Let’s be honest: between soaring memory prices and the endless barrage of tech buzzwords, building the ultimate setup in 2026 hasn't been easy. But amidst the chaos, hardware makers gave us some of the most genuinely exciting, boundary-pushing gear we’ve seen in a decade.

This year, "compromise" became a dirty word. Laptops gained dual OLED screens without losing all-day battery life, budget peripherals delivered soundscapes usually reserved for four-figure studio setups, and on-device processing finally evolved from a gimmick into everyday horsepower.

We sifted through the noise, ran hundreds of lab benchmarks, and tested dozens of contenders to death. Here are the 21 standout winners that earned a permanent place on our desks for the 2026 Tom’s Guide Computing Awards.

Laptops

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 is a true MacBook Neo rival and easily the best budget laptop you can buy right now. Despite its low $699 starting price, it doesn’t skimp on luxury features you’d find on more expensive laptops, giving you quality with few compromises.

The thin, light aluminum chassis not only looks great, but it also makes the XPS 13 ideal for travel. The sharp 13.4-inch 2K touch display is bright and colorful, while the Intel Wildcat Lake chip inside gives you plenty of performance for everyday work. And if that wasn’t enough, it has more than enough battery life to last you for a full workday. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Asus Zenbook Duo (2026)

Dual-screen laptops have always been a bit gimmicky to me, but this year’s Asus Zenbook Duo proved me dead wrong with its potent combination of two mesmerizing 14-inch OLED panels and the raw performance of Intel’s breakthrough Core Ultra X9 388H chipset.

It all starts with a ground-up ceraluminum redesign for the double display system that feels premium to the touch and sturdier against the elements. Throw in a CPU that has the power of a supercar paired with the efficiency of a Toyota Prius (you can actually game on this thing, and it has a 14-hour battery life), and it’s easily one of my favorite laptops of the year. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Razer Blade 16 (2026)

The Razer Blade 16 (2026) is an ultraportable gaming laptop that makes no compromises. Thanks to its powerful components, it can run even the most demanding PC games at buttery-smooth frame rates. The vivid 16-inch OLED panel ensures all those games are a sight to behold.

The sleek design, with its sturdy, CNC-milled, all-black aluminum chassis, means this laptop will look just as great in the office as it is in your gaming den. Of course, RGB lighting on the keyboard deck shows the Blade 16 knows how to have fun. Though certainly pricey at $3,599 (to start), this is one of the finest gaming laptops I’ve reviewed and is worth your hard-earned cash. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514

When MediaTek jumped into the Chromebook pool with its Kompanio Ultra ARM silicon, it was like Google’s laptops got a shot in the…well, arm. And of all the options released, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 stands out as one of the most impressive.

Because it’s not just about the performance and power efficiency (almost 15 hours of battery life on one charge) or AI-infused simplicity of a Gemini-boosted Chrome OS. It’s about the experience you build around them, and this OLED 2-in-1 is one of the nicest-feeling Chromebooks I’ve touched. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Tablets

Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 is an entertainment-focused Android tablet that has the largest speaker I’ve ever seen. The JBL speaker is so large, you could even say it’s a speaker with a tablet attached, rather than the other way around. And it’s not for show either, as it delivers punchy, bassy sound you can feel in your chest. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker, which adds versatility.

The 12.1-inch IPS display is bright and colorful, making whatever you’re watching look its best. The 16:9 aspect ratio is great for videos, and it also works well for comic books and websites in vertical mode. There’s also a handy built-in kickstand when you want to sit back and relax at your desk. Though its performance isn’t the best for getting work done and it's too heavy to hold for long periods, the incredible sound and overall ease of use make this $399 tablet an easy recommendation. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Desktops

Alienware Area-51 Desktop

The Alienware Area-51 is for hardcore users willing to pay top dollar for premium gaming performance. Aside from AMD Ryzen X3D processor options, this is effectively the same PC I reviewed last year. That’s not a bad thing, as this is still a phenomenal PC.

You can configure this beast with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, 4TB of storage, and 64GB of RAM. You can also kit it out with an Intel Core Ultra 200S chip if you’re Team Blue. All of it is housed in an otherworldly design that keeps the PC running cool and quiet. If you have the space for it in your office or gaming den, this is the ultimate gaming PC. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Lenovo Yoga Mini

The Lenovo Yoga Mini breaks free from the rectangular design of other mini PCs, adding cool extras like RGB underglow and touch controls. This circular mini PC is meant to sit front and center on your desk, and it looks absolutely stunning.

Despite its smaller size and unique shape, the Yoga Mini is equipped with Intel’s latest Ultra X5 and X7 chips to handle whatever you throw at it. Lenovo didn’t skimp on ports either, and you also get an integrated fingerprint scanner in the power button for secure and seamless logins. If you’re after a small yet unique mini PC that stands out from the crowd, this is one of the most impressive machines and designs I’ve seen yet. — Anthony Spadafora, Managing Editor

Asus ROG G1000

So I’ll just say it upfront — Asus has created a monster that’s not just designed to be played, but to be seen as well. This is a monolithic pre-built tower that packs a whole bunch of flash courtesy of that holographic fan giving it a real stage presence atop your desk.

This is what happens when a company throws out the game plan and decides to do something a bit bonkers. Under the hood, you can spec it up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, an RTX 5090, a whopping 128GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB SSD — complete with a 1,000-watt power supply keeping it all going. Top it off with some real cooling innovation with that Tri-zone airflow design, and this beast won’t break a sweat. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Khadas Mind Pro

Khadas continues to build on its modular mini PC ecosystem with its new Mind Pro. Although this portable mini PC packs in more power than ever before, it’s not that much larger than the original Mind or the Mind 2S. Likewise, thanks to Khadas’ proprietary Mind Connector on the bottom, it’s still compatible with the company’s existing docks, which instantly transform its mini PCs into a gaming rig or even a laptop.

The Mind Pro may be small, but like its predecessors, it still comes packed with full-sized ports, including dual Thunderbolt 4 ports. There’s also a 7.98Wh battery inside that lets this more powerful mini PC sleep for over 48 hours, so you can bring it from one workstation or location to another. The Mind Pro’s extra thickness over the Mind is certainly worth it if you want even more power in a similar form factor with a growing ecosystem of game-changing accessories. — Anthony Spadafora, Managing Editor

Monitors

MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36

MSI knows how to make a great gaming monitor, and the MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is one of its best so far — and certainly the best this year. A blistering 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time deliver buttery-smooth gameplay.

The monitor also boasts phenomenal color coverage and accuracy, making it ideal not just for gaming, but for professional color grading and editing too. The X36 also features an AI Care Sensor that automatically alters the monitor’s display settings by detecting a human in front of it — yes, AI isn’t just a gimmick on the X36. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Alienware 27 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2726DM)

The Alienware AW2726DM is a premium gaming monitor that costs less than you’d expect. For $349, you get a gorgeous 27-inch 1440p OLED panel that makes everything look its best, a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate, and a low 0.03ms response time that can keep up with even the fastest-paced games.

The biggest compliment I can give the AW2726DM is that it has become my main monitor at work, proving that it’s not just good for gaming, as text on websites and documents appears nice and crisp. While HDR brightness could be brighter, and the design is very basic, lacking embellishments like RGB, this is a wonderful gaming monitor that won’t kill your bank account. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G8 G80S

The Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G8 G80HS is a marvel to behold thanks to its super-sharp 6K resolution, which is a first for gaming monitors, according to Samsung. It offers the most detailed picture quality I’ve ever seen. Trust me when I say that your eyes won’t be disappointed.

In addition to 6K at 165Hz, you can also switch to 3K mode at 330Hz for fast-paced competitive games. If you have a powerful PC that can play games at frame rates high enough to match that refresh rate, you’re in for a silky smooth and fast experience. While certainly pricey at its usual $1,599 asking price, you’re getting your money’s worth for visual fidelity and performance. — Tony Polanco, Senior Writer

Audio

Edifier HECATE G2000 Pro

Excellent sound quality? On a sub-$200 budget? The Edifier G2000 Pro desktop speakers look straight out of a sci-fi movie, and they’ve got otherworldly sound quality to boot. The reactive RGB lighting dances to in-game sounds and the beat of drums when listening to music.

The G2000 Pro packs plenty of oomph, delivering deep, meaty bass that makes you feel immersed in RPGs, horror, and racing titles. The treble is bright and crisp, so you can hear the clashing of swords in excruciating detail — and it never becomes fatiguing. In-game dialogue is loud and clear, too, making the G2000 Pro one of the best computer speakers out there. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Edifier HECATE G5 Max

The Edifier G5 Max makes you feel like the main character without breaking the bank. Equipped with a 53mm dynamic driver, 7.1.4 Spatial Audio co-developed by Hecate and THX, and an extremely comfortable design, the G5 Max also supports Hi-Res Audio streaming.

Chock-full of features usually reserved for premium prices, the G5 Max goes the extra mile by offering dual apps for customization. It is, by far, the best gaming headset for those on a budget. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Sony Inzone H6 Air

The Sony Inzone H6 Air proves that gaming headsets can be just as good for listening to music. Equipped with 40mm studio-grade drivers found in Sony’s monitoring headphones, the H6 Air is the ideal headset for audiophiles and gamers who want an immersive experience.

Whether you’re taking in the sights and sounds in open-world RPGs or infiltrating enemy bases in FPS titles, the H6 Air ensures you hear every soft footstep and loud explosion. Its open-back design offers superior comfort for all-day wear, and it comes with a detachable boom mic that makes you sound loud and clear. The H6 Air is the one headset to rule them all. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

Components

Intel Core Ultra 7 270K

Intel’s been on a bit of a comeback tour this year, and the Core Ultra 7 270K is a highlight of its return to form. By focusing on the fundamentals and righting the wrongs of its previous “Arrow Lake” generation, Intel’s created something special (and well-priced) for your machine.

The productivity chops are still here — staying miles ahead of AMD in terms of getting stuff done. But with critical improvements to its gaming performance by speeding up the travel time for data inside the chip and offering performance packages, these vastly cheaper chips get uncomfortably close in potential to Team Red’s pricey X3D CPUs. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE

GPU pricing has become a bit of a running joke in 2026, but amid huge price increases, AMD has managed to hold down the fort, with the nicely powerful Radeon RX 9070 GRE staying (or even below) its MSRP.

Built atop AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture to support all that FSR Redstone goodness, this is a fantastic 1440p GPU that offers decent ray tracing performance, strong frame rates, and real value for money. It may not be the best for productivity, but if you want bang for your buck in gaming, this is solid. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Intel Arc G3 Extreme

It’s a double win for Intel in the components category, as the Arc G3 Extreme in the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers the next-generation breakthrough for gaming handhelds we’ve been waiting for.

Taking that monster integrated GPU from the Panther Lake laptop chips and stuffing it into a handheld (XeSS 3 multi-frame generation and all) has led to a giant leap not just in frames per second, but in power efficiency too. With just over four hours of battery life on one charge in our gaming testing, and the ability to play games on a 4K screen with ease, this is a phenomenal chip. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Accessories and peripherals

Tessan Voyager 205

One thing that’s become an increasingly difficult task on my travels is keeping everything powered. The USB-C port demands can create a Frankenstein combination of travel adaptors all over my hotel room, but the Tessan Voyager 205 has the international compatibility and raw wattage to charge every single thing in my arsenal.

With three USB-C ports at 45W, three USB-C ports at 160W, USB-A, and a plug adaptor to plug something else in to make the most of that 205W output, this is a compact beast of a charger that keeps everything topped up with ease. — Jason England, Managing Editor of Core Tech

Satechi Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure

Satechi has long made some of the best Apple accessories, and its Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub is the first accessory I’d pick up for Cupertino’s latest mini PC. Thanks to its anodized aluminum finish and dimensions, it complements the Mac mini M4 perfectly while giving you easy access to the device’s power button with a handy cutout on the back.

With Satechi’s Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub, you can instantly add three USB-A ports and an SD card reader to your Mac, but that’s not all it can do. There’s also a free M.2 slot on the underside which lets you expand your Mac mini’s storage by up to 4TB. Whether you want to beat the Apple Tax on storage or add extra ports to your Mac mini M4, this accessory is easy to recommend. — Anthony Spadafora, Managing Editor

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro

Few keyboards are “designed for audiophiles,” but the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro is, and it’s the best-sounding mechanical keyboard I’ve ever tested. Its Kailh Cocoa switches, five layers of sound-dampening foam, and double-shot PBT keycaps come together to create a raindrop-like sound profile that’s gobsmackingly fantastic.

Plus, the Rainy 75 Pro is an absolute beast for productivity, thanks to its ultra-responsive switches and up to 900 hours of battery life. Its full CNC-machined aluminum construction also means the keyboard can stand the test of time. There really is no better deck for hardcore typists (and fans of a thocky sound). — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

The Razer Soma Chroma is the latest gaming chair from Razer, taking up the mid-range mantle between the pricier Razer Iskur and slightly cheaper Razer Enki. The Soma Chroma has one major party trick: not satisfied with its usual black and green motif, Razer has added RGB lighting for maximum elite gamerness. The Soma Chroma also boasts Razer’s usual premium design and build quality, a super thick seat cushion and comfortable arm rests.

Unfortunately, it’s let down by a few glaring omissions. Razer seems to think a slight bend in the backrest constitutes lumbar support, and that neck support isn’t as important as RGB lighting. So while your butt might be comfy, your back and neck certainly won’t be without further purchases. There’s also very limited adjustments on offer. Oh, and the companion software, Synapse, is terrible.

All in all, if you want a gaming chair that’s all about looks, this could be the one. But if you’re planning on spending long hours in the hot seat, I’d advise you look for something with more support and adjustability.

Find out more in my full Razer Soma Chroma review.

Razer Soma Chroma review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mid-range gaming chair from Razer
• Who is it for? Gamers who want an RGB-clad chair
• What does it cost? $499 / £499
• What do we like? The comfy base and arm rests, premium build, attractive styling and ease of assembly
• What don’t we like? Virtually no lumbar support, no neck support, limited adjustability and an awful companion app

Razer Soma Chroma review: Specs

Razer Soma Chroma review: The ups

The Razer Soma Chroma has a few things in its favor, like premium build quality, a striking aesthetic, a comfy base and squidgy arm rests, plus a mostly cable-free design.

Premium build

There’s no denying the Soma Chroma is built well — unsurprising if you have any experience with Razer products. The fabric used is high quality and soft to the touch; there’s thick foam on the seat pad and arm rests; and there aren’t too many scratchy plastics (with the exception of the arm rest tubes.

The chair’s recline mechanism also operates with a very satisfying mechanical clunk — it feels like there’s some heavyweight machinery in there holding it together. It’s a far cry from the janky mechanism used on my Boulies EP460.

Easy assembly

The Soma Chroma was pretty easy to assemble. My team reviews lots of chairs, and I’m usually the one building them — even when my colleagues are the ones reviewing them (I guess that’s one disadvantage to being handy with a wrench).

The Soma Chroma was in the average difficulty range. It was nowhere near as simple to build as the Boulies OP180, which only took me 10 minutes. There were also some heavier components, like the back rest, which may necessitate a second person to help. Other than that, it’s simply a case of putting the bolts where needed, all of which is detailed in the very thorough included instruction sheet. I built the Soma Chroma on my own in about half an hour.

I love that Razer supplies the Soma Chroma with a set of black gloves to wear when building the chair. I've never seen that from other brands before, and it's a nice touch.

Dashing design

The Soma Chroma looks rather fetching, too. It sports the typical streamlined gamer chair design — not a million miles away from the ubiquitous Secretlab Titan Evo. A cutout near the neck and distinctive contouring on both the back rest and seat give it a sports-car-esque vibe. It looks straight out of an esports competition.

With the lighting disabled, The Soma Chroma boasts Razer’s usual sleek, blacked out aesthetic, with striking green accents. With the lighting turned on, it looks about as sophisticated as RGB lighting ever does. If you’re after that particular aesthetic, I’m sure you’ll think it looks great. It’s not for me, but that’s down to personal preference. And besides, Razer has applied the RGB fairly sparingly around the wings.

Comfy base and arm rests

Sitting on the Soma Chroma for the first time, I was very pleasantly surprised at the seat base. I suffer from a type of immuno-arthritis that affects, among other areas, my coccyx. In short, butt comfiness is high on my agenda.

With other foam-cushioned chairs I’ve used, like the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro, seat pad foam usually compresses, applying too much pressure up into my lower back — I often have to use a special coccyx relief cushion with a cutout to relieve coccyx pressure. It’s for this reason I usually choose full mesh chairs like the Boulies EP460, as mesh seat pads provide the best butt support.

The Soma Chroma, though, has probably the comfiest foam base I’ve sat on. The foam is super thick and very squishy. I haven’t had to use my coccyx cushion at all. Also impressively squishy are the arm rests. So often, manufacturers leave arm rests hard and uncomfortable, causing elbow pain. Not so here. The Soma Chroma has about an inch of foam padding on each rest.

Overall, even after longer gaming/work stints of 8 hours, I’ve had no butt and no elbow pain. Unfortunately, as I’ll cover later, I had other types of pain from the lack of back and neck support.

Not fully wireless, but tidy

If you choose to use its lighting, the Soma Chroma needs to be powered via USB-C as there’s no built-in battery. You can either plug it into a wall socket or your PC, or use one of the best power banks.

The latter is the tidiest method — there’s a zip pocket at the back of the base, which will fit a small-ish power bank like my Iniu Ultra Mini ($31). That means no power banks dangling down or cables getting snagged in the wheels as you move the chair.

The RGB lights aren’t too power hungry either. We ran the RGB for 2-3 hours on our product photoshoot and the charge on my 10,000mAh Iniu only dropped by 1%.

Once powered, the Soma Chroma does have wireless connectivity. It comes with a USB-A Wi-Fi dongle, so you can hook the chair up to your PC and control the RGB via Razer Synapse. There are controls on the chair itself, but these are a little clunky unless you keep the instructions with you. I’m not at all keen on Synapse either, which I’ll get onto below.

Razer Soma Chroma review: The downs

Unfortunately, without buying further accessories, the Soma Chroma is downright uncomfortable thanks to no neck support, minimal lumbar support, no included support accessories and limited adjustment. Then there’s Synapse…

Poor neck and lumbar support

Razer claims the Soma Chroma has lumbar support. What it really means is that the Soma Chroma has a slight arch in the backrest. It provides about as much lumbar support as propping one’s self up against a plank of wood. There’s also no neck rest, and no additional neck cushion included — if you want one of those, you’ll need to pay an extra $50.

After my first testing session — about four hours of gaming — I started noticing a slight pain in my neck and upper shoulders. On day two, after another eight hours, I was experiencing full blown neck pain on both sides, up into the back of my head.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a form of immuno-arthritis, and there’s no way in hell I’d sit in this chair on a daily basis, at least not without some neck support. I have pretty good sitting posture (I have to make sure of it) but without anything to support your neck, it’s very hard to achieve that.

Admittedly, the Soma Chroma isn’t alone here. If you know anything about computing chairs, you’ll know that gaming chairs are usually designed for style over comfort. Most of them use the same flat back shaping, like the Secretlab Titan Evo and DXRacer Craft, for instance — the thing is, those two chairs at least come with a neck pillow for support.

If you want proper support, though, you’re better off looking at the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen, with its much better (i.e. existent) lumbar support and neck pillow. Or, a hybrid mesh chair like the Herman Miller Vantum. Or consider an office chair as, believe it or not, gaming chairs are mostly marketing. You can game just fine and much more comfortably in a mid-range mesh office chair like my Boulies EP460.

Limited adjustability

On top of the discomfort, the Soma Chroma offers very limited adjustability. You can do the bare minimum: recline, seat height, arm rest height and swivel. But there’s no way to slide the seat forward or back; no forward or backward arm rest sliders, and no lumbar adjustment.

You can set the chair into a free recline mode, but the mechanism was so stiff on my chair that I had to push off from a wall to get it to actually recline.

The Soma Chroma is also a little low, with the seat height maxing out at 16-20 inches. My Boulies EP460 maxes out at 23 inches, for comparison. A taller maximum seat height is more comfortable for those with long legs.

Synapse really, really sucks

Razer’s Synapse software is one of two ways to control the Soma Chroma’s RGB, in addition to the onboard button controls, which are a little basic. Given the RGB is such a major feature of the chair, Synapse is therefore a pretty important element.

Now, I’ve used Synapse before, so my expectations were tempered. But man oh man, I’d forgotten quite how much Synapse sucks — like, more than any other mainstream companion software I’ve ever used after testing and using dozens of peripherals. I’d honestly prefer Asus’ Armoury Crate, which is seriously saying something.

Firstly, Synapse is incredibly annoying to set up: you have to download the installer; then download Synapse (fighting off the extra bloatware it tries to download at the same time); then install Synapse; then fire up the installed app… and then download Synapse again. Like, what? I can’t even. It’s so needlessly complicated. It also kept failing to install, getting stuck at 45% three times, though that could’ve been a Windows issue.

When you do get Synapse installed, it’s slow, laggy and often takes ages to recognize the chair after booting up your PC, if it even manages to at all. Every time I rebooted, I had to un/re-plug the Soma Chroma’s 2.4G wireless dongle from/into my PC, otherwise Synapse wouldn’t recognize the chair.

The changes I made in Synapse regularly failed to apply, despite the app saying they did — I switched the lighting to static purple, which it changed to for around 30 seconds before defaulting back to unicorn puke RGB. And to top it all off, the moment you close the Synapse app, the lighting switches back to the default rainbow effect anyway. That means you have to keep that crappy piece of bloatware running while you game, if you want RGB.

Oh, and if you want any advanced effects you then have to download Razer’s Chroma RGB controller anyway. Eurgh. It’s not worth dealing with such terrible software for a couple of measly RGB strips on a mostly uncomfortable chair.

Razer Soma Chroma review: Verdict

I’m pretty disappointed by the Soma Chroma. I’ve awarded credit for its premium design, comfy base and arm rests, and its ease of assembly. Unfortunately, my three pros up top are tempered by four pretty major cons, so half marks for this chair is arguably even a little generous.

The Soma Chroma is really rather uncomfortable thanks to its lack of a neck cushion and only a semblance of lumbar support. Meanwhile, the adjustability is pretty scant and the companion software, Synapse, is nothing short of terrible.

So why bother? Just buy a Secretlab Titan Evo and be slightly less uncomfortable. Or do it properly and buy an ergonomic office chair (guess what: you can game in one of those). Before long, your neck will thank you.

I’ve been podcasting for the better part of 14 years, and the one piece of gear I’ve invested in more than anything else is one of the best microphones. After all, people will forgive so-so or even boring visuals as long as the audio is solid. I ran a Samson C01U Pro for years before switching to my current Elgato Wave 3, and I’m still happy with it. That said, I’ve been testing a pretty strong rival lately — the Razer Seiren V3 Pro.

Razer’s latest Seiren is a studio-leaning dynamic mic aimed squarely at podcasters and creators who want cleaner sound without a ton of extra gear. It has a solid, Shure-inspired look and comes packed with built-in processing tools that actually help you sound better right out of the box. At $249, it’s not cheap, but you’re getting dual USB-C and XLR connectivity, a 30 mm capsule, and some useful onboard features for the money.

So, will I ditch my beloved Wave 3 for the Seiren V3 Pro? Read on for what this mic is all about and how it held up after a week of real use.

Razer Seiren V3 Pro: What is it?

Before I dig into my experience with the Seiren V3 Pro, here’s a quick look at the features so you know what you’re dealing with.

The Seiren V3 Pro is built to deliver the warm, broadcast-style sound many podcasters and streamers are after. Its cardioid pickup pattern means you speak into the top of the mic, which focuses on your voice while rejecting noise from the sides and rear. That’s especially useful if you’re recording in a regular room rather than a treated studio. It also includes a built-in shock absorber and a removable pop filter to minimize noise and plosives before they reach your recording.

One of the standout features is the dual connectivity. You get USB-C for simple plug-and-play use, plus a full XLR connection when you want to run it through a proper audio interface or mixer. That flexibility means the same mic can sit on a basic streaming desk one day and move into a more serious recording setup the next — no need to buy two different mics!

On the software side, Razer includes onboard DSP tools such as a compressor, expander, limiter, and an AI noise remover. There’s also 32-bit float support in the Razer Synapse app, which gives you more headroom and less chance of clipping when you get loud.

Between the processing and the extra dynamic range, much of the cleanup happens before the audio even reaches your computer. A physical gain dial sits right on the mic for quick adjustments, and the Chroma RGB ring serves as both a status indicator (mute, levels, etc.) and a bit of customizable flair.

Overall, the Seiren V3 Pro feels like the best of both worlds: easy enough for more casual users like me to set up and start using, but with enough depth and customization to keep the more serious audio folks happy.

Razer Seiren V3 Pro: My experience

I was impressed the second I pulled the Razer Seiren V3 Pro out of the box. It’s a slick-looking piece of kit. Objectively, it doesn’t look all that different from other cardioid mics, but it’s a design style I’ve always liked and rarely had the chance to use. Inside the box, you get the mic, its stand, and a long USB cable. One end is USB-A, and Razer includes a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter, a thoughtful little touch.

Once you plug it into your PC and open the Razer Synapse app, it guides you through a quick setup. You speak into the mic at a normal volume, record a bit of ambient noise, tell it what you’re using it for (podcasting, in my case), and how far the mic is from you. That’s it. The whole process takes less than five minutes and does much of the heavy lifting for you.

I’m generally happy with the recording quality. My voice comes through full, and there’s almost no background noise. The only real issue is specific to my setup: the mic sits about two feet away from me, and because I live in a pretty bare studio apartment, it can pick up a bit of that empty-room sound. I don’t have that problem with my Elgato Wave 3 since it’s on an arm and I can pull it right up to my mouth. I can’t do that as easily with the Razer, but even at a less-than-ideal distance, the audio still sounds solid.

I’m not an audiophile, and I don’t like fussing with settings, so the preset options in Synapse work perfectly fine for me. You can dig in and tweak everything if you want, and I’m sure I could squeeze out even better results with some fine-tuning. For most people, though, the out-of-the-box presets are more than good enough.

The one real annoyance I encountered is how easy it is to accidentally mute yourself while adjusting the mic. The mute “button” is a large, sensitive target area, and it’s almost impossible not to graze it when repositioning the mic. A proper physical button that requires a bit of force to press would have solved this easily.

Razer Seiren V3 Pro: Bottom line

This is my first time using a Razer microphone, and I have to say that I’m pretty impressed. Between the clean design and the solid set of features, the Seiren V3 Pro feels like a real step up for anyone looking to take their podcasting or content creation more seriously. Yeah, $249 is a chunk of money, and there are cheaper options out there. But if you decide to spend it, I don’t think you’ll walk away disappointed.

So, back to the question I asked at the start: will I switch from my Elgato Wave 3 to the Razer Seiren V3 Pro? Right now, no. I’d get a lot more out of this mic if I had it on a proper arm so I could keep it closer to my mouth. That said, it’s compact enough that I’ll definitely be tossing it in my bag for podcasting on the road. It’s a fantastic microphone that can make you sound like a pro, and at the end of the day, that’s exactly what I’m after.

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I haven’t used a Razer gaming keyboard for a while, so testing the new Razer Huntsman V3 TKL 8KHz feels like reuniting with an old friend. Since the company uses proprietary switches, its keyboards feel different from competitors that use third-party parts. This remains true for the Huntsman V3.

This more affordable variant of last year’s Huntsman V3 Pro TKL 8KHz packs several competitive gaming-focused features, such as super-fast 8KHz polling and adjustable actuation points. While the keyboard is relatively thin, its aluminum build makes it sturdy and safe to travel with. And while it’s a gaming keyboard at its core, it’s also great for typing.

If you’re a competitive gamer who needs a keyboard that can keep up with you and won’t break the bank, the Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz is one of the best gaming keyboards that's worth checking out. Here’s why.

What's this Razer Huntsman V3 all about?

The Razer Huntsman V3 TKL 8KHz is a competitive gaming keyboard built for fast-paced first-person shooters and other genres that demand quick reflexes. It utilizes the company’s proprietary analog optical switches, 8K “HyperPolling,” adjustable actuation, and a slew of RGB customization options.

Magnetic switches have been all the rage in recent years, but Razer has remained true to its optical switches. Both switch types provide faster response times than traditional mechanical switches, which is why competitive gamers tend to gravitate toward them. I won’t debate whether optical or magnetic switches are better for gaming, but I will say Razer’s optical switches are insanely responsive.

Like with magnetic switches, you can set multiple actuation points on a single key—two actuation points in this case. For example, you can have an actuation point of 2.0 mm on the W key to walk and 4.0 to run. Here, you can set actuation points between 0.1 mm and 4.0, which is standard for both magnetic and optical keyboards.

Then there’s the 8K polling (the speed at which the keyboard sends signals to your computer), which Razer says is faster than other keyboards claiming such a high polling rate. According to the company, most keyboards with 8K polling have a 1.6ms response time, but the Huntsman V3 has a faster 0.48ms response time.

So, how does all of that translate to real-world use? Though I’m nowhere near a competitive gamer, even I could feel the overall smoothness and fast response when playing a first-person shooter like Doom: The Dark Ages. I especially like setting a faster actuation point for shooting since I could lightly brush the key instead of pressing it down all the way. And in case you’re wondering, you can set the actuation points right on the keyboard, though I still preferred doing so via the Razer Synapse app on PC.

The experience

While I’m not the target customer for a competitive gaming keyboard, I enjoy using them because of their fast response time and smooth keystrokes—which the Razer Huntsman V3 has in spades. While the blazing performance and high customization are fantastic, there’s more to this keyboard than those selling points.

The elevated keys, with their PBT-coated keycaps, are a joy to type on. One thing I especially appreciate as someone with a heavy touch is how the keys have more resistance the further you press them. The tenkeyless layout is also ideal for me since I don’t need a numberpad, making the board unnecessarily larger.

The thocky sound the keys produce also makes using the keyboard more enjoyable. Sure, the sound isn’t as deep as you’d find on mechanical keyboards, but it’s still good. While not a clicky board, it’s definitely noisy, so you might not want to use it in an office or anywhere that could annoy others (though I used it in the office anyway!).

The aluminum frame not only helps give the keyboard a richer sound, but also makes it sturdy and durable. That’s important if you need to travel with the Huntsman V3. The brushed aluminum is a nice touch that gives the keyboard a more premium look without being overbearing. And while this is a gaming keyboard, it doesn’t look like one thanks to its overall subdued design.

Of course, if you want more of a gamer aesthetic, there is no shortage of RGB options to toy around with. I’m somewhat neutral on RGB lighting, but I like that folks can customize the lighting to their exact preference. This is Razer, so the company isn’t skimping on that front.

Lastly, this isn't a wireless keyboard, so you'll need to use a USB-A port on your PC. That said, the braided cable is detachable, which is good if you need to take the keyboard on the road.

Outlook

The Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8K is an excellent gaming keyboard thanks to its robust, competitive gamer-focused features. Outside of gaming, it also delivers a nice typing experience thanks to its durable build and responsive keys. It’s a bit pricey at $169, but for what it offers, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.

Again, I'm a fan of Razer keyboards, and this one has everything I've come to expect from the company's peripherals. While the Pro versions of this keyboard might have more features, I like the simplicity of this board, as it still delivers excellent performance. At $169, it's worth considering.

More from Tom's Guide

• I became a keyboard tinkerer with the Logitech G G512 X
• I just got my first gaming keyboard — I’ll never use a regular board again
• Buying a gaming keyboard? Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap explained

Just when I thought this flagship gaming chair couldn’t get any better, Razer has released its upgraded Iskur V2 NewGen. While the V2 had plenty of improvements, this new model features a comfier yet more supportive dual-density cold-cured foam cushion and upgraded EPU synthetic leather with built-in cooling tech.

I still remember trying out the Iskur V2 during my first trip to CES and walking away very impressed with its upgraded lumbar support system. The Iskur V2 NewGen isn’t a complete redesign as it retains what made that model one of the best gaming chairs. Instead, it’s more of a refinement designed to be more comfortable while feeling significantly more premium.

Although I typically spend my days (and my nights) sitting in one of the best office chairs, the Razer Iskur V2 NewGen has been a nice change of pace. From the instant I sat in it, I really liked its stiffer backrest and wide, comfy seat. Likewise, it was a breeze to put together and locking in the perfect fit comes easily too, thanks to the knobs on either side and the lever to control its recline. Still though, this is a high-end gaming chair with a $649 price tag and unfortunately, there isn’t a fabric option like with most of Razer’s other chairs.

My Razer Iskur V2 NewGen review will help you decide if this is the right gaming chair for you or if you’d be better off going with the cheaper yet less full-featured Iskur V2 X instead.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A premium gaming chair with a strong focus on ergonomics and cooling.
• Who is it for? People who want a very adjustable seat with dedicated lumbar support which they can use for long stretches at a time comfortably that still looks like a gaming chair.
• What does it cost? The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen costs $649 regardless of which colorway you choose.
• What do we like? The adaptive lumbar support system, the wider backrest and seat base, the extra thick foam seat cushion and how easy it is to adjust using the built-in lever and knobs.
• What don’t we like? That the upgraded synthetic leather can still feel hot after extended periods and the higher price compared to other similarly-specced gaming chairs.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: Specs

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: The ups

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen offers exactly what you’d expect from a premium gaming chair in terms of design and comfort. However, it doesn’t skimp on ergonomics either with an adjustable lumbar support system that moves with your back as you shift in your chair while gaming or even working from home.

A color-coded build

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen arrived in a single large brown box with everything packed neatly inside. While I wish it came as pre-assembled as the more expensive Herman Miller Vantum, it was surprisingly simple to put together.

With everything unpacked, I was left with the Iskur V2 NewGen’s backrest, frame, seat, casters and the rest of the parts needed to assemble it. One thing I really liked is that the armrests did come pre-attached, which is a nice touch given how tedious installing them yourself can be.

While other companies will often have you scan a QR code to view their assembly instructions online, Razer includes a large printout with key steps highlighted in the company’s signature Razer green. Speaking of which, you also get a pair of black gloves with that same accent color in the box so you don’t get any grease on your hands when installing the chair’s lift mechanism.

Building the Iskur V2 NewGen was a straightforward process using the included Allen wrench. I’d say the hardest part was connecting the seat to the backrest but honestly, this was quite easy to do compared to some of the office chairs I’ve built over the years.

With the Iskur V2 NewGen fully assembled, it was time to take it for a spin.

Wider all around

When looking at the Iskur V2 NewGen, it’s hard not to notice its curves. In fact, this gaming chair almost has an hourglass figure since it’s skinniest at the center where the seat meets the backrest and extends out in either direction.

This was intentional on Razer’s part as a big focus of this NewGen refresh is comfort. The chair is just under 16 inches at its skinniest point. However, the seat extends out to 20.9 inches at its edge while the backrest goes even wider at 21.3 inches. The extended seat allows you to sit cross-legged in this gaming chair while the extended backrest provides plenty of room for those with wider shoulders.

As someone on the smaller side at 5’4”, I still found this extra space to be quite nice to have. I had plenty of room as I shifted from side to side in the Iskur V2 NewGen’s seat and the same was true for my shoulders when my back leaned from left to right.

While I would have preferred a magnetic head cushion like on the Secretlab Titan Evo, I did find the included one made from sculpted memory foam to be quite comfortable even for long stretches. However, I did swap it for the Razer Clio when playing PS5 at my desk since I had a pair of Razer Nommo V2 Pro speakers connected to my gaming PC via USB-C and to my Switch 2 over Bluetooth.

Just the pull of a lever

One thing I really prefer with the Iskur V2 NewGen over some of the more over-designed office chairs I regularly test is the simplicity of its adjustments. Fine-tuning this chair for the perfect fit only takes a few minutes and the more complicated adjustments come with illustrations to further simplify the process.

There are adjustment knobs on the left and right side — but more on that later — and a lever that controls the chair’s recline. Everything is right there within reach and I never had to get out of the Iskur V2 NewGen to make adjustments.

The chair also comes with 4D armrests that you can move up or down, forward or backward, closer or farther away from you and angled inward or outward. Unlike some of the 4D or even 6D armrests I’ve tested on office chairs, I really like how the ones on the Iskur V2 NewGen stay firmly in place. One of my biggest gripes with Herman Miller’s Vantum gaming chair is that I’d need to readjust the pads of its armrests almost every time I sat down.

Given that a lot of office chairs require you to unlock a lever and then lean back whenever you want to recline, the larger, handbrake-style lever on the right side of the Iskur V2 NewGen was a welcome change for me. I’d just hold onto the lever and lean back to my preferred recline position with it in my hand.

Although I spent a lot of my time gaming upright while trying out the Iskur V2 NewGen, I did put its recline to the test while using the Razer Kishi Ultra and my Lenovo Legion Tab 3 for some remote gaming.

While an integrated footrest like on the Hbada X7 or even a standalone one like with the LiberNovo Omni would have been nice, it was still quite comfortable playing some PC games using the Steam Link app while laying almost completely flat in the Iskur V2 NewGen.

Lumbar that moves with you

Just like with the Iskur V2, the adaptive lumbar support is one of the standout features of this gaming chair. After using it as my daily driver for the past two months, it’s easy to see why.

Unlike a traditional lumbar support mechanism, this one is able to move with you as you shift from side to side in the Iskur V2 NewGen. For instance, you can feel it move if you look over to either side from your desk. However, I found it to be even more useful in fast-paced games where I tend to move around a bit more than I normally would while working.

While the lumbar support systems in some of the office chairs I reviewed are completely static — meaning they don't pivot or track your spine dynamically as you shift — Razer's system lets you fine-tune its position both vertically and horizontally.

A knob on the left side of the Iskur V2 NewGen allows you to move the lumbar support up and down so it can perfectly align with the small of your back. The knob on the right side is what really impressed me with the original Iskur V2 and this refreshed model.

When you turn this knob, the lumbar support mechanism either extends or retracts. As 1HP’s Dr. Matthew Hwu explained to me a few years ago at Razer’s CES booth, if you tend to lean forward while playing the best PC games at your desk, then you might want to extend the Iskur V2 NewGen’s lumbar support all the way forward. That way, you can sit in your preferred gaming position without hurting your back.

As for me, while I did play some Death Stranding 2 on PC while seated in the Iskur V2 NewGen, I actually spent the majority of my time testing the chair out while playing Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of my review. During those epic interstellar dog fights with Star Wolf, I put the chair’s adaptive lumbar support to good use as I dodged incoming enemy laser fire.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: The downs

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen certainly performs as a gaming chair but it isn’t without its downsides which include its higher price and how the upgraded cooling tech in its EPU leather just can’t match mesh.

Cooler but still not cool enough

Since I live in Houston, Texas, using a mesh office chair like the Steelcase Karman or the more affordable Branch Aire Chair really isn’t an option — it’s a must.

Given we’re at the start of what’s already looking to be a very hot and humid summer, I was initially a bit reluctant about testing the Iskur V2 NewGen. However, since I tried and really liked the standard Iskur V2, I figured I’d see how well this chair’s new cooling tech performed in a less than ideal situation.

To make this refreshed chair cooler, Razer switched to a new version of its EPU synthetic leather which has CoolTouch fibers embedded within it. On paper, this sounds like it should really make a difference but in my testing, even this high-tech new material fell a bit short for me.

When I was using the Iskur V2 NewGen out in my game room with just a tower fan — alongside central air — to keep me cool, I found that I got sweaty faster than I normally would with a mesh office chair. It got so bad that I moved my Govee Smart Tower Fan 2 Max from in front of our couch over to my desk at the back of the room. That made things slightly better.

In my final week or so testing the Iskur V2 NewGen, I brought it into my office which has a large overhead fan. Maybe it’s due to the room being much smaller but this certainly made a difference.

Now, if you’re using the Iskur V2 NewGen in a more temperate climate, I doubt you’ll run into the issues I did with it. However, if you’re in a warmer and muggier location like I am, I’d recommend the Razer Fujin Pro, which is designed more like a mesh office chair than a traditional gaming chair.

Upgrading at a premium

At $649, the Iskur V2 NewGen is certainly an investment. However, if you have a bad back or want a chair with a wider seat and backrest, it could definitely be worth it. While you might look a tad silly in video calls, I found the Iskur V2 NewGen just as comfortable to work in as it was to game in.

If you’re after a premium gaming chair but want to pick one up at a slightly lower price, the Secretlab Titan Evo starts at $549 and unlike the Iskur V2 NewGen, it’s available in both fabric and leather. Then again, if you like the design of this chair and don’t necessarily need adaptive lumbar support or 4D armrests, you could always opt for the less expensive Razer Iskur V2 X NewGen for $349.

While the Iskur V2 NewGen is on the expensive side, it is cheaper than the Herman Miller Vantum which costs nearly $1,000. On the other hand though, the Vantum won’t look out of place in a video call for work as from the front, it looks just like any other mesh office chair.

Razer Iskur V2 NewGen: Verdict

The Razer Iskur V2 NewGen is an excellent gaming chair with a one-of-a-kind adaptive lumbar support system that makes a major difference every time you sit in it. While its high-tech EPU synthetic leather left a bit to be desired for me personally, this new material is still a significant upgrade over past versions and under the right conditions, it can keep you cool while gaming for longer. Likewise, the Iskur V2 NewGen is incredibly easy to put together and to fine-tune its adjustments to your liking.

If you’re looking for a traditional, racing-style gaming chair but still want the ergonomic support you get from an office chair, you’d be hard-pressed to find this level of comfort and polish anywhere else. Still, you are paying a bit more for the privilege. However, if you game for long hours daily or plan to have the Iskur V2 NewGen serve double duty as your work-from-home chair, then it could certainly be worth it.

No loud design that draws unnecessary eyeballs to your desk. No flashy, garish RGB. Just pure precision and performance: that’s what the Razer Viper V4 Pro stands for. This is one of the best gaming mice for esports players seeking speed above all else. The Viper V4 Pro packs industry-leading 50,000 DPI as well as 8,000Hz polling to deliver phenomenal performance in FPS titles.

Customization is quick and easy via Razer Synapse, and the mouse itself is lightweight, sturdy and comfortable. I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable time testing the Viper V4 Pro, and if you can afford it, this is the mouse to get for competitive gaming.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Razer Viper V4 Pro review.

Razer Viper V4 Pro review: Specs

Razer Viper V4 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A right-handed gaming mouse with 50,000 DPI and 8,000Hz polling
• Who is it for? Esports and competitive gamers who value precision above all else
• How much does it cost? $159 / £159
• What do we like? The lightweight design, responsive and phenomenal gaming performance, long battery life, and user-friendly software
• What don’t we like? The loud clicks… but that’s about it

Razer Viper V4 Pro review: The ups

From its lightweight design and industry-leading specs, to its powerful gaming performance and user-friendly companion software, the Razer Viper V4 Pro doesn’t give you much to complain about.

Light as a feather

At the time of writing, the Viper V4 Pro is Razer’s most recent mouse to join the lightweight, sub-50g club. The mouse weighs just 49g or 1.72oz so it doesn’t feel like it’s weighing down your bag when you’re traveling with it. Because the mouse is so light, it requires less physical effort to move, stop and change direction. That also means your hand and wrist don’t feel fatigued during long gaming sessions, making the Viper V4 Pro a great choice for competitive players.

I’ve tested plenty of mice in my time, and the Viper V4 Pro is one of the lightest rodents I’ve used. It’s even lighter than the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike ($179, 2.15oz), our top pick for the best gaming mice. The Viper V4 Pro trumps other ultra-lightweight mice too, such as the Keychron M3 Mini V2 8K ($69, 1.94oz) and the NZXT Lift Elite Wireless ($79, 2.01oz).

But just because the Viper V4 Pro is as light as a feather doesn’t mean it isn’t sturdy. Made of high-quality plastic, the Viper V4 Pro feels grippy to hold straight out of the box. Razer happily includes anti-slip grip tape in the box that you can stick to the mouse for more grip. The rodent measures 5 x 2.51 x 1.57 inches and feels substantial to hold for those with medium-sized hands — like I do. Both claw and palm grips work with the Viper V4 Pro, too, making it a versatile pick.

Industry-leading specs

How much is too much DPI? Certainly not 50,000, according to Razer. That’s right: the Razer Viper V4 Pro boasts a maximum DPI of 50,000. That’s a lot, and at the time of writing, it’s industry-leading. We haven’t tested any other mice that beat the Viper V4 Pro. The Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike comes close with its 44,000 DPI, though. I’d say both are overkill because who really needs that much speed? It’s there if you do, of course.

Changing the DPI is extremely easy. The Viper V4 Pro has a DPI button located on its underside, and by pressing it, you can cycle through 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400 DPI by default. These can be customized via Razer Synapse (more on that shortly). I appreciate being able to adjust the DPI on the fly, as not being able to do so was one of my biggest gripes with the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 ($159).

Aiding the Viper V4 Pro’s gaming prowess is its 8,000Hz polling rate which you can get over both wired and 2.4GHz wireless connections. The mouse is accompanied by a dome-shaped dongle which needs to be plugged into your machine with a USB-C cable. It’s fitted with three LED indicators which are color-coded to indicate the polling rate, connection stability, and battery level. There’s no Bluetooth but the lack of it on an esports mouse isn’t a major drawback.

Phenomenal gaming performance

In theory, the Razer Viper V4 Pro sounds incredible, but does it perform as well in real-world use? Hell yeah, it does. I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not a professional esports player, but even I felt like the Viper V4 Pro gave me a competitive advantage in every game I played. Counter-Strike 2? Walk in the park. Cyberpunk 2077? Easy as pie. The Viper V4 Pro never once let me down throughout my testing.

I kicked things off by playing a few rounds of Counter-Strike 2. Admittedly, I’ve never been great at the game, but the Viper V4 Pro ensured I performed to the best of my ability. 8,000Hz polling meant that I didn’t experience any latency issues and all of my commands were instantaneously registered.

What I love about the Viper V4 Pro is its adaptive polling rate which, once enabled through Razer Synapse, boosts the polling up to 8KHz when gaming and drops it back to 1KHz when you’re doing non-gaming things on your computer. This helps preserve the mouse’s 180-hour battery, and it worked as intended in my testing.

So, how about that 50,000 DPI, eh? It is the headline feature, after all. I can’t see myself using such high DPI but it might be beneficial for some. Personally, I find DPI around the 10,000 mark more than sufficient for snappy movements. In Counter-Strike 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, anytime I was engaging in close-quarters combat, I upped the DPI to 10,000 (after assigning it via Razer Synapse). This made my movements snappy and rapid, and I was able to quickly cut down big groups of enemies with my knife.

Being able to change the DPI on the fly came in clutch when I went from heated combat to stealthy gameplay. Infiltrating heavily-guarded bases in Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman felt like a walk in the park, thanks to a low DPI of 500 enabling me to execute precise headshots with my silenced pistol. It was especially useful when aiming at just one target surrounded by several other NPCs. Similarly, using a long-range sniper rifle to do the same felt effortless.

Last but not least, the Viper V4 Pro’s optical switches feel amazing to press. Razer says they require 12% lighter actuation compared to the ones you’ll find in the Viper V3 Pro ($149) so they’re easier (and less fatiguing) to activate or spam-click. I love how much tactile feedback they provide as well.

Long battery life

The cherry on top of the cake is the Razer Viper V4 Pro’s long battery life. Razer says that the mouse can last 180 hours (1,000Hz polling) or 45 hours (8,000Hz polling). Because 8,000Hz polling is a drain on not just system resources but also the mouse, adaptive polling rate is highly beneficial as it helps make the Viper V4 Pro last as long as possible.

Thanks to this, the Viper V4 Pro upstages its competitors. The Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike is rated for 90 hours; the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 is rated for 95 hours; and the Keychron M3 Mini V2 8K can last up to 140 hours. I couldn’t kill the Viper V4 Pro entirely in my testing, but after three hours of gaming with 8KHz polling enabled and another three working over 1,000Hz, the battery had dipped by only 8%. If it’s long battery life you’re after, the Viper V4 Pro is the way to go.

User-friendly companion software

To customize the Razer Viper V4 Pro, you’ll need to download Razer Synapse 4 on either Windows or macOS. It’s your one-stop shop for personalizing most Razer peripherals. The software sports a clean interface and is easy to navigate.

It allows you to assign different DPI values to the Viper V4 Pro’s DPI button, adjust the polling rate and toggle adaptive polling, remap the buttons, and customize lift-off distance. It’s worth taking a few minutes and familiarizing yourself with the different settings so that you can take advantage of everything the Viper V4 Pro has to offer.

Razer Viper V4 Pro review: The downs

There isn’t a lot wrong with the Razer Viper V4 Pro, but its loud clicks and steep price may not be for everyone.

Loud clicks won’t be for everyone

The second thing I noticed about the Razer Viper V4 Pro after its lightweight design was the sound its left- and right-buttons make when pressed. And boy, are they loud. My colleagues instantly noticed it too, and said that the loud sound wasn’t their cup of tea.

This is all to say that if you prefer a quiet mouse, like the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2, the Viper V4 Pro might not be for you — although given how powerful it is, it’s a compromise I’d be willing to make.

Expensive (but worth it for esports players)

This is more of a pre-purchase consideration rather than an outright flaw: the Razer Viper V4 Pro isn’t for the budget conscious. The mouse retails for $159 / £159 at Amazon so it’s on the pricey side of things. Esports mice, however, are usually expensive and the Viper V4 Pro isn’t beyond the pale here.

The Viper V4 Pro costs the same as the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 ($159) and is slightly cheaper than the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike ($179). But if you aren’t fussed about 50,000 DPI, there are plenty of sub-$100 alternatives available. The Keychron M3 Mini V2 8K ($69) packs 8,000Hz polling and 30,000 DPI; the NZXT Lift Elite Wireless ($79) maxes out at 26,000 DPI; and the Keychron M6 8K ($69) combines ergonomic benefits with powerful gaming features.

Unless you’re a competitive and professional esports player, there’s little reason to splash out on the Viper V4 Pro. But if you want a mouse that’s at the top of its game, few are better than Razer’s flagship model.

Razer Viper V4 Pro review: Verdict

I can’t recall the last time I had so much fun testing a mouse. The Razer Viper V4 Pro sets a new gold standard for gaming mice with its 50,000 DPI and 8,000Hz polling rate. It’s excellent for FPS titles as well as RPGs, and class-leading battery life goes a long way to justify its premium price tag.

The Viper V4 Pro is extremely light and comfortable too, and it sports a low-key, minimalist design that doesn’t draw eyeballs to your desk… though the loud clicks might. Its optical switches provide great tactile feedback when pressed, and user-friendly companion software makes customization quick and easy.

Though casual gamers are unlikely to benefit from features like the 50,000 DPI, competitive gamers looking for a fast, light and capable mouse should look no further than the Viper V4 Pro. It’s simply phenomenal.

We've been covering a lot of the 4th of July sales over at Best Buy. Well, they're not the only big retailer offering some huge discounts right now. Target, for instance, has a very tasty sale on, with discounts on home stuff, clothing, accessories, and more.

On this page I've honed in on the tech deals. I've pulled together 18 of my favorite deals in the sale, covering everything from headphones to laptops, smart watches, 3D printers and more. There's some really good bargains to be had here, with up to 50% off some items.

If you're looking for more deals then make sure to check out our guides to Best Buy's appliance sale, as well as its TV and audio sales too.

Prime Day gets all the hype, but you don't need an Amazon membership to score the best gaming deals this week. Razer is hitting back with its own massive summer specials sale, slashing up to 50% off top-tier gear, and frankly, the discounts are too good to ignore.

Whether you need a wireless headset that sounds as good with Spotify as it does in Valorant, or a tournament-ready compact keyboard, here are the five Razer upgrades worth your cash right now.

And if you want to make sure you aren't missing out on any other massive discounts, our Tom's Guide Savings Squad is tracking all the best deals across every major retailer in real time on our live blog.

Quick Links

• Razer Cobra Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse — was $129 now $69
• Razer Huntsman Mini - Linear Optical Switch  — was $129 now $74
• Razer Viper V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse — was $159 now $109
• Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset — was $199 now $129
• Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless Headset — was $249 now $129

Best Razer gaming deals

We're tracking all the best Prime Day deals

Too much choice can be a bad thing. There are thousands of keyboards out there; how does one even decide which is actually good or worth the money? Simple: you take my advice! Over the last two and a half years, I've tested nearly 100 keyboards, including mechanical, magnetic, wired, and wireless ones.

Not all of them make the cut to be considered the best keyboards, but there have certainly been some stellar decks along the way. With this year's Amazon Prime Day sales now in full swing, I've seen many of these go on sale, so I've decided to help you cut through the noise by handpicking my favorite deals.

One of the best deals right now is on the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini which is a whopping 45% off, so you can grab it for $132 instead of $239. It's a great little mechanical keyboard for gamers, but if you're a hardcore typist (like me), I'd recommend grabbing the Epomaker Glyph for just $111, so you'd be saving 20%. Or if you're on a really tight budget, the Epomaker HE68 Lite is available for as little as $39!

There's more where that came from, of course. So, what will it be? Mechanical or Hall Effect? For work or gaming? Here are the best Prime Day keyboard deals from Keychron, Epomaker, NuPhy, Razer, and more!

Meet your keyboard deals expert

Quick links

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals now
• Keychron V6 Wired: was $99 now $64
• Keychron C1 Pro 8K Wired: was $54 now $43
• Keychron K2 HE Hall Effect: was $139 now $111
• Keychron V1 Max: was $99 now $79
• Epomaker Glyph: was $139 now $111
• Epomaker Ajazz AK820 Pro: was $68 now $55
• Epomaker HE68 Lite: was $49 now $39
• NuPhy Halo96 V2: was $139 now $111
• NuPhy Air75 V3: was $139 now $111
• NuPhy Node75: was $99 now $79
• SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini: was $239 now $132
• Hexgears Immersion A3 TKL: was $72 now $49
• Royal Kludge L75: was $79 now $60
• Royal Kludge R65 Wired: was $59 now $42
• Razer BlackWidow V4: was $169 now $139

Best Prime Day Keychron deals

Best Prime Day Epomaker deals

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Gaming headsets have come leaps and bounds in recent years, and today, you don't need to spend more than $100 to get a decent set of cans for awesome immersion. But it isn't surprising that many people are reluctant to buy a cheap headset, because they believe — naturally — that the pricier the cans, the better the sound.

In some cases, that's true, but in many, it isn't. Of course, you shouldn't expect a $69 headset to carry the same features and pack the same tech as a $299 headset — but that doesn't mean the former is all bad and not worth your money. I should give those two headsets names now, to make this article easier to understand, right?

The $69 PowerA LucidSound LS500 replaced my $299 Razer BlackShark V3 Pro for a week to see if the wallet-friendly wonder could take on one of the best gaming headsets I've had the pleasure of testing. I've been pleasantly surprised by the LS500's sound quality and comfort, and I've also been not-so-surprised by some of its shortcomings — obviously, given the price. Allow me to take you through it all.

Comfort and design? 10/10

The PowerA LucidSound LS500 is a mighty comfortable headset — despite feeling too plasticky in places, yes. Weighing just 9.34 ounces and utilizing a lightweight metal in its frame, the LS500 sits comfortable atop your head and its mesh headband helps relieve some pressure you'd otherwise feel. The earcups are spacious and they're made of... moisture-wicking cloth liner.

"What the heck is moisture-wicking cloth liner?" I hear you ask. Fret not, I've done my research. This material pulls sweat and moisture away from your skin and spreads it across the fabric’s outside so that it evaporates quickly. In practice, this means that your ears don't feel irritated or itchy from pooling sweat, so you can wear the LS500 for hours and hours without feeling uncomfortable.

Alongside feeling ridiculously comfortable, the LS500's design hasn't given me much to complain about either — though it isn't officially licensed for PS5, so you don't get the swanky console logo. What I love most about the design is the clever controls. Two wheels located around the "LS" logo on each earcup can be rotated to adjust volume, playback, and other settings.

You're probably wondering why I'm so excited about something that doesn't even sound that enthralling, but it's because most cheap gaming headsets I've tested sport the same old tired control scheme. They don't do anything different, but PowerA has, and that's what has me jumping up and down. It's practical and it's clever — and it makes the headset fun to use and control.

Great sound... for the most part

Now we get to the meat of this article: does the PowerA LucidSound LS500 sound any good? For the most part, yes, and if you're a casual gamer who just wants a comfy headset for FPS or racing titles, you'll be more than happy with it. The LS500's 50mm dynamic drivers cover a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20KHz (the entirety of the human hearing spectrum) so in theory, you should be able to hear soft footsteps as well as loud explosions.

And you can certainly hear one of those. In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I appreciated the neoclassical operatic and heavy rock soundtrack not overpowering the combat sounds and vice versa. I could still hear my sword slashing against enemies, and I clearly understood my party members when they yelled, “Parry it” or “Watch out, Verso.” Balanced soundstage? Check.

In Control, the LS500's directional audio worked excellently as I could pinpoint the exact direction in which the enemies spawned. I loved being able to hear the suction-like sound objects made when I grabbed them with Jesse’s Launch ability, even when surrounded by supernatural entities making weird sounds. Crisp treble? Check.

But powerful bass? Bass that you feel in your soul? That reverberates through your head? Yeah, that's not really there. To be fair, I wasn't expecting the bass to sound room-shaking simply because the LS500 is a budget headset, and it's something my Razer BlackShark V3 Pro delivers — but it's also a lot pricier. Through the LS500, bomb-like attacks in Expedition 33 didn't land with enough oomph and sounded tinny. It was a similar story with throwing objects at enemies in Control, too.

It's great for the price, really

There's no denying it: the PowerA LucidSound LS500 is one of the best cheap gaming headsets you can buy today. It's available for $69 at Amazon U.S., with worldwide availability expected later this year. For just under $70, you're getting a comfortable headset that boasts immersive sound (for the most part), decent mic performance, and a clever control scheme.

While you miss out on the most powerful bass and a companion app, those are trade-offs I'd be willing to make given how cheap the LS500 is. I've tested budget cans from Asus and Turtle Beach, and the LS500 takes the fight to them — and it comes out victorious.

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One of my favorite things to do when I'm not working is to kick back and relax with my PlayStation 5 Slim. I was a little late to the PS5 party and only got my Slim back in December 2023 — my PS4 had run its course, sadly, and I desperately wanted to play Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and Baldur's Gate 3. There's no better console for me, really.

I also love the Dualsense. I think the haptics and adaptive triggers are absolutely fantastic, and the controller doesn't give me much to complain about (except for that 5-hour battery life). As a reviews writer and lover of video games, I'm also very lucky that I get to test the best controllers — and when they're designed for the PS5, oh it's a glorious day.

Having tested and used my fair share of gamepads, I'd like to share my top six picks with you. Whether you're looking for a second controller for the player two in your life, or you want a Hall Effect one for competitive gaming, I've got you covered.

How do I choose the best PS5 controller for myself?

It's no secret that you're spoiled for choice when it comes to picking the best PS5 controller. But which type of controller is really right for you?

The first thing you need to consider is your budget. PS5 controllers aren't always cheap but if you're on a tight budget, you do have a few options. You could pick up a second Dualsense, or grab the Backbone One PlayStation Edition. The latter is primarily designed for mobile gaming using PS Remote Play, and it works seamlessly.

Next, think about the use case for the controller you're going to buy. Do you want a no-frills gamepad? The Dualsense Edge is a fantastic choice, and its metallic back buttons feel like a game-changer.

Are you a competitive player who wants peerless performance? There are two options here: the Razer Raiju V3 Pro and the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. Both pro-level controllers feature Hall Effect triggers, and each gamepad's triggers are adjustable, so you can opt for either clicky or long presses. The Raiju V3 Pro has an ace up its sleeve, and that's the TMR tech fitted into its thumbsticks for enhanced precision.

I use the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded as my second controller and it's excellent in every way, shape and form. Both the Raiju V3 Pro and the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded earned 4.5-stars, so I can personally vouch for them.

As you can see, there's no dearth of options. All of the six aforementioned controllers are outstanding in their own right. Regardless of the one you end up choosing, rest assured that you'll be getting bang for your buck.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve finally found a PS5 controller that’s better than the DualSense — and no, it's not the DualSense Edge
• Steam Controller reviews are in: 'I can’t imagine playing my PC games with anything else'
• Razer just made my dream PS5 controller and it blows the DualSense Edge out of the water — but there's a catch

I love my PlayStation 5. It's one of the best things I've bought with my own money, and I've spent an ungodly amount of hours playing the likes of Baldur's Gate 3, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Alan Wake 2, and FIFA (sorry, EA Sports FC) on my PS5 Slim. While I take my Nintendo Switch 2 with me when I'm traveling, it just doesn't have the same, diverse game catalog that I like.

So, for a while now, I've been considering getting the PlayStation Portal — it was even sitting in my cart for a few days during the 2025 Black Friday sales. But truth be told, I'm not entirely convinced by the Portal because I've heard mixed reviews. Do I also want to pay nearly $200 for a remote player? Kinda but also no. Then it hit me: what if I just used the PS Remote Play app on my iPad and got a controller designed specifically for the iPad. Enter the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL.

The Kishi V3 Pro XL is a beast — and I'm not just talking about its stature. It's fitted with powerful, highly responsive TMR thumbsticks, mouse-like clicky triggers and face buttons, and it features four additional remappable buttons too. Ergonomically designed and comfortable to hold all day long, it's an utter delight. Is it perfect? Nope. Do I still love it? Heck yes, and here's why.

Ergonomics galore!

There's no point in spending any amount of money on a controller if it isn't designed ergonomically and hinders you from being able to play all day. Thankfully, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is an extremely comfortable gamepad, one that I've used for a six-hour long stint without feeling like my hands were cramping. That's thanks to the the controller's chunky grips, full-size thumbsticks and triggers, and offset sticks which, in my opinion, feel more ergonomic.

In terms of size, the Kishi V3 Pro XL's plate where the tablet sits measures measures 12.91 x 4.36 x 2.54 inches when the controller is outstretched. This means that it's big enough to accommodate even a 13-inch iPad Pro! It's a joy to handle too, and doesn't feel unwieldy even when a tablet is slotted in. Without one, it weighs 10.97oz. I used the controller with my iPad Air 10.9-inch which bumped the weight up 1.73lbs. Even so, I didn't find it uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time.

I can't tell you how much fun it is to game handheld on a screen that big. The PlayStation Portal's 8-inch screen is also good, no doubt about that, but I really like the iPad Air's bigger screen. It makes for quite an immersive gaming experience. Plug in your favorite gaming headset into the 3.5mm port on the right grip and you've got a winning combo.

So smooth, so powerful

There's a lot to love about the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL's gaming performance. First of all, its thumbsticks are fitted with Tunnel Magneto Resistance (TMR) sensors, which are more responsive and longer-lasting than Hall Effect ones. They use weak electromagnetic waves which means that smaller adjustments and minute movements are picked up by the sensors, and the boost to accuracy in racing and FPS titles is certainly noticeable.

Then there's the Kishi V3 Pro XL's triggers, face buttons, two extra shoulder buttons and two back buttons, which are mouse-like to press. They feel like the ones you'll find on the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. In fact, the Kishi V3 Pro XL feels like someone sliced the Wolverine V3 Pro down the middle and slotted a tablet in between the two grips. The performance is incredible, and I've had so much fun playing games like Cyberpunk 2077, Expedition 33, and Need for Speed Heat on this controller.

You can read all about the performance in my full review, of course, but in a few words, the Kishi V3 Pro XL gave me a competitive advantage in FPS and racing titles as I could tailor my movements down to a T, and all of my commands were promptly registered thanks to the 4,000Hz polling rate. I have no complaints in the performance department.

There's one problem though...

By now, I'm sure you know that I love the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL. It's a fantastic iPad controller. But I'd be lying if I said it was perfect — after all, I gave it 4-stars in my Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review. Unfortunately, the Kishi V3 Pro XL costs a premium, retailing for $199 / £164 at Amazon, which makes it the same price as a new PlayStation Portal. Of course, if you already own an iPad and want to game on it, the Kishi V3 Pro XL might be worth the investment.

But the lack of haptics and rumble makes it hard for me to recommend it to anyone who wants a truly immersive gaming experience. Having played games using the PS Remote Play app as well as the ones downloaded on my iPad, I instantly noticed the lack of rumble which came as a surprise to me, as Razer specifies "next-gen feedback" on the controller's product page. Here's the kicker: In very fine print, Razer notes that rumble doesn't work on iOS and iPadOS devices.

Now, this could be a limitation of iOS and iPadOS devices as, apparently, rumble should work fine with Android tablets. Or it could be a limitation of the PS Remote Play app. But does that stop me from feeling disappointed? Nope. Even so, not many controllers feature haptics, so can the Kishi V3 Pro XL really be chastised for it? I don't know. Is it a dealbreaker for me? Well, I'll happily use the Kishi V3 Pro XL until I eventually do get a PlayStation Portal, so we'll leave it at that.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’d given up on iPad gaming until I tried the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL — now I don’t want to leave the house without it
• I already spend way too much time playing my PS5 — and this mobile controller just made things a whole lot worse
• I thought PlayStation Portal was pointless — here’s why I was wrong

I’ve owned an iPad since 2022, and I’ll be honest, I haven’t gotten much use out of it — until recently. I just tested the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL that has turned my iPad into a gaming powerhouse and, honestly, has breathed new life into it. The Kishi V3 Pro XL is a powerful mobile gaming controller with fantastic TMR thumbsticks, four extra buttons, and clicky triggers, all packed into an ergonomic body.

Featuring full-sized triggers and thumbsticks as well as passthrough charging, this is the only controller you need if you’re a fan of on-the-go gaming. But is it perfect? Sadly not quite. The lack of rumble and haptics on Apple devices will make its premium price tag very difficult to stomach for iOS/iPadOS users.

To find out if this is the best mobile game controller for you, read my full Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: Specs

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A gaming controller for iPads and USB-C tablets
• Who is it for? Anyone who enjoys gaming on the go and wants a comfortable controller
• How much does it cost? The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is available for $199 / £164
• What do we like? The ergonomic design, TMR thumbsticks, passthrough charging, and compatibility with many tablets
• What don’t we like? No rumble or haptics on iOS/iPadOS and the premium price tag

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: The ups

From its ergonomic design and passthrough charging, to its powerful TMR thumbsticks and clicky triggers, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is an absolute must-have accessory for iPad owners.

Extremely comfortable and ergonomic

I’ve tested and used my fair share of mobile and tablet gaming controllers. Some have been good; some have been bad; and a few have been peerless in the comfort department. The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL falls into the third category as it’s one of the comfiest controllers I’ve used — despite its big footprint.

The Kishi V3 Pro XL’s plate where the tablet sits measures 12.91 x 4.36 x 2.54 inches when the controller is outstretched, enabling it to accommodate a 13-inch iPad Pro. Even so, it doesn’t feel unwieldy to handle. It weighs 10.97oz without a tablet inserted, and with my iPad Air 10.9-inch slotted in, the controller weighs 1.73lbs, and I haven’t found it too heavy to hold. Having used the controller for a six-hour straight gaming stint, my hands didn’t feel fatigued or like they were cramping from the controller’s design.

This is also partly due to the ergonomic, chunky grips which feel similar to the ones you’ll find on the likes of the Xbox Elite Wireless 2 ($179). In fact, the Kishi V3 Pro XL feels like what you’d get if you sliced a Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199) down the middle and slotted a tablet in between the two grips. That itself speaks volumes about the Kishi V3 Pro XL as the Wolverine V3 Pro is undoubtedly the best premium PC game controller on the market.

I love the full-sized thumbsticks and triggers too which, again, feel like the ones on the Wolverine V3 Pro. I’m a big fan of offset thumbsticks as they feel more ergonomic to me (and something I always miss on my PlayStation DualSense). All in all, the Kishi V3 Pro XL is an excellent, ergonomic controller designed for all-day play.

Compatible with many tablets

If you already own an iPad or an Android tablet, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is the right choice for you. It’s compatible with the iPad Pro (11 and 13 inches), the iPad Air (11 and 13 inches), the standard iPad (10.9 inches), and USB-C Android tablets. You can connect it to your PC too, thanks to the included cable, and use it as a regular gamepad.

Included in the box are two sets of rubber bumpers for adjusting the controller to your device size, alongside two swappable thumbstick caps (one tall concave and one short convex). I found the rubber bumpers super easy to replace, and I’d recommend trying out the different sizes to ensure that your tablet fits snugly.

Powerful TMR sticks

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL boasts outstanding gaming performance, thanks to its TMR thumbsticks, mouse-like analog triggers, high polling rate, and more. I tested the controller with my iPad 10.9-inch, as I mentioned earlier, and played my favorite PS5 games via the PS Remote Play app. First, its polling rate can be set to either 1,000Hz or 4,000Hz, adjustable via the Razer Nexus companion app. Having tested both, I didn’t experience any latency issues or input lag.

Next, the TMR thumbsticks. Tunnel Magneto Resistance (TMR) sensors are superior to Hall Effect ones (which are also great in their own right), as they use weak electromagnetic waves rather than strong ones. This means that smaller adjustments and minute movements are picked up by the sensors, and the boost to accuracy in racing and FPS titles is certainly noticeable.

I tested this out by playing Need for Speed Heat, and I instantly noticed the performance difference between playing the game on my DualSense versus the Kishi V3 Pro XL. Thanks to the latter’s TMR sticks, I was able to not only maintain a straight line while driving, I could also go right up to the rear bumper of the car ahead of me and overtake right before making contact. This gave me a bit of a competitive advantage. I found the thumbsticks very comfortable too (I used the short convex caps), and thanks to how responsive they were, I was able to easily navigate down the winding mountain roads and turn tight corners.

I also appreciated being able to make minute adjustments in FPS titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077. With my sniper rifle pointed at a group of NPCs in the distance, I could move the right stick ever so slightly to choose the correct target, even though several of them were standing close together. It made me feel like I was in a James Bond movie, to be honest.

Mouse-like triggers and face buttons

Another thing I absolutely adore on the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is how the triggers and face buttons feel. The controller features analog triggers so while they aren’t as customizable as Hall Effect ones on the likes of the GameSir G8 Plus ($99), I’d be lying if I said they didn’t feel darn good to play with.

The triggers, along with the face buttons, two extra shoulder buttons and back buttons, feel mouse-like to press, similar to the ones on the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. They’re extremely responsive and straight out of the box, they didn’t feel stiff at all. I jumped right into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to try them out. Each button and trigger press was instantaneously registered, and I appreciated the tactile feedback I got as well. I also found it handy that I didn’t need to press the buttons or triggers too hard for my commands to register. I was able to execute perfectly timed parries and dodges in Expedition 33, which helped me win crucial boss battles.

Drifting and braking in Need for Speed Heat was a walk in the park thanks to the triggers as well. They’re full-size which means that there’s plenty of room for your fingers to sit atop the longer R2 and L2 triggers. Again, I didn’t find it fatiguing to hold down L2 in drift challenges. I also appreciate the addition of four extra clicky buttons (two on top, two around the back). I remapped the M1 button on the back as the nitro (N2O) button so all I had to do was use my right middle finger to toggle it when I needed a speed boost, which freed up my thumb to remain on the right thumbstick.

User-friendly companion app

As I alluded to before, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is accompanied by the Razer Nexus app which is free to download on iOS, iPadOS and Android. Razer Nexus sports a clean user interface and is your one-stop shop for all the games installed on your device, and for launching apps like PS Remote Play, Steam Link, and even emulators. It’s easy to navigate and there are no intrusive pop-ups that deter from the experience.

Razer Nexus is also your hub for customizing the Kishi V3 Pro XL. Within the app — which can be quickly accessed by hitting the Nexus button located under the right thumbstick — you can customize the four extra buttons, remap the others, adjust the TMR sticks’ deadzone, swap between analog and digital triggers, and adjust the controller’s polling rate. Simple enough to do, and thanks to native compatibility, you can even adjust a few of these settings from the iPad’s Settings menu too.

Passthrough charging

Last but certainly not least, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL features passthrough charging. It’s important to note that the controller doesn’t feature a built-in battery and is instead powered by your tablet, so passthrough charging is a must. This basically means that you can charge your iPad or Android tablet while it’s slotted into the Kishi V3 Pro XL. The USB-C port is located on the right grip.

Passthrough charging has quickly become a non-negotiable for me, and I hate it when a controller doesn’t feature it — the GameSir G8 Plus and the Scuf Nomad ($99), for instance. It’s also something we’ve seen on the Backbone Pro ($169) and the GameSir X5 Lite ($34) and, in all honesty, if Razer didn’t include passthrough charging at this price (more on that shortly) I would’ve been flabbergasted.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: The downs

Alas, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL isn’t perfect. There’s no rumble or haptics on Apple devices, and the price tag is a little difficult to stomach.

No rumble or haptics on Apple devices

One of the most disappointing things about the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL, and perhaps a dealbreaker for some, is the fact that its rumble and haptics don’t work on iOS and iPadOS devices. You’d best believe it when I say that I let out the biggest sigh possible when I plugged in my iPad and there was no rumble in the games I played. Razer does state this on the official product page, but in small print that might get missed by most people as it’s accompanied by bold letters stating “Next-Gen Tactile Feedback” and “RAZER SENSA HD HAPTICS” in all caps.

This is a limitation confined to iOS and iPadOS (as the rumble works with Android tablets), but Apple added rumble support on iPadOS 15, so Razer isn’t off the hook here.

Even if it were an issue stemming from iPadOS or the PS Remote Play app, it would’ve been nice to have the incompatibility warning a little more prominent. I’ve seen many people complain about the lack of haptics on iPadOS on r/razerkishi and r/razer subreddits, and many have stated that they’ve ended up returning their Kishi V3 Pro XLs for this reason. I won’t lie, it’s certainly disappointing especially given that the controller is advertised as one designed for iPads.

But I’d also like to note that rumble and haptics aren’t found on that many mobile controllers. These are missing from the GameSir G8 Plus and the Backbone Pro, for instance, and are a limitation of iOS and iPadOS. I really can’t think of any other iPad controller that does feature haptics. This is a major pre-purchase consideration for you to chew over, and the only drawback of using the Kishi V3 Pro XL and other controllers with an iPhone or iPad. In the meantime, I’ve reached out to a Razer representative to get a clearer picture and understanding.

Costs a premium

While the Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL is an excellent iPad controller, there’s no sugarcoating the fact that it’s quite expensive. It retails for $199 / £164 at Amazon, making it the most expensive mobile controller I’ve tested so far (at the time of writing). This makes the Kishi V3 Pro XL as expensive as the PlayStation Portal ($199). The standard, smaller Kishi V3 Pro model designed for smartphones is a little cheaper at $149, but is the $50 price difference justified, especially when rivals like the GameSir G8 Plus ($99) are available for far less?

But the Kishi V3 Pro XL doesn’t have many other competitors. Most other controllers compatible with the iPad take the shape and form of your regular gamepad, like the PlayStation DualSense (which works just fine with the iPad). The biggest difference is, of course, the fact that you need to prop your iPad up on a table to use a standard gamepad, which you don’t need to do with the Kishi V3 Pro XL. It is, then, perhaps justified that the controller costs so much, but the fact that rumble and haptics don’t work as intended leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL review: Verdict

Razer knows how to make a good gaming peripheral, and the Kishi V3 Pro XL is one of the best iPad accessories you can buy today, especially if you’re a gamer. The controller is ergonomically designed with full-size thumbsticks and triggers, making it perfect for all-day gaming. Passthrough charging also means that you don’t have to worry about your tablet running out of charge mid-gaming.

I love the TMR thumbsticks and mouse-like analog triggers and extra buttons. They’re all highly responsive in FPS, racing and RPG titles, and they can be customized via the user-friendly app too. But is all of this worth nearly $200, especially when there’s no haptics or rumble on Apple devices? Kinda. The Kishi V3 Pro XL has carved out a niche for itself, and if it’s an ergonomic iPad mobile game controller you need, it’s really the only one to get.

What do you get when a gaming headset and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses get a bit busy in the bedroom? You get Razer’s Project Motoko, and after testing them, I’m convinced that this is now so much more than just a headphone/smart glasses mashup.

These debuted at CES 2026 as a prototype that the company promised will be released at some point, at a price that would compete with smart glasses. And at MWC 2026, I got to take another look at them.

Chances are you already know the spec sheet here — a premium pair of cans with two 4K cameras, a Snapdragon chip (that Razer’s not allowed to say what it is, which makes me think it's something new and unannounced), and a promised 36-hour battery life.

But what matters here is this form factor unlocks so much as an AI device, beyond what AI glasses can do. Let me explain.

Mission complete

Given these have the DNA of smart glasses, AI-wise, the use cases on show are your pretty standard affair. Point the dual 12MP cameras at something, ask a question and get answers.

I tested it in a gaming sense (because, Razer) and got rapid feedback on how to use my Minecraft inventory in the silliest way possible.

But then I went further into real-life examples like asking what dishes to avoid on a foreign-language menu based on allergies and asking what to cook with a bunch of ingredients. It honestly felt like going through a game tutorial for life moments.

Responses are fast, with a capture taken and processed within seconds, and the headset is AI model agnostic — open to Gemini, ChatGPT (more like QuitGPT) and more that you can tune to different tasks for a multi-modal experience.

Razer does tout more features coming too, including real-time AI assistance through persistent video, AI-enhanced visual awareness that uses those wide angle cameras to identify details you may miss in your peripheral vision, and even machine learning tools to train robots.

A mass-appeal form factor

The idea of what AI hardware will look like is a question so many companies are trying to answer in so many different ways. One of the most common answers has been smart glasses, but Qualcomm itself (the company behind the chip) finds the idea of camera buds “interesting.”

“If people don’t want to wear glasses, you could have a camera in each one and now you can pretty much do everything that smart glasses can do,” Zaid Asghar, SVP of wearables and personal AI told Tom’s Guide.

Because let’s be honest — glasses aren’t for anyone. Be it from a comfort perspective or a “I don’t want to look like a hipster by wearing glasses I don’t need” side of things, they cause a bigger visual statement than a humble pair of cans.

And that’s why I’m very intrigued by Project Motoko. It changes the dynamic of how you use them from being just something you use every now and then in glasses to something that can be with you at all times.

It’s rare you’ll find me without headphones on my neck or around my head, and chances are you’re the same too. This elevates it to an actually useful AI assistant you’d use on the regular, instead of something you use on vacations to tell you fun facts about buildings.

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Razer has long been known for its circular webcams made for gamers and streamers but with the new Kiyo V2, it changed up the design significantly. The big circular lens is still front and center but now, there’s a large rectangle around back that houses the Kiyo V2’s chipset and microphones.

Not only does this give Razer’s new 4K webcam a more modern look but it also allows for more separation between its dual-microphone array with one on each end. Another big change is that the Kiyo V2’s cable is now detachable which makes moving it around easier and the tripod mounting hole on the bottom means you aren’t limited to just putting this webcam on top of your monitor. Finally, there’s a twistable privacy shutter on the front with a nice click to let you know it’s closed.

Image quality is crisp and clear and with a wider 93° field of view, you can easily capture your whole room in the frame. Of course, with Razer’s Synapse software you can tweak all of the Kiyo V2’s settings to your liking but you also get a lifetime license to Camo Studio Pro which helps justify this webcam’s $149 price tag. Still, while you can record in 4K, you’re limited to 30 fps instead of 60 fps unless you drop the resolution down to 1080p. Likewise, I found the Kiyo V2’s autofocus to be a bit finicky out of the box.

My Razer Kiyo V2 review will help you decide if this is the best webcam for your needs or if you’re better off going with a more traditional webcam instead of one aimed at gamers.

Razer Kiyo V2: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A 4K webcam with an ultrawide lens and useful AI features.
• Who is it for? Streamers, gamers, and PC users who want a high-quality 4K webcam with AI-powered studio effects.
• What does it cost? The Razer Kiyo V2 costs $149, but there’s also the $99 Kiyo V2 X that shoots in 1440p instead of 4K.
• What do we like? The new design, the twist-to-close privacy shutter, the 360-degree swivel mount, the detachable cable and the new color options.
• What don’t we like? That Razer only includes a USB-C to USB-C cable with the Kiyo V2 and how its autofocus can be finicky at times.

Razer Kiyo V2: Specs

Razer Kiyo V2: The ups

The Razer Kiyo V2 is an impressive looking webcam thanks to its new design and the fact that it’s available in other colors besides black. However, it’s the AI-powered features, the software and the little tweaks throughout that are the most impressive.

Brains in the back

At 4.6 x 1.1 x 2.9 inches inches, the Kiyo V2 is significantly wider than the Razer Kiyo Pro thanks to its new design but unlike the massive Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra, it’s travely-friendly. Having the circular lens up front and the brains of the webcam in a rectangular housing in the back gives the Kiyo V2 a more modern look. In fact, it wouldn’t look out of place in an office setting as its design shares some similarities to the Logitech MX Brio, albeit with a wider circular lens.

When you flip the Kiyo V2 around, there’s a small cutout for its USB-C port. In the box, you get a USB 3.0, USB-C to USB-C cable along with the webcam itself and that’s it. If you want to record at 4K, you’ll need to use this cable specifically as Razer warns you when you try to use a different one or plug the Kiyo V2 into a slower USB port.

The universal clip on the bottom lets you place this webcam on top of your monitor or one of the best laptops. It doesn’t have an extra piece at the bottom like a C-shape mount, but I found the rubber on the inside to be quite grippy and it held the Kiyo V2 firmly in place on top of my monitor. It’s not your only mounting option though.

On the bottom of the Kiyo V2, you’ll find a standard universal camera thread which means you can use virtually any piece of camera gear to mount it instead. For instance, I used a SmallRig Camera Desk Mount to have the webcam positioned between my dual monitor setup as opposed to having to choose which display I wanted to look at during video calls.

All in all, I’m a big fan of the new design and how the Kiyo V2 looks on that tripod-style desk mount or perched on top of my monitor.

Twist for privacy, turn for views

The original Kiyo and the Kiyo Pro both lacked built-in privacy shutters but Razer has added one with the Kiyo V2. Like on the MX Brio I mentioned before, the Kiyo V2’s privacy shutter is activated by twisting a notched ring around the lens. It gives off a very satisfying mechanical “click” when fully engaged and for me, it felt more like zooming in on my actual camera than sliding the one on my ThinkPad laptop across.

Even if you don’t opt to use a separate, camera-style mount like I did, the Kiyo V2’s lens and body are attached to its universal clamp on a 360-degree swivel hinge. Turning the webcam left or right as well as up or down is very smooth and it’s easy to get your frame exactly where you want it.

Still, with an ultra-wide 93° field of view, there may be things in the background you don’t necessarily want in your shot. And for that, there’s Razer’s own Synapse software as well as Cam Studio Pro.

Stream ready

Right out of the box, the Kiyo V2 provides a great default image thanks to its Sony STARVIS 1/2.8 sensor. It’s larger than the ones you find on most webcams but smaller than the one in the Logitech MX Brio and the one Razer used in the Kiyo Pro Ultra.

The Kiyo V2 does an excellent job in natural light as well as during the day with the lights on. With 8.3 megapixels, it handles HDR well; in my tests with natural light, the bright window on the right side of the frame didn’t look washed out. However, since this is a webcam for gamers and streamers after all, low-light performance is the true test of the Kiyo V2.

Much to my surprise, in a dark room with just the light from my dual-monitor setup, the Kiyo V2 performed exceptionally well. While you can’t make out all the details in the room behind me, the image itself is clear and, most importantly, my face and body are lit well. From there, I turned on the monitor light bars on top of my displays, and to tell you the truth, I actually prefer how the Kiyo V2 handled no light over low light.

My one main gripe right out of the box was the autofocus. On default settings, the Kiyo V2’s autofocus struggled to keep me in focus at times. Fortunately, you have two software-based options to fix that and recent firmware updates have addressed this issue for the most part.

To start things off, there’s Razer’s own Synapse software, which you’ll need to install to configure the webcam (though it does work as a plug-and-play device). In Synapse, you can tweak the Kiyo V2’s autofocus, auto exposure, lighting, and zoom. You can even set up several different presets in case you want to quickly switch from a tight shot to a wider one with a single click.

Then there’s Camo Studio Pro, which Razer includes a lifetime license for when you purchase the Kiyo V2. If you want to set up a virtual green screen or switch between custom backgrounds, this is where you can do that. You can also fine-tune the autofocus, adjust your frame, and add "Portrait Mode" bokeh. It’s a great inclusion, and at $100 on its own, this license helps justify the Kiyo V2’s price tag. It’s also worth noting that if you opt for the cheaper Kiyo V2 X, you won’t get access to this software — just Synapse.

Colors everywhere

Although Razer sent over a black Kiyo V2 webcam for me to test out when the device first launched, in the time since, the company has expanded the available color options. Now in addition to black, you can also get this webcam in white and in a light pink color Razer calls Quartz. The best part, you don’t have to pay extra for one of these more vibrant Kiyo V2 models.

Since this is a webcam for gamers and streamers after all who often go above and beyond with their setups, it’s great that Razer provides multiple color options so that your webcam can match the rest of your gear. There’s nothing worse than building an all-white setup, only to have a black webcam sticking out like a sore thumb up top.

Razer Kiyo V2: The downs

The Razer Kiyo V2 is a big step up over its predecessors thanks to its new design, AI features, and the included Camo Studio Pro license. However, the experience is soured slightly by the included cable and a price point that feels a bit awkward for what you're actually getting.

Cable matters

In the box, Razer includes a 6.5-foot, USB 3.0-rated USB-C to USB-C cable with the Kiyo V2 and that’s it. To get the promised 4K video at 30 fps or even 1080p at 60 fps, you need to use this particular high-bandwidth cable. In fact, when you try to plug in the Kiyo V2 with a different one, a warning pops up in Razer Synapse explicitly telling you to use the original cable to avoid performance issues.

This is par for the course with most high-bandwidth devices, since using the wrong cable or a USB port with slower speeds (like USB 2.0) will result in the Kiyo V2 not functioning as intended. However, my beef is with the fact that you only get a USB-C to USB-C cable. Since the best gaming laptops already have webcams built-in, you’re likely going to be using this one at your desktop, where USB-C ports can be harder to find than they are on a laptop.

Razer could have easily rectified this by also including a high-speed USB-C to USB-A cable or at least a dongle in the box. Sure, this would likely raise the Kiyo V2’s cost slightly, but it would be a lot more convenient. Likewise, for a premium webcam, a braided cable like the one found on the older Kiyo Pro would have been a nice touch too.

Stuck between midrange and premium

At $150, the Kiyo V2 is in somewhat of an awkward place price-wise. It’s slightly more than the less expensive Kiyo V2 X, but costs the same as the Insta360 Link 2C, which is our current pick for the best overall webcam. At the same time, it’s $50 cheaper than the Logitech MX Brio, which has a larger sensor and a more premium, all-aluminum body but is still capped at 4K at 30 fps.

The other problem is that video conferencing platforms like Google Meet and Microsoft Teams still top out at 1080p. While you can stream on YouTube at 4K, and Twitch is slowly rolling out higher resolution support, the Kiyo V2’s 30 fps cap makes this less than ideal for fast-paced game streaming. Essentially, you’re paying for functionality you might not even be able to use, and due to that lower frame rate, you’d likely drop your video down to 1080p for a smoother 60 fps experience anyway.

Razer does try to offset the Kiyo V2’s higher price by including that Camo Studio Pro lifetime license. However, for most people, you’d likely be better off with the Kiyo V2 X for straight streaming at 1080p/60fps. You will lose out on the extra software and the 4K sensor, but you'll save $50 in the process.

Razer Kiyo V2: Verdict

The Razer Kiyo V2 brings quite a lot to the table compared to its predecessors. From its new design to its AI-powered lighting and autofocus features — and of course, creature comforts like the detachable USB-C cable and standard camera tripod mounting hole on the bottom — this is a big upgrade across the board.

While I would have liked to see Razer go all the way to 4K at 60 fps, that would have likely raised the Kiyo V2’s price significantly. At the same time, due to platform limitations, it might take a while before you could actually stream or join video calls at this higher resolution and faster frame rate anyway. I do like how Razer included a lifetime license to Camo Studio Pro to help justify its $50 price increase over the Kiyo V2 X. A high-speed USB-C to USB-A cable or even just a simple adapter would have sealed the deal, though.

Still, if you’re already heavily invested in Razer’s peripheral ecosystem or just want a great webcam for game streaming, the Kiyo V2 is a somewhat pricey but worthwhile investment — especially if you opt for one of the newer color options to match the rest of your setup.

Welcome to my 2026 desk setup for productivity and gaming. The goal was to create one space where I could edit videos, record high quality audio and unwind by playing games.

From my 49” ultra-wide monitor for ultimate productivity and Mac/Windows combo, my ergonomic office chair that massages my back, and all the accessories in between, everything here has improved my setup's workflow, comfort, and added a bit of personality too.

As someone who often works from home editing videos and photos and as an avid gamer, the right desk setup can make all the difference. Not only can I do my best work here but I can also kick back and play games comfortably at the end of the day.

Check out my full desk setup video above and if anything here stands out and gives you inspiration on how to improve your own setup, you can find it all linked below!

At this year’s CES, Razer doubled down on AI, showing off a wave of new products built around it. The lineup included Project AVA, an AI desk companion, Project Motoko, a gaming headset positioned as “wearable AI,” and the Razer Forge AI Dev Workstation, a developer-focused PC designed for AI computing.

Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan also took the stage for a live episode of The Verge’s "Decoder" podcast with editor-in-chief Nilay Patel, where he addressed the growing backlash from gamers over AI’s role in game development. Tan didn’t mince words about the rise of “AI slop,” but he made it clear he still believes AI can be a net positive — especially when it comes to speeding up development. He even argued that, despite the noise online, most gamers ultimately want smoother, faster game releases too.

Min Liang-Tan says AI could make game development faster, easier and less demanding

During their one-on-one conversation, Patel brought up Razer’s plan to invest $600 million into AI over the next couple of years, and asked Liang-Tan how he responds to the growing aversion to AI from both gamers and game developers. Liang-Tan didn’t dismiss the backlash, but he made it clear he sees AI tools as a net positive — especially when they’re used to support developers, not replace them.

“What we aren’t against, at least from my perspective, are tools that help augment or support, and help game developers make great games,” he said. He pointed to practical examples like AI-assisted QA, arguing that if AI can help developers test games faster, catch bugs sooner and clean up small mistakes, that’s something everyone should be rooting for. “If we could get game developers to have the opportunity to create better, to check through typos and things like that, to create better games, I think we all want that.”

That mindset tracks with Razer’s bigger AI push. The company is reportedly hiring 150 AI scientists as it expands its footprint in the AI gaming space, and Liang-Tan highlighted one project in particular: an AI “QA companion” designed to make bug reporting less painful for testers by automatically filling out forms as issues are logged.

For Liang-Tan, that’s the real promise of AI in gaming — not replacing the human side of creativity, but taking the tedious parts off developers’ plates so they can build better games. “The way that we see it is that AI is a tool to help game developers make better games,” he said, adding that he feels strongly about protecting human creativity while figuring out where AI can genuinely improve the process.

Liang-Tan looks down on all things 'AI slop'

While those in the gaming industry and gamers as a whole may not be all that enthusiastic about the rosy future Liang-Tan paints as it pertains to AI in gaming, we’re confident that those two groups can agree with his comments about the flood of AI slop hitting everyone’s timelines.

“I think we’re unhappy with generative AI slop, right?” he asked. “Just to put it out there. And that’s something that I’m unhappy with. Like any gamer, when I play a game, I want to be engaged, I wanna be immersed, I wanna be able to be competitive. I don’t want to be served character models with extra fingers and stuff like that, or shoddily written storylines, so on and so forth. I think for us, we’re all aligned against gen AI slop that is just churned out from a couple of prompts and stuff like that.”

Bottom line

Looking at the current gaming landscape reveals several major development studios either going all-in on AI or ignoring it altogether. Razer is clearly in the former group, as its CEO’s comments make abundantly clear.

With three upcoming AI gaming products on the way, a massive investment in the technology, and a podcast episode full of encouragement for AI on behalf of Liang-Tan, Razer has its sights set on making AI in gaming more accessible and acceptable.

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At the close of CES day four, we named the 27 best gadgets at this year's show. But that doesn't mean we're packing up and going home. There's a lot more interesting tech from our fourth day walking the show floor to tell you about.

The smart home space is always a big draw in Las Vegas and there's been no shortage of announcements this year. We found a mind-reading headset, the first Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme laptop, and the return of IKEA's viral 'donut lamp'.

If you missed our day three round-up, you can find it here, and don't forget to keep checking our CES 2026 live blog for the very latest updates. Without further ado, here are seven of the best new gadgets from day four.

IKEA 'donut lamp'

The mighty IKEA turned up at CES with a load of new tech, including some very cheap Bluetooth speakers. But we were excited to see the new version of the IKEA Varmblixt — more commonly known as the 'donut lamp'.

Created in collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, the new and improved Varmblixt lamp will now be able to change color and dim. It can also be controlled remotely and will transition gently between a range of custom hues.

Available both as a wall light and a table lamp, the updated IKEA Varmblixt will cost $99 and be available from April 2026.

HyperX Neurable

The HyperX Neurable gaming headset is not like the rest of the best gaming headsets, it uses EEG sensors along with AI to effectively read your brain to help you focus. Contact strips built directly into the earcups will pick up the noise of your brain and narrow it down to the focus, stress and cognitive load signals it needs to look for when it comes to improving focus.

My colleague Jason England tried it for himself and said it put him through a mindful breathing and focus exercise with a visualizer of dots floating in a sphere. The headphones will track when your brain has been boosted to just the right level, while simultaneously relaxing your body. In Jason's case, he said it made him feel like time had slowed down. Like a real-life version of the Dead Eye mode in Red Dead Redemption 2. Cool.

Navee E-Wagon 4X

Who doesn't need a rideable, electric-powered cart in their life? The Navee E-Wagon 4X is designed to haul everything from camping gear to camera and video equipment, while you sit up front and steer.

It's available today and priced at $2,099, so although it's not cheap, it'll come in clutch for anyone who needs to regularly lug lots of gear. Power comes from a 3000W motor and a detachable 36V rechargeable battery, which charges up in four hours. You'll reach a top speed of 10mph and the max carrying capacity is 1,300 pounds, while the total storage volume is 183 liters.

Here's what our writer Dan thought of the Navee when he took it for a spin.

Withings BodyScan 2

The original Body Scan from Withings is our top pick when it comes to the best smart scales, so getting hands on with the follow-up has been a CES highlight. It's very simple to use and took just 90 seconds to give my colleague Dan Bracaglia a full health breakdown. The scale measures 60 biomarkers, that get combined into categories like heart age, vascular age, muscle-to-fat balance, visceral fat score and more.

Moreover, this is the first smart scale to include notifications if signs of potential hypertension are detected in a user. This feature is by no means a diagnostic tool, but it could prove to be a lifesaver nonetheless. This new flagship smart scale is estimated to ship in the summer of 2026 for $599.

Segway Myon e-bike

Segway is better known for scooters than bikes, but the Segway Myon is the company's latest attempt at a city-based e-bike for commuters. Starting price is $1,999, and you get a 500W rear hub motor and a range of up to 80 miles on a single charge.

Rideability seems on point and my colleague Mike Prospero got to test it out on Segway's track. There's an electronic shifter on the right handlebar above a small rocker switch that lets you adjust the level of pedal assistance. Below that is a thumb lever for the Myon's throttle.

Similar to the company's electric scooters, the Myon comes with Apple FindMy, as well as remote locking, and GPS and a Lost Mode (where you can remotely track the bike) if you sign up for a subscription.

Razer Project AVA

Razer has turned our heads with a few new innovations at CES this year but this one may just take the cake. The Project AVA AI desk companion is designed to live alongside you and while Razer's CES demo used xAI’s Grok engine, it's platform agnostic, so you could use ChatGPT or Claude if you preferred.

It’s brought to life as an animated 5.5-inch 3D hologram, and Razer says it uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness. My colleague Tony Polanco's demo featured a spunky girl named Kira, but other companions will also be available.

Although Razer is predominantly known for gaming, and Tony's demo included asking it for the right loadout for an FPS session, you can just as easily use it for everyday purposes like organizing your schedule. Neither a release date (beyond “calendar year 2026”) or a price has been revealed yet. But you can read Tony's thoughts on Project AVA here.

Asus Zenbook A16

We've had a glut of laptops to drool over at CES 2026, but the team in Las Vegas was particularly interested in the Asus Zenbook A16 because it's the first laptop to arrive sporting the all-powerful Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip.

The Asus Zenbook A16 impressed my computing colleague Darragh Murphy with its slick design and incredible build. Being 0.54 inches thin and weighing an ultra-lightweight 2.65 pounds, not only is that one of the thinnest 16-inch laptops around, but it's even lighter than many 13-inch laptops. Oh, and there's a 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate.

Our best laptops list is set to receive some major updates this year.

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I just checked out Razer’s Project AVA AI desk companion, and I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty awesome. Though I’m still largely skeptical about chatbots, even I see the appeal of having an AI avatar helping you out in video games or just keeping you organized in daily life. The fact that said chatbot sits right on your desk inside a cool-looking cylinder is also kind of fun.

I received a brief demonstration of Project AVA at CES 2026 to see how it works. Though this is a Razer product, you can use it for everyday purposes beyond gaming. This is actually the aspect I found most interesting, especially as AI companions are becoming more sophisticated. Having the AI provide gaming tips is really more of a bonus than a main feature for me.

Here’s my experience with Project AVA, along with a rundown of how it works.

How Project AVA works

Project AVA is a 24/7 AI companion that’s designed to live right alongside you. Razer used xAI’s Grok engine to demo Project AVA, but I was told it’s platform agnostic, meaning you’ll be able to use other chatbots like ChatGPT to drive it.

AVA has a dynamic personality that learns and evolves based on the interactions you have with it. It’s brought to life as an animated 5.5-inch 3D hologram, and Razer says it uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness. For my demo, the companion in question was a spunky girl named Kira, but other companions will also be available.

As I said before, AVA can simplify your life by doing things such as organizing your schedule, consulting with you on work tasks and, of course, being your gaming wingman. It's pretty versatile.

My Project AVA experience

In the demo, the Razer representative asked Kira to help him create an ideal loadout for a shooting game. The AI companion took a few seconds to respond, but when it did, it gave a detailed rundown of the gun it saw on the screen and suggested a loadout. I was told it can also show you the best routes to take on the map, and also deliver other tips to give you an edge.

I asked if the AI only works with first-person shooters, and was told it can help you in any game. I’m already thinking about using AVA when I’m playing Street Fighter 6, so it can tell me how I can improve and which areas need improvement.

Project AVA is trained on several languages. When I said I also speak Spanish, the Razer rep asked Kira to respond in Spanish. I then had a quick chat with it in “Gamer Spanglish” and was surprised at how accurate its responses were. Switching back to English, the rep asked Kira how to get to Samsung’s booth from our location, and it gave detailed directions.

Outlook

I was very impressed by Project AVA's accurate and lifelike responses. Again, I’m not exactly an AI proponent, but even I have to admit that Project AVA can be legitimately helpful for life and gaming. In fact, I’m actually more interested in the life assistant aspect, even though I’m a huge gamer.

There’s no solid release date for Razer Project AVA, but I was told it will launch in “calendar year 2026.” Pricing also hasn’t been disclosed. You can reserve one now, and it will ship around the launch window. You can rest assured I’ll review this device when it’s out, so stay tuned!

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From Plaud’s NotePin to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, AI wearables are all the rage these days, and that’s especially true at CES 2026. However, when I walked into Razer’s suite, I wasn’t expecting to find an AI-powered gaming headset.

Getting people to don a new device just to use AI hasn’t been as seamless as you’d expect. Sure, the Humane AI Pin caught everyone’s attention (including ours) at CES a few years ago, but it effectively became a paperweight after its servers were shut down in February 2025. Plaud’s NotePin has fared better by carving out a niche for professionals, but it’s still a device most people only see at tech events.

Razer has been slowly integrating AI into its ecosystem — from AI-powered game assistants to intelligent webcams — but this year, the company is taking things to a new level. Project Motoko is a bold concept that blends an AI-native computer into a high-end gaming headset. Powered by Snapdragon platforms and equipped with dual eye-level cameras, it offers a level of contextual awareness and processing power that smaller wearables simply can't match.

Here’s everything you need to know about Razer’s Project Motoko and why it might finally succeed where other AI wearables have failed.

So much more than a headset

At first glance, I thought I was looking at a potential new contender for one of the best gaming headsets when I first laid eyes on Razer’s Project Motoko. However, upon closer inspection, the dual eye-level cameras let me know that this was a different beast entirely.

Since this is a concept after all, Razer couldn’t tell me exactly which AI chip was powering this headset in the demo I saw, but it did confirm the platform is built on Snapdragon. Unlike a pair of smart glasses or another pin-like wearable, Project Motoko actually looked comfy and something I wouldn’t mind wearing at all.

I didn’t get to try on the headset immediately. Instead, I watched a Razer employee use its dual eye-level cameras to capture pictures and then proceed to ask its built-in AI assistant about them. This isn’t the only way you can use Project Motoko, though, as you can also have its cameras continuously capture what you see for real-time interaction. This provides what Razer calls "stereoscopic precision," allowing the AI to perceive depth and details that might even be beyond your own peripheral vision.

The big difference between a pair of the best smart glasses and Project Motoko is battery life. With all that extra room inside the headset’s earcups, you can house a larger battery which is perfect for continuous capture since it’s such a drain on a device’s battery life. Likewise, this also means you can use bigger, more powerful chips for improved on-device processing.

In addition to the cameras on both earcups, there are also dual far and near-field microphones. These work together to capture your voice commands while sensing environmental audio, which made it easier for the headset to pick up on the questions I asked once I finally had a chance to try it out for myself — even in the crowded suite where I got to see Project Motoko in action.

While still an early concept, I saw it perform real-time object and text recognition by taking a picture of a Japanese menu and then translating and explaining it on the fly. There was also a replica of the Rosetta Stone on the desk next to the headset, and after a quick pic, Project Motoko explained to us that there were three languages written on the stone tablet and exactly where each one appeared. One of the most interesting parts is that you aren't locked into one ecosystem; the headset is designed for universal compatibility with leading AI platforms like Grok, ChatGPT, and Gemini.

With my demo done, it was time to don Project Motoko myself and see if an AI-powered headset was as useful as it looked.

An AI wearable you’ll actually wear

Remembering to attach a pin to your clothes before you head out or wearing a pair of smart glasses when you don’t actually need glasses can be difficult. With Project Motoko, I picked it up and put it on the same way I would with any gaming headset.

I didn’t feel its extra weight at all and if I hadn’t seen the cameras on the sides of its earcups beforehand, I might not have even noticed this wasn’t your typical gaming headset. Granted, things could change if and when Project Motoko becomes an actual product you can buy. Still, I had the power of AI at eye level without any of the awkwardness that comes from a brand-new category of device.

Since there was a Razer gaming laptop plugged into a monitor in front of me and partially due to its color, I took a picture and then asked Project Motoko about the HDMI cable connecting them. It quickly explained that the HDMI cable in question was Razer green without any issues. While this was a simple test, the vision system is designed to understand much more complex contexts instantly, from tracking gym reps to summarizing documents on the fly.

For the sake of the demo, Project Motoko’s responses came through on a Razer Leviathan soundbar underneath the monitor. In practice (and if this becomes a real product), all of its on-the-fly audio feedback will come directly through the headset's earcups. That way, you and you alone will be able to hear how the AI assistant adapts to your schedule and habits.

One of the most surprising aspects of this "wearability" isn't just for the user, but for the future of technology itself. Razer is positioning Motoko as a tool for machine learning, using the authentic human POV data it captures — like depth and focus patterns — to provide the high-value datasets needed to train humanoid robots for natural perception.

During my short time with Project Motoko, I was quite impressed. However, it’s the kind of device I’d have to try out for myself — from both the comfort of my own home and out in public — before deciding whether or not I’d ditch my current headset for this turbo-charged one.

Not just for gamers

Razer may be a gaming company, but Project Motoko appears to have even larger ambitions. During a video explaining the concept, the headset was just as useful when sitting in front of one of the best gaming PCs as it was in the rest of your home.

For instance, in the video, the person wearing it used it while fixing things in their living room and while cooking in the kitchen. Like you would with your favorite AI chatbot, you can look in your fridge or even at a table full of raw ingredients and simply ask, "What can I make with what I have here?". This is possible because Motoko acts as a full-time AI assistant that adapts to your habits, providing on-the-fly audio feedback for everything from translating street signs to tracking gym reps.

Getting people excited about AI wearables and convincing them to actually buy one are two completely different things. However, if your AI wearable sits in a drawer gathering dust, no one’s actually using it anyway. With a device like Razer’s Project Motoko, I think that last barrier to entry is completely removed. People — and especially gamers — are used to wearing over-ear headphones, and that’s half the battle right there.

Beyond personal use, Razer is even looking at how this device can help build the future of robotics. By capturing authentic human POV vision data — including depth, focus, and attention patterns — Motoko provides the high-value datasets needed to train the humanoid robots of tomorrow for natural perception and decision-making.

Now, will Project Motoko ever materialize as a real product? For now, it remains a concept debut for CES 2026. Well, only time will tell. For me, though, I could see myself using a headset like this if it delivers the same audio experience Razer is known for but with some extra help along the way from my favorite AI chatbot.

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It's been a monumental year for laptops. First, Nvidia kicked off the year by releasing its next-gen GeForce RTX 50-series mobile GPUs, then we got an all-new range of Intel Core Ultra series 2 CPUs and just recently, AMD launched FSR Redstone for AI-powered resolution scaling, ray tracing and frame generation.

What does that all translate to? Many of the fastest and most powerful gaming laptops that the Tom's Guide team and I have tested. It's been eye-opening watching numbers skyrocket in the suite of benchmarks and real-world tests we've been putting the latest systems of 2025 through, so trust me when I say we're at the peak of gaming on laptops right now.

But just how far has the bar been raised in PC gaming on portable systems? Well, it comes down to three gaming laptops we've tested this year: the Razer Blade 18 (2025), Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) and MSI Titan 18 HX.

As tested, these are among the most powerful mobile machines on the market, but that doesn't necessarily mean these are the best gaming laptops for everyone. It isn't just about performance, after all, as other key factors such as their display, design, battery life and, most importantly right now, price play a vital role in our testing.

Right now, though, this is all about raw power, and 2025 has seen some monstrous systems to play the demanding, AAA titles with settings cranked up to max and power through productivity apps for video editing, 3D modeling and more.

For today's cutting-edge performance in a laptop, these are the finest examples of the most powerful laptops we've tested. So, let's get into the numbers.

Specs

For context, here's a look at the top-grade components under the hood of each of the laptops. Each follows a familiar pattern: Intel Core Ultra 9 processors, top-of-the-line RTX 5090 GPUs, 64GB of DDR5 RAM and massive 18-inch displays. With the power they hold, you bet these don't come cheap — they're all over $5,000.

These are the specs we tested them with, but of course, you can configure them to keep the price down.

I've also added our top pick from 2024, the Alienware M18 R2, which rocks the same type of premium specs but just from the previous generation. That includes an Intel Core i9 14900HX CPU, RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. This is to show the gap between today's gaming laptops and some of the best high-end performance from the previous year.

Gaming performance

As you can imagine, all of these laptops come packed with the latest specs, including Intel Core Ultra 9 CPUs and RTX 5090 GPUs. So, no matter the machine, expect high frame rates at maximum settings across the board.

That said, you'll find a couple that eke out more performance to deliver even stronger results. In our lab tests, we perform benchmarks in a number of popular PC titles, including Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong and Assassin's Creed Shadows. These are heavy hitters on systems, and give us a good idea of the power a gaming laptop can dish out.

Using a baseline resolution of 1920 x 1080 and turning off Nvidia's DLSS 4 to get raw performance benchmarks over AI-enhanced frame generation, here are the results.

Take note, the games here are at max settings, so they're being pushed to the limit at 1080p resolution. Coming out on top, the Razer Blade 18 and Alienware 18 Area-51 are nearly neck-and-neck, depending on the title, while the MSI Titan 18 HX falls a tad behind, despite still bringing powerful results.

In pretty much all games, though, you can expect each laptop to be near or surpass 60 FPS, which is an incredibly mighty benchmark to achieve. That's especially true when comparing it to the Alienware m18 R2, which just manages 60 FPS but can reach the heights of the 70+ FPS the rest of this year's laptops deliver in Cyberpunk 2077.

Now, when turning on DLSS 4, expect frame rates to jump to well over 200 FPS, and that even includes when using the incredibly demanding path tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077. Of course, frame rates will drop the higher the resolution is, but you can still expect ridiculously high numbers at 1440p, 1600p and 4K resolution (if the laptop allows it).

I mean, there's a reason why the Razer Blade 18 with its dual-resolution 18-inch display hits 240Hz at 4K. Either way, no matter what game you throw at these beasts, they'll run remarkably smoothly.

General performance

It isn't just the RTX 5090 GPUs pulling the weight, as these laptops also come with premium specs like the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 HX series CPUs, an incredible 64GB of DDR5 RAM and up to a whopping 6TB for storage. The standard is high, and the numbers reflect this.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor in the MSI Titan 18 HX is Team Blue's fastest mobile chip, but the Core Ultra 9 275HX is still one of the top dogs. Interestingly, according to Geekbench 6 benchmarks, the 285HX slightly falls behind the 275HX silicon. Still, MSI's fittingly named Titan gaming laptop has an edge.

From the multicore performance to our Handbrake test, which measures how long a laptop takes to transcode a specific 4K video file to 1080p resolution, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers some of the highest numbers we've seen. CPUs have clearly seen a boost in performance over the past generation, as you can see with the Intel Core i9-14900HX chip in the Alienware m18 R2, leading to faster multitasking and handling demanding apps.

All that said, the Razer Blade 18 takes the crown as being the laptop with the most potential to handle AI tasks. Despite each machine holding the same mobile graphics card, the Geekbench AI GPU benchmark that measures AI performance shows the RTX 5090 in the Blade 18 wins.

These are no doubt powerful results, but you know what laptop offers similar benchmarks? MacBooks. Specifically, the MacBook Pro M5 and MacBook Pro M4 Pro. These aren't made for gaming (although they can), but thanks to Apple's mighty M-series silicon, these chips are already catching up or surpassing the results on these gaming laptops. Take a look at our MacBook Pro M5 benchmarks, and you'll find the M5 offers a Geekbench single-core score of 4288 and a multicore result of 17926, while the M4 Pro delivers 3910 and 22822, respectively.

Regardless, this also shows just how far gaming laptops have come, and we'll soon see even higher results in 2026 once we get our hands on Intel Panther Lake and Snapdragon X2 Elite CPUs in laptops.

Editor's pick

For the ultimate gaming experience (and productivity performance) a laptop can offer right now, each of these laptops we tested in 2025 will do the trick. They offer more than enough performance for power users, and thanks to their premium internals, it's safe to say these machines will keep up with the latest tech for years to come.

But if I had to choose one out of them all, it would have to be the Razer Blade 18 (2025). Yes, it's big and chunky, but its gaming performance is through the roof even compared to its competition, it boasts a dual-resolution 18-inch display with 4K at 240Hz and 1200p at 440Hz, it's uniquely upgradeable for RAM and storage (not that you'll need it at its highest configuration) and it's actually quite compact considering its size-class.

Now, this is all for top-end performance, and you'll be paying an absolute premium for it. At 5,199, this gaming laptop will be putting a massive dent in anyone's wallet. This one is for the power users who require the highest power in a desktop replacement-like laptop, and not everyone needs that kind of performance to play the latest PC games at high frame rates.

That's why we rate other laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) and Lenovo Legion 5i among the best laptops to get, as they're far more affordable while still bringing high-end performance. At the very least, you can get the Razer Blade 18 for a whole lot less if you opt for more affordable specs.

More from Tom's Guide

• We tested hundreds of gadgets in 2025 — these are the 5 best of the year
• We tested over 100 laptops this year — and these 10 have the best battery life
• I just tested my favorite new gaming laptop, and it’s not from Alienware, Asus or MSI

Full disclosure: I love video games, and more often than not, story-driven RPGs are like therapy for me. You'll find me glued to the TV, playing my favorites on my PS5 Slim in my downtime on the weekend, or in the evenings after work. I'm also very lucky that as a lifelong gamer, I get to test the best gaming headsets and the best controllers (yes, for my job).

But with the plethora of first- and third-party options in the market today, it can be overwhelming finding the right set of cans or gamepad for yourself — and for gifting purposes. I'm sure you have a gamer in your life, and perhaps you're struggling to get them a gaming-related gift for the holidays.

That's where I come in. I asked myself, "What would I want for Christmas?" So, to make the decision easier for you, I've rounded up the best things you can buy a PS5, Xbox or Nintendo Switch gamer for Christmas 2025. All the products on this list have been tested and reviewed by yours truly, so you can rest assured that you'll be getting bang for your buck if you go with my recommendations.

For PS5 gamers

Sony's current range of consoles — PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro — is formidable and each system is powerful in its own right. According to my PlayStation Wrap-Up, I've played PS5 games for nearly 500 hours this year, and many of those have been spent testing the products below. Here are my top three picks for PS5 gamers in your life.

For Nintendo Switch gamers

I'm a big gamer while my partner isn't, but you know what she loves? Playing couch co-op games on the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. The new Switch 2 is a fantastic hybrid console, and there are awesome third-party headsets and controllers available for it. Here are my top three picks for the Switch gamer in your life.

For Xbox gamers

While I personally haven't owned an Xbox since 2013, many of the gaming headsets and controllers I've tested are compatible with Microsoft's consoles. Whether you're looking for a pro controller or a budget headset for an Xbox gamer in your life, I've got you covered. Here are my top three picks for Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X owners.

More from Tom's Guide

• The best PS5 headsets in 2025 — here's our top picks
• Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck OLED — I took both on a trip to determine the best gaming handheld
• PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Which console wins?

Gaming laptops have had quite the year in 2025. With Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series mobile GPUs paving the way for substantial gains in gaming performance, Intel and AMD delivering the latest in CPU power and the improvements in OLED display tech reaching sky-high frame rates, the best gaming laptops got a whole lot more enticing.

Two fine examples of how far gaming laptops have come? The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) and Razer Blade 14 (2025). Every time I look for a sleek, ultraportable machine made for gaming that also powers through workloads, these are the laptops that come to mind.

Gorgeous, svelte designs packing astounding OLED displays that will make the likes of the MacBook Pro jealous, with the kind of performance that gamers need to play the latest AAA games with cranked up settings — all in portable, 14-inch packages. They're at the peak of their standards, but only one can belong on your desk (unless you've got the money, but I wouldn't say that's a wise investment).

Now, these laptops have been butting heads with each new iteration for years, and there's good reason behind this. Both are compact powerhouses that make for ideal laptops for work and play, but there are clear differences between these machines, too.

For anyone considering buying an Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 or Razer Blade 14 before the RAM crisis makes laptop prices surge, but can't decide between the two, I'm here to help you make the right choice for your needs.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Specs

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Price

Being premium, lightweight machines boasting mighty internals for their size, it hardly comes as a surprise that these laptops are priced highly.

At their base price, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with an RTX 5060 will set you back $1,799 at Best Buy, coming with an AMD Ryzen 9 270, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. On the other hand, the Razer Blade 14 with an RTX 5060 starts at $2,299 at Razer, sporting an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

That's a $500 difference between laptops that essentially share similar specs, including the 14-inch QHD+ (2880 x 1800) OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate that both notebooks come equipped with. Even though the Blade 14 comes with a higher performing processor over the Zephyrus G14, it's clear Asus offers the more affordable option.

But when there's a deal, the Razer Blade 14 finally drops to a price that catches the eye. The otherwise pricey gaming laptop has been seen at $1,449, well below what you can get the G14 for. Plus, Razer usually has a discount of some kind on its lineup of gaming laptops, so not exactly one for the

Similarly, though, I've seen the ROG Zephyrus G14 crash to around $1,299, and using some of my quick maths (which I've been told not to use at school, seeing as my answers, erm, weren't the numbers I wanted), even I can tell this is a hugely more favorable price.

It's the same case for the higher-spec models, although you'll find the Razer Blade 14 with an RTX 5070 has hit a low of $1,699 during the sales season, and that's a hefty $1,000 off. That's a great deal for this mighty beast, but at the same time, the Zephyrus G14 with an RTX 5070 Ti (the Blade 14 doesn't reach those heights) for $2,399 is actually more affordable when both are at full retail price, dropping to $1,999 at its lowest.

Razer offers decent discounts for its Blade 14, and when it drops, that's the time when you should buy. However, no matter what way you look at it, the Asus Zephyrus G14 has the value that's hard to ignore.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Design

Time and time again, Razer has nailed the design of its sleek, ultraportable Blade 14. I've always thought of Razer's fleet of laptops as the "MacBooks" of gaming laptops. To this day, this rings true. But over the years, Asus has refined the design of its Zephyrus G14 lineage, turning it into one of the best-looking laptops, period.

Both make for amazing portable machines for gaming and productivity, with MacBook Pro-esque flair that will be just as happy sitting on a desk in an office as they would be in a fine-tuned gaming setup at home. Plus, both are compact and light enough to slip into a laptop bag.

There's barely any difference between the two when it comes to size and weight, with the Zephyrus G14 coming in at 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches and weighing 3.5 pounds, while the Blade 14 comes in at 12.2 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches and weighs exactly the same. For the Blade 14 2025, in particular, Razer made it lighter and thinner to match its competition, and even revamped its internals to deliver a cooler laptop under pressure.

Each is super slick, but I'd prefer the Razer Blade 14 in its signature Black colorway over its Mercury. On the other hand, the ROG Zephyrus G14 shines in Moonlight White, more so than in Eclipse Gray. But hey, that's just my personal opinion.

No matter the laptop you choose, expect one of the swankiest laptops around; ones that are easy to carry around for travel and clean up quite nicely on any desk you put them on.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Display

One of the finest ways to cruise through Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, spot the jaw-dropping artistry of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and tear through demons in Doom: The Dark Ages is in glorious OLED. Fortunately, both the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14 offer up OLED at its finest.

These offer (strangely) similar displays: 14-inch QHD+ (2880 x 1800) OLED panels with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time. And both knock it out of the park when it comes to color accuracy and smoothness, whether it be for single-player hits or fast-paced multiplayer games.

While both aren't the most ideal for esports levels of refresh rates (anything beyond 120Hz, really), it's still enough to gain smooth visuals across the board. What's more, the 0.2ms response times mean wicked-fast reaction to gain the upperhand (with headshots galore).

It isn't just for gaming, though, as these screens are well-sized and finely tuned for productivity and creative work, too. That includes photo and video editing, as the color reproduction these screens offer makes images pop.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Performance

The benchmarks say it all, sort of.

Our computing team has done the tests on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 sporting an RTX 5080 and the Razer Blade 14 equipped with an RTX 5070. Immediately, there will be a clear winner here, considering the jump between the two GPUs.

However, it's important to note that these are the two most powerful configurations of each gaming laptop. Yes, the Razer Blade 14 can only go as high as an RTX 5070 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 365 CPU, while the Zephyrus G14 steps it up to an RTX 5080 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU.

Also take note: Razer's laptops are higher in price. So, think of the RTX 5070 Razer Blade 14 being closer in price to the RTX 5080 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (as of writing, it's down to $2,549 at Best Buy, making it slightly more affordable than the Blade 14 at its full $2,699 price).

Regardless, each machine offers mighty performance with the internals they pack, and can handle AAA gaming and demanding creative apps without breaking much of a sweat. When it does come to gaming, though, the Zephyrus G14 pulls ahead.

As mentioned, these results are hardly shocking. The Blade 14 still offers strong performance, even when graphics are maxed out. And this only continues to soar to around 130 frames per second (FPS) thanks to Nvidia's DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation.

It's hard to deny the sheer might of the Zephyrus G14, though. With Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing at Ultra settings and seeing frame rates at nearly 50 FPS? That's a strong achievement, and it's only made better with DLSS 4 switched on, boosting to an eye-watering 150 FPS.

Then there's the AMD offerings, taking the place of the CPU in both gaming laptops — and doing a fine job at that. While Intel's Core Ultra 9 chips swoop in with higher results, as in the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, these compact machines still stand testament as being the strongest 14-inch notebooks out there.

Of course, seeing as the Zephyrus G14 comes equipped with the slightly higher-powered AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, it beats out the Razer Blade 14's HX 365 chip. Not by much, mind you, but enough to handle multitasking easier. The handbrake test also shows how much faster the Zephyrus G14 is over the Blade 14, though, being nearly a full minute. And both these models came with the same SSD.

Both are mighty compact machines, but when it comes to price to performance, the Zephyrus G14 takes the crown here.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Battery life

As with all gaming laptops, the Asus Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14 were never meant to make it onto our list of the best laptops for battery life. That's to be expected, though, as you'll still get a few hours out of these machines for work and play.

Not quite a full workday, but enough to have them untethered to a cable for a few hours. In fact, in real-world testing, the Blade 14 could last nearly eight hours before shutting off, while the Zephyrus G14 could last between five and six hours.

However, when it comes to our Tom's Guide battery test, the Zephyrus G14 and Blade 14 offer similar results. When it comes to gaming, though, the Blade 14 takes a 30-minute advantage.

In the grand scheme of gaming on a laptop, battery life isn't exactly a priority. It goes without saying that plugging them in will deliver greater performance when playing highly graphically demanding games, so I wouldn't rely on these to get you through a long-haul flight while gaming.

But for work, these laptops will just about get you through the day. That said, not nearly as far as a MacBook or Dell XPS 13.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) vs Razer Blade 14 (2025): Verdict

The rivalry between the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14 continues, and much like last year when I pitted the two together, the Zephyrus G14 comes out on top. Purely from the price and power you get out of the laptop, no matter the configuration, Asus offers the better deal.

But it's hard to deny the strengths of the Razer Blade 14, too. Look, it's a fine-looking machine with powerful specs in a compact chassis, and if that appeals to you more, then it won't disappoint.

When it comes to value for the power you get, especially in a time when prices are skyrocketing, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the more affordable shout.

There's always next year for Razer to take its laptop up a notch, and, unless another strong contender enters the ring, the battle between these 14-inch powerhouses will rage on as each manufacturer continues to upgrade its laptops. For now, though, there's good reason the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has made its mark as one of the best laptops of the year.

More from Tom's Guide

• RAM prices are exploding — here's why and everything you need to know about surviving RAMageddon
• The great CPU war of 2026 is already erupting — Intel Panther Lake vs. Snapdragon X2 Elite vs. AMD Gorgon Point
• AMD’s FSR Redstone is finally here to take on Nvidia’s DLSS 4 — here’s everything you need to know