Nikita is a Staff Writer on the Reviews team at Tom's Guide, and she's always on the lookout for the latest tech. She is a lifelong gaming and photography enthusiast, especially interested in wildlife and landscape photography. Having worked as a Sub Editor and Writer for Canon EMEA, she’s a bit of a grammar nerd (and a supporter of the Oxford comma), and has also interviewed photographers from all over the world and working in different genres. A holder of two master’s degrees, the most recent one being in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, Nikita’s work has appeared in several publications such as Motor Sport Magazine, NME, Marriott Bonvoy, The Independent, and Metro. Her favorite tech includes the PS5, the DJI Air 3S, and her Google Pixel 7 Pro. She's also a licensed drone pilot and instant cameras expert so you'll find her testing these almost every week.
In her downtime, Nikita can usually be found sinking hours into RPGs on her PS5, flying a drone, out on a walk with a camera in hand, at a concert, watching F1, or planning her next tattoo.
Latest articles by Nikita Achanta

You always need two cameras in your backpack (and one of them should cost under $100) — here’s why
By Nikita Achanta published
As someone who reviews cameras for a living, I always carry two in my backpack: one for serious photography and another to have fun with.

Canon is bringing back this 2016 camera because Kendall Jenner made it go viral — but I recommend this compact instead
By Nikita Achanta last updated
The Powershot Elph 360 HS, loved by Kendall Jenner and Dua Lipa, is getting a minor refresh but is it worth the steep asking price? I'm not convinced.

HomePod 3 was a no-show at the iPhone 17 event — so I recommend you get this hi-fi smart speaker instead
By Nikita Achanta published
The Denon Home 150 is an outstanding smart speaker that supports Siri and Alexa, and it makes music sound phenomenal thanks to hi-fi wireless streaming.

I’ve finally found the perfect gamepad for the Switch 2 — and it isn’t the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
By Nikita Achanta published
With Hall Effect sensors in its thumbsticks as well as triggers, the GameSir Super Nova upstages the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller in a few ways.

The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 for the PS5 sounds phenomenal — but that’s not even the No. 1 reason I’d buy it
By Nikita Achanta published
The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is a stunning headset for an array of consoles and devices, but its biggest selling point is its nifty accessory.

I took my remote PS5 gaming setup to the next level with this phone controller — and I won't be going back
By Nikita Achanta published
I love playing PS5 games and now I can play them from the comfort of my bed or in an entirely different location, thanks to the GameSir G8 Plus.

I never thought a $49 gamepad would top the Switch 2 Pro Controller — and now that I’ve tried this GameSir pad, I won’t be going back
By Nikita Achanta published
The GameSir Super Nova features responsive Hall Effect thumbsticks and triggers, back buttons, an ergonomic design, and costs just $49.

The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 blends premium gaming features with audiophile-quality sound — and it’s compatible with Xbox, Switch, PS5 and more
By Nikita Achanta published
The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is a premium gaming headset that sounds fantastic and it boasts a massive 250-hour battery life. However, it has some flaws.

I spent the weekend playing PS5 and Switch 2 games using the GameSir G8 Plus — and its performance and versatility blew me away
By Nikita Achanta published
The GameSir G8 Plus is a fantastic phone controller with Hall Effect sticks and triggers, and it's compatible with smartphones and the Nintendo Switch 2.

Best mirrorless cameras in 2025
By Peter Wolinski last updated
The best mirrorless cameras for photographers of all types, experience levels, and budgets.

The best ring lights in 2025
By Peter Wolinski last updated
Whether it's for vlogging, photography or make-up, here are the best ring lights for all.

I’ve tested dozens of mice — here's the 3 features you need to look for before you buy
By Nikita Achanta published
What makes a mouse 'perfect?' Here are three things I always look for when I'm reviewing productivity as well as gaming mice.

I created the best beginner multi-room music streaming setup with these two smart speakers — and the sound blew me away
By Nikita Achanta published
It's ridiculously easy to create a whole-home audio setup, and all you need are the Denon Home 150 and the Denon Home 350 to do so.

I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners
By Nikita Achanta published
Reddit recommends these three drones for beginners. I review drones for a living. So what do I think of Reddit's top picks?

I just tested Denon’s hi-fi smart speaker — and it’s my new favorite way to stream audiophile-quality sound
By Nikita Achanta published
The Denon Home 350 is a fantastic smart speaker with voice assistant support, six drivers that deliver powerful, three-dimensional sound, and an intuitive app.

Keychron’s new 8K polling mouse sets a new standard for gaming mice — and it costs just $69
By Nikita Achanta published
The Keychron M3 Mini V2 8K boasts 8,000Hz polling and a maximum DPI of 30,000, making it a powerhouse for competitive gaming, and it's built well too.

I just tested Westcott’s 18-inch ring light for professional photographers — and it’s almost perfect
By Nikita Achanta published
The Westcott 18-inch Bi-Color LED Kit is a powerful and bright ring light with adjustable color temperature and a fantastic color rendering index.

I review gaming gear for a living — these are the PS5 gadgets I can’t live without
By Nikita Achanta published
From the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro to the Aurzen ZIP Tri-Fold Portable Projector, these gadgets are a permanent part of my gaming ecosystem.

I just tested Kodak’s new compact camera — and it's my favorite retro gadget of the year
By Nikita Achanta published
The Kodak PIXPRO C1 has something most other cheap compact cameras don't, and it didn't take long for this one feature to become my favorite.

1,000-hour battery life on a mechanical keyboard?! I’m not joking — I tested it
By Nikita Achanta published
The Mchose x Unbox Therapy UT98 is the longest lasting mechanical keyboard I've tested, rated at a whopping 909 hours!

I’ve been testing the Kodak PIXPRO C1 — and it's ideal for those who don't mind imperfection
By Nikita Achanta published
The Kodak PIXPRO C1 takes decent photos and video, and its flip-up screen is very useful for taking selfies. However, it has some noteworthy flaws.

I didn't think mechanical keyboards could last for aeons — and then I tested the McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98
By Nikita Achanta published
The McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98 is a fantastic productivity keyboard offering a great typing experience, and it looks and sounds just as great.

I test drones for a living and I’ve found the 5 best deals this Labor Day — save up to $330 on DJI, Potensic and HoverAir
By Nikita Achanta last updated
Labor Day is nearly here and great deals have already landed, and you can now save big on my favorite drones.

The Camp Snap CS-8 is the only product I’ve ever tested that made me cry — and its nostalgic video quality is to blame
By Nikita Achanta published
Camp Snap's new screen-free video camera is a joy to use, and its retro video capabilities could make any adult (like me) cry.

I love this Turtle Beach PS5 controller — but this one thing is holding it back from perfection
By Nikita Achanta published
I love the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded controller for the PS5, and if it wasn't for the lack of this one thing, it would be a 5/5 star product for me.
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