big for those with smaller hands.

I was concerned with how slick the outer transparent shell can be when gaming, but ASUS has that issue covered with included grip stickers you can add if needed.

The mouse's shell primarily has a semi-transparent black finish to help show off the internals. The outside is a little busy, what with all the extra ROG branding in honor of the anniversary, but that's largely the point.

A gold-plated interior ... with RGB lighting

The biggest aesthetic upgrade you get here comes in the form of an inner metal frame with real 24K gold plating.

The layered design helps give the mouse's internals some depth beneath the transparent shell, and it's finished off with an RGB 20th Anniversary ROG logo right in the center of the main internal plate. This logo connects to other RGB via Aura Sync.

Despite the new design, the mouse still only weighs 82 grams. It's one of the lighter mice I've used, and although I'm now used to it, it would be nice to have adjustable weights like other high-end mice.

Scrolling, clicking, and gliding

The mouse's black finish is nicely offset by a gold-colored scroll wheel and metal side buttons. I had no issues with any of the three inputs; the side buttons are perfectly placed for easy control with my thumb, and the scroll wheel is smooth but tactile.

ASUS uses its ROG Optical Micro switches below the main mouse buttons, making the mouse feel incredibly responsive. I also noticed while playing FPS games that it seriously drops the likelihood of double clicks, felt most when tapping fire on a rifle set to full auto.

👉 Best mouse in 2026: The best mice for gaming, ergonomics, and more

These switches are also very durable, with ASUS claiming 100 million clicks before the switches wear out. Not bad.

Flipping the mouse over reveals stylized slides at the front and back of the mouse. These are made of Gorilla Glass for extra durability (nothing worse than your slides wearing away before the mouse is through), but they also make the mouse super smooth.

Here is where you'll also find DPI and pairing buttons, as well as a toggle for 2.4GHz (via the SpeedNova 8K dongle), Bluetooth, or wired connectivity. There's no dongle storage on the mouse; instead, ASUS says to use the (bulky) plastic carrying case when in transit.

The high-performance sensor you want for competitive gaming

I'm getting too old to have a real chance in competitive games, but I can say that the ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 had me playing my best.

ASUS has its premier ROG AimPoint Pro 65K sensor on board, featuring a 65,000 DPI, adjustable lift-off distance (LOD) from 0.7mm to 1.7mm, maximum acceleration of 70g, and a max speed of 800 inches per second (IPS).

The mouse also lets me adjust its polling rate from 1,000Hz all the way up to 8,000Hz, which at the top provides just 0.2ms latency even when used wirelessly.

I didn't really need it for my purposes, but a Zone Mode is available for competitive gamers. It quickly locks the mouse into the top settings so you can jump into a game after work without too many adjustments.

Battery life is excellent

ASUS uses something called dynamic wireless transmission power to boost battery life, and it claims the mouse can go for 195 hours with a 1K polling rate. I still haven't hit that limit, but I've also not yet had to charge the mouse in the two weeks I've had it.

If you bump it up to an 8K polling rate, the battery life falls to about 37 hours. Still a respectable number that won't have you reaching for a cable before every gaming session.

What I don't like about the ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20

ASUS really did a great job of overhauling its flagship mouse for ROG's 20th anniversary, and there are just a couple of nitpicks I'd like to mention.

One is the shell's slick feel. Yes, ASUS includes grip tape, but adding it to the mouse kind of interferes with the overall sleek look.

Another nitpick is the lack of a USB garage built into the mouse. I don't want to carry around a bulky plastic carrying case in a bag, and I also don't want to just toss a dongle in there loose.

Finally, I can't skip mentioning the price. I know this mouse is for ROG fanatics who want to help celebrate 20 years of gaming service, and I understand that its performance is superior to the ROG Harpe II Ace on which it's based.

Still, asking $259.99 for one mouse is a bit steep, especially if you're already dropping $600 on a matching keyboard.

Should you buy the ASUS ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 mouse?

You should buy it if ...

✅ You love the ASUS ROG brand and want to help ring in its 20th anniversary.

✅ You're a competitive PC gamer who wants a high-performance, comfortable mouse.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You have particularly small hands or are left-handed.

❌ You prefer a heavy mouse or a mouse with adjustable weight.

Like the sibling ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 keyboard I reviewed, the new ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 is a special accessory that's not meant for the masses. That helps explain the price, at least.

If you are a ROG fanatic (or simply love the idea of a gaming mouse with some extra flash), I can promise that you're landing one great device. Sure, it has a few little drawbacks, but overall, it's a gaming mouse that has practically every high-performance feature I can think of.

It's comfortable to hold (if a bit slick without grip stickers), the buttons respond as you'd expect and feel nice and snappy, and it has the right sensor and polling rate to keep up with even the fastest reactions.

Simulation games are huge and continually growing in popularity. So, too, is the chase to build the most realistic experiences possible. At the recent Sim Racing Expo in Charlotte I saw a lot of wild hardware, some of it with equally wild price tags.

But one of the more interesting things I got to experience was from Sensit Haptics. The company was showing off its MTC-P Extreme haptic seat insert, a product you can use right now with some of the most popular racing games on the planet to add an extra dimension to your experience.

It's not the cheapest, coming in at a little over double the price of the Razer Freyja, the only other haptic seat cushion I've personally tested. But with a narrow focus, in this case, sim-racing, the results are astonishing.

I have limited real-world track racing experience, but I have done some. The one constant I tried to get a feel for the accuracy of the haptics was driving over curbs. They're horrible on any track, and taking movement out of the equation, the feel is uncanny.

If I'd thought to point a camera at my face while I tried it, you'd see the shock. When it comes to racing, the feel through the seat of your pants is almost as important as seeing where you're going. You can feel the car beginning to slide, for example, before you'll see it.

This is where Sensit's haptics really comes alive. During my time testing it out, I did a run around Road Atlanta, and the vibration feedback was electrifying. Besides the curbs, you can feel when the ABS kicks in, when the traction control rescues you, and when the car is getting unstable. Paired with good force feedback from the wheel, it's as close as you can get to reality while sitting still.

Where the Sensit MTC-P Extreme differs from something like the Razer Freyja is in its focus. You couldn't play Call of Duty in this, for example, and get haptic feedback. Sensit doesn't use audio as a source for its haptics at all, instead relying purely on telemetry from the racing titles it supports.

Those titles right now include Assetto Corsa, iRacing, Assetto Corsa EVO, F1 25, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Le Mans Ultimate, Project Motor Racing, Raceroom, Assetto Corsa Rally, and Automobilista 2. Alas, no Forza Horizon 6.

The Sensit MTC-P boasts a whopping 14 actuators (for context, the Razer Freyja has six) with six in the base and eight in the back. It's a simple USB connection to hook it up to your PC, and Sensit has its own app to help you tune the seat, while also supporting the popular third-party tool Simhub.

It's hard to truly describe since it's a feeling, rather than something quantifiable, but I'll be damned if it didn't leave me with the biggest smile.

When I reviewed the Razer Freyja, I said that I could imagine it being applied to iRacing, and well, here we are. The Sensit MTC-P is still a significant investment, but compared to getting a motion platform, it's more affordable and more approachable.

Especially since you don't have to get a full seat, you can get the cushions and use them on your existing one. It's compatible with a range of popular sim-racing seats, where the stock cushions are replaced by the Sensit ones.

When I'd gotten comfortable and really in the zone, my brain genuinely thought I was moving; that's how realistic the haptic feedback feels. It's truly remarkable.

Haptics are the next big thing we should care about when it comes to immersion in gaming. Right now, Sensit is focused on the more serious sim-racing experience, and that's fine. It's doing what it does extremely well.

Once you try it, you'll get it. I want more people to be able to try it. I want this space to become a bigger playground. We talk about realism in games; this is one way to help us get it.

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This past weekend I was lucky enough as a lover of all things racing to check out the inaugural U.S. edition of the Sim Racing Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina. Among the raft of incredible hardware, something unique caught my eye.

Fanatec, nowadays owned by Corsair, has been a huge player in the sim racing space for many years. But the company also has a unique crossover product that's not just built for your many hours in iRacing. You can use it on a real-life racing car, too.

The Fanatec Podium BMW M4 GT3 racing wheel is not a replica. It was developed with BMW and is the actual wheel used on the 2022 spec BMW M4 GT3 race car. Only you can pop it out of the vehicle and use it for virtual racing, too. It's absolutely wild.

I'm obviously aware that almost nobody who reads this will be in the market for this wheel. Not unless they have a ton of cash to burn on the most realistic setup they can get, or they're lucky enough to have access to a BMW M4 GT3 car. But if you do want one, you can grab your own for $1,599.99 from Fanatec's store.

But its interest to me is not just that it's a cool product or a high-end racing wheel. It's a unique example in its own right, but also indicative of the larger lesson I've learned at this same event.

I love racing games, both the more casual ones, like Forza Horizon 6, and the more serious sim approaches you can find in titles such as iRacing, RaceRoom, Assetto Corsa, and the like. I've grown up loving racing, and the virtual kind has overall been my favorite category for many, many years.

But sim racing no longer just has to be a bit of fun. I've toured the Williams F1 factory here in the UK, as an example, and seen their absurdly expensive professional setup. Hardware and software not accessible to the common man.

But the crossover between the virtual and the real world has never been closer, and the Fanatec Podium wheel is a striking example of this. Real drivers can have accurate sim experiences in their own homes these days. And in this case, using the same hardware they're driving out on the track.

If you have the budget, you can build something close enough to a professional race simulator now in the comfort of your own home. But even if you don't have tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars to play with, realism has never been closer.

The Fanatec Podium BMW M4 GT3 is still a unique example of this. But other companies do offer striking replicas of real-life racing wheels you can use at home with your gaming PC.

But what's it actually like as a wheel? It's probably the finest piece of hardware of its kind I've ever touched. In pursuit of finding the best racing wheels alongside my colleagues, we have to take a number of factors into account, not least price.

But this is a product unlike any other I've touched. That's because it isn't a replica; it isn't designed by a company to look like a racing wheel. It is a racing wheel. It has to stand up to the environment on a real race track, have all the features a driver needs, and not fall apart under pressure.

I've never held anything like it in my life. It's made from carbon fiber, it has magnetic gear shift paddles, adjustable analog clutch paddles, and there's even a D-pad hidden beneath the BMW logo.

It's fully compatible with PC on a wide range of Fanatec wheel bases; it simply snaps on and off with the included QR2 Pro quick release. It isn't, sadly, compatible with Xbox, but it does have some support for PS4 and PS5.

It's an unreal thing to hold, and the idea behind it is even more impressive. As I say, most of us would never need this, but any of us can buy it, even if we don't have a GT car parked in the garage.

The days of passing off even the best racing games and sim racing experiences as subpar are long gone. Racers are invested in the virtual now almost as much as the real, and for those of us who simply can't afford to get into real racing, what we can have at home is now more realistic than ever. And it won't slow down.

Getting into sim racing and getting good at it is also a legitimate way to get noticed and see opportunities in the real world. An ex-Call of Duty champion, Ian Porter, is now a racing driver. William Byron, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, cut his teeth on iRacing.

So while most of us may never own a product like the Fanatec Podium BMW M4 GT3 racing wheel, we can all appreciate that it exists at all. More of this, please.

The Sim Racing Expo will be returning to Charlotte, NC, in 2027, so if you're a virtual racing fan based in the States, I highly recommend checking it out.

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One of the products that's pricked up our ears the most in recent times is GameSir's wild-looking controller with a full racing wheel in the middle. Not only does it look unlike anything else on the market, it's also one of the most innovative ideas I've seen in years.

It's still a long way off, with the current projections for a Q1 2027 launch, but I stumbled across one at this year's Sim Racing Expo in Charlotte, so naturally, I grabbed it with both hands.

The unit I spent some time with is still very much a prototype, but honestly, I can't stop thinking about it. It's truly one of the most mind-blowing pieces of technology I've touched in recent times.

The controller itself debuted earlier this year at CES and has been referred to by its code name, Swift Drive. At this event, though, it's being marketed through a collaboration with sim racing hardware company Trak Racer, and their version will be known as the TR640.

So, what's it all about? Unbelievably, the Swift Drive/TR640 packs a genuine direct drive motor into the form factor of a regular controller. It's a little heavier than your average Xbox controller, but not uncomfortably so, and it's certainly no more cumbersome.

Direct drive is a technology usually limited to much larger, heftier, more expensive virtual racing setups. Inside the controller is something technologically the same, but much smaller. But even with the shrunken dimensions, this thing kicks like a mule.

The experience of using the controller doesn't feel unnatural, though. Obviously, its primary target is racing titles, but you still get regular face buttons, one normal-sized analog stick, and a miniature right stick.

The overall shape isn't anything wacky; it even has the same sort of rear paddle buttons that you'd find on a GameSir G7 controller. It's perfectly usable for all different sorts of games.

But what about its party piece? Honestly, calling it incredible doesn't feel like it does it enough justice. The experience feels completely natural. The wheel sits exactly where your thumbs would naturally rest, especially if you've ever used a Sony controller.

I played a little Assetto Corsa using it, and it's a totally pick-up-and-play experience. Whereas learning to use a wheel and pedal setup takes time, practice, and some fettling of settings and your driving position, you have none of that with this controller.

Rumble motors on controllers have never been that good for racing games. There's a clear difference here. Because it uses the same direct drive technology you get on racing wheels, what you're feeling through your fingers is the true force feedback from the game.

Even with the force feedback turned down, you truly can feel the track beneath your virtual car; you can feel the texture of the rumble strips, of the grass if you get off the tarmac, and if you crash into a barrier, it's best to take your thumbs off entirely!

The wheel input isn't exactly 1:1, but equally, it shouldn't be. You're not going to want 900 degrees of input on something you're holding in your hands and using your thumbs to steer. I'm not sure what the exact setup is on this prototype, but it works. It balances accuracy and comfort pretty much perfectly.

The initial curiosity was high, but I truly didn't believe that something like this would actually be possible. Or fear it would turn out to be something half-baked.

So I'm both surprised and excited that none of that seems true. This is the real deal. Whether you want to play Forza Horizon 6 or something more 'serious' like Assetto Corsa, this controller is approachable enough for beginners but advanced enough for someone who's looking for a dose of realism.

Many will look at the projected $199 asking price and think it's simply too much for a controller. But that's the wrong way to look at it. I have a $200 Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K controller, and that doesn't have a direct drive motor in the middle of it.

Compare the price of the GameSir Swift Drive to even an entry-level wheel and pedal setup, and you're getting a better comparison. Even one of the more affordable direct drive bases will run you more than $200; then you have to add a wheel rim and some pedals and, crucially, have the space to put them all together.

In this normal-sized controller you have true direct-drive feedback and a more realistic driving experience, and you can do it all with your feet up on the couch. Which you can do because it's also wireless.

It's still a way off, though. The representative I spoke to said they're hoping to have it ready in Q4 2026, while the Trak Racer version can currently be pre-ordered with a tentative January 2027 date.

In that time there'll be more work on perfecting it, and I'm told the hope is to have it available on all platforms. The prototype I tested is a PC-only controller, but the plan is to have an Xbox/PC variant as well as a PS5/PC variant.

I'm all for this, though. I love that someone had a crazy idea and actually made it work. I love the execution, too. The design is ergonomic and comfortable to use, and the hardware inside is advanced enough to tackle any of today's best racing games.

I also hope it kick-starts a whole new category of controllers for racing fans. For the experience, the pleasure of driving, this is far beyond using an analog stick, while being more accessible and budget-friendly than a wheel. Add this to the top of the list of most anticipated products.

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When Alienware announced a $349 QD-OLED gaming monitor earlier this year, I noted that it would almost certainly become one of the most popular options out there, assuming it met its budget promises. Until the AW2726DM, most OLED gaming monitors were somewhere around $500 when not on sale.

Eager to test it out myself, I got hold of a review unit that's now been front and center on my desk for nearly a month. I've been using it for gaming, of course, but also for some photo editing and general work during the day.

Here's what you need to know about the Alienware AW2726DM before you buy it yourself.

How much does the Alienware AW2726DM cost?

The biggest draw to the Alienware AW2726DM is the thin $349.99 price tag. No deals or discounts are required to land that price, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that it could one day drop lower.

For comparison sake, the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q, which uses the same Samsung panel as the Alienware, normally costs about $500 but often drops to $400.

The next most affordable QD-OLED gaming monitor at Dell, the Alienware AW2725D, costs $500.

Here's how the two Alienware monitors compare to help give you an idea of what you're working with.

Dell supplied Windows Central with a review unit of its Alienware AW2726DM. It had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.

A sleek, straightforward design to match the budget pricing

Unboxing the Alienware AW2726DM, I was immediately impressed with how thin and light it is. It's just 1.65 inches at its thickest point, which is gathered toward the middle of the display's venting and stand/VESA mount base.

The stand attaches to the monitor with included screws, a clunkier approach to the usual clip-in method I'm used to. The stand is fairly basic, but it does have decent swivel, tilt, height, and rotation abilities.

After testing the stand, I attached the monitor to my VESA 100x100mm desk mount without issue.

It's a sleek monitor for sure, but that's partly due to a lack of a few features you often find in more premium monitors.

For one, there are no built-in speakers. Instead, there's a 3.5mm audio jack easily reached on the bottom of the display. I don't know anyone who uses built-in monitor speakers when gaming anyway, but I do miss them a bit for work purposes.

The other missing element is RGB lighting. The back of the monitor has just a plain Alienware logo; no throbbing light ringing the stand, no underglow. You get it. It might feel plain for some gamers who need a lot of light, but I appreciate that it can fit into a professional setting.

One missing feature I think more people will miss is a USB hub. I'm not talking about a full-blown Thunderbolt dock like some premium monitors include. Instead, the Alienware AW2726DM offers just two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4.

The monitor arrives with AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA AdaptiveSync. Although it's not officially certified for NVIDIA G-Sync, it is compatible, and I had no issues using it with my RTX GPU.

HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4 capabilities in the Alienware AW2726DM

The monitor's HDMI 2.1 ports support up to 120Hz VRR on consoles, and they include HDCP 1.4/2.3 protection standards. It also supports HDR.

For PC gamers, you'll want to stick with DisplayPort 1.4 (also with HDCP 1.4/2.3 protection standards). It delivers support for the full 240Hz refresh rate, and it includes HDR support and Display Stream Compression (DSC).

All monitor controls stem from one joystick

The AW2726DM doesn't come with a remote or a ton of buttons on the monitor itself. Everything is controlled from one joystick on the rear right side of the panel.

On-screen display quick settings are straightforward. You can quickly adjust brightness and contrast, as well as volume for the 3.5mm audio jack. A Game Enhance mode can be toggled for extra on-screen overlays, and you can choose from 10 different picture presets.

Inside the full menu are a few more customization options, allowing you to change what each shortcut on the joystick does.

In terms of OLED care — always important when there's a risk of burn-in — the monitor has a Pixel Refresh feature that's enabled by default.

A gorgeous QD-OLED picture for a lower cost than the rest

Alienware's AW2726DM is using a Quantum Dot (QD) OLED panel made by Samsung, and judging by TFT Central's ever-useful QD-OLED generation chart, it's from the 2024 era.

Is that a bad thing? Not really, especially at the asking price. Though you might miss out on higher HDR True Black ratings and higher refresh rates, what the Alienware AW2726DM actually delivers is more than enough for the average gamer.

A 2560x1440 (QHD) resolution covers more GPUs than 4K, and it has a sizzling 240Hz refresh rate to keep up with more powerful performance hardware. As usual with OLED, the screen offers a speedy 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time.

I don't have a tool that can accurately measure input lag, but I can say that after many hours of fast-paced FPS gameplay, what input lag might exist is not noticeable.

Does the Alienware AW2726DM have good color and contrast?

OLED displays are notoriously good at delivering deep contrast. At a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, the AW2726DM is no different. Blacks are actually black, whites are actually white, and there's no backlight bleed to spoil the picture.

I tested stock color reproduction using my SpyderX Pro colorimeter and found 100% sRGB, 95% AdobeRGB, and 98% P3, all excellent results that will come in handy, especially if you're using the monitor for work during the day.

Is the Alienware AW2726DM bright enough?

Dell advertises 200 nits maximum brightness with SDR content, and measuring with my colorimeter, I found that the value checks out at 215.2 nits. That's slightly lower than other OLED panels from the same generation, but again, you need to keep cost in mind.

HDR10 support is included despite the monitor not having any HDR certification, and the monitor climbs to roughly 400 nits when enabled.

Is it bright enough for use in an office? Absolutely. An anti-reflective finish does a lot of lifting when the sun is behind me, but I don't find it too distracting even when gaming.

Burn-in is always a scary possibility when you're dealing with OLED. As I mentioned, the monitor has a Pixel Refresh feature enabled by default, and Dell offers a respectable three-year warranty covering burn-in.

Should you buy the Alienware AW2726DM?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You currently have a VA or IPS gaming monitor and want to upgrade to OLED without overspending.

✅ You have a gaming PC powerful enough to take advantage of a QHD resolution and 240Hz refresh rate.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You already have an OLED gaming monitor you're mostly happy with.

❌ You have extra money to spend and want to grab some of the high-end features missing from the AW2726DM.

If you have $350 set aside for a new 27-inch gaming monitor, my easy recommendation is the Alienware AW2726DM. I don't know of any other QD-OLED display selling at this price, and although the AW2726DM isn't perfect, it's going to absolutely rock your world if you're coming from IPS or VA.

Color and contrast are superb, the QHD resolution works for a lot of gamers, and a 240Hz refresh rate is good for competitive titles or casual gaming.

I've got to hand it to Alienware; the AW2726DM sets a new standard for affordable QD-OLED gaming monitors, and as long as you're OK with some of the drawbacks, you'll have a great time.

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Asus’s ROG Raikiri II is a high‑end Xbox‑compatible controller built for players who prioritize precision and feel. Its TMR joysticks and tactile micro switches deliver noticeably sharper input and crisper feedback than standard pads, while the fit and finish feel genuinely premium. That performance comes at a premium price and with features aimed more at competitive and serious players than casual buyers. If you value accuracy and durability in long sessions, the Raikiri II makes a strong case; if you’re budget‑minded, the tradeoffs matter.

Let's get into it.

I have an odd relationship with ASUS. I love the ROG Ally and subsequent Xbox Ally range. ASUS makes some fantastic products, but the quality bar can be a bit inconsistent at times. I've had ASUS headsets, for example, and haven't been a big fan. I've owned an ASUS laptop in the past, and it has given me a lot of driver headaches, too.

All my gripes with the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are more on Microsoft's side than ASUS's, whose update regime has been pretty great overall for the ROG Ally range. Given how good the inputs are on the Xbox Ally, I was eager to test out and review the ASUS Raikiri II controller when given the chance.

The Xbox Ally is a handheld, but it can be a bit finicky when docked due to Windows' idiosyncrasies with external monitors and TVs. I was hoping the ASUS Raikiri II would be a good option for swapping between my Xbox console and the Xbox Ally docked to the TV downstairs. And for the most part, it kind of is. But what I'm proposing here is a pretty niche scenario, I would imagine.

Does the ASUS Raikiri II make the grade as one of the best Xbox controllers of 2026? If you were looking for the ASUS Raikiri II Xbox / PC controller as a replacement for even a more basic, affordable experience ... well, it's a bit of a tough one.

ASUS Raikiri II: Specs & price

For $189.99, the ASUS Raikiri II does seem like a good deal on paper. It's a bit more pricy than the Xbox Elite Controller 2 Core, but it does include all the bells and whistles that you can typically only get with a full Xbox Elite Controller 2 bundle. The Elite controller is also a bit dated at this point, and doesn't include seamless switching between PC and Xbox like the Raikiri does.

In the box with the Raikiri II, you get the controller, a USB-C cable (braided), a USB wireless dongle, a USB charge dock, and the controller itself. The equivalent bundle on the Xbox Elite side typically runs up to $199.99.

On paper, the spec sheet looks grand. Beefy battery life, premium accessories, TMR sticks, Xbox-style design, Xbox Ally buttons. What's not to like?

Well ... let's get into that.

ASUS Raikiri II: Design & ergonomics

The ASUS Raikiri II will be extremely familiar to anyone who has ever used an Xbox controller. It sports the offset joysticks, ABXY buttons, two shoulder buttons, triggers, and a familiar shape to boot. Where it diverges is in the features, but we'll get more into that in a bit.

The Raikiri II is lightweight in the hand, lighter even than the Xbox Elite by a substantial margin, and comes with more modernized features. It has four baked-in back buttons, all of which are very pronounced and deliver a tactile feel. ASUS really learned from the shortcomings of the back buttons on the original ASUS ROG Ally I feel here. The micro-switches give the controller a reassuring actuation, and textured grips and thoughtful curvatures make the Raikiri II pleasant to hold across very long sessions.

The Raikiri II also matches the Xbox Ally with its Armoury Crate and Library buttons, as well as the standard Xbox "Nexus" button in the center and a clip sharing button at the bottom. On the back, we have a hard switch between Bluetooth, Wireless, and USB connectivity, as well as Xbox and PC modes. This makes it a lot easier for multi-device use than the Xbox Elite controller, which can be finicky and irritating when swapping between Bluetooth and Xbox modes.

The controller itself nails all the basics well. It feels great to use in games, and the TMR sticks should give it full resistance to drift over time. The compliments end here, though.

The Raikiri II's worst feature is the charge dock, by far. The dock itself feels like cheap and light plastic. Typically, you'd want a dock to have some heft to it, so that it will sit still on your desk. Furthermore, the two feet of the charge dock are held in place by literally ... nothing. Gravity alone and tiny pegs keep the feet in place here. An accidental knock will send the whole thing falling apart like a house of cards. I have no idea what ASUS was thinking here.

There are some RGB lights to help distract you from how poor the charge dock is, at least. Although you might find yourself tearing your hair out while configuring them.

ASUS Raikiri II review: Features & Software

There's a lot of good stuff in the package overall. The triggers can be locked in place, Elite-style, for more rapid firing. The back buttons are fully configurable, giving you access to key abilities without having to remove your thumbs from the movement sticks. It's neat having the Xbox Ally buttons available as well.

I'm grateful that there are hard switches for the different modes, too. I found that the radio frequencies work flawlessly across PC, Xbox, and Bluetooth, with no issues with connectivity and interference, unlike certain other major brand controllers I can name. The Raikiri II also delivers big in the battery department, easily sticking out a 30-40 hour battery life complete with RGB ablaze in wireless mode.

Where ASUS fully flops, though, is the configuration software, which is inexplicably web-based and requires an internet connection.

Upon installing the ASUS Armoury Crate software, which is "okay," I was prompted to download an update for the Raikiri II, which then simply provided me a URL. ASUS claims that the ASUS "Gear Link" web-based software is designed for your convenience ... but it isn't very convenient if you're in a situation without internet.

Indeed, the web-based software is a maddeningly confusing move here by ASUS. The always-online requirement to configure your controller is an insane idea. And indeed, if you're traveling, the Gear Link software will use the language of your locale rather than your PC. I was in travelling in Germany while reviewing this controller, and lo and behold, the Raikiri II Gear Link software was displaying in German. Furthermore, I couldn't use the configuration software when my internet was down, either.

It's an absurd decision on ASUS' part to put the configuration tools for this exclusively on the web, rather than in the offline Armoury Crate, like any other sane company might do.

When it works as advertised, it's not half bad ... you can configure the sensitivities across the board, actuation curves, adjust lighting, and other settings. I just wish it weren't web-based.

ASUS Raikiri II: Competition

The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is the obvious competition here. Microsoft's Elite Controller runs around the same price for the bells and whistles, and remains my go-to preference primarily for the charge dock and battery life. The Elite Controller has various design flaws, including stick drift and bumper wear-and-tear, but the ease of use, convenience, and design of the dock generally win me over.

The Raikiri II feels like it'll last much longer than the Series 2, however. TMR sticks give it a huge advantage in the stick drift department, and the configuration software issues only matter in specific scenarios. For the most part, once you've configured it to your preferences, you'll probably not need them again.

The charge dock on the Raikiri II is awful, but it is at the very least functional. Competing "Elite" controllers like the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and so on usually don't have a charge dock, despite being similarly priced. The Wolverine range also seems susceptible to inference at times, which can be irritating in competitive play.

You could also just opt for something cheaper. At $189.99, the Raikiri II dock should be far, far better than it is. I'd sooner recommend just grabbing an Xbox Elite Series 2 Core and a second-hand Elite charge dock over this.

ASUS Raikiri II: Should you buy it?

The ASUS Raikiri II is not a bad controller. The controller itself is very solid overall, but it's just in the detailing where ASUS falls over.

The charge dock feels so painfully cheap that it's insulting as part of a $189.99 bundle, and the web-based configuration software is a huge and odd mistake. If ASUS opted to sell this controller without the charge dock and brought the configuration tools into a native app at $129.99 or less, it would be a great deal worth recommending. At $189.99, it becomes a bit tough.

I think once you're set up and ready to go with it, you won't be disappointed overall with your experience, but given that basic Xbox controllers run at $39.99, ASUS is really asking a lot here for what is, in essence, not exactly reinventing the wheel.

The ASUS ROG Kithara doesn't look like any other gaming headset I've tried in the past, and is essentially an audiophile-style open-back set of headphones that happen to also ship with a boom mic and a pile of cables so you can use it for gaming. The vented design reminded me straight away of the rear of the Xbox Ally X, which is pretty neat.

Going into this review, I was pretty sceptical, it looks awkward on my head for one, and is also very expensive at $299.99 for something that is wired only. That said, after using it for a few weeks now, it's grown on me immensely, and its unique style only adds to the character for me. Despite my initial qualms on it being so different from my usual choices, I've ended up loving it.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by ASUS. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

ASUS ROG Kithara Headset: Specs and pricing

The main selling point here is the 100mm planar magnetic drivers, developed in partnership with HiFiMan. These are much larger and more expensive to make than the dynamic drivers used in most gaming headsets.

It’s a fully wired, dual-entry design headset, which in normal talk means a cable for each side. The unboxing itself is a bit of a cable fest with all the optional accessories and attachments. It was a bit like when I unboxed my wireless vacuum and all its heads for different floor types. You get a boom mic cable (with volume/mute toggles), a standard headphone cable, and every connector you could possibly need, and some I didn't even know still existed (3.5mm, 6.3mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C). You can hook it up to basically anything that fits the connectors so PC, console, or DAC, without having to mess around with any software. It's not advertised as Xbox-compatible, but it will work if you plug the 3.5mm jack into your controller.

It isn't cheap, though $299.99 puts this squarely in the premium bracket. For a wired headset, you’re paying a serious markup. It’s clearly aimed at competing with "real" studio headphones rather than the usual gaming stuff you see from this brand. In the United Kingdom, you can pick up the ROG Kithara for £284.99 at Scan.co.uk.

ASUS ROG Kithara Headset: Comfort and build quality

Build quality was impressive straight out the box. The frame feels solid and the hinges feel like they could take a few beatings at the bottom of my backpack (not that I'm putting that to the test). The headset feels closer to studio headphones than your average plastic gaming headsets.. In fact, my son, who likes to record audio for his music and acting project, is looking to swipe these away from me as they fit into his microphone perfectly with the generous bundle of attachments.

Although the Kithara is pretty damn big and weighs around 420 grams, I was surprised by how comfortable it actually is. I expected it to feel heavy and awkward, especially given how it looks on my head (see in slideshow above), but in practice it feels very well balanced and much lighter than I anticipated. I had no issues wearing it for long sessions, even if it did look comically large compared to my normal headsets.

The headband doesn't dig in at all, and since it’s an open-back design, my ears stayed way cooler than they do in standard closed-back sets. I normally wear the LucidSound LS50X, but I have to admit my ears usually get pretty stuffy in those after a while.

My only real gripe is that the earcups tend to slide down if I move around too much during a frantic game. I’m constantly nudging them back up, though that might just be a "me" problem. The men in my family tried them on and didn’t have any issues. It probably just comes down to how massive these things are relative to my head!

Two sets of ear pads are included in the box, including velour pads which feel cooler and softer over time, but they slightly reduce isolation and bass compared to the stock pads.

Overall, the Kithara is very well built and, despite my initial scepticism about its size and appearance, it turned out to be far more comfortable than I expected.

ASUS ROG Kithara Headset: Mic and audio quality

The detachable MEMS boom microphone is solid but I wouldn't say it is outstanding. As in, it is perfectly fine for gaming but if you stream or podcast you will want to stick with something entirely seperate. But yeah, this is a gaming headset remember.

Voice clarity is good, background noise is handled well, and it works perfectly fine for gaming chat, Discord and my work calls on Microsoft Teams. And its always fun to have something a bit different on when we are asked to turn our cameras on. People will still be able to tell that you are using a headset microphone when you talk through this but it is cleaner than what you usually get from most gaming headsets.

One concern with open-back headsets is whether game audio leaks back into the microphone. In my testing, this was not an issue and I did not experience any obvious audio bleed being picked up by the mic.

The audio performance is where the ROG Kithara clearly separates itself from normal gaming headsets. Before getting into sound quality, it is important to be clear about one thing. The Kithara does not offer virtual surround sound or any form of spatial audio processing. It is a purely passive stereo headset.
I had to go back to school for this review just to figure out what "open-back" actually meant. Basically, since the earcups are vented rather than sealed shut, the sound breathes (supposedly). Audiophiles love to rave about the "spacious soundstage" of open-back headsets. What this does mean, though, is you get zero privacy. I’m hearing everything happening in my house, and worse, everyone else can hear my music too. There’s no way I’m winning any cool points for my indie taste when everyone in the room can clearly hear I’m just blasting Taylor Swift again. Definitely don't be that person who wears these on a bus.

This is a selling point if you play in a quiet room and care about natural presentation and spatial depth. It won't be for you if you game in noisy environments or shared spaces around family. Personally, while I'm normally gaming around other people I do actually want to be able to hear my family so this doesn't bother me at all. If you prefer to drown out the sound of petulant children, you may want to look elsewhere.

In use with actual games, the open back and flouncy-sounding "airy soundstage" actually makes a bit more sense. So environmental sounds, gunshots etc are easy to separate. Positioning is generally easy to follow in shooters, and there's no echoey effect from the cups.

Sound-wise, I noticed this headset was substantially less 'bass-heavy' than other gaming headsets, and it's up to your preference whether you like that.

Volume was also dependent on my connection. Bear in mind, I'm writing this as a millennial who spent most of their teens destroying their eardrums with the highest possible iPod volume. Plugged directly into my PC, the headset gets reasonably loud but can feel slightly limited at the top end. Using the included USB-C adapter makes it noticeably louder when it benefits from the extra power delivery (up to 90W), as it did when I plugged it into my phone. No amount of finicking around with Windows 11 audio settings changes this otherwise. So your experience may vary depending on what you plug it into.

ASUS ROG Kithara Headset: Should you buy it?

The ROG Kithara is a niche headset that puts sound quality ahead of features. It makes sense for a very specific type of user.

✅ You should buy this if...

• you mainly play in a quiet room and do not need isolation
• you care more about sound quality and separation than surround sound features
• you want one headset that works well for gaming, music and general listening

❌ You should not buy this if...

• you want wireless, noise cancelling, RGB lighting or software features
• you rely heavily on virtual surround or spatial audio modes
• you play in noisy or shared environments

The ASUS ROG Kithara feels less like a gaming headset and more like a pair of high-end studio headphones that just happened to have a mic slapped on at the end. I was pretty skeptical at first, that price tag is hard to ignore, especially for something with a wire. But once I actually put it on, it was way more comfortable and easy to deal with than the size suggests.

It’s not trying to win a feature war with brands like SteelSeries or Turtle Beach. You aren't getting a million buttons or gimmicks here; you’re paying for the sound quality and that open-back feel. If you’re hunting for that specific "audiophile" sound but don't want the hassle of a separate desktop mic and headphone setup, the Kithara is basically in a league of its own.

On January 23, 2026, the third-party gaming accessory manufacturer, Anbernic, revealed a new controller in the works for PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Linux, and Android called the ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller.

This controller aims to improve a player's experience with responsive controls, immersive feedback, and even keep track of their health through a built-in heart rate monitor.

Here are all the tech specifications Anbernic has shared on the ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller.

The ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller is a wired and wireless controller built with Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4G wireless connectivity and 1,000Hz polling rates in both wired and wireless modes.

With this high polling rate, players won't have to worry about suffering from input delay or low-latency while playing competitive PC games like Call of Duty.

The ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller also includes anti-drift joysticks for improved joystick input accuracy and preventing the sticks from drifting, and Dual Mode Triggers so the triggers can work more efficiently for certain games (linear mode for racing games and micro-switch more for first-person shooters).

Plus, it has 6-axis Gyro motion controls with reprogrammable macro keys, dual asymmetric pendulum motors for enhanced immersion, and a Smart Control Screen where the player can remap the controls and macro settings.

The Smart Control Screen also houses the ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller's most unique feature, a built-in heart rate monitor that can track the player's heartbeat in real time during gameplay.

Lastly, the controller can be bought in one of three color schemes: Black, White, or Yellow.

No word has been given from Anbernic on when the ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller will be released, other than it's "coming soon."

In the meantime, we'll keep an eye out and let you folks at home know when this intriguing PC gaming accessory is available to the public for purchase.

Does the ANBERNIC RG G01 Smart Controller look interesting to you? How do you feel about the idea of a controller tracking your heart rate while playing a game?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.

At $149.99, the Corsair Void V2 Max Wireless sits firmly in the premium headset category. It supports Xbox Wireless alongside Bluetooth, includes Dolby Atmos, and promises close to 70 hours of battery life, making it a compelling option on paper.

Corsair is a brand I have consistently trusted in the past, which made my experience with this headset more frustrating than expected. While there is a lot to like here, particularly in terms of comfort and audio quality, several usability issues and a game-specific problem prevented it from being the straightforward recommendation I hoped for.

I tested the Xbox edition of the Void V2 Max Wireless across Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC. While performance was largely consistent, microphone reliability in ARC Raiders became a recurring problem, shaping my overall impression. Outside of that one title, the headset performs well, which makes the issues harder to ignore rather than easier to excuse.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Corsair. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Corsair Void V2 Max Wireless: Specs and pricing

To Corsair’s credit, the specs on offer here are genuinely impressive. For the price, you are at least getting a strong package on paper, which makes it worth taking a closer look at what is actually under the hood.

Despite my issues, there are genuine reasons someone might be tempted to buy this headset, particularly if it is discounted. In daily use, I was able to walk around my entire house from top to bottom, make a cup of tea, and still chat with friends on Discord via Xbox without any dropouts.

Dual audio playback is another standout feature. Being able to hear audio from Xbox and Bluetooth devices simultaneously is genuinely useful and something I found myself using more often than expected.

That said, all customisation and firmware updates are locked behind Corsair’s iCUE software on PC. There is no mobile app, which feels like a missed opportunity, especially for an Xbox-focused headset at this price.

That RGB lighting also serves a practical purpose, as it indicates which mode the headset is currently using. Double-pressing the power button switches it into Xbox mode, which is how I mainly used the headset outside of some sessions on PC.

I cannot speak to how the headset performs on PlayStation, as I have the Xbox edition, but Corsair’s quick start guide does outline the required steps clearly for those platforms.

Corsair Void V2 Max Wireless: Comfort and build quality

This is easily one of the most comfortable headsets I have used. Coming from the Razer Kraken, which is already fairly comfortable, the Void V2 Max Wireless felt noticeably better during long sessions.

As someone who wears glasses while working and gaming, comfort matters a lot. The ear cups and headband never pressed my glasses into the side of my face, even after extended use.

Build quality is fairly unassuming. Nothing feels what I'd consider premium, but it feels good enough for the price. The headset is lightweight, adjusts easily, and accommodates a wide range of head sizes without feeling awkward.

The main concern here is the controls. The buttons, and especially the volume mixer, feel finicky in use and do not inspire much confidence in long-term durability.

Corsair Void V2 Max Wireless: Mic and audio quality

The Void V2 Max Wireless for Xbox does offer a competent microphone, including the ability to mute it by lifting the mic from the on position to off. That said, I never found it more impressive than the microphone on my Razer Kraken, and none of my friends noticed a meaningful improvement either, and you can hear for yourself here:

Where I did notice a clear step up was in audio quality. The 50mm drivers performed well in ARC Raiders, making it easy to pick out enemies and environmental threats to the point where friends often relied on my callouts in tense situations.

Using the volume mixer, however, was often frustrating. Pressing the button regularly left me unsure what I was actually adjusting, and on several occasions, my audio stopped working entirely, forcing me to power the headset off and back on again.

Despite these frustrations, the raw audio quality itself is genuinely strong and one of the headset’s highlights. Better refinement around audio mixing would have gone a long way, and the fact that it disables Xbox’s own audio mixing options in party chat and Discord remains a significant drawback for me.

Not to drive the ARC Raiders point home too much, but on the one occasion the microphone did function in-game, all game audio became muted, leaving me unable to hear anything. While this may be an issue specific to the game itself, it is still worth mentioning given how prominent the game is right now.

Corsair Void V2 Max Wireless: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if...

• Want a headset that sounds, feels, and looks great
• Plan to use it across multiple devices, not just for gaming
• Want great battery life
• Need dual audio playback

❌ You should not buy this if...

• Dislike RGB lighting, even when it is subtle
• Need active noise cancellation
• Want to play ARC Raiders on Xbox
• Do not have a PC to customise features

I do plan to continue using the Corsair Void V2 Max Wireless as my daily headset, if only because the alternative is my partner’s pink Razer Kraken. That said, I still cannot rely on it all the time, which remains a major sticking point for me.

One feature I have grown to really appreciate is dual audio playback. Being able to hear audio from both the Xbox and a Bluetooth device at the same time is genuinely useful, and it is something I have ended up using more often than expected, sometimes even by accident when both my PC and Xbox were on. It is a feature I would genuinely miss if I had to go without it.

If ARC Raiders is not a game you play or plan to play on Xbox, this is otherwise a fairly solid headset. Its unassuming design, strong comfort, and broad feature set are appealing, but at $149.99, the price still feels steep given the issues I ran into.

Even if some of those problems stem from the game itself rather than the headset, the volume mixer feels flimsy at times, and the controls are awkward to use. On top of that, updating and customising the headset is locked to Corsair’s iCUE software on PC, meaning Xbox-only users are locked out of firmware updates and certain features entirely.

Taken together, these frustrations make it difficult for me to fully recommend the headset at full price. Many users online appear to have run into similar issues, which is especially disappointing given just how comfortable the headset is. If you can find it discounted and do not plan to play ARC Raiders on Xbox, it may still be worth picking up compared to some of the best Xbox headsets out there.

At the end of 2025, I tested the E-WIN Champion Upgraded chair, which ended up causing me a huge amount of discomfort in my back, and, to make a long story short, I didn't like it.

I quickly began searching the web for a better replacement. Fortunately, I didn't need to search long as Razer had sent me its Razer Iskur V2 X gaming chair to test.

Without the chaos of Black Friday to hold me back, I was able to immediately get to work stress testing Razer's chair. Fortunately, I can confidently say that the Razer Iskur V2 X was a sigh of relief for my back, thanks to its solid and comfy materials with an ergonomic design.

Add on top a much more affordable MSRP of $299.99, and you have a high-quality gaming chair that I would easily recommend to anyone, even if there are some aspects that can be improved upon.

Here is my review of the Razer Iskur V2 X gaming chair.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Razer. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review before publication.

Razer Iskur V2 X: Build quality and assembly

To start off, the Razer Iskur V2 X was quite simple to put together. It was included with a set of instructions that perfectly conveyed how to build it with informative writing and photographs, and it had a set of tools for me to build with no problems.

Still, the difficulty of building this chair will depend on your personal strength and room space. If you're not particularly strong or suffer from mobility issues, you may require assistance to help you build the chair, as some of its parts can be quite heavy.

The build quality of the Razer Iskur V2 X gaming chair is top-class. It's Multi-layered Fabric feels nice, cool, and durable to the touch. Plus, its metal wheel base is strong enough to support my 230lb+ body with no issues to its stability, regardless of its positioning.

However, it should be noted that Razer's recommended weight limit for this chair is 299 lbs. So, while gamers in my weight range won't have any issues, this chair may struggle supporting more heavyweight gamers weighing between 300 and 400 lbs, especially if the chair's not assembled as intended.

Razer Iskur V2 X: Comfort, durability, and features

The Razer Iskur V2 X gaming chair features a decent assortment of seat adjustment options to help make it more suitable for specific users. These include durable 2D Armrests, a 152° backrest recline, and a hydraulic system to change the seat's height.

After messing around with these settings, I have found that nearly every component of this chair is comfortable to rest on, no matter what position you put it in. The seat feels nice to sit on for many hours, thanks to its contoured high-density foam cushioning fitting snuggly around my backside, and its padded armrests feel nice to rest my arms on while typing.

The backrest and lumbar support feel a bit too stiff for my liking compared to the pillowy seat cushioning. Thankfully, it was nowhere near as rough as the E-WIN Champion Upgraded chair's backrest and lumbar support, and any true discomfort I felt this time was due to bad posturing on my part rather than the chair itself.

Also, I had only recently received this chair with just a week of testing, so I'm confident that once I've broken this chair's backrest and lumbar support in, it will become more comfortable in the long run.

Still, I wished that this chair came with a lumbar support pillow, but those are sold separately at Razer's website for $59.99.

Should you buy the Razer Iskur V2 X?

✅ You should buy this if:

• You're looking for a high-quality and durable mid-range chair with comfortable seat cushioning and armrests.
• You need a chair that's simple and easy to put together.
• A chair that won't cost you over $400.

❌ You should not buy this if:

• You weigh over the 299lb recommended weight limit.
• You want a chair with a softer backrest and lumbar support.
• If you want a chair bundled with a lumbar support pillow to help ease back pain.

While the Razer Iskur V2 X's $299.99 MSRP is pricier than other chairs we've reviewed in the past like the Sihoo M57, its above-average comfort levels and tough build make a strong case that justifies its price point, especially for a mid-range chair that's comparable to the Razer Enki X.

So, if you can't afford to buy the best gaming chairs on the market due to their lofty prices, like the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen or the Razer Iskur V2, then the Razer Iskur V2 X is a great, affordable alternative.

To say I've been using one of the fastest out-of-the-box PC controllers money can buy, I've been suffering a little. I've been using Razer's Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC of late as my main for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but something has been feeling off.

When I wrote our review of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC, I was blown away by its performance. But I also tested that controller in Black Ops 6, before Black Ops 7 came out.

The long story short is that if you have a fast Razer controller, such as this, and you're feeling a little sluggish, you should check your deadzones in Synapse 4.

The problem: Feeling sluggish in fast-paced competitive environments

To be clear, the controller is not responsible for my own lack of skill. But after playing only Multiplayer for the first week, most of the time since I've been either shooting (mostly) bots in Warzone Casual doing the Mastery Camo and 100% Calling Card, or in the PvE modes.

Going back to Multiplayer with the start of the Fallout crossover event, something didn't feel right. Something felt sluggish. Not massively, but gunfights and movement just felt harder. Like I couldn't move, aim, or even react quick enough, even with sweat pouring down my head.

After troubleshooting every in-game setting, I turned to the Internet, and then into Razer Synapse 4 to solve it.

The solution: Turn off Razer's double deadzone prevention

On paper, Razer's own software ensuring that you don't have clashing deadzone settings between your controller and game sounds good.

In practice, though, players have observed that having the double deadzone prevention turned on in Synapse 4, unintentionally seems to mess with your input latency.

In my experience, at least, it seems to be the case. I turned it off, set deadzones to 0 minimum and 100 maximum, and then went back to the game.

From the very first match, it felt so much better. I'm not ready for the Call of Duty League yet, but, I could definitely feel movement and aiming as much crisper.

Turning your deadzones to 0 in Synapse will give you a warning about unintended inputs and being for "pro players" but there's no cause for alarm.

The idea is to manage your deadzones inside the game, in my case, Black Ops 7. A controller like this with TMR thumbsticks doesn't have stick drift to worry about, but if you use a deadzone to help you have better control, or eliminate unwanted inputs, the game is where to set it.

It makes sense, though, that there could be unintended consequences. I'm sure Razer hasn't done it on purpose, but if the software is constantly checking that you don't have deadzone clashes, something is happening in the background. On a slower controller, it may not be noticeable. But on an 8,000 Hz one, it certainly is.

Other things to check

There are also a couple of other things with this, or any similarly tricked out controller, you should also check if you're getting issues.

The first is that your PC can actually handle the 8,000 Hz polling rate. This much communication between controller and PC increases the load on the CPU. Use Task Manager to check whether it's being particularly thirsty, and if need be, reduce the polling rate in software. Most recent CPUs should be absolute fine, though.

Also make sure your firmware is up-to-date. Through this process I did, in fact, discover I was using older firmware, though it wasn't the fix for my personal issue. Razer doesn't deliver firmware updates through Synapse, so you'll have to go and locate it manually.

So, I'm back as fighting fit as I'm ever going to be. Software features are nice, but sometimes they can be more hindrance, than help.

If you have any other tips and tricks for maximizing a controller's performance on PC, be sure to drop them into the comments below.

The first showcase I attended at CES 2026 was from MSI, and it certainly set the tone for the rest of the show. Gorgeous PC gaming hardware, thin new laptops, brilliant displays, and, of course, a lot of AI.

One new product that stood out to me was the MEG X, a 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor with AI tools baked right in. The tagline for this undeniably gorgeous screen? "AI Sees First. You Win First." Right. This isn't the first AI-infused gaming monitor to show up in the past couple of years, but it is the most advanced.

As I approached this beacon of OLED on the showroom floor, an MSI representative was quick to begin explaining its capabilities. "This kind of feels like cheating," I said, to which the rep just sort of laughed and shrugged it off.

The MEG X has six total AI enhancements. Some of them are less egregious than the others, and I can see how they'd be a massive boon when it comes to accessibility. An AI Gauge warns you when your health (or any other mana or energy) bar is low. These aren't always easy to see, especially if your vision is impaired.

AI Scene automatically analyzes what type of game you're playing and switches to the optimal display profile. Not a bad idea, especially for those who aren't exactly sure how to get the best picture.

Here's where things turn a bit more nefarious. AI Vision+ effectively removes dark spots on your screen, allowing you to peek into those unlit corners. Arc Raiders players would certainly get a big boost with this feature.

AI Scope automatically zooms in when it senses a player beneath your crosshair. AI Tracker highlights in-game characters as they appear on your screen. No more hiding! And AI Goggle might be the most egregious of all with its ability to remove the effects of flashbangs. Counter-Strike 2 players just sat up to attention.

MSI says there are no limits to this AI tech; you don't have to set anything up or train it on games. It works automatically with any game.

Don't use it for competitive gaming, or whatever

About 30 minutes after I first laid eyes on the AI monitor, MSI's actual keynote presentation kicked off, and the MEG X was introduced in a tongue-in-cheek manner, like "Hey, don't use this for multiplayer or competitive gaming. WINK WINK. LOL."

Indeed, MSI's marketing slide explaining the monitor's AI capabilities has a small asterisk — *These AI features are recommended for use in single-player gameplay or practice. That should definitely remove any liability when these monitors are eventually used in some competitive tournament that's not attended in person.

See, with AI contained to the monitor's own processing abilities, there's really no way — at least for now — for these performance-enhancing tools to be detected by traditional anti-cheat measures.

Bottom line? The tech is impressive, but I hate to see this sort of pay-to-win hardware coming to market when there's not yet a solid way to keep it out of competitive play. I could certainly benefit from these tools — I'm getting old, and my reflexes and sight aren't what they used to be — but I could never justify using them when going up against real players.

Am I old and out of touch? Are AI "cheats" in monitors an inevitable step forward? Is there any way for this type of hardware to be banned from competitive play? Let me know in the comments section below!

A lot of innovation is happening in the wearable tech space, especially when you look at AR and smart glasses.

XREAL is one of the biggest players on that front, and now the company is teaming up with ASUS on a brand-new product: AR glasses focused entirely on gaming. Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 glasses boast a world's first with dual, 240Hz micro-OLED displays.

AR glasses are already a great choice for elevating your gaming experience, whether you're at home, in bed, or traveling, but the ROG XREAL R1 glasses shown at CES 2026 want to be the best in the category. Here's what you need to know, including why anyone should consider this over XREAL's main offerings.

Peak performance for gaming on the go

I reviewed the XREAL One Pro and called it "the absolute best" of AR glasses, and this collaboration with ASUS ROG does borrow a lot from XREAL's flagship specs. Namely, the ROG XREAL R1 seem to use the same optical design, so you get the same wide 57-degrees FOV the equivalent of a 171-inch display that only you can see, and best-in-class optical transparency.

However, these glasses double the refresh rate to an unheard of 240Hz, and lower the latency from 3ms to just 2ms. Both those numbers matter a lot when it comes to competitive gaming. There are other similarities and differences, too.

The ROG XREAL R1 borrows the excellent Bose stereo speakers, electrochromic dimming, and 3DoF tracking, but doesn't boast the XREAL X1 spatial computing chip or support for the XREAL Eye attachment that enables 6DoF tracking. It also weighs about 4g more, but it still isn't heavy for a pair of AR glasses at 91g.

On the ASUS side of things, the company designed the ROG XREAL R1 glasses with the Xbox Ally gaming handhelds in mind, guaranteeing plug-and-play support and full compatibility through the USB-C ports. These glasses will also be released alongside the new ASUS ROG Control Dock, which will feature a DisplayPort and two HDMI 2.0 ports to connect to devices that don't support USB-C display output.

That basically sums it up — the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 trades some of the spatial tracking and productivity-focused features of the flagship XREAL One Pro in favor of improved gaming performance. AR glasses are already awesome for gaming, so this collaboration makes a lot of sense. It's also practically guaranteed to be significantly better than the ASUS AirVision M1 glasses I reviewed.

It'll all depend on price, but we don't have that information... yet. The ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses should release in the first half of 2026, but we'll have to wait to know exactly how much they'll cost you.

Have you experienced AR glasses for yourself, and do you think they're worth it? Let us know in the comments below!

I've used a lot of headphones and gaming headsets, and few have been able to truly challenge Audeze when it comes to sheer audio quality.

Now, at CES 2026, the high-end audio brand has returned with the Audeze Maxwell 2, an all-new, totally redesigned wireless gaming headset packing some serious upgrades. I'm actually at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but before I flew out, I had a brief opportunity to test the new headset.

I'll need to use this headset a lot more after I return home to really know if Audeze struck gold with its Maxwell follow-up, but I'm not harboring any doubts. The first-generation Maxwell wasn't perfect, but it has held on to its spot on our list of the best Xbox headsets for over two years — and its successor promises to be better across the board.

Better audio, greater comfort, slimmer design

Audeze is the de facto champion of planar magnetic technology in headphones, pushing forward with new innovations and evolutions. Planar magnetic drivers are larger, heavier, and more expensive than the dynamic drivers in most headphones, but they're also more precise and responsive.

Planar magnetic expertise has earned Audeze a reputation for phenomenal audio quality, and that's exactly why I praised the original Audeze Maxwell in my 4/5-star review. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Maxwell 2 refines what its predecessor started, with massive 90mm planar magnetic drivers loaded with Audeze's various proprietary technologies.

This time, that also includes SLAM, a newer tech that I first experienced with my 4.5/5-star Audeze LCD-S20 review. You can check that review out for more information, but the idea is that the Maxwell 2 should have fuller, deeper low-end than the original Maxwell. The Maxwell 2 boasts twice the microphone bandwidth (48KHz), too, on top of brand-new FILTER AI background noise cancellation.

The most immediately obvious improvement, though, is in the design. While not as luxurious as Audeze's highest-end headphones, the Maxwell 2 is clearly premium, with a slimmer and lighter design, a more breathable and comfortable suspension strap, and magnetically attached earcups for easy replacements.

I could tell the moment I put the Maxwell 2 on my head — this is a huge upgrade in comfort, which bodes well for longer gaming sessions. Audeze didn't compromise on endurance, either, with the same 80-hour battery rating. We still get 2.4GHz wireless for Windows PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, and Bluetooth for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.

Wherever you use the Audeze Maxwell 2, you'll be able to take advantage of the new Audeze app for on-the-fly controls and adjustability, showing Audeze is committed to making the Maxwell 2 a far better all-around headset. I'm honestly really excited to dive more into this headset, but you don't have to wait.

The Audeze Maxwell 2 is already available for $349, or $329 if you don't need Xbox Wireless support. I also know Audeze is already planning some special edition drops, but we'll have to wait longer to see those.

When choosing a gaming headset, just how important is audio quality to you? Will the Audeze Maxwell 2 become your next gaming headset? Let us know in the comments below!

The last ASUS keyboard I reviewed cost a whopping $300, and — as much as I liked the keyboard itself — it was tough to recommend to most people. Now, I'm back with an even more expensive keyboard from ASUS. Is history repeating itself?

This is the ASUS ROG Falcata, and it's one of the most interesting keyboards I've ever had on my desk, thanks to the uncommon split design and absolutely ridiculous specs. ASUS is also asking $420 for the Falcata, making this one of the priciest peripherals I've ever tested.

I'd be lying if I said the Falcata hasn't won me over, though. Almost no one will actually go out and buy this wireless gaming keyboard for themself, but there will undoubtedly be those drawn to this fascinating form factor and insane performance. The ROG Falcata is unlike any other keyboard I've reviewed, for better or worse.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by ASUS. ASUS had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

My first split keyboard experience

Split keyboards aren't a novel concept, being an alternative approach to the ergonomic keyboards that plenty of people swear by. The idea is to be able to position each half of the keyboard to line up with how your hands naturally rest, making typing and gaming more comfortable over long periods of time.

Honestly, it does take some time to get used to an ergonomic keyboard, let alone a split keyboard — but the benefits are real. The ROG Falcata honestly does feel more natural to use than more traditional keyboards, but this ASUS board takes things a lot further than even other split keyboards.

For one, all the Falcata's most important components are on the left side of the board, so you can only use that for gaming (giving you the WASD keys and important shortcuts) for a significantly more compact setup. When you need both halves, a simple USB-C cable connects them; it's a slightly awkward design, but it works well.

Most ergonomic and split keyboards are also productivity-focused, and even the premium offerings tend to heavily compromise on performance. The ROG Falcata takes things to extremes with truly phenomenal gaming and typing performance, as well as a list of features too long to fully break down.

Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation and advanced customization? Check. Support for an industry-leading 8,000Hz polling rate in both wired and wireless modes? Check. Bluetooth support for true multi-device connectivity? Check. Beautiful per-key RGB lighting and intuitive, multi-function, customizable shortcuts? Check. Detachable silicon wrist rests? Check.

On paper and in person, the ASUS ROG Falcata checks every single box for an ultra-premium wireless gaming keyboard. It's clear ASUS also put a lot of thought into how to make this split, 75% layout make sense.

Brilliant, but far too expensive for most

The ROG Falcata sold me on the appeal of a split gaming keyboard, but this keyboard has to nail everything to come close to justifying its price tag. I already mentioned the impeccable performance, but the simple feel of typing is just as brilliant.

The ASUS ROG Falcata's magnetic switches are responsive and precise, and the four-layer sound dampening helps deliver warm, gentle, and pleasant typing acoustics up there with the absolute best keyboards I've used. ASUS deserves some praise for that, at the very least.

Build quality is top-notch, and there's plenty of accessories included in the box to add further value, too. No part of the ROG Falcata made me think "this is simply not good enough for such a luxury product."

That doesn't mean there aren't some oddities. The silicon wrist rests are attached to bulky metal plates that you actually need to screw into the bottom of the keyboard (so they're not easily removed), and there's no built-in kickstand to adjust the angle or height — you instead have to attach these odd, spherical feet that come in the box. It just feels more awkward than it probably needed to be.

Overall, though, there's little to complain about. Battery life is impressive for a high-performance, RGB-lit wireless keyboard, and ASUS Gear Link is a fairly intuitive and responsive web-based app for diving into the Falcata's extensive list of software options and features. The multi-function wheel and button are also excellent, once you learn what each mode does.

I still never forgot that the ROG Falcata retails for $420, though.

ROG Falcata review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want an ergonomic keyboard with serious gaming performance.
• You see value in being able to just use the left side of your keyboard.
• You want a truly luxurious, feature-packed gaming keyboard.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You understandably have no interest in spending so much on a keyboard.
• You're not interested in an ergonomic, split keyboard design.

When I reviewed the ASUS ROG Azoth X, I also criticized its high $300 price tag and the various oddities that came along with it, but that was a "normal" keyboard. The ROG Falcata is nearly 50% more expensive, but it offers something basically no other keyboard around does.

It's not just one of the most premium keyboards I've ever used in terms of features, performance, and typing experience — it's also one of the most versatile, thanks to the unique split keyboard design we don't often see cross over into the PC gaming world.

The ASUS ROG Falcata is honestly amazing, but there's a catch — most people simply don't want or need this, especially when it costs so much. It's absolutely a hyper-niche keyboard with plenty of its own bizarre characteristics, but I'm genuinely so happy that it exists. If you know this could be the keyboard for you, the ASUS ROG Falcata can be yours for $419.99 at BestBuy.com.

After many years, my old gaming chair fell apart during the summer of 2025. In my search for a replacement, I had an offer to test the latest chair in E-WIN's 'Champion Upgraded' series in early November. That whole month was consumed by the madness of Black Friday, so I wasn't able to write a review right away.

However, that actually gave me extra time to stress-test this gaming chair, which led to some important verdicts. At its retail price of $479.99, this chair is hard to recommend as I found it too uncomfortable to sit in for too long, doing a real number on my back, even with the included memory foam cushion.

Is it just a personal issue, and could it be tempting to pick up at a discount? Here's what I think of the E-WIN Champion Upgraded gaming chair.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by E-WIN. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

E-WIN Champion Upgraded: Build quality and assembly

Putting together the E-WIN Champion chair was simple enough. The chair included a set of instructions that was easy to understand, with informative text and photographs, and a set of tools to help the user put it together. No issues there.

Of course, depending on your personal strength and room space, you may need an extra hand to help you assemble the chair, particularly if you have any mobility issues.

For what it's worth, the build quality of its individual parts is solid. It's "Brisa Ultra Premium" PU leather feels pleasing to touch, and its heavy-duty aluminum wheel base is durable enough to withstand my 230lb+ body without crumpling in on itself, no matter how high or low I adjust its seating position with the hydraulic lift

Now, for those wondering, its weight limit is 400lbs, so gamers in my weight range, and even those a little heavier than me, shouldn't have to worry about breaking this chair if they assemble it correctly.

E-WIN Champion Upgraded: Comfort, durability, and features

The E-Win Champion Upgraded Chair has a wide variety of adjustment options to make it more comfortable to your liking. They include its 4D "Integrated Dynamic Lumber Support System", 4D PU padded armrests, a 55° backrest recline, a hydraulic system for seat height, and a 15° "Rocking Mode."

It also includes a magnetic memory foam pillow to rest your head on and a lumbar cushion to add extra comfort for your back. However, after fiddling with its settings, I've found the only genuinely comfortable parts of this chair are its armsets, which line up perfectly with my keyboard, and its memory foam head pillow.

The rest of the chair just feels too stiff, as if I'm pressing my back against a hardwood board that's been covered up with a leather cover. Plus, I can't get out of its rocking mode as the lever to adjust the seat tilt stopped working properly after a couple of weeks.

As a result, it has become too flimsy to sit in comfortably, so I have to sit near the edge of a rickety chair to prevent it from tilting too far back (which seems to be a common issue with E-Win chairs, as pointed out by my colleague, Jez Corden, in his E-WIN Flash XL chair review).

Lastly, the extra lumber pillow included with this seat feels too flat and hollow to support my back, so I had to use one of the pillows I use for sleeping as a makeshift replacement, with mixed success. It's particularly disappointing because our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, tested an E-Win Champion Series chair back in 2020 and was quite happy with it.

Unfortunately, I don't share his sentiment for this chair, surprisingly so, since this is supposed to be an 'Upgraded' version. I don't have the same kind of lengthy experience with testing chairs, and my introduction was the excellent Sihoo M57 Full Mesh Breathable Office Chair. Now, this offering from E-WIN makes me miss it greatly.

On the other hand, I don't need years of experience to know when a chair gives me discomfort and even physical pain. Sitting on what feels like a hard plank causes severe pain in my lower back, no matter how far back or forward the backrest reclines or what height I adjust the seat to.

Not to mention, I have to sit at uncomfortable angles to compensate for its malfunctioning rocking mode after only a few weeks. It raises concerns about this chair's long-term durability to the point that I'm wondering if the rest of its adjustment features will fall apart soon, too, despite the decent build quality of its separate parts.

E-WIN Champion Upgraded: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if:

• You enjoy padded armrests.
• You need a chair that's easy to assemble.

❌ You should not buy this if:

• You're over the 400lb weight limit.
• You're on a strict budget.
• You have issues with back pain.

The issues I've experienced with this chair mean its $479.99 MSRP makes it too expensive for me to recommend above others. There are far more comfortable gaming chairs out there at much lower prices, like the Razer Enki X or the aforementioned Sihoo M57, so it was already facing fierce competition.

Even if its malfunctioning lever were a one-off issue with my sample, the price would still be too high for me. Overall, I can't score it any higher and suggest saving your money for the best gaming chairs we know for a fact are worth their premium price, like the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen or the Razer Iskur V2.

Ready for a little history lesson? Back in 1999, Razer debuted the Boomslang, the world's first mouse designed specifically for PC gaming. With its unique form factor and ridiculously good performance (for the time), the Razer Boomslang effectively started the PC gaming peripherals industry.

Fast forward a few years, and the current Razer we know and love was re-founded in 2005 by Min-Liang Tan — who is still the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO). It has been 20 years of a whole lot of gaming hardware and innovation since then, making Razer one of the biggest and most recognizable gaming brands in the world.

What better way to celebrate two decades then revisiting the mouse that started it all? The Razer Boomslang is returning with a super limited 20th Anniversary Edition, which takes the original's iconic design and upgrades it with all the insane capabilities and features of Razer's best gaming mice. Here's what you need to know.

The rebirth of a legend

Gaming mice have evolved by leaps and bounds since the original Razer Boomslang made waves with its 2,000 DPI mechanical ball tracking, but Razer isn't just re-releasing the mouse that started it all — it's giving it the full modern treatment.

In fact, the Razer Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition shares a lot of similarities with the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro I reviewed, one of the highest-performance and most technically advanced gaming mice in the world.

That includes the absurdly capable Razer Focus Pro 45K Optical Sensor Gen-2 and Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-4, with up to 45,000 DPI, ludicrously precise sensitivity adjustment, less latency, greater durability and reliability, and more. The new Razer Boomslang is also fully wireless with Razer HyperSpeed and 8,000Hz HyperPolling, and comes paired with its own limited-edition Razer Mouse Dock Pro for wireless charging.

Even the iconic design has been tweaked and refined, with a beautiful translucent shell, 9-zone Razer Chroma RGB lighting, PU leather on the mouse buttons, and optional glass feet. The overall ambidextrous form factor has been preserved, but Razer has updated everything else.

There's still a lot we don't know about this mouse, including its exact specifications (like its weight), how much it'll cost, and even when it'll be available to buy. What we do know, though, is that Razer is only selling 1,337 of this ultra-limited mouse, with each one individually numbered. This mouse is squarely aimed at hardcore collectors.

Razer is also intending to host some community events and giveaways leading up to the launch. If you want to sign up to be notified, you can learn more about the Razer Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition at Razer.com. Most of us will never actually see this mouse in person (myself included), but I still think this is awesome.

It took far too long for Xbox to allow other companies to create their own wireless Xbox controllers, but we're finally seeing the dam break over the last year or so. Now, ASUS is joining the party with its latest Raikiri controller, and it's a multi-platform monster with some hardcore specs.

The ASUS ROG Raikiri II is now available for $189.99 at BestBuy.com, making it another premium wireless Xbox controller to compete with the best from Xbox and Razer. It boasts anti-drift Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks, two-stage triggers, plenty of extra buttons, RGB lighting, and multi-device wireless connectivity.

ASUS designed this controller alongside the new Xbox Ally handheld, so it also features dedicated Armoury Crate and Command Center buttons for ultimate compatibility. Of course, the ROG Raikiri II also works flawlessly with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Bluetooth-connected devices.

Could this be the ultimate wireless Xbox controller?

Could the ASUS ROG Raikiri II end up being the new best Xbox controller money can buy? The potential may be there, but ASUS has some stiff competition — especially from the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro we praised in our 4.5/5-star review.

On paper, the ROG Raikiri II goes blow-for-blow with the Wolverine V3 Pro. The retail price is $10 lower, but you get more advanced TMR thumbsticks (instead of Hall Effect), Bluetooth connectivity, more RGB lighting, a wireless charging stand in the box, and dedicated Armoury Crate/Command Center shortcuts for superior PC integration.

All you're seemingly giving up is the Wolverine V3 Pro's lower weight and two additional claw grip bumper buttons. As long as the ROG Raikiri II can deliver on performance, ergonomics, and reliability, it could absolutely surpass the Wolverine V3 Pro.

The ROG Raikiri II will be especially tempting for Xbox Ally owners. The matching design cues aside, having dedicated Armoury Crate and Command Center buttons is a huge boon for the Xbox Ally when docked, allowing you to more easily change device settings on the fly than is possible with other controllers.

For me, though, whether the ROG Raikiri II will actually succeed in becoming the best wireless Xbox controller depends on two things: wireless stability and battery life. Razer's flagship controller has some known connectivity issues on Xbox and PC, and its rated battery life of around 20 hours is woefully low.

ASUS claims up to 50 hours of battery life with the ROG Raikiri II; that may be with RGB lighting and rumble feedback disabled, but the initial promise is still far better than Razer's. Fortunately, Windows Central is looking to get this controller in for review, so stay tuned for our in-depth analysis on this premium peripheral.

If you'd prefer not to wait, the ASUS ROG Raikiri II wireless controller is now available for $189.99 at BestBuy.com.

Christmas and the holiday season are just around the corner, and your window to order gifts before the big day is quickly closing. But there's really no need to stress, especially if you're shopping for your favorite PC gamer.

Whether you're looking for some affordable stocking stuffers, a pricier gaming display, or just about anything else in between, we have you covered. Shopping for something under $50? You can't go wrong with the GameSir Nova Lite wireless controller or a new mouse mat from SteelSeries (seriously, they get worn out fast, and a new one is always appreciated).

If your PC gamer spends time on a gaming handheld, like a Steam Deck or ROG Ally, JSAUX's 6-in-1 dock is a perfect addition. Have a larger budget of around $100? You can land a great new gaming keyboard from HyperX, a new gaming headset from SteelSeries, or a new mouse from Logitech.

Why trust us? We spend countless hours testing, using, and reviewing PC gaming accessories, which allows us to keep close tabs on what's actually worth your money. That's helped us distill our gift guide down to 18 choices we're sure that PC gamers will love.

FAQ

I've used a lot of different keyboards lately, and they've all tried to impress me in different ways. For this latest from HyperX, it's all about offering a premium, wireless gaming experience in a package more customizable than most.

Hot swappable switches, replaceable keycaps, a magnetic frame and badge, per-key and frame RGB lighting — you can make the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless your own, and trust that there will always be a great, feature-packed keyboard at the core. That's the idea, anyway.

In my testing, though, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless doesn't always compare favorably to others in the same price range, especially with some oddities and instabilities that you don't expect from a premium product. This keyboard has been out for a while, though, so you can often find it for much less than its original retail price — a fact directly responsible for it earning a slightly more positive recommendation from me.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP and HyperX had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A flexible design packed with features

As much as I personally value a tenkey number pad, I've grown rather fond of the popular 75% keyboard layout.

The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless is a good jab at the form factor, too, but it's not my favorite; it's missing the "Del" and right "Ctrl" keys, for one, and you still get the shortened right "Shift." You do get an F13 key in the function row, though, which some people will undoubtedly value.

Layout aside, this is a gasket-mounted design constructed mostly of plastic, with an aluminum top frame that is actually connected via magnets. You can pull it off to expose the screws holding the keyboard together, and swap it out for a different color. There's also a small metal badge on the right side of the keyboard that can be swapped out for a variety of designs, with HyperX selling badge packs for $24.99 at HyperX.com.

Combine that with the ability to swap out the switches and double-shot PBT keycaps, as well as the per-key RGB lighting and RGB light strips on either side, and the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless feels more customizable than your average keyboard, even if the base keyboard only comes in standard black.

Being a premium keyboard, customization isn't the only thing the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless has up its sleeves. You get multi-device connectivity across HyperX's 2.4GHz, three Bluetooth profiles, and the USB Type-C port, a customizable dial, and even an ambient light sensor that can dynamically adjust the RGB backlighting to match your surroundings (you don't see that often).

Battery life is surprisingly good when off the cable, too, getting up to 80 hours of usage even with RGB lighting enabled. The features, design, and build quality are there for the price, but what's it like actually using this keyboard?

Software and firmware that's rough around the edges

Simply setting up the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless was a chore, and Windows Dynamic Lighting is to blame... Sort of. I had already disabled it, but it was re-enabled when this keyboard was connected — and only affected this keyboard, not any of my other RGB-lit accessories or peripherals.

Until I found the culprit, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless simply didn't work correctly. Half the built-in keyboard shortcuts didn't work (and if they did, they gave no indication like they normally would), and none of my changes in HyperX's NGENUITY software would apply properly. I'm not the only person (or even reviewer) to encounter similar issues, too.

Once I disabled Windows Dynamic Lighting again and completely reset the keyboard and software, and reinstalled all firmware and software updates, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless finally worked properly. Well, except for the RGB lighting occasionally turning itself off until I turned the keyboard off and on again. Oh, and the handful of times the keyboard also disconnected from my computer entirely, until I turned it off and on.

The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless isn't new, either; it's enjoyed a full year of support, and it was still one of the more inconsistent keyboards I've used recently. Tally up every issue, though, and they took up less than 1% of my time using the keyboard, so I wouldn't go so far as to call it broken or even deeply flawed.

The rest of the time, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless has been great, with excellent performance and typing ergonomics. The acoustics are a little on the sharp and metallic side, though, and other keyboards in the $200+ price range simply feel better — so it's a good thing for the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless that it doesn't really cost $200+ anymore, which helps smooth over all of this.

Alloy Rise 75 Wireless review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a full-featured, premium, wireless 75% gaming keyboard.
• You'll actually take advantage of the increase customizability.
• You find this keyboard on sale for much less than its retail price.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• Small issues wear on your patience very quickly.
• You love creamy typing acoustics, like the best enthusiast keyboards.

The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless was released for $230, forcing it to compete with some of the best and highest-rated wireless gaming keyboards on the market. At that price, it'd be tough to recommend given how important consistency and stability are with a high-performance gaming accessory.

This keyboard doesn't really cost that much anymore, though. Whether you look at BestBuy.com or at Amazon.com, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless normally goes for $130-140. That's much more palatable, and honestly makes this keyboard an excellent deal for those who want a premium peripheral without paying a premium price.

It won't go down in history as one of my favorite gaming keyboards, but the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless is a good option when on sale, delivering a ton of features, better-than-average customization, and a really nice overall typing and gaming experience. Just be prepared for some occasional oddities, though, which will remind you why I reviewed this keyboard more favorably, because its price has fallen.

I don't play a lot of competitive online multiplayer games anymore, but there's still a soft spot in my heart for Counter-Strike 2, which I've spent hundreds of hours playing. So, color me shocked when Razer revealed a special Counter-Strike 2 collection of its most premium, most performant PC gaming gear.

Razer didn't just do a Counter-Strike 2 collection; it based the designs on the legendary Dragon Lore skin for Counter-Strike's iconic AWP sniper rifle. It's a skin so lauded, there are thousands of requests to buy it for $2,000 or more on the Counter-Strike marketplace.

I went hands-on with Razer's dragon-skinned accessories, and it's easily one of the best-looking collaborations I've ever had in my office. I also love that Razer went all-in by choosing its best gear — the products that many professional Counter-Strike esports athletes actually use during tournaments.

What is the Razer Counter-Strike 2 Dragon Lore Collection?

Razer's Counter-Strike 2 collaboration is comprised of some of its highest-end accessories, so buying just one product from this family can sting your wallet. This is for those who already planned to splurge on flagship gaming gear or the most hardcore Counter-Strike fans.

In the collection, you'll find:

• Razer Viper V3 Pro Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $179.99 at Razer.com, which is $20 more than the standard version. I reviewed the Razer Viper V3 Pro wireless mouse.
  • You can also bundle this with the Razer Gigantus V2 Counter-Strike 2 Edition large mousepad for $219.98 at Razer.com.
• Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $269.99 at Razer.com, which is $50 more than the standard version. I reviewed the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro keyboard.
• Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $269.99 at Razer.com, which is $20 more than the standard version. I reviewed the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro wireless headset.
• Razer Iskur V2 X Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $399.99 at Razer.com, which is $100 more than the standard version. I have not tested this chair (and decided not to accept the Counter-Strike 2 version for this hands-on).

If you're really committed, it'd cost approximately $1,160 for the entire Razer Counter-Strike 2 Collection, which is about $225 more than if you bought the standard version of each product instead.

Beautiful gold-and-red designs

Unlike so many other collaborations from a variety of companies, this collection isn't the same repeating pattern of logos haphazardly plastered onto off-the-shelf products. Each accessory in this collection is meticulously designed, with new materials, detailed and smartly placed designs, and a consistently varied theme throughout.

It all starts with that gold base, which avoids feeling gaudy in the way that so many gold things do, accented by a deep, bold red and flourished by the iconic "Dragon Lore" design. It all looks incredible when put together, but you'll still notice that each product is different.

The headset is accented more by black than red, and leans more into that beautiful gold color. The keyboard puts that red color front and center, with the "Dragon Lore" design dominating the attached wrist rest. The mouse is the most balanced of the bunch, and I love the dragon fire that naturally rests directly under my pointer finger in use.

There's only so much I can say about these designs — just check out the pictures above. I was a huge fan of the Razer Phantom White Collection I previously went hands-on with, but this collection easily takes the cake for overall aesthetics.

None of these design changes impact usability in the slightest, either. That's especially important when you consider which products Razer chose for this collection.

Actually great PC gaming accessories

Most of Razer's official, licensed collaborations feature more affordable, lower-end gear for mainstream audiences, and even Razer's "Phantom" collections tend to avoid the company's highest-end products. That's definitely not the case here.

If you're going to make a collection for Counter-Strike 2, one of the most popular competitive games with a booming esports landscape, you need to focus accessories that Counter-Strike players will actually want to use, and Razer delivered with its absolute best.

The symmetrical Razer Viper V3 Pro wireless mouse I reviewed is only arguably surpassed by the newer Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro I also reviewed, but the Viper's symmetrical design seems to be preferred by several esports athletes, including Faker and the Sentinels team.

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I reviewed truly can't be beaten as a high-end, high-performance wireless headset — complete with a dedicated Counter-Strike 2 audio profile and a class-leading headset microphone. The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro I reviewed is still an incredible keyboard, too, even if it has technically been upgraded in the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro 8K my colleague reviewed.

My point is that this isn't just a set for the Counter-Strike fans and collectors, it's also for the players. Razer is already an established brand among the best CS players in the world, and now those players can get their favorite gear with a sick new design. Razer's next special collection will have a hard time competing with this one.

If you're interested, you can check out the complete Razer Counter-Strike 2 Collection at Razer.com.

Even on PC, most people play Call of Duty on a controller. There's been much debate about the strength of a controller over a mouse and keyboard, and even at the very highest level, players are on controllers.

In such a fast-paced shooter, having the right equipment not only keeps you competitive but can also give you the edge.

It's hard to recommend one single controller, since Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is on Xbox, PS5, and PC. There is no controller that's compatible with every platform. If you're on PC, I can't recommend anything as highly as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K, which is pricey at $199.99, but has an unbeatable 8,000 Hz polling rate.

Reviews

• Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC review
• Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review
• GameSir G7 Pro review
• Razer Raiju V3 Pro review
• GameSir G7 HE review
• Scuf Valor Pro review

A good controller can change the game

I would argue that more than any other shooter, your controller really makes a difference in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Even in the PvE modes, Endgame and Zombies, the pace is so fast, you need accuracy, reliability, and ideally, extra buttons, so your thumbs can keep focusing on aiming.

On a tech front, don't buy a controller in 2025 and beyond if it doesn't have at least Hall Effect sticks. TMR sticks are the latest evolution, and they're a little better, but both will avoid the dreaded stick drift and accurately record your movements.

Razer's latest pro controllers, the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC and Raiju V3 Pro, both have TMR sticks, but you don't have to spend $200. The GameSir G7 Pro is less than half the price, but still has the tech.

A topic gaining more traction of late is polling rate, but it only applies to folks playing on PC. On Xbox and PS5, the polling rate of any controller is capped at 250 Hz. On PC, there's theoretically no cap, with the leader right now the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K, with a class-leading 8,000 Hz polling rate.

To have a good competitive experience, you want at least 1,000 Hz on PC, which you can get from every controller featured here. GameSir, Scuf, and the Xbox version of the Wolverine V3 Pro all have 1,000 Hz polling on PC. The Razer Raiju V3 Pro tops out at 2,000.

FAQ

When I reviewed the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro back in late 2024, I had no hesitation calling it "the closest thing we have to Xbox controller perfection." There were some minor grumbles, and in the year or so since, there have been a couple of issues to fix.

But the controller itself was, at the time, about the best-equipped controller for the enthusiast crowd and pro players. Razer doesn't sit still, though, and recently I've been using and loving the Raiju V3 Pro, a PS5 and PC controller packed with even more tech.

What I'm looking at here, though, is something which combines bits of both of these controllers, while also delivering something only possible right now on PC.

The Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC (to give its full birth name) is a Wolverine V3 Pro on the outside, upgraded a bit on the inside, and given a whopping 8,000Hz polling rate, something virtually no other controller on the planet has as standard.

If you want the best performance out of the box, this is it. This is the one. It's here in time for Black Ops 7, and I think that I'll be using it to play.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample supplied by Razer. The company did not see or have any input into its contents.

How does the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC differ from the Wolverine V3 Pro

The overall look and feel of the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC is almost the same as last year's Wolverine V3 Pro. Obviously, there's no Xbox button, but you can still use the Razer button (located in its place) to launch the Xbox Game Bar on PC if you wish.

The grips are better on the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC, too, wrapping around the front of the controller. It has all the same buttons as the Xbox version, and they're in all the same places, but visually it's a full black on black stealth look, which I dig.

As it's a PC only controller, the headset jack has gone from the bottom, and, as with the Raiju V3 Pro, this being a controller aimed at pro players, there are no rumble motors inside. The positive side effect is that it weighs noticeably less than the Xbox version. 84g less (0.19lbs) to be precise.

The polling rate is the big selling point, though. A number of the keenest players resort to "overclocking" their controllers to increase the polling rate. With this, you don't have to. The Wolverine V3 Pro is still pretty hot with a 1,000Hz polling rate on PC, but it pales next to its newer sibling.

For context, the Wolverine V3 Pro tops out at 250Hz on Xbox Series X|S. 8,000 is a lot more.

Why should I even care about a higher polling rate?

In the same way you want a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate and low response time, in a competitive environment, you want your controller to be fast, too. That means the lowest input latency you can manage, and for that, you want a high polling rate.

It's all about giving yourself every slight edge.

The polling rate is simply how often your controller talks to the PC. 8,000Hz means the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC is reporting your inputs to the PC 8,000 times per second.

That means a polling interval, or latency, is an absurdly low 0.125ms. At 1,000Hz, it's a whopping 1ms. I say that jokingly, because in all truth, a human being is unlikely to be able to tell the difference.

But compared to a standard Xbox controller, which is just 125Hz, or even the Wolverine V3 Pro at 250Hz on Xbox, with 8ms and 4ms polling intervals respectively, you can see the difference playing on PC can have at the very leading edge.

Faster means better. If you have the best monitor, the best PC, you want the best controller to go with it. Razer's unfair advantage is in full swing.

So what's the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC like to use?

The tl;dr version is that it's utterly glorious. It's as comfortable to hold and use as the Wolverine V3 Pro, with the added bonus of being significantly lighter. When you get to my age, that's important. My wrists ache much less after a long session using the lighter, PC-only version.

Has the insane performance made me a better player? No amount of technology could do that, and truthfully, I cannot perceive any difference on screen between this, the Wolverine V3 Pro at 1,000Hz, and the Raiju V3 Pro at 2,000Hz. But it's there doing its thing, and it's as responsive a controller as I've ever put my meat hooks on.

In my testing, too, using the Polling tester by Gamepadla, it's delivering. In multiple tests, it reports a polling rate of around 7,500Hz, which, sure, isn't 8,000, but it's very close. It's also dependent on your PC.

For example, using the USB ports on my PC case, it tops out at 6,250Hz, but connected to a USB port on the motherboard yields the best performance of closer to 8,000Hz. A latency of less than 0.2ms is absurd, and the best you're going to get right now on any pro-grade controller.

Better still, the performance seems to be almost identical whether connected via USB cable or using the HyperSpeed Wireless dongle. Running the same test while connected using the dongle yielded nearly indistinguishable performance wirelessly versus wired.

That in itself is award-worthy. Traditionally, you expect to lose performance when you lose the cable, but not in this case. Objectively, the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC is as good to use wired as it is wireless.

Assuming you don't factor in the battery life, which, well, is not great. It wasn't great on the Xbox version, and with more performance, it doesn't get better. You can use Synapse 4 to help, such as making sure it turns off when you stop using it, but my advice would be to use it wired. That's what I do on console or PC these days, anyway, because I don't want to have to worry about it.

As with the Raiju V3 Pro that I reviewed recently, I adore the addition of TMR thumbsticks. I still can't quantify why I like them so much or how they feel better than Hall Effect, but they do. Or I think they do. There's just something about them that you notice when you start to use them.

The Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC can also make the absolute most of them. TMR sticks can register a higher accuracy with stick position. With the absurd polling rate on tap here, you can guarantee that every little movement is accurately translated into your game.

As with Razer's other pro-grade controllers, it ships with a couple of additional thumbsticks you can swap out. One has a convex curve, and one is the same as the stock sticks, only longer.

Is there anything the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC doesn't have?

For a controller that has everything, there are things it doesn't have that some may miss. I've already talked about the rumble motors, the absence of which doesn't make this a good choice for, say, racing games.

The crazy lightness can also leave the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC feeling a little hollow, and even cheap. The plastics are the same as on the Wolverine V3 Pro, but the weight can certainly trick you into thinking it's not built as well.

Despite being Razer's highest spec controller, it doesn't quite have all the features, either. Notably, the Rapid Trigger and Digital Trigger features that was added to the Wolverine V3 Pro and came out of the box on the Raiju V3 Pro.

Given the sheer speed of the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K, such features missing aren't necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's still worth highlighting.

It's also worth pointing out that there's no Bluetooth connectivity on this controller, either. If you want to go wireless, you have to use the dongle. Bluetooth isn't exactly keeping with the theme of performance, but if you're on the move, you do at least have a carry case with a slot to keep the dongle in, so you don't forget it.

Should you buy the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC?

It's hard to come up with a true alternative or comparison to this controller, because there's simply nothing else like it right now.

The obvious disclaimer is that unless you know you definitely only want a controller for PC play, then this one isn't for you. However, if you do, it's hard to beat on a technical level, and there are additional benefits.

For one, while it's still expensive, being a PC-only controller means it's actually cheaper than the list price for the Wolverine V3 Pro or the Raiju V3 Pro in some locations, such as the UK (sadly, they're the same price in the U.S.) Therefore, if you're a PC player, you can save a bit of cash and get more performance.

I can't think of another controller I'd recommend more than this right now to the enthusiast or pro crowd for PC. There are no real compromises, even if you want to use it wirelessly, and it removes the need for any thoughts of using third-party tools to overclock another controller.

The differences may be unperceivable to the naked eye, but the performance is there, and the testing backs it up. If you want the fastest PC controller on the planet, this is it. And if you want all this but don't care about going wireless, you can save $80 and get the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC Tournament Edition, instead.

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on the horizon, and Battlefield 6 already here, this would be a perfect controller for either.

There are plenty of trusted brands for affordable gaming gear, but it can be difficult to find a great wireless gaming headset for less than $100. So, what about a fantastic wireless gaming headset for $60?

That's where the Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED comes in, and I'm honestly amazed just how good this headset is for the price. The design, comfort, performance, and connectivity are all better than you'd expect, and compromises Logitech made to hit this price are easy to see.

I wish the onboard controls were better or that I could at least customize my experience with Logitech's software, but those are minor complaints. The G321 LIGHTSPEED is the queen of value-driven gaming headsets, and it'll be tough for other companies to properly beat it.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Logitech. Logitech had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Comfort and style in one affordable package

Entry-level gaming headsets are normally obvious at a glance, with chunky designs and visibly cheap plastic, but the G321 LIGHTSPEED manages to avoid that curse.

This is very much a Logitech headset, with plenty of soft curves, fabric-covered Memory Foam ear cushions, and a splash of color to add character. I honestly really like this design, and the G321 is quite comfortable to wear for long periods of time — even with the simple headband "cushion," which is just a fabric wrapping.

It helps that the G321 only weighs 210g, which is a lot lighter than most other wireless gaming headsets. Everything about this headset is simple and straightforward, with the flip-to-mute microphone, the simple power switch, the single-press button to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes, and the volume rocker.

I really wish the connection mode button also doubled as media controls, but those are sadly lacking. It's all about the basics with this headset, and Logitech made sure to nail those fundamentals.

The G321 is equipped with standard 40mm drivers tuned with gaming in mind, but I also had no issues using this headset for video conferences, music, and videos. Audio quality is more than good enough for $60, although the G321 is certainly on the quiet side for headsets I've tested, and can get muddy through the mids.

The microphone shares the same vibes — it's honestly better than I expected for a $60 headset, and the flip-to-mute design is appreciated, but it isn't going to blow your mind. My voice was always picked up without issue and sounded clear, and background noise was kept to a minimum, but recordings sound flat in general.

One area where the G321 truly surprised me, though, is wireless connectivity. It's nice enough that this headset boasts both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth options, letting it support a wide range of devices, but I was impressed by both how quickly the headset connected when turning on or switching modes, and by how strong the connection was in use. I've tested far more expensive headsets that skipped or struggled with interference more than this one.

The cost of cutting costs

I'm clearly happy to heap some praise on the Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED, but Logitech could hardly defy logic with a $60 wireless gaming headset. Corners were cut, and how influential those cuts are will depend on what you need from a gaming headset.

More than anything, the G321 just has less of everything. I already mentioned the lack of onboard media controls, but you also don't get onboard memory or swappable audio profiles, software support to customize equalizers or enable other features (including microphone monitoring), multi-source audio mixing, Xbox support, or wired connectivity.

The battery also isn't the most impressive, with Logitech claiming up to 20 hours of usage. That's on the low-end for any wireless headset or pair of headphones, and I did end up needing to charge the G321 during my test period. Fortunately, charging via USB Type-C is both easy and quick.

Of course, the G321 does feel like a low-end headset, too. It's well-built for what it is and I'm not afraid of it falling apart on me (honestly, I believe this headset could take a fair amount of abuse before throwing in the towel), but the G321 won't be able to fool anyone into thinking it's a $100+ headset.

G321 LIGHTSPEED review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a good-looking gaming headset without breaking the bank.
• You only care about the basics — comfort, audio quality, and performance.
• You absolutely need a wireless headset and can't spend more than $70.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You need a headset with dozens of hours of battery life.
• You want features like multi-source audio mixing or Xbox support.

The Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED is unlike any other comparable headset in its price range because it's confident. The fit and finish, the reliable performance and dependable audio quality, even the crisp audio cues for powering on/off or switching connectivity modes — the G321 is a simply good headset.

The fact the Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED costs only $59.99 at BestBuy.com is its "killer feature," and it makes this my new top pick for the best value wireless PC gaming headset. I only wish I could add it to our list of the best Xbox headsets, too, but I can't.

I recently reviewed the Logitech G522 LIGHTSPEED headset, and I really liked it. The G321 feels like a perfectly diluted version of that headset, and it costs $100 less. The G321 made me forget at times just how affordable it is, and Logitech should be proud of that accomplishment.

There has been something of a renaissance for transparent technology in the last few years, and I love it. Some of the most iconic gaming hardware from the 1990s and early 2000s boasted colorful, translucent shells, and that approach to design has been returning with products like the Razer Phantom Green Collection I tried out.

Now, Razer is returning with its second Phantom family, this time dropping the saturation in honor of the spookiest season of the year. This is the Razer Phantom White Collection, and not only is it one accessory bigger than its green predecessor, it also simply looks better — well, in my opinion.

I've gone hands-on with the Phantom White Collection to see if any of these products are worth considering, and I ended up keeping the mouse on my desk even after I was done. Now, I can only hope that the next translucent gear from Razer is the Phantom Violet Collection (Razer, call me, I'll help out).

What is the Razer Phantom White Collection?

Surprise, surprise, the Razer Phantom White Collection is just the Phantom Green Collection, but more misty than verdant. Well, there's also the addition of a new product in this lineup, so let's go through the list.

• Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Phantom White Edition for $169.99 at Razer.com, which is $10 more than the normal version. We reviewed the original Razer Basilisk V3 Pro wireless mouse.
• Razer Firefly V2 Pro Phantom White Edition for $109.99 at Razer.com, which is $10 more than the normal version. I reviewed the Razer Firefly V2 Pro mousepad.
• Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Phantom White Edition for $199.99 at Razer.com, which is the same price as the normal version. We reviewed the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% wired keyboard.
• Razer Barracuda X Chroma Phantom White Edition for $139.99 at Razer.com, which is $10 more than the normal version. I reviewed the Razer Barracuda X Chroma wireless headset.
• Razer Kishi V3 Phantom White Edition for $109.99 at Razer.com, which is $10 more than the normal version (and is the new addition with this collection). I reviewed the Razer Kishi V3 Pro mobile controller.

As a complete set, the Razer Phantom White Collection costs around $730, about $40 more than if you bought the normal black and white variants of each product. The Phantom collections feature more premium gear than most of Razer's other special editions, but I love that.

I prefer this over Phantom Green

I was quite positive in my hands-on with the original Phantom Green Collection, and praised Razer for actually putting in effort to make its products look as good as possible while translucent.

It wasn't just about slapping on a new plastic shell; Razer re-engineered internals, experimented with different materials and colors, and went through dozens of iterations to get it as good as possible. I even spoke to Razer's Global Head of Design about this process.

Despite all of that, I still didn't love every part of the Phantom Green Collection. The green made it difficult to actually see the internals, the RGB lighting didn't always play nice with it, and key legibility for the keyboard plummeted to nigh unreadable levels.

Razer couldn't introduce a new family of translucent devices without starting with its iconic green, though, and I still considered the lineup a big success overall. That being said, I like the Phantom White Collection a whole lot more. It also adds the Razer Kishi V3 mobile controller to the mix, which was a good choice on Razer's part.

It's a more consistent aesthetic that works better with the Razer Chroma RGB lighting that's prominent in four of the five included products. I can already see a lot of people who skipped over the Phantom Green Collection rushing to add these products to their gaming setup, and I don't blame them — because I'm one of them.

And I like this mouse enough that I'm still using it

I used to be all-in on all-black gaming accessories, but lately I've grown rather fond of lighter-hued gear. So, when I got in the new Phantom White Collection and saw how the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K mouse and Firefly V2 Pro mousepad looked compared to my standard black versions, I knew in moments I was making the switch.

The mouse, especially, is easily the highlight of the entire Phantom White Collection. I love the peeks into the internals and the threads of RGB lighting; it even impressed one of my friends, who is very much not interested in PC gaming accessories.

It certainly helps that the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is genuinely my favorite mouse ever, of course, but I also considered the keyboard. The BlackWidow V4 75% is Razer's answer to the rise of incredible, modular enthusiast keyboards, and it's honestly great — I also reviewed the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, and liked it a lot.

That decision will have to wait, though, because I already have a mountain of keyboards to review... and the color of the switches is extremely obvious underneath the translucent keys, and something about that bugged me a little.

Put it all together, and the Razer Phantom White Collection is an excellent retro throwback, and the ghastly tone is perfect for the spooky season. If you're interested in checking out the lineup for yourself, the Phantom White Collection is now available from $109.99 at Razer.com.

FAQ

If you play on PC, you're always spoiled for choice when it comes to accessories. Controllers are no different, since you have the benefit of using hardware not only built for PC, but from the Xbox and PlayStation ecosystems.

What I've been lucky enough to play with falls into the latter of those. The Razer Raiju V3 Pro launches today and is Razer's latest and greatest controller, not just for PS5, but for PC, too.

Sony's conditions of license mean that there's only one Raiju, and as such, Razer has thrown absolutely everything it has at it. Perhaps more shockingly, I think I even prefer it to the controller I've been using since it came out, the Wolverine V3 Pro, which is Razer's best on Xbox (that obviously also works well on PC). Even with the PlayStation stick layout.

This review was made possible thanks to a pre-release review sample supplied by Razer. The company did not see or have any input into its contents.

A word on PlayStation features

This review is, naturally, focused on PC use. But for anyone who's interested in PlayStation 5, there are a couple of differences. For one, the polling rate is limited to a maximum of 250Hz on PS5.

This isn't a choice on Razer's part to deliberately limit it compared to PC, it's the maximum possible. So you're still getting the absolute best you can get on the console.

Razer also doesn't have an app for PS5 to make adjustments to the controller. Folks who have used Razer controllers on Xbox know we've had a dedicated app to tweak settings and save profiles, but this can't be done on PS5. The choices are to use the smartphone app, or hook it up to a PC or Mac and use Razer Synapse.

Also, down to decisions in Sony's licensing for controllers, you don't have the full DualSense feature set, such as the haptic triggers. In fact, it doesn't rumble at all, it just doesn't have any motors inside.

Given the target audience is traditionally gamers that would disable it anyway, it's not a huge miss. But it's probably not the controller to get if you play a lot of racing games.

The best of the best

If it's possible on a controller right now, it's on the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. Top of the list are TMR thumbsticks, the latest upgrade over Hall Effect sticks. The Wolverine 8K from Razer (the PC only controller) predates the Raiju V3 Pro in using them, but compared to the Wolverine V3 Pro I've been using, it's an upgrade.

The assumption is newer tech is better, and I've been trying to figure out whether I'm telling myself they feel better or whether they actually are. I am leaning towards the latter, albeit having taken a little while to adjust and to dial in some comfortable settings. Comparing to my Wolverine V3 Pro, the sticks do feel a hair better, but it's hard to quantify.

As with Hall Effect, though, one big advantage is eliminating the dreaded prospect of stick drift. Razer also includes a taller concave stick, and a convex stick you can swap out if you'd prefer.

One other feature I love, compared to some past Razer controllers I've used, is that the rear paddles are removable. They're still the same sort of design as on the Wolverines, but included is a screwdriver and some rubber caps to replace them with. I use all four, but some folks don't, especially with the additional buttons next to the bumpers.

It's all part of allowing you to customize it however you want, and if you'd prefer to just have grip rather than buttons you don't want to use, you can. However, it's a little fiddly unscrewing these things, and if you're clumsy — as I certainly am — those tiny screws will be easy to lose.

The face buttons are "mecha tactile" and as with every recent Razer controller, they're deliciously clicky. Razer has started utilizing its mouse technology in controllers, and so when you press the buttons and think it sounds like a mouse click, it does.

This technology is also integrated in the triggers. When you use the trigger stops, you get instant response and that same mouse click, versus a regular analog response when they're disabled. Again, all geared towards providing the best possible performance for competitive gamers.

In software, you also have the ability to enable "digital triggers," which removes the analog response entirely, but you'll probably not want that enabled for any games where you need a more sensitive trigger curve.

From someone who uses a Wolverine V3 Pro, the differences are subtle, but if you're coming from an older controller, what you get here will blow you away. Besides all the tech you can shake a stick at (and we know gamers love them some tech), one key aspect not to be overlooked is the weight.

Because it doesn't have any haptics or rumble motors at all, the Raiju V3 Pro is light. It's noticeably lighter than my Wolverine, and let me tell you, when you get to my age, especially, your wrists will appreciate it.

Customization is as easy as any other Razer controller on PC. You have the option of using the mobile app, if you like, otherwise it's a case of firing up Synapse 4, making your changes, saving them to the controller, then closing the app. Profiles are stored on the controller, so you can move between devices — and platforms — seamlessly without losing your settings.

Even with the PlayStation stick layout, I can't put the Raiju V3 Pro down

I'm no stranger to PlayStation, even if I no longer actually own a PS5. I've had every single one of them, so the stick layout is something I've had to persevere with (mostly). There were times I got away from it, such as with a previous Raiju controller, but I'm familiar, even if I don't love it.

My overall preference has always been the offset layout you get on an Xbox controller, but honestly, I cannot put the Raiju V3 Pro down. I've mostly been testing it in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and in this environment, I'm almost at the point of preferring it this way.

I think it comes down to how the controller is being held. When I'm playing Call of Duty, despite being the furthest from a pro-level player, I'm automatically in a competitive mood. I'm using all the paddles on the rear, and I didn't notice until recently, but I adjust my grip slightly compared to other games.

Whatever's going on, my centering has never been better since using the Raiju V3 Pro, and I've only been using it a week.

There are also a number of ways folks like to hold their controllers playing competitive games, and in each case, I think the stick placement here makes sense. I wouldn't use it to play a more relaxing game, but when I'm locking in for a six-hour sweatfest, I think this is going to be the controller I reach for.

One of the absolute best PC controllers around

The fact Razer had to make this an epic controller for PS5 is equally beneficial to those of us on PC. The polling rate, sticks, switches, all are about the best you'll find on any controller by any manufacturer right now.

It's a little more limited on PS5 in places due to Sony's restrictions, but on the whole, you're going to love it whichever platform you're on.

It exists, in part, because there is a demand from the top-level of competitive players, for a controller of this nature with the PlayStation stick layout. There's nothing stopping future Xbox controllers like this, either. If that's a thing you want, speak up. Don't be afraid — I know it's the forbidden fruit, but clearly there are plenty who prefer it.

Razer's closest match on PC is the Wolverine V3 8K, which I'm still waiting to test. It has a faster polling rate, but, like the Raiju, TMR thumbsticks and all the lovely mouse tech inside. There's never been a better choice across all manufacturers of pro-grade controllers.

If you're a PS5 and PC cross-player, this is an absolute no-brainer. It's light, it's comfortable, and I've used Razer controllers exclusively as my personal choice for many years now. In that time, I've never once had an issue with reliability or durability. These things are built to last, assuming you don't toss them at a wall or anything in a fit of rage.

If you're PC only, the choices are a little wider, but if you want something with the PlayStation stick layout, definitely consider this one. It is pricey, though, but the best of the best always is.

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro is available from today in selected markets for £199.99. It currently isn't available to U.S. customers as it hasn't yet received regulatory clearance, but when it does, it'll be priced at $219.99.

Not too long ago, I reviewed the Logitech G515 LIGHTSPEED TKL, a unique low-profile wireless gaming keyboard with enough personality to win me over. Now, Logitech is expanding the G515 family with a new member: the RAPID TKL.

The RAPID TKL is more expensive thanks to its magnetic analog switches and a healthy list of new features, but it loses any ability to connect to your devices wirelessly in exchange. It's an interesting peripheral with a standout design.

I've been using the Logitech G515 RAPID TKL for a couple of weeks now, and my overall feelings on this keyboard are largely similar to its wireless sibling. It's a solid addition to the Logitech G family, but the G515 RAPID TKL isn't turning the world on its head by any means.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Logitech. Logitech had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A familiar design with some new tricks

I don't blame Logitech for re-using the G515 design once again. This tenkeyless layout is comfortable and clean, and the two-tone, low-profile chassis looks great in any setup.

Put the G515 RAPID TKL next to the G515 LIGHTSPEED TKL, and the uninitiated would struggle to accurately tell the difference. This is the more expensive keyboard in the lineup, though, and it does feel slightly more premium than the LIGHTSPEED variant I previously reviewed.

Everything just feels a little more tightly put together, and I enjoy the subtle details like the WASD keys being a different hue. Considering the RAPID TKL costs $10 more than the wireless LIGHTSPEED version, though, there's obviously more going on underneath the hood.

So, what are you trading wireless connectivity and an extra $10 for? Logitech's low-profile, magnetic analog switches, which use a similar technology as Hall Effect thumbsticks in controllers. Unlike mechanical switches with a set actuation point, these magnetic analog switches can detect input across their entire range of motion.

They're supposedly more precise and durable, but magnetic analog switches also allow for adjustable actuation, and the G515 RAPID TKL can handle 0.1mm intervals. You also get rapid trigger (key presses are registered the moment you begin pressing) and keystroke priorities.

Most people won't need these features, but competitive gamers that demand the absolute best performance from their keyboard can find a ton of value in magnetic analog switches and the features they bring to the table.

Logitech G Hub also gives you more software customization features, like various RGB lighting effects, the ability to assign up to two unique shortcuts per key, customizable onboard profiles, and more. It's a good experience, especially for gaming.

Great for gaming, not my favorite for typing

It's clear what Logitech's goal with the G515 RAPID TKL was: make a high-performance, low-profile gaming keyboard. That's it. To that end, Logitech very much succeeded. A tried-and-true design with new magnetic analog switches tackles that goal with much aplomb.

When gaming, the G515 is unerringly consistent and responsive, and it offers a degree of adjustability that hardcore gamers relish. This keyboard also demands that you want a low-profile keyboard specifically, though, and this form factor can't take full advantage of its magnetic switches.

Shallow travel and a low actuation force (the point is adjustable) diminish the G515 RAPID TKL's merits as a keyboard for typing, at least as far as I'm concerned. This keyboard just feels soft across the board, and that's worth noting when most gamers are also using their PCs for work, school, creativity, and a whole lot of other things that aren't strictly gaming.

Logitech's pricing for the G515 RAPID TKL also puts it within striking distance of something undeniably more premium, like the Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed I reviewed. That keyboard can't boast the adjustable actuation features of the G515 RAPID TKL, but as an overall package it delivers more (and it's wireless, which helps justify its added cost).

G515 RAPID TKL review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a low-profile keyboard with adjustable actuation features.
• You don't mind being connected by a wire.
• You like the two-tone design of the Logitech G515 family.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You need a wireless keyboard.
• You're looking for an undeniably great value.

I really enjoyed my time with the Logitech G515 LIGHTSPEED, but it didn't exactly blow me away. I feel the same about the G515 RAPID TKL, which pretty directly trades the versatility of wireless connectivity for the performance of magnetic switches (and a few extra bucks).

If you understand the value of magnetic switches and the features they enable, like adjustable actuation, and you're looking for a sleek low-profile keyboard that won't hoard your precious desk real estate, then the G515 RAPID TKL is an excellent option. It's not what I'd consider affordable, but this is a quality product.

If you'd rather have full-sized keys, though, I'd sooner suggest something like the Keychron K8 HE I reviewed, which is a better overall value in my opinion. That being said, I really like the Logitech G515 RAPID TKL gaming keyboard, and it does earn my recommendation as an attractive and performant low-profile option for the competitive PC gamer.

If you're interested, you can pick up the Logitech G515 RAPID TKL for $169.99 at BestBuy.com in both black and white colorways.

Razer has spent many decades crafting high-quality gaming mice, both at premium prices for people looking to get the best performance out of PC gaming, and lower-end prices for people wanting to save money.

The Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed fits the latter category while packing enough advanced features to make it viable to play the best PC games, and it's now on sale for $43.99 thanks to Amazon cutting its $69.99 MSRP by 37%.

This gaming mouse is great value for money and here's why

Razer's Viper V3 HyperSpeed is one of our highest recommendations for PC players wanting an affordable yet high-quality gateway into the world of upgrading their PC gaming rigs with the best PC gaming accessories.

Why, you may ask? Well, for starters, it has a comfy, streamlined ergonomic design with a smooth, soft-touch finish and sturdy build quality that makes it feel good to use without causing strain on the user's wrist after hours of use.

The Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed also features high-performance rates of 30,000 DPI, 750 IPS speed, 70G acceleration, and a polling rate of 1,000Hz (or 4,000Hz when paired with a HyperPolling Wireless Dongle).

This will ensure you get ultra-accurate and reliable inputs and sensitivity while playing games, especially fast-paced shooters like Call of Duty or Battlefield.

To top it off, the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed has great battery life of 280 hours at 1,000Hz (or 75 hours when set to 4,000Hz) despite not having an internal rechargeable battery.

So if you're in the market for a trustworthy and high-quality wireless gaming mouse at a cheap price, you can't go wrong with the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed, as it has a reasonable MSRP of $69.99.

In fact, its cost has become even more thrifty thanks to Amazon, which is selling the Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed for the discounted price of $43.99, saving buyers $26.00 in the process.

FAQ

It's time for another Xbox and PC headset review, but will this one make our list of best Xbox headsets or best PC gaming headsets? You'd better read on to find out.

This is the Astro A20 X, a new 2025 version of Astro's popular mid-range A20 line. The A20 typically sits below headsets like the A40 and A50, which are more on the premium end. We live in a different economy, though. Global tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and a big purchasing power squeeze has battered supply chains and increased material costs. The landscape on gaming accessories is changing rapidly, but there's also been great evolving needs too, as more of us than ever go multiplatform.

The Astro A20 X feels like a reaction to that evolving landscape, with great visual flair for those who want to play on camera, and absurd 90-hour battery life to reduce fuss. On top, you also get a mid-range price point with maximum versatility, compatible with virtually every platform out there.

Is this the headset for you, though, given how many options there are on the market? Let's examine, together.

This headset was reviewed with an Astro A20 X unit provided by Logitech. Logitech did not see the contents of this review prior to posting.

Astro A20 X review: Features, specs, and price

The Astro A20 X is relatively standard on paper for a 2025 Xbox / PC headset, albeit with a few extra bells and whistles to differentiate itself.

It comes with a wireless transmitter in the box, which lets you connect up two USB-C cables simultaneously. Each port has a switch on them, letting you mix between console and PC signals simultaneously. You could have one plugged into your PC and one into your Xbox, for example, or one plugged into your Nintendo Switch 2 dock and one into your PS5.

There's also a Bluetooth 5.3 signal baked in, with a button on the headset for connecting even more devices, but we'll talk more on that in the audio section.

The Astro A20 X joins other headsets in this range by prioritizing battery life, offering an impressive 90~ hours on a single charge. It differentiates itself a bit with its on-ear RGB lighting, which, even when turned on, still provides you with roughly 40~ hours of battery life. This can be turned off, of course.

You can switch it off with the A20 X's impressive PC software, which affords a high degree of configurability. You can let Windows Dynamic Lighting handle your RGB synchronicity, or decouple it and set it up separately. You can tune EQ settings, and also access Blue microphone tweaks from here as well.

On the headset itself, you have a button to switch between your two USB-C signals, as well as on-ear chat and sound mix buttons, and master volume sliders.

The Astro A20 X will set you back around $179.99 in the United States. Is it worth the ask? Let's go deeper.

Astro A20 X review: Construction and comfort

The Astro A20 X is a mid-range priced sort of headset, at least in modern tariff terms, and it does seem a bit like Astro compromised a little on materials to prioritize usability and features.

The headset itself doesn't feel very densely constructed, with hollow-feeling cavities atop a plastic headband. It also has pretty basic cushioning, with fabric that, at least on mine, doesn't fit plush with the cushion itself. That's not to say it's uncomfortable though, far from it, actually.

This is an incredibly lightweight headset, and while I have some reservations about its ability to take a bump ... when it's on your head and in use, it's very comfortable. I'm not usually a fan of fabric ear cups, but they do the job here, but it's clear some superficial quality was sacrificed for features.

The headband feels decent enough, and the adjustability comes from slides on the earcups themselves. I've got a big head, and the maximum adjustments were generous enough, I felt. The floating headband adds a bit of comfort too, although the red accent was a bit of an odd decision in my view.

Why? Well, the Astro A20 X sports large RGB lights on each ear cup, presumably aimed at streamers or influencers who want to game and get on camera at the same time. I would've picked neutral tones for my accents, knowing that streamers might want to use branded colors for their RGB lighting. The red band and buttons might clash, etc. But it's a minor gripe, I suspect most of the people reading this aren't planning to use this headset on camera, and will most likely turn the lighting off since it serves no real purpose. It's fun for kids though, maybe, but it seems like a lot of added cost for little real benefit.

Overall, it's a well-put together headset that sports some unnecessary lights, but some of you reading this might be in the market for that, and that's A-OK. But pretty lights can't help a headset with bad audio ... how does the Astro A20 X fare here?

Astro A20 X review: Audio and mic quality

The Astro A20 X isn't quite on the level of its more expensive A40 or A50 cousins, but it's certainly no slouch either, offering decent sound reproduction at an affordable price.

40mm drivers with a standard frequency response between 20Hz and 20kHz power the Astro A20 X's audio scape, and generally it does a decent job. It has powerful and creamy bass, and playing Call of Duty Black Ops 7 beta, it was great at reproducing directional sound cues. I was able to pinpoint the general position of incoming footsteps and other enemy tells, giving me additional tactical awareness.

Where it struggled a bit was in more cinematic sound, I found, at least without tweaks. You can vastly tune the EQ in this headset, and the Logitech G Hub also comes with many presets for various games, but I still found it to be lacking a bit when it comes to more detailed soundscaping.

For example, in Silent Hill F, dynamic combat music feeds into the sound mix when more and more enemies appear. The closer they get to you, distortion and radio interference sounds enter the sound scape, and the A20 X struggled a fair bit with this. The high pops and crackling noise came through incredibly unpleasant, and I think it's a result of the headset being tuned to separate highs more aggressively for FPS tactical play. It could be that I'd just need more time to tweak the EQ settings, but at the very least, know that it might take some time to get the sound profile where you want it.

It's not bad overall by any means, particularly in this price range, but there are some edge cases like the above that seem to push it beyond its limit.

The microphone is quite good too. It's not content-creation grade, but the Logitech G Hub app does come with Blue software support, and comes with a variety of profiles for different audio feels. It's more than adequate for basic game streaming and voice comms, providing crisp and clear reproduction, which you can hear for yourself in the sample above.

Astro A20 X review: Competition

The elephant in the room with the Astro A20 X is potentially the price tag. It's $179, which is cheaper than the RRP of many of its similar competitors, but with sales events and the like, it puts it within range of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3). The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) retails for a fair bit more at $199, but it has many of the same features, and goes a bit beyond with the addition of Bluetooth sound mixing.

However, the Stealth 700 is far bulkier than the Astro A20 X, owing to more metal parts and a flip-to-mute mic, rather than a detachable one.

In my mind, it really does come down to these two headsets in this price bracket. If you prefer something sleeker with RGB lights, the Astro A20 X might be for you. But I would argue that the Stealth 700 (Gen 3) sound is a bit punchier overall, but you do pay a premium for that on top.

Astro A20 X review: Conclusion

While I have some reservations about its build quality, they are fairly unfounded. I'm curious how long it will last with its all-plastic construction, but unless you're particularly careless, I doubt there's any real risk here.

It's lightweight and comfortable, and easily suitable for those long 90~ hour sessions its battery life affords, but you might be tweaking the EQ for a fair while to improve upon its default configuration.

✅ You should buy this if:

• You enjoy headsets with RGB.
• You want something with multi-platform capabilities, moving beyond the bare basics without breaking the bank.
• You need something with Bluetooth on top.

❌ You should avoid this if:

• You don't feel like you need RGB lights.
• You play primarily cinematic games, instead of competitive shooters.

I think there are better headsets on offer if you play primarily cinematic games or want to listen to music, although it's certainly no slouch in those departments either, and perhaps subsequent firmware updates will improve some of the popping I heard playing games like Silent Hill F.

If you are playing competitive FPS, however, it's a far better experience, and the microphone is very capable for coordinating your strats. This is a versatile headset offering great value, and worth your time and consideration.

I'm getting old. Fast approaching my 40s. Random joint pains in tow. Lower back pain on the daily. Long sessions at the PC are taking their toll. Perhaps there's a better way.

Say hi to E-Win!

This isn't the first time I've owned an E-Win chair. Approaching a decade ago now, I owned a different E-Win chair, and sadly had to ditch it because I hadn't anticipated how an office chair might impact my girlfriend's house's wooden flooring ... but fast forward to 2025 and I'm all carpeted up and ready to go.

My last E-Win chair was truly a revelation. With its floating lumbar pillow and generous cushioning, it was, at the time, the best chair I've ever owned. I've had a variety of SecretLab chairs since, as well as other brands, but wear and tear takes their toll on even the best chairs out there.

I had the opportunity to try out E-Win's latest iteration of their Flash XL range, designed for bigger and taller gamers (such as myself), rocking it across a variety of use-case scenarios over long periods of time. I once again find myself impressed, but I can't help but be strongly cognizant of the price here. This chair rocks up to $600, and for the price I feel like it should be a little better.

Build quality and assembly

The first thing that will strike you is the quality of the seat materials. E-Win spared no expense with the Flash XL series, and you'd hope not at the $600 price tag. The leatherette upholstery, high-quality stitching, and generous cushioning all scream premium quality, as well as premium reassurance. We'll talk durability more in a second, though.

This is one of their "XL" chairs designed for bigger customers. I'm by no means skinny, as you might be aware, but the weight limit of 550 lbs far exceeds what even I require. If you're someone on the larger side, this might be a good option for you.

Assembly was incredibly easy. All of the tools required are included in the box, as well as large printed instructions with color photographs to help you get up to speed. Given the size of the seat, however, it might be a two-person job to get it fully set up.

The base feels incredibly hard-wearing, with thick, conical metal struts accompanied by a powerful hydraulic lift in the center. It'll have no problem lifting up even the heaviest users (at least towards the weight limit), and the height adjustments across the board are incredibly generous — suitable for users all the way up to 7 feet tall. I am very much not seven feet tall, so I'm using mine at the lowest setting. At 5'8", I feel like I'm close to being too short for this chair even, since ideally you don't want to feel like your legs are dangling. I'd say people 5'10" will have the most comfortable experience with this chair, unless you get a foot rest or something like that to go with it.

Comfort, durability, and features

The E-Win Flash XL is heavily adjustable, similar to other chairs from the company, complete with additional accessories to enhance comfort.

There's a magnetic "slow-rebound" memory foam pillow for times you want to recline, and there's also a lumbar cushion that you can place at will, either at the base or small of your lower back. In addition, there's a 4-dimensional lumbar support embedded in the seat itself, allowing you to customize the curvature of the seat against your spine. You can extend or suppress this, as well as move it up and down, and it works incredibly well.

The steel frame feels reassuringly durable across the entire product, with no audible creaking. The arm rests are also PU leather-coated and feel comfortable to rest on, and can be adjusted in four dimensions as well, inward and outward, as well as up and down. They line up perfectly with the height of my desk, which gives some added comfort on my arms while typing out this review, in fact.

The back recline is also generous and well-centered, going from 85 degrees all the way down to 155 degrees if you want to get truly chill. You could probably sleep in this chair if you were so inclined (or reclined, haha, get it?)

One gripe with this is the additional floating lumbar pillow. I feel the lumbar pillow on my previous E-Win chair was far thicker and more sturdy than the one included with this one, which I felt was more comfortable. A few days in with this new one, and I've totally squashed it almost flat. It's easily solved by adding in your own pillow there, though, although it might not be necessary anyway. The chair is comfortable enough by itself, but should I need an extra pillow when paying $600?

UPDATE: After a few weeks of use, the seat tilt mechanism has started to fail already. I'm well within the listed weight limit for this chair by under 200 lbs in fact, but the catch that prevents the seat from tilting will often just spring out by itself. I recall this was an issue with previous iterations of this chair too from years ago, so it's disappointing to see that this hasn't been fixed.

Final thoughts

The E-Win Flash XL chair is a decent option for those who either want or need something on the heavy-duty end. Its wide, sturdy base and generous height adjustments would be suitable all the way up to a WWE wrestler — although if you're on the smaller side, you might want to look at some of E-Win's other gaming chairs.

✅ You should buy this if:

• You're a bigger guy or gal looking for bigger support.
• You want something that is spacious and sturdy.
• You enjoy premium materials and build quality.

❌ You should not buy this if:

• If you're below 5'8", you might need an additional footrest to keep it feeling ergonomic.
• You don't fancy spending over half a grand on a chair.

Yes, it is very pricey, though, costing more than an Xbox Series X or most likely the upcoming Xbox Ally. However, this chair feels thoroughly built to last. It might be the last gaming chair you need to buy, and as you get older, your back might thank you.

I do wish the lumbar pillow were a little more generous, but the head pillow and seat overall are very excellent. I'm disappointed that the seat tilt mechanism has already started to fail after a few weeks, despite being well within the listed weight limit. I presume that if you'd spent over half a grand on this, you wouldn't be happy to see it already starting to fail.

E-Win proves itself a decent player in the gaming chair space with this chair, but there's definitely far better options at this price point, like the Razer Ishkur.

Few gaming brands have as wide a portfolio of products and accessories as Razer, and the company keeps stretching into new categories over time. Razer's Global Head of Design plays an integral role in every one of those launches, and I was given the opportunity to talk to him.

Most of my time speaking with Charlie Bolton was discussing how the Razer design team brings Razer's many products to life alongside the rest of the company, and part of it was hyping me up for the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro I went hands-on with. I had an hour with the man, though, so I dedicated the end of our conversation to the hypothetical.

This article is less about Razer and more about the man at the helm of its design team. Beyond the laptops, keyboards, headsets, mice, and other products that Razer makes, what does the head of design want to do?

This interview was edited for grammar and clarity. Razer had no input nor saw the contents of this interview prior to publication.

Discussing the favorites of what Razer already does

Charlie Bolton has been with Razer for over five years now, and he's had his hands on practically everything coming out of the company. I asked him what some of his favorite Razer designs have been, and the first answer caught me off guard: the Razer Blade 15 Studio that Bolton has apparently been using all this time.

"[The Razer Blade 15 Studio] is like five years old and it’s still rock solid," he told me. "The essence we have for our Blades really personifies Razer’s attention to detail."

I agree that Razer Blade laptops have timeless designs, and the Razer Blade 14 (2025) I recently reviewed may be the best the company has ever put out. You have to pay a ridiculous sum for those aesthetics, though, so it's absolutely not for everyone.

Next, Bolton called out his favorite Razer headset. "[The Razer Barracuda X Chroma] isn’t a premium product, for sure, it just does its job so well," he said. "I love doing headphones, you can be a bit more creative with them."

I reviewed the Razer Barracuda X Chroma, too, and while it's not my favorite gaming headset, the design is certainly not what I criticized. It's definitely Razer's sleekest and most travel-friendly headset design. In general, I think headsets are one of the areas where Razer shines the most.

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I also reviewed is an excellent example of this, for example, especially with its new magnetic faceplates. While I learned in part one of this interview that this change originated from new European Union regulations, Razer's design team is still excited about the possibilities.

"We’re all fans of the [Razer BlackShark V3 Pro] faceplates, or anything that gives us more opportunity to do some cool designs," Bolton told me. "I’d love to do more customization of parts, like interchangeable headbands, material changing out, ear cushions changing out. ...There’s the Kraken Kitty SKU, as well, where you’ve got the ears you can switch out."

I already told Bolton myself, but I'll say it here for posterity: I need Razer to keep heading in that direction, please. User-friendly customization is always awesome.

Fresh chances to experiment come from many sources, too. "We’re starting to do a lot of licensed projects as well," Bolton said. "...Those projects are really, really interesting, where you’ve got your Razer brand with all its brand values… and then you’re partnering up with someone with a totally different outlook."

It seems like some of the most fun the Razer design team has, though, is when they don't have to worry about reality butting in on their plans. "Where we really push ourselves is when we do a concept project, where it’s an open-ended brief, where you’re suddenly not tied down to anything," Bolton told me, with no small amount of enthusiasm.

Razer has a long history of showing off concept projects, and I even got to sit in the cool and hot Project Arielle gaming chair during CES 2025. "You don’t have to worry about ‘Is it going to be possible to get it made?’ ...They’re really fun," Bolton continued.

If there were no limits, though, what could Razer do?

Of course, I had to ask Bolton if there were any upcoming projects he was incredibly excited about, and I got the exact coy response I expected: "There’s a couple. They’re quite premium, I’d say, but that’s all I can say."

Ah, well, if I couldn't get Bolton to spill Razer's most intimate secrets, I was at least going to pick his brain on what he'd like to do. Something he and I both agreed on? A long-overdue successor to the Razer Raptor monitor we loved in 2021.

"I hope we do another [Razer Raptor]. ...If we’re doing a whole battle station of products, you need a monitor," Bolton told me. We briefly talked about how a monitor is more of a challenge for Razer than companies with vast display catalogs like Dell or HP, but if Razer's Global Head of Design is on board with us finally getting a premium, OLED Raptor refresh in the future, then maybe I actually have a chance of seeing it happen.

Next, we dived deeper into the realm of improbability. "When you start looking into the furniture side — not just chairs, but desks and setups — how that could be quite cool," Bolton said. "Really putting technology into it like we did for a CES, the [Razer Project Sophia]."

Yes, Razer does have a growing gaming chair lineup, and the aforementioned Project Arielle does incorporate technology, but it'd indeed be awesome to see Razer attempt something like the modular, all-in-one Project Sophia desk that Bolton mentioned (and Razer showed off during CES 2022).

"I want a really nice solution for [cable management] and just something very, very cool," Bolton replied after I brought up Secretlab and its fantastic Magnus smart desks (and how I do not understand how cable management works).

Bolton's most aspirational dream, though, is something completely different. "I would love to do a bit of automotive work with a car company or even a racing team, like Formula One, where you really work with them," he told me. "They’ve got all the technological know-how of making carbon fiber parts or all sorts of things. ...Just come up with something amazingly focused… that’s not happened, yet."

Plenty of companies collaborate with automotive brands, including Razer, with an extremely limited Blade 16 Lamborghini Edition back in 2023, but Bolton is envisioning something bigger. "Get them more involved, a much earlier stage in the project where they’re more integrated."

I'm not certain what that level of deep collaboration on design and engineering would result in, nor how likely it is to ever happen, but I'd love to see Bolton get that chance at some point.

Razer is one of the biggest brands when it comes to gaming, and we see a lot of Razer here at Windows Central. We don't often get the opportunity to peek behind the curtain, though, and Razer was courteous enough to provide me that chance.

I was given an hour to speak with Charlie Bolton, Razer's Global Head of Design. Bolton has his hands on every product that comes out of Razer's labs, and he's apparently not let outside too often for chats with people like me.

Part of our conversation was about the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro I already went hands-on with, and a sizable chunk was discussing what Bolton and Razer could possibly attempt in the future. You can check that out, too, but for now I want to share what I learned about how Razer brings its vast family of keyboards, headsets, mice, laptops, and other gaming hardware to life.

This interview was edited for grammar and clarity. Razer had no input nor saw the contents of this interview prior to publication.

Months of work across multiple teams for each product

"Everything which is Razer, everything you see… the design team has touched in some way," Bolton told me early in our conversation. Razer has always been a design-focused gaming brand, and product developers, engineers, and designers make up a trifecta that brings every Razer product to life.

It's a push and pull from every direction. On one hand, even the design team has some leeway to bring their own ideas to the table. "[Product development] understands what’s needed, so even if it’s a crazy idea, we can pitch it out there," Bolton explained. "Especially in the beginning of a project, we push it a little bit more. You’re not tied down and push the boundaries, and then slowly get pulled back to something more realistic and within the scope."

The same is true with the engineering side of things. "We have a lot of say. We’ll push back and say 'No, no this is not working,'" Bolton said. He used low-profile keyboards, like the Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed I just reviewed, as an example — if the keyboard internals aren't sleek enough, the design team can point it out.

"What’s nice about Razer is we really are very careful with the engineering; we almost design products inside out," Bolton told me, but Razer is all about checks and balances. "There are limits to what we can do for design, so we have to work very closely with the engineers."

I love learning about the how of making hardware come to life, so I asked Bolton to put the process in his own words.

"It can take two or three months just to really flesh out what the product’s going to be and how it fits into the bigger picture. … Once that’s done, we can take three months batting around ideas and concepts. … Once that’s agreed, then we start really getting into the design of the product and start really exploring ideas, concepting and many rounds of model making… we need at least three rounds for doing a keyboard or a mouse or a chair, and you have to factor in six or seven months at least.

"We will do in-house 3D prints; we can do that fairly straightforward overnight. We have CAD renderings, we can make it on paper. We can do a nice presentation showing how the design will look, so you’ve got the renders and views of the product, and you have the 3D prints. If that’s generally looking okay, we’ll do a mock-up… which basically look like the real thing. They take about two or three weeks. ... That’s before we start going into tooling.

"Once we get the green light, then it will be passed to the supplier and the engineers to actually work out the final engineering parts, do the software, do the circuit boards, everything inside is finally done and that takes another seven or eight months."

Preserving a legacy while experimenting with design and form

All told, it can easily take 18-24 months from start to finish for a single product to actually reach users. "I’ve been here five years… now doing my sort of second or third round in product families, so I’m really starting to understand all the categories a lot," Bolton said.

Bolton and I discussed how he works to preserve Razer's design legacy, especially with long-standing product families like Razer DeathAdder mice and BlackShark headsets that have a strong, outstanding identity.

"We start on the high-end one… then that DNA filters down to the different form factors," Bolton told me, referencing the recent (and massive) launch of the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro lineup... which I also reviewed.

Sometimes, though, unforeseen circumstances can have an effect on Razer's design... such as the BlackShark V3 Pro's new magnetically attached faceplates. "Honestly, the way [BlackShark V3 Pro faceplates] came about were EU regulations that they need to access the battery for recycling," Bolton explained. "... So, actually, it was a technical reason, but it’s proven to be really interesting because it gives us so many opportunities… without having to change too much, we do can some really creative things."

I told Bolton I'd love to see Razer embrace the faceplates for user customization, and he wholeheartedly agreed — but nothing is official, yet, so we'll have to wait and see. Whether that happens or not, though, Razer isn't just waiting for reasons to change things up, even with its most iconic designs.

"If you get to a V4 or V5, you think… 'Okay, do we carry on doing this?'" Razer is always experimenting, especially when it comes to design. "We have so many mock-ups and samples where we test out colors, and we do some really interesting things, but it comes down to category management," Bolton said.

"We’re trying to build ecosystems of products. As much as you can do a totally random yellow mouse or purple mouse, or something crazy, we always feel like, 'Okay, now you need a purple keyboard, you need a purple headset.' Suddenly, it snowballs into quite a big project," he continued.

Of course, Razer actually did such an ambitious project not long ago, with the Phantom Green Collection I went hands-on with. "[The Phantom Green Collection] was very hard because we had existing products, and they weren’t technically designed to be transparent. ...We had to do a lot of redesigning of the internal structure," Bolton told me.

Working with the users, not against them

I already mentioned the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro headset, and what surprised me most during my review was how directly Razer addressed all my points of feedback from the last headset. I even joked with the Razer team about it while being briefed on the new headset.

"We listen to the esport players and casual gamers, get their comments — whether it’s from Reddit or all the comments," Bolton told me. "Feedback is really taken on board, and we try and incorporate that into our designs."

Going straight to the professionals is especially interesting. Razer definitely isn't the only brand partnering with esports teams to test, develop, and showcase gaming gear, but the company does take it seriously.

"[Esports athletes] are quite a late stage because they want to test the physical product. … You need working buttons, you need the scroll wheel… we’re testing almost a finished product," Bolton said. "Occasionally… we’d go to one of the tournaments, and we’d have 3D printed mock-ups, all slightly different ergonomics. … That’s quite early on in the project."

How late in the development process Razer is able to get a product in the hands of actual players obviously changes how much they're able to address feedback, of course, but this process does lead to results.

"Some of the Wolverines, we definitely had some feedback which was really good… and we had time to change it and update it," Bolton shared, mentioning elements like the rear buttons and their placement. "If there are drastic things we cannot do, we won’t just forget it… we will always use it for the next round."

It's always interesting to see how different product families evolve over time, especially when you can tell if a company has a realistic culture and actually listens to its users. "There’s always slight limitations on what we can do. We try to make the perfect product, but there’s always that room to improve," Bolton told me toward the end of our discussion.

I had a blast talking to Charlie Bolton about design at Razer, and it made me more excited to see what the company does next. Speaking of "what's next," I also chatted with Bolton about what his (and Razer's) future may look like.

Mere weeks separate me from reviewing the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, which I firmly declared as the absolute best wireless gaming headset you can buy across Xbox, Windows PC, and PlayStation. Despite that, I may not be switching back to it after this review.

The new Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro isn't a better headset by any means — it costs $70 less, performs worse, and boasts fewer features, after all — but the "cute" factor is real, and it's making some monumental plays with the headset I've been testing for a couple of weeks now.

It took three generations, but Razer has finally made a cat-eared gaming headset that truly doesn't compromise, and it's easily the greatest in this admittedly niche category. It may seem shallow to value aesthetics so much, but the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is as capable as it is adorable.

It's a Razer Kraken V4, but cuter

I had a lot of positive feelings when I reviewed the Razer Kraken V4, mostly centered around its more refined design and balanced feature set. Well, the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro might as well be the aforementioned Kraken V4, but with RGB-lit cat ears.

It's a little more complicated than that, of course, but I'll still keep it simple. The Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro shares its base design, audio quality, performance, feature set, and pricing with the Kraken V4, but feels a little less premium, adds some ears, and loses some endurance.

It's not unreasonable to describe this headset as a Razer Kraken V4 with cat ears, and that comparison is even more obvious when you notice I added some detachable cat ears to the Kraken V4 when I reviewed it. So, why does this headset exist?

Those who love gaming headsets with cat ears already know the answer — the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is cuter. With no bulky, unsightly straps securing the ears to the headband, the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro looks sleeker and feels more comfortable. That customizable RGB lighting makes a difference, too, and there's even an option to make that lighting react to the game you're playing or your chat (if you're a streamer).

Yeah, it's all about aesthetics, and it's only for gamers who love adding cat ears to their headset. It's a niche category, but Razer chose the right headset to base the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro off, and it made the right decisions to make this headset as good as possible for the price.

I adore the different colorways, too. I've used the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro in both white and pink, and each looks fantastic. Personally, the white is the best of the bunch, especially with how clean the RGB lighting in the earcups and ears is.

Not the most premium, but great all around

Seeing how similar this headset is to the Razer Kraken V4, I don't need to break down every facet.

These 40mm drivers sound good for gaming and music, the retractable microphone is crisp and clear, the battery life lasts for dozens of hours if you disable the RGB lighting, Razer Synapse provides plenty of software features, you get onboard audio profiles you can quickly switch between, there's both Razer HyperSpeed Wireless and Bluetooth support, and performance is good.

There is more RGB lighting here because of the attached cat ears, though, so enabling those lights will kill the battery noticeably faster than the Kraken V4. This headset also comes in at the same price, and Razer did have to cut a corner or two to accomplish that.

Namely, in build quality. The Kraken Kitty V3 Pro still feels appropriately put together for the price, but the overall fit and finish, plus the faux leatherette ear cups, do feel slightly less premium than the earless Kraken V4.

The Kraken Kitty V3 Pro does suffer from some familiar weaknesses, too. You can't mix audio sources, for example (although I don't really expect that feature in sub-$200 headsets), and it can be a little finicky to switch between Razer HyperSpeed and Bluetooth modes.

The onboard controls are messy in general. There are just a lot of buttons and dials at this point, so there's a learning curve when setting up the headset. There's also no Xbox-specific version, which especially stings coming off the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I recently reviewed.

Kraken Kitty V3 Pro review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a quality gaming headset with proper RGB-lit cat ears.
• You're tired of cute headsets compromising on features or performance.
• You're looking for a great headset that comes in more than just black.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You don't care about cat ears on your headset (why are you here?).
• You prioritize performance and features far more than aesthetics.

Over two years separate Razer's fresh Kraken Kitty V3 Pro from its predecessor, and it's clear how the company's approach has changed in that time. The new headset is sleeker, cheaper, more capable, and drops the restrictive wire — all while looking better than ever.

Sure, we can't swap between different ear designs anymore (which will undoubtedly devastate some), but the new Kraken Kitty V3 Pro possesses a lot more mainstream appeal. It's the best the line has been, and while I would happily pay for an ultra-premium flagship variant, I also completely understand why Razer made this the highest-end Kitty.

And, to be frank, I like this headset enough that I may not go back to the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro — even though that headset is objectively nicer in almost every category.

It's interesting to consider where the Kitty headset goes from here, especially knowing that Razer is considering detaching it from the Kraken family entirely, but I'm not in any rush to find out. The Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is the wireless gaming headset for those who want to be cute, and it's available now for $179.99 at Razer.com.

Razer also has the new, entry-level Kraken Kitty V3 X for $59.99 at Razer.com, which is perfect for children or those on a tight budget. Sadly, there's no middle child, as Razer opted to keep the alright Kraken Kitty V2 BT on instead.

Back when we reviewed the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro, we called it the "best low-profile, high-performance optical gaming keyboard." It seems Razer received more than a few requests for a true mechanical variant, though.

Fast forward a few years, and we now have the Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed — a rather long name for a rather compact keyboard. It's a BlackWidow because Razer's low-profile DeathStalker family isn't going anywhere, but it will continue to employ optical switches.

I've been using this new BlackWidow keyboard for a while and getting a feel for Razer's brand-new low-profile mechanical switches, and those waiting for Razer to fill this low-profile niche should be happy. The price tag isn't nearly as slim as the keyboard, though, and that'll sting many a wallet.

Two sizes and an eight-button difference between them

The BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed comes in full-sized and tenkeyless flavors, both in the same black colorway. As expected, the designs are nearly identical — with around eight differences.

This low-profile keyboard is around 18.5mm in height, constructed mostly of plastic but with a brushed aluminum top-mounted plate. The protruding plastic shelf (most noticeable with the TKL variant) is odd, but I like this design.

It's too bad build quality isn't quite as refined as I'd expect for such a premium product — the seam where the metal top plate meets that aforementioned plastic shelf is uneven, for example.

The keys are a good size and the layout makes sense, though, and all the features you expect of a premium wireless gaming keyboard are here. You get Razer HyperSpeed Wireless (with a hidden garage for dongle storage), three Bluetooth wireless profiles, two-stage kickstands, sticky rubber feet, and an assortment of additional buttons and controls.

If you're like me and prefer your low-profile keyboard to be of the tenkeyless variety, though, you'll have to accept a compromise — eight fewer customizable macros.

Both versions get the control dial, the triple-function macro, an "AI" button set to open Razer's new AI Prompt Master (that you can remap to anything else you want), and a dedicated battery level button that strangely can't be customized. The full-sized version adds five remappable macro keys and three media control keys, all aligned on the top plastic shelf that's oddly empty on the TKL version.

I'm not sure if there's an engineering constraint here or something else, but I wish Razer had made room for at least some of those extra keys on the smaller keyboard.

Slim and prim, but is it good enough for the price?

Macro criticisms aside, is the new Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed actually worth spending at least $199.99 at Razer just for the tenkeyless version? I get it — making unique low-profile variants of Razer's in-house Green, Yellow, and Orange switches must've been a tall order.

Squeezing two layers of sound-dampening foam, per-key RGB lighting, five onboard profiles, and a large enough battery to support up to 980 hours of use (in power-saving mode) couldn't have been easy, either. That's all on paper, though; I've been actually using this keyboard.

It always feels like there's something preventing the BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile from achieving greatness.

The typing and gaming experience is excellent (with separate modes to improve consistency or responsiveness), but this keyboard is absolutely on the loud side. The RGB lighting looks good, but it's dim and doesn't highlight all the secondary functions. The battery life can be great, but even modest RGB lighting can seriously tank that endurance. Wireless performance is nearly flawless, but you'll be limited to a 1,000Hz polling rate no matter how you choose to connect.

BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a low-profile keyboard, but make it mechanical.
• You can't have low-profile switches without ditching the wires.
• You want great gaming performance in a compact package.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You don't mind the extra vertical mass of a normal low-profile keyboard.
• You don't think "low-profile" should mean "higher price tag."

I'm not certain just how much demand there is for a high-performance, low-profile, mechanical gaming keyboard — especially one as premium as this one — but Razer has been expanding into a lot of more niche categories with its latest launches, and this is no exception.

The BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed is really good, too, and I think people will like Razer's new low-profile mechanical switches a lot. There are enough compromises or weaknesses to deter potential buyers when such a massive price tag looms over this sleek board, though.

That's especially true when brands like Keychron are increasingly pushing into the PC gaming space with more value-driven, enthusiast-focused boards. Still, I really like this keyboard, and you can get it now, too, from $199.99 at Razer.com.

When it comes to playing MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) on PC, some players prefer using gaming mice with built-in number pads and other extra buttons over moving their hands around a keyboard to perform in-game actions, as it feels more natural and is generally more efficient.

If you're one of those dedicated MMO gamers, then I have good news! Amazon is currently holding a 24% discount for one of the best MMORPG gaming mice around — the Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed, reducing it to $75.99 on Amazon for a limited time.

This renowned mouse is wireless with a 400+ hour battery life, and normally carries a price tag of $99.99. Don't miss your chance to bag this ultra-responsive version of one of the most popular (and for a good reason) MMORPG gaming mice ever made, at least while Amazon still has stock. Otherwise, you can grab it for the same price at Best Buy and Walmart in the US.

Razer's Naga V2 Hyperspeed is a gaming mouse explicitly designed for MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, but it can also be used for other game genres like shooters, platforms, and practically anything else.

It is a state-of-the-art PC gaming mouse, built with advanced features to help make playing complex games more intuitive and fun for those who don't like to rely entirely on their keyboard.

Some of its standout features include:

• 19 reprogrammable buttons (plus a scroll wheel) so you can customize your control scheme for whatever PC game you play (not just World of Warcraft).
• A 30K optical sensor that tracks faster movements flawlessly for precise aiming and in-game character targeting, even when playing on glass surfaces.
• Gold-plated Gen 2 Mechanical Switches that have a lifespan of up to sixty million clicks.
• Seamless wireless (2.4GHz and Bluetooth) connectivity with no discernible latency, so you don't suffer input delay while playing.
• Compatibility with Razer's Synapse app allows you to access extra settings that can further customize the Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed's performance and accuracy options.

Now, despite these awesome-sounding features, there are a few caveats with the Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed. Firstly, the Naga V2 Hyperspeed is wireless only. If you prefer using gaming mice that won't turn off in the middle of gameplay because you forget to recharge them, I would recommend checking out the near-perfect Razer Naga X, which we tested back in 2021. Here, on the Hyperpeed, you can't use a detachable USB cable.

Secondly, the Naga V2 Hyperspeed is a slight variation of the Razer Naga V2 Pro gaming mouse, lacking the Naga V2 Pro's swappable numpad side plates, swapping third-gen optical mouse buttons for mechanical switches, and dropping compatibility with rechargeable batteries.

Otherwise, the Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed retains all the most important advanced features of the Razer Naga V2 Pro, like reprogrammable buttons and a 30K Focus Pro 30K sensor, all while being sold at a much cheaper retail price of $99.99 as opposed to the Naga V2 Pro's MSRP of $174.99.

The sole fact that the Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed possesses much of what made its predecessor earn our praises, and being nearly $100 cheaper, it's worth the MSRP alone. It's a price that's now even more affordable, thanks to this sweet 24% discount, where you can get one of Razer's best PC gaming accessories for $75.99 on Amazon, and save a similar $24 in the process.

It's also being sold for $75.99 at Walmart and $75.99 at Best Buy, if you prefer to shop at any other online retailer besides Amazon.

I know I'm certainly planning to get my hands on this mouse as my trusty Razer Naga X is getting on in its years, and I need an upgrade to prepare for the next exciting WoW expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight.

I like having fun. I like looking cute. I like playing games. It should come as no surprise that I've been a fan of the Razer Kraken Kitty family of gaming headsets for years, ever since I reviewed the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro.

That was actually my first gaming headset review for Windows Central, and a lot of audio gear has come and gone across my desk in the intervening years. Now, the day has finally come — the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is official, and Razer made sure I was among the first to get their grubby paws on it.

• RELATED: My full, in-depth Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro review

This latest Kitty headset is a departure in some ways from its predecessor, but those changes make it even better. I also recently had a chance to sit down with Razer's Global Head of Design, Charlie Bolton, though, so I know even bigger changes are coming way down the line for this prestigious family.

In the meantime, though, here are my thoughts on the brand-new Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro.

Unboxing the new Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro

It's pretty clear at a glance that Razer took the foundation it debuted with the Kraken V4 mid-range wireless gaming headset for this product. I reviewed the Razer Kraken V4 and praised it for its balanced versatility, so I wasn't at all disappointed to spot all the blatant similarities.

You're looking at the same general unboxing experience, complete with the generous (and wonderfully color-matched) accessories. You get the same slimmer Kraken design, 40mm drivers, THX spatial audio, 9-zone RGB lighting, dual Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity (with no simultaneous source mixing), and the same upgraded, retractable microphone.

If you're looking for what Razer changed, you only have to look. The Kraken Kitty V3 Pro also comes in really sleek white and quartz (pink) colorways, adds RGB-lit cat ears to the top, and manages to hit the same price point of $179.99 at Razer.com, which I did not expect and love to see.

It does feel like overall build quality has taken a slight dip to avoid those ears accruing a cost premium, though, including the fabric earcup cushions of the Kraken V4 being replaced with more fragile-feeling leatherette cushions.

I think that's a fair compromise; Razer struck a good balance here, just as it did with the regular Kraken V4. This does mean we no longer get the swappable ears of the older Kraken Kitty V2 Pro, but a more elegant design, wireless connectivity, and a lower starting price more than make up for that in my eyes.

I am slightly disappointed that there's no Kitty variant of the full-featured Razer Kraken V4 Pro I reviewed, but I also understand. The Kraken Kitty family has a passionate fanbase, but it's still relatively niche — it doesn't make sense for Razer to make an ultra-premium variant that very few people will actually buy.

Still the best gaming headset with cat ears, but what's next?

You'll have to wait a little longer for the full interview, but I did recently have a long discussion with Charlie Bolton, Razer's Global Head of Design. “The Kitty family is definitely something we’re looking into… What could we do with it?" He said during our conversation. "It has been part of one of the really strong families, okay, now what’s the next thing for it?”

Since its inception, the Kraken Kitty headsets have been closely tied to, well, the Kraken headsets. After all, the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is essentially a cat-ified variant of the Kraken V4. That relationship makes a lot of sense, and I have little doubt this headset will end up being a top pick for a lot of people, but Razer is apparently considering a big shift in approach for the next generation.

“The Kitty family still has a huge, huge way to go, even if it’s not part of Kraken,” Bolton told me. I'm really excited to see what that looks like, but I won't hold my breath. There's at least a couple of years separating us from the Kitty V4, and what's the rush? We just got a great new wireless gaming headset, and I'll be reviewing it for Windows Central in the near future.

My thoughts right now? I love this design and the three available colors. The audio quality and performance have been excellent so far, and I really wish there were an Xbox-specific version. I still have a lot more testing to do, but Razer is off to a great start with the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro gaming headset, now available for $179.99 at Razer.com in black, white, and pink.

There's also the new ultra-affordable, wired Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X for $59.99 at Razer.com, if you want to save some cash. Razer is keeping the old Kraken Kitty V2 BT around as a middle-of-the-road option, too, but if you want a wireless headset, it's honestly worth paying more for the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro.

ASUS makes a lot of products, so I cover a lot of ASUS products. I really enjoy the company's laptops, monitors, and gaming hardware, but ASUS' accessories have yet to really win me over — until now.

This is the ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini, an ultra-light, high-performance wireless gaming mouse that delivers a stellar user experience. It's an all-around great mouse for $130, and I've already seen it go on sale for much less than that, too.

If you're in the market for a fast and reliable wireless mouse, but want it to be more compact than many of the most popular options, the ROG Harpe Ace Mini is absolutely worth considering. If you value a higher 8,000Hz polling rate, though, you'll need to track down ASUS' elusive (and optional) polling rate booster.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by ASUS. ASUS had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A sensible design with seriously little weight

ASUS' gaming accessories often adopt wild and edgy "gamer" designs, but the Harpe Ace Mini doesn't fall into that trend. This is a small, ambidextrous mouse that favors right-handed users, molded entirely out of smooth, matte plastic with few embellishments.

A lot of people prefer a more compact peripheral for gaming and working, and the Harpe Ace Mini delivers that in (tiny) spades. I love this shape, which is comfortable for multiple grip types, and only 49g of weight makes this one of the lightest high-performance gaming mice I've ever used.

Subtle lines on the side make for solid grips, the optical mouse switches feel tactile and responsive, the PFTE feet offer a smooth glide (and the mouse supports almost all surface types), and you still get some subtle RGB lighting embedded in the scroll wheel.

Despite the small size, you still get a long-lasting internal battery, a garage to store the 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and three controls on the bottom (a DPI profile button, a Pair button, and a connectivity mode switch).

"Simple" is oddly difficult to do well, but ASUS nailed it here. The matte black colorway does love to hold on to every fingerprint and smudge, though, and the scroll wheel is a bit soft for my tastes.

A great experience from hardware to software

The ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini may be small, but it packs a big punch. At the core of this mouse is a precise, reliable 42,000 Dots-per-Inch (DPI) optical sensor, and performance has been excellent for me.

There are plenty of other mice with a lot more mass and similar price tags that don't offer quite this level of performance, and ASUS' Armoury Crate provides a ton of options for customizing and finetuning the Harpe Ace Mini.

You can remap the buttons, dial in the DPI, set up angle snapping or tuning, calibrate for different mousepad surfaces, and more. It's easy enough to go through these options, and the Harpe Ace Mini even supports ASUS' lightweight Armoury Crate Gear software if you don't have more than one ASUS product.

If you do, the 2.4GHz wireless receiver in the box can connect to two different compatible ASUS products, and ASUS includes a nice, braided USB cable and a USB extender in the box to get your setup exactly as you want it.

It's also nice to see Bluetooth connectivity baked in, which isn't a guarantee for a high-performance gaming mouse. I'm certain productivity users would prefer an extra button or two, but the Harpe Ace Mini is small and capable enough to be an excellent travel companion, too.

I didn't have any issues with longevity, either. ASUS promises up to ~130 hours depending on your settings, and that feels accurate from my testing. The only thing this figure doesn't take into account is the support for up to 8,000Hz polling.

That's now a staple for premium gaming mouse, but the ROG Harpe Ace Mini doesn't include ASUS's Polling Rate Booster in the box — and, honestly, you'll be hard pressed to find it in stock even if you are willing to spend extra for that feature.

ROG Harpe Ace Mini review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You're looking for a compact wireless gaming mouse.
• You also want fantastic performance in that small package.
• You value Bluetooth connectivity in your gaming mouse.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You want 8,000Hz polling and you want it to be easy.
• You want a mouse with more features for productivity and creativity.

Alright, ASUS, you finally got me. The ROG Harpe Ace Mini is an awesome wireless gaming mouse. It's sleek and travel-friendly, the build quality is there to go the distance, the performance is consistently great, and the overall user experience from the software to the battery life leaves little to be desired.

There are definitely some areas for improvement, but I'm largely a big fan of what ASUS accomplished here. The only major weakness is that the absolute best performance requires an additional purchase — and I honestly couldn't reliably find that accessory in stock in my market.

I don't think you need 8,000Hz polling to make this mouse worthwhile, though. If you're looking for a compact mouse that still delivers top-level performance, the ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini is now available for $129.99 at Amazon.com or $129.99 at BestBuy.com — and be sure to watch out for sales, because I've already seen this mouse go for as little as $100.

I can be rational and accept the limitations of small-scale, limited-edition collaborations between brands. I can accept that some partnerships make most sense in specific markets (even if I'm not a part of those markets), and that the economy of scale means collaborations may not always target the products I'd personally use.

It's good to know, however, that the disappointments of reality can occasionally be subverted. Case in point: Razer remembering that I don't live in China, and therefore was unable to appreciate its special edition gaming headset inspired by one of my top three favorite Pokémon of all time.

The full force of my delusion reassures me that you, dear reader, understand exactly where I'm going with this — the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition is finally available in global markets, and I've been fortunate enough to already get my hands on it.

Unboxing the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition

Razer has been going hard with its brand collaborations lately, and some have been pretty awesome. We more-or-less know what to expect, though, so I wasn't particularly surprised by what I found when unboxing this ghost-ified gaming headset.

This is the Razer Kraken Kitty V2, a wired USB, PC gaming headset with a $100 price tag, modest hardware, and an adorable design. It's the perfect base to do some limited-edition designs, and it makes complete sense to use it here.

You'll find the Gengar Edition safely encapsulated in its custom packaging, but the contents of the box are the same — it's the headset, its permanently attached cable, and some paperwork.

Razer rarely sticks to the basics with its limited-edition gear, though, so don't expect this to be a regular Kraken Kitty V2 spray-painted purple. The whole headset gets a tasteful shift in hues, with clashing purples in the plastics and cushions, bright red fabric in the ear cups, some hidden ghosties, and Gengar's iconic head and back spines replacing the standard cat ears.

It's well done, but the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition also costs $139.99 at Razer.com, a $40 premium that makes it far pricier than what you'd normally pay for this caliber of gaming headset.

Not the headset I'd use, but it's the Pokémon I'd choose

I recently went hands-on with the Razer x Pokémon Collection, and I mostly really enjoyed what felt like a well-rounded and thoughtfully designed set of gaming gear. It also made me hopeful that we'd see some other Razer collaborations hit global markets, like, hm, I don't know, the Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition that was exclusive to China for nearly a year?

I'm ecstatic now that it's here, as Gengar is one of my top three favorite Pokémon of all time (Absol and Umbreon are the other two, if you were curious). It's a good-looking headset, too, but I definitely see it more as a collector's item than anything else.

The Kraken Kitty V2 is a fine wired gaming headset, but it's also showing its age, and these limited editions always cost significantly more. When your product's whole thing is offering a great value, any noticeable price increase is a tough pill to swallow — a 40% price increase just feels ridiculous.

Still, I'm happy this headset is more widely available now, and I think it'll make a lot of hardcore Gengar fans really happy (even if they don't end up using it as their primary gaming headset). It's a fantastically spooky design built onto an already-adorable headset, and there's no such thing as "too many Gengar collectibles."

Now I just need Razer to release a new ultra-premium, wireless Kraken Kitty headset and design an awesome, extremely detailed Shiny Umbreon special edition. You only have to make one, Razer, and no one else has to know.

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition is now available for $139.99 at Razer.com. If you'd rather go full Pikachu, the Razer Kraken V4 X Pokémon Edition is also available for $99.99 at Razer.com, which does feel like a more approachable price.

Many gamers may not be fully aware, but HP isn’t just making printers and productivity-focused PCs — the company also maintains a significant presence in the gaming industry.

HP’s OMEN and HyperX brands have continued to grow in scale and ambition, and have also increasingly separated themselves from HP’s more mundane consumer efforts. Case in point, the dedicated event at which HP announced a slew of new gaming hardware and accessories.

I was invited to attend this unique event by HP, and arrived early to go hands-on with the brand-new HP OMEN PCs and HyperX audio gear. I came away impressed and intrigued, especially by the beastly OMEN MAX 45L gaming desktop that pulls out all the stops.

Gaming to the MAX with a new flagship desktop

The HP OMEN 45L is dead; long live the HP OMEN MAX 45L, the most absurdly powerful pre-built desktop PC to ever come out of HP’s laboratories.

On the inside, you’ll find some insane hardware… but not entirely unfamiliar. The OMEN MAX 45L is powered by the latest from AMD and NVIDIA, up to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and GeForce RTX 5090, to be exact. You can also get crazy amounts of RAM and plenty of PCIe Gen5 SSD storage, but none of that is what makes the OMEN MAX 45L special.

Much of that you can also find in the refreshed HP OMEN 35L (which I’ll talk more about later), but this desktop’s overwhelming presence is due to its unique cooling solution. HP’s “CRYO CHAMBER” brand has returned, but you haven’t seen it like this, yet.

I’ll admit, the OMEN MAX 45L does look odd in person. It’s like a normal gaming desktop wearing a hat, but it’s all for a purpose. Different paths for airflow and improved use of ambient air result in substantially improved thermals, and in turn allow users to truly max out this PC’s hardware.

HP has already impressed me with the depth and granularity of its overclocking and power management features with recent OMEN hardware, but the OMEN MAX 45L goes a step further by letting you overclock the memory, CPU, and GPU — and HP was very excited to tell me there are no artificial limitations here. You can really push this hardware to the max.

It’s this promise of truly “extreme” performance thanks to the OMEN MAX 45L’s overclocking capabilities that presumably justifies its position at the top, but I’ll have to test it for myself to see if it really earns that distinction.

Leaving behind the RGB and flying under the radar

The biggest surprise of HP’s event, though, was how much I really loved the new “Stealth Edition” OMEN 35L. The OMEN 35L hasn’t changed much since I reviewed it, apart from a spec bump to the latest AMD and NVIDIA internals, but this version takes the same hardware and slots it into a sleek, nondescript, matte black case devoid of RGB lighting and bold glass.

I was a fan when I covered the product’s announcement, but this desktop looks even better in person. It’s clean, and it makes a lot of sense why Riot Games chose this specific computer as the standard for its VALORANT esports league.

I love RGB lighting as much as the next gamer, but there’s also a depressing lack of “sleeper” hardware that HP is filling here — and the positive reception has apparently already been immense.

I don’t expect this OMEN 35L to be a drastic departure from last year (apart from slightly improved performance and hopefully more stable software), but I am very interested to check out the Stealth Edition.

A different approach to AMD and Intel laptops?

One of the more interesting things I learned during this HP event is how the company is approaching AMD and Intel SKUs for its OMEN gaming laptops. I recently reviewed the flagship HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) and liked it well enough, and now it's getting an AMD variant — with a twist.

The original OMEN MAX 16 is powered by Intel Core Ultra HX-series CPUs, Intel's most powerful mobile chipsets. The downside is that the integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) isn't powerful enough to enable full Copilot+ PC status, making them lesser AI PCs in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Instead of using the AMD equivalent, like what's found in the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) I reviewed, the new OMEN MAX 16 is actually powered by AMD Ryzen AI chipsets. That means less raw power, but far greater efficiency and a whole lot more smarts for artificial intelligence features.

HP told me it's because it found people want that choice, and many value battery life enough to trade some CPU performance for it. I'd certainly make that choice, so I'm all for HP's slightly more unique approach here. The standard, mid-range HP OMEN 16 is getting the same AMD/Intel treatment, too.

Leveling up your audio with new HyperX accessories

HyperX joined the fun during this Level Reforge event, too, showing off two new wireless gaming headsets and two new microphones. I got to check them all out to varying degrees, and I think this is an exciting lineup for a few reasons.

Possibly the most interesting of the bunch to me personally is the HyperX Cloud Flight 2, a new multi-platform, mid-range headset. It's ultra-light and made of plastic, so it's not the most premium feeling, but HyperX is doing some interesting things here.

All the basics are covered — angled 50mm drivers, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, an Xbox-specific version with added features (like a built-in chat mixer), up to 125 hours of battery life, an upgraded 10mm boom microphone, and more.

On top of that, though, HyperX designed the headband cushion, earcup cushions, and magnetic faceplates to all be easily removable and replaceable. More than that, the headset's RGB lighting actually covers the entire area underneath those faceplates, allowing light to shine in through cutouts; that opens a lot of possibilities for customizing your headset, and HyperX is looking into expanding those options for consumers.

There's even an internal microphone so that you can continue to do voice calls without the awkward boom microphone attached, which a lot of headsets that claim to double up as wireless headphones lack.

I also tried out HyperX's new flagship Alpha 2 wireless headset, which immediately feels extremely polished and premium with its understated, RGB-less, metal-infused design. It's sleek and comfy, the audio sounded excellent in my limited testing, and HyperX is promising a ridiculous 250-hour battery life.

That headset will be going up against the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I reviewed, though, so the performance will have to be top-notch to justify its higher price tag of $299.99 at HP.com.

I did check out both of the new HyperX microphones, too, although I wasn't really able to test them. The premium FlipCast for $229.99 at HP.com could be a fantastic option for those who want to get into content creation of any kind but aren't quite ready to invest in a full (often expensive) XLR-based setup; the FlipCast also boasts USB input for casual plug-and-play, as well as a smart and attractive design with a dynamic LED meter.

I actually have the HyperX FlipCast in to review, so you can expect my in-depth thoughts on it in the coming weeks. I don't have the SoloCast 2 yet, but I am excited to eventually check it out. This is HyperX's most affordable USB microphone, and it looks like it'll be a direct competitor to the AVerMedia VERSATI go (AM310G2) I reviewed and loved.

It'll be interesting to see if the SoloCast 2, which costs $59.99 at HP.com, can offer the same level of quality and features as that microphone.

A fun and creative way to show off new products

I do want to spare a moment to talk about the event itself, because this wasn't your normal tech briefing. HP got a bunch of well-known Twitch streamers and content creators together in a game-show format, with the goal being to "reforge" a broken blade by excelling at a variety of mini-games.

Beyond the awkward, forced jokes of the beginning, this event was actually really enjoyable to watch. The games were fun, and the synergy between teams and the excellent hosts led to some hilarious moments.

In between event beats, HP announced its new products with flashy commercials and casual interviews between obviously passionate (and often nervous) nerds, which made the products feel like they were truly made for gamers, by gamers.

HP seemed very pleased about the reception to the event, too, as this was the first time the company has ever attempted something like this. I and many others had plenty of feedback to give for future iterations, and it does seem like we can expect Level Reforge to return next year.

I always appreciate engaging with a company that actively seeks out criticism, too, and I chatted with various HP OMEN and HyperX leads and engineers on new and existing hardware.

For example, one of the demo areas used the HP OMEN Transcend 32 OLED monitor I reviewed, but had been afflicted with a dreaded forced pixel refresh. I had an open and shockingly productive conversation with a member of that team about my review and all my criticisms for what is genuinely a great monitor, and it reassured me that future HP OMEN monitors will actually be better because of feedback from actual users.

Thank you, HP, for inviting me out to Level Reforge. I had more fun than I honestly expected I would. As for what comes next, stay tuned to Windows Central for my reviews of the new HP OMEN and HyperX gear!

Proper simulators are often judged as an eccentric oddity to casual onlookers and the broader collective of PC and console gamers. Even Microsoft Flight Simulator was lumped in with those kinds of outliers until it elbowed its way into the mainstream via Xbox and PC Game Pass when it reinvented itself as the "impressive" MSFS 2020, piquing my interest with Asobo Studio's Xbox version.

After a few years of content updates, its developers moved on to a follow-up that came with a bit of a rocky launch as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, but subsequent patches and server improvements led to me ranking MSFS 2024 as a "must-play" title, and diving into the world of flight sim joysticks and yokes.

If you ever thought flight simulators were intimidating for newcomers, then you should have seen some of the earlier hardware that they could pair with. Often covered with a plentiful selection of dials, levers, switches, and buttons, many flight sticks were too advanced for a novice. Now, Honeycomb Aeronautical has hardware that appeals to the die-hard fanatics and new aviators alike.

Of course, if you've ever dabbled with yokes, you'll probably glance over my photographs and recognize hints of the previously reviewed Honeycomb 'Alpha and Bravo' (specifically the 'XPC' variants with Xbox compatibility), but keen-eyed sim fans will notice something different about these samples that I saw clamped to a series of desks after an invitation to meet the affable team in London, courtesy of its parent company, snakebyte | GROUP, and Overload PR.

Yes, it's because this is actually part of the upcoming 'Honeycomb Lite' range, specifically the 'Alpha Flight Controls Lite' and 'Bravo Throttle Quadrant Lite'. They're both part of a wider effort to simplify a yoke and throttle setup and, in turn, offer a more affordable price tag to help new players ease their way into an ultra-realistic simulation rig — you'll notice I never used the word "cheap" here, and that's for a good reason.

The Honeycomb Lite range is more affordable than its full-fat siblings, but by no means does any of it feel cheap. On the contrary, claims that the Alpha Lite exhibits the "same high-quality build as the original ALPHA" rang true as soon as I got my hands on the familiar soft-touch plastic mounted around a solid steel shaft that rotates the sturdy yoke around 180°. There are obvious simplifications and fewer switches, but the pairing still feels deeply immersive.

In fact, the Bravo Lite actually feels more intuitive, thanks to a larger set of throttle lever handles with customizable, indented inlays. You still get an authentic parking brake, landing gear lever, and trim wheel, undoubtedly appealing to serious roleplayers, but it's fascinating how an overall simplification makes me feel more inclined to use every aspect of this 'Lite' throttle quadrant, rather than ignoring some less commonly used parts.

The most striking departure for Honeycomb Aeronautical that I saw (at least, until what came after) when visiting the snakebyte | GROUP crew was the 'Foxtrot Aviation Stick', a traditional joystick not unlike the dozen or so that I've tested in the past, such as Turtle Beach's VelocityOne Flightstick. It's exactly what it sounds like: a cockpit recreation built for controlling virtual, stick-controlled aircraft and smaller, aerobatic planes.

More importantly, the team had an early sample of an add-on throttle unit connected to the Foxtrot and showed me how it can be easily attached to either side of the joystick for a proper HOTAS (Hands On Throttle-and-Stick) setup. I'm eager to get my hands on the Foxtrot for a more in-depth look, so I won't spoil you with all the details yet, but the virtual trip I took in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 felt smooth and particularly responsive to the tiniest movements.

Ultimately, the Foxtrot looks to offer a much faster setup process than the Alpha (and even the Alpha Lite), by eliminating the need for any sort of desk clamp. If it can be more of a get-set-up-and-go solution, then I can see it acting as a perfect in-between for an absolute novice before potentially graduating to a fully-fledged yoke. That, or it's a better option for those sim enthusiasts who just outright prefer a joystick. To each their own.

For a minute, I almost felt bad for the astute team members who were demonstrating the all-new Honeycomb Aeronautical hardware, particularly snakebyte | GROUP CTO Marc Küpper, who saw my face light up with childlike glee when he completed his genuinely fascinating stories of manufacturing in Hong Kong and I caught a glimpse of a work-in-progress prototype lying on the final desk: the 'Echo Aviation Controller'.

I think I said something like, "Oh my god, what is that?" but it's possible that my words were infused with more swearing and an overall rise in volume. Now, to be fair to Mark, he was almost exactly as enthused to show me the Echo — an Xbox-like joypad with miniature recreations of throttle levers, a trim wheel, and more — but was adamant I remember that this is not a finished product.

Not that I really care, because even in this sort of mock-up limbo state, I'm obsessed. It's legitimately revolutionary. The Echo prototype makes so much sense for casual flight simulator enthusiasts, and anyone who has completed the first few introductory segments of Microsoft Flight Simulator's tutorial could guess what each lever and switch is for. Besides, the rest is interpreted through reckless mid-flight experimentation anyway.

I've seen other brands attempt bizarre Frankenstein-esque controllers in the past, and I was immediately reminded of Thrustmaster's eSwap XR Pro with its miniature car wheel for a joystick, but the Echo Aviation Controller is in a league of its own — a completely different championship, even. Honeycomb Aeronautical is onto a winner here, and I'm crossing all my fingers that I see this unique joypad make it through to mass production.

The rear-mounted rudder pedal controls weren't even functional during my time with the Echo, a common issue with prototyping any electronics, but even those felt like an obvious addition. They're fixed together on an axis, moving vertically in opposite directions, just like the full-sized 'Charlie' pedals that Honeycomb itself manufactures, but again, on a tiny, shrunken scale. I love it.

It's almost comical because the star of the show could undoubtedly be the Honeycomb Lite range, a new flagship 'Sierra TPM Module', or the introduction of the Foxtrot, signalling an expansion to more than just yokes, throttles, and rudder pedals, but the Echo stole my attention, and I'm fine with it.

Prices for all of this new hardware will soon be confirmed, and I'm eager to get my hands on the Foxtrot to see if it earns a place on my list of the best joysticks for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Keep an eye on Windows Central for news on all of these yokes, joysticks, and joypads when they become available, as I'll be following them closely — especially the Echo.

I have genuinely grown to love ASUS' laptops over the last few years, but I'll be honest and tell you that the company's accessories have historically never impressed me. When I reviewed products like the ASUS ROG Delta II gaming headset, ASUS failed to shift the needle in a meaningful way.

I frankly didn't have high hopes for the ASUS ROG Azoth X, an ultra-premium wireless gaming keyboard going up against some real heavy hitters from companies like Razer. Now that I've actually used this keyboard for a while, I can admit that ASUS surprised me.

Will I start recommending the ROG Azoth X to all my friends and family? Absolutely not, this is still a $300 keyboard — and one with plenty of imperfections at that. Still, I do really like this keyboard, and it's good enough to make me pay more attention to what ASUS does with accessories in the future.

A divisive design backed by actually good hardware

Once again, while in the midst of a candid mood, I only agreed to review the ASUS ROG Azoth X because of its distinct (but divisive) design. With a clean, white keyboard at its base, ASUS' default keycap set marries black, bright reds, and subtle blue hues in a glorious mess strewn with classic ROG iconography.

I wouldn't blame anyone for being turned off by this design in the same vein that I wouldn't judge anyone for being drawn to this design. ASUS is one of the few major companies still holding on to that infamous "gamer" aesthetic, and in the Azoth X, I do think it fits rather well.

It's a mostly plastic construction, and while this keyboard is put together well, it doesn't quite feel like a $300 keyboard. At least ASUS didn't cut any corners with the internals, as you're looking at a gasket-mounted design with five sound-dampening layers, an FR4 positioning plate, south-facing PCB, three-sided translucent dye-sublimated keycaps, an integrated OLED display and control dial, and ASUS' rather nice linear and tactile ROG NX V2 Mechanical Switches.

A USB Type-C port for charging and wired connectivity, a dedicated garage to store your 2.4GHz wireless dongle, a switch to change between connectivity modes (including Bluetooth), two-stage stands, an included color-matched silicon wrist rest — the ROG Azoth X gives you all of it, and you also get Windows and macOS keys included in the box alongside a two-in-one tool for swapping out the keycaps and switches.

So, I like the design and I (mostly) like the hardware, but what is it like to actually use this keyboard? Spoiler, I also like it.

The typing and gaming experience with the ROG Azoth X is lovely. The layout makes sense and is clearly labeled, the switches feel consistent and responsive, the keycaps have a great texture to them that doesn't cling to every smudge and stain, and the typing acoustics are great (although the spacebar is noticeably clunkier than the rest of the keys, and the difference does bug me a little).

Performance is fantastic, and the ROG Azoth X does support "Speed Tap," which is the last keystroke prioritization feature we've been seeing in all the best gaming keyboards lately.

You can configure everything you need to through ASUS' solid Armoury Crate software, but there's even a lightweight web-based version if this is your only ASUS product. If you do have more than one ASUS product, you can connect one more supported ASUS accessory to the Azoth X's wireless dongle and free up an extra port.

Honestly, I've really enjoyed this keyboard... so, what's the catch?

You don't need to spend $300 on a keyboard, and there's a better option if you do

If you've seen how much the ASUS ROG Azoth X costs, you already know what its biggest weakness is. Very few people are willing to drop $300 just on their keyboard, especially when you can get some incredible boards for a whole lot less.

Just to pick out one example, I recently reviewed the Keychron K8 HE, a $130 80% keyboard that boasts hot-swappable magnetic switches and keycaps, per-key RGB lighting, tri-mode connectivity, and web-based software. The Azoth X is the nicer keyboard, but is it $170 nicer? I don't think so, at least.

Even if you do want the best of the best and you're willing to pay for it, there's an obvious alternative to the ASUS ROG Azoth X that I flat out like more, and that's the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% I reviewed.

That keyboard also costs $300, but the design is sleeker, the build quality is higher, the typing and gaming experience is superior, the RGB lighting is brighter and more vibrant, and the software is more feature-packed. I still criticized the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% for costing $300, but it justifies that price tag more than the Azoth X does.

The only area where this keyboard genuinely impresses over other options is its endurance. I've been surprised by how long this keyboard lasts on a charge, even with RGB lighting enabled. ASUS did a good job on that front.

ROG Azoth X review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You love the distinct multi-tone design and keycap set.
• You other ASUS products and want everything under the same roof.
• You don't mind dropping $300 just for that little extra something.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You want a keyboard that offers great bang for your buck.
• You can get the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% for the same price.

When I saw how much the ASUS ROG Azoth X actually cost and given some of my past experiences with ASUS accessories, I'll admit my expectations were lowered considerably. Now that I've used this keyboard for hours, I've been converted — even if that $300 price tag still stings.

The build quality could be better, the OLED display is still of dubious usefulness (that's true for any keyboard with an OLED display), the spacebar feels radically different from the rest of the keys, the RGB lighting isn't particularly vibrant, and the design is decidedly divisive. All those minor complaints add up when you're spending so much.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has its own share of similarly impactful flaws, but it's still a much better keyboard overall. If you're going to spend $300 anyway, get that one instead. If you don't want to spend $300, why are you here? If you fall in that in-between area and find the ROG Azoth X on sale, though, this is a really good keyboard.

You can buy the ASUS ROG Azoth X wireless gaming keyboard for $299.99 at BestBuy.com or $299.99 at Amazon.com right now.

When I reviewed the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023), I named it one of the very best wireless gaming headsets you could buy. A year later, and we finally got a console-friendly version that was just as good — but it could obviously be better.

Now we finally have the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, and... I can't believe how big of a jump this is. When Razer briefed me on its new flagship esports-focused headset, I was rendered speechless by the ceaseless list of improvements and upgrades, all while preserving the same iconic design language.

It may be more expensive and a little heavier now, but the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is the closest to perfection I've ever seen a gaming headset reach. It's made even better that we don't have to wait for Xbox and PlayStation versions.

I don't often do this, but I'm putting my recommendation front and center. If your budget is $250 for a high-performance wireless gaming headset, then save yourself some time and go get the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro for $249.99 at BestBuy.com.

Yeah, let's just summarize those upgrades real quick

Some of you may accuse me of being dramatic if I don't lay it out loud and clear, so I'm starting by listing all the noticeable improvements Razer made with the new BlackShark V3 Pro.

• Upgraded audio. The BlackShark V3 Pro upgrades to Razer's new TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50mm Gen-2 drivers, which are basically bigger and better versions of the drivers in the ultra-premium Razer Kraken V4 Pro I reviewed.
  • Not content with just that, Razer also added THX Spatial Audio 7.1.4 support, which adds four virtual speakers above your head when you want that surround sound effect. The BlackShark V3 Pro supports the Xbox and PlayStation spatial audio equivalents, too.
• Bigger microphone. The BlackShark V2 Pro already had one of the best microphones on any headset, but Razer made it even better by increasing the physical size of the HyperClear Super Wideband microphone from 9mm to 12mm, and increased the sampling rate from 32KHz to 48KHz while it was at it.
• Improved performance. This headset is designed with competitive gaming in mind (especially first-person shooters), so improved performance was a guarantee.
  • The greatest performance upgrade comes from Razer's new HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2. Yes, Razer HyperSpeed actually got a next-gen upgrade with greater efficiency and stability, but Razer also reduced the wireless latency to a mere 10ms — easily the best in the industry.
  • Razer has continued working with esports athletes to develop professionally tuned audio profiles for six of the most popular FPS games, and you can now store a total of 9 unique audio profiles on the BlackShark V3 Pro.
• Refined ergonomics. Razer may have kept the same overall design language, but the BlackShark V3 Pro is still a lot more refined in a lot of ways.
  • The yoke design has returned, but it's further reinforced and now has a 15-degree swivel joint to provide a better fit to everyone's unique head shape.
  • The Memory Foam ear cushions are just as comfortable as ever, but Razer designed a new dual-layer fabric that uses leatherette for superior noise isolation underneath cloth for improved breathability.
  • The design has been refined in other ways, too, like more distinct textures for the onboard controls and adding swappable magnetic faceplates (which have nothing to do with comfort, but could be great for customization).
• Better support. Unlike the BlackShark V2 Pro, Razer's latest flagship gaming headset is coming out of the gate with PC, Xbox, and PlayStation versions — all available in black or white.
  • Not only do we already have console-specific versions, but they also fully support Razer Synapse on PC this time, so you don't have to choose one or the other.
  • The BlackShark V3 Pro can also do simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio mixing, so you can have a voice call on one and your game on the other, or whatever combination you need in the moment.
  • If you'd rather plug in, the BlackShark V3 Pro supports USB wired audio and even comes with a 3.5mm adapter for more traditional headphone jacks.
  • You can customize your BlackShark V3 Pro using the Razer Audio App on Android and iOS, the Razer Headset Setup app on Xbox, and the Razer Synapse app on PC — and the increased onboard memory will remember all your changes.
• More features. The BlackShark V3 Pro also gains some brand-new features. I already mentioned the simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio, but there are a couple more, too.
  • Razer has brought hybrid active noise cancellation to the BlackShark, with 4 microphones (2 internal and 2 external) dedicated to filtering out unwanted background noise to keep you in the game.
  • In addition to the new ANC button for cycling through modes, Razer also added a customizable roller to the BlackShark V3 Pro, which handles chat balancing by default, but can also uniquely increase just the sounds of footsteps to give you a competitive advantage.

Whoo, that's a lot. Let's actually talk about my experience using the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro now.

It'll be difficult for Razer to impress with the BlackShark V4

I already spent a lot of words just explaining what Razer did with the BlackShark V3 Pro, but the important question is if those upgrades actually make a difference. Um, yes. Yes, they do.

At first glance, the BlackShark V3 Pro isn't a major departure from its predecessor, but this headset is noticeably more comfortable to wear, especially for long periods. A lot of that comes down to the new swivel joint, which is important for the fit but also improves isolation.

It's still a predominantly plastic headset, but the BlackShark V3 Pro does feel very well put together, and there are a lot of fine details and accents that remind you that this is a premium headset, including real stitching on the headband that's color-matched to the version you bought (black for PC, green for Xbox, blue for PlayStation).

Razer also made the faceplates easily swappable via magnets; right now, Razer isn't selling custom options to make your BlackShark V3 Pro your own, but I can't imagine Razer made this deliberate design decision without some intent to take advantage of it.

The only downside is that the BlackShark V3 Pro is about 47g heavier than before, which is a noticeable increase. It's still extremely comfortable to wear, but the added baggage is worth noting.

Performance has also evolved by a significant degree, and for two main reasons. First are the new Bio-Cellulose 50mm Drivers Gen-2, which results in a much warmer and deeper sound profile similar to the Kraken V4 Pro headset, but with some precision, soundscape, and responsiveness improvements.

The BlackShark V3 Pro does sound excellent for gaming, music, movies, and everything in between, with powerful bass and sub-bass response and clean mids. Lots of onboard memory and a solid equalizer mean you can tailor the BlackShark V3 Pro to every use case.

I did notice some distortion at higher frequencies, especially when the active noise cancellation (ANC) is enabled, and this headset sometimes struggles when switching between audio profiles, becoming hollow-sounding overall for a few (long) seconds. Overall, though, the BlackShark V3 Pro is a substantial improvement over the 2023 model.

The second major performance upgrade? Razer HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2, which debuted with the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro gaming mouse I reviewed. The BlackShark V3 Pro sadly doesn't get the new wireless receiver design, but it does benefit from improved stability (even with a lot of interference from competing wireless signals) and lower latency.

Razer told me it probably could've made the latency even lower than 10ms, but there was no point — 10ms is how long it takes for a healthy brain to process audio, apparently. I can't really claim to tell the difference, but I can tell you the BlackShark V3 Pro sounds instant and is incredible with competitive gaming.

One area where the BlackShark V3 Pro is a bit shakier compared to its predecessor is with endurance. I wrote an editorial years ago about how it felt like it took forever to kill the BlackShark V2 Pro, and the new headset does boast similar longevity... but if you take advantage of its new features, like active noise cancellation and simultaneous audio mixing, you can absolutely kill it faster.

Speaking of ANC, the BlackShark V3 Pro utilizes 4 microphones (separate from its main mic, which you'll need for voice calls) to filter out unwanted noise, and it does work, albeit subtly. The BlackShark V3 Pro certainly isn't usurping Sony or Bose for the best ANC headphones any time soon, but the ANC does make a (positive) difference, and you do get a fair amount of control over it, including an ambient mode that is equally fine.

I also understand why it exists for marketing reasons, but the PC-only BlackShark V3 Pro does feel pointless this time around. The Xbox and PlayStation versions rightfully have full compatibility and feature parity with Windows PC (apart from the PlayStation version missing the Halo-focused audio profile), so there's no real reason to get the PC-only version.

BlackShark V3 Pro review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a high-quality gaming headset that works across platforms.
• You want the best performance possible out of a wireless headset.
• You value features like ANC and a class-leading microphone.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You won't take advantage of this headset's competitive performance.
• You need a headset for exclusively one platform (and want to save money).

What even is left for Razer to do? Perhaps the BlackShark V4 Pro will be a bit lighter, and last a bit longer, and sound a bit better, and block out background noise a bit more, but fundamentally, it feels like Razer truly nailed it with this iteration.

Razer took every piece of legitimate criticism from every review (mine included), and actively worked to fix those weaknesses with this headset. It's the culmination of years of refinement and innovation, and the end result is easily one of the best Xbox and PC gaming headsets ever made.

The BlackShark V3 Pro may cost $50 higher starting out, but it's worth every penny you spend on it, even if you're not the most competitive gamer to walk the earth. If you'd like to save money, the standard Razer BlackShark V3 seems to basically be the BlackShark V2 Pro but with some upgrades (like simultaneous Bluetooth/2.4GHz audio) for just $150 — but bear in mind that I haven't personally used that headset.

With upgraded audio, active noise cancellation, and a bevy of other upgrades, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is an incredibly easy recommendation for $249.99 at BestBuy.com or $249.99 at Amazon.com. Xbox or PC, it doesn't matter — this is the headset I'm using from now on, and it's all because Razer actually listened to us.

When I was briefed on the Razer Cobra HyperSpeed, one of the representatives said something along the lines of, "Razer set out to make the best wireless gaming mouse possible for $100."

Now that I've been using this mouse for a few weeks, I'm not convinced that Razer truly delivered the best with the Cobra HyperSpeed — but this is still a really good mouse.

The Razer Cobra family sits between the high-performance Vipers/DeathAdders and the feature-packed Basilisks, and the new Cobra HyperSpeed sits in the middle of the Cobras.

You get an ambidextrous design with RGB lighting, great performance and multi-device connectivity, and support for a lot of extra features... even if you have to pay more for some of those features.

Mastering the fine art of balance and compromise

The Razer Cobra HyperSpeed doesn't boast the highest performance, or the flashiest design, or the most features, or the lowest price. Instead, it attempts to embody the adage "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes is better than a master of one."

It's an ambidextrous design (that still favors right-handed users with its side buttons), is more compact than your average gaming mouse, and is rather light at just 62g. Despite the weight, you still get subtle RGB lighting on the rear and in the logo.

I think those with smaller hands will also really appreciate this design, but I didn't have any issues comfortably using the Cobra HyperSpeed with my larger hands, either.

It's a good-looking mouse, although I'm not a big fan of the texture of the glossy plastic accents. You get one additional button than your average mouse, too, which by default is mapped to Razer's AI Prompt Master feature that has appeared in several of its latest mice.

I personally don't care about this feature, but some may find it handy to have such an accessible (if basic) AI companion at their fingertips — and if you don't, it's easy to remap that button through Razer Synapse, which includes lots of other customization options, too.

The Cobra HyperSpeed is also possessed of a healthy number of features, including Bluetooth in addition to the standard HyperSpeed Wireless, compatibility with Razer's wireless charging dock or mousepad, and support for Razer's 8,000Hz HyperPolling. You can even pair your Razer keyboard to the Cobra HyperSpeed's dongle, freeing up another USB port.

Of course, two of those four features require an additional purchase, so many are likely to never take advantage. Some of Razer's most premium mice don't support some of these features at all, though, so it's still all about give and take.

When it comes to performance, the Cobra HyperSpeed feels responsive, accurate, and reliable. Razer's familiar Focus X 26K mid-range optical sensor is here under the hood, as well as an optical scroll wheel and Razer's brand-new gen-4 optical switches (which are more responsive and more reliable... but are also noisier).

The most competitive gamers may desire more performance, but for most people the Cobra HyperSpeed will be excellent. It also boasts some impressive endurance, with around 100 hours of actual usage feeling more than achievable — I just wish it would charge faster.

Cobra HyperSpeed review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a compact, symmetrical wireless gaming mouse.
• You want support for extra features like wireless charging.
• You don't want to spend more than $100 on a mouse.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You don't want to have to pay extra to get all your mouse's features.
• You simply need the best possible performance for your money.

Overall, Razer did a fantastic job balancing the Cobra HyperSpeed, smartly choosing compromises to bring the price down without damaging the experience. The Cobra HyperSpeed is a strong performer and has plenty of features, and it's all packed into an attractive, lightweight design.

I really like this mouse, but I do feel it's not quite priced aggressively enough, especially considering the full Cobra HyperSpeed experience will end up costing you a whole lot more if you want the most convenience and the best performance.

Paying extra for wireless charging or the HyperPolling dongle aside, the Razer Cobra HyperSpeed is an awesome choice for those looking for balance in their mouse. You want to play competitive games, but you also want a flashier design, and Bluetooth connectivity, and other features that high-performance mice often omit, and you don't want to pay a big premium for all of it.

If that sounds like you, the Razer Cobra HyperSpeed is now available for $99.99 at Best Buy or $99.99 at Amazon.

GameSir has become one of my top companies for getting high-quality and high-value gaming controllers, so much so that I made sure to take some time to visit GameSir's booth during CES 2025.

Since I discovered GameSir, my biggest wish was for the company to make a wireless Xbox controller, and it seemed my desire had been granted; during that CES visit, I went hands-on with an early version of the GameSir G7 Pro.

Teasers appeared to confirm what I had been led to believe — the G7 Pro was wireless across all platforms, including Xbox. Once the controller was actually on the verge of release, though, it was revealed that Xbox players have once again been snubbed (most likely because of Microsoft's weird rules with Xbox Wireless, not necessarily because of GameSir).

My disappointment was immeasurable, but I still wanted to test the G7 Pro. I found that this is easily one of the best controllers you can buy right now, especially if you want to spend less than $100... but you'll still need a wire on Xbox. Fortunately, GameSir told me that could change in the future.

So much value packed into a single controller

When I reviewed the GameSir G7 SE, I was impressed by the value the modest wired controller provided. The G7 Pro takes that foundation and packs in a whole lot more (plus wireless connectivity) without breaking the $100 barrier.

You get a sturdy plastic construction with proper rubberized grips, a removeable faceplate (with a transparent shell underneath) and swappable D-Pad, quad rumble motors, a total of four additional remappable buttons, optical micro-switch face buttons, a charging stand included in the box, and tri-mode connectivity between 2.4GHz wireless (Windows PC), Bluetooth (mobile devices), and wired (Xbox and PC).

The G7 Pro also uses GameSir's more advanced Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks for even greater durability and precision (and a better feel), and uses classic Hall Effect tech for the analog triggers — which themselves have built-in micro-switch trigger stops.

There's even a gyroscope that works with Windows PC, and GameSir's already-great app on Xbox and PC got a major upgrade with new features and options. That's a lot of controller for $80, and the G7 Pro really does feel awesome in the hand.

I won't go so far as to say this controller is perfect. The analog triggers are a little shallow for my tastes. I wish the rear remappable buttons were textured, the thumbsticks aren't swappable, and the D-Pad is mushy, no matter which version you use (there's a total of three D-Pad types included in the box).

I wish the charging stand used magnets to keep the G7 Pro in place while charging, and while there's a very convenient garage for storing the wireless receiver in the stand, I also wish the stand itself could act as the receiver for a more streamlined solution.

Those are minor complaints, though, and the GameSir G7 Pro is flat out better in some ways than our favorite Razer Wolverine V3 Pro (which I helped review). That controller costs more than twice as much, but doesn't include a charging stand, Bluetooth support, or more advanced TMR sticks.

Of course, the Wolverine V3 Pro's controls are higher quality overall, you get swappable thumbsticks and an included carrying case, and — most importantly — you get Xbox Wireless support.

Xbox still needs a wire, but a new version is coming

I've really been enjoying using the GameSir G7 Pro. Honestly, I prefer its ergonomics over the far more premium Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, and its performance is nearly as good across the board.

GameSir knows how to make a great controller, and the G7 Pro is certainly the best it has done so far. I simply can't get over the fact that we've gotten so close to an actual wireless Xbox controller from GameSir, only to fall short right at the finish line.

I'll be going back to the Wolverine V3 Pro after this review, because I have a child and a cat who like to forget there's a wire connected to my Xbox. The GameSir G7 Pro is very nearly the better controller in my eyes (and it costs less than half the price), but I'm holding out for a wireless Xbox version.

I actually asked GameSir why it didn't happen with the G7 Pro, and while I can't share everything I learned, I was told that GameSir is planning to release a new version of the GameSir G7 Pro in the near future that will support Xbox Wireless.

Don't accept this as an official announcement, as details may and often do change as plans develop, but GameSir told me it's targeting around $100 for a special co-branded Xbox edition of the G7 Pro. It's actually happening, but we sadly have to wait a little longer.

GameSir G7 Pro review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a feature-packed, multi-platform wireless controller.
• You don't want to spend more than $100 on a pro-grade controller.
• You mostly game on PC and can also take advantage of Bluetooth.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You want a wireless Xbox controller (just wait a little longer).
• You're really particular about your D-Pads.

I'm eagerly waiting for the GameSir G7 Pro Xbox Edition (or whatever it'll be called), because there's a very good chance it'll be my favorite controller of all time, beating out the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, the Xbox Wireless Controller, and all the rest.

I hope GameSir also takes the opportunity to refine the wireless Xbox-specific G7 Pro in the same way it refined the standard G7 with later versions. If you need ideas, GameSir, I listed some above for you (wink wink).

While I'm adding to the wishlist, I love how the "Shadow Ember" colorway of the G7 Pro looks — GameSir, please make a purple version of that faceplate. Thanks in advance.

Right now, the GameSir G7 Pro really is a fantastic controller, and it's extremely diverse with three ways to connect to your devices. If you do game on Xbox, though, I personally suggest waiting a little longer for the next G7 Pro.

If PC is where you like to hang, the GameSir G7 Pro is an unbeatable deal for $80, and you can check it out for $79.99 at Amazon or $79.99 at Best Buy (pre-orders begin shipping on Jul. 22, so I assume the controller will become more widely available after that).

There's no shortage of awesome gaming headsets to add to your setup, but your options are more limited if you need a wireless headset that works with Xbox consoles, too.

That's just the nature of Xbox Wireless, but you still don't have to pay extra for a great headset. SteelSeries has added a new option to the mix with the Arctis Nova 3X Wireless, the Nova-fied redesign of its uber-popular Arctis 1 Wireless headset from yesteryear (which we reviewed).

I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I've been really impressed by this headset's design and featureset for the price point — and I absolutely adore that SteelSeries is actually offering more than just black and white colors. The Arctis Nova 3X isn't perfect, but it's still a really solid wireless Xbox option for those wanting to spend around $100.

A lightweight headset with some actual personality

First, the Arctis Nova 3X does adopt the same design language we've seen from other Nova products, with the two-tier circular earcup design and slim profile. The Arctis Nova 3X looks great, and its detachable microphone makes it more than sleek enough for use as a normal pair of wireless headphones.

This is an all-plastic headset, which is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the Arctis Nova 3X is insanely light at only 260g, so you barely feel it on your head. On the other, it does feel quite cheap in the hand, with a fair amount of creaking.

I've seen for myself how much abuse the Arctis Nova 3X can take, though, so in this case, "cheap" doesn't mean "fragile" — you shouldn't have to worry about this headset too much if you pass it to your children.

The Arctis Nova 3X also has some give and take when it comes to ergonomics. Breathable fabric earpads with a healthy amount of cushioning and a wide suspension headband work in tandem with that ultralight design to make this a very comfortable headset, but the Arctis Nova 3X is on the small side — even on the largest settings, it still barely fit me, so those with larger heads may struggle.

What I love more than anything, though, is that SteelSeries actually gave the Arctis Nova 3X some color. The standard black and white colors are here, of course, but you also get "Aqua" and "Lavendar" options... or blue and purple, if you're normal.

These colors are more "pastel" than "neon," so they may not be as punchy as you'd like, but I have both in hand, and the Arctis Nova 3X looks great. For the eagle-eyed, these are the same fun and cheerful colors offered by the SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) Wireless mouse I reviewed, so you can color-match your setup on a budget.

In so many ways, personal technology has become unbearably monochrome over the last few years, a symptom of the obsession with "minimalist" design. Just having some fun color options gives the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X a leg up in my book, but it does also help that it's a solid headset.

Features are there, but performance isn't always

The Arctis Nova 3X is equipped with some pretty impressive hardware for the price, including 40mm Neodymium Magnet drivers with spatial audio support, a high-resolution noise-canceling microphone, and both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

On the audio front, this headset is good — if not amazing — for the price. There's a good amount of punch in the low end, with great detail and responsiveness in the mids and highs, but the overall soundstage is on the narrow side.

There's also a persistent, soft static in the background, something that you may hear with other headphones at higher volumes — but seems to be always present with the Arctis Nova 3X. Any music or audio immediately drowns it out, but it does affect clarity.

The microphone is a major improvement over SteelSeries' earlier budget wireless headsets, though, with respectable depth and detail, as well as actually functional background noise cancelation. I can't imagine many will complain about this microphone for only $110.

Where the Arctis Nova 3X slips is in performance. Having both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth lets this headset connect to basically any device (including Xbox, as long as you switch the dongle over), but stability wasn't the best.

The Arctis Nova 3X was prone to interference and skips, and often refused to properly connect to my Xbox without switching the dongle over to PC and back again. I also genuinely can't tell you how good the new SteelSeries mobile app is for customizing the Arctis Nova 3X, because it absolutely refused to connect properly (a common problem, it seems, if you go off Google Play Store reviews).

None of these problems made the Arctis Nova 3X bad to use, and the SteelSeries GG app on Windows PC was more than enough for customizing the EQ and other headset settings, but those planning to use the Arctis Nova 3X primarily with their phone and Xbox can't rely on the mobile app, and those who need the absolute best wireless performance for competitive gaming can't rely on the Arctis Nova 3X 100% of the time.

I've no such issues with battery life, though. SteelSeries quotes up to 40 hours of continued usage, and that feels perfectly accurate from my testing. It's also easy to charge via USB Type-C, netting you hours of use with just minutes of charging.

Arctis Nova 3X Wireless review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a cheap wireless headset for Xbox, PC, and mobile.
• You love fun colors and are tired of the same black/white designs.
• You need a lightweight headset that can take a beating.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You need the most reliable wireless performance (or a working mobile app).
• You need a larger headset for a comfortable fit.

Quick overview: the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless is a really good wireless gaming headset for around $100, especially since it's compatible with Windows PC, Xbox consoles, mobile devices, and more.

The wireless performance isn't the best (and the mobile app flat out won't work for me), and I have some other complaints for this value-driven headset — but it's fun, durable, and packs a surprising number of features.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless is available for $109.99 at Amazon or $109.99 at Best Buy, making it one of the best Xbox headsets for those on a budget... but if you can drop the extra cash, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) we reviewed is still the champion at $200.

An ergonomic design? Countless buttons? RGB lighting? Wireless charging? Bluetooth connectivity? The Razer DeathAdder mice don't care about any of it.

These are the mice for the gamers that need the absolute best in performance — precision, responsiveness, and reliability. They're also Razer's best-selling mice and some of the most popular among competitive esports — and the new DeathAdder V4 Pro is the true champion among them.

Razer took its critically acclaimed DeathAdder V3 Pro we reviewed nearly three years ago and used that platform to introduce major upgrades to basically everything (apart from the design), resulting in a phenomenal high-performance gaming mouse.

I've been using the DeathAdder V4 Pro for a while now, and Razer really delivered on its promises. This won't be my next mouse, but only because performance isn't all I care about — and performance is what this mouse does.

A new generation for Razer's most premium mice

The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro has been a fan favorite among esports professionals for years now, so Razer would have to pull all the stops to earn that "V4" moniker. At first glance, it doesn't seem like Razer changed much at all — until you look on the inside.

I already went hands-on with the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and detailed all the biggest changes Razer made, so I won't rehash the same points here. Just know that the DeathAdder V4 Pro debuts Razer's next-gen sensor, mouse switches, scroll wheel, and even wireless technology.

The result is a colossal leap forward in performance, reliability, and battery life — and Razer somehow made the DeathAdder V4 Pro weigh 7g less (down to 56-57g) than its predecessor, despite having nearly identical dimensions.

In one sense, the DeathAdder V4 Pro is basically a showcase for what we can expect from Razer's gaming mice moving forward, and it's exciting. This is genuinely the smoothest and most consistent mouse I have ever used, and I haven't even come close to pushing it to its limits.

I also haven't had to worry about battery life once, with up to 150 hours at a very comfortable 1,000Hz polling rate feeling more than achievable.

Gaming or working, the DeathAdder V4 Pro feels marvelous, but Razer made some other improvements, too. Razer HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 is here with some bold promises of improved efficiency, stability, and range, but it also comes with a brand-new dongle.

Gone is the rectangular dongle of before, replaced with a half-sphere design. It stays in one place without sliding around or rolling over, it supports Razer's HyperPolling (up to 8,000Hz) without requiring an additional purchase, and it boasts three LED indicators that can be customized to show different at-a-glance information, including connection strength, battery life, and the current DPI level.

This may be my favorite single improvement Razer made with the DeathAdder V4 Pro, honestly, and I hope to see this dongle design come to all of Razer's most premium wireless accessories.

Razer also upgraded its Synapse software with some new features, too. You get the usual options, including Razer's handy "sensitivity matcher" to tune the DeathAdder V4 Pro's DPI settings to your previous mouse, but now there's a new dynamic sensitivity option for even more control.

My favorite new feature is probably the rotation tool, though, which lets you change what the DeathAdder V4 Pro sees as "straight." Tune this setting, and your horizontal movement can be synced to the angle at which you hold the mouse. I'm honestly shocked more mice don't do this, because it does make a difference.

Performance so good it boggles the mind, but little else

The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro easily competes with the greatest gaming mice of all time, and is almost certainly going to be seen in the hands of a lot of hardcore competitive gamers.

It won't be my next mouse though, because... it's boring. The right-handed, soft-touch, matte plastic design is perfectly comfortable for a variety of grip types (and Razer includes its grip tape in the box), but it's all performance all the time.

Personally, I like a little RGB lighting on my mouse. I like weird features like wireless charging. I like Razer's HyperScroll wheel that can switch between tactile and smooth scrolling modes. I like a more ergonomic shape with a thumb rest. I can get all of this in the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K — and performance will still be more than good enough for me.

Basically, the DeathAdder V4 Pro is all work and no play... Except the "work" is actually playing games? Whatever the case, Razer designed this mouse for those who put performance above everything.

DeathAdder V4 Pro review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You need the best possible performance in a gaming mouse.
• You want a sub-60g weight without compromising battery life.
• You're a competitive gamer who will actually use this mouse's features.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You want a mouse designed for more than just gaming.
• You're not playing the sweatiest, most competitive games.

When Razer sent me the DeathAdder V4 Pro, it took a few hours to wrap my mind around how advanced this wireless mouse is. Upgrading absolutely everything related to performance, durability, and efficiency while keeping the same design and lowering the weight is no small feat, and Razer accomplished it all here.

This mouse will undoubtedly set the bar for companies seeking to sway hardcore gamers with their high-performance peripherals, but why wait when you can have the standard for yourself? The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro is awesome, and while it is expensive, it feels completely fair for what you're getting in the box.

Just make sure you actually need what you're getting in the box. There are plenty of incredible mice with nearly as good performance, but cost less or offer more features — and sometimes both. That's why this won't be my next mouse; I love some Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, but I need my mouse for a lot more than just gaming.

The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro is now available for $169.99 at Best Buy in either black or white, and it has more than earned the title for "best esports mouse" in my eyes.

Gaming laptops are a convenient way to take your favorite titles with you wherever you go. I love to play on a high-end gaming laptop, but they do come with some downsides.

Gaming laptops often cost more than standard laptops; they're usually heavier and thicker, and they often don't have the right aesthetic to fit into a professional environment.

What if you could take a regular laptop with a Thunderbolt port and connect a full-size desktop graphics card (GPU) with just one cable? That's where Razer's Core X hardware comes into play.

The original Razer Core X and Core X Chroma external GPUs (eGPU) have now received a massive upgrade in the form of the Core X V2, bringing Thunderbolt 5 performance to handle modern cards.

I'm here to shed some light on the upgrades (and downgrades) you can expect, as well as my thoughts on value and who should buy this type of hardware.

Razer Core X V2 vs. Core X V1: Specs and availability

Razer's Core X V1 has become difficult to find seven years after its 2018 launch date, and the Core X Chroma V1 — an updated version with 50W of extra power and RGB lighting — is in the same boat, six years after its launch.

While you can still find some models for sale on eBay, your mileage will vary in regard to condition and pricing. The cheapest price I spotted was about $76, but prices climb to $500 and beyond.

The original model was available in Black and Mercury White color options, as well as with additional RGB lighting in the Chroma model.

Razer's updated Razer Core X V2 was officially announced on July 15, 2025, and it's expected to be "available soon" in a Black finish, according to Razer.

The Razer Core X V2 is set to debut with a $349.99 price tag. That's about $50 more than the Razer Core X V1's original MSRP.

Considering the new Core X V2 doesn't come with a built-in PSU like its predecessor, you'll want to add that cost to your total as well.

Here's a look at the specs that make up these two external GPUs from Razer.

What are the major differences between the Razer Core X V1 and V2?

The biggest difference between the Razer Core X / Core X Chroma V1 and the newer Core X V2 is their means of connectivity.

Whereas the V1 model used Thunderbolt 3 (and later Thunderbolt 4), the Core X V2 uses Thunderbolt 5. Even compared to Thunderbolt 4, the latest Thunderbolt standard doubles the bandwidth.

That means you can expect transfer speeds up to 80Gb/s (or 120Gb/s with TB5's Bandwidth Boost enabled), more than what is required to appease the eGPU's PCIe 4.0 x4 GPU slot that tops out at 64Gb/s.

The Razer Core X V2 also now supports larger GPUs, which is a welcome change in a market rife with monster cards that barely fit into many desktop cases.

Razer says the Core X V2 can handle 4-slot cards at full length, whereas the V1 model topped out at 3-slot cards.

The new Razer Core X V2 weighs a lot less than its predecessor, but that's because it no longer ships with a built-in power supply unit (PSU).

The Core X V1 came with a 650W PSU included, and the Core X V1 Chroma upped that to 700W when it launched shortly after.

Rather than guessing which PSU would best suit your GPU of choice, Razer left the space open in the Core X V2, with support for any standard ATX PSUs.

I don't necessarily mind this change, but the Core X V2 already costs $50 more than its predecessor when it launched. Adding a PSU will bump that price up considerably, at least unless you have an extra unit sitting around idle.

Because the Core X V2 can now deliver up to 140W of power back to the host laptop via the USB-C cable, Razer recommends adding at least 230W of power to the PSU on top of the power that's required to run the graphics card.

In terms of overall design, the new Razer Core X V2 has a much boxier shape that I'd say looks a lot more mature than its predecessor. It does not, however, offer any extra ports aside from the USB-C/Thunderbolt connection.

The Razer Core X Chroma V1 had four USB-A 3.2 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet hookup, which came in super handy for accessories and wired internet on laptops lacking the ports. It's a shame these were removed in the V2 model.

Thunderbolt 5 does have superior daisy-chaining abilities, and for a truly ultimate setup, you could add Razer's new Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma I reviewed into the mix.

Aside from a Razer logo on the Core X V2, there is a serious lack of RGB lighting; I wouldn't be surprised to see Razer follow up with a Chroma V2 model just like it did with its predecessor eGPU. Hopefully, it'll also come with some additional ports.

As for compatibility with laptops and GPUs, Razer says the new Core X V2 will work with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 laptops and some gaming handhelds.

On the GPU side, NVIDIA and AMD cards are compatible. Razer has a GPU compatibility chart you can check to ensure your hardware will run properly, but it looks like basically everything from the RTX 5090 back to GTX 10-series cards will work.

For AMD, Razer lists Radeon RX 9000, RX 7000, RX 6000, and RX 5000 cards as compatible with the Core X V2.

The older Razer Core X V1 (Chroma) handles a wide range of older NVIDIA and AMD cards, up to RTX 30-series and Radeon RX 5000 series. Because the eGPU has its own PSU with 2x 2+6 power connectors, you need to stay in that arena in terms of GPU power.

Razer's Core X V2 is the logical choice in 2025

Considering the Razer Core X V1 and its Chroma companion are only available on secondhand markets, and considering how much of a performance improvement the Core X V2 brings with Thunderbolt 5, there's only one logical choice in 2025 for most people.

Sure, the Core X V1 will do a decent job if you're using an older NVIDIA or AMD GPU with a Thunderbolt 3/4 laptop, but I strongly recommend setting yourself up much better for the future with the new Core X V2 model.

It does, unfortunately, cost more than its predecessor when looking at MSRP, while lacking a PSU and extra outputs found in the V1 Chroma model.

But its Thunderbolt 5 performance, support for modern GPUs, and additional charging power are certainly perks that modernize the eGPU.

Razer should be giving its Razer Core X V2 the green light to buy for $350 in the near future. At the time of writing, you can sign up for availability notifications at the official Razer site.

And if you do want to take your chances on a used Razer Core X V1, do check out eBay for listings.