I’m delighted to say that the GameSir T4 Kaleid was a pleasant surprise. It’s certainly an eye-catching gamepad with its see-through casing and lovely RGB lighting, yet it stands head and shoulders above other controllers in its price bracket thanks to incredible customizability and high quality buttons and sticks.
If you’re sick of stick drift on the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers, the GameSir T4 Kaleid sidesteps the issue with the use of hall effect analog sticks, much like the fantastic 8BitDo Ultimate wireless controller. That reassured longevity, and overall high quality, has the T4 Kaleid standing alongside the best Nintendo Switch controllers you can buy.
That being said, it’s unfortunately not quite the best fit for its target console. The T4 Kaleid is wired only, which isn’t a great fit for Nintendo Switch. It also doesn’t have the reversed X and Y button placement, opting instead for the more standard Xbox Series X|S layout. However, the T4 Kaleid thrives on PC when paired with the T4k app which allows you to customize button layout, assign inputs to the rear paddle buttons and, perhaps most importantly, create your own RGB pattern.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: price and availability
The GameSir T4 Kaleid is available to buy right now for $41.99 / £41.99. You can purchase it either from GameSir’s official store page, or through retailers like Amazon and AliExpress.
That places the T4 Kaleid as cheaper than the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and mid-range gamepads like the Nacon Revolution X wired controller. As such, it's certainly worth considering if you're on a tight budget.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: design
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I’ve got a huge soft spot for controllers with translucent designs, so the GameSir T4 Kaleid was already starting to win me over when I first took it out of the box. However, the controller uses its aesthetic choice creatively. That’s because the circuit board within is gorgeously laid out, and the pair of RGB strips that wrap around either side of the controller are dazzling. It’s certainly a step up from many Pro-adjacent controllers that tend to play appearances safe with plain black or white colorways.
The fancy aesthetic wouldn’t amount to much if the controller wasn’t of a decent build quality, and thankfully the T4 Kaleid delivers here. The plastic shell is sturdy, while the sticks and face buttons feature a clicky, tactile feel. In the case of the face buttons, that’s due to the use of microswitches for a springy, crisp feeling press.
That same feeling applies to the D-pad, triggers and shoulder buttons, too. Overall, we have a rare case here of a controller delivering on almost all fronts. You really have to nitpick to identify design issues with the T4 Kaleid when it comes to its buttons. But if I had to, I’d say the placement of the Start and Select buttons are a little higher up the controller than I’m used to.
Additionally, this is the one of the few cases where I lament the fact that the controller is wired only. I feel that wired pads aren’t a good fit for Nintendo Switch. There’s no outward facing USB port on either the Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED, so the use of a wired controller here can be cumbersome. Plus, the T4 Kaleid isn’t compatible with Xbox Series X|S despite bearing the Xbox button layout. I still highly recommend it as a PC-first controller, however.
GameSir T4 Kaleid: performance
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The GameSir T4 Kaleid is a surprisingly feature-rich controller for its relatively low asking price. And that’s not just because of its cool design and RGB lighting. There’s also a pair of mappable back buttons that can be assigned via the T4k desktop app.
This is another reason why I recommend the T4 Kaleid if you play on PC. The T4k app is incredibly robust and lets you tweak everything from the RGB pattern to button assignments and more.
One feature you might not know the T4 Kaleid has is a hair trigger mode. It’s not immediately apparent as there’s no on-board switches like with the HyperX Clutch Gladiate or the Xbox Elite Series 2. However, the mode can be toggled within the app and allows you to activate trigger inputs with just a short press. A bit of a roundabout way of doing things, but it’s likely a way for GameSir to save on components and keep costs down. A pretty smart move, overall.
Customization with the app leads the T4 Kaleid to be a fantastic controller for gaming. As mentioned, those hall effect analog sticks and microswitch-powered face buttons make for a sturdy controller that’ll resist much wear and tear over the years. The dual rumble motors also provide a strong layer of immersion, and can also be customized in the app.
It’s a fantastic controller for when fast button presses matter. Take online shooters like Fortniteor Halo Infinite, where quick reflexes and quicker button presses can be paramount to success. Or even platformers like Mega Man 11 and Super Mario Odysseywhere precision is often key.
Should I buy the GameSir T4 Kaleid?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You’re after an affordable controller for PC The T4 Kaleid excels as a PC pad thanks to its companion app and sturdy build quality
You’re on a budget Simply put, the T4 Kaleid won’t break the bank. In fact, it’s a bargain price for the features you’re getting.
You love customizability Between its RGB lighting and fully mappable controls, the T4 Kaleid is perfect for players who like a layout to call their own.
Don't buy it if...
You’re after a wireless controller The T4 Kaleid’s biggest drawback is its lack of wireless functionality. If it had that, we could be looking at a near-perfect pad.
You need a Nintendo Switch controller The T4 Kaleid isn’t a great fit for Nintendo Switch, thanks to its wired-only nature and the X and Y buttons following the Xbox controller placements.
Lenovo continues to release budget gaming machines, including the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD), for those who want the best PC games while keeping to a reasonable budget. This particular gaming PC features both an AMD CPU and GPU to keep costs down while still offering reliable performance.
This is a no-frills budget gaming PC through and through - among the best budget gaming PCs - so don’t expect a gorgeous chassis or stunning RGB lighting decorating the inside of the case. Despite having a glass panel that lets you peer inside to see all the components, the only way to actually tell if your PC is turned on is through the fan. On the plus side, the case is small and lightweight enough that you can carry it around with relative ease. It weighs about 30 pounds, much lighter than most PCs.
Its port selection is quite good as well, offering everything you could need including several Type-A USB ports, a Type-C USB port, an ethernet port, both HDMI and DVI support, an audio jack, a headphone jack, and a microphone jack. My only complaint is that there should be more Type-C ports. The audio itself is quite good, with a sound quality that doesn’t degrade too much as the volume increases, though you’ll most likely want to use a headset instead.
Performance-wise it’s rather impressive for the kind of CPU and GPU it’s equipped with. Benchmark scores are average, especially compared to other PCs on the market, but reflect the best gaming PC that delivers the kind of gaming experience you’d expect from a budget machine. While you can’t run games like Cyberpunk 2077 on anything higher than low settings (as at best you’ll get 47 fps) or Dirt 5 higher than medium if you want to race a little over 60 fps, it still runs any PC game you have quite smoothly as long as the settings are right.
Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD): Price & availability
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How much does it cost? $664.99 / £538 / AU$994
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US
The Legion Tower 5 Gen 6, particularly the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G CPU version, is a budget gaming PC through and through. It’s currently priced at $664.99 / £538 / AU$994 through a sale on the Lenovo online store, which sits it right at the low-end market of machines. The AMD version’s original pricing at $989.99 is reasonable enough, but the sale price is practically a steal.
Meanwhile, there’s an improved version with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, as well as more memory and storage. It’s a price jump of about $300 but a solid option if you want to future-proof your PC, and thanks to the sale price, it’s still below $1,000.
Both versions are currently available in the US, though other regions like the UK and Australia were left high and dry in terms of availability. Judging from the pages for the latter two, models in the UK might go back in stock at some point while ones in Australia are permanently unavailable.
Price score: 5 / 5
Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD): Specs
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The Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) comes in two configurations, one with an AMD GPU and the other with an Nvidia GPU.
The one sent to me was: an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G CPU, Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB GDDR6 GPU, 8GB DDR4 of RAM, and 512GB SSD PCIe Gen4 of storage. The other configuration was an AMD Ryzen 7 5800 CPU, RTX 3060 GPU, 16GB DDR4 of RAM, and 1TB of storage.
Unfortunately, neither one of these models can be customized, which most likely is what keeps the price down as improved specs often spike the total.
Specs score: 4 / 5
Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD): Design
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Simple and bland design
Small and weighs less than most PCs
The Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD)’s design is a slightly mixed bag. On one hand, it’s efficient at not taking up unnecessary space and very lightweight for a gaming PC. I was easily able to carry it around my office, it was so light. On the other hand, it’s a plain black color with no interesting chassis shape and has a glass side panel with no RGB lighting to see inside, though I realize RGB is purely aesthetic, it’s a handy way to see whether your PC is turned on and I miss the feature. It’s a boring yet practical design and while it may be a little disappointing, your wallet with thank you.
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It does have a nicely varied port selection that includes four USB Type-A 3.2, two USB Type-A 2.0, one USB Type-C, one headphone jack, one microphone jack, one audio jack, one RJ45, one ethernet port, one HDMI port, and one DVI port. Though it could have used another Type-C USB instead of so many Type-As, especially since wireless accessories tend to support the latter.
The ventilation system, despite the PC being so small, is quite good and never overheated once even during extensive gaming and benchmark testing. No fancy liquid cooling system, but the fans do the trick, and well too. Surprising enough, this PC has its own audio built in, Dolby Atmos Gaming Effect 5.1 Channel Surround Sound to be specific. Its audio quality is pretty solid with a nice well-rounded sound that doesn’t lose too much as the volume goes up, though most gamers will want to use their own headset anyway.
Design score: 4 / 5
Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD): Performance
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Solid but not exceptional performance
Can be used as a productivity machine
Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD): Benchmarks
Here's how the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 39,529; Fire Strike: 13,699; Time Spy: 5,121 Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 10,423 GeekBench 5.5: 1,433 (single-core); 6,126 (multi-core)
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 48 fps; (1080p, Low): 89 fps Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 23 fps; (1080p, Low): 47 fps Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 16 fps; (1080p, Low): 171 fps PC Mark 10 (Home Test): 6,779 Handbrake 1.6: 9.2
Performance-wise, the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) sits comfortably between the likes of the Acer Predator Orion 3000 and the MSI Trident 3 10th, with the former at the higher end and the latter the lower end. This is a consistent PC that delivers the kind of performance that you would expect from a budget machine.
Benchmark scores-wise, the Legion Tower 5 blows past the Trident 3 10th, scoring at some points nearly double of its competitor. However, the Predator Orion 3000 is this, with test scores far higher than Lenovo’s offerings. The positive is that the AMD model of the Legion is almost half the price as well, so if you’re willing to sacrifice on specs a bit, then it’s the better budget option by far.
With heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077, it struggles to even approach 50 fps on average on the lowest setting, though it does manage that same framerate with Total War: Warhammer III on Ultra. And Dirt 5 can be played on Medium settings and hit over 60 fps consistently, though the lack of VRAM could be a problem. With many other PC games that are much less taxing, the Tower 5 runs perfectly well.
It also makes for a great productivity machine, as the 12th Gen CPU can handle plenty of work-related tasks with ease, as well as conference calls. But I wouldn’t bank on it handling any creative or editing projects with the below-average benchmark scores it received on that front.
If you want to play through your full PC game library on Steam without emptying your wallet, you have no problems compromising on settings, and you also want a reliable work machine, then this is a pretty solid budget PC to invest in.
Performance score:3.5 / 5
Should you buy the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD)?
Buy it if...
You need a budget gaming PC
This is a great budget machine that will easily play most PC games well and can even handle plenty of high-end titles as long as you’re willing to adjust the settings a bit.
You want a solid port selection
This PC comes with tons of ports that most gamers and buyers in general, including tons of USB Type-A ones if you’re in need, and even has both HDMI and DVI support.
You want a smaller PC
This PC has a smaller form factor than most, which comes in handy for nearly any desk space both at home and at work.
Don't buy it if...
You want a gorgeous PC
This is a pretty standard-looking PC, barring the single glass side panel, so no wowing your guests with a beautiful RGB setup unless you do it yourself.
Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD): Also consider
If the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) has you considering other options, here are two more gaming PCs to consider...
How I tested the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD)
I tested the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) for several weeks
I tested it using both benchmark tests and video game benchmarks
I stress-tested the PC with productivity and creative testing
First, I tested the general weight of the Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) by lifting it up and around my apartment. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to test out both the processor and graphics card, as well as in-game gameplay performance. Finally, I stress-tested it out using titles like Dirt 5 and Cyberpunk 2077 in various settings to see both overall performance and ventilation quality.
The Legion Tower 5 Gen 6 (AMD) is specially made as a gaming PC, which meant the brunt of my testing revolved around checking game performance and looking for any ventilation issues.
I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they perform as a work machine.
Sony’s PlayStation brand has been making a huge push recently into the competitive gaming space through its Inzone line of headsets and 27-inch monitors. This includes the Sony Inzone M3, the 1080p sibling to the higher priced 4K resolution capable M9.
All of the standard gaming monitor standards within its tier group are there including HDR abilities, 1 ms pixel response time and 1000:1 contrast ratio. There’s also a respectable amount of ports for various display inputs in addition to various USB connections.
When it comes to gaming performance, PS5 owners won’t currently have a need for a 250Hz mode as most games max out at 144Hz which itself requires a game to support VVR (Variable Refresh Rate). Considering many console gamers in the competitive scene play fighting games like Street Fighter V and Dragon Ball Z Fighters or sports games like FIFA and NBA2K, having such a high refresh rate seems more empty bragging than something absolutely required of the best gaming monitor for PC gaming.
For general PS5 usage, playing first-party games like God of War: Ragnarok or The Last of Us: Part I look made for the Inzone M3. Meanwhile, though performance is on par with other gaming monitors on PC, overall image quality isn’t the best and HDR doesn’t help much either. For streamers, there’s also an Auto KVM Switch for usage of one keyboard and mouse for two devices.
The Inzone M3 stands out due to PlayStation 5-focused features such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping alongside Auto Genre Picture mode. That doesn’t even take into consideration the remarkable design that stands reasonably well next to the white and black PS5 colorway.
Owners of Sony’s current-gen console who are aspiring competitive gamers or in the esports scene while making sure they stay color-coordinated may have much to appreciate about the M3. More traditional PC gamers will definitely have better options elsewhere.
The Sony Inzone M3 shines the brightest design-wise. As mentioned previously, the black and white angular stand that holds the display up looks cool, alongside a PS5 and various accessories. Because of the stand’s design, it’s not all that intrusive and viewing adjustment is easy.
Some may have an issue with the fact that the display can’t tilt vertically but considering the PS5 focus, I can’t fault it too much. One thing's for sure, though, the Sony Inzone M3 is one of the best monitors for PS5 you can buy if you want to really create a complete setup.
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Though the PS5 obviously requires an HDMI cable, there’s an extra one available for other consoles like an Xbox Series S or Nintendo Switch and DisplayPort. Beyond that is a USB-C, USB-B for upstreaming, three USB-A and 3.5 mm headphone jack. M3 users will most definitely need some headphones as the internal speakers suffer from a flat, hollow sound. Too bad there wasn’t a way for Sony to implement Spatial Audio, which is a huge PS5 feature.
Between the slew of accessibility options in games like The Last of Us Part 1 and the upcoming Project Leonardo, Sony has put heavy emphasis on accessibility. The same goes for the M3 as it’s easy to put together and connect things to their respective port. Weighing around 15 lbs altogether, the M3 is light before putting the neck, base and display together.
Be mindful that connecting the base to the neck does require a screwdriver which may be an issue. Most importantly, there aren’t any weight shifts once everything is connected. Once used, the power button and menu joystick are easily accessible on the back panel for adjustments. Pivoting the display for eye-level comfort works well too. Inzone M3 usage feels as simple as the minimalist design.
PS5 games were the clear focus of the Sony Inzone M3. Playing games like Resident Evil 4 remake or the slew of high-class first-party games like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part I on the gaming monitor is a joy. Image quality is good but not good enough to justify the high price tag even though features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping do a great job of optimizing HDR for M3. Supporting VRR improves the visual quality of games that support it like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
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Then there’s Auto Genre Picture mode that changes colors alongside motion settings when switching from game to video content. Again, this does enhance PS5 experience when playing more competitive games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. As an added measure, there is a crosshair toggle which makes aiming in first-person-shooters a better experience. When it comes to motion performance, the M3 does well with screen smoothness and low input lag. Gaming on this gaming monitor feels fantastic on a PS5 or PC and will make the most use out of the 240Hz refresh rate despite some problems there.
Those issues come down to below-average image quality when using a PC. General computing usage on a 1080p gaming monitor this expensive shouldn’t be this problematic. Color settings have to be changed to even read certain text while browsing websites or checking emails. Even working with Adobe Suite led to ineffective color correction. Playing games like Forza Horizon 5 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare lacked the vividness and contrast of cheaper 1080p monitors. On a positive note, the M3 is G-Sync compatible though the lack of official FreeSync support is strange considering the PS5 is made up of AMD components. There’s also an Inzone app to fine-tune the experience through settings customization. When it comes to pure PC gaming, there are simply better options out there.
(Image credit: Future)
Sony Inzone M3: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $499 / £699 (about AU$725)
When is it available? It is available now.
Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK
Buying the Sony Inzone M3 is more of a diehard investment into the PlayStation brand. Aesthetically, it does match Sony’s current minimalistic design philosophy. During the review, the monitor sat well next to a PS5 and PSVR2. The M3 is geared more toward console gamers.
With that said PC Gamers who also own a PS5 have better options out there as the $499.99 price point is a bit much. For that amount of money, users can look into the Acer Nitro, AOC C27G2Z, and ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM. Those options may lack PS5-leaning features or USB ports, but they’re great 27-inch HD displays that can reach 250Hz between $200 to $300.
Value: 2.5 / 5
Sony Inzone M3: Specs
Should you buy the Sony Inzone M3?
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Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
You want an affordable 1080p 240Hz monitor PC gaming enthusiasts should know there are better options for a 27-inch 1080p monitor because $499 is a tad bit too high.
You require better image and audio quality for PC Image quality isn’t the best on the M3 when using PC and HDR doesn’t make things much better. Then there are the sub-par internal speakers as well.
You are looking to make the most out of your PS5 visuals PS5 owners more concerned with higher resolution should consider Sony’s M9 or other 4K gaming monitors available.
Sony Inzone M3: Also consider
If my Sony Inzone M3 review has you considering other options, here are two more 27-inch monitors to consider.
How I tested the Sony Inzone M3
I spent a week testing the Sony Inzone M3
PC games played include Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Forza Horizon 5.
PS5 games included Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnorock and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
Creative apps used were Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro
Over a week of testing on PS5, many games were tested including Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnorock, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection among others. When it comes to PC games, I played Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, extensively.
I also tried more PC-focused apps including Google Chrome and Adobe Photoshop which I used to edit the photos used in this review. General computing on this gaming monitor wasn’t the most pleasant experience due to image quality but gaming was much better.
I’ve tested dozens of gaming monitors over the years and I've seen both the best gaming monitors and the worst, so I know what a good monitor should offer for the price you're paying.
The PC market sent out another disappointing quarter, worldwide shipments contracting 29% compared to last year as per the latest IDC report. Based on preliminary data, the total number of PCs sold in January-March totaled 56.9 million units which is 23.3 million units fewer than the total for Q1 2022. All of the top-five PC vendors experience double-digit declines with Apple faring the worst with a 40.5% difference between Q1 2022 and Q1 2023.
Top 5 PC companies market share in Q1 2023
Lenovo remained the global leader in total shipments at 12.7 million units and a market share...
The Glorious GMMK Pro is one of those products that can be polarizing. On one hand, I can see why a lot of people love this mechanical keyboard, but on the other, I can also understand why many from the modding community aren't too keen on both the keyboard itself – and the company behind it.
After spending a couple of weeks using it as my main keyboard for work and for gaming, I’ve really come to appreciate why it’s gotten top marks from our peers. It’s a solid choice that’s not too shabby-looking either – probably among the best keyboards out there, whether you’re looking for a gaming keyboard or a productivity one.
But, after also building it myself, I can honestly say that it’s not all rainbows and unicorns either. While all the big parts – the top case, the switches, the keycaps, even the PCB – feel robust and premium, the small bits, particularly the tiny screws that keep the whole board together, aren’t top quality.
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Some easily stripped at my first attempt to unscrew them, and one seems to have molded itself into the original switch plate that came with my barebone board, which isn’t something you want from a keyboard that’s supposed to be completely modifiable. I had to take mine to a jeweler, and even they had issues taking this pesky screw out.
On top of that, there seem to be some quality control issues as well. One of the screw holes on the polycarbonate switch plate I received for modding was too big for any of the included screws, which means that my review unit has a screw missing. And, while that doesn’t seem to have impacted performance, keyboard modders would certainly get turned off by it.
However, if Glorious manages to fix those issues, the Glorious GMMK Pro would probably be unstoppable. First of all, it makes it incredibly easy for beginner builders and modders to build their own boards from scratch, especially thanks to Glorious’ online configurator that lets you easily pick and choose all the parts you’ll need so that you can focus less on whether you’re picking the right ones and more on the building process itself.
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Second of all, as I said earlier, the rest of it feels robust, and probably a lot tougher than many of the enthusiast mechanical keyboards that I spend money on monthly. And, honestly, if you care at all about aesthetics, you’ll appreciate just how gorgeous it can be, especially if you mod it to fit your own setup. Most of the parts, from the keycaps and rotary knob to the top frame and switch plate come in different colors (and sometimes, types).
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The RGB lighting, which you’ll also find at the sides for a touch of ambient lighting, is bright and vibrant, and while it is a little on the heavy side at 3.3 lbs (1.51Kg), its 75% with 82 keys layout saves you space while ensuring you’ve still got access to keys that are vital to productivity. Even the cable is removable so you can spring for a coiled one that’s more robust and better looking.
Thanks to the straightforward and effortless-to-navigate Glorious Core app, it’s not just the physical board that’s customizable. You can also change its RGB lighting to change per-key colors, switch lighting effects, and adjust brightness, as well as adjust polling rate (125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1,000Hz) and input latency (2ms, 8ms, 16ms). And, as this is a gaming keyboard, the software will also let you bind any key to another key, a combination of keys, a mouse function, a macro, or a shortcut. Yes, this has fully programmable keys. You can even create profiles and layers.
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An important thing to note, however, is that some users have reported bugs with their Glorious keyboards, and I noticed a few as well in the beginning. The first time I plugged it into my gaming PC, only the volume dial and RGB lighting were working. The keys themselves weren’t responsive, and I had to scour the internet for a solution. Luckily, it was simply a matter of opening the Glorious Core app and changing the current profile. I didn’t experience any other issues after.
The keys themselves are great to type on. They have more like a clacking sound, and while I’m more partial to a good thock sound, these aren’t too loud and definitely better than the annoying clicky ones. Meanwhile, the switches – I used both of Glorious’ Panda and Lynx mechanical switches – are very responsive and accurate, especially the Panda ones. And, they kept up with me, whether I was writing an article, composing email messages, or playing titles like Cyperpunk 2022, Rocket League, Hogwarts Legacy, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
There’s also no need to worry about latency here as it’s a wired keyboard – something that many gamers prefer over wireless options.
Glorious GMMK Pro: Price & availability
How much does it cost? From $169.99 (about £140 / AU$250)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Glorious GMMK Pro isn’t going to be cheap, especially if you’re looking to build your own kit. The prebuilt version will set you back $349.99 (about £285 / AU$525) in the US, and that’s already a little too steep for most people. Building your own if you were to mod every single part will cost you a whole lot more, with the barebone kit already setting you back $169.99 (about £140 / AU$250), which is about the same as many prebuilt keebs from other enthusiast keyboard brands.
My own kit cost $169.99 for the barebone kit plus a $19.99 polycarbonate switch plate, $34.99 Glorious Lynx switches, $34.99 Glorious Pandas, $49.99 pastel PBT keycaps, a $59.99 aqua blue top frame, a $9.99 aqua blue rotary knob, and a $49.99 electric blue coiled cable. I also got a $7.99 switch puller as well. That’s a lot of money for many beginner modders to spend.
If you can afford it, however, you’ll be pleased to know that Glorious ships to the UK and Australia.
Value: 3 / 5
Glorious GMMK Pro: Specs
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Should you buy the Glorious GMMK Pro?
Buy it if...
You want to build your own keyboard for the first time It’s not for the budget-minded, but the Glorious GMMK Pro is still an easy and convenient way to start your keyboard building journey.
You want a highly-customizable keyboard kit Despite the low-quality screws and the occasional quality control issue, this is one highly-customizable keyboard and great for those who love modding.
Don't buy it if...
You are an experienced keyboard builder or modder You’ll find more affordable parts elsewhere if you are experienced and know where to get the ones.
You are on a budget If you’re strapped for cash, this isn’t the most appealing or wise option. You’re better off doing your research or asking the modding community where to get the best bits.
Glorious GMMK Pro: Also consider
How I tested the Glorious GMMK Pro
I spent half a day building this then a couple of weeks testing it
I tested it for work and for gaming
I used it on my work applications as well as different PC games
Because I got the keyboard-building kit version, I spent some time building the actual keyboard before getting around to testing it. After it was built, I tested it for two weeks, using it as my main keyboard for productivity and play.
I used it for composing work emails, writing work documents and articles, and playing PC games like Cyperpunk 2022, Rocket League, Hogwarts Legacy, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
A self-professed keyboard enthusiast with a modest but expanding mechanical keyboard collection, I've also been testing and reviewing keyboards for gaming, productivity, and creative work for years. While this is my first time building a keyboard from scratch, I have been modding my own keebs since 2022.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
Gaming immersion can only take you so far until your RGB starts to plateau. Luckily, the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, Govee's latest addition to its smart lights line, picks up the slack.
I want to preface this review by saying that I am a big fan of the brand and a proud owner of some of its products including the Glide Hexa Light Panels and the Govee TV Immersion Kit, which has truly elevated movie nights at my apartment. But, I honestly do think that the brand has outdone itself with this new release.
With the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, it takes its immersion technology to the next logical place - PC gaming, and it's taking it to new heights.
Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit displaying Psychonauts 2 colors. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
While the Govee TV Immersion Kit in its early iteration was a little rougher around the edges, using a simple camera to essentially capture the colors being displayed on your TV and sending those signals back to a control box that then tells the lights what colors to display, this AI Gaming Sync Box Kit has elevated the system in such a way that you're getting more accurate colors and faster, real-time light synchronization.
HDMI AI Sync Box ports in the back (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Like the TV Immersion kit, it comes with a light strip designed to stick to the back of your display and two light bars that sit on either side of that display. What's different here is that instead of a camera and a small control box, you're getting an HDMI AI Sync Box. This sync box connects to your gaming PC or gaming laptop via HDMI then to your monitor, also via HDMI, to ensure near-perfect, low-latency light synchronization.
What's more, this sync box uses Govee's AI technology called CogniGlow, which processes "images and the voice information of millions of audio-visual entertainment scenes and combines information to create corresponding lighting effects." As a result, the colors being projected are incredibly accurate and matche what's being displayed on your monitor for the ultimate immersion.
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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit assembly and setup (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
If you think you're not techie enough to set up the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, don't fret. Govee provides clear and simple instructions in the manual, and the process is pretty easy as well. I think that the hardest part is sticking the light strip to the back of your monitor (it's just long enough to fit 27- to 34-inch displays), which could mean some careful measuring and a lot of reaching over if you don't have a lot of space to work with. But, the rest is fast and easy if you follow the instructions.
After the physical setup, you just need to download the Govee app on your phone, add the smart light kit as a device, and you're all set. Govee also provides instructions for that.
Besides, you’re not really in any danger of breaking something if you’re a gaming backlighting newbie. The strip light is pretty robust, and light bars, though made out of plastic, are sturdy as well. Each light bar has a stand that keeps it upright – although neither is heavy enough to keep wobble at bay. Just be mindful that if you’re shaking your desk, these will dance around like stiff skydancers.
The HDMI AI Sync Box comes with its own lighting as well, one that matches the rest of the backlighting, naturally, and has all the ports you need in the back (three HDMI inputs, one of which has ARC support, one HDMI out, and two USB-C out that you use to connect the light strip and the light bars). There’s an HDMI input button in front that you use to switch input sources, and a power button. This is the one thing I find annoying about the kit – it doesn’t turn off when you turn off your input source so you have to manually turn it off as well. Luckily, it works with Alexa and Google Assistant so you can do so without lifting a finger. Or you can use the app on your phone.
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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit displaying LoL colors. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit displaying LoL colors. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit displaying LoL colors. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The whole Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit has 24 individual LED lights (not including the lights on the sync box), 14 on the light strip, and 5 on each light bar. So, you’ll definitely get the full immersion here, especially since each one is customizable via the app. You can set the color on each, apply different scenes (lighting effects) on the whole kit, or even sync to the music playing from an outside source (it has a built-in mic for this very purpose).
The best thing about this is that when in video mode, the kit syncs its display colors to the ones on your monitor. This isn’t just reserved for games as it works perfectly with videos as well. I played some amazing videos on YouTube (video credit to UltrawideVideos, Armadas, and Ronald Soethje) during testing, and those lights display incredibly accurate colors with practically zero lag. The colors overall are so bright and vibrant, they’ll display beautifully even when the room it's in isn’t completely dark.
It’s with PC games where this kit really shines, however. Apart from using AI for its lighting synchronization, it also boasts real-time content-reactive syncing that’s responsive enough to keep up with games running at up to 240fps.
In addition, it offers more than 30 customized game lighting effects per game so that the kit lights up during game highlights. In League of Legends, for example, it lights up every time I use an ability or when my team kills an enemy, which not only adds to my immersion but also makes the whole thing all the more fun.
The only thing about this specific feature is that currently, the kit only has support for two games: League of Legends and Apex. Support for more PC games to come later, with Valorant and Overwatch 2 slated for release soon, but it’s just LoL and Apex for now.
For all other titles, you’re still getting that content-reactive syncing. I tested the kit with vibrant games like Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Sable, and Psychonauts 2, and it delivered the same level of immersion as with the YouTube videos.
Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $299.99 (about £245 / AU$450)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US
The Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit is now available in the US for $299.99 (about £245 / AU$450), which is pretty steep considering that the Govee DreamView T1 Pro TV Backlight, the newer version of the immersion kit, is under $200/£200. But considering its gaming integration and intuitive AI technology, it makes sense that it's pricier.
If you're in the UK and Australia, unfortunately, it's not yet available in those regions. However, it's available for purchase now in the US.
Value: 4 / 5
Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Specs
Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit displaying the colors on North America 21:9 4K video by Ronald Soethje. (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Should you buy the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit?
Buy it if...
You want full gaming immersion This bathes your monitor in lights displaying matching colors, which increases your immersion.
You love RGB lighting Take your gaming setup's RGB lighting to the next level with this RGBIC kit, which reacts and syncs to the content on your display in real time using AI, delivering more dynamic lighting.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget It's not cheap, but it's worth the investment if you can afford it.
Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit: Also consider
How I tested the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit
I tested the setup for a little over a week
I used it for gaming and media consumption
I tested it with several different games, including LoL, and with the Govee app
I set up the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit in my gaming laptop kit, testing it for about a week and using it while gaming and streaming videos. I also tested the different customizations and effects available on the Govee app as well as its game integration on League of Legends.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
There are a lot of 4K 144Hz gaming monitors out there, but there are few as good as the Philips Momentum 279M1RV. It fits into a very particular niche among the best gaming monitors in that it is designed for both PC gaming and console gaming, and it does both extremely well.
Whether you have the best gaming PC or an Xbox Series X|S or PS5, with 144Hz for PC and 120Hz for consoles, you're able to get the fastest 4K performance for all of your games, which is great after being locked into 60Hz for so long.
That said, there are a lot of gaming monitors and gaming TVs out there, so what makes the Philips Momentum 279M1RV so special? Frankly, it's price. It has a retail price of $749.99 / £759.95, which is significantly cheaper than many of the best 4K monitors of this size.
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For gamers, in addition to the fast refresh rate, there is also a fast response time of 1ms, making it a great option for casual esports players.
In standard mode, you get 450 nits of brightness, but this can be pushed up to 600 nits in HDR mode. The monitor panel features nano IPS/W-LED with DisplayHDR 600 as well as a very wide color gamut across sRBG (133%), Adobe RGB (110.1%), and DCI-P3 (98%), making this an excellent creative's monitor as well, so this little display can really do just about everything and does it very well.
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Best of all, for console players, you get three HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning that you can have three consoles plugged in at once and have all of them benefit from 120Hz refresh, which is something you don't see that often. Most of the best gaming monitors for Xbox Series X and best gaming monitors for PS5 only have one HDMI 2.1 port, so you need to swap out ports fairly regularly.
It's a small feature, but it's a notable one that multi-console players like myself absolutely appreciate.
If there were a criticism I have of the Philips Momentum 279M1RV, it'd be the fairly weak speakers and the somewhat awkward footprint. The former isn't as big a deal since most of us have a good gaming headset handy, but if you don't, don't expect miracles from this monitor's built-in sound.
The footprint is more a matter of personal taste. The stand is easy enough to assemble and is plenty sturdy, but the rather tall T-bar for a stand makes it difficult to use the space under the monitor for a soundbar like the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro. Again, it's definitely not a deal breaker, but if you really like to have a pristine setup, it's something to note before dropping this much cash on a monitor.
Should you decide to do so, however, you won't be disappointed. The Philips Momentum 279M1RV is a phenomenal display with great features for both PC gamers and console fans at a very fair price, making it a strong contender for one of the best monitors we've reviewed this year.
Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future/John Loeffler)
How much does it cost? $749.99 / £759.95 (about AU$1,090)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Philips Momentum 279M1RV is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for $749.99 and £759.95 in the US and UK, and about AU$1,090 in Australia. This puts it well north of the best cheap gaming monitors and many of the best gaming monitors generally as well, but for a 27-inch 4K 144Hz gaming monitor, this is actually pretty affordable.
The Sony Inzone M9 4K 144Hz monitor is nearly $900, as is the BenQ Mobiuz EX2710U, but the HP Omen 27U is $699, which makes it slightly cheaper.
Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Specs
Should you buy the Philips Momentum 279M1RV?
(Image credit: Future/John Loeffler)
Buy it if...
You're a PC and a console gamer
Thanks to its ample ports capable of 120Hz or higher, you'll get outstanding performance whether you're gaming on a PC or a console.
You want a well-priced 4K 144Hz monitor
This isn't the cheapest 4K 144Hz monitor, but it's one of the cheapest you'll find, and given its performance, it's an excellent value.
Don't buy it if...
You don't have a console
This monitor's best features are meant for console gamers, so while it's great for PC gaming, you can find cheaper PC-specific monitors out there.
You're on a budget
We all want the best, but this monitor is still a pretty premium item. There are cheaper 1440p displays that will get you great performance for much less.
Philips Momentum 279M1RV: Also consider
How I tested the Philips Momentum 279M1RV
I spent more than a month testing the Philips Momentum 279M1RV
I used it for work, gaming, and content creation
To test the Philips Momentum 279M1RV, I used it extensively as my primary monitor at home.
I used the monitor for extensive work, content creation, and for gaming on both PC and both Xbox and PS5 console.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
Samsung has released its latest refresh on its Galaxy Book line of laptops. The most luxurious of the three, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, is an Ultrabook that's meant to give users a top-notch experience in productivity, creative work, and even gaming.
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is an absolute stunner of a portable machine, offering excellent specs and a gorgeous display all in a sleek and sexy package. Though I often lament the lack of colors in these laptop lines, the Book3 Ultra is one of those exceptions. It has more heft in its form factor than the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro or Pro 360, but it’s still very lightweight and thin for the 16-inch display, at 0.65 inches and less than four pounds.
Pricing is quite high, as it starts at $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875) for the base model and $2,999.99 (£3,049 / around AU$5,610) for the upgraded model. Right now, there’s a US-only sale that drops prices to $1,799.99 for the base model and $2,399.99 for the upgraded version. Australia is left out in the cold, with no official access to the Book3 Ultra at all.
The display is a beautiful 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED screen, which complements its variety of uses that all require a high-quality screen. The keyboard feels smooth and is easy to type on thanks to the wide and well-spaced keys. And thanks to the 16-inch display, there’s even plenty of space for a num lock pad. The touchpad is large and equally smooth, with a great response.
Its port selection has some decent variety: one HDMI 2.0 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 3.2 Type-A port, an audio jack, and one MicroSD slot. I do wish the Ultrabook had an extra Type-A port and an ethernet port, but overall there’s enough coverage for most uses, which is still a leg up on many other Ultrabooks especially.
Performance-wise is great across the board, with productivity being the best use for this laptop. However, if you need a machine that can handle creative and editing projects, as well as some pretty good gaming, then this laptop can also perform well. This is thanks to the 13th-gen Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 CPU that’s built into the laptop, with the former upgradable to the Core i9 and the latter to an RTX 4070 for even better performance.
But the brand new crown jewel of this new line of Galaxy Book3 laptops is the addition of several Samsung file and internet sharing features like Multi Control, Quick Share, Microsoft Phone Link, the Expert RAW app, and Instant Hotspot. This ecosystem of file-sharing and more serves as a true challenge to Apple’s own excellent file-sharing features and makes having multiple Samsung devices worth it.
With all these positives, there’s one major drawback which is battery life. If you’re streaming movies or TV shows then you’re getting less than five hours before needing a recharge. And for pure work, about six or so hours is all you’ll have before needing a recharge, so it won’t even last a full day at the office.
All things considered, however, this is still one of the best laptops 2023 has to offer.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future)
Starting at $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875)
Available now in the US and UK
At the time of this writing, there’s a laptop deal in the US for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, which lowers the pricing to $1,799.99 for the base model and $2,399.99 for the best version.
However, the regular pricing for the base model, which is also the review unit that I received, is $2,399.99 (£2,649 / around AU$4,875) which includes the Core i7-13700H CPU and RTX 4050 GPU. If you want the upgraded version with the Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, that’ll set you back $2,999.99 (£3,049 / around AU$5,610).
As for availability, you can easily nab both models in the US and the UK through the Samsung online store. Unfortunately, Australia is out of luck, with none available through official means. You’ll either have to import one or order from third-party retailers and auction sites.
Price score: 3 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
The specs for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra review unit sent to me are as follows: Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD of storage.
There’s also an upgradable version of the laptop which features the following specs: Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD of storage.
Specs score: 5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Sleek and sexy chassis
Great display and keyboard
Samsung filing sharing ecosystem is excellent
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has an absolutely gorgeous, sleek design. It’s an Ultrabook wearing a sexy black chassis and has a light and thin form factor for its 16-inch display. The display itself is a 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED screen that features 400 nits of brightness normally, and when it’s using HDR that increases to 500 nits. The refresh rate is a variable one that can be adjusted between 48-120Hz depending on your needs.
It has a nice, wide keyboard with well-sized keys and a num lock pad on the side. The touchpad is humongous and well-balanced in its sensitivity. Its audio quality is also excellent, sporting a clear sound that degrades very little at max volume. The webcam is a standard 1080p resolution, and though it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of an HP camera, the image quality is still quite decent even in poor lighting conditions and sharp in good lighting. There’s an HDR mode and a facial smoothing filter with different levels.
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But arguably the most anticipated new feature is one I tested out extensively: the new Samsung ecosystem, which is meant to finally unify Samsung devices like its smartphones and laptops. Connecting a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to the Book3 Ultra through the necessary software and Bluetooth connection, I found that I could transfer photos and other files with ease, as well as display my phone screen on its display, as well as make phone calls, send text messages, and more.
I’m not one for needing a united ecosystem of devices, usually preferring to purchase whatever individually best suits my needs. However, these features have piqued my interest, and I finally understand why it’s so coveted among Apple users, as it genuinely makes so many tasks that much faster and easier. Having multiple Samsung devices is worth it now, as long as it keeps being supported. Also, the process of linking up your phone and laptop should be a little more streamlined and less complicated at first, but thankfully it becomes more intuitive as you go along.
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Design score: 5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Can run work applications and creative programs with ease
Can game on high settings with any PC game
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Benchmarks
Here's how the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 25,584; Fire Strike: 13,479; Time Spy: 6,228 Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 14,093 points GeekBench 5: 1,768 (single-core); 12,310 (multi-core) PCMark 10 (Home Test): 6,762 points Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 4 hours, 45 minutes Civilization VI (1080p, Ultra): 92 fps; (1080p, Low): 96 fps
General performance for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is very well-rounded, a Jack of all trades if you will. Though it doesn’t have a particular speciality, its greatest function is that it’s an all-around workhorse that can tackle most creative and editing tasks alongside productivity and even higher-end gaming. It’s an expensive machine, but it’ll handle whatever you through at it and quite well at that, meaning you won’t have to purchase separate laptops to accomplish different tasks.
Testing using productivity and rendering benchmarks like Handbrake, CrossMark, and PugetBench for Adobe CC found that, while the results weren’t the top of the class, they are comparable to another Ultrabook with similar performance: the Apple Macbook Pro 16 outfitted with the M2 Max chip. Though the Book3 Ultra was beaten out in every test result, it wasn’t by an extremely high margin either, with the largest being less than 400 in the PugetBench Photoshop and CrossMark tests.
The 13th-gen Core i7 CPU works like magic, and it's definitely the key to the Book3 Ultra’s success, being able to run a wide range of applications and programs without breaking a sweat. However, the GPU is no slouch either. This is our first look at the RTX 4050 mobile chip, and its performance is excellent across the board. Though obviously not beating out a dedicated gaming laptop, it absolutely sweeps the last-gen competition in benchmark test scores, and even better, plays nice with the CPU. There’s no sign of the bottleneck that CPU performance hits when paired with a 4080 or 4090.
Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm ran at 95fps on low settings and 92fps for higher settings, which is very impressive. I also ran two other benchmarks to see those results, Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman 3. For the former, I tested on high settings without ray-tracing or DLSS, and the results were a surprisingly solid 31fps on average, though you shouldn’t turn on ray-tracing because even with DLSS on it chugged along at 14FPS. Hitman 3 on high settings netted about 76fps for the Dartmoor benchmark and 98fps for the Dubai, which are both great numbers.
Performance score:5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Battery
(Image credit: Future)
Terrible battery life
Charges fast
Bottomline, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has a terrible battery life. Through productivity work, you can get it to last around six hours at most, and with streaming and gaming, you’ll be getting less than five hours. Most likely the battery drain is due to the RTX 4050 powering it, and I would imagine the 4070 GPU would be even worse.
I did notice that it has a 77Whr battery, which is a bit on the low side for a machine packing a 4000-series card. It charges quickly for that same reason, taking less than one hour for a full charge. But this is a laptop that needs to stay on AC power, especially if you’re doing any intensive work or play.
Battery score: 2 / 5
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra?
Buy it if...
You want excellent productivity and gaming performance This laptop can balance both, plus any editing or creative projects that you need to be done. It's the ultimate workhorse in a gorgeous chassis.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget
Though this is a high-quality laptop that can truly do it all, it also comes at a steep price. The average worker or creative person might have trouble affording it.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: Also consider
If the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra?
I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra for several weeks
I tested it using productivity and creative applications, as well as gaming
I stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test
First, I tested the general weight and portability of the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra by carrying it around in a laptop bag. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to thoroughly test out the processor and graphics card. Finally, I used a variety of programs and applications to test out both battery life and general performance during work-like conditions, as well as gaming benchmarks to test the RTX 4050 GPU.
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra is meant to be a portable laptop with a thin and light chassis. I had to spend a good amount of testing not only on performance issues but looking for any ventilation issues. I also tested out battery life to see how long it could last off AC power.
I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they perform as a work machine.
The Alienware Aurora R15 is the latest refresh in the Aurora line of PCs, coming after the Alienware Aurora R13. The latter was a performance monster, so much so that the weak CPU cooler couldn’t keep up and caused massive overheating issues. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the R15.
Alienware is Dell’s premium brand of gaming PCs and laptops, and for good reason too. Not only do the gaming machines have some of the most unique and visually appealing designs and color palettes out there, but they’re also some of the best performing with the highest quality of specs out there.
The Alienware Aurora R15 is no exception to this golden rule, and it has received substantial upgrades. Notably, the cooling and ventilation system has had a massive overhaul. It now features 240mm liquid cooling that’s upgradable to 240mm Cryo-tech liquid cooling, five 120mm fans, a hexagonal side-venting for better airflow, and voltage regulator heatsinks on the motherboard for better cooling.
Long story short, I haven’t experienced a single issue with overheating or even just regular heating. The PC could be running Cyberpunk 2077 for three hours, and it wil still maintain an excellent internal temperature.
Its other specs are quite impressive — even the lowest priced one at $1,399.99 (around £1,175 / AU$2,085) has a respectable 13th-gen Intel Core i5 13400F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB of SSD. The one I received for review is the most powerful version, which is priced at a whopping $4,499.99 / £4,799.00 including VAT (around AU$6,700) and features a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900KF, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD (boot) along with 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s (storage).
And while the pricing is outrageous, it matches the premium quality of both the absolutely stunning side glass chassis and the components themselves. The PC comes in two colors: Dark Side of the Moon and Lunar Light, which are both equally gorgeous and solely depends on your aesthetic preference.
Thanks to its specs, it is a bit on the heavy side, but it is surprisingly tame compared to other slightly larger PCs. It also has an impressive port selection that fits any possible need you may have for this PC. And thankfully the front batch of ports is not on the top of the PC, so less of a chance of getting dust in them.
Alienware Aurora R15: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future)
Starting at $1,399.99 (around £1,175 / AU$2,085)
Available now in the US and UK
Dell’s Alienware line has always been premium in both price and quality, and the Alienware Aurora R15 is no exception, as most configurations are quite expensive. However, Dell does offer one that, at the time of this writing, is a solid deal at $1,399.99 (around £1,175 / AU$2,085) - at least for those in the US. The UK only has the two most expensive configurations available, and Australia has none at all.
The unit I received for review is the most expensive model you can purchase, costing at the time of this writing $4,499.99 (£4,799.00 including VAT / around AU$6,700). This version comes with top-tier specs including a 13ᵗʰ Gen Intel Core i9-13900KF processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card.
Price score: 4.5 / 5
Alienware Aurora R15: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
The specs for the Alienware Aurora R15 review unit sent to me is as follows: 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900KF processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD storage. As you can tell, this is the highest possible configuration that you can get for this unit, and it chews up and spits out any PC game on the highest settings.
If you’re in the US, you can also purchase a much cheaper model with a solid configuration, though you’ll probably have to upgrade the RAM and storage space. This model comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 13400F processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
There are also several other models in the US to choose from, with my personal favorite for those who want to have a powerful gaming machine without breaking the bank too much. This configuration comes with a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 13700F processor, an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card (which is nearly comparable to the RTX 3070), 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD storage, and it’ll set you back $2,249.99 (around £1,883 / AU$3,344).
Specs score: 5 / 5
Alienware Aurora R15: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Striking design with a daring oval-shaped chassis
Nice port selection
Extensive cooling
One of the most prominent features of nearly any Alienware device is how striking and downright stunning each PC and laptop design is. The Alienware Aurora R15 continues this trend with a daring oval-shaped chassis complemented by both a glass side and one of two gorgeous color palettes to choose from.
The oval chassis not only creates a stark contrast to the more mainstream box look but also helps to shave off pounds from the overall unit. While it’s still a bit heavy, it’s more than possible for a single person to lift on their own, which I tested out by moving it around my apartment.
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The overall port selection is quite excellent, with several USB Type-A and Type-C ports available for use in both the front and back. However, I do wish more Type-C ports were placed in the front, at least two of them versus only one since having to use the three in the back can be a bit annoying.
There are tons of other ports like a headset port, audio/microphone port, optical S/PDIF port, coaxial S/PDIF port, ethernet port, several HDMI ports, center/rear/side surround ports, an external antenna port, and line-in/out ports. There are also two slots for security: a Kensington security-cable slot and a padlock slot. There’s a port for pretty much any need you could possibly have.
A huge shoutout to the massively improved ventilation system on this PC. As I mentioned before, the previous R13 model has significant overheating issues due to the weak CPU heatsink. But this time around, Dell has gone above and beyond in its efforts to prevent this with 240mm liquid cooling that’s upgradable to 240mm Cryo-tech liquid cooling, five 120mm fans, a hexagonal side-venting for better airflow, and voltage regulator heatsinks on the motherboard for better cooling.
While it seems a little over the top, if you’re purchasing the model with an RTX 4090 graphics card, you need the extra cooling since a not-less-than-zero percentage of those cards like to catch on fire when overheated.
Design score: 5 / 5
Alienware Aurora R15: Performance
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Performance beyond incredible
Ventilation keeps PC cool at maxed-out settings
Alienware Aurora R15: Benchmarks
Here's how the Alienware Aurora R15 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
The performance of the Alienware Aurora R15 is beyond incredible, blowing any gaming PC outfitted with previous-generation hardware out of the water with ease. I compared the R15 with another desktop PC I recently reviewed, the Acer Predator Orion 7000, to see how current-gen components would fair in benchmarks, and the differences in performance are like night and day.
Keep in mind that the Orion 7000 is no slouch, outfitted with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and an RTX 3080 graphics card. But for instance, when running the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark on both PCs on Ultra settings, the Orion 7000 averaged at a great 63FRS while the R15 ran at 154FPS, nearly twice the framerates (this was without DLSS turned on). Comparing Dirt 5, the former averaged at 82FPS and the latter managed 183FPS, over 100 points difference.
Deciding to push things a little further, I tested out both Cyberpunk 2077 and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, the latter of which is a technical marvel on PC, to some excellent results. I completely maxed out graphics settings on Cyberpunk and set the framerate requirement to about 240, then ran the benchmark with and without DLSS. The latter managed to stay at a consistent 27FPS, while the former immediately shot up to and stayed at an average of 59FPS.
Meanwhile, maxing out Spider-Man’s graphics with DLSS on and setting the framerate requirement to about 160FPS, I tested out web-swinging through the metropolis and combat on the hardest difficulty with tons of civilians and gun-wielding bad guys around. The former scenario saw the framerate stay above 100FPS, and in the latter, I never saw the framerate dip before 150FPS. It was staggering how incredible the graphics and performance were while running butter smooth all the while.
And the best part was that ventilation made for an experience that kept the PC running nice and cool. It seems that Dell took to heart the missteps of the R13 and created a cooling system that could fully support the power of its components.
Performance score: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Alienware Aurora R15?
Buy it if...
You want a beautiful gaming PC Between the gorgeous oval chassis that comes in two colors and the side glass panel that lights up to showcase the components, this is a showstopping PC.
You want a powerful gaming machine The performance on this machine is beyond outstanding, able to play any PC game on its highest settings and maintain incredibly high framerates.
You need top-notch ventilation Learning from its past mistakes, this PC has several fans, liquid cooling, and improved vents around the chassis to ensure it never overheats, even during intense sessions.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget While the cheapest option is nice to see, it's still not a budget machine and the highest configurations are eye-watering in cost.
Alienware Aurora R15: Also consider
If the Alienware Aurora R15 has you considering other options, here are two more gaming PCs to consider...
How I tested the Alienware Aurora R15
I tested the Alienware Aurora R15 for about a week
I tested PC games at both low and high settings
I used a variety of benchmarks as well as general gameplay to test performance
First, I tested the general weight of the Alienware Aurora R15 by lifting it up and around my apartment. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to test out both the processor and graphics card, as well as in-game gameplay performance. Finally, I stress-tested out titles like Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered and Cyberpunk 2077 in various settings to see both overall performance and ventilation quality.
The Alienware Aurora R15 is specially made as a gaming PC, which meant the brunt of my testing revolved around checking game performance and looking for any ventilation issues.
I've tested plenty of gaming PCs and laptops, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they work during both casual and intense gaming sessions.
The Alienware AW720H is finally putting Alienware on the peripherals map. The gaming brand might not be a newbie in the gaming headset world, but while it's already established itself a major player in the gaming PC and gaming laptop game, it has always kind of sat on the side lines of the peripherals market.
Its new wireless gaming headset is changing that, coming in strong with hi-res audio that instantly elevates your listening experience, whether it's a new PC game you're immersing yourself in or the latest blockbuster to come out on streaming. And, while that crisp and detailed audio is enough to convince me, the addition of Dolby Audio support rounds it out beautifully, making it among the best that have ever pumped audio into my ears.
Naturally, it comes with that coveted-but-never-replicated Alienware design stamp. If you've ever owned or seen an Alienware laptop or PC, then you'll know immediately what I mean when I say that the Alienware AW720H fits right in. Putting it next to my own Alienware laptop makes it look like its offspring, which is cool if you're as big of a fan as I am of the brand.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
It's got that same sleek and rounded space-age vibe, the same RGB-lit alien logo, the same Lunar Light colorway (though it also comes in Dark Side of the Moon as well). The ear cups have a unique shape to them, which I do appreciate and look like if K-2SO from Rogue One and one of the battle droids from The Phantom Menace had babies, and the memory foam ear pads with a breathable fabric cover keeps things cool and comfortable during intense game sessions.
If you tend to sweat while playing, you'll appreciate that fabric cover, even if you're missing out on the luxuriously plush leatherette finish that many high-end gaming headsets come with.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
That comfort extends to the headband that comes with its own adjustable suspension band, which I find effective at keeping the pressure off your head and keeps things nice and airy.
I do, however, wish that the design suited those with smaller heads like mine better. In an effort to make the Alienware AW720H fit most gamers, Alienware has also inadvertently made it a little too big. Because there's plenty of space where my head should be, I find that I have to drag the suspension band lower, which then puts a lot more space between my head and the headband, which in turn makes it look weird on me.
Still, there's lot here to make me love the headset enough to risk me looking like I'm cosplaying as Princess Leia. I love the voice prompts that tell you things like when your mic is on or when the headset is powering down. And I appreciate the albeit minimal app support that let's you (1) customize the RGB lighting on the alien logo, and (2) customize the audio and toggle surround sound.
The surround sound customizations are done on the Dolby Access app, which you do have to enable and access on the Alienware Command Center. It gives you five surround sound presets for different types of media, each with its own finetuning such as the EQ preset options (i.e. you can choose the game preset then pick between "detailed," "balanced," "warm," or "off" EQ). There are also three customizable options where you can enable surround sound, volume leveling, and adjust a 10-band EQ.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
The preset EQ options in the app are subtle enough that some listeners may have trouble distinguishing between them. But, they are still very useful if you prefer your audio to have a little more clarity or a little more mid-range.
The Dolby Atmos surround sound is nicely implemented. When on, I can feel everything expanding, sounding wider and more three dimensional. While the sound quality isn't as sharp or detailed, the good news is that it doesn't sound hazy like most virtual surround sounds.
At default, however, the Alienware AW720H already sounds fantastic. In Hogwarts: Legacy, I get a great sense of space because of its nice wide soundstage even without Dolby Atmos enabled. There's also very accurate imaging; I can feel the different elements in the environment and where they are in relation to my own movements.
In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, there's a lot of bass and I can hear all the small elements - each of the rot spirits, for example - individually. The audio is very detailed and very crisp, adding to my immersion.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
There is something weird going on with the bass. When watching Wakanda Forever: Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, I find that anything that's deep sub-bass is just not there and anything that's not true bass isn't artificially pumping up the low end. However, those that are in the low frequencies above the sub-bass are pretty prominent. This means that your experience with the bass will vary depending not just on the media itself but also the different frequencies used in individual titles.
The mid range does have a little bit of a boost, making it a little richer-sounding. Some might prefer it to be a little less full, but the way it is on the AW720H is already pretty good. The volume is well-controlled. There's plenty of volume for use, but you’ll probably have to turn it up all the way.
There's also a lot of battery on tap - 30 hours, more specifically. And, fast-charging is on hand should you forget to charge, giving you about six hours of gameplay after 15 minutes of charging. In fact, I haven't charged my test unit once during my time with it after that initial full charge.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
And, finally, the mic... This boom mic that cleverly retracts into the left ear cup when not in use sounds loud and clear, though a little compressed and mid-range heavy, which is typical for many boom mics. While there's little bit of sibilance, it's pretty good at minimizing plosives.
Unfortunately, it has no background noise rejection so louder sounds around you will be heard clearly by folks on the other side of that call. Though background noise do get slightly quieter when user is speaking, it’s still prominent enough to be distracting.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Alienware AW720H: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
At $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235), the Alienware AW720H wireless gaming headset may not be cheap, but it is competitively priced, sitting in the same price range as other top-quality wireless gaming headsets and is cheaper than some of the higher-end ones.
Its price is comparable to the highly-rated SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, which boasts solid neutral sound quality and plenty of customizations via the Sonar app, while slightly pricier than the Corsair HS65 Wireless, which has an incredibly immersive soundstage and long-range connectivity.
Alienware AW720H: Specs
Should you buy the Alienware AW720H?
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Buy it if...
You want an affordable hi-res gaming headset The Alienware AW720H delivers impressive, highly detailed audio and an immersive soundstage for less than you'd expect.
You need both style and substance It boasts that Alienware stamp, which means it looks just as good as it sounds.
Don't buy it if...
You're penny-pinching It's affordable, but it's not what I would consider budget. If you're on a tight budget, there are cheaper options.
You need a mic with background noise rejection While its mic sounds clear and crisp, it doesn't do a good job of rejecting background noise.
Alienware AW720H: Also consider
How I tested the Alienware AW720H
One-week testing
Tested for PC gaming and streaming
I put the Alienware AW720H through rigorous testing of playing PC games and streaming blockbusters to really what its surround sound and hi-res audio are made of. I chose, for example, Kena: Bridge of Spirits to see just how detailed the headset's high frequencies are since the game has a lot of environmental noises that typically shine with hi-res audio devices, and Hogwarts: Legacy to check just how wide its soundstage and how accurate its imaging is, especially with Dolby Atmos enabled. I also put on Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion to test its bass frequencies.
I also played around with the Alienware Command Center and the Dolby Atmos app to gauge the level of customizations available to users and the differences among the sound profiles and modes on hand. Naturally, since they're just as important as sound quality, I also gave special attention to its fit, comfort, and battery life.
I've been testing gaming headsets, headphones, and other audio devices for years, writing reviews for several tech publications, including TechRadar, before I joined the team as a TechRadar Editor.
