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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We're tracking all the best Prime Day keyboard deals

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.

More from Tom's Guide

• The $69 PowerA LucidSound LS500 is a fantastic PS5 headset — and it’s coming for Turtle Beach’s crown
• I gave the new Razer headset 5 stars — say hello to my dream gaming cans
• ‘The most absurd and wonderful keyboard I’ve ever typed on’: I tested the typewriter-style Epomaker Glyph and it’s earned a permanent spot on my desk

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.

More from Tom's Guide

• I zoned out and stopped listening to my fiancée — and the Even Realities G2 made sure she never knew
• I tested the MemoMind One AI smart glasses — and I think I’m seeing double
• I tried Lenovo’s mindblowing modular ThinkBook concept — and now I want this in every laptop

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.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried MSI’s new Pro Max QD-OLED monitor and it fixes my biggest gripes with the Apple Studio Display
• I just saw Alienware's new ultra-slim gaming laptop at CES 2026 — and it's nearly as thin as a MacBook Air
• I paired a pocketable mini PC with a pair of AR glasses and even I was surprised when it became my go-to travel setup

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

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to save big on your favorite tech. Whether you're on the hunt for a TV, laptop, drone or console, there are many discounts to take advantage of. If you're an avid gamer like me, you may be interested in grabbing a new headset to elevate your audio experience. You're in luck as Razer, SteelSeries, Asus and Turtle Beach have all slashed their prices and the rest of the best gaming headsets are also on sale.

At Tom's Guide, I review gaming headsets by putting them through a battery of tests. I've handpicked my favorite deals this Black Friday, and I've either used or reviewed all of following headsets. My top picks right now are the Asus ROG Pelta for 35% off at Amazon and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P which is down to just $119 at Amazon.

While it isn't massively discounted, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is down to $224 from its retail price of $249, and I can't recommend this deal enough. I gave these cans five out of five stars, and I highly recommend this headset even at its full price so there really is no excuse not to snap up it up at a discount this week.

And there's more where that came from. Without further ado, here are the best Black Friday gaming headset deals. Don't forget to tune into our Black Friday deals live blog for more killer discounts!

Quick links

• See all Amazon Black Friday deals right now!
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P: was $199 now $119
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: was $149 now $104
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P: was $109 now $89
• Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3: was $199 now $149
• Asus ROG Delta II: was $259 now $159
• Asus ROG Pelta: was $154 now $99
• Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite: was $149 now $129
• Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore: was $199 now $169
• Razer BlackShark V2: was $129 now $59
• Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: was $249 now $224

Best Black Friday gaming headset deals

Shop today's best Black Friday deals

• Amazon: 50% off Ring, Ninja, Under Armour and more
• REI: half-off Arc'teryx, Patagonia and more
• Walmart: holiday gifts from $15
• Dell: monitors from $69, laptops from $249
• Nectar: 50% off mattresses + 66% off bundles
• Best Buy: laptops from $149
• Lenovo: doorbuster laptop deals from $319
• Wayfair: up to 80% off home decor
• Nike: apparel/sneakers from $7
• Lululemon: top picks from $9
• Birkenstock: deals from $20 @ Nordstrom
• Saatva: luxury mattresses from $1,099

'Tis the season for holiday shopping, and retailers around the world are rollng out early Black Friday deals in a bid to attract your business.

I cover laptops for a living here at Tom's Guide and I just noticed Razer is running a big sale that knocks up to $1,000 off its Razer Blade gaming laptops!

This is a big deal given that Razer makes some of the best gaming laptops on the market and these are some of the lowest prices I've ever seen on Blades packing Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards. While they might drop a smidge lower on Black Friday proper, I highly doubt it.

I've collected the best of the best deals in a brief list below, and if anything strikes your fancy I recommend you check out our Razer promo codes to save a little bit extra this year.

Quick links

• shop all Razer laptops from $1,549 at Razer
• Razer Blade 16 w/ RTX 5060: was $2,399 now $1,599
• Razer Blade 16 w/ RTX 5070: was $2,799 now $1,899
• Razer Blade 18 w/ RTX 5070 Ti: was $3,499 now $2,699
• Razer Blade 18 w/ RTX 5080: was $4,099 now $3,099
• Razer Blade 18 w/ RTX 5090: was $5,199 now $4,499

Razer deals

The time to save big on your next gaming laptop has arrived, as early Black Friday deals have already started pouring in. I've been tracking some major sales over the past year, but these are the biggest discounts I've seen on RTX 50-series laptops from Asus, Alienware, Razer and more!

With over $1,000 in savings to be made, these deals are hard to miss out on. You can grab an HP Victus 15 with an RTX 4050 for as low as $789 at Best Buy, but for the latest in gaming tech, check out the Lenovo Legion 5 OLED with an RTX 5060 for just $999. Even this Razer Blade 14 with an RTX 5070 is $900 off right now.

Some of the best laptops we've tested this year are seeing major price cuts, and now they can be yours for a lot less. I'll be keeping a close eye on even more deals as the biggest sales event of the year draws closer, and for the latest sales, follow our Black Friday 2025 live blog. But if you have a gaming laptop in your sights, these are the deals to put on your radar.

Quick links

• HP Victus 15 (RTX 4050): was $899 now $789 @ Best Buy
• Lenovo Legion 5 (RTX 5060): was $1,549 now $999 @ Walmart
• Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050): was $1,199 now $999 @ Dell
• Gigabyte Aero X16 (RTX 5070): was $1,649 now $1,249 @ Best Buy
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (RTX 5060): was $1,799 now $1,449 @ Best Buy
• Alienware 16X Aurora (RTX 5060): was $1,649 now $1,499 @ Dell
• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: was $1,899 now $1,599 @ Best Buy
• Razer Blade 14 2025 (RTX 5070): was $2,699 now $1,799 @ Razer
• Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (RTX 5070 Ti): was $2,849 now $1,999 @ B&H Photo
• Alienware 16 Area-51 (RTX 5070): was $2,749 now $2,199 @ Dell
• Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (RTX 5080): was $3,499 now $2,399 @ B&H Photo
• Alienware 18 Area-51 (RTX 5080): was $3,649 now $2,999 @ Dell
• MSI Raider 18 HX AI (RTX 5090): was $4,399 now $3,739 @ Best Buy

Gaming laptops deals

Razer continues to set new standards in competitive gaming, and the latest addition to its esports controllers is a formidable one. The Razer Raiju V3 Pro is, at the time of writing, the only PS5 controller to feature magnetic TMR thumbsticks. These offer pinpoint precision in FPS titles, RPGs and racing games, and remove the risk of stick drift over time. Add Hall Effect triggers to the mix and you’ve got a gamepad that’s hard to beat.

I’ve been using the controller for a week now and I’m pleased to report that not only were my first impressions highly positive, but the controller has continued to impress me throughout the testing period. While I’m not a fan of the floating D-pad, it’s hard to fault the controller otherwise.

Is this the best game controller for you? Read my full Razer Raiju V3 Pro review to find out.

Razer Raiju V3 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A highly customizable wireless controller for esports on the PS5 — and the Sony counterpart to the Xbox-/PC-focused Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
• Who is it for? For competitive gamers who want TMR sticks and Hall Effect triggers for precise control
• How much does it cost? The Razer Raiju V3 Pro retails for $219 / £199
• What do we like? The ergonomic design, TMR thumbsticks and Hall Effect triggers for maximum precision, degree of customization, and removable back buttons
• What don’t we like? The floating D-pad and high price point

Razer Raiju V3 Pro review: Specs

Razer Raiju V3 Pro review: The ups

From its ergonomic design and high degree of customization to its TMR thumbsticks and Hall Effect triggers, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro is sure to give competitive players an advantage.

Comfortable and ergonomic

Similar to the Sony PlayStation DualSense controller (which I’ve always loved) for the PS5, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro sports a rounded and contoured shape, one that fits naturally in my hands. Like the first-party DualSense and DualSense Edge ($200) and as it’s officially licensed by Sony, the Raiju V3 Pro comes with symmetrical thumbsticks, PlayStation Shapes face buttons, and a large, functioning central touchpad.

As I’m used to the first-party controllers, getting to grips with the Raiju V3 Pro took me barely any time. From the get-go, I found the controller comfortable to hold in my medium-sized hands. The controller measures 6.64 x 4.46 x 2.56 inches so it’s slightly larger than both the DualSense Edge and its closest third-party rival, the Turtle Beach Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded ($209) — both of which measure approximately 6.3 x 4.1 x 2.4 inches each.

The Raiju V3 Pro weighs 9.1oz, so it’s lighter than the Victrix BFG Pro Reloaded (9.3oz) and the DualSense Edge (11.3oz). I usually prefer heavier gamepads as they feel more substantial, but I’ve really enjoyed holding the Raiju V3 Pro too. It’s built extremely well and robustly, and it doesn’t sound or feel too hollow.

Removable back buttons

Not everyone enjoys having back buttons on controllers — I know a few people who don’t. You can accidentally hit them mid-game and execute a command you never intended to. I, personally, love back buttons as they make a controller feel more ergonomic and they can give you enhanced control.

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro, just like the DualSense Edge and the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded, features four customizable back buttons, all within easy reach of your fingers. What’s even more is that the Raiju V3 Pro features two claw-grip bumpers next to the triggers too, so there are six customizable buttons at your disposal — two more than the DualSense Edge and the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. These can easily and quickly be customized via Razer Synapse software.

Back buttons come in handy in a plethora of competitive games, be that FPS titles or racing. I tried them out in F1 22 where I could shift the gear up and down via the back buttons. Not only did this make the controller more comfortable for longer, but it also made the game more immersive — like playing on a sim racing wheel. In FPS titles like Borderlands 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, I appreciated being able to use one of the back buttons to sprint. In the latter, I’ve always found pressing L3 finicky to sprint, so it was nice being able to use an alternative one instead.

But what’s better than customizable back buttons? Removable ones. You can use the included screwdriver to unscrew and remove them entirely, just in case you don’t want to press them unintentionally.

Highly customizable

This brings me to my next point: the Razer Raiju V3 Pro is highly customizable, either via the Razer Synapse software on Windows or the Razer Controller app on iOS and Android. The latter is great for PS5 players who might not have access to a PC as it enables customization on the fly. And boy is there a lot to customize.

You can customize the thumbsticks’ sensitivity, triggers’ actuation points, remap the buttons or disable the back buttons if you don’t want to use or remove them, run diagnostics and update the firmware, and recalibrate the sticks and triggers too. All of this is easy to do via both the Windows and mobile apps.

I’m going to give Razer a brownie point here. The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded can be customized via Windows or Xbox software only, so if you own the PS5 version, you won’t be able to personalize it to your liking. Razer has solved that issue with a simple mobile app — Turtle Beach, it’s time to step up.

TMR thumbsticks for extreme precision

Traditional analog thumbsticks are so old school. In recent years, we’ve seen the implementation of magnetic, Hall Effect sensors into keyboards as well as controllers. But even better technology exists in the form of TMR, short for Tunnel Magneto Resistance. This is still an up and coming technology and not many high-profile gamepads feature it yet — but the Razer Raiju V3 Pro does, and it’s currently the only PS5 controller to do so.

I won’t get into the nitty-gritty details and scientific explanation behind TMR in this review but you can read our explainer on TMR instead. All you need to know is that TMR achieves greater precision than Hall Effect because it uses weak electromagnetic waves. This sensitivity allows the sensor to detect smaller adjustments and movements, which is paramount in competitive gaming.

I tested the sticks’ and triggers’ prowess by playing a few games on my PS5 Slim, including Cyberpunk 2077, Borderlands 3 and Ghost of Yotei, and I was highly impressed with the Raiju V3 Pro’s performance across the board. In both Cyberpunk 2077 and Borderlands 3, I thoroughly appreciated being able to fine-tune my movements.

While aiming with a sniper or long-reaching rifle in either game, I could aim extremely precisely, and even my most minute, miniscule movements were registered. It gave me lots of control over my aim which helped me execute even tricky headshots if an enemy was obscured in darkness or I could only see part of their head through bars.I also appreciated the immediate stop when I was using the sticks to control the camera, and I suddenly let go — and it’s something you won’t necessarily get with analog sticks.

Although Ghost of Yotei isn’t a first-person shooter, the Raiju V3 Pro is a great controller for this RPG too. When fighting a group of enemies and executing a chain of attacks where time is slowed down after you assassinate one player and then aim for the next, I was able to easily cherry-pick my next target — even if there were many other enemies right next to my target. That’s all thanks to the TMR sticks offering precise control.

Great mouse-like clicky face buttons

Instead of having thocky face buttons, like the DualSense Edge and the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded do, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro does things differently. The Raiju V3 Pro’s face buttons utilizes the same clicky tech found in Razer’s best gaming mice, so it feels like pressing the left- and right-click buttons on a mouse, and this is also the case with the controller’s Xbox counterpart, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro — and I love it.

They feel extremely satisfying to press and because they don’t need to be pressed deeply to register a command — like on a gaming mouse — input registration is instantaneous. In my testing, the lightest of presses was immediately registered, which gave me a competitive advantage in FPS titles as well as games that require button-mashing.

For instance, in Mortal Kombat 11, rapidly tapping the light and heavy attack buttons was a walk in the park. Each input was promptly registered and due to the face buttons’ clicky nature, it didn’t feel fatiguing either. It felt exactly like using a gaming mouse, and I’m sure competitive players will appreciate this.

Glorious Hall Effect triggers

On top of TMR thumbsticks, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro also features Hall Effect triggers. Each trigger features a switch that lets you swap between a short, clicky press or a long, traditional press. The clicky nature of the short press feels like mouse clicks, similar to the controller’s face buttons. I love their tactile nature, and I found clicky presses perfect for games that didn’t necessarily require a long press, like tapping R2 to initiate a Gradient Counter or attack after jumping in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Diving into Razer Synapse or the Razer Controller mobile app enables you to adjust the triggers’ sensitivity too, like adjusting a magnetic switch’s, essentially. This gave me precise control in Borderlands 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, as I could choose how sensitive I wanted the triggers to be.

Long battery life

The cherry on top of the cake is the Razer Raiju V3 Pro’s fantastic battery life. The only way to use the controller wirelessly is via the ultra-low-latency 2.4GHz dongle which plugs into the back of the PS5, and over a wireless connection, the Raiju V3 Pro is rated for up to 36 hours, and in my testing, it died just short of that.

To put it into perspective, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro has a 20-hour battery life. The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded also lasts up to 20 hours. The DualSense Edge? It averages about five hours between charges. The Raiju V3 Pro, then, blows all these gamepads out of the water with its incredible battery life.

Razer Raiju V3 Pro review: The downs

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro isn’t perfect, as its floating D-pad doesn’t feel premium even though the controller itself costs a premium.

Floating D-pad isn’t the best

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro utilizes an eight-way floating D-pad which enables you to make diagonal movements as opposed to four-way ones where you can only go up, down, left and right. Granted, this can be great in fighting games, but it isn’t my favorite design choice. The D-pad feels slightly mushy and I feel like I keep pressing the wrong direction every time I use it.

But that is the only thing I’d really change about the Raiju V3 Pro. The good news is that you can choose to have it four-way instead of eight-way if you dive into companion software, so there’s a silver lining.

Costs a premium

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro doesn’t come cheap. Given that it’s highly customizable, aimed at professional players, and features the latest TMR and Hall Effect tech, it isn’t surprising that this one isn’t for bargain hunters. It retails for $219 / £199, which makes it the most expensive gamepad I’ve used so far. It’s more expensive than the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded ($209), the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199), the DualSense Edge ($199) and the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro ($199).

If money is no object, then I can’t recommend the Raiju V3 Pro enough. However, if you aren’t too fussed about having TMR sticks or removable back buttons, the other alternatives should suffice.

Some missing PS5 features

I’ll preface this by saying that this isn’t a major con or drawback of the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. As this is a third-party controller, some official PS5 features are missing — just like on the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. The controller does not feature haptic feedback (my favorite feature on the DualSense) which makes RPGs feel less immersive. There are no adaptive triggers either, so L2 and R2 don’t dynamically change resistance to simulate different in-game actions and environments.

The Raiju V3 Pro doesn’t feature a built-in mic either which you’ll find on first-party controllers. Now, this can be a drawback for most PS5 players, but I’d like to remind you that the gamepad is aimed primarily at esports and competitive gamers who will, most probably, be using one of the best gaming headsets — like the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro — to not only hear audiophile-quality sound but to communicate with others too.

That is why the omission of these things isn’t a massive con. While it would be great to have these, I can’t blame Razer for leaving them out. You won’t find things like adaptive triggers and haptics on most third-party PS5 controllers.

Razer Raiju V3 Pro review: Verdict

If you want a controller that gives you a competitive edge in gaming and tournaments and have been enviously admiring the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, you won’t go wrong with the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. It’s a mighty powerful controller for the PS5 and PC, and it’s the only PS5 controller to offer TMR sticks, at the time of writing. TMR sticks give you extremely precise control over your movements, and the Raiju V3 Pro’s Hall Effect triggers add to its gaming prowess.

The controller itself is extremely comfortable and highly customizable. You can remove its back buttons and you can use companion software to personalize it to your liking. The long battery life is the cherry on top. It is, however, missing adaptive triggers and haptic feedback but that is Sony’s proprietary technology reserved for its first-party controllers only.

Although it costs a premium, the Raiju V3 Pro is worth investing in if you want a controller that will give you a competitive advantage in most games. It didn’t take long for it to become one of my favorite controllers of all time.

The PlayStation 5 is a powerful console. My PS5 Slim is one of the best things I've ever spent my hard-earned money on, and the DualSense is a fantastic controller, in my opinion. But that isn't to say it's the best gamepad out there. Gaming giants like Turtle Beach and Razer have made great controllers for Sony's beast — and Razer might have just created my dream gamepad.

Meet the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. Announced today, the Raiju V3 Pro is officially licensed for PlayStation, and barring the Wolverine V2 Pro, it's the brand's only other PS5 controller. It's designed with professional, competitive gamers in mind. Fitted with TMR thumbsticks and Hall Effect "HyperTriggers," the controller enables you to fine-tune your movements and actions by adjusting actuation points and sensitivity.

And that's not all. You get four back buttons, which are not only customizable but also removable, so players who don't use them need not worry about hitting them unintentionally. Usually found in Razer's best gaming mice, the back buttons utilize the brand's best and fastest switches to deliver top-tier performance.

That all sounds great on paper, but what's the controller like to use? I've had early access to the Raiju V3 Pro and I've been using it for a few days now. My full in-depth review will be live soon, but for now, let me take you through my first impressions (spoiler alert: they're very positive).

It's all about TMR

Analog thumbsticks are so old school, and that technology is slowly being phased out by Hall Effect. But even better technology exists in the form of TMR. TMR stands for Tunnel Magneto Resistance, and it's a complex concept involving quantum tunneling and ferromagnets. You don't need to understand the scientific side of it to recognize the amount of precision it offers.

TMR, essentially, allows you to reach even more precise levels of accuracy than what the Hall Effect is capable of by utilizing weak electromagnetic waves rather than strong ones, which means that smaller adjustments and movements are picked up by the sensor. The Razer Raiju V3 Pro features TMR sticks, and boy, are they good!

The Raiju V3 Pro's TMR sticks ensure pinpoint precision in FPS games like Borderlands 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, and those are the two games I played to test the Raiju V3 Pro. If I were using a sniper or a long-reaching rifle in either game, I appreciated the control the TMR sticks gave me. Even the most minute, minuscule movement was registered. I also appreciated the immediate stop when I was using the sticks to control the camera, and I suddenly let go.

Even in racing titles such as F1 25 and Need for Speed Heat, making last-minute maneuvers to turn a tight corner or overtake an opponent was a walk in the park. The thumbsticks were highly responsive, and there was zero input lag.

Pinpoint precision above all

As with many other Hall Effect controllers, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro's triggers utilize Hall Effect sensors, and you can choose either rapid-fire mouse clicks or full analog control, depending on the game you're playing. I'll give you a simple example.

While it isn't a competitive FPS title, I enabled Hair Trigger for battles in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, where I needed to press R2 to initiate a Gradient Counter or counter after jumping — and I'd swap back to a longer press when sprinting. I kept L2 and R2 customized to long presses in Borderlands 3, too, so that I could use the left trigger to aim precisely and comfortably.

But what I love most about the Raiju V3 Pro is its back buttons. They're fully customizable via companion software, and they can be removed. This means that if you don't want to use them or accidentally hit them, you can simply pop them out. If I have them at my disposal, I use them in FPS titles as well as RPGs, but I also know that not every game needs them.

Being able to swap between weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 by simply hitting a back button as I remapped them accordingly proved not only handy, but more ergonomic. I can't wait to see what else I can do with the back buttons as I test the controller more.

Ergonomics galore

A gaming controller could outperform every other gamepad, but it would all be for naught if the controller had poor ergonomics. Thankfully, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro is an extremely comfortable controller. Firstly, it feels premium to hold with great weight distribution. It doesn't feel slippery, thanks to the textured surface, and it's similar in size to the DualSense and DualSense Edge. It doesn't feel plasticky or hollow either.

The controller features symmetrical full-sized thumbsticks that are comfortable to use for long periods of time, and I love the concave triggers, too. I especially love how clicky the face buttons and shoulder buttons are, just like on a mouse, as I mentioned earlier.

A slight hiccup

This isn't a major downside, but it's important to note that the Razer Raiju V3 Pro doesn't feature any vibration or haptics. Now, before you come at me (or at Razer), I can see why that is the case. The controller is designed for esports players and for competitive gaming.

Haptics and vibrations are great, but they can prove distracting when you're trying to win a tournament. They can cause distractions and disrupt your concentration. That's great for FPS titles, but not ideal for story-driven RPGs where you want to feel immersed in the game and like you're the main character. It's just something to keep in mind before you buy the controller.

If it helps, this is also the case with the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. Haptic feedback is also Sony's proprietary technology, so it's not surprising that you don't see it on many third-party controllers.

Looking ahead...

Usually, when I test a controller, I play video games for at least 10 hours (I know, I love my job) to get a good understanding of it, and I haven't done that with the Razer Raiju V3 Pro yet. Rest assured, I will be doing just that before my in-depth review goes live next week.

My first impressions, though? Extremely positive. I think this is a fantastic controller. The TMR thumbsticks feel incredible to use, and the Hall Effect triggers are mighty powerful, and they let you adjust the actuation point/sensitivity depending on the game you're playing. The controller itself feels ergonomic.

Once again, Razer has proved why it's one of the biggest names in the gaming hardware industry, especially for esports players, and I can't wait to see what else the Raiju V3 Pro can do.

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
• Best PC game controllers in 2025
• So long Hall Effect — I'm only using controllers with TMR sensors from now on

It's the last day of this year's October Prime Day sales, and if you've been keeping an eye on a particular product, I recommend snapping it up right now. As a lifelong gamer and someone who reviews gaming gear for a living, I've been looking out for killer deals on my favorite tech and I've rounded up the seven best controller deals available.

My favorite deal is on the GameSir Super Nova which is 33% off at Amazon right now. It's a fantastic alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller as it features highly responsive Hall Effect sticks and triggers. For PS5 gamers, the modular PDP Victrix Pro BFG is 23% off right now — and it's perfect for anyone who wants to customize their gamepad to suit their playstyle.

PC and Xbox gamers need not feel left out either, as the highly-rated Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is down to its lowest-ever price of $169. And for anyone wanting a cutesy Android/Windows gamepad, check out the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless which is down to just $23 at Amazon.

There's more where that came from. Here are the seven best controller deals this October Prime Day. And for more great discounts, be sure to check out our Amazon Prime Day deals live blog right now.

Quick links

• Shop all October Prime Day deals right now
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless: was $29 now $23
• GameSir Super Nova: was $59 now $39
• PDP Victrix Pro BFG: was $199 now $153
• GameSir Cyclone 2: was $55 now $44
• GameSir X5 Lite: was $34 now $27
• GameSir G8 Galileo: was $79 now $63
• Razer Wolverine V3 Pro: was $199 now $169

About the author

Best October Prime Day controller deals

More from Tom's Guide

• 75+ October Amazon Prime Day deals LIVE from $9 — best sales now on Apple, Kindles, TVs, laptops and more
• Last chance! 15 best October Prime Day board game deals — up to 60% off on Catan, Monopoly, What Do You Meme? and more
• Switch 2 Prime Day deals in their final day — grab discounts on Nintendo games and accessories before they're gone

I'm an avid gamer. In my spare time, and as part of my job, I review a plethora of gaming peripherals — from controllers to speakers and headsets. One of the things I look for when I'm reviewing a headset is just how immersed it makes me feel in my favorite games. As most of us gamers know, audio can make or break a game, and to take full advantage of a title's sound design and direction, a good set of cans is a must... as is a pair of speakers.

There's a very good reason why the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and the Edifier G2000 Pro speakers are a permanent part of my gaming ecosystem. These accessories make my PS5 Slim games sound other-worldly, and they all serve their own purpose.

If I'm playing games with my partner, I use the speakers. If I'm alone and want an experience worthy of an audiophile's dream, I use the over-ear headset. So, without further ado, let me show you how these peripherals improve my gaming experience...

For audiophile-quality sound

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is one of only two headsets I've ever given a full 5/5 star rating to (alongside the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5). In my review, I said it felt like I was playing games at the movie theater — and even after a couple of months of using the BlackShark V3 Pro, I still feel the same way. It's the headset for audiophile gamers.

The BlackShark V3 Pro is extremely comfortable, featuring breathable and spacious memory foam earpads and a pressure-relieving headband that eliminates any pressure on the top of your head. This means that I can keep wearing the headset for hours on end so my immersion doesn't break when playing, say, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Now, on to the sound quality. The headset features highly effective active noise cancellation that makes you feel isolated and immersed in the game, and the 50mm drivers produce powerful yet crystal clear audio. Its 12-28,000Hz frequency response range also means that I can hear the softest of footsteps and the loudest of explosions with exceptional clarity. The BlackShark V3 Pro is my go-to headset when I want to feel like the main character.

Further reading: Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review, and I gave the new Razer headset 5 stars — say hello to my dream gaming cans

For gaming and music

I love listening to music, and gaming headsets aren't always the best for listening to your favorite tunes — but the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are. Even as in-ear buds, they're extremely comfortable and make games sound very immersive, thanks to their neodymium magnetic drivers.

As for music? My favorite tunes always sound their best when I listen to them through the Arctis GameBuds. Vocal-heavy tunes like Lana Del Rey's 'A&W' and 'Down the Witches' Road' from Agatha All Along sound crystal clear and sharp. Mids, highs and lows are balanced well too, and I love how powerful basslines sound through these. In Pink Floyd's 'Money' and Iron Maiden's 'Hallowed be thy Name,' the bass sounded loud but not booming.

Also, the Arctis GameBuds come with a user-friendly companion app that lets you choose from 100+ game-tailored presets, and you can adjust the equalizer too to make music sound just the way you like it. Oh, and they have ANC so you can truly immerse yourself in your games and tunes.

Further reading: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: Gaming earbuds don't get better than this

For when I'm playing with another person

My partner and I play a lot of couch co-op games on both the PS5 and the Nintendo Switch. We love 51 Worldwide Games, Overcooked, Untitled Goose Game, Unravel Two, and whatnot. But when we're playing together, I, of course, can't be using headphones, and our TV's built-in speakers aren't the best either. The solution? The Edifier G2000 Pro speakers, which make games sound fantastic — and they look uber cool too.

Firstly, the G2000 Pro are fitted with 20 LED strips with 100 full-color LED beads, and they feature reactive lighting which synchronizes and dances with in-game sounds. The lights can easily keep up with high tempo music which is very impressive. Secondly, their sound profile is well-tuned and the speakers feature virtual surround sound which offers a truly immersive experience.

Both my partner and I love listening to our favorite games through these speakers. Whether it's our Yarnies taking soft steps in Unravel Two or our chefs chaotically trying to put out fires in Overcooked, the G2000 Pros make everything sound crisp and detailed. And watching the RGB lighting dancing along with the music is lovely — it's a sound and light show all in one!

Further reading: Edifier G2000 Pro review, and I’ve been testing these PS5 gaming speakers, and they offer outstanding sound and a mesmerizing light show

More from Tom's Guide

• I just tested these audiophile gaming earbuds — and they almost give my SteelSeries buds a run for their money
• I just tested the Edifier G2000 Pro speakers — and they make my PS5 games sound truly fantastic
• I gave the new Razer headset 5 stars — say hello to my dream gaming cans

Unlike its larger brethren, the Razer Blade 14 (2025) is a small, refined workhorse of a gaming laptop that attempts to justify its high price with sleek design and high-end performance. Coupled with the latest hardware from AMD and Nvidia, the Razer Blade 14 does not disappoint when gaming. It's also great for productivity with a slim, lightweight profile and MacBook Pro-esque design made to move about the cabin.

The 2025 edition sports some upgrades that can be felt and seen, including a slimmed-down chassis and a new fan layout that makes it run cooler. All of that makes the Razer Blade 14 a contender for our list of the best gaming laptops of the year.

It’s a stiff competitor to our current favorite, Asus' ROG Zephyrus G14. Did Razer do enough to compete with the G14? Read my review of the Razer Blade 14 (2025) to find out.

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Razer Blade 14 (2025) is a premium 14-inch gaming laptop featuring AMD and Nvidia components.
• Who is it for? Razer's latest thin gaming notebook is for those seeking powerful gaming in a smaller footprint.
• What does it cost? The Razer Blade 14 (2025) starts at $2,299 when ordered direct from Razer. As configured, our review unit costs $2,649. The top-tier package goes up to $2,999.
• What do we like? We like the lightweight chassis, powerful performance and sharp 14-inch display.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like the high asking price, especially compared to rival laptops.

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop review: Specs

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop review: The ups

For the last couple of years I've been chained to a desktop gaming PC, and the Razer Blade 14 made me miss gaming laptops with its stellar design, incredible display and smooth performance.

Great gaming experience

I have not yet tested out an RTX 50-series PC, but thanks to rave reviews from my colleagues I had high expectations.

The RTX 5070 GPU in our Razer Blade 14 review unit, coupled with AMD's Ryzen AI 9 365 and 16GB of RAM, provided a smooth experience during my testing. For most games, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I'm an FPS fan at heart, so my personal play put Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 to the test with various settings at both the highest and lowest levels. I've found Valorant to be pretty optimized, so even with the settings cranked up it was running pretty smoothly.

In our lab tests, we run a number of games through their respective built-in benchmark tools. As you can see in the table above, the Razer Blade 14 runs games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong around 35 frames per second at 1080p resolution with max graphical settings.

It's comparable to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which we reviewed with a slightly more powerful RTX 5080. Stacking up with the better GPU bodes well for Blade 14.

I can't OLED you go

Beyond gameplay running smoothly, games and media look great on the Blade’s 14-inch OLED display. As they say, once you go OLED, you don't go back to any other screen.

The display is a 3K OLED 120Hz screen with a 2ms response time. It won't hit the high refresh rates that wannabe esports gamers want, but games still look excellent.

With Calman verified color profiles I was able to use the Razer Blade 14 for creative work as well, including some photo editing. I felt the colors were represented well. With Razer positioning the Blade 14 as both a gaming PC and a work laptop, you should be able to transition seamlessly between work and play.

Lighter, thinner and cooler

It's impressive that Razer has managed to cut some millimeters and weight off the Blade 14 while still maintaining pretty good battery life and cooling.

The 2024 model weighed just over four pounds, and the 2023 edition was just under at 3.92 pounds. This year's edition comes in at a fluffy 3.59 pounds by comparison. Plus, Razer shaved off about 0.8 inches of thickness and width.

I like the way our review unit looks with its Mercury (silver) color scheme, and the overall smaller design gives it a sleeker MacBook-esque feel.

With a completely redesigned interior which moves the hottest components underneath the vapor cooling chamber and a refined dual-fan system, Razer claims the Blade 14 runs cooler than its predecessor—and our testing proves that’s true.

In our testing lab the underside of the laptop hit 96 degrees Fahrenheit while gaming and 94.9 degrees during non-gaming tests. Last year's mode ran a lot hotter in the same trials, climbing up to a balmy 133 degrees while gaming. That said, we consider anything over 95 degrees to be uncomfortable for most people.

Still, if you're like me and use a cooling pad out of habit, the heat shouldn't bother you.

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop review: The downs

The Razer Blade 14 is unquestionably a great gaming laptop. However, it does have some obvious flaws.

Price

This isn't a new complaint about Razer's laptops; I'm certain you could read every review we've ever written, and one of the cons would always be the price. And this despite Razer's talk about "aggressive pricing" for this year's model.

This year's iteration of the Blade 14 is no exception, with a starting price of $2,300; our review unit maxes out at $2,700. Which is slightly more than the 2024 iteration, costing between $2,199 and $2,699. To be fair, the 2023 model started at $2,400, so it is cheaper than that.

Additionally, both numbers are higher than laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which costs $200 less with a similar build to the Blade 14 version I tested. Even bumping up to the Asus ROG Zephyrus 16 will get you boosted specs and a larger display for around the same price.

And if price is a sticking point, remember you have other alternatives, including the budget MSI Cyborg 15 (one of the best gaming laptops of 2025) which comes in around $1,000.

Which leads into the next flaw.

Volatile battery life

I am in the midst of a move and was really able to put the Razer Blade 14 to the battery test outside of my usual desk setup. For a normal workday, I found the Razer Blade 14 battery just about enough to get through nearly eight hours without needing to plug in until the late afternoon.

Our battery tests would disagree with me, though. With the display set at 150 nits of brightness and continually surfing the web, the Blade 14 averaged about 5 hours of battery life. That's worse than both the 2023 and 2024 versions, which managed 8.5 hours and 6.5 hours respectively. Razer promises up to 11 hours of life, but even on my best days our Blade 14 review unit never made it through an 8-hour workday.

When gaming it died even faster, lasting roughly 2 hours and 14 minutes on average. That’s better than the 2023 and 2024 models, which each lasted around 90 minutes while gaming on battery. My personal testing lined up with those numbers, and I kept the laptop plugged in or the power cord close by while gaming.

Weaker Specs

For the price you're paying, there are laptops at a similar or even lower price that offer more for your money.

Razer does cap the Blade 14 GPU at a 5070, which I think is to its benefit as it's not chugging along trying to make a 5080 or 5090 work without overheating the small chassis.

I'm harping on the comparison to Asus' G14 but it's the best comparison we have at this size with similar specs. And the comparison does not favor Razer's laptop on specs or price.

Razer Blade 14 (2025) gaming laptop review: Verdict

Razer has made one of the best 14-inch gaming laptops this year, though you have to pay for the privilege of owning one. Still, despite the price and comparisons to some of the best gaming laptops, the sleek design and great OLED display make the Razer worth considering.

And it's not just the specs that Razer got correct here. The redesigned cooling system makes it a cooler laptop than its predecessors. The RGB keyboard is fun, and I can't deny that the Blade 14 just looks good.

If you want a gaming laptop with comparable performance, the Legion Go 7i Pro and HP Omen Max 16 are great options, as well as the aforementioned Asus G14.

Razer is now giving gamers the chance to become playtesters for the latest upcoming games, thanks to an all-new program, allowing access to pre-release titles — and you'll be rewarded for your efforts.

Partnering with gaming services company Side, the Razer Cortex Playtest Program will let gamers play exclusive, pre-alpha games as playtesters, aiming to combine traditional playtesting features with QA (quality assurance). That means possibly trying out one of the next best PC games ahead of release day.

Made to be an all-in-one testing solution, it allows developers to gain valuable qualitative and technical feedback, running "large-scale, targeted playtests with real players." And, of course, players get to try out the latest, upcoming releases. Apparently, this is set to reduce playtesting costs by up to 80%.

Through the Razer Cortex PC game launchers, those interested can simply sign up, check if they're eligible for testing, sign an NDA and play a variety of unreleased games. Moreover, testers will be given Razer Silver rewards after playing a title and sending feedback, which can be redeemed for games or gear.

“This partnership between Side and Razer is responsible for changing the paradigm of playtesting forever," says Chief Technology Officer at Side, Harlan Beverly.

"For developers, it means more testers and more playtest hours at the same or lower cost; for players, it means being closer than ever to the development process and for QA, it’s adding a whole new workstream to their role."

That's a nifty way to gain access to play the latest game releases and even shape how they turn out when they launch. You may need one of the best gaming laptops or gaming PCs to try them out, but if you're looking to try out Razer's playtesting program, here's how it all works.

How does it work?

The Razer Cortex Playtest Program is open to all gamers via the company's Cortex game launcher app, and to be eligible to play, you'll need to sign an NDA.

This can all be done through the launcher, and once gamers meet the eligibility criteria and are chosen to playtest, they will receive unique download keys for different gaming builds.

Using Side's AI-powered tool to collect gameplay data, Cortex will track playtime and performance data. Once the requirements for playtesting a game are met, gamers can submit their feedback via qualitative surveys. From there, they'll receive their rewards!

Testers can gain Razer Silver rewards for every five hours of playtesting, which can be gained in multiple smaller gaming sessions, too.

All the collected gameplay data is then analyzed by Side's AI tech, and interpreted and validated by Side’s QA teams. With this, game developers will get insight into their games from real-world players. This allows to QA team to catch any bugs (gamers will know there can be quite a few at launch) or crashes that may have gone unnoticed.

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• I tested Nvidia GeForce Now’s RTX 5080 upgrade — it made my $750 PS5 Pro feel old
• Here's how to update your Nvidia GPU drivers in 5 easy steps

I love video games. Rarely does a day go by that I don't play a PS5 or Nintendo Switch game for at least an hour. My favorite genre to play is RPG because I love acting out a fictional character's actions within a narrative. I adore the storytelling aspect of a game like Baldur's Gate 3, and I instantly fall in love with a phenomenal soundtrack in a game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

If you're anything like me, you'll know the importance of using one of the best gaming headsets to ensure you're hearing a game the way its developers intended. I test a lot of gaming cans for a living, and while there have been great ones from SteelSeries and Asus, I've never looked at one and gone, "That's the one, that's my dream headset." This was true until I tested the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro — and fell head over heels for it.

Where do I even begin with why the BlackShark V3 Pro is the headset of my dreams? Should I tell you how comfortable it is, or how user-friendly its companion software and mobile app are? Or should I wax lyrical about its sound quality, as it wouldn't be out of line for me to say that you haven't experienced true gaming until you've tried this set of cans? Allow me to demonstrate why the BlackShark V3 Pro upstages every other gaming headset I've tested so far.

Ear-resistibly comfortable

Pardon the pun, I couldn't resist it. The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is perhaps the most comfortable gaming headset I've tested so far. Having tested many, I've concluded that memory foam earcups are far better than leather ones — in my personal opinion, at least. The BlackShark V3 Pro's memory foam earcups are not just spacious but breathable too, which means I don't have to worry about sweat pooling or my ears overheating.

The pressure-relieving headband also ensures there is, well, no pressure on the top of your head, so you can wear it for hours and hours without worrying about any discomfort.

I thoroughly appreciate and adore the headset's design, which is clearly inspired by the aviation-style headsets worn by pilots, as the earcups are connected via hinges to a padded headband. Simply slide the earcups down the metal hinges to adjust the headset. The hinges lend the BlackShark V3 Pro a premium edge, too.

Just me and my game

As someone who listens to music almost throughout the day, I can't live without active noise cancellation (ANC), and it's one of the features I value most in non-gaming earbuds and headphones. I didn't realize I needed ANC in gaming headsets too until I tested the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro — and now I want all gaming cans to have it.

The BlackShark V3 Pro utilizes four mics to negate ambient noise, and I highly recommend enabling it if you want a truly immersive gaming experience. I ended up feeling like I was at the movie theater, especially when playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Cyberpunk 2077, both of which have fantastic soundtracks (the former features orchestral power ballads while the latter's music is high-tempo techno).

With ANC enabled, the BlackShark V3 Pro completely isolates you, so you feel like the main character in the game — which also gives you a competitive edge, and that's what the headset is designed to do. It boasts phenomenal, detailed sound quality to match, so much so that I discovered new sounds in Expedition 33. I've already spent 100 hours playing it, so discovering the subtle difference in the sound of my character walking on grass versus on petals was very exciting.

Better than all the rest

As I've noted in my Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review, it's a premium headset that costs a premium. It retails for $249 / £249, so it might not be everyone's bag, but as I say when I review a Leica camera, if you can afford it, why wouldn't you buy it? I'd buy the BlackShark V3 Pro in a heartbeat for every gamer in my life.

Five-star ratings at Tom's Guide are rare, and it isn't often that I review a near-perfect product. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 got a full rating from me because it offers great value for money, just like the BlackShark V3 Pro — and giving the latter less than a 100% rating would have been unfair because it nails every aspect.

The design, comfort, sound quality, a plethora of customization options, and long battery life help it stand out in a crowded market. It has set a high bar, and it's going to be tough for any gaming headset I test in the future to upstage the BlackShark V3 Pro.

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The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is the best gaming headset money can buy right now, period. Whether you’re a professional eSports player or just looking for the best-in-class sound, this is the set of cans for you. Razer has injected ultra-low 10ms latency into the BlackShark V3 Pro as well as 7.1.4 spatial audio for a truly immersive gaming experience.

The BlackShark V3 Pro is the most comfortable headset I’ve tested so far, with breathable memory foam earcups and a pressure-relieving headband. Equipped with a detachable mic that makes you sound loud and clear, and ANC that makes you feel lost in any game you’re playing, this is a set of gaming cans that doesn’t compromise on quality.

It’s certainly pricey at $249 / £249, but trust me — it is so worth it. For the complete breakdown, read my full Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review.

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A wireless gaming headset for Xbox, PlayStation and PC
• Who is it for? For professional eSports players or anyone who wants best-in-class sound
• How much does it cost? The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro retails for $249 / £249
• What do we like? It’s very comfortable, sounds outstanding, ANC works very well, mic is crystal clear, and battery life is long
• What don’t we like? It’s slightly expensive (but worth every penny) and the dongle can be a little annoying

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review: Specs

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review: The ups

Where do I even begin with everything the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro aces? Sound quality and ANC are outstanding, as is the detachable mic, and it’s a ridiculously comfortable set of cans.

Ridiculously comfortable

For a good gaming headset to be considered great, it has to be comfortable enough that you can keep wearing it for long gaming sessions — and the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is just that. It’s ridiculously comfortable.

Inspired by the aviation-style headsets worn by pilots, the BlackShark V3 Pro’s oval-shaped earcups are connected via hinges to a padded headband. I really like this design — instead of adjusting the headband, you just slide the earcups down along the metal hinges. It’s a small change, but it feels refreshingly different and works surprisingly well.

Speaking of the earcups, their faceplates are magnetic so you can easily pop them off and replace them with others of your choosing to give the headset more personality. Nifty!

The BlackShark V3 Pro weighs 12.9oz and it never feels too heavy. It’s heavier than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (9.34oz, $129) and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro (11.9oz, $350) but lighter than the Audeze Maxwell (17.2oz, $299) — a happy middle.

The memory foam padding under the headband eliminates any pressure you may feel on the top of your head, and I found the headset comfortable to wear all day long. The memory foam earcups are spacious but tight enough to provide passive noise cancelation.

I wore the headset for a seven-hour gaming session and didn’t feel any discomfort at all. My ears didn’t feel hot, and there was no issue with sweat pooling thanks to the breathable memory foam either. I asked two people to try the BlackShark V3 Pro and I saw both of their jaws drop at just how comfy the headset felt!

Razer-sharp audio in gaming

I won’t apologize for that pun, so let’s move on. If you want to use the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro with an Xbox or PlayStation console, you’ll need to use the included 2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 dongle. Setup is quick and easy as it’s basically a plug-and-play headset.

So how does the BlackShark V3 Pro sound? “Like you’re at the movies,” is what my partner said as she wore the headset while I played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. That good. The headset utilizes 50mm Razer TriForce Bio-Cellulose Gen-2 drivers with a frequency response of 12-28,000Hz. The wide frequency response range means you can hear practically every sound in a game: from soft footsteps to loud explosions.

If you’re playing on PC, you can enable THX Spatial Audio 7.1.4 which, basically, adds four virtual speakers above your head when you want that surround sound effect. There are Xbox and PS variants for this too, just like virtual surround sound. Razer has also reduced wireless latency to a mere 10ms which, at the time of writing, is industry-leading, ensuring audio is instant to give you a competitive edge.

I put the BlackShark V3 Pro through its paces by playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, F1 22, and Cyberpunk 2077 on my PS5 Slim, and in all three games, the headset made me appreciate sound design on a whole new level.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has arguably one of the best game soundtracks of all time, and of course you can appreciate the music through your TV speakers — but playing the game through the BlackShark V3 Pro will send you into orbit.

The orchestral power ballads sound refined and cinematic, and I was able to hear every violin note and subtle sounds of the kickdrum even against the sound of my weapons slashing enemies. Listening to ‘Une vie à t'aimer’ start playing in a cutscene and all the instruments kicking in as soon the cinematic transitioned into the battle felt like an out of body experience.

I also like that I could very clearly hear the subtle differences between walking on different terrains. When my character shifted from walking on grass to walking on scattered petals, I could hear the difference in the crunch — and it felt like discovering new sounds I’d never heard before in a game I’ve dedicated 100 hours to.

Cyberpunk 2077

In Cyberpunk 2077, stealth plays a crucial role especially if you’re sneaking into enemy territory infested with NPCs that can one-shot you — so you need to strategize. Since the BlackShark V3 Pro is designed for competitive gaming, it’s the perfect headset for stealth-based games.

Footsteps are easy to hear, so when I hid behind a door, I could tell exactly how close the enemy was — perfect for a stealth takedown. Razer has added a customizable roller on the left earcup that controls Game-Chat balance by default, but you can set it to boost footsteps instead. It works great and could give pros a real edge.

I also like that I could hear my character’s breathing become heavier while sprinting and then slowly return to normal when I was stationary after running. Even when the techno music was loud, it never overshadowed my character’s grunts and groans, providing an immersive experience.

F1 22

Lastly, I played F1 22 to see how the BlackShark V3 Pro performed in racing titles, and it made me feel like I was the driver behind the wheel. I loved that I could clearly hear my car’s tires locking up, reminding me that there’s a very good reason I’m not actually a Formula 1 driver.

The sound of the engine roaring told me exactly when I needed to shift gears which is crucial in F1 22, especially if you’re driving fully manual — something pros will be doing in tournaments. It was also great to hear the exact moment another car was right behind me in DRS range, which informed me that I needed to lock in and be wary of incoming overtakes.

Overall, the BlackShark V3 Pro is an extremely capable headset, with audio performance that upstages every other set of cans I’ve reviewed. It is the headset to buy if you want a fully immersive gaming experience and don’t want to compromise on quality.

Fantastic active noise cancelation

Not many gaming headsets feature active noise cancelation (ANC) — and it’s the one thing I criticized the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 for not having. Heck, even the very expensive Audeze Maxwell doesn’t feature ANC, but you know what does? The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, and boy is it effective.

You can turn ANC on or off with a button on the right earcup, and it works really well to block out noise and pull you into the game. While playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 next to my partner on the couch, I didn’t hear a word she said — partly because I was locked in a boss fight, but mostly because the BlackShark V3 Pro blocked everything out. She had to wave to get my attention. I couldn’t even hear the kettle or the doorbell indoors.

I wore the headset outdoors too, which I wouldn’t recommend with ANC enabled — it’s really so good that it’s a hazard. I couldn’t hear traffic passing me by while I was walking, or the rattling of the bus on my commute to and from work. The BlackShark V3 Pro has, by far, some of the best ANC I’ve tested on a headset — gaming or otherwise.

Crystal clear mic

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro utilizes Razer’s HyperClear Full Band 12mm mic that’s detachable and unidirectional, so it picks up sounds from the user’s mouth and transmits loud and clear audio.

It also features noise-canceling tech so it minimizes any external disturbances. Razer has also improved on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro’s 32KHz sampling rate and upped it to 48KHz on the new model.

I first tested the headset by recording myself without anything playing in the background, as you can hear in the clip above. I sound loud and clear, and I have no complaints.

I then played an episode of Schitt’s Creek on maximum volume to test the headset’s mic’s noise-cancaling prowess. In the clip above, all you can hear is my voice and nothing else, which is fantastic. As I’ll discuss in the next section, I love that you can customize the microphone’s 10-band equalizer, giving you lots of control over how you want to sound on the other end.

User-friendly companion app

When I test gaming headsets, it’s crucial that I test the accompanying software. The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is accompanied by two apps: Razer Audio on iOS and Android, and Razer Synapse on Windows and macOS.

The former gives you on-the-go control over EQ presets and EQ customization, and allows you to adjust the mic’s equalizer too. It’s easy to use with a clean interface, and you can connect the BlackShark V3 Pro to your phone via Bluetooth and your console with the 2.4GHz dongle — so you can use it on both at the same time. There are a few tailored EQ presets for games like Valorant and Counter Strike 2, but it’s fairly straightforward to create your own too.

Razer Synapse, on the other hand, gives you more in-depth customization options. You’ll need to use it to enable THX Spatial Audio and for 7.1.4 surround sound support. EQ customization is more in-depth too. I also like that the Razer Synapse software shows you the games installed on your laptop and you can assign specific EQ presets to each game, and it will be automatically enabled when you fire up the game with the headset connected.

Multi-platform compatibility

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, like many other Razer headsets, is compatible with a number of platforms. You can buy either the Xbox or PlayStation model: the former is compatible with the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One, while the latter is compatible with PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Both models are also compatible with PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck. Compatibility galore! This is the only headset you’ll need for your gaming ecosystem.

Long battery life

To top it all off, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro boasts long battery life. On a single charge, the headset can last up to 70 hours over the 2.4GHz connection on PC, according to Razer. The battery life will, of course, depend on the settings you use, such as whether ANC is enabled or if you have ultra-low 10ms latency enabled. This is toggled on by default so you may want to turn it off if you want as much juice as possible.

If you’re playing on PS5 or Xbox, the battery life drops to 48 hours which is plenty of battery life for long gaming sessions. I used the headset for a total of 24 hours (a good chunk of that was idle overnight), and the battery dipped to 50% according to the app — which is fantastic.

The BlackShark V3 Pro’s battery life is similar to that of the pricier Audeze Maxwell which is rated for 80 hours, but far better than the SteelSeries Arctis Pro’s 22-hour battery life.

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review: The downs

There isn’t much wrong with the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, but its cable-oriented dongle is slightly annoying.

Premium price tag

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is intended for professional eSports players, and it carries a price tag in line with that notion. It retails for $249 / £249 so it ain’t the cheapest. It is, however, a little cheaper than the Audeze Maxwell ($299) and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro ($350).

It’s worth noting that the BlackShark V3 Pro offers more features too, such as active noise cancelation and a customizable roller. It’s also worth pointing out that you’d expect to pay this much for a good set of mid-range headphones with decent ANC for music too, and the BlackShark V3 Pro is very much worth the premium.

If the BlackShark V3 Pro is out of your budget, good news is that Razer has also launched the BlackShark V3, a more budget-friendly option costing $149 / £149. You can also grab the headset’s oft-discounted predecessor, the BlackShark V2 Pro, for $199 / £199. In case you don’t fancy a Razer headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 ($129) is a fantastic (and cheaper) alternative.

Annoying dongle

Like I mentioned up top, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro can connect to your console using the included 2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 dongle. However, it’s a little annoying. Instead of directly plugging into your console via a USB-C connection, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5’s or the Audeze Maxwell’s, you have to use a USB-C cable to plug into the dongle and use its other end to plug into your console.

It’s a small price to pay given the headset’s performance elsewhere. And obviously I’d rather have the lower latency of 2.4G than not, but I really wish it was a simpler plug-and-play solution that didn’t include a cable taking up unnecessary space on my TV stand.

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review: Verdict

What’s not to like about the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro? Immersive sound quality? Good. Crystal clear mic? Good. Comfortable design? Gooood. This is a refined headset that doesn’t compromise on quality and doesn't give you a lot to complain about (as you’d expect at this price point). Sure, the dongle is a little annoying, but that flaw pales in comparison to everything else the BlackShark V3 Pro aces.

The BlackShark V3 Pro is fantastic for RPGs, FPS and racing titles as it delivers detailed sound, giving you a competitive edge, and ultra-low 10ms latency ensures you hear everything instantly. It’s one of the only gaming headsets with ANC (which is highly effective) too. I also love that the roller is customizable and lets you boost footsteps while you’re playing — it makes a considerable difference.

All in all, you’re getting a premium headset for the premium you’re paying. If you want one headset for all your consoles, and don’t want to compromise on quality even a tiny bit, there’s really no better choice than the BlackShark V3 Pro right now.

We’re back with a bang. Today’s power picks are significant, as you can get $200 off my favorite budget laptop (a great back-to-school buy), a beasty AMD RX 9070 XT gaming PC for $650 off, 35% off one of the best gaming mice you can buy, and much more!

But first, I need to warn you about something in my first of a (hopefully) not long-running segment — bad deals watch.

Bad deals watch — don’t buy this 🚫

So I’ve seen certain tech sites covering this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 deal for 74% off. It’s a big number to brag about that does get you on Google News, but there are so many red flags that make this a do not buy.

• 40GB DDR5 RAM!? The IdeaPad Slim 3 has never shipped with this, and if you look further down the specs, you see it labeled as SO-DIMM (something totally different)
• Ships from EliteComputer: A quick look at the storefront reviews shows a lot of 5-star reviews that look a little suspicious, while a look at the 1-star reviews reveal a little more about the origin of the brand and how there’s non-existent customer service after buying it.
• No U.S. reviews: The international reviews that are available (mostly originating from Saudi Arabia) look either bot farmed or, given the age of them, are a review of a different product that was on this same page, which the retailer has switched out.

But I’ve found something that is so much better — cheaper, more powerful and brand new with an actual warranty. It’s a great get for back to school or for all your productivity needs.

Oh, and those power picks I found on Friday? Yeah, they’re still available! That means you can still bad $700 off the MSI Aegis gaming PC with RTX 5070 power, and $200 off the M4 MacBook Pro.

But for now, let’s get into today’s top deals.

Show me today’s best deals

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X): was $749 now $549 @ Best Buy
• Skytech Azure Gaming PC (RX 9070 XT): was $2,499 now $1,849 @ Newegg
• Razer Basilisk V3 Pro wireless gaming mouse: was $159 now $103 @ Amazon
• MSI Inspire GeForce RTX 5070 Ti: was $929 now $789 @ Newegg
• Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed wireless gaming headset: was $129 now $94 @ Amazon

Today’s power picks

There’s nothing more immersive than playing your favorite games or watching videos in surround sound, though it can be hard to find the space for all those extra speakers, especially at your desk.

Normally in this situation, most people turn to a pair of headphones or one of the best gaming headsets to achieve something similar. While convenient, you’re usually getting virtual surround sound instead of the hardware-based surround sound that a true multi-speaker setup delivers.

Likewise, wearing headphones or a headset can be too isolating since you can’t hear what’s going on around you.

That is unless you pick up a pair with an open-back design like the Turtle Beach Atlas Air headset I tried out last year.

Alternatively, you could get some of the best computer speakers like the Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System. That one served me reliably for years before I decided to downsize to something simpler to avoid having cables from its five separate speakers running across my room.

Just when I thought I’d never have surround sound at my gaming desk setup again, Razer has come up with a unique solution to all of these problems.

Not only is it wire-free, but you don’t have to deal with the discomfort that comes from wearing headphones or a headset for hours at a time. And at those times when you don’t want surround sound, the Razer Clio doubles as a primary speaker.

Here’s how I gave one of the best gaming chairs a major upgrade with a new head cushion that pumps out immersive sound right to my ears.

Comfort meets wireless connectivity

At first glance, the Razer Clio looks like it’s a missing piece to the Razer Iskur V2 or one of the company’s other gaming chairs. However, it’s designed in such a way that it can slip onto the back of most gaming chairs, not just those from Razer.

The front of the Clio features plush memory foam in the middle and on the sides to add some extra comfort to your gaming chair. Then, underneath this on the sides of the head cushion, there are integrated near-field dual speakers powered by a 5,400 mAH battery.

Of course you get the green Razer logo in the middle but on the one side, there’s also a THX logo since the Clio comes equipped with spatial audio powered by THX. It’s only available in black at the moment but I wouldn’t be surprised if Razer releases a white version later on.

All of the controls are on top of the head cushion and I found them easy enough to reach even when sitting in a gaming chair with it attached. In the middle, there’s a power button with volume controls on the left.

On the right, there’s an EQ button to switch between three different modes (Game, Movies, Music) and a source button that lets you connect to your PC or game consoles using Razer’s 2.4 GHz HyperSpeed USB-C dongle or via Bluetooth.

On the edge of the head cushion’s left side, you’ll find a USB-C port which is used for charging the device.

According to Razer, the Clio can last up to 14 hours on a single charge and when the battery runs out, it takes approximately six hours to fully recharge it.

This didn’t stop me from using it though, as I put one of the best power banks on my gaming chair’s backrest and ran a long USB-C cable to the Clio so that I could charge up the head cushion. Alternatively, you can plug it directly into your PC or into a wall outlet with a USB charger.

Around back, you can see the two adjustable straps that allow you to attach the Clio to all of Razer’s chairs and most other gaming chairs. You also get a nice view of the back of its built-in speakers which definitely gives your gaming chair a futuristic look when viewed from behind.

Strapped on and powered up

As I don’t have a Razer gaming chair on hand, I decided to try out the Clio using the Fractal Refine gaming chair from Fractal Design. Fortunately, it has a detachable headrest pillow that pops off which left me with plenty of room to attach the Clio.

I have to admit, I was somewhat worried that it wouldn’t fit at first given that the Refine isn’t one of Razer’s gaming chairs and its headrest is 12 inches across at its base in the back.

As its straps are adjustable, the Clio can accommodate any gaming chair with a headrest circumference between 18.5 to 25.6 inches. The Refine has a circumference of 23.5 inches, so it is on the larger side. However, by adjusting the straps like you would on a backpack, I got the Clio to fit snuggly on the chair.

I do wish the bottom strap was a bit wider on the Clio but with a bit of back and forth, I got it attached to my gaming chair and it held firmly in place once I was done.

Although the Clio will work with any soundbar or 2.0/2.1 speaker system, Razer also sent over a pair of its Nommo V2 Pro speakers for me to test it out with.

They worked just as well with my gaming PC using a USB cable as they did with my Nintendo Switch 2 connected via Bluetooth. The Nommo V2 Pro sound great for movies and especially for gaming. Plus, I really like the dash of RGB backlighting they add to my desk setup.

With the Razer Clio attached to my gaming chair and fully charged up, it was time to see how well they could deliver a surround sound experience when paired with the Nommo V2 Pro along with what this wireless speaker head cushion sounded like on its own as a primary speaker.

Perfect on PC but console compatible too

Right from the get go, I could immediately see the appeal of having a pair of speakers strapped to either side of my gaming chair. The sound coming from the Clio went straight to my ears as the speakers built into the head cushion are angled just right.

Even as a primary speaker and not as part of a hybrid surround sound system, I was impressed. Likewise, thanks to the included HyperSpeed USB-C dongle in the box, I just plugged it into my computer, powered on the Clio and I was ready to go.

On its own, the Clio will work as a primary speaker in either 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth mode. To use it as part of a surround sound setup though, you first have to install Razer’s Synapse software. If you have one of the best gaming mice or another peripheral from the company, chances are, you’ve already installed Synapse.

Since I review the best mini PCs including more powerful ones you can actually game on, I’m always switching between computers. For that reason, I had to download and install Synapse on the Acemagic Tank 03 gaming PC I decided to use in my revamped desk setup.

After logging into my Razer account, the Clio appeared in a new tab at the top of the program with an update for it ready for me to download.

Once I updated its firmware, I then had full control over the wireless speaker head cushion in Synapse. In Razer’s software, I could adjust the Clio’s volume, EQ settings and more but this is also where you can combine it and another pair of speakers or a soundbar in surround sound mode.

After you do this, you can then tweak the volume for both your speakers at the front and for the Clio at the back which acts like a pair of rear surround sound speakers.

I have to admit, I had some trouble getting it to work in this way at first. Everything was fine when listening to music or watching videos on YouTube. However, I couldn’t get the Clio to work in surround sound mode while playing games.

After poking around Synapse for a bit, I realized that I had to manually set which speaker or speakers I wanted to use on a per game basis. After checking the boxes next to the Clio and the Nommo V2 Pro speakers in Synapse, I fired up Rocket League and was met with a true surround sound experience.

Playing one of my favorite pick-up-and-go games with the Clio in surround sound mode was amazing — from the stadium's ambient noise to the rush of the ball flying past me, it all felt incredibly immersive.

In fact, doing so brought me back to how it felt to play Rocket League with my Logitech Z906 5.1 system when the game first released a decade ago.

With my initial PC testing out of the way, it was time to test the Razer Clio with the other device on my desk: the Nintendo Switch 2.

Thanks to the second USB-C port at the top of Nintendo’s new hybrid console, all I had to do was plug in Razer’s HyperSpeed USB dongle there and everything worked just like it did on my gaming PC.

From there, I undocked my Switch 2 and tested out the Clio while playing in handheld mode. This too worked like a charm and I could see how it might be fun to play this way while fully reclined in my gaming chair. Since you can’t run third-party apps like Razer Synapse on the Switch 2 or other consoles for that matter, you’re limited to using the Clio as a dual speaker setup instead of as a surround one.

Still, I liked having the sounds and catchy music from Mario Kart World inches from my ears and even with the Clio’s volume turned up high, my family members in the same room with me couldn’t really notice. Honestly, the whole experience reminded me a lot of playing games with the Viture Pro XR glasses which also have built-in speakers.

With one console tested, I decided to head to my recently finished black-and-white desk setup in my office and give the Clio a try with the PS5 Pro.

As Sony swapped out the PS5’s front USB-A ports for USB-C ones on the PS5 Pro, once again, I just plugged in the HyperSpeed dongle, powered on the Clio and was ready to go. The console recognized the Clio as a USB headset which is actually quite fitting as that’s the exact device Razer has positioned it as an alternative to.

Playing Astro Bot with the Clio was a whole lot of fun and with the Dual Sense controllers’ advanced haptics, the whole experience was extra immersive. It’s worth noting that due to Microsoft short-changing the Xbox Series X, you won’t be able to use the Clio with it since that console doesn’t support audio over USB or via Bluetooth.

At the end of the day though, the Clio was designed with PC gaming in mind. The fact that you can use Razer’s wireless speaker head cushion with consoles or even your phone or tablet is just icing on the cake.

Still, I had a ton of fun playing Switch 2 and PS5 Pro with it as a primary speaker and I can’t wait to give some more immersive games like Death Stranding 2 a try with the Clio to see if it further adds to the experience.

An expensive yet immersive upgrade

At $229, the Razer Clio certainly costs more than a good gaming headset or a pair of headphones with virtual surround sound.

However, for the price, you’re also adding some extra comfort to your gaming chair and the ability to use its built-in speakers on their own or as part of a surround sound system. At the same time, all you have to do is loosen its straps to move the wireless speaker head cushion from your old gaming chair to a new one down the line.

The Razer Clio certainly won’t be for everyone given its price and the fact that you need a compatible gaming chair to use it. However, if you want an open surround sound experience and are short on space or just don’t want to have wires running across your floor, then it could be a nice upgrade for your gaming setup.

While I wish it could offer the same surround sound experience on consoles that it does on PC, Razer is a PC gaming company after all. Even as a primary speaker, I still found its dual speakers to provide a more immersive experience overall as they were a lot closer and angled just right to reach my ears.

Now that Razer has made a detachable head cushion with wireless speakers inside, who knows, maybe we could one day see the company make a gaming chair with built-in surround sound or at least just built-in speakers.

After trying out the company’s Project Arielle, which added integrated heating and cooling to its mesh Fujin Pro gaming chair. at CES 2025 this year, anything’s possible.

More from Tom's Guide

• I added Razer’s new monitor stand to my desk setup and this underrated feature is a game changer
• Monitor stand vs monitor arm: how to pick the right one for your display
• I tried playing Mario Kart World with a racing wheel on Switch 2 and it's perfect for cruising in Free Roam mode

This year's Razer Blade 14 will soon be here and sport a thinner design than its predecessors. Though thin in design, it commands a hefty starting price of $2,229 for the RTX 5060 model and $2,699 for the RTX 5070 variant.

Alongside an Nvidia GPU, the Razer Blade 14 will pack an AMD Ryzen AI 9 CPU that's AI-ready thanks to its 50 TOPS and Copilot+ compatibility. You can kit the laptop with up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. The RAM is soldered in, but a spokesperson told us that the NVMe SSD slot is user-accessible if you want a larger hard drive.

The skinnier laptop is 0.62 to 0.64 inches thick from its thinnest end to the thickest, and weighs just 3.59 pounds. Razer claims that it was able to shave down the Blade 14's profile without reducing power or battery life (retaining its 72Whr battery). Note that the RTX 5070 model of this laptop is thicker than the RTX 5060 variant.

Razer redesigned the thermal shelf and cooling design, similar to what it did with the latest version of the Blade 16 gaming laptop.

The ports are largely the same as last year's model, which includes a pair of USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack and a proprietary power plug. There's also a microSD slot, which the previous model didn't have.

At first glance, the Razer Blade 14 is a slightly smaller Blade 16, with the main difference being the microSD slot versus the full SD slot on the 16, and of course, the size. One other difference is that the Blade 14 will be available in white as well as matte black.

The display is a 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED that is Calman verified with a variety of color profiles. The keyboard is largely the same as last year's, though it now features a Copilot key.

Razer spokespeople highlighted that the Razer Blade 14 is more than just a gaming laptop. According to them, many of the Blade 14's features, like the display's color gamuts (sRGB and DCI-P3), are meant for content creators.

All configurations of the new Razer Blade 14 are expected sometime in May. Razer is also releasing a cheaper version of the Blade 16 featuring the RTX 5060 for $2,399m which is also set to release later this month.

More from Tom's Guide

• All I want for Christmas is a Razer Blade 14 — but this gaming laptop is a way better value
• I rarely stream PC games to my phone but Razer just convinced me with PC Remote Play
• I just tried Razer’s new gaming chair that can heat you up or cool you down — meet Project Arielle

At the beginning of April Razer halted direct laptop purchases in the United States, largely due to tariffs instituted by the Trump administration.

At the time, the removal included the newest iteration of the Razer Blade 16, which was still up for pre-order.

Fortunately, if you're looking for the Razer Blade 16 (and only the Blade 16) the company announced today that all variations of the gaming laptop are in stock and available for direct purchase from Razer.com or Razer stores.

When Razer paused laptop sales, every single laptop was removed from the US version of the Razer online store. As of this writing, only the new Razer Blade 16 is available for direct sale. Unfortunately, the Blade 14 and Blade 18 models remain unavailable.

You can still buy accessories including skins, cooling pads and sleeves, though—those never went away.

If you're near a U.S. location you can check out the laptop at Razer Stores. Here's where you can check it out:

• Los Angeles, CA
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Paramus, NJ
• Austin, TX
• Seattle, WA
• Las Vegas, NV
• Garden City, NY
• King of Prussia, PA
• Orlando, FL
• Miami, FL

If you can't see one in person, sit tight—we're hoping to photograph, test and review one ourselves soon.

What's new in the Razer Blade 16

The laptop featuring AMD Ryzen AI 9 300 CPUs start at $2,999, with the highest level available featuring an RTX 5090 for $4,899. Razer didn't mention tariffs in its press release but it doesn't appear the company has altered pricing due to the taxes.

The annual iterations of the Razer Blade 16 have been among the best gaming laptops that you can buy thanks to a sleek design and powerful internals. Compared to previous years, Razer claims the 2025 version of the Blade 16 is 32% thinner than the 2024 version with 50% more key travel (from 1mm to 1.5mm) providing a more comfortable experience.

We are working on a review of the 2025 Razer Blade 16, so check back soon to find out how the newest Razer gaming laptop compares to its predecessors.

More from Tom's Guide

• I swapped my $500 wireless Razer gaming setup for a $100 one from Amazon — and I’m shocked by how good it is
• I just tried Razer’s new gaming chair that can heat you up or cool you down — meet Project Arielle
• I rarely stream PC games to my phone but Razer just convinced me with PC Remote Play

A lot happened on Wednesday, April 9th. President Trump introduced tariffs on imported goods from midnight. There were some large percentages thrown around, but the largest of them all was for China, which started the day at 104%.

Many companies sent out messages that prices would be increasing, Framework suspended sales of some repairable laptops and Nintendo considered delaying the pre-order of the Switch 2 in the U.S. until the situation became more certain.

Then, at around 1:30pm ET, the President announced that there would be a 90-day pause on tariffs, except for China (which saw its rate increase to 125% after China levied 84% on American goods into China), Mexico and Canada.

It was a chaotic day in general, but the tech industry, which relies on components and devices manufactured (primarily) in China is still in uncertain waters, even with the 90-day pause. And the trade war with China appears to be escalating, likely to lead to more confusion and price increases throughout this week and the coming months.

The situation has changed very quickly, and we're likely to see more of the same today. Even if things become more stable in the markets, we'll probably still see the knock-on effect of this volatility in tech devices for the rest of this year, as manufacturers try to work out their best route forwards.

A few brands attempted to pre-empt these high tariffs, importing a much stock as they could before the tariffs came into effect (temporarily), with Apple reportedly flying hundreds of iPhones into the U.S. from India at the end of March and Nintendo shipping Switch 2 consoles into the country almost three months before its launch.

We’re on hand to bring you the latest updates and also flag the tech products that you might want to consider picking up now before price increases sting, or the currently available stock sells out.

If you're a shopper or company wanting to let us know about price increases or out-of-stock product issues, drop us a line at questions@tomsguide.com.

Latest brands that have responded to Trump’s tariffs

President Trump's tariffs came into effect on 12:01 a.m. (ET) on April 9, and were suspended for 90 days by 1:30 p.m for most countries except China (which now stands at 125%), Mexico and Canada. The situation is changing rapidly, but it appears that a blanket 10% tariff on all imports remains in place.

Several major players in the tech space have already responded by taking measures that range from delayed pre-orders for upcoming products to even halting all direct sales within the U.S. region. These are the latest companies to announce measures in response to Trump’s tariffs.

• Acer: 10% price increase “to reflect the tariff”
• Apple: iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watch could get a lot more expensive
• Framework: Select laptop models pulled from sale
• Nintendo: Switch 2 pre-orders delayed indefinitely
• Razer: All direct laptop sales halted

Live updates

Welcome to TG's Trump tariff live blog!

Welcome to Tom’s Guide live coverage of the ongoing tariff situation. These may feel like uncharted waters, but we’re on hands to guide you through the ever-evolving landscape with a focus on how President Trump’s tariffs will impact the tech and gadget world we cover 24/7.

Even before the tariffs started at midnight today (Wed. April 9), several companies made preemptive announcements, and now that the sanctions have come into effect, we’re expecting even more tech brands to announce their response. These could range from price increases to select product lines being removed from sale.

BREAKING: Framework delays Laptop 12 orders

Laptop maker Framework had already announced it would be "temporarily pausing US sales on a few base Framework Laptop 13 systems" in response to Trump's tariffs but now the situation has escalated with plans to open U.S. pre-orders for its new Framework Laptop 12 delayed (confirmed by The Verge).

Positioned as an "entry-level" laptop, the Laptop 12 is the company's first 2-in-1 touchscreen model and is also set to be Framework's smallest laptop yet. It was due to go up for pre-order today (April 9), but those plans have been scrapped.

While it will still be available to order today in Europe, and in regions such as Canada, U.S. shoppers will have to wait until an unspecified date in the future as Framework continues to assess the situation following the deployment of tariffs.

We went hands-on with Framework Laptop 12 earlier this year and our Senior Computing Editor, Alex Wawro, was pretty impressed noting it might be his favorite 2-in-1 laptop yet. The durable chassis, bright 1200p display and DIY-friendly design were particular highlights of Alex's time with the Framework Laptop 12.

Sadly, for now, when it'll be made available to order in the U.S. is unknown.

Still no Switch 2 pre-order date in the U.S.

While gamers in Europe have been snapping up Switch 2 pre-orders this week, over in the U.S. there's no confirmed pre-order date.

Today (April 9) was originally announced as the Switch 2 pre-order date in the U.S. but last week Nintendo delayed things via a statement provided to Tom's Guide and other media outlets. The statement reads:

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.”

It's not just the U.S. in a holding pattern either. Yesterday (April 8), it was confirmed that Switch 2 pre-orders are also being delayed indefinitely in Canada "in order to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the US."

Naturally, Canadian Nintendo fans were not best pleased with the news, but there could be some logic to the decision Nintendo may have been worried that eager U.S. gamers would attempt to snap up any available Canadian stock and or that North American scalpers would turn their attention to Canada's pre-order drop.

We're still awaiting a new Switch 2 pre-order, and at this stage, Nintendo hasn't ruled out the possibility of a price increase. Currently, the Switch 2 is set to cost $449, but with tariffs, particularly the ones on Vietnam where the console is manufactured, that could be set to rise higher before the device hits store shelves.

The Japanese gaming giant has stated that the Switch 2's worldwide launch date of June 5 remains in place. So, presumably, U.S. pre-orders will need to take place in the foreseeable future to ensure a smooth launch period for the new console.

Your next iPhone could be twice as expensive now

One of the most successful U.S. tech firms is Apple, but it's supply chain is also incredibly complex and global, relying on production facilities around the world. Famously, the iPhone is manufactured in China, which had a 104% tariff applied earlier today.

And although Tim Cook has spent the better part of a decade diversifying the company's supply chain, the Trump administration has applied tariffs to pretty much every country (including one with only penguin inhabitants), so it seems like no Apple product will be spared price hikes.

According to a report published by Reuters last Friday, before the tariffs came into effect, iPhone and Apple Watch prices could increase by 43%, leading to the base iPhone 16 model climbing from $799 up to $1,140. But that was based on the lower earlier proposed 54% tariff.

The new rate, first discussed yesterday and seemingly applied at midnight, more than doubles the price, which would send the iPhone 16 to around $1,600. It's an astonishing increase.

And it's clear that the matter between China and the U.S. isn't settled, as the two countries have been seemingly locked into an escalating trade war, with China proposing an 84% tariff on U.S. goods within the last hour, according to The Guardian.

The tariffs went live earlier today, but we still don't know exactly how Apple plans to address this; swallow the cost and lower profits, or pass the extra charge onto consumers with a price hike.

But it seems certain to throw the launch of the iPhone 17 into disarray, as Apple looks at what it's options are. Last week, we reported that the iPhone 17 Pro Max could reach prices as high as $2,300, but now, with the increased tariff, this would look more like $3,000.

And at that price, would you upgrade?

No more Razer Blade laptops in the U.S.?

Right now, you won't be able to find a Razer Blade laptop ready to buy in the US, including its new Razer Blade 16 with an RTX 5090, and Trump's tariffs appear to be to blame.

On its store page, all laptops currently appear with a "Notify Me" instead of being able to purchase, with the Blade 16 previously being available to pre-order. For now, it looks as if Razer has halted direct laptop sales in the U.S. in light of the tariffs.

Razer's store page still has yet to change, and even the Razer Canada site is showing available products, like the Blade 16 and a new laptop stand. We have yet to hear any comment back from Razer, but it did tell The Verge, "we do not have a comment at this stage regarding tariffs."

Switch 2 consoles have already landed in the U.S.

While there's still no Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date set in the U.S., we do know that Nintendo has already shipped the Switch 2 and built stock in the States, and that could spell good news for fans waiting to pick up the anticipated console.

According to Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser, this was done to try and meet demand. However, with the tariffs now in place, the big question is if the price will be affected. As reported, with it being developed in Vietnam and the country seeing a 46% import tariff from the U.S., the Switch 2 price could rise from $449 to $657.

That said, it's believed that the Switch 2 price won't shift even with tariffs in place, as Nintendo is said to have already had the looming threat of tariffs in mind. However, with some Switch 2 consoles already making their way to the U.S. before the tariffs, could these units escape the price hike? While I doubt it, it does give Nintendo some leeway. For now, it's a waiting game.

Amazon products are already seeing a price hike

Our own Mike Prospero went through 200 popular products on Amazon to check out price hikes in light of Trump's tariffs, and there are already quite a few increases.

One of the most notable examples included the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, which are currently priced at $348 on Amazon. However, according to tracker CamelCamelCamel, their average price is generally set at $222. Now, this could be due to limited stock, but other products also saw a rise.

Another popular product is the Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier, which is now listed at $205 on Amazon (and that's with a discount, with its list price at $249). However, its average price is set at $153.14, which means there's a 25% price difference. With the tariffs taking off, even more products may see a price hike, and we'll continue to keep track.

Digital services might get more expensive after all

Here's an interesting side effect of the tariffs (and by interesting, I mean, expensive): the Trump administration's tariffs on imports only apply to physical goods, but that could lead to more expensive data centers and price hikes to digital services too.

According to the summary of the report Trump Tariff Impact on Hyperscale Data Center Market, the components and hardware needed to install and operate data centers almost all come from outside the U.S., primarily China, which had a massive 104% tariff applied earlier today.

For many logistical and legal reasons, most data centers for services like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (which currently supports most of the internet) are built in the U.S. with imported components.

Shifting these outside the U.S. could be tricky if not impossible (due to privacy and data laws) so there's potentially no workaround other than price increases. So your iCloud subscription, Spotify membership, Netflix and ChatGPT Plus may also need to hike prices if the tariffs stay in place.

Will prices go up immediately?

Honestly, we don't know. It'll depend on the company and it's finances whether it can support the additional import tariffs without changing it's pricing right away. But as these tariffs only apply from today to goods crossing the border into the U.S., it may be a while until the price increases take effect.

This is why we've heard that Nintendo already shipped some Switch 2 consoles to the U.S., despite the device not launching until June, to avoid the extra charges. But given the demand for the console, it won't take them long to sell through that stock and need to import more, likely at a higher price.

And Apple appears to have tried to do the same with iPhones, flying new stock into the U.S. from India in the last week of March before the tariffs came in, according to a report in The Times of India.

If other brands also hold stock in the U.S. they may be able to sell through their supplies before raising the price. Or they may need to pre-emptively increase costs to ensure that they can sustainably keep producing products.

Repairs will be more expensive but still economical

The folks at iFixit have a slightly different take on the tariffs (not that they're good for your wallet, obviously). As the team posted on Instagram yesterday, the price of repairing your tech is about to get more expensive too.

If you want to keep your existing tech going a bit longer to avoid the higher prices on new items, you'll still need imported components, like batteries, screens, and other electronics. However, iFixit's analysis also showed that repair still may be the best option.

In the example iFixit put together, the cost of a new iPhone 16 Pro would rise by $300 (this was pre-104% tariffs on China, so the figure would likely be almost double that now). In contrast, iFixit's iPhone 16 Pro Battery Replacement is currently $115.

If that doubles in price, it'll be $300, so still a lot less than the almost $600 potential price increase on the new phone. In this situation, repair is still the cheaper and sustainable option, even if this does feel like saying the house is on fire, but at least it's warm.

Electric scooters enter the tariffs chat

Another well-known brand famed for its value products has also written to customers with warnings of price increases to come. Hiboy, makers of some of the best electric scooters, sent a letter with an "important update regarding [their] pricing."

The company goes on to say that "Our e-scooter and e-bike prices will be increasing soon due to these recent tariff changes... If you’ve been considering a purchase, we encourage you to take advantage of our current pricing while it’s still available."

Hilboy didn't give any specific examples of how much prices would increase, probably because the company is still assessing the effect of the 104% tariffs applied to Chinese imports this morning.

As we reported earlier, this may be a common trend, with brands sticking to current pricing until they run out of U.S.-held stock. So, if you're in the market, it's probably best to get shopping now before the tariffs really start to bite.

What is the 'water clause?'

Any goods already in transit will not need to pay the additional reciprocal tariffs thanks to a clause released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

It reads as follows: "Articles the product of the countries that have an additional country-specific rate of duty, identified in 9903.01.43 – 9903.01.76, that were (1) loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transport on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT April 5, 2025, and before 12:01 a.m. EDT April 9, 2025, and (2) are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, before 12:01 a.m. EDT on May 27 2025, are subject to the 10% additional rate in lieu of the country-specific rate of duty."

If an item is already on its way from its origin country after April 5, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT and before April 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, it won't be subject to country-specific reciprocal tariffs.

What this means for you is that if there's a big-ticket item you want to purchase, the next batch of shipments might maintain their lower price, but the next batch will be subject to the massive tariffs and may be more expensive.

Apple's midnight flights and iPhone panic buying

As President Trump's tariffs kick in, reports came out that Apple had allegedly rushed to stockpile iPhone inventory in the United States by flying five planes full of Apple products made in India and China before the April 8 tariff start.

The new report from The Times of India claims Apple did this over three days at the end of March.

“Factories in India and China and other key locations had been shipping products to the US in anticipation of the higher tariffs,” one source told The Times.

These kinds of moves are being done to delay the impact of the tariffs as much as possible.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg is reporting that people are panic buying iPhones at Apple Stores across the country out of fear of prices going up.

Allegedly, Apple Stores have seen holiday season-esque atmospheres with frenzied purchases.

As a result of the tariffs, the stock market has been taking a beating and Apple has perhaps suffered the most out of the big American tech companies. The firm's valuation fell by more than half a trillion dollars last week and it isn't recovering this week.

Keyboardio - US keyboard maker pens open letter about tariffs

Keyboardio, a US-based specialist keyboard maker, penned an open letter to customers before Trump's tariffs kicked in saying, "If you want a keyboard, you should buy it now."

Keyboardio makes split keyboards, but warns that US customers will face an $188 charge thanks to tariffs on its Model 100 keyboards, plus other fees.

This letter was written before it was announced that China would be facing 104% tariffs and Keyboardio was looking at a 54% tariff for goods made in China.

"Most of our electrical components are made in China. Sometimes we'll use or consider components not made in China – and they're made in Japan, Taiwan, or Germany. The USA doesn't make the components we need."

Keyboardio even offers a comparison to Norbauer which makes everything in the US but its keyboards cost $3,600!

Trump announces 90-day tariff pause for some countries

Just now, President Trump went on the conservative social media platform Truth Social and said that he was pausing tariffs for "more than 75 countries" that have supposedly contacted US officials to "negotiate a solution" to trade concerns created by his tariffs.

Additionally, he upped tariffs against Chinese goods from 104% to 125% "effective immediately" which he claimed was due to the "lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets."

The angry response may be due to retaliatory tariffs of 84% introduced by China against American exports.

This is breaking news, and it's not clear which countries are being let off the tariff hook at this time.

Reciprocal tariffs abruptly halted, sort of

Precise details have not yet been released, and it may be some time before anything more concrete actually arrives from the White House.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that Trump is pausing the reciprocal tariffs, ie the huge tariff percentages that were hitting countries like India and Vietnam where a number of companies moved production to avoid Chinese tariffs.

However, he did say that a baseline 10% tariff on most global imports was staying in place.

For now, it appears Trump has scaled back a global trade war to a narrowed one between the U.S. and China, which reportedly may be preparing for actual war as well.

Google determining tariff response

Before Trump's tariff announcement today, Google already said in an interview that the company was trying to determine its response to Trump's tariffs.

“The tariff side is so fluid,” Google's cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said. “I don’t want to comment on it, because it’s changing by the minute. We’re working similar to every other company to look at what we should do.”

With tariffs being reduced for most countries, save China, which got a higher rate, it is certainly a fluid situation and likely to change again in the coming days.

Stock markets surge but fallout still unclear

With the announcement of a 90 day pause, stock markets surged at rates that haven't been seen since at least 2008.

However, the fallout from the now 125% rate facing China, is still unclear.

Many companies, including tech companies, still use factories in China to produce their goods or obtain resources.

Yes, companies like Nintendo and Apple have moved production to other countries like India and Vietnam, but they are still tied to China for various parts and components.

It's a fluid situation that Trump advisors suggested was all part of the plan to flip flop as needed.

Meanwhile, American voters across various polls are largely against the tariffs and don't believe they serve the economy.

Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV price is so high tariffs could be to blame

We recently got a look at the new Sony Bravia 8 II OLED TV, which is essentially a spiritual successor to the A95L. Pricing aside, it will likley be one of the best TVs you can buy.

But, it will be more expensive, which possibly points some baked in tariff avoidance.

The 65-inch set, for example, costs $3,999.99 in the United States, which is $500 more than the similarly sized A95L.

Meanwhile, the Canadian version is priced at $4,999.99, the same price as the A95L when it was released in 2023.

A quick conversion of the Canadian price gets you down to the $3,500 range from 2023.

Looking at prices for all of the new Sony Bravia sets, it looks like Americans will be paying more across the board compared to our northern neighbors, likely due to Trump's tariffs, paused or not.

It's an unfortunate add-on for premium TVs that have gotten a bit more expensive.

Mexico and Canada still have ongoing 25% tariffs

Earlier today, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that Mexico and Canada would be subject to 10% tariffs.

However, the AP reports that the neighboring countries will still get taxed up to 25%. These tariffs were specifically introduced to ostensibly stop fentanyl smuggling and illegel immigration. It's also related to the trade agreement that was signed between the three countries during Trump's first administration that is ongoing.

Who pays tariffs?

It's been explained before but as a reminder, tariffs are a percentage of the price of a product that a buyer pays a seller of good made in another country.

Simply, importers or American companies pay the tariffs as taxes that go to the U.S. Treasury. In general those costs are then passed on to customers in the form of higher prices. Economists regularly note that it's consumers that foot the bill for tariffs.

Companies can also be punished as both seller and buyer when they have to purchase components of products that are manufactured elsewhere. For example, Samsung manufacturers TVs that sell in North America in Mexico (which has a lower tariff compared to the current one for China) but sources components like displays from other countries which might have higher tariffs.

Our explainer from 2019 when then-President Trump introduced 25% tariffs on Chinese exports remains relevant for the current discussion.

Today, you can see how it affects even major companies like Apple as it attempts to import iPhones made elsewhere.

No relief for board games

One industry that likely won't see relief from the 90 day pause is the board game industry.

Most, if not a majority, of board games on store shelves from big box store s like Target to local mom and pop operations, are manufactured in China. It was going to be rough before today's announcement of 125% tariffs which was 104% this morning.

As Polygon noted in interviews with publishers from across the industry, a panic is setting in that the boardgame world might not recover.

Some of it is related to the Kickstarter model that dominates the industry from solo developers on up to major operations like CMON Games. A lot of games that are produced via Kickstarter find manufacturing partners in China.

Like tech companies, some are looking to move production to countries like Vietnam or South Korea.

With the tariff pause, some companies might be alright as they move production out of China or get tighter with partners in other countries.

For now, things still look dour.

How are some companies responding

As the tariff fallout continues, some companies have announced that we can expect to see higher prices and different sourcing.

Best Buy, for example, warned that prices might get higher in a call with analysts.

Target also warned about potential price bumps. The Minnesota based retailer also said that it is looking at moving sourcing from some of its in house brands to countries like Guatemala and Honduras.

Some of these reports, via Reuters, came out before today's tariff pause announcement, but with the volatility shown by the administration, it seems some plans are likely to be unchanged.

Costco is one company that seems able to stand up to tariffs thanks to flexibility and a "treasure hunt structure" that enables them to replace or find new offerings.

Tariffs on pause but chaos remains

The effects of the Trump administration's tariffs are still on show across the world, as the 90-day pause offers some relief to the markets for now. But businesses rely on stability — after all, how can you make a product with components from around the world when you have no idea how much they're going to cost?

This is the challenge now facing all U.S. businesses, as they try to work out the best route forward. The 90-day pause could be 90 days, or it could be several months or it could last just a few days. And in that kind of environment, it's difficult to make long term plans.

So launches like the iPhone 17, which are almost six months away, could still feel the brunt of these tariffs, whether they actually come into effect or not. Perhaps Apple moves away from Chinese production (not likely in that timeframe) but even if that was possible, it'd need to find new suppliers, create manufacturing lines, train staff and ship devices.

And with Chinese imports still facing an enormous 125% tariff on entry into the U.S., and most tech products manufactured in China, it seems almost inevitable at this point that prices will have to rise.

Which is why now might be the best time to dig into deals, like Amazon's headphones sale to pick up new tech before prices increase.

Framework pre-orders return

Repairable laptop manufacturer Framework has had a... fun few days. After announcing that it would stop sales of its lower-end devices in the U.S. as a result of the tariffs, and that pre-orders of its latest laptop wouldn't go ahead in the states, the 90-day pause has offered some relief: pre-orders will go ahead, just a day late.

The brand took to the social media site formerly known as Twitter to announce that pre-orders for the Framework Laptop 12 begin at 9 a.m PT, with the "DIY Edition [starting] at $549, and first shipments in June."

My colleague Alex Wawro got his hands on the Laptop 12 earlier this year, and said that it "has real potential to be popular among teachers, students and parents who want to give their kids a laptop to study on that they can also learn to repair themselves."

Given how quickly the brand responded to the tariffs, it's a huge win for the repairable laptop manufacturer to find a way to still deliver it's latest device to the U.S. and may be an example others, including Nintendo, could follow with the Switch 2.

Why do tariffs exist?

Over the past century, international trade has become easier with better transport and faster communication. So you often find that products sold in one country are made in a completely different one from components sourced from around the world.

But this will often mean that you import a lot more goods than you sell to other countries. This is known as the trade deficit. If you're concerned that this number is getting to large, with a significant imbalance between what you sell (export) and what you buy (import), you might add tariffs to imported goods.

This increases the cost of these items and could encourage people to buy goods made domestically instead. It also has the knock on effect of protecting domestic businesses from cheaper imports, even if that means higher prices.

The Trump administration's tariffs may have been attempting to address the trade deficit and protect U.S. businesses, but the latest developments suggest that wasn't the whole reason, with China hit with 125% tariffs and levies still applied to Mexico and Canada, two of the U.S. closest trading partners.

And with so many of the largest U.S. businesses reliant on imports from China and elsewhere, it's not clear who'll benefit from such large increases in costs.

Bikes are going to get a lot more expensive

We saw initial signs of this yesterday, with electric scooter brand Hiboy laying the groundwork for price increases, but the 125% tariffs levied on Chinese imports is probably going to hit all outdoor transport, with bikes and electric bikes caught in the middle.

According to the Financial Times, the bike industry is already in a bit of a downturn after the pandemic led to a huge increase in sales followed by a steep decline when measures ended a few years ago. And with most bikes, especially electric bikes, manufactured in China, it's about to get a lot tougher for these brands.

The FT spoke to Kent International, a U.S. bike manufacturer, who said that it'll need to raise prices, even though it's started moving some assembly to the U.S., as the components still come from China and will be subject to the (currently) 125% traffic.

"We’re in quite a quandary now. We’ve established a factory [but] we’re paying these very high tariffs, too," Arnold Kamler, Kent International's chair, explained to the FT. With around 12.5 million bikes sold in the U.S. each year, and most produced in China, taking a ride is about to get a lot more expensive.

Can Apple manufacture iPhones in the US?

Part of the rationale for tariffs (in normal times) is to boost domestic business by having more products made in the U.S.. An example often floated is that Apple could produce the iPhone in the states rather than importing it from China, but some experts aren't sure this would work in practice.

Apple can't spring up a factory and production line overnight, so for the next few years, iPhones would be set to have the 125% tariff levied on them as they cross into the U.S. (assuming Apple can't negotiate an exemption). Whether the company would pass that all onto you when you buy a new phone is unclear.

But let's say it was technically possible for Apple to lauch production facilitates in the U.S., how would that affect things? My colleague Tom Pritchard spoke to IDC's Group Vice President of WW Device Trackers, who said that, even though Apple had previously committed to spending $500 billion on American facilities in the next four years, prices will still rise.

The components, materials and natural resources will still have to come from Asia (and mainly China) so would be subject to the same large tariffs almost doubling the cost, so a "farm to table" approach will never be possible, as Apple could only ever assemble devices in the U.S.

Canon reportedly cancels price cuts in the US

Usually, tech gets cheaper over time as previously cutting edge developments become more mainstream and affordable. But the tariffs may have reversed this trend for Canon's cameras, with Canon Rumors reporting (via TechRadar) that scheduled price drops have now been canceled.

The site explained that "price drops that were scheduled for May on both the EOS R7 and EOS R10 have been canceled in the United States. The price drops were going to be significant." However, the price reductions are still expected to go ahead in other regions.

This rumor came before Trump's U-turn on tariffs late yesterday, so it's possible things will reverse course now Japanese imports are only subject to the universal 10% tariff. But who knows what will happen between now and May that may influence Canon's decision.

Will Nvidia GPUs be exempt from reciprocal tariffs?

Nvidia's latest RTX 50-series GPUs are already pricey enough, but one question on the minds of PC gamers is if graphics cards will be targeted by tariffs. However, as per a report from PC Gamer, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) confirms the tariffs will impact GPUs in another way.

While graphics cards, including Nvidia's popular GPUs, shouldn't be hit by reciprocal tariffs, they will still have to go through a 25% aluminum-based tariff, meaning prices are still expected to rise.

Still, the CTA believes that GPUs will soon face more tariffs, seeing as products from Nvidia manufactured in China and Taiwan will be hit with a 104% tariff. For now, we'll have to wait and see if upcoming GPUs will see major price rises, including the rumored RTX 5060 GPUs.

Expert analyst weighs in on how Apple may deal with tariffs

Forrester analysts have reached out to Tom's Guide to weigh in on the state of how tariffs will impact various companies, including Apple. Apparently, the Cupertino tech giant may be able to "absorb some of the tariff-induced costs."

“As a company with lucrative margins on its devices, Apple can absorb some of the tariff-induced cost increases without significant financial impact, at least in the short term," states Forrester VP principal analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee. "Apple is also uniquely positioned to pass on a reasonable chunk of the price increase because it has built a price moat around itself with exceptional brand equity and customer experience."

Chatterjee continues: "The brand commands better loyalty than its competitors, and it is unlikely that a manageable price increase will send these customers fleeing into the arms of Android-based competitors.”

“Apple has announced plans to invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years, but I predict they will adopt a wait-and-watch approach, hedging their bets and saying more while doing less. The primary reason for this is the extreme volatility surrounding these policies. In such a volatile environment, Apple will be loath to take drastic action that is hard to do and harder still to undo.”

But with analysts predicting the price of an iPhone will triple if it's made in the U.S., it's hard to know how customers will react to any type of price hike on Apple products.

What the long-term plan for chips may look like

With the forever-changing tariff situation happening fast, it can be tricky to gauge how the effects will shift the price and manufacturing of all the tech we enjoy. However, analysts have shown us what the future could look like — especially when it comes to semiconductors and chips.

According to Forrester senior analyst Alvin Nguyen: "For semiconductors, we may see certain goods no longer making sense to produce due to the cost and the value seen from IT purchases diminishing."

This could result in more products being built around the world, which may be "beneficial as there is less dependence on Taiwan for the majority of chip production," Nguyen states.

Finally, as a look into the future, Nguyen says that "we should see a healthier global ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing and more supply chain options in where chips are produced and can be procured." Whether all this will play out? We'll have to wait to see.

Tariffs may come for Hollywood too

China is Hollywood's second largest market (after the U.S.), and over the past 15 years, the American film industry has increasingly targeted Chinese moviegoers, especially with large action franchises like Mission Impossible or the Marvel superhero films, and it's been incredibly lucrative, too.

But now that the trade war between the U.S. and China is heating up after President Trump's 54%, then 104%, and now 125% tariffs on goods imported from China, the country may have another retaliation in mind: movies.

As reported by The Verge, a (Google translated) statement from the Chinese Film Authority said that, "We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported."

Although the tariffs only apply (at the moment) to physical goods, this move from the CFA signals that the two countries may start looking for other ways to escalate their ongoing trade dispute. Foreign movies have to pass a rigorous screening process to be approved for Chinese release, and so America's film industry may be about to be dealt a relatively large blow.

What about Switch 2?

Right now, there's no way to know what'll happen with the Nintendo Switch 2 and the tariffs. We can certainly speculate, though.

Based on reports from around the web, it sounds like Nintendo is moving a third of its Switch 2 production to Vietnam, which only faces a 10% tariff from the Trump administration thanks to the 90-day delay on the larger 46% tariff.

If this is the case, it would allow Nintendo to ship as many consoles as possible to the U.S. during those 90 days, giving the company enough consoles to keep up with demand (or at least come closer than it could have while paying the higher tariff).

Will the price remain $450? As of now, it seems like it will, but it's unclear whether Nintendo will be able to maintain that price for the long haul.

Has Apple found a workaround?

Give large companies a problem that costs money, and they'll find a way to work around the problem to save some cash. Apple is no exception, and a new report indicates the company may have found a way to get around the Trump tariffs, which hugely impact goods shipped to the U.S. from China.

According to Reuters, Apple has airlifted 600 tons of iPhones, or as many as 1.5 million devices, to the United States from India, which would allow the company to avoid the massive 125% tariff on China. It would also give the company a nice stockpile as the tariff situation continually evolves.

We've seen reports that iPhone prices in the U.S. could increase sharply, but if Apple can get around paying higher tariffs, perhaps we can keep prices where they are, with the company taking a slightly smaller margin.

Only time will tell for sure, but it seems Apple has a plan in place, and that's a good thing for smartphone shoppers looking to spend as little as possible.

But will the iPhone 17 models be so lucky? That remains to be seen.

Are we dodging a recession?

The biggest question on many people's minds is whether the U.S. economy will enter a recession with all the recent hits it has taken.

According to Goldman Sachs, the odds of a recession are lower. However, it also said it forecasts minimal economic growth and a 45% recession probability based on the remaining tariffs.

"We are reverting to our previous non-recession baseline forecast with GDP growth of 0.5% and a 45% probability of recession,” a group of researchers led by Jan Hatzius wrote in a report.

It's a scary time for sure.

How much would items cost with a 10% increase?

Let's say the tariffs stay at 10% indefinitely. While a lot better than the amount originally proposed as part of Trump's tariff plan, it's still an increase over what it used to be.

So let's imagine all products went up by 10% to compensate for the increased tariffs — how much would some popular tech items cost? Let's take a look.

• iPhone 16: originally $799, would be $878.90
• Xbox Series X: originally $499, would be $548.90
• PlayStation 5 Pro: originally $699, would be $768.90
• Galaxy S25 Ultra: originally $1,299, would be $1,428.90
• 11th-gen iPad: originally $349, would be $383.90
• DjI Neo Mini: originally $199, would be $218.90
• Hisense CanvasTV S7N 55-Inch TV: originally $999, would be $1,098.90

That's just a small sample of some of the most popular tech products with a 10% price hike.

Those numbers assume that the products are not coming from China because a 125% tariff could mean that the prices would be more than double. Imagine paying more than $1,500 for a PS5 Pro.

It could get scary out there for the U.S. economy, but we'll hope for the best.

Tech companies face uncertainty

The Trump tariffs have one constant: uncertainty. This is especially true for tech companies that import parts and products from all over the world, including China, which faces the heaviest tariffs from the administration.

In response to the changing economic times, Anker has increased prices by 18% for its chargers and other products, as reported by SmartScout. It's worth noting that brands like Anker tend to change prices frequently based on Amazon sales events and the link, but an increase across the board is certainly worth noting.

As reported by Reuters, Logitech, one of the biggest PC peripheral makers, withdrew its 2026 forecast, citing continued uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies. Logitech is a Swiss-American company, and the tariffs hit Switzerland harder than other European countries.

It's not just brands that are worried, either. A new report from Bloomberg says people are buying iPhones in larger quantities in preparation for a price increase that may or may not happen. An Apple Store employee said it felt like the holiday shopping season surge.

Apple may hike prices, analyst claims

According to a report from CNBC, Apple may have to raise prices on iPhones and other products because of the tariffs against China instituted by President Trump.

One analyst said, "No company is more impacted by this tariff Armageddon than Apple."

According to the report, 90% of iPhones are made in China, and 80% of iPads.

Apple has tried to get ahead of Trump's tariffs with new plants in Vietnam and India, though prior to Trump backing down on Wednesday, those countries were supposed to see tariffs as high as 46%.

Analysts quoted in the report believe that Apple may have to raise prices, though the company has clearly been trying to avoid that.

“Apple is the poster child for the trade war,” said Kif Leswing, a technology reporter at CNBC. “And right now, they’re not saying much at all.”

Razer appears to have halted direct laptop purchases on its US site ahead of tonight's looming Trump tariffs going into effect.

Spotted by The Verge, the laptop configurator for pre-ordering the new Blade 16, available as recently as last week, no longer appears and instead takes you to 404 page featuring Razer's cutesy snake mascot. The page also has a new Notify Me button instead of a link to a store.

As far as we can tell, the store page has been scrubbed clean of any laptops and only seems to be offering skins and smaller laptop accessories.

Additionally, Razer just announced a new laptop stand that normally would be available now but also only has a Notify Me button.

For comparison, the same stand on the Razer Canada site is listed for $99.99 Canadian, and the Blade 16 configurator is available.

We don't know for sure, but it's possible this move may be related to tariffs as President Donald Trump's sweeping global reciprocal tariffs are slated to go into effect at midnight tonight.

Tom's Guide as reached out to Razer for comment and will update this story if we receive a response.

Razer Blade 16

The Razer Blade 16 is already an expensive laptop starting closer to $3k with the all-in configuration going for closer to $5,000.

That's the only version we could find on Amazon as less expensive configurations do not appear available currently.

Keep in mind, this is before you get to taxes and fees. However, tariffs would add an astounding fee on top of all that.

Tariffs are already impacting consumer tech

Apparently a few days ago, PR manager for Razer Andy Johnston told the Verge, "We do not have a comment at this stage regarding tariffs."

Razer isn't the first tech company directly facing issues thanks to the tariffs and they won't be the last. Today, Framework, the modular laptop maker, announced that it was "temporarily pausing" sales of its 13-inch Laptop 13 systems in the United States. Those laptops are some of the most affordable ones that Framework offers.

In the gaming space, Nintendo has delayed pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States and Canada as it attempts to deal the new tariffs.

We expect to see more companies pull products or severely limit access to devices as tariffs kick in and the world attempts to figure out how to respond to them.

More from Tom's Guide

• I rarely stream PC games to my phone but Razer just convinced me with PC Remote Play
• Razer Blade 16 with RTX 5060 spotted in new leak — with a pretty shocking $1,999 price tag
• I just tried Razer’s new gaming chair that can heat you up or cool you down — meet Project Arielle

It's been a rocky road for Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs, with scarce availability and even price increases. But now it's time for laptop GPUs to shine, and looking at this DLSS 4 demo, gaming laptops are about to get a major boost in frame rates.

As shown at Nvidia GDC 2025, a Razer Blade 16 with an RTX 5090 playing Cyberpunk 2077 was put up against a Razer Blade 16 (2024) equipped with an RTX 4090. As Notebookcheck details, there's a huge difference in frame rates — and it's thanks to DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation.

By the numbers

In the demo, the RTX 5090-equipped Blade 16 offered over double the frame rates, reaching 186 frames per second (fps) compared to the RTX 4090 machine at 88 fps. Compared to DLSS 3, Nvidia's next-gen AI upscaling tech delivered over 100% faster frame rates.

That's not all, as the demo also showed the new Blade 16 performing with 43% lower CPU utilization and a higher 25% latency while using DLSS 4. Both laptops were running Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings with the same native resolutions.

As reported, Nvidia says RTX 50-series laptops will rely more on GPUs when gaming over CPUs, with the demo showing 37% higher GPU use with DLSS 4 compared to last year's model with DLSS 3. Apparently, this means gaming laptops with an RTX 50 card can be paired with slower CPUs, which could potentially cut down costs and make for thinner laptops.

The 2025 Razer Blade 16 (now available to pre-order) also comes with the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which is said to operate at a lower TDP (Thermal Design Power) compared to last year's Blade 16 with an Intel Core i9-14900HX chip.

We've seen how DLSS 4 in action on an RTX 5090 desktop GPU before, and were impressed by the boost in frame rates. Now, with this demo showing the giant leap in gaming laptop performance with DLSS 4, I'm getting excited to see how these mobile machines perform.

More hope for RTX 50-series laptops

I've talked about how RTX 50-series gaming laptops will be worth the upgrade, but that excitement has been slowly dwindling since hearing rumors of the cost of an RTX 5060 Razer Blade 16, and learning about how an RTX 5070 can't match RTX 4090 performance.

However, with this demo, we're getting a taste of the improvements DLSS 4 offers, and those sky-high frame rates are a welcome sight. Of course, this is a tested environment, and DLSS 4 only works in supported PC games. Still, it's clear next-gen gaming laptops are set to impress.

We'll have to wait and see just how well RTX 50 graphics card in laptops perform once we get our hands on them, and here's hoping it isn't just a pricy RTX 5090-equipped gaming laptop that shines.

In the meantime, we've also had a look at Half-Life 2 RTX using Nvidia's RTX Remix, and it presented a new level of horror thanks to the updated textures and lighting.

More from Tom's Guide

• I review gaming laptops for a living — here's the 7 RTX 50-series laptops I would buy
• RTX 5090 price continues to rise — prepare to spend around $3,000 for Nvidia's GPU
• HP reveals new RTX 50-series gaming laptops — and the Omen 16 Slim is the first on my radar

RTX 50-series gaming laptops are on their way, and we're now catching word of RTX 5060 laptop GPUs on the horizon, too, but if this Razer leak is anything to go by, they won't come cheap.

Razer is preparing to launch a Razer Blade 16 with an RTX 5060, according to a leak from @momomo_us on X (via VideoCardz), and it's set at $1,999. The gaming tech company is known for its premium gaming laptops, but this price is already well over Nvidia's official asking price.

As announced during CES 2025, Nvidia set RTX 5070-equipped gaming laptops from $1,299. While RTX 5060 GPUs have yet to be offically announced, it's clear these graphics cards in laptops should be even more affordable.

To put this into perspective, we spotted an MSI Vector 16 HX AI with an RTX 5070 Ti for $1,599 (now $1,899) when RTX 50-series laptop pre-orders went live. Of course, other factors like the CPU, display, storage and quality come into play, but there's a clear gap in these RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptops.

As per the leak, the upcoming Razer Blade 16 is set to feature a range of configurations. For the RTX 5060 model, it will come packed with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU, 16GB of DDR5X RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, 16:10 aspect ratio and a 0.2ms response rate.

What throws off this leak is the Razer Blade 16 configuration at the end. A $1,499 RTX 5090 model with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 64GB of DDR5X RAM and 4TB for storage? It's nice to dream, I suppose.

Other variants, including the RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 Ti models, are already available on Razer's official store, albeit pricier than what the spec chart lists. Considering the RTX 5070 model, reportedly priced at $2,399, this is over $1,000 of Nvidia's MSRP.

Ramped up prices

It isn't clear when RTX 5060 GPUs will launch, but rumors suggest they will ship sometime in April.

With leaks from retailers sporting RTX 5060 gaming PCs, it's likely Nvidia is preparing for announcement soon. Although, with Nvidia recently having problems with a lack of ROPs (Render Output Unit or Raster Operations Pipeline) in their GPUs, this may be pushed back.

Now, considering the price of this leaked Razer Blade 16 spec chart, it isn't looking like RTX 50-powered entry-level gaming laptops will be quite as affordable as Nvidia intended.

Pre-orders for RTX 5070 Ti through to RTX 5090 gaming laptops alluded to this, with prices going over $4,000. With this in mind, it may be a good time to check out RTX 40-series laptops instead, seeing as these will now be going on sale.

Still, Razer makes some excellent notebooks, with the Razer Blade 16 (2024) being one of our favorite gaming laptops last year (and it still shines). We'll have to wait and see if the new lineup of Blade 16s are worth the price.

If RTX 50-series gaming rigs are looking pricey, these Amazon Big Spring Sale gaming laptop deals will help you save some cash on some powerful machines.

More from Tom's Guide

• HP reveals new RTX 50-series gaming laptops — and the Omen 16 Slim is the first on my radar
• I just saw Cyberpunk 2077 running on a Mac Studio — and I couldn't be more excited
• RTX 5090 price continues to rise — prepare to spend around $3,000 for Nvidia's GPU

With the increased popularity of the best gaming handhelds, it’s no surprise that Razer wants a piece of the action. Instead of jumping in with its own device, Razer is starting with an accessory: the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma. This RGB-lit docking solution is designed to turn your handheld into a desktop replacement, letting you quickly connect peripherals and an external display — all while adding a touch of Razer’s signature lighting that seamlessly integrates into its ecosystem.

Even without faster connectivity options like HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.1, the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma offers enough ports to cover the essentials. While it’s primarily aimed at Windows handhelds like the MSI Claw 8AI+ and ASUS ROG Ally X, it also works with devices like the Nintendo Switch and even iPads, though without access to Razer’s advanced Chroma lighting sync. That said, Razer includes a button on the side of the dock to cycle through some built-in lighting presets.

Beyond connectivity, the dock offers two viewing angles (45° / 75°), making it easier to use your handheld’s built-in display for more comfortable gaming sessions—whether you’re at a desk with an external mouse and keyboard or using a controller. That said, this premium experience comes at a cost, as the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma is priced higher than many alternatives. Still, for those invested in Razer’s ecosystem, it’s one of the best-looking docks you can get for your handheld today.

This Razer Handheld Dock Chroma review will help you decide if it’s the right dock for your gaming setup and whether its premium price is justified by its design and features.

Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A premium handheld gaming dock with RGB lighting, supporting up to 85W charging and a range of ports for connecting peripherals and displays.
• Who is it for? Gamers who prioritize aesthetics and want to integrate their dock into the Razer Chroma ecosystem. It’s ideal for those using handheld consoles like the Steam Deck, Switch, or MSI Claw and want a sleek, customizable setup.
• What does it cost? The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma costs $79.99.
• What do we like? Its premium build and folding design, and its Chroma lighting effects that sync with other Razer hardware.
• What don’t we like? It's pricey compared to alternatives with similar or better connectivity, and its RGB lights are only on the front and aren't as useful if you don't own other Razer accessories.

Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: Specs

Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: The ups

If you’re looking for a portable dock that not only connects your gaming handheld —like the ASUS ROG Ally X or MSI Claw 8AI+ — to USB peripherals and a TV or monitor but also adds some flair, the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma delivers with its RGB lighting. A thin light bar at the front illuminates from the bottom, matching the brightness of Razer’s other peripherals. However, its impact on your setup depends entirely on where you place it — more on that in a bit.

Premium build and folding design

Right away, the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma stands out from the sea of generic plastic docks flooding the market. With its mostly aluminum build, it has a solid weight to it and feels premium, matching the build quality of Razer’s other hardware. It has rubberized feet to keep it from sliding on your desk and within the wedge that holds my MSI Claw 8AI+ snugly in place on my desk. While the all-black finish is the only color option available, I’d love to see a white version to better match my other peripherals.

For $80 you’re getting a 100W PD dock with support for up to 85W to your handheld or tablet and the rest going to your connected USB devices, of which we have three USB-A Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports, a gigabit Ethernet port and HDMI 2.0.

The dock uses a foldable back panel, which allows it to flatten for storage, or when connected, props up your handheld at either 45 or 75 degrees, giving you extra flexibility.

Few handheld docks feature this kind of folding design, but the iVANKY 14-in-1 RGB is a comparable option — when it’s on sale. Now, whether this feature is useful to you depends on how often you travel with your handheld. If you frequently pack up your setup for hotels, Airbnbs, or even coffee shop gaming sessions, this fold-flat design makes it easier to bring with you. It also helps if you prefer gaming on a table with peripherals attached, without necessarily hooking up an external monitor.

At the base of the dock, there’s a single RGB light strip that creates an underglow effect, that nicely lights whatever surface it sits on. Very few handheld docks even offer RGB though, that same iVANKY 14-in-1 RGB dock takes things a step further with lighting that wraps around its sides too. However, unlike Razer’s dock, it doesn’t sync with other peripherals — which is a major selling point with this one.

For non-Windows devices like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, which don’t support Razer's Synapse software, there’s a button on the front-right side of the dock that lets you manually cycle through the built-in lighting effects. It’s a handy addition for standalone use, just keep in mind that you won’t get full Chroma syncing without a Windows device running Synapse.

One other (minor) note, if you’re using this with a Nintendo Switch, you’ll need to flip the console upside down since its USB-C port is on the bottom. Not a big deal, but something to keep in mind.

While the included 3-in-1 USB-C cable is a good length, and even long enough to connect to larger devices like one of the best iPads, I would have preferred a detachable option. If the cable ever gets damaged or if you want to swap it for a longer or shorter one, you’re out of luck. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but a detachable USB-C cable would have added more flexibility. Despite this, the Dock Chroma is easily one of the better-built handheld docks out there.

Lighting effects

Through Razer Synapse, you can customize the lighting effects on the dock or sync it with other Chroma-enabled devices like mice, keyboards, mousepads, and even smart lights.

When everything is in sync with effects like Wave, Breathing, or Wheel, the result is a gorgeous, immersive lighting setup. Where this really shines is game-reactive lighting for supported PC titles like Overwatch 2. From matching the lighting to your hero’s skin to having your entire room glow when you activate an ultimate, Chroma integration truly elevates the experience. It’s a major reason why I’ve continued upgrading my desktop setup with Razer gear, including the Basilisk V3 Pro, DeathStalker V2 Pro, and the Strider Chroma mouse pad.

Even if you’re not using Razer Synapse, a hidden button on the front right of the dock lets you manually cycle through built-in lighting effects. This is especially useful if you’re using it with a Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, or any device that doesn’t support Synapse. You won’t get full Chroma syncing, but you still get a nice RGB accent without needing additional software.

That said, lighting effectiveness depends on placement. If you keep your handheld tucked behind a monitor stand, the effect can be obstructed. You’ll likely want the dock front and center for maximum impact.

For those who prefer gaming from a couch, placing it under or in front of a TV could add a subtle RGB glow—but there’s a caveat. Since the dock is small, the light bar alone may not be enough to dramatically change the ambiance, especially in a well-lit room or if you’re sitting further from the TV.

Personally, I think Razer missed an opportunity by not lighting up the front logo, but considering how that could have increased the price, maybe it’s for the best!

Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: The downs

The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma has a lot going for it, from its premium build to its foldable design and Chroma lighting integration. But when it comes to price versus features, it’s hard to ignore that several alternatives offer more for less — if you don't mind ditching the cool synced lighting effects.

Alternative docks you might want to consider

The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma comes at a premium, and while it offers a sleek design and a solid build, it’s hard to ignore that other docks provide better specs for the same—or even less—money. At $80, it positions itself against Valve’s Steam Deck Dock, another premium option, but the Steam Deck Dock has some notable advantages. It features USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, which are faster than Razer’s USB 3.0, and more importantly, it includes DisplayPort 1.4, allowing for multi-monitor setups with FreeSync (VRR). That’s a rare feature in handheld docks and could be a major advantage if you need a dual-display setup.

Additionally, the Steam Deck Dock includes a 45W charger, the same one that comes with the Steam Deck, while Razer’s dock does not include a power adapter at all. Razer does support 100W power delivery, which is better for more powerful handhelds, but if you don’t already own a high-wattage charger, that’s an extra cost to factor in.

Then there are the even cheaper alternatives, like the iVANKY 8-in-1, which costs $50, or even less on sale, and offers identical ports to Razer’s dock but with HDMI 2.1 support, allowing for 4K at 120Hz. Most gaming handhelds won’t push that high of a frame rate at 4K, but it’s still a more future-proof option if you plan to use the dock with more powerful hardware, such as a laptop, or want something that will keep up with future handheld releases.

The iVANKY 14-in-1 RGB I mentioned earlier typically sells for $130 but often drops to $80 on sale—the same price as Razer’s dock. It features a folding design, RGB lighting that wraps around the entire dock, more ports, and 4K 120Hz support. While its RGB effects aren’t as customizable as Razer’s Chroma, you’re still getting more functionality and power for the same price.

How useful are its lights?

One of the standout features of the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma is its RGB light strip, but the real question is: does it justify the extra cost? As mentioned earlier, the usefulness of these lighting effects depends on where you place the dock and whether you already own or plan to invest in other Chroma-compatible devices like the new Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. If the dock sits on a TV stand or in a large living room, the small front-facing light bar likely won’t have much impact. On a desk setup, it can look great, but it truly shines when synced with other Chroma-enabled peripherals.

That’s where Razer had the potential to make this dock feel even more premium — a simple addition, like making the front-facing Razer logo light up, would have gone a long way in making it stand out as a centerpiece of a setup. Personally, as someone who already owns a Razer mouse, keyboard, and mousepad, this dock integrates seamlessly into my setup and feels like a natural addition, and as such, I'm willing to pay more for it. But for those who use non-Razer peripherals or don’t plan on investing in Razer’s ecosystem, it’s hard to say that it's built-in RGB lighting alone justifies the higher asking price.

Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: Verdict

Razer’s premium pricing for accessories is nothing new, and the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma is no exception. Its compact form factor and built-in stand make it a convenient option, especially if you plan on taking it on the go. While the port selection isn’t the most robust, for most gamers, it covers the essentials: letting you easily connect an external display and peripherals without extra clutter.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more full-featured desktop replacement, the lack of HDMI 2.1 and additional USB-C connectivity might be a dealbreaker with many alternatives offering better port selection for much less.

At the end of the day, the decision comes down to two things: Do you want a semi-adjustable stand built-in? And are you willing to pay a premium for Razer’s signature RGB lighting? For many, the $30–$40 markup over non-RGB docks is worth it just to expand their Chroma ecosystem. Once you sync at least two or three Razer devices together — especially with game-reactive lighting effects — it can truly elevate your desk setup.

If you’re looking for a monitor stand with some extra functionality, the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and the Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station are both great choices for improving your desk setup.

Unlike a desk shelf which lets you lift one of the best monitors up to eye level for better ergonomics while also giving you some additional storage space underneath it, both of these monitor stands can do this too but they also allow you to connect your laptop or even one of the best mini PCs to your monitor over USB-C.

You can’t go wrong with either desk accessory but there are some key differences between the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and the Anker 675. From their design to their port selection to extra features like wireless charging and built-in RGB lighting, here’s everything you need to know before choosing which one is the best fit for your desk setup.

Razer Monitor Stand Chroma vs Anker 675: Specs

Razer Monitor Stand Chroma vs Anker 675: Design

At 21.26 x 8.66 x 3.54 inches, the Anker 675 is slightly wider, taller and deeper than the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma at 19.7 x 8.27 x 3.09 inches. This makes sense though, as the former has an integrated wireless charger on the right side.

Both monitor stands will look great in any desk setup. The Anker 675 features an aluminum top with hard plastic legs while the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is made entirely from anodized aluminum. The only splash of color on Razer’s monitor stand can be found on its exterior USB ports which instead of your typical blue, use a splash of green. Meanwhile, the Anker 675 has a two-tone design with a dark grey top and silver on the sides.

If you have a particularly heavy monitor, the Razer Monitor Stand is the better choice as it can support up to 44 pounds thanks to its all-aluminum design, though this also makes it a bit heavier overall at just slightly over five and a half pounds. The Anker 675 can support up to 22 pounds and weighs just over 3.5 pounds.

For those using a standard 27-inch or even a larger 32-inch monitor, either monitor stand will be fine as they weigh on average, 7 to 15 pounds or 10 to 20 pounds respectively. It’s worth noting that neither is suitable for a multi-monitor setup as you only have one HDMI port for sending video from your laptop to your display.

Razer Monitor Stand Chroma vs Anker 675: Ports

As you can see in the picture above, the number of ports you get varies greatly between these two monitor stands. While Razer went with a ‘less is more’ approach, Anker decided to give you every port you could possibly need.

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and the Anker 675 also do things differently when it comes to the orientation of their ports. With Razer’s monitor stand, they’re on the right side while with Anker’s, they’re on the left side. Both orientations work well but you might prefer one over the other, so it’s still something to keep in mind.

With the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, you only get three ports on the right side of the monitor stand: one USB-C and two USB-A ports. They’re all capable of data transfer speeds of 5 gigabits per second (GBps) though, which should be enough for quickly moving files off one of the best USB flash drives. Likewise, they also make a good fit for any 2.4 GHz dongles you might be using with your wireless keyboard or mouse.

The button on the far left is used to switch between Chroma lighting profiles to control the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s integrated RGB lightstrip. However, it can also be remapped to launch apps and websites but more on that later.

The Anker 675 goes all out with its port selection. You get two USB-C ports with a data transfer rate of 10 GBps that can also deliver up to 45W of power each, two USB-A ports also with 10 GBps speeds and charging capabilities (1 x 7.5W, 1 x 10W), an SD and a microSD card reader and finally, an audio jack. The button on the end is used to turn on or turn off the Anker 675 when you’re not using it while the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is powered entirely by your laptop or whatever device you currently have connected to it.

When it comes to the interior ports of these two monitor stands, things are quite a bit different too. The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma continues its minimalistic approach with a single USB-C input port and an HDMI 2.0 port for video out. The Anker 675 gives you quite a few more options here with a USB-C input port, a USB-A port, an Ethernet port, HDMI 2.0 and a barrel port connector for its massive 180W power supply.

Another neat built-in feature with the Anker 675 is its built-in cable management system that allows you to wrap any excess cable around it. This really comes in handy as all of its input ports are on the left underside of the monitor stand. With the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, you only have two cables to connect underneath it and their ports are located closer to the stand’s rear edge.

Razer Monitor Stand Chroma vs Anker 675: Charging

With its massive 180W external power supply, the Anker 675 has more than enough charging power for all of your devices. You can get up to 57W of power just from the ports on its left side alone. Meanwhile, the USB-C input port on the bottom delivers 100W of power to your laptop when it’s connected.

As the Anker 675 is an all-in-one solution, it has a Qi 2 wireless charger on the top right side of the monitor stand. If you have one of the best Android phones on top, it can deliver up to 10W wirelessly and with one of the best iPhones, its wireless charging speed drops down slightly to 7.5W.

Since the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma doesn’t have its own external power supply, its USB ports are powered from your laptop or other connected device. As such, Razer doesn’t list their wattage but given that these are USB 3.2 Type-A ports, they’re limited to the standard USB power output which is usually around 5W. This makes them better suited for charging smaller devices like your headphones or a controller instead of a smartphone or one of the best tablets.

Razer Monitor Stand Chroma vs Anker 675: Software

Just like the rest of Razer’s products, its new monitor stand can be controlled and customized using Razer Synapse. With this software installed on your computer, you can adjust the monitor stand’s lighting but you can also reprogram the button on the side.

While it switches between various Chroma lighting effects by default, you can remap it to open any app on your computer or even any website you want. For instance, I changed it to open Steam’s Big Picture Mode to give my gaming PC a more console-like experience.

If you aren’t happy with the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s basic lighting effects, you can download and install the Razer Chroma app to create your own. These advanced Chroma effects not only work with the company’s monitor stand, you can also add your other Razer devices and control all of their lighting effects at the same time.

The Anker 675 is a plug-and-play device without any software to tweak its settings, or at least that’s what I thought back when I reviewed it. As it turns out, Anker does have software for updating the firmware and settings of its various laptop docking stations. I downloaded and tried it with the Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station but I couldn’t get it to work.

While a number of different Anker devices are supported in the Anker Dock Manager app, the company’s monitor stand/docking station hybrid isn’t. This isn’t a deal breaker though as this app is just for downloading and installing firmware updates and troubleshooting common issues. It would have been nice to have though and maybe the Anker 675 will be supported eventually.

Which is best for your desk setup?

Deciding between the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and the Anker 675 really comes down to personal preference and what you mainly use your desk for. Likewise, you also need to consider how many extra ports you need along with whether or not an audio jack for wired headphones or having both an SD and a microSD card will be useful.

After trying out the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, I was very impressed by its build quality and just how solid it feels on my desk. This monitor stand isn’t going anywhere and I like that it can support heavier monitors even if most monitors now weigh less than 20 pounds.

I was a bit confused as to why Razer didn’t include a power supply with its monitor stand but then it dawned on me: the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is designed to be used with one of the best gaming laptops which require a lot more power. For instance, the Razer Blade 16 I reviewed last year ships with a 330W power adapter and the 180W power supply that comes with the Anker 675 wouldn’t allow you to use it to its full potential.

If you’re going for a very minimalistic, all-black aesthetic or you already have other Razer gear you can sync up with it via Synapse, the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is a great choice. It is on the expensive side but you can tell this monitor stand is built to last.

Now if you want a more all-around solution that will work with any of the best laptops, the Anker 675 might be a better fit. For instance if you have a MacBook, a newer Dell XPS 13 or any other ultraslim laptop without full-sized ports, this monitor stand could save you from having to plug in a dongle every time you need to connect an older device or get photos off your camera.

I also really like how the Anker 675 becomes a hub for all your devices thanks to its built-in wireless charger and the fact that the USB-C and USB-A ports on the left side deliver enough power to fast charge your devices. The integrated cable management system really helps keep your desk clutter-free too.

The Anker 675 may not be able to bear as much weight as the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma but that won’t really make a difference with today’s lighter monitors. It does have a somewhat plastic feel to it thanks to its legs and the plastic used on the underside. The Anker 675’s aluminum top does help offset this though.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. If you need all those extra ports and want a one-cable solution to dock your laptop and lift up your monitor, get the Anker 675. If you prefer form over function, want that clean, all-black look and don’t mind using your laptop charger alongside it, get the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma instead. Either way, these are both great monitor stands with some extra functionality that add storage space and can help improve any desk setup.

As for which one I would get with my own money, I'd pick the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma for its design and sturdier build quality. The Anker 675 does offer more functionality but it doesn't look nearly as slick on my desk. I also love the customizable button on the side of Razer's monitor stand and could see myself coming up with all sorts of interesting uses for it. As for its lack of a power adapter, I mainly use a mini PC at home and my laptop while traveling, so I don't need to worry about charging.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried this laptop screen extender to up my laptop multitasking game
• 3 reasons to buy a standing desk — even if you sit most of the time
• I put 3 stacked monitor setups to the test and this is the one I’m sticking with

Whether you’re putting together a desk setup for work or a battlestation for playing games, it’s easy to get lost in the big ticket items and neglect the smaller though equally important accessories.

Maybe you splurged on one of the best monitors but forgot to see whether or not it was height adjustable until after the return window closed. Or perhaps you might have spent so much time building an impressive gaming PC that it wasn’t until your build was done that you realized you no longer had room on your desk for anything else.

This is where a desk shelf, or in this case, a monitor stand could really come in handy. In addition to lifting your display up to eye level for better ergonomics, they both also provide you with extra storage space. At the same time, some even come with USB ports that are easier to reach or a built-in docking station so you can connect all your other devices.

I’ve spent the past few months checking out various desk shelves and monitor stands but I didn’t expect to see one from Razer at CES this year. Even with the new and improved Razer Blade 16 just feet away from me in their suite, it was the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma that immediately caught my eye.

After two weeks trying it out for myself, I can easily say it’s a worthwhile upgrade for any desk setup or battlestation, especially if your desk is on the smaller side. However, it has one surprising feature that sets it apart from the other desk accessories I’ve tested.

More than just a stand

At 19.7 x 8.27 x 3.09 inches, the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma won’t take over your entire desk and you still have plenty of room for a pair of the best computer speakers on either side of it. This stand isn’t flimsy at all either as it’s made from anodized aluminum, weighs 5.51 pounds and can hold up to 44 pounds, enough to bear the weight of the massive Samsung Neo Odyssey G9. You’ll probably want to pair the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma with a smaller display though as its smaller size isn’t suited for the larger stands that ship with super ultrawide monitors.

In the box, you get the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and a braided USB-C to USB-C cable for video out from one of the best laptops. However, you don’t get a power adapter to charge your laptop which is why this is a monitor stand with a built-in USB-C hub as opposed to one with a full-on docking station like the Anker 675 USB-C Docking Station I reviewed last year. Still, video out is a great feature to have in a monitor stand, even if you have to use your laptop’s power adapter with it.

On the left side of the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, there’s a USB-C port, two USB-A ports and a button for controlling its built-in RGB lighting. Once connected to your laptop over USB-C, you can then use these ports to connect your other devices. If you prefer using a 2.4 GHz USB dongle over Bluetooth for your peripherals like I do, you can easily switch between devices and still use the same wireless keyboard and mouse.

On the backside, there’s a USB-C input port for connecting your laptop as well as an HDMI 2.0 port for your monitor. I have to admit HDMI 2.1 would have been nice but since we’re dealing with gaming PCs and not consoles, you can still reach a refresh rate of up to 144Hz with either a 1080p or 1440p gaming monitor. Who knows, we might see HDMI 2.1 or even a DisplayPort 1.4 along with some extra USB ports in a slightly wider Razer Monitor Stand Chroma Pro one day.

Since this is a Razer product aimed at gamers after all, there’s an integrated Chroma RGB lightstrip that runs along the bottom side of this monitor stand at the front. You can cycle between Chroma lighting presets using the button on the side but that’s not all it does, more on that later.

Leveling up my desk setup

After unboxing the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, I decided I wanted to try adding it to my existing desk setup first without changing anything. Since my main laptop is a ThinkPad for work, I tested it with the AtomMan G7 Ti because unlike most desktop computers, many of the best mini PCs feature USB-C for video out.

As I’m already using a height adjustable monitor stand with this display, I decided to put the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma on top of it. If you already have a monitor stand or a monitor arm you like, Razer’s still makes for a sleek desk shelf for some extra storage space. In addition to a place to plug in your 2.4 GHz USB dongles, its built-in USB hub also comes in handy for quickly getting files off a flash drive or a microSD card reader. In the picture above, I’m using it to charge as well as connect the PowerA OPS v3 Pro controller to my computer.

After my initial tests, I decided to swap out my previous monitor with the Gigabyte M28U I bought last year as it still has its original stand. As you can see above, it’s a perfect fit for the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma and there’s even a little extra space at the front. With my monitor now on top of the stand, I had a lot more room underneath it and managed to stow the Keychron K17 Pro (nearly a full-size keyboard) as well as the GameBall Thumb trackball mouse underneath it.

At just over eight inches deep, there’s more than enough room for one of the best gaming laptops underneath the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. A word of warning though, with a larger 16-inch laptop, your device may protrude slightly if you have your desk right up against the wall. The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s USB-C input port is located in the back right corner and this is how this particular stand is meant to be used.

Not just for RGB

After trying out two different monitors, it was time to get into the software side of the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. Like other Razer devices, you can add it to Razer Synapse and this software allows you to customize and control it. There’s also an integration with the Razer Chroma RGB app which you’ll also need to download to control the stand’s integrated lightstrip.

There are a ton of different pre-configured lighting effects in the Chroma RGB app for Razer’s monitor stand. From cycling through the various colors to having it react to your computer’s sounds, there’s quite a lot you can do just with these presets alone. You also have the option to build your own lighting effects in Chroma Studio.

After messing around with the Chroma RGB app for a bit, I went back into Synapse as there was something else I wanted to try with the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. By default, the button on the side cycles through Chroma lighting presets but it’s also remappable. In Synapse, not only could I program it to open any of the apps or games installed on my computer but you can also have it open a website — like Tom’s Guide for instance — with the push of a button.

Since I prefer Google Gemini over Microsoft Copilot, I first set the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s button to open a new Gemini instance in Chrome. If you’re familiar with Copilot+ PCs, you know they have a dedicated Copilot key that unfortunately, can’t be easily reprogrammed. This was my way of creating something similar on desktop but with my preferred AI chatbot.

Calling up my favorite AI chatbot with the push of a button was cool enough but it got me thinking. What if I could quickly bring up all of my favorite games in the same way? Sure, you can assign the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s button to open your preferred PC game launcher, but I wanted to get right into the action quickly.

Steam’s Big Picture feature gives you a console-like experience on PC but to enter it, you need to click on a separate button within the app. Fortunately, I found a helpful Reddit thread with exactly what I was looking for, a website-style shortcut for opening it directly. By putting “steam://open/bigpicture” into the website field in Synapse’s settings for the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, I could push the button and start Big Picture mode even if Steam was already open on my computer.

With the ability to launch an app or a website, the customization possibilities are really endless here and I’m sure I’ll come up with some other useful ideas as I mess around with this feature on the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma.

And trust me, I know that you can open Big Picture mode by long pressing on your controller’s home button. In this case though, the OPS V3 Pro takes a bit to turn on, so I press the monitor stand’s remappable button, power on the controller and then, when I’m back snuggly in my seat, it’s game time.

A sleek yet practical upgrade for any desk setup

At $200, the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma isn’t an impulse buy but rather an investment in your desk setup or battlestation. Yes there are cheaper monitor stands and some, like the Anker 675, have more ports and can charge your laptop and other devices. However, there’s something to be said for just how slick this new one from Razer looks on my desk.

If you’ve been looking for that final puzzle piece for your own desk setup or battlestation and want something that stands out and will definitely stand the test of time (and the weight of a hefty monitor), the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is certainly worth considering. As for me, I’m off to brainstorm more clever ways to make use of its remappable button.

More from Tom's Guide

• I put 3 stacked monitor setups to the test and this is the one I’m sticking with
• Monitor stand vs monitor arm: how to pick the right one for your display
• I tried this new mechanical keyboard with my Mac and it puts Apple’s Magic Keyboard to shame

Razer is primarily associated with gaming peripherals, but the Razer Pro Type Ultra hopes to make a good impression as a productivity-first keyboard. This full-size keyboard fits right into the office with its minimalist, low-key design, and it’s great to type on. It comes with a cushioned wrist rest that makes typing for long periods of time very comfortable.

But the Pro Type Ultra has some major flaws that I’ve found very hard to look past — especially given its steep price of $159. The wrist rest, although great, isn’t magnetic so it’s prone to getting knocked about. The keyboard is fitted with ABS keycaps that feel cheap, and you can hear metallic pings when you type. I wish Razer had brought its A-game when it decided to make a productivity keyboard, as its gaming ‘boards are usually great. This keyboard faces fierce competition from the likes of the Keychron K10 Max, the Royal Kludge S98, the NuPhy Halo96 V2 and the LoFree Block — keyboards that offer PBT keycaps, better build quality and fantastic typing experiences at very competitive prices.

Is it one of the best mechanical keyboards? Sadly, no. Read my full Razer Pro Type Ultra review to find out more.

Razer Pro Type Ultra review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A full-size mechanical keyboard from gaming giant Razer
• Who is it for? For office-goers looking for a no-frills keyboard
• How much does it cost? The Razer Pro Type Ultra is available for $159 / £159
• What do we like? The low-key design, responsive switches for typing, cushioned wrist rest, and easy-to-use companion software
• What don’t we like? The wrist rest isn’t magnetic, the keyboard uses ABS keycaps, you can hear metallic pings when you type and it’s quite loud, and it’s fairly expensive for what you’re getting

Razer Pro Type Ultra review: Specs

Razer Pro Type Ultra review: The ups

The Razer Pro Type Ultra is fitted with responsive switches that make for a good typing experience, comes with a comfortable wrist rest, looks minimalistic and its companion software is easy to use.

Responsive switches

The Razer Pro Type Ultra is marketed as a mechanical keyboard for the office and it is just that: from its typing experience to its low-key design. The keyboard comes fitted with Razer Yellow linear switches that have a keystroke lifespan of 100 million — so they should last you a long time. The switches have an actuation point and reset point of 1.2mm each, which means you can press keys multiple times in quick succession and the keyboard will still register your commands — great for fast typists and to increase responsiveness when gaming.

These linear switches require a moderate 45g of force to register key presses, which I found comfortable for typing. This comes down to personal preference, though. For instance, I prefer light or moderate switches — like the Flying Fish switches in the Epomaker Ajazz AK820 Pro ($68) which need 42g of force — because I find them more comfortable.

To put the Pro Type Ultra through the paces, I took a typing test at 10fastfingers.com, and you can see how it compares to other keyboards above. It isn’t my best score but it’s far from the worst. I’ve enjoyed using this keyboard for work.

Office-ready

Most of Razer’s gaming keyboards, like the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% ($299) and the Huntsman V2 ($200), have bright, customizable RGB lighting, but that doesn’t fit into a professional workspace, does it? No problem, the Razer Pro Type Ultra features plain white backlighting that’s just bright enough for you to see the legends in the dark. Not just that, but the keyboard’s overall design is fairly low-key, too. Available in just one colorway, the Pro Type Ultra has a white base, which houses white keycaps.

To maximize your productivity, Razer has designed this keyboard to work with up to four devices simultaneously. On the back, you’ll find a cover that can be removed to reveal the 2.4GHz dongle. Put this into your computer and then pair the Pro Type Ultra with three other devices over Bluetooth. This way, you’ll be able to use the keyboard with a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone and a desktop. Also, like Logitech’s Unifying Bolt technology, the Razer dongle works with both the keyboard and a mouse like the Razer Pro Click Mini ($79) — nifty!

User-friendly companion software

Razer Synapse is your one-stop shop for customizing the Razer Pro Type Ultra. The software is very easy to use and you can use it to remap keys, record macros, adjust the backlighting’s brightness level and choose from two effects (static or breathing), and even enable Snap Tap. Snap Tap is mostly used in gaming as it changes how your keyboard prioritizes dual simultaneous key presses, making counter-strafing easier in games like Valorant. You won’t necessarily use this if you’re buying the keyboard just for typing, but it’s a nice addition for anyone who also wants to use their board for gaming.

Cushioned wrist rest

As a writer, I love a good wrist rest because it relieves some tension in my, well, wrists. When I tested the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 ($179), I was delighted with its wrist rest, but that’s primarily a gaming keyboard. For productivity-oriented folks, rejoice as the Razer Pro Type Ultra comes with a cushioned wrist rest that — dare I say — might be the most comfortable one I’ve used so far.

Razer Pro Type Ultra review: The downs

The Razer Pro Type Ultra isn’t a perfect keyboard, and its ABS keycaps, non-magnetic wrist rest, loud sound, metallic pings and price let it down.

Wrist rest isn’t magnetic

While the Razer Pro Type Ultra’s included wrist rest is amazing and a welcome addition, unfortunately, it can’t be attached to the keyboard. During testing, it kept moving around every now and then when I made sudden movements. It would have been great if it could magnetically snap it into place, like the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96’s.

Keycaps get shiny

It seems like my dislike of ABS keycaps keeps coming back to haunt me, as the Razer Pro Type Ultra is fitted with double-shot ABS keycaps with a “soft touch coating,” according to Razer. Personally, I’m not a fan of this “coating” because it makes my fingers feel quite sweaty — I noticed that about 30 minutes into testing. I love PBT keycaps that are far more durable and resistant to oil and wear-and-tear. ABS keycaps, on the other hand, are prone to getting shiny over time as they’re fingerprint magnets.

I wouldn’t have minded the Pro Type Ultra’s keycaps too much if the keyboard didn’t cost a whopping $159. I marked down the Corsair K65 Plus for Mac ($179) for the exact same thing. PBT keycaps aren’t inaccessible, per se. Just this week, I reviewed the budget-friendly Epomaker Ajazz AK820 Pro which sports double-shot PBT keycaps, as do other keyboards, like the Gamakay TK75 Pro ($109).

Not exactly “silent”

It’s worth noting that the Razer Pro Type Ultra isn’t the quietest productivity keyboard out there, despite being marketed as one. Yes, it uses Razer Yellow linear switches, which are “enhanced with sound dampeners,” but it’s still loud for an office-oriented keyboard. The keyboard isn’t hot-swappable either so it’s worth considering whether it’s quiet enough for your needs, because you’re stuck with the stock switches. There are scores of custom productivity keyboards, like Keychron K10 Max ($119) and the LoFree Block ($169), that are hot-swappable at either lower or similar prices.

Metallic pings

Perhaps the final nail in the coffin for me was the metallic pings resonating from the Razer Pro Type Ultra. The keyboard has an aluminum plate atop where the keys sit, and pressing some keys makes a high-pitched ringing sound, which can be very annoying. I eventually managed to tune it out (or just wore earbuds) but that might not be the case for everyone. It’s the same problem I faced when testing the Kinesis Freestyle Pro ($179). Again, this does not align with Razer’s claim of “minimum sound”.

Value for money?

Not really. The Razer Pro Type Ultra doesn’t do enough to justify its high price point. It retails for $159 at Amazon U.S. / £159 at Amazon U.K. We’ve seen it drop to $109 in the past, but I’m not sure I’d spend even that much on it, sadly. Thankfully, there are full-size alternatives available — and they won’t necessarily burn a hole in your pocket. The Keychron V6 Max, for instance, starts at just $99, and offers more customization and is fitted with PBT keycaps. The same goes for the likes of the Keychron K10 Max. You don’t need to pay a premium for productivity performance, looks, hot swappable switches, PBT keycaps, great sound, etc.

Razer Pro Type Ultra review: Verdict

I really wish the Razer Pro Type Ultra didn’t suffer from the issues I’ve listed above because it does have a few redeeming qualities. It doesn’t look out of place in an office and it’s good to type on, thanks to the responsive Razer Yellow linear switches. The cushioned wrist rest is an absolute winner, and the intuitive Razer Synapse software makes customization easy.

But I can’t overlook the flaws. The Pro Type Ultra retails for $159, which is a lot considering you’re getting low-quality ABS keycaps and you can hear metallic pings when keys are pressed. The wrist rest — which I love — can’t be attached to the keyboard, leaving it prone to being knocked about. It isn’t hot-swappable either, so you’ll be stuck with the stock switches.

Overall, the Pro Type Ultra is a decent keyboard that wouldn’t have irked me as much if it was cheaper. I’ll hang on to that wrist rest, but that’s about it.

Instead of buying one of the best handheld gaming PCs, you might want to consider remote play from the gaming PC you already have first and at CES 2025, Razer unveiled a new subscription-free service to do just that.

While you can already stream games from your PC using Moonlight or the Steam Link app, Razer’s new PC Remote Play makes the whole process even easier but it also has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

With one of the best phone controllers from Razer, like the Kishi V2 or the Kishi Ultra, you’ll be able to launch its PC Remote Play right from the Razer Nexus app. Another nice thing about the service is that it combines all of the games on your PC regardless of which launcher they’re from into a combined library.

After checking out Razer’s new Project Arielle gaming chair, I got to see PC Remote Play in action. On the home screen of the phone used in the demo, I saw games from Steam, the Epic Games Store and Microsoft’s PC Game Pass all in one place. There was also an icon for the desktop on the computer the games we’re streaming from and using touch controls, I could navigate around and do things in Windows 11.

The thing that really intrigued me about PC Remote Play though is that unlike other remote play solutions, the gameplay from The Thing: Remastered shown off in the demo wasn’t locked to a fixed aspect ratio. You see, these days many phones use a wider 21:9 aspect ratio while your computer monitor — unless you’re using an ultrawide monitor — likely uses a 16:9 aspect ratio. When streaming games through other apps in the past, there were black bars on either side and the gameplay didn’t utilize my phone’s entire screen. With Razer’s PC Remote Play though, you can adjust the max resolution to utilize the entire screen of your smartphone or tablet.

The gameplay itself was also a lot smoother than I’ve seen with other remote play apps in the past and during my brief time testing the PC Remote Play beta, I didn’t encounter any stuttering issues or artifacts.

If you’re using one of the best Android phones with the Razer Kishi Ultra mobile game controller, you can take advantage of Razer’s Sensa HD Haptics to get tactile feedback just like you would on one of the best PC game controllers if you were actually playing on your PC. Unfortunately, at the moment, this feature is Android only.

Likewise, if you’re using a smartphone or a device like the Razer Edge with a high refresh rate display, you can stream games at over 60 fps. At the same time, PC Remote Play also works with the best laptops. This way, you can smoothly stream games on your laptop in the living room if your gaming PC is in your home office or somewhere else in your house.

Razer PC Remote Play: Outlook

I for one can’t wait to try this out for myself with the best Steam games when I get home from CES. The Razer Edge is a fantastic device on its own. However, the ability to utilize the entirety of its 144Hz AMOLED display without any black bars at the sides sounds like a literal game changer for me.

In the past, I’ve used the XBXPlay app to stream games from my Xbox Series X instead of the official Xbox app. The reason for using a third-party app is that it allowed me to stretch or zoom in on my favorite Xbox games while playing them remotely. This approach has its downsides though as stretching a game to fill the screen looks a bit off and zooming in cuts off important parts of a game’s UI.

Now though with PC Remote Play, I’ll be able to work my way through my Steam backlog while experiencing these games the way they were meant to be played, using the entire screen of my Android phone or tablet.

The best part though is that PC Remote Play is entirely free and it’s available in beta right now if you too want to experience something similar to using the PS Portal with the gaming PC or laptop you already have.

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The Razer Fujin Pro may look like an office chair but it’s actually one of the best gaming chairs with a full-mesh design intended to keep you cool while you game or even while you work. At CES 2025 though, Razer decided to give this chair a big upgrade to not only keep you cool but also to warm you up on those chilly winter days.

With its new Project Arielle concept chair, the company is using the Fujin Pro’s all-mesh design to take things a step further by adding integrated heating and cooling. That RGB lightstrip that wraps around the chair’s seat and backrest isn’t just for looks. Instead, it’s there to show you which mode Project Arielle is currently in, with red for heating and blue for cooling.

On the right side of the chair's seat pan, there’s a touch-enabled controller with three buttons. The one with a temperature icon lets you switch between heat modes, tapping on the fan icon allows you to switch between three fan speeds and the button in the middle is for turning either its heating or cooling feature on or off.

According to Razer, Project Arielle’s cooling mode can reduce the perceived temperature of the person sitting in the chair by 35.6°F (2°C ) in dry environments. Alternatively, in heating mode, it can deliver up to 86°F (30°C ) of warm air.

It’s one thing to read numbers like this in a story or a press release but earlier this week, I got to try out Project Arielle for myself. Razer had two chairs set up next to each other and I got to try the one with the heating mode first before I switched to sitting in one with cooling mode enabled. In a crowded suite, the chair in heating mode felt like being in a sauna which would have certainly been nice somewhere chillier. However, I can’t stress the immediate relief I felt switching to the chair in cooling mode.

All of this heating and cooling is made possible by an integrated bladeless fan system on the bottom of the chair’s backrest. Project Arielle does need to be plugged into the wall to work but like the controller on the original Xbox, this prototype had a breakaway cable so you wouldn’t trip over it or risk damaging anything.

Project Arielle: Outlook

Now I know what you might be thinking, why would you need a chair with built-in heating and cooling. Well, I actually tried one out last year, back when I reviewed the X-Chair X3. Unlike Project Arielle’s bladeless fan system, X-Chair’s Elemax unit is battery powered and slips into the back of several X-Chair models where their lumbar support system is. While I liked using its cooling mode, I really enjoyed the fact that it comes with a built-in massager.

Compared to that battery-powered unit, Project Arielle’s heating and cooling tech was a lot more noticeable. This is because its bladeless fan system is much larger and uses more power which is why it needs to be plugged into a nearby outlet. It’s worth noting that this is a concept chair after all and its design could very well change when and if it eventually comes to market. There’s a very real possibility that it might though, given Razer’s track record.

Last year at CES, I got to try out another one of the company’s other concepts in the form of Project Esther. Instead of heating or cooling though, this was an HD haptics game cushion that you placed on top of one of Razer’s chairs such as the Iskur V2 that, like one of the best PC controllers, vibrated depending on what was happening in game.

I tried Project Esther back in January and then in September of last year, it was released as a real product you could buy and use with your own gaming chair as the Razer Freyja. While still on the expensive side at $299, it went from being a concept to a product in just nine months. As such, I’m fairly optimistic that you too will be able to sit in a chair with its own heater or air conditioner sometime soon.

I’ll be keeping a close eye on how Project Arielle develops and if it does end up being a real product, we’re definitely going to get one in for more extensive testing in the comfort of a home environment.

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The Razer Kishi V2 is undoubtedly one of the best hardware choices for mobile gamers, offering console-quality controls on your smartphone. And if your resolution is to get more gaming done in 2025, don't miss this massive discount.

Right now the Razer Kishi V2 is just $39 at Amazon, saving you a massive $60 on our top-rated mobile controller. This matches the lowest price we've ever seen for this top-tier gaming accessory.

The Kishi V2's design shows how much Razer has learned from the original model. The spring-loaded design works with most phones, and unlike cheaper controllers, you can even keep your case on thanks to the adjustable inserts. The grips have this subtle texture that actually helps during those longer gaming sessions. There's a reason its on our list of best mobile controllers, after all.

Razer's also thought about the extras that matter. The Nexus app isn't just for show — being able to remap buttons is genuinely useful, especially for games that don't have great touch controls. And if you're into streaming your gameplay, you can set that up right from the app without any extra software.

The buttons on the Kishi V2 are a highlight, providing a satisfying, clicky feedback with every press. There's also four secondary buttons and two mappable ones, giving you more control options than most mobile controllers.

For games that weren't designed with controllers in mind, having those extra mappable buttons can be a game-changer, letting you customize your setup for different titles. At $40, the Razer Kishi V2 is an absolute steal — it's the kind of accessory that'll probably find a permanent spot in your tech travel bag.

The Razer Blade 16 has always been one of the best gaming laptops you can buy thanks to its sleek design and sheer power under the hood. Now though, with this year’s model, Razer has made some major improvements to its tried and true formula.

For starters, this year’s Razer Blade 16 is 32% thinner than its predecessor. After going hands-on with it at CES 2025, the device now feels more like a gaming laptop you’ll want to take with you as opposed to a hefty desktop replacement that will stay plugged in at your desk.

Despite being thinner, Razer has also increased its key travel by 50% from 1mm to 1.5mm. The Razer Blade 16’s new keyboard felt great during my brief time with it and that extra travel made typing a much more comfortable experience.

As for the biggest change to the Blade 16, Razer has decided to outfit this new model with AMD Ryzen AI processors instead of the Intel ones used in previous models. In fact, the device can be outfitted with up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a high-end model of AMD's latest AI-ready laptop chips.

Instead of changing what worked on last year’s model, Razer is using the same port selection on the new Blade 16. This year's model will also feature the same gorgeous QHD+ 240Hz OLED display that I liked on the 2024 edition.

In addition to a thinner design overall and AMD Ryzen AI processors, this new version of the Blade 16 will come equipped with the latest Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs which were also unveiled at CES. The high-end model can even be outfitted with a Nvidia RTX 5090.

Our brief hands-on opportunity was illuminating, but we'll have to wait until we get one in for testing and review ourselves to see how well the 2025 Razer Blade 16 really performs. Stay tuned!

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After reviewing laptops over the years, one of my favorite perks is reviewing the best (and not-quite-best) gaming laptops. From budget rigs with RTX 3050 GPUs to high-end powerhouses equipped with RTX 4090, there's a laptop for all types of gamers. But two that I've always wanted for myself? A Razer Blade 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

While the holiday season is filled with gifts, the only one I've set my eyes on is the Razer Blade 14. A gift from me, that is, as I don't expect anyone in my life to pay the outrageous price it's set at (from $2,199/£2,149). From its sleek, minimalist design to its raw power, I've always thought of Razer's fleet of laptops as the "MacBooks" of gaming laptops.

It goes without saying, but MacBooks are pretty popular notebooks, and Razer's gaming laptops give me the same vibes. The latest Blade 14 with an RTX 4070, in particular, is powerful yet compact enough to work as my main gaming PC and laptop for work. But here's the thing: so is the ROG Zephyrus G14.

Both come with the same 14-inch design and similar specs including an AMD Ryzen 9 and up to RTX 4070. Plus, they're both highly esteemed gaming laptops. So, what's the problem? Choosing one or the other comes to the same result, right? Well, not quite.

I've been keeping tabs on these laptops year after year to see how they've evolved with each near-annual release. Now, as much as I would adore a Razer Blade 14 sitting on my desk, it's become clear to me that the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has earned that spot instead — and there are a few major reasons why that is.

Price says it all

Gaming laptops aren't an easy purchase. Even if you're after a budget notebook with gaming chops, like the Acer Nitro V 15, you'll often be forking over close to $1,000 — if not more. That's a lot of money, which is why finding a laptop with higher specs and a premium build that fits your budget can be even more vexing.

All is to say that yes, Razer's laptops are set at a premium, and the Razer Blade 14 is no different. It's over $2,000, and it doesn't even come with the highest specs a gaming laptop has to offer. So, what makes it so worthwhile? Its superb gaming performance, vibrant 14-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) display with a 240Hz refresh rate and great-feeling tactile keyboard with a light RGB glow, for starters.

Mainly, though, look at that all-black metal chassis. I'm very much like the easily distracted Dory in "Finding Nemo" when Marlin shouts "Look! Something shiny!" I'll admit that I'm a simple human; I like shiny, compact, all-black laptops with power under the hood.

Once you have your eyes set on a particular product you're looking to pick up, it's hard to look anywhere else. That said, saving up for a Blade 14 can take time, especially at this price. If only there was a similar gaming laptop that I didn't have to save up so much for...

Lo and behold, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is here to give my wallet a slight break for the holidays. No black metal chassis here, but that can be excused since its Platinum White all-aluminum chassis with a subtle but charming light strip on its lid looks so good. It's thin, flat and reminiscent of a MacBook's design; that's just enough style for a gaming laptop to also work great for work.

Throw in its powerful gaming performance, stunning 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent keyboard for typing, and this has those "shiny" vibes I'm after.

All this for $1,999. Still a hefty price, but I've easily found the latest ROG Zephyrus G14 for well under this. As of writing, the Zephyrus G14 is down to $1,649 at Best Buy, which is quite the discount compared to the Razer Blade 14.

Mighty specs for less

While there's the price to consider, there's also the general performance of a gaming laptop that can make or break a purchase. As you would imagine, the Razer Blade 14 should have excellent specs that justify its price. Indeed, it does, but this only makes the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 a far more valuable buy.

At its starting price of $2,199, the Blade 14 comes with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 240Hz QHD+ (2560 x 1600) LCD panel. That's without the RTX 4070 GPU.

For $1,999, the ROG Zephyrus G14 boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU, an RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 120Hz 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display. I don't know about you, but I'd take an RTX 4070 for less over an RTX 4060 any day — along with more RAM and an OLED display.

A further look under the hood and you'll find that the Blade 14 offers Wi-Fi 7, while the Zephyrus G14 comes with Wi-Fi 6E. Otherwise, on paper, there are some striking differences here. However, it needs to be said that Razer does everything to the highest degree.

For example, while an OLED display sounds neat, the Blade 14's display offers amazing color accuracy and brightness, even more so than the latest Zephyrus G14. And that's comparing it to the 2023 Blade 14.

Along with its premium all-metal design and excellent cooling, there are good reasons why Razer Blade laptops cost a pretty penny. That being said, it's still hard to beat what the Zephyrus G14 has to offer, especially if you're looking to future-proof your gaming setup for a good number of years.

Where are you, Razer Blade 14?

As a quick aside: perhaps Razer is waiting for Nvidia's RTX 50 series GPUs to drop to upgrade the Razer Blade 14, or it prefers to give the impressive Razer Blade 16 the spotlight, but the Blade 14 isn't an easy laptop to track down.

Even on Razer's website in the U.S. and U.K., you'll only find its RTX 4060 model on show, and there aren't any in stock. Plus, this model is priced at $2,199/£2,149, with the RTX 4070 model costing even more.

While doing some digging, I did find a Blade 14 for £1,799 at Currys, which is a welcome price cut. Still, with this coming equipped with an RTX 4060, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a tad more enticing.

Final thoughts

It may sound like I'm knocking the Razer Blade 14 down a peg or two, but the truth is I'd still be pretty excited to see one in my stockings (I can dream). But when it comes to 14-inch gaming laptops, it's hard to ignore the sleek and powerful elephant in the room with an ROG logo slapped on it.

To me, the rivalry between the Razer Blade 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a tale as old as time, and it will continue to rage on as each manufacturer continues to upgrade its laptops with each annual iteration of these fantastic laptops. Just for this holiday season, though, the ROG Zephyrus G14 makes more sense.

Wouldn't you know it? The Zephyrus G14 is also our top choice as the best gaming laptop you can get. Regardless, if neither of these notebooks is on your wishlist, there are plenty more amazing gaming laptops out there worth umming and ahing over.

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I’ll just come out and say it straight away: the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is easily one of the best PC controllers I have ever tested.

The newest controller from Razer, this pad includes the now commonplace Hall Effect-duo of magnetic triggers and thumbsticks, alongside a wealth of other features. The Wolverine is one of the best high-end controllers that you can buy today, with a premium feel that demands few sacrifices for peak performance.

Although it isn’t priced quite as extremely as its PS5 sibling controller, the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro ($249), the V3 Pro is still more expensive than any non-pro third party controller I’ve ever seen. It's nearly $50 more than the first-party Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, for instance, and the same price as the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra.

With that said, nothing is gonna beat this pro controller for gaming on PC and Xbox. Read on for my full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? An Xbox-licensed elite gamepad by Razer
• Who is it for? Any Xbox or PC players looking to up their game
• What does it cost? It’s about double the price of its nearest third party rivals: $199 from Razer
• What do we like? From the build to the features, to the clicky buttons ported over from Razer’s mice, this is a near-perfect gamepad
• What don’t we like? The price brings a tear to my eye, but otherwise only minor complaints: the back-paddles affect grip and there’s only one color choice

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review: Specs

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review: The ups

The Wolverine V3 Pro is the ultimate third party pro controller. From its sleek design to its excellent in-game performance, it absolutely nails everything a controller should. Razer’s marketing of the Wolverine is spot on: “For the Pro”.

Design

The controller is very well built, with a substantive feel that helps justify the premium cost. The Wolverine strikes a perfect balance between lightness and quality, especially versus other third party controllers I have tested — the GameSir Tarantula Pro ($69), for instance, weighed only an ounce more than the Wolverine but felt hollow and much less substantial overall.

The controller also has a lightly textured plastic that feels really comfortable, with a grippier, rubberized texture on the back of the controller to keep it firmly in hand. The two sets of thumbsticks included are soft and rubberized too, while the face buttons have a high-end plastic finish that contrasts well with the matte controller case. The shaping makes it really easy for your fingers to find the right button, while ensuring hours of comfortable play.

Visuals

The Wolverine is also breathtaking visually, with a sleek, clean aesthetic. For anyone who prefers color and variety in their controllers, the Wolverine only comes in black — you might be more interested in the color options of the GameSir G7 SE ($44). With that said, if you buy the Wolverine directly from Razer, you can get an ‘interesting’ looking ‘Acid Sludge’ skin — too garish for my taste, but at least it's giving you some variety.

Nevertheless, you can customize the RGB glow of the Razer logo in the middle, which looks pretty despite being a rather uninspired aspect of the controller to have backlit. I still appreciated being able to mess around with this using the Razer Controller app.

Button performance

Thanks to an official license from Xbox, the face buttons on the Wolverine V3 Pro are laid out in the standard ABXY configuration, along with an Xbox logo as a home button. The face of the controller is a little bigger than other licensed third-party gamepads, like the GameSir G7, but everything required is spaced out perfectly fine, so there are no issues with reachability.

Upon pressing one of the buttons, you’ll notice that they are much clickier than your standard controller — Razer have imported their mouse switch technology into this controller, so it essentially functions the same way as a Viper or Deathadder gaming mouse. These switches take a bit more force to initially press down than you might expect, but provide ample feedback upon actuating.

In-game, the switches worked like a dream. They felt really responsive, and my inputs were very accurate. I’m not very good at fighting games, but the Wolverine lent me a considerable boost to my performance when throwing myself at Guilty Gear Strive. I felt much more confident that I was hitting the right inputs needed for a combo, and each punch or kick felt more under control than ever.

Triggers

The Wolverine’s triggers are Hall Effect, which means they actuate using a magnet rather than a physical mechanism. Both triggers have a separate switch to enable hair trigger, which turns the mechanism into a short, clicky press. This is perfect for FPS games, allowing instantaneous ADS and firing.

I tested the controller in Halo Reach. Piloting a Falcon felt great using the Hall Effect triggers, giving me ample fine control, and I could easily switch back to the hair trigger using the onboard controls when needed.

The hair triggers on the Wolverine V3 Pro are up there with some of the best I have seen on a controller. Before the Wolverine, my favorite triggers were those on the GameSir Tarantula Pro, which features similar mechanical toggles. However, the clicky, tactile feel of the hair triggers on the Wolverine takes the crown for me.

Thumbsticks

The asymmetrical thumbsticks also utilize Hall Effect technology, with magnetic sensors employed to determine the position of the stick. This completely eliminates stick drift, so you can expect the controller to last for much longer in peak condition than one with non-magnetic thumbsticks. What’s more, Hall Effect thumbsticks (especially these ones) have a much smoother action and are much more precise than traditional sticks.

Extra buttons

Matching the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, the Wolverine has 4 rebindable back paddles which utilize the same clicky switches as the face buttons. You also get an extra pair of buttons next to the bumpers that can be rebound to function as one of the face buttons, which is great if you use a different grip type or prefer an alternate button config to the usual.

All of these bumpers and paddles have a default binding which you can make use of out of the box, and they work just as well as any other buttons on the controller.

Other gaming features

The Wolverine V3 Pro supports up to 1,000Hz polling, putting it up there with the highest performing controllers on the market. This is only possible using a wired connection, but that’s standard in competitive gaming, where lower latencies are paramount.

With that said, you will likely want to make the most of the USB dongle — it’s pretty rare for a controller of this quality to come bundled with its own 2.4G adapter, although the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra ($199) also includes this. With the dongle, you can enjoy the benefits of wireless without completely sacrificing poll rates, as the controller polls at 250Hz over 2.4G, which is about the standard for controllers.

You can configure the controller using the Razer Controller companion app. This is easy to use and offers a great amount of depth for those who want to rebind buttons or adjust performance. Sadly, you cannot rebind buttons using third party software, like Steam, which would have elevated the Wolverine V3 Pro even further.

Extras

As you’re paying $200 for the controller, having high quality extras definitely eases the blow to your wallet — thankfully, the included carrying case and USB A to C cable are top tier. The case is both soft while being firm enough to withstand knocks and bumps. Inside the case are slots for the extended thumbsticks, as well as the USB dongle.

It also has a pocket, great for throwing in anything else you could think of — I used this to carry a pair of wired earphones, which I could connect to the controller’s included 3.5mm headset port.

A special mention goes to the cable. At 10 feet, or 3 meters, this is long enough to use for most console setups. The best part is that the cable is one of the highest quality USB cables I have ever come across — it never gets caught on anything, and doesn’t suffer any drag across my desk either.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review: The downs

There really isn’t much to criticize the Wolverine V3 Pro about. The back buttons got in the way of my grip a little, and for many the extra cost of this controller will result in diminishing returns over cheaper pads.

Grip

This will vary depending on your hands and personal preference, but I found that the grip on the Wolverine was a little tricky, and took a little while to get used to. You’re essentially forced to hold the gamepad in a specific and slightly unnatural way due to the prominent back buttons. These stick out quite far from the back of the controller, and force you to place your fingers on them even if you have no intention of pressing them.

This isn’t an overwhelmingly negative thing, but it limits the freedom you have in choosing your own comfortable grip. If you have smaller hands in particular, I can see the back buttons getting in the way. If you want something that will be unquestionably comfortable, it’s hard to argue with the universal appeal of the classic first-party Xbox controller.

Value

The Wolverine’s price tag of $199 is pretty extreme for a gamepad, putting the Wolverine V3 Pro up there as one of the most expensive controllers you can buy today. Sadly, while everything about the controller is superb, I don’t think any controller can be $200 good. What’s more, while the Wolverine packs some great features, it isn’t innovating or breaking any new ground here to justify such a high price tag — many of its features can be found elsewhere for less.

The Wolverine’s main competitor is the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, although this controller comes with the extra features of an LED screen, allowing for customization without the need of an app. Arguably, the Stealth Ultra’s screen results in better value for money, but I much prefer the sleek, premium design of the screenless Wolverine. The closest first-party option in price, the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, retails at $179. It comes with a larger set of accessories, such as replaceable paddles, and a unique D-Pad design which isn’t available on the Wolverine.

Most third party controllers can be picked up for less than $100. The special edition PB Tails Metal Crush Defender, with its metallic case and TMR support, comes in at a more expensive $109. These are great alternatives, which offer the same level of performance for much less money, although the quality of the build and amount of customization is somewhat limited.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review: Verdict

Without a doubt, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is the ultimate third-party Xbox controller. With performance and comfort in equal measure, the Wolverine has something to offer no matter your skill level, and enough features for you to really make the controller your own. This is a controller for someone who wants a different layout to the classic Xbox controller, and in this aspect it succeeds.

The price is going to be the main thing that will turn you away. There really isn’t any reason for a third-party controller to cost $50 more than the very best official gamepad available, especially when it actually offers fewer features. In spite of the high cost, though, the gamepad is so good I can forgive it — this Wolverine has really sunk its claws into me.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is the newest entry into Razer’s BlackWidow lineup, bringing with it hot-swappable switches, 4,000Hz wireless polling, and even a configurable screen.

Gamers who want one of the best gaming keyboards will find a lot to like here. There's a good amount of hardware and software customization, as well as sought-after features like Razer’s game-changing ‘’Snap Tap.’’ This is on top of a delightfully tactile typing experience and solid in-game performance that will keep any gamer happy.

The main thing holding the BlackWidow back is the price tag. At $299, it’s one of the most expensive keyboards currently on the market. Compared to Razer’s own Huntsman optical keyboards, which offer customizable actuation points, the BlackWidow seems a little lacking for the money—only getting worse when compared to affordable Hall Effect boards like the Keychron K2 HE ($130).

So, is it worth your money? Read on for my full Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% keyboard review.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A wireless, customizable gaming keyboard
• Who is it for? Gamers looking for customization and performance in equal measure
• What does it cost? A fever-inducing $299, from Razer and Amazon
• What do we like? One of the best builds I have come across, with a handy OLED display and some meaty gaming features
• What don’t we like? It’s very expensive, with arguably better options for less than half the price

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review: Specs

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review: The ups

Beyond looking and feeling great, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% offers many standout gaming features. This includes intuitive options for customizing your board with or without the fantastic Synapse companion app, while the OLED display is awesome for productivity and personalization.

Design

The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%’s case combines plastic and metal, striking an excellent balance between the low weight of the former, with the looks and durability of the latter.

Unlike the boxy shape and smooth aluminum of the Glorious GMMK Pro ($179) and the Lemokey L4 ($219), the BlackWidow opts for a sleek angled design with a textured metal finish. Of course, beauty is subjective, but in my opinion, this is an excellent middle ground between style and substance. The amount of aluminum used in the keyboard is low, with the keyboard using a thin layer on top of the ABS plastic bottom casing.

The chassis’ sloped front lets you easily attach the magnetic wrist rest, which you’ll want to use to ensure a comfortable typing or gaming experience. The wrist rest itself is one of the more luxurious elements of the design, forgoing the rigid plastic wrist rests of other boards like the SteelSeries Apex Pro ($199). Instead, the BlackWidow treats your wrists to a soft leather pillow, providing plenty of support for my wrists during long gaming sessions.

Lighting

The BlackWidow features shine-through RGB lighting on the keycaps, which illuminates the legends well across the full keyboard. The spacing between the keys is also brightly lit by the LEDs, which further enhances the visuals of the keyboard.

You can quickly cycle through all 10 lighting presets using a keyboard shortcut or the OLED display without the need to install the companion software. I opted to stick to the soft glow of the ‘static’ lighting scheme (boring, I know), although I was impressed by how good the more out-there patterns looked.

OLED Screen

The OLED display is more than just a gimmick. It can show useful information and allow for more in-depth customization, such as the ability to switch between polling rates in both wired and wireless modes. One of my favorite display options is the audio EQ visualizer, alongside the ability to skip tracks and adjust volume by simply turning the wheel.

The screen is controlled via a button and jog wheel on the side of the case (which itself doubles as a button). I really like the wheel, which is tactile and clicky to match the board’s keys and add to the board’s overall premium feel.

The personalization aspects are a particular guilty pleasure of mine. You can upload custom images and gifs to be displayed, as well as display text. Images are shown in a surprisingly good resolution, and the display is well-lit and visible from all angles. It's not a very common feature, especially on an aluminum case, but it adds a lot of personality and charm to the otherwise rather formal visuals. The display is only capable of grayscale but looks better than the full-color display on the Gamakay LK75 ($129), which is laggier and lower resolution.

Typing experience

I really enjoy typing on the BlackWidow, and a major reason is the textured PBT keycaps, which feel super satisfying and grippy. These helped me achieve above-average typing accuracy and words per minute, despite not using my preferred linear switches.

The sound whilst typing is, for the most part, sharp and satisfying. Frustratingly, there’s a significant amount of metallic ringing from larger keys, which is not what I want to see (or hear) from a keyboard of this price — this is all despite having an extra layer of sound-dampening via a factory ‘tape-modded’ PCB (you can’t really call it “modded” if it comes like that out of the factory). This wasn’t enough to put me off the otherwise great feeling and clacky sound of my keystrokes, let alone distract me in-game. However, if sound is a priority, you can’t go wrong with the Lemokey L4.

Gaming performance

The BlackWidow excels at gaming, packing features that work well with a variety of titles. While the tactile switches are not my first choice for a gaming keyboard, I was surprised by how much I liked using Razer’s orange switches. I was still able to pull off some quick movements in tactical shooters like Valorant, and the keyboard felt responsive enough for all of my ability-spamming in League of Legends

Snap Tapping improved my movement when playing fast-paced shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This feature prioritizes the last key pressed when two keys are held at once, which trivializes strafing and corner-peeking. I was skeptical about how much benefit I'd get from this feature using a non-linear switch, but my performance notably increased with it enabled.

The V4 Pro is also a great keyboard for more casual games. It worked like a charm for RTS games in particular, which emphasize deliberate, slower-paced keypresses. Managing my struggling economy by sorting through the menus of Victoria 3 was much more enjoyable with some tactile feedback, and the faster-paced micromanagement of Heart of Iron IV felt equally as fun on the BlackWidow.

The keyboard also supports a 4,000Hz polling rate when using the provided wireless dongle. A keyboard’s polling rate determines the frequency at which it reports to your computer, with the standard for gaming boards usually around 1,000Hz. Bumping this up to 4,000Hz didn’t provide any noticeable improvements for me in Counter Strike 2, and likely won’t for you either — you would need the highest refresh rate monitors and inhuman reaction speeds to notice the difference between 1,000Hz and 4,000Hz.

Customization

As a long-time user of the excellent Razer Deathadder V2 mouse, I am well-versed with Synapse. This is Razer’s companion software and is one of the better apps out there for customization. The lightweight, simple UI makes it convenient to navigate and customize my keyboard, and there is a wide range of options available. I was able to configure the lighting, upload GIFs and images to the OLED screen, and configure my keybindings easily.

For those averse to companion apps, you’ll be happy to know that you can do an awful lot of customization without having to download any extra software. I particularly like being able to record macros on the go using the FN and F9 keys. Unfortunately, Snap Tapping requires Synapse to be installed to get working — it would be nice to access this feature via an onboard toggle as on the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro ($219).

The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% offers in-depth hardware customization, especially when compared to Razer’s other keyboards. The keyboard supports both three and five-pin switches, which gives you the freedom to swap out switches to your heart’s content. Opening up the keyboard for any further customization will void the 2-year warranty, although hot-swapping switches is fine.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review: The downs

My criticism of the BlackWidow V4 Pro primarily boils down to value: the keyboard is specced similarly to other boards available at a fraction of the cost. My only other issue is the limited switch choice when buying the keyboard, which forces those who want some variety to fork over even more cash.

Limited switch choice

While the tactile switches won me overs, I am disappointed that there aren’t other switch options when buying the BlackWidow.

I would have liked to choose between Razer’s other in-house switches at purchase, rather than buying them separately. You will have to add an extra $75 to the price tag if you want Razer’s Yellow linear switches, which are the most popular switch type for gaming. You can use your own switches if you have spares, or easily buy them elsewhere given the 3-/5-pin socket, but it would’ve been nice to see more variety at this price.

Value

Ultimately, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is overpriced for what you’re getting. Sure, the OLED screen, leather wrist rest and premium features are never going to come cheap, but ultimately, the BlackWidow doesn’t bring anything new to the table that will make a $299-worthy impact in whatever game you’re playing.

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro ($219) offers per-key actuation adjustments, as well as Rapid Trigger. Although it forgoes an OLED screen for a simple LED light display. The keyboard also offers better gaming performance than the BlackWidow for $50 cheaper.

Hall Effect keyboards like the Keychron K2 HE ($130) offer innovative gaming features and improved sound dampening over the BlackWidow at a fraction of the price. The configurable quad actuation points of the magnetic switches are leaps and bounds ahead of traditional mechanical switches, especially for those keen on competitive gaming. But, if you don’t want to say goodbye to the metal finish of the BlackWidow, look no further than the Keychron Q1 HE ($219). The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is still the best option if you prefer a tactile experience, though, as Hall Effect switches are exclusively linear.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review: Verdict

My job would be easier if this keyboard cost around $200 — then it’d be a no-brainer recommendation. Sadly, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is far too expensive at $299.

However, if you are willing to part with the cash, it's safe to say that the BlackWidow looks, feels and performs exceptionally well. I enjoyed customizing the board to get the most out of it, and features like the OLED screen and wheel are both enjoyable and, useful.

If you are uninterested in magnetic switches, this is one of the best gaming keyboards you can get your hands on today, and well worth the asking price for the amount of stand-out features. Unlike its terrifying namesake, the BlackWidow is more than welcome at my desk.

I'm 40 this year, and after using and reviewing laptops for my entire working life I can confidently say trust me: you want one of the best laptop stands you can afford if you're using your laptop more than 20-30 minutes a day.

I say that based on the very real aches and pains that adopting a laptop stand has helped me eliminate. Laptops are versatile but they aren't ergonomic, and if you hunch over one all day at work, home or the coffee shop it's going to take a painful toll on your neck, back and shoulders.

That's why I recommend anyone who regularly uses a laptop invest in a great laptop stand like the Lamicall, which is portable, adjustable, and fairly sturdy. If you want something more affordable, I recommend the iVoler laptop stand.

And hey, if (like me) you're on the taller side I recommend the extra height and adjustability of the Lifelong UpRize stand.

Whichever you choose, I recommend you invest in at least one good laptop stand because it will do wonders for your comfort. For instance, this $45 laptop stand can revolutionize how you work, and you can enjoy similar benefits for as much or less.

Based on our experience these are the best laptop stands I recommend you buy right now, along with our detailed hands-on reviews.

The quick list

In a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the laptop stands on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever arm catches your eye.

The best laptop stands you can buy today

The best overall

For most people, the Lamicall laptop stand is the best because it offers plenty of height and angle adjustments, a built-in heat vent design that’ll work for most laptops, and large rubber grips with plenty of friction to keep your laptop steady while typing. Plus, it’s foldable and won’t take up too much space in your backpack if you want to travel with it.

The stand arrives folded, and all you need to do after unboxing it is to set your preferred height and angle before your first use. To adjust the stand’s overall height, you hold the base with one hand while pulling up on the middle plate. Then, repeat the process with the middle and top plates to set the stand’s angle. The hinges are sturdy, but the adjusting process is smooth, not jumpy.

Lamicall’s laptop stand is made with cool-to-the-touch aluminum alloy, and its biggest design praise goes to its top tray plate. This large, rectangular top plate makes it easy to adjust the stand with your laptop on it, whether you’re lowering or raising the stand. It features a unique, widespread ventilation design that ensures your laptop’s fans will sit over at least some of the vent holes.

There are two long rubber strips spanning the length of the tray, as well as two rubber grips on the metal lips to hold your laptop in place while typing or if you accidentally bump it. You’ll also find four circular rubber grips on the bottom of the stand to prevent it from sliding on your desk while working.

Aside from the metal lips that stick out a bit, the Lamicall laptop stand is fairly compact when folded, making it a great travel companion if you need to work from a coffee shop or a classroom. Typing directly on the stand at lower to medium heights is comfortable and pretty stable, so you don’t even need to bring a separate keyboard and mouse. It’s possible to create an ergonomic angle that’s kind to your wrists for long typing sessions.

The best budget laptop stand

This iVoler laptop stand can fit snugly in a backpack’s side pocket when folded, making it a perfect portable option. It’s friendly to your wallet, has a well-ventilated design, and only requires a few seconds to set up and break down.

There’s a sliding mechanism that allows the stand’s two main pieces to pull apart quickly, revealing an X-shaped support holding them together. From there, you separate the stand’s legs from the top portion your laptop will rest on to find the thin adjustor pieces. Although most of the aluminum alloy stand feels durable, the adjustor pieces don’t. They dangle loosely from the stand and just barely rest in each leg’s pre-drilled holes.

With six different sets of pre-drilled holes on the legs, you can adjust the height and angle of the laptop’s screen and keyboard simultaneously. The end of each leg is curved upwards and sports a rubber grip to hold your laptop in place. This fuss-free design is easy to adjust with a laptop on the stand, as you just need to lift the two adjustor pieces at the same time and move them forward or backward to another pre-drilled set of holes.

The only downside to this design is that the bottom of your laptop will always be at the same height, so the higher you set your screen, the higher and more angled your laptop’s keyboard will be. If you use this stand at one of its lower height/angle settings, typing on the laptop’s keyboard rather than an external keyboard is fairly comfortable, but as you raise your laptop screen higher, typing becomes increasingly uncomfortable for long periods.

I performed three typing tests on my laptop while it was on the iVoler stand at the third-lowest height/angle setting, and averaged 103 words per minute and 2 errors. When compared to the 103 wpm, 1 error average on the same laptop used flat on a desk, there’s practically no difference. My laptop didn’t bounce while typing, and my wrists weren’t forced into an awkward position.

Using the higher angle/height settings on iVoler’s stand still provides a stable typing experience, and your laptop won’t slide too much thanks to a few well-placed rubber grips. When typing at these heights, my laptop didn’t even bounce that much, but it put a ton of strain on my wrists. If you pair this with an external keyboard and mouse, or you don’t need to type a lot, it won’t be a big issue.

The best laptop stand for MacBooks

The iLevel2 stand from Rain Design features a unique spring-loaded design that uses the weight of your laptop to activate the height- and angle-adjusting mechanism. As an aesthetic bonus, its anodized aluminum look matches perfectly with Apple’s MacBooks.

Aside from being constructed with chilly anodized aluminum, the iLevel2 stand features a small raindrop cutout centered in the top piece. While this raindrop allows a little heat to escape, it’s mainly decorative. What keeps your laptop cool on this stand is the anodized aluminum material and the four circular rubber grips on top to lift your laptop.

These four grips also keep your laptop steady while typing, along with a long rubber strip that lines up with the bottom lip of your laptop. Underneath the stand, there are four more circular grips that practically cement the stand in place on your desk.

When it’s packaged, the top of the laptop stand is pushed down to prevent the spring-loaded mechanism from getting damaged during transit. It’s ready to be used right out of the box, but you’ll want to hold down the top of the stand when unboxing it to stop it from springing out unnecessarily.

Once it’s unboxed, you need to set your laptop gently on the stand to weigh it down and start perfecting your adjustments. There’s a handy metal slider at the stand’s front that lets you quickly raise or lower your laptop’s height and angle while it’s on the stand. To reach the stand’s max height/angle setting, you slide the metal dial all the way to the right; and to lower it, you’d slide the dial to the left.

Adjusting the height and angle up is smooth, but adjusting down can be quite bouncy if you’re not slow about it. It’s also worth noting that you can’t adjust the height and angle independently on this stand. If you want to raise the height of your laptop screen, you’ll also be raising the angle of your laptop’s keyboard.

When you’re using the stand anywhere between its lowest height/angle setting and somewhere in the middle, typing directly on your laptop feels fairly stable, albeit a little springy, and your wrists are tilted at a relatively comfortable angle. My normal typing average on my laptop is 103 words per minute with 1 error. When typing on Rain Design’s iLevel2 stand, my typing average decreases slightly to 96 wpm with 1 error.

Trying to type directly on my laptop while the stand is set to its highest setting is way too bouncy and puts my wrists at a pretty uncomfortable angle. If you think you’d frequently use this stand at its highest setting and you need to type a lot, I’d highly recommend investing in a separate keyboard if you don’t have one already.

The best portable laptop stand

When it’s folded, the Brocoon laptop won’t take up much space in your backpack or suitcase. This thin design paired with its wide range of height and angle adjustments and comfortable typing experience makes it the perfect portable option for frequent travelers.

This isn’t the smallest or most compact laptop stand on this list — that’s the iVoler stand — but it’s the thinnest option that offers more than enough adjustments, which will decrease strain in your neck, shoulders, and eyes more so than the budget-friendly iVoler stand will.

There’s no setup required before you can start using the stand, adjusting the height and angle to your liking. You can easily adjust the stand with your laptop on it, but adjusting can be jerky sometimes. Rather than a smooth adjustment to your preferred height and angle, this stand doesn’t move immediately and then suddenly jumps into place, which can be jarring when you’re not expecting it.

Brocoon’s laptop stand is equipped with a small oval-shaped heat vent, but depending on your laptop, this might not line up perfectly with your fan vents. Luckily, the stand is made with aluminum alloy to help absorb a lot of the heat your laptop emits. It’s a simple, attractive design that has “To live a good life” printed on the bottom plate, which some may like but others might not.

There are four circular rubber grips on top of the stand, along with two rubber grips covering the metal lip that holds your laptop in place. The grips are thin and not very strong, so my laptop could easily slide back and forth with only a gentle push, which doesn’t happen with many other stands on this list. When bumping a corner of my laptop rather than steadily pushing my laptop, it barely budges. The four rubber circles on the bottom of the stand to prevent it from sliding on your desk seem to be a bit stronger.

With the Brocoon stand’s rectangular design, typing feels incredibly stable and comfortable, great news for anyone who doesn’t want to bring along a separate keyboard and mouse. My typical typing average on my laptop with no stand is 103 words per minute with 1 error, and my typing average on the Brocoon stand at mid-height with a gentle angle was 102 wpm with 2 errors. It’s certainly a bouncier typing experience, resulting in more errors, but my overall speed was almost identical to my typical typing average.

The best minimalist laptop stand

Twelve South’s Curve Flex laptop stand is easily portable and fits the minimalist aesthetic very well. In addition to the adjustable stand, Twelve South includes a well-padded travel bag for the stand and a small allen key to loosen or tighten the stand’s hinges as needed.

No assembly is required before you can use this laptop stand, but you’ll probably need to tighten the hinges prior to your first use. Before tightening the hinges, resting my wrists gently while typing on my 3-pound laptop made the stand slowly sink to its lowest setting. Putting two laptops that collectively weighed 6.5 pounds made the stand instantly collapse. After using the included 4mm allen key, it could effortlessly support the two laptops and the weight of my wrists while typing.

There are four total hinges to tighten, and the whole process only took five minutes, including time to tighten, test the hinges, and tighten once more. There’s a small cutout at the top of the travel bag where you can store the allen key, so if you use the travel bag to carry the stand with you to work or college, you’ll always have the allen key on hand. With the hinges tightened, the stand can only support laptops weighing 7 pounds or less, so if you have an exceptionally heavy laptop, this stand won’t work for you.

Adjusting the height and angle on the Curve Flex stand is similar to other Z-shaped stands. Holding the base piece with one hand, you lift up on the middle plate to set the height. Unlike other stands that let you fully rotate the hinges, this stand’s hinges have a stopping point when you hit the stand’s max height. This prevents any accidental unbalanced situations that could cause the stand to fall over when you put your laptop on the top tray.

Then, the angle can be adjusted by holding the middle piece in place while you pull up on the top tray. Moving each stand piece into place to set your preferred angle and height is a smooth process, even after tightening the hinges.

The stand is equipped with a few silicone pieces throughout, but their main purpose is to prevent scratches to the stand and your laptop. Between each of the stand’s pieces, there are two silicone grips to keep the stand from scratching itself. Where your laptop sits on top, there’s a semi-circle strip of textured silicone, as well as two small silicone patches on the metal lips that hold your laptop in place.

These textured silicone pieces are slippery under your fingers and barely prevent your laptop from moving when pushing it from the side. I tried bumping my laptop from a corner while on the stand and it held its ground slightly better, but on the second bump, my laptop popped up over one of the metal lips. The silicone strips lining the base piece are a thinner, non-textured material, and they also lack enough friction to prevent the stand from sliding on a desk.

That said, unless you’re accident-prone, the chances of your laptop sliding off this stand are slim. Typing directly on this stand is pretty comfortable, so you can get away without needing to buy a separate keyboard and mouse. At mid-height and a gentle angle, my typing average on Twelve South’s Curve Flex stand was 96 words per minute with 2 errors, slightly lower than my typical average of 103 wpm with 1 error.

The best mounted laptop stand

VIVO’s Laptop Desk Mount is perfect for anyone who wants to use their laptop while sitting or standing at their desk. This stand gives you more desk space, offers multiple height and angle adjustments, and features a perforated plate that’ll keep your laptop cool. You do have to keep the included hex key nearby to manually adjust height, but the process is quick and easy.

Installing this VIVO stand via the clamp method only took about 15 minutes, and the instructions were easy to follow. You’ll need a flat desk underside between 10 and 85mm thick for best results with the clamp.

Like putting a puzzle together, you match up the parts with the images and screw them into place. After you attach the pole to the clamp piece, you tighten it into position on your desk. The rest of the installation process consists of adding pieces to the main pole and securing them with screws. Alternatively, you can use the grommet method for installation, which requires drilling a hole through your desk if there’s not an existing through-hole for mounting.

Once it’s installed at your preferred height, you can swivel the arm to bring your laptop closer to the desk or push it out of the way. The tray plate can be tilted at an angle, or you can use it at 180 degrees if you want to use it flat while standing. It’s possible to adjust the angle with your laptop on the stand, but there are no rubber grips on the perforated plate to hold your laptop in place while doing this.

The height-adjustability range of VIVO’s laptop tray is one of its best features. It can be raised up to 16.5 inches above your desk, the perfect height range for creating a standing workstation. Adjusting the height is a simple process, but you’ll need the included hex key (or another 5mm hex key) to loosen and tighten the connection between the pole and the tray arm. After you loosen the hex nut holding the tray arm in position, you can slide the tray arm up or down the pole to its new height, and then quickly tighten it in place.

VIVO’s stand is made with steel and aluminum, and the laptop tray plate is perforated to encourage airflow. This holey design is great for heat ventilation, but it’s not the most attractive look. Because the tray plate lacks rubber grips, it relies solely on your laptop’s built-in grips to keep it in place while swiveling the tray to and from your desk.

Typing on the VIVO laptop mount was bouncy enough to decrease my typical typing average, but with its wide range of height and angle adjustments, it provided a relatively comfortable typing experience for my wrists. My typical typing average on my laptop is 103 words per minute with 1 error, whereas typing on the VIVO mount resulted in an average of 92 wpm with 2 errors. It’s 11 less wpm, but that’s a decent tradeoff for all the pros this laptop stand has to offer.

The best height-adjustable laptop stand