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9 Picks of the Best Gaming Mouse, Tested and Reviewed (2025)
Gaming Gear

9 Picks of the Best Gaming Mouse, Tested and Reviewed (2025)

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Other Good Mice to Consider

NZXT Lift 2 Symm

Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft

NZXT Lift 2 Symm for $50: PC manufacturer NZXT has been venturing out into the peripherals market with impressive products for a company so relatively new to the game. The NZXT Lift 2 Symm is no exception. This mouse has a hollow interior and a base that uses minimal plastic. This gives it an ultra-lightweight feel, but avoids the odd feeling that other mice like the SteelSeries Aerox 3 give off by reducing the amount of plastic in the pieces that touch your hands. Combined with an 8,000-Hz polling rate, optical switches, and an excessively robust 26,000 dpi optical sensor, this mouse is more than capable of handling even the fastest games at a low price.

Logitech MX Master 3S for $120: The MX Master 3S isn’t a gaming mouse per se, but it’s also better at being a gaming mouse than many dedicated gaming mice. It features a few extra customizable buttons, plus a horizontal side scrolling wheel. It’s ridiculously comfortable. Logitech’s been making mice for years, and this mouse benefits from all that experience, with a smooth arc for your palm and a rest spot for your thumb. It even includes a button in that spot where your thumb naturally rests. This is the preferred daily mouse of many WIRED staffers. The one downside is that the 125-Hz polling rate is a bit low for competitive FPS games, but if you’re looking for something more solo, it’s hard to get more comfortable than this.

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S for $80: This a cheaper, compact mouse that can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth, and gets 70 hours on a single three-hour charge. It doesn’t have as many fancy gaming-centric features, but if you just need a decent mouse and want to save a little money, this is a great option.

Logitech G203

Photograph: Logitech

Logitech G203 for $35: Budget gaming mice often forgo a lot of the conveniences and performance you get out of nicer models, but the Logitech G203 never feels like it’s lacking. The sensor has a lower maximum sensitivity than you’ll get out of a more expensive offering—8,000 dots per inch—so if you need that top-end sensitivity, you’ll want to look elsewhere, but it features six buttons, compatibility with Logitech’s G Hub software, and, most importantly, has RGB lighting. Those are all things you’d typically expect to pay more for.

Turtle Beach Burst II Air for $100: The Turtle Beach Burst II Air at times felt like it wasn’t even there. I’ve played with a lot of mice that cut out huge chunks of their plastic hull to reduce weight, but the Burst II Air feels incredibly light without all the gaping holes. The skates are so smooth I felt like I could push the mouse around by blowing on it. The USB-A wireless dongle fits inside a small compartment on the bottom, right next to a physical switch that swaps between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth modes. Two customizable thumb buttons sit along the side, while a third button for cycling dpi sits farther down along the edge, which I found particularly interesting. Most mice put this button on the top of the mouse, where it can sometimes be accidentally pressed, but this spot is so convenient it makes me wonder why Turtle Beach is the first company I’ve seen place it here.

Logitech G Pro Wireless for $110: Logitech’s G Pro X series was designed with input from esports professionals. Lightning-fast response times and proper ergonomics ensure that the additional buttons are right where your fingers rest. The wireless receiver delivers 1-millisecond response times, so you won’t miss headshots due to lag. The buttons are satisfying and sturdy, with mechanically tensioned springs underneath both the left and right buttons, and separate key plates for accuracy. It lasts around 48 hours on a single charge, but if you want to completely forget about charging, get the wireless charging-mat bundle.

SteelSeries Aerox 9

Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft

SteelSeries Aerox 9 for $150: This has a large array of side buttons. Its shell also has a grid cutout pattern, which SteelSeries says helps reduce the weight of the mouse, but my roommate says it triggers her trypophobia, so your mileage may vary.

Razer Cobra Pro for $130: I am personally a fan of mice with a dozen extra buttons, but if you’d rather just have a little bit of extra power without being overwhelmed, the Razer Cobra Pro might be more your speed. It has two thumb buttons on the left side, as well as two dpi controls down the middle, all of which can be customized to your needs. While playing Overwatch 2, I like to use the dpi buttons to cycle between sensitivities for different heroes, but when I’m using it for work, I like that I can assign common shortcuts or macros that I need while getting things done.

Great Mousepads

One of the cheapest things you can do to upgrade your PC gaming experience is to invest in a high-quality mousepad. If you’re a mouse-and-keyboard gamer, having the right surface for your trusty little rodent can be super helpful. Not only do you have a nice little area of your desk cordoned off for mouse use, but you also get a surface designed to be as friction-free and slick as possible—so you’ll be as quick as possible.

Harber London Professional Leather Desk Mat

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Harber London Professional Leather Desk Mat for $193: Despite more than a year of use, this Harber London leather desk mat still looks exquisite. The pebbled leather is supple and has a nice texture, but your mouse will glide over it effortlessly. It comes in three sizes and three colors.

SteelSeries QcK Mouse Pad for $8: SteelSeries’ QcK mousepad is one of my all-time favorites. The medium size is perfect for most desks, even small ones. It’s well-made and doesn’t fray easily—cheaper mousepads often fray at the edges, which ruins the aesthetic a good mousepad can lend to a workstation.

Photograph: Grovemade

Grovemade Wool Felt Desk Pad for $70: This doesn’t seem like your usual gaming accessory, because it’s not. It’s a wool felt pad from Portland, Oregon, company Grovemade, and it’s large enough to fit a keyboard and a mouse with room to spare. It feels soft and plush under your wrists, and all of the gaming mice on this list just glide over its surface; it’s like they’re sliding on glass. It’s a big surprise, honestly. Not to mention, a felt desk pad adds an air of sophistication and style to any desk, without making it seem too uptight. The color looks amazing under RGB lighting in a dark room. It’s an easy and affordable way to inject some unique style into your work (and play) space.

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Dell S3225QC
Product Reviews

Dell S3225QC 32-inch 4K QD-OLED Monitor Review: Compelling gaming value

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Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware


Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

When I write about a monitor’s gaming feel, I’m usually referring to its speed, smoothness, and response. But something I rarely see is a display with good integrated sound. The speakers in most panels are of similar quality to the beeper that tells you when the microwave is finished cooking. They are often tinny and distorted above polite volumes.

Dell has sought to remedy that with its S3225QC. This 32-inch OLED monitor brings a real soundbar with spatial audio to the table. I’m talking about five speakers with 25 watts of amplification and a user position sensor that focuses sound on the listener and creates a true sense of space and immersion. And it delivers a decent picture too with 4K resolution, 120 Hz, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, plus Adaptive-Sync and wide gamut color. It’s wrapped in a luxurious package that enhances any desktop or media room. Let’s take a look.

Dell S3225QC Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Panel Type / Backlight

Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED)

Screen Size / Aspect Ratio

32 inches / 16:9

Max Resolution and Refresh Rate

3840×2160 @ 120 Hz

Row 3 – Cell 0

FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible

Native Color Depth and Gamut

10-bit / DCI-P3+

Row 5 – Cell 0

HDR10, DisplayHDR 400

Row 6 – Cell 0

Dolby Vision

Response Time (GTG)

0.03ms

Brightness (mfr)

250 nits SDR

Row 9 – Cell 0

1,000 nits HDR (3% window)

Contrast

Unmeasurable

Speakers

5x 25w

Row 12 – Cell 0

Spatial Audio w/user position sensor

Video Inputs

1x HDMI 2.1

Row 14 – Cell 0

1x USB-C (DP 1.4 alt)

Audio

Integrated soundbar

USB 3.2

1x up, 2x down (type C)

Power Consumption

49.7w, brightness @ 200 nits

Panel Dimensions

WxHxD w/base

28.3 x 19.8-24.2 x 8.8 inches

(719 x 503-615 x 224mm)

Panel Thickness

2.8 inches (71mm)

Bezel Width

Top: 0.3 inch (8mm)

Row 21 – Cell 0

Sides: 0.4 inch (10mm)

Row 22 – Cell 0

Bottom: 2.2 inch (56mm)

Weight

22.1 pounds (10kg)

Warranty

3 years

Today’s best Dell S3225QC deals

  • Dell S3225QC (Blue OLED) at Amazon for $849.99

I’ll address the elephant in the room first. 120 Hz is a bit slower than typical gaming monitors. The best 4K gaming monitors typically start at 144 Hz, and lately, I’ve been reviewing 240 Hz models in a steady stream. The net effect is that the S3225QC shows a little motion blur and has slightly higher input lag than the competition. But for casual gaming and entertainment, the sound is on another level, as in, the others aren’t even close.

The sound bar is front and center with a two-inch wide fabric covering five speakers driven by 25 watts of amplification. In the middle is a sensor that tracks the user’s head position to keep the soundstage focused on the listener. It also makes sound seem to come from the sides and behind through phasing that adapts in real time. It’s a great alternative to headphones and, in my opinion, it’s more immersive.

The picture comes courtesy of a 32-inch Quantum Dot OLED panel with 4K 3840×2160 resolution, equating to a 140ppi pixel density. The QD layer delivers over 105% coverage of DCI-P3, putting it on par with other high-end QD-OLEDs. HDR10 is supported, but you also get Dolby Vision, which is still a rarity in the computer monitor genre. This standard embeds dynamic tone mapping in the content metadata, meaning it renders correctly on any display, regardless of its peak output. HDR10 has fixed value tone mapping, and that manifests as clipped highlight detail when the content’s peak values don’t match the display.

Color is very accurate with verified factory calibration data in the OSD. Dell saves a bit of paper and instead includes nine screens of test results unique to each S3225QC. Peak output is specified at 250 nits for SDR and 1,000 nits for HDR when measuring a 3% window. Variable brightness is only engaged for HDR content and is not an option in the OSD. The S3225QC carries VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification.

While players of twitchy shooters may pause at the 120 Hz refresh rate, it is supported by Adaptive-Sync over HDMI. It has no issues with either FreeSync or G-Sync systems and keeps frame tears out of the equation at all refresh rates.

I mentioned luxury earlier, and the S3225QC is undoubtedly in that category. It features premium build quality, including a white stand and backing, with inputs hidden beneath a cover, and offers premium ergonomics. It’s high-end all the way, but the price is relatively low at $800. While that isn’t a trifle, it is less than similar offerings from HP, Dough, Asus, and Acer. It gives up some speed to those brands, but it more than trounces their audio quality. So, with your priorities in mind, let’s see how it tests.

Assembly and Accessories

Dell continues to ship its displays in recyclable packaging with molded pulp securely protecting the contents. The S3225QC comes in the usual three bits that assemble without the need for tools. If you plan to use an arm, there’s a 100mm VESA mount in the back with fasteners included. A small cover hides the input panel once you make your connections. The cable bundle is just a single USB-C and IEC for the internal power supply.

Product 360

Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)

The S3225QC is a monitor that looks great from any angle. I’m partial to white displays, and this one makes thoughtful use of contrasting materials to achieve a high-end aesthetic. The front immediately draws the eye down to the fabric grill covering the sound bar with its central user position sensor and small Dell logo. A power LED glows at the lower right. The screen has a shiny front layer, which requires a little consideration of light sources to avoid reflection. The bezel is thin around the top and sides, measuring eight and ten millimeters, respectively.

The back is completely smooth and featureless, save for a small Dell logo at the top. The input panel is concealed beneath a snap-on cover and includes one HDMI 2.1 and a USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 function. Another USB-C supports peripherals, and there’s a third one hidden in a pop-out bit on the bottom of the panel. See the above photo to find it.

The side view highlights the elegant white stand, which is anchored by a round piece that provides a 5/21-degree tilt, a 30-degree swivel, and 4.4 inches of height. There is no portrait mode. Movements are smooth and firm with no wobble or play. The base has sufficient size and weight to support the S3225QC’s 22-pound weight.

OSD Features

The S3225QC’s OSD appears when you press the joystick behind the panel’s lower right corner. It will be familiar to any users of Dell or Alienware monitors and is logically laid out with nearly every option required for image adjustment and convenience.

Image 1 of 10

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Brightness and Contrast get their own sub-menu with sliders that range from zero to 100. The input selector can be set to automatically detect incoming signals. In the Color menu, there are nine picture modes available. Standard is the default, and it is accurate and well-suited for gaming, video, or productivity. The Creator mode offers four color gamut choices if you don’t want to use the native setting, which covers around 105% of DCI-P3. I noted that DCI-P3 refers to the cinema standard with 2.6 gamma and a D63 white point, while Display P3 uses a 2.2 gamma with D65.

In Custom Color, you can adjust RGB gain and bias sliders, plus hue and saturation controls for all six colors. I used the gains to take the S3225QC to reference level.

There are six HDR modes that engage when HDR10 signals are present. Desktop is the default, but I found HDR Peak 1000 a little more dynamic in tone. Custom Color HDR lets you calibrate, but that is completely unnecessary as the S3225QC is spot-on out of the box. Dolby Vision can be toggled on and off and is compatible with Dolby Vision content, video, and gaming.

The PBP/PIP mode offers five different screen splits and positioning of the PIP window when viewing two video sources at once.

In the audio menu, you can toggle the spatial audio on and off. When it’s on, a bezel-mounted sensor tracks the user’s head position to focus the sound appropriately. It creates a palpable sense of space and immersion with sound seeming to come from the sides and behind.

The joystick and on-screen quick menu can be programmed to provide quick access to many monitor functions. In the Others menu is a panel health indicator and an option to run the refresh routine manually. When the health indicator turns red, it runs the refresh automatically. Finally, you can view the calibration report in the info menu, which contains nine pages of information unique to each S3225QC.

Dell S3225QC Calibration Settings

The S3225QC doesn’t require calibration in the Standard picture mode, but if you visit Custom Color, it’s possible to make the picture even more precise. It offers RGB gain and bias sliders; I only had to adjust the gains for excellent results. It also includes hue and saturation sliders, but I didn’t need to change those. The only thing missing here is gamma presets, which isn’t a big deal if 2.2 is the goal. It hits that perfectly. But options are always welcome. Some users might prefer 2.0 or 2.4. My SDR settings are below. I noted that there is no variable brightness option available. For HDR signals, the peak does vary, and you get six additional modes. HDR Peak 1000 is the best choice there.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Picture Mode

Custom Color

Brightness 200 nits

89

Brightness 120 nits

49

Brightness 100 nits

37

Brightness 80 nits

25

Brightness 50 nits

9 (min. 36 nits)

Contrast

75

Color Temp User

Gain – Red 94, Green 96, Blue 99

Row 8 – Cell 0

Bias – Red 50, Green 50, Blue 50

Gaming and Hands-on

Admittedly, I took on a review of a 120 Hz gaming monitor with a little trepidation. I frequently say, and still maintain, that 144 Hz should be considered a starting point, and you can never have too many Hertz. Initial tests during the S3225QC’s installation showed slight motion blur in my suite of moving test patterns. But once I loaded up Doom Eternal, my perception changed.

I am not a skilled gamer, but I am experienced enough that I can get through most titles on a moderate difficulty level. With the S3225QC, I noticed the blur only because I knew about it in advance. And once I started playing, it didn’t reduce my enjoyment of the monitor one bit. A lot of that is thanks to its fantastic sound.

The spatial audio feature is a real thing, and I was immediately struck by the expansive sound stage. Though it works best with content mastered in Dolby Atmos, it had a positive impact on the stereo feed from games and YouTube videos. The bass was so present, it seemed a little overblown at first, but within a few minutes, I realized I was hearing the full spectrum of sound, which is a rarity from a computer monitor. This had a profoundly positive effect on gameplay. When Dell or Alienware adds this feature to a faster monitor, they’ll have a hard time keeping up with demand. It’s that good.

More familiar aspects of my usual run-and-gun and rapid turn maneuvers were handled well by the S3225QC. Motion blur is there but not distractingly so. And input lag is low enough for my average skills; it kept up with me just fine. However, if you’re a pro-level competitor, this monitor won’t be the best choice.

The physical elegance and design played well into the everyday workload when I wrote copy in Word, or managed test data in Excel. A large screen is perfect for this because there is ample room for two or three documents in fully readable form. Side by side editing is the main reason I go for 32-inch 16:9 screens. The S3225QC’s does this well and adds a flexible PBP option if you need to connect two video sources. I also noted the extra USB-C ports, including the nifty pop-out one underneath the panel.

Takeaway: Though the S3225QC lacks the perfect motion resolution of its 240 Hz competition, it more than makes up for it with incredible audio quality. Among gaming and entertainment screens, you won’t find better sound. And it makes a compelling alternative to headphones, even the premium ones with spatial audio. For everyday use, it offers lots of screen area, flexible PIP/PBP and plenty of USB ports along with a colorful, bright, accurate and contrasty image.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Dell S3225QC: Price Comparison



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Product Reviews

The best gaming monitors in 2025

by admin


If you want to get the most out of your games — whether you’re into competitive FPS titles, sprawling RPGs or story-driven adventures — a good gaming monitor can make all the difference. Smooth gameplay, low input lag and crisp visuals are just the start. With the right screen, everything from your aim to your immersion gets a serious upgrade.

These days, there’s a lot more to consider than just refresh rate or screen size. You’ll find ultrawide gaming monitors, widescreen displays, models with USB-C support, and monitors that can bring out the best in your CPU and GPU. Some even match the style of your setup, pairing perfectly with gaming headsets and accessories for a clean, cohesive look.

Whether you’re shopping on a tighter price range or splurging on high-end picture quality, we’ve rounded up the best options to suit different setups and play styles — so you can level up your experience without the guesswork.

Table of contents

Best gaming monitors for 2025

AOC

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Refresh rate: 180Hz | Panel type: VA | Response time: 1ms GtG | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Brightness: 1000 cd/m² | Weight: 11.9 pounds with stand | Display type: VA panel with Mini LED backlight | Response time: 1 ms GtG | Connector type: 1 × DisplayPort 1.4, 2 × HDMI 2.0

The Q27G3XMN offers a nearly unbeatable mix of features, performance and affordability. It’s a mini-LED monitor with HDR performance that’s not as good as the OLEDs on this list, but far better than anything you’ll find on an edge-lit LCD. With a 180Hz refresh rate, it’s also fast enough for all but the most fast-paced competitive esports games. Best of all, it’s priced affordably at under $300. For those reasons, unless you have a bigger budget or more specific needs, the Q27G3XMN is going to be the best bet for most people.

Pros

  • Relatively affordable
  • True HDR performance
  • Fast enough

Cons

  • Expect some smearing
  • No USB ports

$298 at Amazon

AOC

Screen Size: 23.8-inch | Resolution: 1,920 x 1080 | Refresh Rate: 180 Hz | Panel Type: VA | Response Rate: 4ms (gtg) | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Brightness: 250 cd/m² | Weight: 6.9 pounds with stand | Display type: VA panel with W‑LED backlight | Response time: 1 ms MPRT | Connector type: 1 × HDMI 2.0, 1 × DisplayPort 1.4, plus 3.5 mm audio out

Today, there are only two reasons to buy a 1080p monitor: Either you want the fastest possible display, or you want to spend as little as possible and get as much performance as possible. If the latter is true, I would go for the AOC 24G15. For $110, you’ll get a 24-inch screen with a high contrast VA panel, 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response rate. If you’re patient, I’ve seen the 24G15 go on sale for as little as $90.

One thing to note: AOC also sells a 27-inch version of the 24G15 for about $30 more. I would avoid that model; it won’t look good due to low pixel density.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • 180Hz refresh rate
  • 1ms response rate

Cons

  • Low resolution
  • Epect some smearing

$109 at Amazon

Alienware

Screen size: 26.7-inch | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Refresh rate: 360Hz | Panel type: QD-OLED | Response time: 0.03ms (GtG) | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Brightness: 250 cd/m² | Weight: 9.4 pounds without stand | Display type: QD‑OLED | Response time: 0.03 ms GtG | Connector type: 2 × DisplayPort 1.4, 1 × HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub including 1 × Type‑C (downstream)

If you want a gaming monitor that basically does it all, the Alienware AW2725DF has a lot going for it. This QD-OLED features a 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response. It also carries a Vesa DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, so expect near-flawless HDR performance. It even has a HDMI 2.1 port if you want to use it with an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. From a performance standpoint, the only downside is that it won’t produce true blacks in rooms with too much ambient light. However, this is true of every QD-OLED monitor on the market right now.

At close to $1,000, it’s also expensive. But for what it’s worth, the OLED market is incredibly competitive at the moment. I’ve seen the AW2725DF go on sale a few times over the past couple of months, dropping to as low as $700.

Pros

  • 360Hz refresh rate
  • Fantastic HDR performance
  • Three-year burn-in coverage

$698 at Amazon

Dell

Screen size: 34.18-inch | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 | Refresh rate: 165 Hz | Panel type: QD-OLED | Response time: 0.01ms (GtG) | Aspect Ratio: 21:9 | Brightness: 250 cd/m² | Weight: 13.8 pounds with stand | Display type: QD‑OLED ultrawide (curved 21:9) | Response time: 0.1 ms | Connector type: Built‑in USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub, standard DP and HDMI inputs

For those looking for a more immersive gaming experience, an ultrawide monitor is the way to go. And right now, one of the best 21:9 displays you can buy is the Dell AW3423DWF. It offers an excellent 165Hz refresh rate, 0.01ms response time and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support. The panel is also DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 certified, making it great for watching movies and playing single-player games. The only feature that would make the AW3423DWF better is had Dell included an HDMI 2.1 port, but since ultrawide gaming isn’t really a thing in console gaming, the omission is not a deal breaker.

$571 at Amazon

LG

Screen size: 31.46-inch | Resolution: 4K and 1080p | Refresh rate: 240Hz and 480Hz | Panel type: WOLED | Response time: 0.03ms (GtG) | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Brightness: 275 cd/m² | Weight: 19.8 pounds with stand | Display type: WOLED dual‑mode OLED (4K UHD or FHD) | Response time: 0.03 ms GtG | Connector type: DisplayPort and HDMI ports (DP for 4K 240 Hz or HDMI for 1080p 480 Hz), G‑Sync/FreeSync compatible

If money is no object and you play a mix of immersive games and competitive shooters, the LG 32GS95UE-B is the monitor for you. It offers something no other monitor on this list does. The 32GS95UE-B4K is both a 4K, 240Hz display and an FHD, 480Hz one. Moreover, it can switch between those two modes with the press of a button.

Yes, the 1080p output looks muddy stretched across a 32-inch screen, but for a feature that extends the versatility of an already incredible monitor, that’s a small sacrifice. At $1,400, the 2GS95UE-B is the most expensive monitor on this list. But if you’re in the market for a 4K display, chances are you’ve already spent a lot of money building a PC that can drive that many pixels.

Pros

  • Dual 4K and 1080p modes
  • Up to 480Hz refresh rate
  • OLED

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Low pixel density at FHD

$1,099 at Adorama

How we test gaming monitors

While I’ve not used every product recommended in our list, I have extensively tested dozens of gaming monitors in the past, including models with WOLED and QD-OLED panels. In the case of the Alienware monitor I highlight above, I bought one for myself with my own money. Separately, I spent dozens of hours over a two-year period researching computer monitor options to write the current version of this guide.

Factors to consider before buying a gaming monitor

LCD vs OLED

When shopping for a gaming monitor, you first need to decide if you want to go with a screen that has an LCD or OLED panel. For most people, that choice will come down to price; OLED gaming monitors are more expensive than their LCD counterparts. Even if money isn’t a concern, the choice might not be as straightforward as you think; both LCD and OLED panels come in a few different flavors, and knowing the differences between each type is important to making an informed decision.

LCD monitors come in three different varieties: twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA) or in-plane switching (IPS). For the most part, you want to avoid TN monitors unless you’re strapped for cash or want a monitor with the fastest possible refresh rate or fast response rate. TN screens feature the worst viewing angles, contrast ratios and colors of the group.

The differences between VA and IPS panels are more subtle. Historically, VA gaming monitors featured slower pixel response times than their TN and IPS counterparts, leading to unsightly image smearing. However, that’s improved in recent years. VA panels also frequently sport better contrast ratios than both TN and IPS screens. They’re not dramatically better than their IPS siblings on that front, but when contrast ratios aren’t an inherent strength of LCDs, every bit helps.

On the other hand, IPS panels excel at color accuracy and many offer high refresh rates and response times that are as fast as the fastest TN panels. The majority of LCD gaming monitors on the market today feature IPS panels, though you will frequently find VA screens on ultrawide monitors.

What about OLED?

If you can afford one, an OLED screen makes for the best monitor for gaming. The ability of organic light-emitting diodes to produce true blacks is transformational. Simply put, every game looks better when there isn’t a backlight to wash out shadow detail. Plus, you can experience true HDR with an OLED screen, something that LCDs aren’t known for.

Today, OLED screens come in two different flavors: WOLED and QD-OLED, with LG producing the former and Samsung the latter. I won’t bore you with the technical details of how the two panel types differ from one another other than to note both technologies broadly offer the same set of shortcomings.

Most notably, OLED monitors don’t get very bright. At best, the most capable models peak at around 250 nits when measuring brightness across the entire screen. I didn’t find this to be an issue in my testing, but your experience may vary depending on the ambient light in your gaming setup.

If brightness is important to you, note that due to manufacturer tunings, different models can perform better than others, even if they feature the same panel from LG or Samsung. It’s worth comparing monitors in the same class to find the model that’s right for you.

Separately, almost all OLEDs feature sub-pixel layouts that produce text fringing in Windows. The latest generation of OLED panels from both LG and Samsung are much better in this regard, to the point where modern OLEDs are good enough for reading and image editing. However, it’s still worth going to your local Micro Center or Best Buy to see the model you want in person, as the text fringing issue is hard to capture in photos and videos.

Another (potentially more serious) issue is burn-in. Organic light-emitting diodes can get “stuck” if they display the same image for long periods of time. Every OLED gaming monitor you can buy today comes with features designed to prevent burn-in and other image quality issues. Provided you don’t use your new OLED monitor for eight hours of daily productivity work, I don’t think you need to worry about burn-in too much.

Screen size, resolution and aspect ratio

After deciding where you fall on the LCD vs OLED debate, you can start thinking about the size of your future gaming monitor. Personal preference and the limitations of your gaming setup will play a big part here, but there are also a few technical considerations. You should think about size in conjunction with resolution and aspect ratio.

A 1440p monitor has 78 percent more pixels than a 1080p resolution screen, and a 4K display has more than twice as many pixels as a QHD panel. As the size of a monitor increases, pixel density decreases unless you also increase resolution. For that reason, there are sweet spots between size and high resolution. For instance, I wouldn’t recommend buying an FHD monitor that is larger than 24 inches or a QHD one bigger than 27 inches. Conversely, text and interface elements on a 4K monitor can look tiny without scaling on panels smaller than 32 inches.

You also need to consider the performance costs of running games at higher resolutions. The latest entry-level GPUs can comfortably run most modern games at 1080p and 60 frames per second. They can even render some competitive titles at 120 frames per second and higher — but push them to run those same games at 1440p and beyond, and you’re bound to run into problems. And as you’ll see in a moment, a consistently high frame rate is vital to getting the most out of the latest gaming monitors.

If your budget allows for it, 1440p offers the best balance between image quality and gaming performance. As for 1080p resolution and 4K, I would only consider the former if you’re on a tight budget or enjoy competitive gaming shooters like Valorant and Overwatch 2. For most people, the user experience and productivity benefits of QHD far outweigh the performance gains you get from going with a lower resolution screen.

Just a few years ago, 4K was not a viable resolution for PC gaming, but then NVIDIA came out with its 40 series GPUs. With those video cards offering the company’s DLSS 3 frame generation technology, there’s a case to be made that the technology is finally there to play 4K games at a reasonable frame rate, particularly if you exclusively play big, AAA single-player games like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 or enjoy strategy games like the Total War series. However, even with frame generation, you will need a GPU like the $999 RTX 4080 Super or $1,599 RTX 4090 to drive a 4K display. Plus, 4K gaming monitors tend to cost more than their 1440p counterparts.

If you want an ultrawide, note that not every game supports the 21:9 aspect ratio, and fewer still support 32:9. When shopping for a curved monitor, a lower Radius, or ‘R’ number, indicates a more aggressive curve. So, a 1000R monitor is more curved than an 1800R one.

The best gaming monitor

(Photo by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget)

Refresh rates and response times

And now, finally, for the fun stuff. The entire reason to buy a gaming monitor is for its ability to draw more images than a traditional computer monitor. As you shop for a new screen, you will see models advertising refresh rates like 120Hz, 240Hz and 360Hz. The higher the refresh rate of a monitor, the more times it can update the image it displays on screen every second, thereby producing a smoother moving image. When it comes to games like Overwatch, Valorant and League of Legends, a faster refresh rate can give you a competitive edge, but even immersive single-player games can benefit.

A monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate will look better in motion than one with a 120Hz refresh rate, but there are diminishing returns. At 60Hz, the image you see on your computer monitor is updated every 16.67ms. At 120Hz, 240Hz and 360Hz, the gap between new frames shortens to 8.33ms, 4.17ms and 2.78ms, respectively. Put another way, although a 360Hz monitor can display 50 percent more frames than a 240Hz screen in a given time period, you will only see a speedup of 1.14ms between frame intervals. And all that depends on your GPU’s ability to render a consistent 360 frames per second.

Ultimately, a fast response monitor will do you no good if you don’t have a gaming PC with a graphics card that can keep up. For example, with a 1440p 360Hz monitor, you realistically need a GPU like the RTX 4070 Super or RTX 4080 Super to saturate that display while playing competitive gaming titles like Overwatch 2 and Valorant.

There’s also more to motion clarity than refresh rates alone. Just as important are fast response times, or the amount of time it takes for pixels to transition from one color to another and then back again. Monitors with slow response times tend to produce smearing that is distracting no matter what kind of game you’re playing. Curved gaming monitor options help with immersion by wrapping the screen around your field of vision, making the gaming setup feel more expansive. Unfortunately, response times are also one of the more opaque aspects of picking the best gaming monitor for your needs.

Many LCD monitor manufacturers claim their products feature 1ms gray-to-gray (GtG) response times, yet they don’t handle motion blur to the same standard. One of the reasons for that is that many companies tend to cherry-pick GtG results that make their monitors look better on paper. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) recently created a new certification program to address that problem, but the grading system is unwieldy and, as far as I can tell, hasn’t had a lot of pickup from manufacturers.

For now, your best bet is to turn to resources like Rtings and Monitors Unboxed when shopping for a new gaming monitor. Both outlets conduct extensive testing of every screen they review and present their findings and recommendations in a way that’s easy to understand.

FreeSync vs G-Sync

No matter how powerful your system, it will sometimes fail to maintain a consistent framerate. In fact, you should expect frame rate fluctuations when playing graphically-intensive games like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. For those moments, you want a gaming display with adaptive sync. Otherwise, you can run into screen tearing.

Adaptive sync technologies come in a few flavors. The two you’re most likely to encounter are AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync, and each has its own set of performance tiers. With G-Sync, for instance, they are – from lowest to highest – G-Sync Compatible, G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate.

The good news is that you don’t need to think too much about which adaptive sync technology a display supports. In the early days of the tech, it was rare to see a gaming monitor that offered both FreeSync and G-Sync since including the latter meant a manufacturer had to equip their display with a dedicated processor from NVIDIA. That changed in 2019 when the company introduced its G-Sync Compatible certification. Today, if a monitor supports FreeSync, it is almost certainly G-Sync Compatible, too, meaning you can enjoy tear-free gaming whether you’re using an AMD or NVIDIA GPU.

In fact, I would go so far as to say you shouldn’t make your purchasing decision based on the level of adaptive sync performance a monitor offers. As of right now, the list of G-Sync Ultimate-certified displays is about two dozen models long, and some are a few years old now.

The best gaming monitor

(Photo by Igor Bonifacic / Engadget)

Inputs

Almost every gaming display on the market right now comes with at least one DisplayPort 1.4 connection, and that’s the port you will want to use to connect your new monitor to your graphics card. If you own a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, it’s also worth looking out for monitors that come with HDMI 2.1 ports, as those will allow you to get the most out of your current generation console.

A word about HDR

As fast and responsive gaming monitors have become in recent years, there’s one area where progress has been frustratingly slow: HDR performance. The majority of gaming monitors currently on sale, including most high-end models, only meet VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 certification. As someone who owned one such monitor, let me tell you it’s not even worth turning on HDR on those screens. You will only be disappointed.

The good news is that things are getting better, albeit slowly. The release of Windows 11 did a lot to improve the state of HDR on PC, and more games are shipping with competent HDR modes, not just ones that increase the brightness of highlights. Thankfully, with more affordable mini-LED monitors, like our top pick, making their way to the market, HDR gaming is finally within reach of most PC gamers.

Gaming monitor FAQs

Are curved monitors better for gaming?

It depends on personal preference. Many manufacturers claim curved monitors offer a more immersive gaming experience due to the way the display wraps around your field of vision. However, I find the edge distortion distracting, particularly when you increase the field of view in a game.

What aspect ratio should I look for in a gaming monitor?

The vast majority of 24-, 27- and 32-inch gaming monitors feature 16:9 aspect ratio panels, and that’s been the case for many years. In fact, nearly every game made in the last two decades supports 16:9 resolutions, such as 1,920 x 1,080 and 2,560 by 1,440, and if you buy a standard-sized monitor, you won’t need to worry about letterboxing.

In the case of ultrawides, 21:9 is the most common aspect ratio, with some very wide models sporting 32:9 panels. Among games, support for 21:9 and 32:9 resolutions is far from universal, so don’t be surprised if a game doesn’t fill the entirety of your screen.

Is OLED good for gaming?

OLED monitors are great for gaming. Not only do they offer excellent motion clarity and input latency, but they’re also easily the best displays for HDR gaming. If money is no object, and you primarily use your PC for gaming, you can’t go wrong with an OLED monitor.

How much does a good gaming monitor cost?

While you could easily spend more than $1,000 to obtain the best gaming monitor on the market now, the reality is that the budget and midrange categories have never been more competitive. In 2015, I spent $500 CAD to buy a 1080p monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and TN panel. The budget AOC model I highlight above is not only cheaper than my first gaming monitor, but it also features a faster 180Hz refresh rate and a higher contrast VA panel.



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The Anthros Chair V2.
Product Reviews

Anthros V2 Chair review: one of the most expensive gaming chairs in the world for good reason

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Anthros Chair V2: One-minute review

The Anthros V2 Chair is, as the name would imply, the second iteration of Anthros’ gaming chair. Geared towards both desk workers, whether in-office or remote, and gamers alike, it is a complicated product, with more knobs and levers than your local knob-and-lever factory.

It also promises to ‘fix your sit’ which, if true in its promise, would be life-changing for anyone that struggles with posture or back pain.

There’s one caveat, however; this baby is expensive. With the base model sitting at a list price of over $2,000, before any of the optional bells and whistles you can add on, such as materials, colours, and even arm rests which come as extras, you’d be forgiven for hoping this chair might make you breakfast and do the laundry for you while you’re at it.

For context, this is far more expensive than our current favorite premium pick, the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody, and you could also buy three Branch Verve chairs for the same price, too (roughly).

Everything about the chair screams premium, though, from the materials used to the build quality of every component. I could never bring myself to spend this much money on a chair, but since I’m at my desk for a minimum of eight hours every day, comfort and back support are essential. And I’m not sure you’re going to find it anywhere better than with the Anthros V2 Chair.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthros Chair V2 review: Price and availability

  • $2,146 / Around £1,600 / Around AU$3,300
  • Price doesn’t include extras – even armrests
  • More expensive than the Herman Miller X Logitech Embody

Outside of the astronomical price tag, what are you actually getting with the Anthros V2 Chair? How could it possibly be worth that much? Well, according to Anthros themselves, it’s all about the technology behind it, and how it’s “engineered to relieve pain”. The seat features a contoured cushion that utilises ‘Cloudtex’ and ‘Cloudfloat’ technology, as opposed to traditional office and gaming chairs, which are usually flat.

This is part of what makes the Anthros V2 Chair so comfortable to sit in for extended periods, and in my experience with it over the last four months, it works. Compared to my previous office butt-rest, which was a bog-standard gaming chair from a relatively cheap brand compared to some of the premium offerings in that department, this has been like night and day.

The seat isn’t everything, though, as the Anthros V2 Chair promises plenty of lumbar support, and this comes from two areas. The back rest is in two segments, which are “designed to promote an optimal ’S’ curve of the spine by supporting the pelvis”, according to the official site. Both are controlled individually with knobs underneath the seat, so you can position them as you see fit. It’ll feel slightly uncomfortable at first, but the idea is that the chair makes you unable to slouch by keeping your spine upright.

An important note to make folks aware of is, at the time of writing, the Anthros chair is only sold on a US-facing website, but shoppers from outside the United States can still order it with international shipping.

Anthros V2 Chair review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Price

$2,146 (around £1,600 / AU$3,300 plus shipping from the US)

Dimensions (L x W x H)

28 x 18.3 x 43.7in (45.7 x 46.6 x 110.9cm)

Max user weight

300 lbs (136kg)

Seat width

19.8in (50.3cm)

Warranty

12 years

Finish

Athlon performance fabric

Anthros Chair V2 review: Design and aesthetics

  • Premium feel…
  • Except one minor part
  • Lacks a headrest

I’ve talked about the cost a lot because of how jaw-dropping it is initially, but I also must stress how it isn’t completely unjustified. Every part of this chair is high quality, from the swivel base to the seat cushion, back panel, arm rests, and the control knobs.

All of the mandatory parts for the chair feel excellent, but the one exception to this is the footrest. They’ve currently dropped it from $199 to $49, which the skeptic in me would assume is because they’ve had feedback that it’s so underwhelming and cheap-feeling compared to the rest of the chair. It’s plasticky, lacks many adjustments such as the ability to raise or lower it, and it can’t even be locked at a specific tilt angle. Save your cash and pick one up from another manufacturer.

There’s also no headrest on the Anthros V2 Chair, which some folks may find frustrating. It put me off at first, but after a while, you don’t miss it. It’s easier to stay awake and alert without a headrest, and while I’d like an optional headrest attachment to use when I’m reclining and playing video games with a controller, it’s a small thing to lose when I feel better in my posture and more attentive during the working day.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthros Chair V2 review: Comfort and Adjustability

  • Comfy for long periods
  • You can feel a difference in your posture
  • Somewhat of a learning curve

As mentioned earlier, the motto for the Anthros V2 Chair is that it will “fix your sit”, but doing that requires comfort. I am extremely happy to report this is by far the comfiest chair I’ve used for long periods… although I didn’t think that at first. It takes some getting used to because if you’re using it correctly, you’ll have the lower back section pushing into you. If you let it shape your back, then over time, your posture should improve.

Anthros are well aware that purchasing such an expensive chair is an investment, so you’re offered a video call with one of their on-staff therapists to “learn more about the chair and how it can specifically help you”.

I spoke with Anthros’ Ambassador Community Director, Ashley Williams, for 20 minutes or so, alongside carrying out this review, learning a little more about the science behind it, how they went through iterations of the product, and what it looks like underneath the shell. She also helped me set up all the various configurations to perfectly suit my height and desk setup, such as where the arm rests sit, how far forward the lower back support should be, and more.

(Image credit: Future)

That customer service goes a long way, so even though the chair was provided free of charge for review purposes, knowing that service is available to anyone who buys the chair – or who wants to discuss the product prior to purchase – it’s the sort of support you value. It’s especially helpful when you consider how many knobs and adjustments the chair has, which means it has a slight learning curve, and referring to the manual is required until you learn which part tweaks each aspect.

Four months in and I’m thoroughly impressed. If I’d spent upwards of $2,000 on the chair, would I feel the same? I’m not sure, but that’s because that’s a lot of money for me. If you’re lucky enough that this wouldn’t be such a financial investment, this is one of the best chairs on the market for long-term ergonomic support.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthros Chair V2 review: Assembly

Putting it all together is a painless experience, entirely feasible to do by yourself, and you’ll be done in under an hour.

However, this comes with a caveat. Everything with the assembly went flawlessly until the very final step, which is to install the upper back cuff.

This plastic cover for the upper back hinge refused to go on, no matter how hard I tried, so I put it down for a few days. I came back to it later, and it eventually clicked into place, but be prepared to use some serious force.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anthros Chair V2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Anthros Chair V2: Also consider

If the Anthros V2 Chair hasn’t sunk its claws into you or it’s out of reach financially, consider one of these other desk chairs that promise similar results.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Anthros V2 Chair

Herman Miller x Logitech Embody

Branch Verve

Price

$2,146 (around £1,600 / AU$3,300 plus shipping from the US)

$1,795 / £1,496

$549 (about £495, AU$860)

Dimensions (L x W x H)

28 x 18.3 x 43.7 in (45.7 x 46.6 x 110.9 cm)

29 x 29.5 x 45 in (73.7 x 74.9 x 114.3 cm)

27 x 27 x 37 to 41 in (68.6 x 68.6 x 104.1 cm)

Max user weight

300 lbs (136kg)

300 lbs (136kg)

300 lbs (136kg)

Seat width

19.8in (50.3cm)

29.5in (74.9cm)

16.5in (41.9cm)

Warranty

12 years

12 years

7 years

Finish

Athlon performance fabric

100% polyester fabric

3D knit polyester fabric

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Anthros Chair V2

  • Used regularly for almost four straight months
  • Worked from it during the day, usually locked into the upright position
  • Often gamed from it in the evening, reclining with a controller in hand

I can never see myself going back to any other seat or gaming chair after using the Anthros V2 Chair for so long. My back feels better for it, and I’m looking forward to experiencing some more of the long-term benefits. As explained above, it’ll take a little while for you to start feeling positive changes, but it’s well worth sticking with it.

I work 9-5, typing and using my computer as normal, then recently I’ve started playing Rematch in the evenings on PC, for which I use an Xbox controller. I adjust the tilt and recline, keeping the back supports in the same position, so my spine still fits into that S shape.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: August 2025



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Skullcandy dives into high-end gaming audio
Esports

Skullcandy dives into high-end gaming audio

by admin


I mainly remember Skullcandy because of earbuds. That said, I did once buy one of their headsets at a discount store and it was fantastic, with some killer bass. Now, they’re invading the high-end gaming space with the Crusher PLYR 720, the latest in Skullcandy technology. Check out all the details below!

The Crusher PLYR 720 fuses Skullcandy’s fan-favorite multi-sensory bass, THX® Spatial Audio, and open-back acoustics to deliver an entirely new way to experience your favorite games. Explosions rumble through your chest, engines growl with depth, you can hear a creeping enemy with pinpoint accuracy, and every impact shakes you.

The open-back acoustics and advanced positional tuning mean the audio creates a realistic, expansive soundstage. The signature dual Crusher drivers, acting as sensation drivers, provide the best immersive acoustics for gamers. The result gives gamers a heightened level of hearing and sensation that allows them to feel what is happening in the game before they see or hear it. Unlike haptic headphones on the market, Crusher PLYR 720’s bass drivers fire directly into your head and ears—not just around them—delivering a more natural, visceral sound you can truly feel. It’s less like controller rumble and more like adding an adjustable subwoofer to your gameplay.

“This isn’t just immersive—it’s 4D gaming,” said Justin Regan, vice president of marketing at Skullcandy. “This is a winning combination of features, advanced app customization, and crisp audio.”

With a bold design and advanced audio control via the Skull-HQ app, the Crusher PLYR 720 puts players in full command of their sensory experience, letting them tune every detail to their playstyle.

“Crusher PLYR 720 users become immersed in a more realistic game experience with THX Spatial Audio,” said Mike Henein, director of product development, THX Ltd. “THX Spatial Audio brings the precision and pinpoint accuracy of advanced audio positioning that allows gamers to more accurately locate sneaking enemies, avoid whizzing bullets, and gain early detection of nearby threats. Plus, the thrill of hearing the immersive environment also elevates emotional realism. Stay mentally sharp, survive longer, and improve your score with Crusher PLYR 720 by toggling on THX Spatial Audio.”

For console and mobile gamers, the Crusher PLYR 720 also features THX Spatial Audio with head tracking, a dynamic additional immersive audio feature, through the Skullcandy Mobile App for console and mobile gaming.

Whether you enjoy cross-platform gameplay or are an Xbox loyalist, Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 delivers. Two available models include:

-Multi-Platform – Wireless play on PlayStation, Switch, PC, and mobile, plus wired Xbox support.

-Designed for Xbox – Wireless play on Xbox, plus PlayStation, Switch, PC, and mobile.

Both models launch at $259.99 MSRP and will be available exclusively at Skullcandy.com and Amazon.


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Nintendo switch 2 package
Product Reviews

Switch 2 has a 120 Hz screen with response times that are too slow for 60 Hz gaming, tester claims

by admin



Nintendo’s latest Switch 2 handheld has a screen with room for improvement. According to Chinese reviewer Chimolog, the Switch 2’s display has an abysmal 17.06 ms average response time.

It’s worth mentioning that the reviewer makes no mention of their testing methodology so take this information with a pinch of salt. The Switch 2 comes armed with a 1080p, 120 Hz, 7.9-inch, LCD display.

At best, the Switch 2’s screen was allegedly capable of an 8.88 ms response time, but at worst, it achieved an impressively slow 27.46 ms response time. At a 17 ms average response time, the Switch 2 screen is so slow that the pixels cannot physically change to some colors fast enough to project a 60 Hz (60 FPS) gaming experience accurately. The Chinese reviewer compared the Switch 2’s response time to a plethora of 60 Hz and 75 Hz gaming monitors, and the console came in dead last by quite a significant margin.


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The next closest monitor in the reviewer’s testing suite was the Innocn M2U 27 Mini-LED monitor featuring an 11.06ms response time. By way of comparison, the M2U had a 65% better response time compared to the Switch 2.

It seems Nintendo prioritized all other areas of the display. Chimolog allegedly recorded contrast ratios, brightness uniformity, brightness, and color gamut performance that matched or exceeded the performance of typical mainstream displays. The display allegedly boasts a contrast ratio of 1309:1, 1.54% brightness uniformity, and peak brightness of 303 cd/m². The display’s color gamut covers 100% of the sRGB color space, 99.6% of the DCI-P3 color space, 97.9% of the Adobe RGB color gamut, and 71.9% of the Rec. 2020 color gamut. The panel Nintendo is using for the Switch 2 is allegedly an IPS display of some kind.

The only other area that Nintendo sacrificed quality for was apparently text readability. The Chinese reviewer claims the IPS panel in the Switch 2 has a “special RGB” layout where the RGB diodes are arranged in a wave-like pattern, causing text to appear blurry (similar to the text readability problems that can be found on many OLED panels).

Unfortunately, the reviewer could not properly test the display’s capabilities at 120 Hz to check if the same response time issues plague the display’s maximum refresh rate. Generally, though, response times get lower the closer a display is to running at its highest rated refresh rate. But there’s no knowing if the response times would be fast enough, regardless, for a proper 120Hz experience for the same reasons mentioned before.

The Switch 2’s display has the worst performance characteristics of pretty much any display on the market today, including the original Switch (not to mention the Switch OLED). Monitors Unboxed found the Switch 1’s LCD is 10ms faster than the Switch 2’s display (its testing showcased an even slower 33.3ms average response time for the Switch 2).

However, Nintendo’s decision to put an ultra-slow screen in the Switch 2 won’t stop gamers from buying the console. The console has already broken a world record in sales, selling 3.5 million units in just four days, making the Switch 2 the best-selling Nintendo console in history. The Switch is also the only console series that is officially capable of playing Nintendo games, so gamers have little choice but to deal with the poor screen performance if they want to play their favorite Nintendo games. Hopefully, Nintendo will ship an OLED version of the Switch 2 sooner rather than later to rectify the console’s awful display.



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ELO Launches Sentinel XR Gaming Glasses Featuring 180" Virtual Display Technology
Esports

ELO Launches Sentinel XR Gaming Glasses Featuring 180″ Virtual Display Technology

by admin


If you’re a tech junkie like me, then you know that XR glasses are finally reaching a maturity where you should sit up and take notice. A company called ELO (not related to Electric Light Orchestra) has showcased a new lightweight wearable they’re calling Sentinel XR Gaming Glasses that have some very impressive next-generation features that look like it’ll bump the big boys right off the podium. Let’s take a look:

The Sentinel XR Glasses: Portable 180″ Display

The Sentinel XR Glasses feature a 180-inch virtual Full HD display that delivers 1080p resolution to each eye at 120Hz refresh rate. The display size adjusts from 27 inches when positioned at 80 cm to 180 inches at 3 meters, offering larger viewing areas than competing products.

Electrochromic lenses toggle between full transparency and 99.7% blackout for adaptable viewing conditions

Wide 52° FOV powered by Sony’s latest 0.68” OLED modules, the largest available in XR glasses

Lightweight construction at under 80g with universal fit and adjustable diopter settings (0 to -5.0D)

Variable brightness with 10 adjustment levels

Universal connectivity via USB-C to Steam Deck, iPhone 15/16, Android devices, and Mac/PC 

The feature set in this is already impressive, but it’s what came next that made me sit up and take notice:

The OmniBase portable computing hub transforms the Sentinels into a fully independent system. Running Android OS, the device includes 128GB of internal storage with micro-SD card expansion capability for additional content storage.

Wait…local storage? You have my interest…

Core features: 

Wireless connectivity

with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming and device pairing

Multi-platform support for cloud gaming platforms, streaming services, and retro gaming emulators

Independent operation that eliminates requirements for phone or computer connections

Integrated navigation controls for anchoring and adjusting virtual screen size and positioning

Portable charging capability with battery capacity to charge mobile devices up to 3 times

Ok – completely wireless, local storage, and standalone power? Now were talking. And now a controller on top of it? Suddenly you have an entirely standalone ecosystem:

The Vagabond V2 mobile controller provides console-grade gaming performance for portable devices. The controller features Hall Effect joysticks that eliminate drift issues and deliver precise analog control for extended gaming sessions.

Hall Effect joysticks for drift-free precision control and enhanced durability

Silent mechanical buttons for responsive input without noise

Passthrough charging to maintain device power during extended gameplay

Customizable back buttons for personalized control mapping

USB-C connectivity for low-latency connection across compatible devices

Layout options available in Xbox and PlayStation configurations

There’s also an optional dongle to add Bluetooth connectivity and external battery power to extend things even further.

Ambitious hardly covers this one. Throw in that the team intends to support the App Store, Google Play, Netflix Games, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PlayStation Remote Play, as well as pretty much anything you can connect via USB-C that supports video out and these look like an absolute game changer. You enjoy that pun.

So the question now is “How much, and when?” I’ve got you covered:

Availability and Pricing

The Sentinel XR Ecosystem is launching on Kickstarter with exclusive pricing:

  • Sentinel XR Glasses :$429
  • Vagabond V2 Controller: $89
  • OmniBase Hub: $199

As for the “when” part, it’s sooner than you think – you’ll have these in your hands for Christmas with a November 2025 ship date.

There is a LOT of ambitious statements in Kickstarter, but it’s also pretty clear from the demonstrations that they are fairly far along in the development cycle that it’s not just a target the team is aiming for, but one they’re merely refining for launch.

There are a number of tiers for Kickstarter, with some solid discounts if you jump in soon. Tech nerds, take notice – this could be the portable screens for gamers on the go we’ve been waiting for.


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Dan Clancy Twitch CEO looking into the camera
Esports

TimTheTatman concerned Twitch is no longer a “gaming” site as IRL streams dominate

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Popular streamer TimTheTatMan has sparked a viral debate over the future of gaming broadcasts, saying Twitch’s Just Chatting category far outpaces people playing games.

Kai Cenat, IShowSpeed and Asmongold are some of the biggest streamers on the internet, branching out from their status as content creators to enter the mainstream media.

For instance, Kai Cenat regularly rubs shoulders with major celebrities like Drake, LeBron James, Kevin Hart and more, while IShowSpeed, who streams on YouTube, gets international recognition thanks to his viral tours abroad.

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The majority of their streams aren’t spent in front of the computer playing games (minus Asmongold, who’s known for his political commentary streamed from home). Instead, they’re out hosting award shows and taking up physical challenges against high-profile athletes.

It’s influencers like these that have fellow broadcaster TimTheTatMan convinced that the future of live streaming isn’t in gaming — it’s in IRL.

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Twitch: Kai CenatKai Cenat is one of the most popular streamers on the net, regularly hanging out with celebrities like Kevin Hart and even hosting award shows.

TimTheTatMan says gaming on Twitch is dead

Tim spoke about this growing trend during a broadcast in June 2025 after noticing that the majority of viewership on Twitch was in the site’s ‘Just Chatting’ category.

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“There were 500,000 watching Just Chatting,” he said. “And the closest video game to that was League of Legends at 100K, and Counter-Strike at 85K. I think it’s just gaming in general right now, because all the views seem to be when you go into Just Chatting and talk about drama.

“You could argue that the biggest streamers out there don’t even game that much,” he continued. “This guy Kai Cenat just hung out with LeBron. You know what I’m saying? …IRL is king now. That’s the reality.”

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TimTheTatman talks about the current state of gaming for Streamers

“the biggest Streamers don’t even game anymore, IRL is king now thats the reality” pic.twitter.com/xmWJhKEeDa

— yoxic (@yoxics) June 25, 2025

Responses to Tim’s theory are largely mixed. Some viewers agree that Kai’s motion is largely due to his interactions with celebrities and broadcasts outside the home, while others say that gaming content is in a lull until a massive title like GTA 6 drops.

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“IRL is the ultimate reality show,” one viewer said on X.

“Just not any game that’s poppin’ right now,” another argued. “Once someone drops something worth playing / watching, it’s back to normal. Nobody doing irl content when a game like GTA 6 comes out. Just not any great games right now.”

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Just not any game that’s poppin right now. Once someone drops something worth playing/watching it’s back to normal. Nobody doing irl content when a game like gta6 comes out. Just not any great games right now.

— DeaTHhly (@DeaTHhlyy) June 25, 2025

“We desperately need better multiplayer games,” another said.

While the Just Chatting category might reign supreme, a majority of Twitch’s most-subscribed streamers are gaming-focused… but content creators like TimTheTatMan aren’t convinced this will be the case for much longer.

And we can’t forget that Kai Cenat’s gaming marathons have been some of the most viral broadcasts on the net, something he’s returning to with IShowSpeed for a Mario Bros. stream.

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Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop held in one hand with a PC and an Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 in the background.
Gaming Gear

I’ve spent weeks testing the best little gaming laptops and there’s only one they’re going to have to prise from my cold, dead hands

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I’ve spent a good few weeks now agonising over which of these two notebooks can claim the crown of best 14-inch gaming laptop—should it be the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 claiming the title for the second year running, or does the redesigned Razer Blade 14 do enough to topple the incumbent champ?

Honestly, from when I first started playing with the new Blade 14 my mind was made up. It’s slimmer than last year’s machine, cheaper, and a whole lot quieter than the frankly annoyingly noisy Zephyrus G14. But that’s not to say there hasn’t been some conflicting thoughts going around in my head.

Because, on paper, it’s really not so cut and dried a result. In the US, the Asus laptop is $100 cheaper, and that’s for the version with the RTX 5070 Ti GPU—the Blade 14, by contrast, can only be configured with either an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070. The G14 is also sporting the best mobile APU that AMD has ever created: the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with it’s excellent Radeon 890M integrated graphics.

The Blade 14 is also an AMD-powered device, but it uses the weaker Ryzen AI 9 365 with the same sort of iGPU as the last-gen APUs.

So… it’s got a lesser spec and it’s more expensive. “How can you be recommending this gaming laptop with just 8 GB of VRAM over the clearly superior Zephyrus?!” This is the question I imagine being screamed at this page right now, but bear with me and I shall explain.

If you want a gaming laptop with a ton of graphical grunt first and foremost, then a 14-inch machine isn’t for you. This form factor is about having a genuinely portable notebook that will play games on the go. It’s about the experience, not the raw numbers. While you will get higher frame rates out of the Asus compared with the Razer—though given the slight silicon differences between the two GPUs, not by much—there is a cost to be paid. And it will be paid by your ears.

The new Zephyrus has this uncomfortable two-tone nature to its fan noise which is hugely distracting and the only way to mitigate it outside of some really good noise cancelling headphones, is to use the manual configuration options to pull back on performance. And at that point, getting to the same fan sound as the quieter Blade 14, you’re then running your RTX 5070 Ti at the same frame rate as an RTX 5070.

I also just straight prefer the design of the Blade 14, too. The sleek matte black MacBook aesthetic has long been a draw for the Razer laptops, and with this new, thinner chassis that’s even more pronounced. It’s a lovely thing, with a gorgeous OLED screen, a decent keyboard, and great battery life, too.

For me, it’s the best compact gaming laptop around.

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Best overall

The best overall

Now we’ve seen the new Blade 16 and Asus Zephyrus G16 laptops side-by-side we can categorically say that Razer has absolutely won this round. On all counts, the newly redesigned Blade 16 is the best gaming laptop you can buy today.

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Best budget

The best budget

Gigabyte has created an excellent budget gaming laptop, and while the screen could be better, it offers a nice combination of components for very reasonable money.

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Best 14-inch

The best 14-inch

If you want your gaming laptop to actually be a proper mobile gaming device, then the newly redesigned Razer Blade 14 is the best compact notebook you can buy. It may top out at an RTX 5070, but that fits perfectly its slimline beautiful chassis.

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Best mid-range

The best mid-range

We weren’t huge fans of MSI’s last-gen gaming laptops, but the mid-range Vector manages to deliver both high frame rates, a decent price, and a setup that allows for a balanced mode with decent performance and acceptable fan noise.

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Best high-performance

5. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10

The best high-performance

If you want the best gaming frame rates full stop, then Lenovo’s redesigned Legion Pro 7i is the gaming laptop you should covet. The new design looks great, and that thicker chassis allows for the absolute best gaming performance we’ve seen in a current-gen machine.

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Best 17-inch

6. Gigabyte Aorus 17X (2024)

The best 17-inch

The latest Aorus 17X shows that Gigabyte has been paying attention, and has delivered a beefy 17-inch machine that we’d be happy to lug about with us. It’s got a great spec, the screen is sweet, and the battery life is decent, too.

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Anybody Want To Buy A $2,600 Toy Story Gaming PC?
Game Reviews

Anybody Want To Buy A $2,600 Toy Story Gaming PC?

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Image: MSI / Pixar / Kotaku

MSI, Disney, and Pixar have partnered together to produce one of the weirder crossover products I’ve seen in some time: A high-end gaming PC themed entirely around Toy Story.

Disney’s New Lo-Fi Goofy Video Is Hiding A Kingdom Hearts Tease

As spotted by VideoCardz, MSI’s Toy Story PC isn’t just a bog-standard gaming rig with some Toy Story stickers slapped on it. Instead, the entire thing is themed around the franchise, including the parts inside it. Have you ever wanted a Woody-themed motherboard? Well, there’s one inside this MSI Toy Story rig. The entire PC case is colorful and vibrant, as you’d expect for a device based on a Pixar animated feature. But even better, the case itself is designed to mimic the claw machine from the original film.

If you were to make a Venn diagram of “die-hard Toy Story fans” and “hardcore PC gamers,” I’m not sure how much overlap there would be. Perhaps Disney and MSI have data that proves this thing has a dedicated audience. Or maybe someone at MSI is just a big Toy Story fanatic and made this happen. Either way, if you do want this thing, it will cost you about $2,600 USD. Of course, you can’t actually buy it over here—the Toy Story PC will only be available in Taiwan and in very limited quantities. MSI says once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Image: MSI / Pixar / Kotaku

So what’s inside this pricey Toy Story rig? Some so-so hardware, including: GeForce RTX 5070, an MSI Z890 Gaming Plus motherboard, an Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD. The card and RAM are nice, but the CPU is a bit of a bummer as it’s a more budget chip with not-so-great gaming performance. And that’s nowhere near enough storage. You are definitely spending a fair amount extra on this box for the Toy Story theming.

Still, when you bring this PC to a local LAN event, you’ll likely have one of the weirdest rigs around. And that’s something.

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