Deal Reviews

Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon Headset Review

The next era of gaming consoles is already here. However, no matter how much technology may have advanced, some things never change. The quality of one’s audio is still a major factor in how great a gaming experience is. That being said, the need for headphones has not at all been affected by the advent of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X. You still need a good pair of headphones, and the Force Recon headset from Turtle Beach is just such a pair of headphones. There’s a number of headphones that make it so.

It’s a wired over the ear headset and mic combo, with crystal clear audio, which is the result of 40 mm speakers, and is sure to enhance the experience of any game one is playing, from the quality of the music to the voices of any characters. Of course, this is also important as far as communication with your teammates is concerned. Aside from being able to hear the voices of other players in your party in high fidelity, the sensitive mic will pick up your voice quickly and easily, allowing for clear, quick communication with your teammates at all times. If you are doing something that does not require communication with other players, you can remove the mic from the headset entirely.

The Force Recon headset is also particularly lightweight and comfortable, easily resting over the ears for extending periods of time without causing any discomfort or pain. Convenient in-line controls make it a simple matter to control the master volume and the mic mute functionality, so you can quickly alter either setting without having to go into any extra menu or deal with any other hassle.

On top of all of this, the headset has extremely versatile compatibility, able to be used with a wide variety of devices. Pretty much anything that uses a 3.5 mm audio jack can make use of these headphones. That includes the Xbox One and Series X/S, the PlayStation 4 and 5, PC, and mobile devices like phones and tablets. This means you can use these headphones to not only play games but also listen to music or take a call.

Finally, we have the ever-important feature of affordability. While some extremely high-end gaming headsets are massively overpriced, this option from Turtle Beach is not, at under $30. This price nets a very robust and high-quality headset that is more than capable of meeting your average gaming needs, regardless of what platform you play on. That being the case, it’s an excellent choice for anyone that wants to get the most for their money when operating on a relatively low budget.

All in all, you could certainly find an even higher quality headset out there, but you could reasonably expect it to be a whole lot more expensive as well. That being said, the Force Recon headset from Turtle Beach is a great choice for someone that wants quality at a far more affordable price.

Redragon S101 Wired Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Review

So, it’s time for you to make your own computer gaming setup, or perhaps you are simply in the business of upgrading what you have right now to make what you have later even better. Either way, two of the most important parts of any computer gaming setup is the keyboard and the mouse. After all, without those, you can’t play games no matter how good the rest of your hardware is! This is why any sane gamer would want to make the right choice in regards to these items, and we personally recommend the Redragon S101 Gaming Keyboard and Mouse.

First of all, while it may seem small, there is some benefit to consider in buying a keyboard and mouse combo. When you buy a set like this, you don’t have to worry whether or not the mouse and the keyboard will be compatible, and there’s no complicated setup to worry about either. That’s the beauty of having a set.

Of course, like most PC gaming hardware these days, these items are RGB backlit, with seven different lighting modes and effects, four different backlight brightness levels, and adjustable ‘breathing’ speed (the rate at which the lights fade in and out, etc.). The keycaps offer clear uniform backlighting that can be disabled at your whim, and the keyboard has been ergonomically designed to be an excellent tool for typing as well, whether that’s in a game chat or actual work. The keyboard is also built to withstand your typical spill of a beverage. The integrated wrist rest gives you a great deal of comfort during long sessions, regardless of what those might entail.

That said, specs are what really matters, and this keyboard and mouse combo has multi-media and anti-ghosting functionality, with twenty-five conflict-free (n-Key rollover) keys, ten dedicated multimedia keys, and twelve FN+ multimedia keys, for a grand total of 114 keys of functionality. All of these keys are quiet and designed to last through years of play, with quality durability delivering precise tactile feedback. It comes with a full numeric keypad and a gold-plated corrosion free USB connector, the latter of which will ensure you have the best connection possible during your gameplay.

There’s also the mouse, which is backlit as well and has a maximum of 3200 DPI (user adjustable 800/1600/2400/3200 DPI). It also has 30G acceleration and a Weight Tuning set. It has six buttons, five of which can be programmed to your liking. The high-precision sensor delivers amazing accuracy, and the gaming-grade micro switches make for a longer-lasting mouse with greater durability and fantastic responsiveness, which gives you an edge over the other gamers you are competing against.

Finally, there’s price. You get all of these features for approximately $45, which is hardly bad in any light considering that you are getting a mouse and a keyboard. At the end of the day, it’s a great combo for gamers that are worried about affordability in their setup, without sacrificing function.

UGREEN Ethernet Adapter Deal Review

Plenty of technological devices require an ethernet cable at one point or another. Even today, when most everything is wireless in one sense or another, most of those devices get that wireless connectivity via something plugged up to an ethernet cable somewhere. That being said, not every device is ready to have an ethernet cable plugged into it. That’s where adapters like this one come in. The UGREEN USB 2.0 ethernet adapter provides nearly any device with a means of connecting to an ethernet cable, for whatever reason that would be necessary.

This device is a 2.0 to RJ45 Network Adapter, allowing you to connect computers, tablets, and other devices to a router or a modem. Not only does this mean you can use it for access to an ethernet cord, but it also effectively adds an RJ45 port to your device. It’s a cheap and easy way to add such a port to any device that doesn’t have one. Needless to say, many tablets and mobile devices do not have such ports, so this is a nifty addition to make to any such device if you want to maximize streaming, downloads, and the like.

Of course, an ethernet cable can only increase internet speeds as much as a port will allow, so the speed of this adapter is important. Thankfully, it’s quite good at 10/100 Mbps fast Ethernet performance over USB 2.0’s 480 Mbps bus. These stats also mean that, even though your device may have internet access via WiFi, there’s still a great benefit to using the adapter, which has a faster and more reliable connection. It also has Link and Activity LEDs to let you know when things are happening, and it requires no external power source other than the device it is plugged into.

Other than being a mere adapter, this UGREEN product has many other practical features that make it a great buy. It supports Wake-on-Lan (WoL), Full-Duplex (FDX), and Half-Duplex (HDX) Ethernet, Crossover Detection, Backpressure Routing, Auto-Correction (Auto MDIX). Support IPv4/IPv6 protocols and 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX networks.

Moreover, you can also use the adapter for gaming. This isn’t necessary for consoles with built-in ethernet ports like the Xbox or the PlayStation, but if you have a Switch or even an older Wii, this adapter will provide you a way of connecting those devices directly to an ethernet cable, providing a more efficient network connection for downloads or online gaming. It’s also compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Linux kernel 3.x/2.6, and Chrome OS.

Finally, it’s a pretty cheap product to take advantage of, being only around $12 USD. If such a product is something you really need, there’s no need to worry about whether or not you’ll need to break the bank for it. Whether you need this device for business or pleasure, it’s affordable but reliable, making it a solid pick for anyone that needs an ethernet to USB adapter with a few extra features to make their tasks a little easier.

Logitech G502 Hero High-Performance Gaming Mouse Review

PC gaming: there’s a whole lot of hardware involved, and you can’t really do it properly if you don’t have every single piece of that hardware. Getting it all is expensive, but some of it doesn’t have to be. When the time comes to pick a gaming mouse that has excellent functionality and value but won’t break the bank, a fantastic choice is the Logitech G502 Hero high-performance gaming mouse.

We’ll go ahead and say that this mouse is $40, which is more expensive than some options out there, but it is not the most expensive on the market. It comes with a one-year limited warranty, and for that $40, you get an extremely high-quality gaming mouse with a ton of features that enhance its performance.

The Hero has a 25K sensor via a software update from G HUB, which is an upgrade that is free to all of its players. Its highly advanced, with 1:1 tracking, 400+ ips, and 100 – 25,600 max dpi sensitivity, plus zero smoothing, filtering, or acceleration.

Of course, another important facet of any gaming mouse is how much you can personalize it, both in aesthetic and functionality. First up is the eleven customizable buttons and onboard memory. You can assign custom commands to each of these buttons to personalize how you play with it. Even better than that, you aren’t limited to just one customization option. The mouse can store up to five different customization profiles on it, meaning you can have multiple setups for different games or different needs.

For aesthetics, there’s the Programmable RGB Lighting and Lightsync technology. You can customize the lighting using almost 16.8 million colors to do whatever it is you want: sport the colors of your team, match the other hardware in your setup, or just pick whichever one lends the most ambiance to your room.

There is also the mechanical switch button tensioning: this metal spring tensioning system and pivot hinges are built into the left and right gaming mouse buttons to provide a clean, sharp click and rapid feedback, making for an overall better experience. Along with that is the adjustable weight system: you can remove up to five 3.6 grams weights inside the mouse in order to alter the balance and the tuning of the mouse to your personal preference.

It goes without saying that the mouse is ergonomic, as nobody wants to spend all day holding something that hurts their hand. With specifically designed contours and arches that aim to make long gaming sessions as comfortable as possible for you, there’s no need to worry about getting cramps: at least from holding the mouse, at any rate.

Ultimately, this mouse is a little more expensive than some of the alternatives out there. However, it also offers a very wide array of features that help make it one of the best purchases in terms of value to cost. For that reason, we highly recommend it to any PC gamer.

Jeecoo Xiberia USB Pro Gaming Headset Review

No matter what generation gaming makes it to, headsets will always be a major part of it. Some things just never change, and so gamers will always need to buy nice headsets to maximize their gaming experience. The Jeecoo Xiberia USB Pro Gaming Headset is a great choice for a gamer regardless of their computer platform of choice. There’s a great deal of functionality and features that make it so, which we will of course cover.

First and foremost, these are 7.1 surround sound headphones, utilizing 50mm speaker unit neodymium magnets and a built-in USB audio sound card. This makes the audio quality of your gaming experience extremely immersive. Naturally, the quality of the sound is a major part of any gamer’s enjoyment, and it has an impact on competitive performance as well, as the ability to hear the footsteps of enemy players or note the direction of gunfire or explosions can be a great boon.

Of course, the quality of sound is only half the value of a gaming headset, as the other half is being able to communicate with your teammates. The mic is as equally high quality as the speakers, being noise-canceling, and is also unidirectional, so you can maneuver it into any position that is needed for you. It reduces the ambient surrounding noise for enhanced voice quality for your teammates to hear. On top of that, the mic is retractable so you can get it out of the way when they need to, it’s easy to switch on and off, and it has adjustable volume.

For convenience, the headset also has an in-line controller: volume adjuster, mic volume adjuster, and a microphone on/off button. There is a clip so that you can attach it to your T-shirt for easy access to those controls as well.

The construction of the headset is quite robust as well. With a sturdy and adjustable metal headband, a flexible microphone, thick and comfortable memory foam cushion pads, soft earmuffs, and a tangle-free cord, the entire product is extremely comfortable and sturdy, making for a great pro gaming headset for anyone that wants a reliable device.

Finally, it is compatible with a very wide array of devices, meaning it can not only be used for gaming on multiple platforms, but also many other tasks, such as listening to music or communicating in video calls. The headset has a USB plug, which means it is compatible with just about any computer or laptop regardless of what operating system it uses. This is all available at a price of roughly $50, which is pretty standard for a gaming headset. This means you’re not paying an extravagant sum for a headset that has many useful features to bring your game to the next level.

Unfortunately, the one downside is the fact that the connection is USB based, which means the headset can’t be used with certain platforms. However, that’s fine if you are just looking for a computer headset.

HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset Deal Review

If you really want your gaming to be at the top of the leaderboards, it goes without saying that you need a headset: a really, really good headset. After all, the sound is an important part of an experience, whether that is communicating with friends and teammates or listening out for the sound of enemy players. And of course, there’s also the value in being able to hear the game as if you were actually in it, regardless of what it is!

For all of those purposes, we highly recommend the HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset. It’s a tad on the pricier side compared to some headphones at roughly $40, but you get a lot for your money.

First and foremost, it’s an extremely lightweight headset at just 275 grams, so it’s not going to be putting too much stress on your head. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees, ensuring that you always get a snug and comfortable fit, since it conforms to you instead of you trying to conform to it!

On the audio side of things, it’s the 50-millimeter directional drivers that ensure you can enjoy the full breadth of audio for any and all of your games. The excellent audio precision makes every game sound far more immersive and far more entertaining, and it can certainly provide you with an edge competitively as well.

Of particular note is the Swivel-to-mute noise-cancellation microphone. This feature provides you with a very obvious and intuitive way to know for certain when you are and aren’t muted when in a party. Simply swivel the mic away from you and you know you’re muted, then swivel it back when you are ready to communicate with everyone once again.

An adjustable steel slider ensures that you can alter the width of the headphones to match your head size. Most headphones would use plastic to accomplish this, but the stell used in this headset ensures that you have a far more durable, much more reliable slider that is unlikely to break or suffer damage, even with long term use.

Unlike some headsets that use USB or other types of connections that limit them to a single platform, you have a great deal of versatility with this one. It is compatible with a much wider array of platforms, including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. This of course means that you can use it with things like your mobile phone as well, so the utility of the headset really can’t be understated.

All in all, it doesn’t offer anything that completely breaks the mold of headsets, but then again, it doesn’t have to. For a fair price, it gives you all of the features you need in a headset: durability, comfort, high-quality audio, and reliable communication with your teammates. It gives you everything you need and nothing that you don’t, making it a particularly worthy investment for anyone that is looking to get a new headset for their gaming setup.

Nintendo Switch Lite Deal Review

The Nintendo Switch may not really be ‘new’ anymore, but it’s still the most recent console from Nintendo and it is still immensely popular. After all, there’s a ton of games you can only play on the Switch, as it has many exclusive series to offer. Like many consoles today, the Switch has a bigger, badder version that costs more money, and a slimmer, less expensive version. We’re going to talk about the Switch versus the Switch Lite.

For those who don’t know, there’s about a difference of $100 between the two, with the Lite being the less expensive variant. This is the case even though the Switch Lite can play all the same games that the regular Switch can. So where does the decreased price come from? Most notably, from the fact that the Lite is a handheld console only. Just like the GameBoy of days gone by, the small screen of the Lite is the only screen you enjoy its games through, whereas the regular Switch can be connected to a TV for a more traditional console experience.

On top of this, the Switch Lite does not allow you to remove the Joy-Cons, the controllers, from the screen itself, which is something you can do with the Nintendo Switch’s regular version. Finally, you can expect the Switch Lite to have just slightly lower performance in regards to battery life and the like.

This may sound like a lot of cons in comparison to the regular Switch, but it’s all about what you want out of the console. As we said previously, you can play every game from the Switch on its Lite version. So if all you care about is access to exclusive Switch titles, then you can get that with the Lite. If what you are looking for is specifically a mobile gaming device, and you have no intention of using it as a console with a TV, then there’s no reason to spend an extra $100 to get a regular Switch.

The only other thing worth noting is that, since you can’t remove the Joy-Cons from the Switch Lite, you can’t give one to a friend and play co-op like you can with the regular switch on some games. That being said, you probably wouldn’t be too interested in playing co-op on a handheld sized screen anyway.

All in all, the main reason to get a Switch Lite is if you intend to primarily use it like you would an older handheld device: you bring it on busses and planes and car rides, whipping it out to play on the go when you have the time. If you aren’t interested in plugging up your Switch to a TV, then you don’t really have any reason to pay an extra $100 to get a regular Switch.

The Switch Lite does everything a regular Switch does in regards to the games it can play, so go ahead and save some money if you just want a way to play new Pokémon games.

Redragon M602 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse Review

You can’t have any gaming setup without a gaming mouse, and if you are an extremely avid gamer, then you preferably want a really good gaming mouse that offers plenty of features and functionality without costing too much overall. The Redragon M602 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse is just such an available product, with a fair deal of features and functionality at a relatively affordable price.

First of all, the mouse is backlit for aesthetic, so it can be customized to match the aesthetic of your setup with ease. More importantly, however, is the fact that it offers up to 7200 DPI, which is user adjustable between 800/1200/1600/2400and 7200 10G acceleration. The High-Precision Sensor allows for extremely high accuracy in all of your gaming, while the Gaming Grade Micro Switches add significantly increased longevity and greater durability to the mouse, along with extreme responsiveness. Not only does this have the potential to give you a greater edge over your online competition, but it also ensures a greater experience for you overall.

On top of this, any gaming mouse worth its salt has programmable buttons that you can use to customize your gaming experience. This is not different from the Redragon M602.  It has 7 MMO user-programmable buttons, as well as 5 Memory Profiles that each have a distinct LED color option for easy and rapid identification. On top of that, there are 7 different backlight modes, and if you really want to, the backlight can be disabled as well. The Redragon M602 offers a very wide range of aesthetic customization options for gamers that have the need for a certain aesthetic in their setup.

Next up is ergonomics. Naturally, anything you have to hold in your hand all day is going to place some strain on you, so being comfortable is important. In the case of this mouse, the ergonomic shape is built for comfort and designed to fit comfortably in your hand. The buttons themselves are fine-tuned to reduce click fatigue as much as possible, making it more comfortable to play the games you love over an extended period of time.

There are a plethora of other noteworthy features that make this device great as well. That includes built-in weight tuning to strike the perfect balance, an anti-skid scroll wheel, and durable and smooth TEFLON feet pads. This is along with the 7 programmable buttons mentioned before. This mouse also comes with 6 foot, 3mm strong high-speed braided fiber cable and a gold-plated corrosion free USB connector to ensure that you have the fastest and by far most reliable connection available during your gaming endeavors.

Best of all, this mouse is extremely affordable despite offering so many great features, at approximately $20. This is far more affordable than a great number of competitors out there, without sacrificing anything in durability, performance, or aesthetic. Naturally, the mouse is a great choice for any PC gamer, but it is an excellent one for gamers on a budget.

DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment Review

With the PlayStation 5 out, there’s not as much need for PlayStation 4 accessories and devices. However, there are still reasons to invest in such accessories. After all, the PlayStation 4 DualShock controller can in fact be used with the PlayStation 5, albeit with some caveats. You can only use the PS4 DualShock controller with PS4 games, even on your PS5. You can’t use the old controller to play PS5 exclusive games.

However, it’s worth noting that there aren’t that many PS5 exclusive games yet, so your old PS4 controller still has its use, especially if you don’t have a PS5 yet or aren’t interested in getting one at all. All of that said, there is value in customizing your PS4 controller and its functionality via something like this, the DualShock 4 back button attachment.

This attachment can be added to your PS4 controller to add two extra buttons to the rear of it. These buttons can be mapped to any digital button on your controller, allowing you to switch the layout of your controller to something that you are more comfortable with. It even had a dedicated remapping button to make the task of remapping a simpler, more efficient process.

This attachment also has a digital screen so you can quickly and easily identify which digital buttons are mapped to the physical addons. This makes it easy to remember what buttons you mapped last and whether or not they need to be changed.

The DualShock 4 Back Button attachment does connect to the controller from the bottom, which means that, ordinarily, it would block the path of the headphone jack. However, there is a headphone pass-through, meaning you can still use your headphones with your controller while having this button attachment in place.

The price of this product is roughly $20, which is somewhat notable considering that an entire controller is often $60, and in this case, you’re only paying for two buttons. However, it’s also worth noting that having easy access to an extra two buttons can make a big difference in competitive gameplay, especially if you want quicker access to certain digital buttons or simply don’t like the positioning of some buttons on your PS4 controller.

There are even some games with odd layouts that make it difficult to get to the buttons you need quickly enough to perform well. If you feel like your controller is just missing a little something to really take your gameplay to the next level, the addition of an attachment like this may be exactly what is needed to achieve that.

At the end of the day, it is just a device that adds two extra buttons to your PlayStation 4 controller. But, at a relatively affordable price, it’s not at all a bad idea to purchase such a device if you are a competitive player or just want a little bit of versatility to be added to your controller. Even with the PlayStation 5 out, there are still some pretty good reasons to make this purchase.

PICTEK T7 Gaming Mouse Review

When most people think of computer gaming setups, they envision something especially costly. While we’re not going to deny that such setups can indeed cost a great deal of money, not every part of the setup has to be expensive. A gaming mouse is something that can be more affordable than you think, provided you know where to look.

The PICTEK gaming mouse is one such item, offering a number of valuable functions while also being much more affordable than many of its contemporaries. Of course, it’s not the next generation of gaming mice with features you’ve never heard of before, but it does offer the baseline functions one would expect and need at an affordable price.

Programmable Buttons

First up are the programmable buttons. Granted, this is something that a gaming mouse is expected to have, but it’s still worth noting. The PICTEK T7 supports macro editing, and the seven buttons the mouse has to offer can all be programmed via PICTEK gaming software. However, it’s worth noting that this software does not work with Apple computers, meaning the buttons could not be programmed for different functions in conjunction with an Apple computer. While the mouse can still be used with an Apple, the ability to program the buttons is only compatible with Windows and Linux.

DPI Rate

A great feature the PICTEK T7 does have, however, is in the gaming performance offered by its DPI rate. It has five different default DPI levels that you can adjust as you need it. The available DPI levels are 1200/2400/3500/5500/7200 DPI. With two buttons dedicated to altering the DPI level mid-game, you can easily adjust between the various settings whenever you need to. This will allow you to get consistent responsiveness and high accuracy at all times.

Polling Rate

The mouse also has a 4-polling rate, which is likewise adjustable between 125Hz/250Hz/500Hz/1000Hz. The polling rate ensures high speed and smooth movement. With the 1000Hz setting, you will get performance that cannot be achieved by just any mouse.

Aesthetic & Comfort

Other features are mostly related to aesthetic or convenience. The symmetrical & streamlined design provides a comfortable grip for gamers, offering a long-term, fatigue-free gaming experience. For aesthetic, the color of this backlit mouse can be changed between 16 million different colors, so it can match the color of your setup with ease. Finally, the mouse has an alleged 30 million click lifespan.

Affordability

Ultimately, affordability is one of the highest selling points of this mouse. Whereas a typical gaming mouse may cost upwards of $30 or more, this one is less than $15, not including taxes. We understand why some people would be concerned about durability or quality with such a low price tag. However, the PICTEK T7 has no such issues. Even with 13,343 ratings on Amazon, the mouse has an overall 4.5-star rating, proving that it is an exceptionally viable product despite the extremely affordable price tag. For that reason and all of the others mentioned here, we’d recommend it to any computer gamer, save for those that use Mac.

Nintendo Switch Blue/Neon Yellow Joy-Cons Review

The Nintendo Switch is a console that was revolutionary at the time of its release, and even now there is still no other gaming platform that quite does the same thing. But no matter how great any gaming platform is, they all need some sort of device that allows you to control it. For the Nintendo Switch, that’s the Joy-Cons, the now-famous removable controllers it sports on both ends.

You only need one set of Joy-Cons to play the Switch, and each console came with that one set when it was bought. However, there are still reasons to invest in a new pair of Joy-Cons. For one, it’s possible that a pair has been damaged or broken entirely, in which case a new pair is needed. On the other hand, perhaps you just want Joy-Cons that are a different color. If your motivation is aesthetic, that too is a good reason to shop for new Joy-Cons. In the case of these particular Joy-Cons, there’s actually no other reason.

What we mean by that is simply that these are ordinary Joy-Cons. They have no special features to separate them from the regular Joy-Cons that all Nintendo Switches come with upon purchase. The only difference is their colors, which are blue and neon yellow, for the left and right Joy-Cons respectively. Like all Joy-Cons, they can be used independently from the Switch in each hand, or they can be used together like a controller.

The Joy-Cons can also be divided between two people to allow for co-op gameplay between individuals. Of course, you wouldn’t be buying Joy-Cons if you didn’t already know this: but the fact of the matter is, anyone who has owned a Switch should already know what Joy-Cons are capable of, and no one would be buying them unless they had a Switch.

That said, there’s not much to actually talk about, since the functionality of a basic Joy-Con is already well-known for anyone that would be looking to buy one. All there is to really discuss is whether or not it is worth it to buy these Joy-Cons. We bring that up because the price of this pair of controllers is approximately $80, not including tax.

We bring this up because that’s a pretty hefty investment, being roughly $20 more expensive than a controller for the Xbox or PlayStation. You’d be paying more for these Joy-Cons than you would for a brand-new video game, and they’re not special Joy-Cons. So unless your existing Joy-Cons are damaged and need replacing, there’s no practical reason to get these.

But if a pair of Joy-Cons of a particular color are worth $80 to you, then here you are. That said, while we specifically mentioned blue and yellow earlier, you could buy these Joy-Cons in a variety of other colors as well, including purple and orange, pink and green, and many more.

At the end of the day, there are few reasons to buy these unless you want to for personal satisfaction or actual replacements. But then again, that’s reason enough.

Power A Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One Review

The Xbox Series X is out, however, you do not need to buy a special controller that was designed solely for the Xbox Series X. You can still use any controller that was compatible with the Xbox One. That means that there is still plenty of reason to buy an Xbox One controller, even if you’ve already gotten your hands on an Xbox Series S or X. Whether you want a certain type of controller or simply need an extra one so you can play with friends, the Power A Enhanced Wired Controller is a good choice.

That said, there’s no especially particular feature that sets this controller apart from others. It doesn’t have anything super special, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a solid controller, only that it isn’t the choice for anyone that is looking to get some sort of cutting-edge controller. It doesn’t have extra paddles, customizable buttons, or anything like that.

What it does have is a 9.8-foot USB cable that connects it to the Xbox. Wires may seem a bit outdated by now, but they do have their advantages. Wired controllers do not require batteries or battery packs, meaning they don’t have any sort of limited battery life. As long as your Xbox has power, the controller has power. On the other hand, wires have some drawbacks, such as the potential to be damaged, even if they are taken care of over time.

That said, wired controllers are cheaper than wireless ones. Wireless controllers, when bought new, are generally $60, whereas wired controllers like this one are around $30-$40. That decrease in cost is not because the controller is inferior in any way, only because it is cheaper to make a wired connection as opposed to a wireless one.

Other than that, the Power A controller, while not being an official Xbox controller, is still officially licensed by Xbox, so you needn’t worry about compatibility issues. It also has a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack. On top of that, it has a two-year warranty, so if it does suffer any damage you can have it taken care of for a significant period of time.

The shape of the controller is slightly different than the official Xbox model, it’s still a very close match, so you don’t have to worry about it feeling any different in your grasp either. Ultimately, this controller is a third-party model that can substitute for an Xbox controller at a much cheaper price than an official controller. Despite being third-party, it is still very robust and capable. While it lacks any special defining features, it can do anything a regular Xbox controller can do, and at a lower price.

Truly, the main difference is whether or not you really want a wired controller, or if you are willing to tolerate a wired controller in order to save some money on a controller. Either way, this is a good choice if you need a controller for either the Xbox One or the recently released new generation.

Xbox One Elite Series 2 Controller Review

The Xbox Series X may have already come out, and with it, some controllers that are designed for it. However, it’s worth noting that the Xbox Series X can be played with Xbox One controllers as well, so even though a new console has made its debut, there’s still plenty of reason to buy Xbox One controllers, hence why you may be interested in the Elite Series 2.

This wireless controller is, at its core, an Xbox One controller of course. However, it has some features that make it a significantly upgraded version of the original. Most notable is the customization of the controller itself, which is far greater than that of your typical Xbox One controllers. With the Xbox Accessories app, you can customize the functionality of this controller to the letter, making for a far more personalized gaming experience than a regular controller.

Also unlike typical controllers are the paddles on the back of the Elite Series 2, which function as extra buttons that you can set to perform whatever functions you wish. The addition of several buttons to expand the versatility of the Elite Series 2 is one of its main selling points, as it provides you with a significant edge over players that do not have such extra buttons.

Moreover, the actual physical controller can be customized as well, with the ability to switch paddle and thumbstick shapes. This means you can customize the controller to make it as comfortable as possible while playing, which is of course a great benefit.

Other than these features, the controller is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Windows. It has up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life, giving you more than enough time to play games without any pause due to battery concerns. You could go for several days without recharging if need be, depending on your gaming habits.

As far as connectivity to different devices is concerned, the Elite Series 2 can use its inherent wireless functions, but it also has Bluetooth capability and an included USB cord if such a thing is needed. This provides you with a number of ways to connect to whatever device you need.

Admittedly, the Elite Series 2 is much more expensive than a regular Xbox One controller. At approximately $175, it’s nearly three times the cost of a regular controller, so it’s a very hefty investment, no question. That said, it’s not more durable than a typical controller in and of itself. What you are paying for is well and truly the breadth of customization and versatility the controller can give you, more than anything else.

Whether or not you believe function customization and a few extra buttons are worth a nearly 200% increase in typical controller cost is up to one’s own discretion. The fact of the matter is, those features may be worth that much for gamers that are looking for a way to take their skills and abilities to the next level.

64 GB Oculus Quest 2 Review

Virtual reality isn’t quite new anymore, but it’s still a very fledgling area of gaming for most. That said, it’s gotten underway to an extent, with plenty of gamers getting into VR via special equipment like the Oculus Quest. In fact, the Oculus Quest 2 is now available, and this is the product we’re going to talk about here, as it is one of the most cutting edge means of enjoying VR today.

Basically, the Oculus Quest 2 is just a more powerful version of the original Oculus Quest. It doesn’t necessarily offer any new features compared to the old model, but it does offer everything the original model did to a greater extent. We’ll talk about what we mean down below.

Thanks to the advent of new hardware, the Oculus Quest 2 has a much higher processing speed than the previous model. Naturally, this means that load times will be shorter and everything that depends on the processer will be better overall. On top of that, the higher resolution display means that your VR experience will look better than ever before. The display has 50% more pixels than the previous version of the Oculus Quest, making for an unparalleled experience.

The Oculus Touch controls have been redesigned for the second version to be more intuitive and comfortable. While this is a small point, it’s worth noting that it is still an improvement over the old version.

Also worth noting is the fact that the Oculus Quest 2 is backwards compatible, meaning it can play all of the games that the Oculus Quest was capable of in the original model. You don’t have to worry about whether or not your old games will be compatible. Everything you already have access to with the Oculus Quest can be played with the second version.

As always, the setup of the Oculus Quest 2 is very easy and can be done within minutes of taking it out of the box. You do not need a PC or a console to play games on the Oculus Quest 2. All that is required is the Oculus app, which can be downloaded for free. With that, you can begin playing games on the Oculus Quest 2 within minutes of unpackaging.

The price of this device is approximately $300. For comparison, this is the price you would pay for a Nintendo Switch or an Xbox Series S. While this may seem like a hefty investment, it’s worth noting that there are some games you can only play on the Oculus Quest, and that it is one of the top ways to experience virtual reality.

Aside from all of this, you do have to link a Facebook account with the device, which may be a hassle or minor inconvenience to some, but since it is a small thing it doesn’t set the overall product back that much. If you are looking for the newest way to experience VR is high definition, the Oculus Quest 2 is the way to go.

Related: Best Used Oculus Rift Headsets for Sale, brought to you by The Deal Experts.

Logitech G604 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse Review

You can play games on your computer with a regular mouse, but why settle? Let’s be honest here: when it comes to competitive gaming, two buttons and a mouse wheel just isn’t enough for all the different functions you need to do things as efficiently as possible. That’s where a gaming mouse comes in, and if you’re not sure which one would be a good pick for you, we’d like to recommend the Logitech G604 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse.

We’ll start with what arguably matters the most: how many buttons does it offer, and are they programmable? Good news on this front, as this Logitech gaming mouse has a total of 15 programmable controls, which includes 6 thumb buttons. Each is fully programmable with G Hub software. As any gamer knows, more buttons mean more versatility and functionality, allowing you to customize what functions are linked to what buttons for your ideal experience.

Of course, while that’s the most important aspect of a gaming mouse, there are other factors to consider. This mouse also has dual connectivity, with the ability to toggle between Bluetooth connection and 1 mms ultra-lightspeed advanced wireless technology. With a Bluetooth report rate of 88 133 Hz, you’ll never have to worry about whether or not your hardware will respond fast enough to your inputs. That said, if you’d rather not work with a wireless connection, the mouse does still have a USB port for physical connection, should you need or want one.

Also worth mentioning is the 16k sensor, which provides very accurate tracking. Despite the excellent sensor, the power longevity of the device is also up to snuff. With just 1 AA battery, you can get up to 240 hours of performance from this mouse. That means less money spent on batteries in general, and particularly over time.

There’s also a dual-mode hyper-fast scroll wheel to take into consideration. This metal scroll wheel can switch between ratcheted scrolling and smooth, fast scrolling as needed. On top of that duality, programmable scrolling allows you to apply key binds, adding even greater versatility and functionality to your gaming setup.

The mouse is compatible with both PC and Mac, despite running a Mac OSx operating system. It is right-hand oriented, though it’s worth noting that the vast majority of such devices are. Even so, some individuals may see that as a detriment. Finally, there’s cost to consider, with this mouse being about $75 on Amazon, regardless of who you buy it from. Needless to say, this is a pretty reasonable price considering the many excellent features that the mouse provides to its users.

At the end of the day, this Logitech gaming mouse has everything you need to take your gaming experience to the next level. It can provide you with a great array of functionality and versatility that other products either can’t match or can only match at a higher cost. Taking all of that into consideration, it’s a great mouse for any computer gamer.

Razer Huntsman Gaming Keyboard Review

What’s one of the main benefits of playing on a computer as opposed to literally any other platform? Obviously, it’s the fact that you can have a button for everything, because you have a keyboard. Of course, not all keyboards are created equal. Sure, they all achieve the same end goal, but some have some nifty extra features. Those extra features make all the difference, and rest assured, the Razer Huntsman gaming keyboard has a lot of them.

First and foremost are the light actuation switches, which are a far cry from the traditional mechanical switches most keyboards have used in the past. Light actuation switches are significantly faster when it comes to registering button presses. In fact, it does so roughly 30% faster. Despite not using the old school mechanical switches, it still makes that satisfying click sound that most PC gamers know and love. It’s a small thing, but a benefit nevertheless. Either way, you’ll never have to worry about input lag when it comes to your button presses, making this keyboard ideal for fast-paced games.

Durability is also very important since a keyboard isn’t going to last as long as it potentially could if it is made of cheap materials. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that with the Razer Huntsman, because it’s made out of aluminum and covered in matte. This combination ensures that the keyboard remains lightweight while being sturdier than your average keyboard.

The Razer Huntsman also has fully programmable macros: the keyboard allows you to remap all keys and key combinations to perform functions to your specifications. Naturally, this goes a long way in customizing the keyboard to be as comfortable for your playstyle as possible. No matter what kind of function you need completed, you can map whatever key combination you prefer to achieve it.

There’s also customization and personalization to take into consideration, thanks to Razer Chroma, which syncs with popular games, other Razer hardware, Philips Hue, and a huge variety of gear from more than 30 partners. On top of that, it supports 16.8 million colors on individually backlit keys.

Last but not least is longevity. Each individual key on this keyboard supports up to 100 million clicks before breaking down, and the keyboard itself has a two-year manufacturer warranty, which is nearly twice as long as the typical manufacturer warranties provided by other companies.

For all of this, the Razer Huntsman is approximately $140. Admittedly, it’s a pretty hefty investment, however, this keyboard is extremely durable and will last much longer than most of the competition, while also offering an array of features that most other keyboards do not. Taking those things into consideration, it’s understandable why the price is what it is, not to mention why it’s actually not a bad deal at all. With various ways to customize both practically and aesthetically, a durable frame, and extremely fast registering button clicks, the Razer Huntsman is one of the best keyboards out there at this price range.

Roccat Kain 100 Aimo Gaming Mouse Review

For a PC player, a mouse is one of their most important tools. It allows them to control various aspects of their games with precision and fine control, and can also be used to allow access to various functions all from one hand. That being the case, it’s understandable why any game playing on a computer would want a high-quality mouse to go with everything they do. The Roccat Kain 100 Gaming mouse is one such product and a great choice for any gamer that wants a combination of affordability and functionality.

What aspects of this device make it a great choice? First up is the Titan click: the various buttons on this mouse are hinged and feature a low-tolerance spring that provides a significant cushion to every click you make. This cushioning allows for far greater precision with your button presses than a gaming mouse that doesn’t have such features.

Also worth noting is an improved wheel design the product uses. With this gaming mouse, a wheel click is just as solid as a click from any other button, allowing for greater precision in doing what you intend and not accidentally clicking what you didn’t mean to. The improved mouse wheel design provides defined and responsive scrolling steps at all times.

Response times for this gaming mouse are exceptional as well, thanks to its impressive firmware. A click with this gaming mouse can register up to 8ms faster than its competitors due to the improved switch mechanics and a smart firmware algorithm. In games where every millisecond counts towards victory, this improved response time can make all the difference.

Of course, comfort is an important part of a gaming mouse as well, seeing as how one has to keep a constant grip on it. The shape of this gaming mouse is ergonomic at every angle: from the shape of the mouse itself to the buttons it has and the scroll wheel it uses, all were specially designed to be as ergonomic and comfortable as possible. Further aiding this is the textured side grips the mouse uses. These rubberized side panels strike an excellent balance between comfort and grip properties. You’ll never have to worry about the possibility of losing your grip on this mouse, even in the heat of serious gaming moments.

The best part of all of this is the relatively affordable cost of the mouse, at a mere $50. We say ‘mere’ only in the sense that it’s not as expensive as one would think based on the many properties it offers to the player. It’s still a decent chunk of money as far as most people are concerned, but considering the excellent craftsmanship and many features, it is certain to be well worth the investment, lasting a good long time even for gamers who play very often. Taking all of this into consideration, this is an excellent gaming mouse for anyone looking to purchase one that balances price, functionality, and comfort.

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless Gaming Headset Review

If there’s one thing that’s true about one’s ability to enjoy video games, it’s that it can never be complete without high quality audio. A big part of enjoying any game, from almost any perspective, is being able to hear everything in crystal clear quality that enhances the experience. Be it the footsteps of your enemies or the science fiction sounds of lasers and bombs, you need a good headset to achieve these things.

Thankfully, you’re spoiled for choice, and the SteelSeries Arctis 7 is a perfect choice among all of the available options. We’ll be frank and admit upfront that it is an expensive investment at around $125, but not without a good reason. Using cutting edge technology and manufacturing processes, these headphones offer some of the highest quality audio you’ll find anywhere.

There are many features that help the product achieve this. First and foremost is the 2.4 grams connection, which delivers consistent high-quality audio to your wireless headset with some of the best interference protection available, as well as ultra-low latency. Often considered one of the best mics available for gaming, the discord certified clear cast microphone offers up studio-quality voice clarity and equally impressive background noise cancellation, making it perfectly simple to communicate with your teammates and friends without obstacles or hiccups. Moreover, the mic is retractable, so it doesn’t stick out awkwardly from the headset when it is not needed or not in use.

What makes the sound for these headphones so impressive? Well, it’s mostly thanks to the S1 speaker drivers, which are designed to provide ultra-low distortion audio that allows you to hear even the slightest of details. The DST headphones also offer surround sound immersion, allowing you to experience the various sounds in the game from the direction they are coming from within it: a definite competitive advantage over players that have nothing like it.

As the final thing to consider, there’s the battery life. Seeing as how these are wireless headphones, naturally how long they can be used without recharging is of great importance. Fortunately, they have an extremely long battery life of 24 hours on a single charge, which knocks most of the competition out of the park in terms of battery life. Of course, it’s unlikely anyone is going to be playing for 24 hours straight, but with battery life like this, one can go a few days or nights without having to charge it at all, which is a nice bonus.

The headphones have a sensitivity of 94 dB, and are compatible with PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and mobile devices. While it is a pretty heft investment in terms of cost, there’s little doubt that this headset offers some of the best sound quality for gaming that technology can currently provide. That being the case, and considering the quality of the construction at this price, it’s an investment that will be well worth the price long into the future.