As far as the best free PDF readers go, All PDF is primed to serve most of your needs. If you want to view PDFs while on the go, but you need more tools than your standard browser offers, the PDF reader for Android offers a solid toolkit for offline use, giving you an impressive amount of control over your files - all wrapped up in a super-clean UI. 

It’s not a full PDF editor for your phone, having more in common with the Adobe Acrobat Reader app (only without the constant nudging to take out a Document Cloud subscription). But what does the lightweight free PDF viewer deliver for users? 

• Download All PDF from the Google Play Store here.

All PDF: Pricing & plans

• Free with ad-free Pro upgrade 

The All PDF Android app is free to download and use. The trade-off here is the inclusion of ads. Don’t worry though, these are limited to an unobtrusive strip at the bottom of the page and a full-screen advert that appears once you’ve performed a task like, for instance, converting an image to PDF. It feels like a fair trade, with ads never bombarding you or seriously getting in the way of what you’re doing. 

 You can opt to subscribe, which removes the ads while offering access to what the developer dubs ‘premium tools’. There are three options - monthly, semi-annually, and annually. You can also choose to buy the app outright, so if you’re a PDF power user, it offers pretty good value for money. 

There’s also another paid-for version  - All PDF Pro, with a one-off fee of $6.49 / £5.99 / AU$9.99. An ideal choice if you’re looking for a subscription-free PDF viewer.

• Pricing & plans: 4/5 

All PDF: Interface & experience

• Impressively speedy and smooth in use and operation 

All PDF is optimized for mobiles and tablets, which means there are certain expectations for the user. A clean interface, simple navigation that’s thumb-friendly and intuitive. On that score, the PDF editing app performs excellently. Once you start digging into the app, the user experience fares just as well. It’s as smooth as silk. Even larger documents open without the sort of delays and lags that can sometimes affect these kinds of mobile-focused tools. 

At the foot of the home screen are four options for finding your PDFs: Recent, Favorites, Device, and PDF Tools. There’s also ‘Browse files’, a floating option that follows you across the app, putting access within easy reach at (almost) all times. 

Managing documents is equally effortless. To the top of the screen are options to alter the layout. You’re free to display files as icons or in a list, with anywhere from two to six columns. This is especially handy for if you’re a PDF power-user with a chestful of saved documents - although you can also search by filename, too, just to make things easier. 

Beneath the preview of individual files, you’ll see two buttons. Tapping the star will save it to your favorites. Pressing the three dots unfurls a menu with a raft of additional options, from sharing and save location to seeing what security measures are in place, like whether or not the file has encryption. 

• Interface & experience: 5/5  

All PDF: Management & reading

• Fair selection of in-document extras and settings to fit your preferences

Open up a document and the extras keep on coming. 

You’ll see them at the top, where there’s a search function which works incredibly well and, like everything else, performs its duty fast. Easing the experience for night-time readers is a toggle switch for dark mode. The Eye icon lets you switch to your preferred reading mode and page layout - horizontal view is particularly good, letting you swipe through pages like the PDF is a book, rather than endlessly scrolling up and down. 

A context menu hidden within the three dots is where you’ll want to go to view the table of contents, jump to specific pages, add bookmarks, and share. It's also worth diving into the settings here, as you can tweak options like whether or not documents display in full screen automatically, remember the last viewed page, and prevent your phone going to sleep while a PDF file is open. 

Since the PDF covers are visible, it's all very clear to see which PDFs you have loaded up. However, while you can sort them by, say, date or title, we would've liked to see a drag and drop tool that let us organize them into our own unique order. 

• Management & reading: 4

All PDF: Tools

• Good range of tools - and you won't need an internet connection to work them 

All PDF is positively loaded with useful tools for managing and manipulating your documents online and offline - all housed under the PDF Tools section.  It’s here where you’ll find options including split files, PDF merger tools, and a PDF compressor. 

Elsewhere, there are tools for extracting text and images from documents, as well as a JPG to PDF converter. All are incredibly easy to use - and impressively fast, too. In just a few taps, we were downloading pictures in PDF form, ready to be shared with others. 

For the security conscious user, the app also offers the protect/unprotect feature for locking down (or unlocking) files with a user-defined password. Better still, you’re given full control over what you can prevent others from doing with your PDF. For example, you may choose to allow PDF printing and commenting, while disabling the ability to copy content.

Granted, it’s not the full PDF editor experience. This isn’t Adobe Acrobat, after all. So, it’s missing a few features, like a Word to PDF converter (or other Microsoft 365 apps for that matter). And there’s no OCR software or eSign software built in. But for general use, All PDF covers most bases.

• Tools: 4/5 

All PDF: Scorecard

Should I try?

Try it if...

You want a lightweight Android app for managing and viewing PDF files, with all the basic tools you'd need for general use.

Don't try it if...

You need full PDF editing tools that let you create and manipulate documents from scratch.

Sivga Oriole review: One-minute review

Even audiophiles are unlikely to have heard of Sivga. Established in China in 2016, Sivga's full range of earphones and headphones have quickly proven to be more stylish than most alternatives. Best of all, as the Sivga Oriole over-ear headphones demonstrate, the sound quality is remarkably good for the price. They're a veritable checklist of covetable features and sound quality at only $199/£219 (about AU$390).

The Sivga Oriole headphones boast 50mm drivers that sound great. Clear and detailed music easily comes through these headphones, no matter what you're listening to. In particular, we loved the sparkle that emanated from David Bowie's Under Pressure. A wide soundstage makes you feel more part of the experience, too – they rate among the best over-ear headphones for wired listening in the price range.

But the Sivga Oriole headphones have more to offer than balanced sound. The cans are also very lightweight at about 280g, yet the wooden earcups look impressive and have a robust build quality, while the cables included are hardy and seem magically tangle-free. The closed-back design safely isolates you from the outside world (provided your head and ears are relatively small), so you can focus on your music without the sound-altering effects of adding in ANC.

As great all-rounders, the Sivga Oriole remind us of the advantages of wired headphones – great sound and no issues with battery life. Such sound quality makes you dig through your music library, rediscovering your favorites while marvelling at just how cheap these over-ears are. They're an ideal pairing with the best MP3 players for people who value high-quality music on the go. For more budget options, take a look at our best cheap headphones guide – otherwise, read on for our full Sivga Oriole review.

Sivga Oriole review: Price and availability

• Released November 2022
• Cost $199/£219 (about AU$390)

The Sivga Oriole over-ear headphones are available in two colors: brown and rosewood. Effectively a darker or lighter brown color scheme. In either case, the standard price is $199/£219 (about AU$390), which is fairly inexpensive for what they provide. 

Other wired option at this kind of price include the open-back Sennheiser HD 560S or the Grado SR225x. Going in the wireless/noise-cancelling direction, you're looking at something like the Sony WH-XB910N.

Sivga Oriole review: Features

• Great-quality wires
• Cables can be individually detached
• 50mm driver

It might seem like a mundane starting point, but we're seriously impressed by the Sivga Oriole's cables. Wired headphones always carry the risk (and irritation) of turning into a jungle of cables that are impossible to untangle. Somehow, the Sivga Oriole don't have this issue. 

They have braided cables that you can detach individually from the left or right cup, which is helpful if you need to listen out for something. While you'd think that extra element would make it messier, the cables never became jumbled up. We're surprised, too, but it instantly solves a major issue with wired headphones. The wires are a touch on the long side for commuting, but that's a minor quibble – not everyone will take these away from their home system.

With a 3.5mm jack and 6.3mm adapter, the Sivga Oriole are capable of being hooked up to most of the best headphone DACs or other devices with these connections easily enough. There's no USB-C connector for phones, of course. While these aren't the kind of headphones that offer ANC, outside sound is fairly easily blocked out while commuting or somewhere noisy. 

Besides the 50mm driver sounding tempting, a claimed frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz is even more appealing, though not out of the ordinary for headphones made for budding audiophiles.

• Features score: 4/5

Sivga Oriole review: Design

• Lightweight design
• Attractive wooden finish
• Robust build quality

Mixing wood, leatherette, and aluminum elements mean the Sivga Oriole feel far more premium than they are. They're very lightweight at 280g and ideally suited for smaller heads with ear cups to match. The fit might be less comfortable for larger heads, though. 

The ear cups are soft leatherette with a comfy amount of memory foam inside to keep your ears content no matter how long you wear them. Unlike other headphones, the headband never pinches or feels like a slowly invading force on the top of your head – they just feel good. 

The metal components of the headphones do the bending and feel sturdy and robust. There's a satisfying click as you adjust the headband to your liking, and a small L and R show you which side is which.

• Design score: 4/5

Sivga Oriole review: Sound quality

• Wide soundstage
• Balanced sound
• Impressively clear and detailed for the price

Sivga promises the sweet spot of balanced, natural and accurate sound, and that's mostly come to fruition. The Sivga Oriole headphones aren't there for bass-heavy enthusiasts – bass is there but fairly restrained. Instead, these are cans ideal for a little bit of everything.

For fairly small closed-back headphones, the soundstage offers some additional space so you can still hear the music surrounding you. Bass is a little tame at times but you get plenty of energy with the mids and trebles. Crucially, everything sounds detailed whether you're listening to The Beach Boys' classic, God Only Knows or something more modern like Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero. 

We've lightly criticized the bass, but it's still functional with Foo Fighters' All My Life carrying a punch, even if it's more of a jab than something like the bassy tones of the Sony WH-1000XM5 would deliver – which are more than $100/£100 more expensive.

Switch to a dose of The Chemical Brothers and the headphones light up, feeling more thrilling once more. It's a similar story when checking out big band music, like Benny Goodman with lively mids helping you feel you're right in the moment.

Bass fans will maybe want to give these a miss but for anyone looking for reliable balance, the Sivga Oriole know how to hit the spot nearly every time.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Sivga Oriole review: Value

• Packing plenty for the price
• Minor compromises to be made
• Useful extras included

Got this far in our Sivga Oriole review and still not sure? We're mostly impressed. The sound quality of the Sivga Oriole is above what you would expect for the price. 

To get the same level of audio quality from the best wireless headphones (we're thinking the Sony WH-1000XM4, Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Sennheiser Momentum 4 would be worthy rivals). By doing so, you'll also miss out on the great style that the Sivga Oriole offer – and the Sivga aren't really made for the ANC crowd. They're made for hearing your records or Hi-Res files as accurately as possible on a budget. If you're looking for something that stands out from the crowd, you've found them. There are no plasticky bits to contend with and a mature color scheme goes a long way.

The Sivga Oriole may not be perfect, but as long as you're not a bass enthusiast or in desperate need of ANC, they're pretty great.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Sivga Oriole?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Sivga Oriole review: Also consider

The Pulse 3D Wireless Headset continues a longstanding tradition in gaming. With every new Sony console comes a new PlayStation headset, and that isn't changing just yet. 

Like its predecessors, the new PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is definitely a strong performer in the sound department, offering detail-rich stereo and surround sound. However, new features like 3D Tempest AudioTech support are what make it one of the top headsets for the console.

At the least, it's one of the best PS5 headsets currently going. For social and competitive gamers, extras like mic monitoring and individual level-setting for chat and game audio set the headset apart from your standard wired headphones, and the mic quality is fairly good, all things considered.

While it’s not without problems – its 12-hour battery runs out fast, its build quality isn’t the best, and the 3D effect does take some tuning to get right – the Pulse 3D is a rock-solid PS5 headset and one that we’d recommend you pick up when you finally get your hands on the console.

Pulse 3D Wireless Headset

PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset: Price and release date

The white Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset release date was October, 30 2020. It arrived almost a full two weeks ahead of the launch of the PS5 release date on November 12, and a Midnight Black version launched in October 2021. They're compatible with both the PS5 and PS4, and step up to replace the Sony Platinum Wireless Headset for the PS4 that came out back in 2017.

The Sony Pulse 3D Headset price comes in at $99 / £89.99 / AU$159, which might sound expensive considering the price of other third-party headsets, but that’s actually fairly reasonable considering all of the things the Pulse 3D brings to the table.

That said, if you’re looking for some alternatives, you could check out the Turtle Beach Recon 200 that’s compatible with the PS5 and priced at only $49.99 / £29.99 / AU$77.99, however you’ll be making a sacrifice in the sound performance department and overall feature set. For now, the PlayStation Pulse seems to offer the best price-to-performance ratio of any PS5 headset.

PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset: Price and release date

While the original Sony Wireless Headphones matched the bulky, jet-black PS3, the new Pulse 3D Headset matches the aesthetic of the PS5 perfectly with a two-tone black-and-white color scheme. It's sleek, too, with an adjustable top strap that perfectly cradles your head. It’s a balanced look between classic and space age without straying too far in either direction.

Regarding weight, the Pulse 3D weighs in at 295 grams, which is about average for a pair of over-ear headphones. The cans themselves house medium-sized 40mm drivers and the clamping force of the headphones – i.e. how much pressure the cups put on your head - is just enough to keep them on without them falling off. 

Like before, Sony has chosen to use a leatherette material for the earcups that feels soft and supple and a plastic bridge that feels the slightest bit flimsy. Sure, going for silk and metal might’ve made them a bit cosier on the ears and sturdier, but the pleather stays relatively cool and comfortable after extended use and the plastic, while definitely not ideal, does keep the cost of the headset down.

The outside of the left earcup plays host to the controls: a rocker for game and chat audio that can raise either individually; a microphone monitor toggle so that you can hear yourself; a volume rocker; a mute button and the power switch. There’s also a 3.5mm jack that can connect to any 3.5mm device using the included cable and a USB-C port for charging.

Because the headset has a 3.5mm jack, you can use the headset without the included dongle and you'll still get to hear 3D Tempest AudioTech, though that will drain the battery on the controller faster. That said, it's probably best that, when using the headphones with the PS5, you should make sure the dongle is plugged in and connected instead of connecting the headphones to the controller with the audio cable.

The only problem with the design is that, realistically, it’s not the kind of thing you’d wear outside of the house. If you’re planning on buying a pair of headphones you can take with you on the go, the PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset isn’t going to be it.

PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset: Performance

Setting up the headset is as simple as plugging the included dongle into one of the PS5’s USB ports and turning the headset on. The console will automatically connect to the headset and direct all audio there instead of the TV’s speakers. You can also plug the dongle into a PC's USB port if you want to use it there, but you won't get surround sound that way.

Once it's all connected, the Pulse 3D Wireless actually sounds good, with solid stereo and simulated surround sound. Songs on Spotify didn't have as much detail or clarity as they did on other traditional headphones, and some games like Fall Guys or Genshin Impact didn't see much of a boost from the headphones, but by and large the stereo and simulated surround experience was decent, if not quite impressive.

Of course, what you'll really want to buy the Pulse 3D Wireless for is its compatibility with Sony's new Tempest 3D AudioTech that it's implementing in all its first-party games that give them a more realistic and immersive sound quality. In practice, using the Pulse 3D with Spider-Man: Miles Morales meant being able to hear more realistic city sounds, while in Sackboy: A Big Adventure, every sound effect had a distinct directionality to it.

The list of games that support 3D Tempest AudioTech was fairly limited at launch. Initially, it was just Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Astro’s Playroom, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Demon’s Souls. Since then, that's expanded to Gran Turismo 7, Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Horizon Forbidden West, Resident Evil Village, and plenty more.

Unfortunately, none of the games we tried with the headphones so far sounded as immersive as, say, a Dolby Atmos film due to the limited nature of the 3D sound. Still, getting a taste of the 3D AudioTech was preferable to not hearing it at all. 

Over a few weeks, we talked to friends on PS5 with the headset and family on Google Meet through our laptop. Both said we sounded fine, though not crystal-clear, and that it was comparable to speakerphone. An added bonus of the Pulse 3D Headset is that it has built-in mic monitoring, letting you hear yourself when you're talking. It's a nice feature for first-person shooters where the action can sometimes override chat audio, so you can be sure you're coming through loud and clear.

In terms of battery life, Sony claims that the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset should last about 12 hours on a single charge, and we found that claim to be pretty accurate, give or take an hour depending on how loud we listened to music and if we forgot to turn them off after we were done using them for the day. 

Unfortunately, that 12 hours is around three hours less than comparable headphones from Astro, Razer, Turtle Beach and other headphone makers, but it shouldn't be a deal-breaker unless  you're someone who can never remember to plug your headphones in at the end of the day. (Don't worry, we're guilty of it, too.) 

Overall, the headset's performance was far better than we expected, and while it isn't the first name in clarity or soundstage, its workman-like performance and ease-of-setup plus the support for 3D Tempest AudioTech should be more than enough to keep most gamers happy.

PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset: Should you buy it?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

• Here are all the best PS5 accessories available to buy right now

Xbox Wireless Headset: Two-minute review

The Xbox Wireless Headset is a sensational option from Microsoft that’s a must-buy for any Xbox gamer, which boasts a flawless wireless connection backed up by highly impressive audio and significant quality-of-life features. We’d normally expect to pay triple the price to experience this sort of sound quality, particularly from a wireless headset, though there is a caveat you need to bear in mind. 

To get the most out of these headphones, you’ll need to spend time tweaking the EQ in the Xbox Accessories app to dial in exactly how you want them to sound. That’s a good thing, though, as everyone hears sound differently and has preferences when it comes to bass, mids, and highs.

We’re also extremely pleased that Microsoft included a good microphone on the Xbox Wireless Headset. You’ll probably get a richer, slightly fuller tone from the boom mics found on competing headphones, sure. But the Xbox Wireless Headset’s microphone sounds great, packing clever technology like auto-mute to eliminate background noise when you’re not speaking.

The overall design of the headset is also superb, with a premium feel that completely belies the cheaper price point Microsoft has managed to achieve. Simply put, if you’re in the market for a wireless gaming headset to go with your new Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console, or even if you’re a PC gamer, the Xbox Wireless Headset is as good as it gets.

Xbox Wireless Headset: price and release date

The Xbox Wireless Headset costs $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149.95 and became available on March 16, 2021. 

It’s competitively priced for a wireless headset, and undercuts the likes of the SteelSeries Arctis 9x while offering the same desirable features like Bluetooth support and a top quality microphone. Compared to that and other more expensive headsets, like the Fnatic React Plus, you'd be hard-pressed to justify other premium options.

Xbox Wireless Headset: design

Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Headset mirrors the design language of the Xbox Series X to an impressive degree. 

The all-black design is embellished with tasteful touches, such as the thin green rings that surround the outside of each earcup and the embossed Xbox logo on the right-hand side. The inside of the earcups, which are handily marked with large ‘L’ and ‘R’ letters, also have a faint green hue that seeps through the mesh, as the driver’s are also coated in Xbox’s familiar brand color.

Powering up the headset, which is done by pressing the light green power button located on the left-hand side, greets you with the familiar Xbox Series X boot up sound. You also get audio cues that Xbox owners will immediately recognise when you power them down, mute the microphone or pair the headset, too.

Adjusting volume or balancing game and voice chat is nothing short of a pleasure on the Xbox Wireless Headset thanks to the rubberized dials that we’ve seen in another of Microsoft’s audio products, the Microsoft Surface Headphones. You simply turn either the left or right rubberized earcup dial to adjust the volume or chat to your liking, and it’s super easy to make incremental adjustments.

Despite being a mostly plastic design, the Xbox Wireless Headset feels built to last and the materials used convey a real premium feel that belies the $100 price tag Microsoft has somehow managed to hit. The Xbox Wireless Headset wasn’t prone to any creaking during our testing, and the overall clamping force was more than reasonable to ensure a comfortable fit.

At 312g, the headset is also light enough that you won’t feel it weighing down on your head after hours of play. You can also comfortably crank up the volume with room to spare thanks to the headset’s 32 Ohm impedance, and the speaker response of 20Hz - 20kHz should mean no audio details you’ve come to expect in your go-to games are missed.

While it won't impact everyone, one slight we do have against the Xbox Wireless Headset, is that the ear cups could be a touch too small for those with larger heads and ears. They’re not uncomfortable by any means – the oval ear cushions are made of polyurethane leather and have foam cushioning, but we did notice that this reviewer’s particularly large ears would feel a little tender after a few hours.

Xbox Wireless Headset: audio performance

When we first put the Xbox Wireless Headset on, we were impressed and concerned in equal measure by how bass-heavy the sound signature was. If you’re someone who loves nothing more than a hard thumping bassline, the Xbox Wireless Headset won’t disappoint. It provides truly incredible bass reproduction – and there were times when we felt as though we had our ears pressed up against a DJ’s subwoofer. 

Seriously, these are superb at delivering that low-end sound that so many people crave and enjoy. There’s even a bass boost option that goes up to +12, which honestly, seems downright excessive considering just how low these headphones can go.

But while that’s all well and good, having a purely bass-driven pair of headphones isn’t ideal when you’re playing competitive shooters or even more cinematic single-player experiences. Too much bass can overpower and muddy the other frequencies that are equally as important, leaving you with a muffled sound that won’t do you any favors in online multiplayer games.

Thankfully, Microsoft has designed the Xbox Wireless Headset to suit everyone as you can customize the sound to your liking. If you head into the Xbox Accessories app you can pick from a selection of equalizers that include Game, Movie, Music and Speech. And while neither of those were quite right for this reviewer, there’s also an option to customize six EQ levels to your liking. It’s here where the Xbox Wireless Headset truly comes into its own.

We’re used to a flatter soundstage overall, so headed to the Xbox Accessories app to dial back the bass to a point where it could still provide a satisfying thud, but not cannibalize every other frequency as a result. We also wanted to be able to hear voices slightly clearer. After some careful tweaking over our testing, we ended up with a sound signature that ticked every box and sounded amazing no matter what we’re doing: be it listening to music, playing our favorite games or simply watching videos on YouTube.

These cans also sound wonderful when using spatial audio such as Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos. If you don’t own Dolby Atmos, simply connecting the Xbox Wireless Headset will give you six months access for free, so there’s no excuse not to experiment with the wonders of spatial audio. Despite being a closed back pair of headphones with great noise isolation, we were pleased by how clear and detailed the best Dolby Atmos Xbox Series X games sounded. The sound never felt too closed off, with a wide enough soundstage to provide a convincing 360-degree audio effect. 

We can’t understate how engrossing the audio quality is on these headphones once you’ve played around with the EQ settings. It’s astonishing to think that you can get this type of audio performance for less than $100, and Microsoft deserves a great deal of credit for including a pair of 40mm drivers that are so responsive to changes from the user. EQs aren’t new after all, but we’ve often found that some headsets can’t really be tweaked to produce positive results, no matter how much we fiddle with certain levels. The Xbox Wireless Headset, in comparison, are extremely malleable in this regard, and it pays off in a big way.

Good audio will always be subjective due to the nature of our ears, age, and ability to hear certain frequencies. It’s a relief then that Microsoft didn’t take a “one sound suits all” type of sound that some manufacturers opt for and gave us an incredible foundation to discover what sounds best. The Xbox Wireless Headset can receive future improvements thanks to its ability to receive over the air updates.

Xbox Wireless Headset: microphone quality and wireless connectivity

The Xbox Wireless Headset’s microphone opts for a unique design that works admirably. Instead of opting for a detachable or retractable boom mic, the microphone simply pulls down and can be tucked away when it’s not in use. It sits a few inches away from the left-side of your face, but still does a brilliant job of picking up your voice clearly thanks to Microsoft’s voice isolation technology.

A white indicator light is present when the mic is active, so you know whether or not you’re broadcasting to the world. The mute button is located at the end of the mic’s housing, which can be found easily using your left thumb. Clicking it will give you a handy audio notification, too, so you can be doubly sure your mic is turned off.

The microphone also has a clever auto-mute feature which works surprisingly well. The microphone will attempt to block out persistent background noise, like you might get from an air conditioner. We found that on the high setting the Xbox Wireless Headset did a fine job at isolating the music we were playing off our phone once we stopped speaking.

We didn't encounter any drops or disconnects when using the Xbox Wireless Headset, thankfully. Battery life was also more than reasonable, lasting between 12-15 hours on a single charge during our testing. It takes three hours to fully charge the headset, but you can get four hours of power from 30 minutes of charging, which is handy to say the least.

Should I buy the Xbox Wireless Headset?

Buy it if… 

• Best Xbox Series X headsets – the top Xbox Series X gaming headsets

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is a perfect option if you need a beefier gamepad rather than relying on the traditional Joy-Con. Although the Nintendo Switch’s detachable Joy-Con controllers were a main appeal during the console’s launch, the tiny controllers can get pretty uncomfortable when playing for long periods, making a bulkier controller even more important. 

The Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons are an ingenious design for on-the-go, transformable play, but they are nothing to write home about when it comes to long-term use. Players with bigger hands may also feel uncomfortable due to the small size of the controllers, so a change of pace is an essential accessory to add to the mix.

Enter the Pro Controller, a perfect match to Sony's DualSense Edge, alongside the Xbox Wireless Controller. In fact, it's one of the best Nintendo Switch Accessories, especially since it's compatible with the Nintendo Switch OLED too. 

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller: design

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller doesn’t break the mould in design. Where the split nun-chuck look of the Joy-Cons takes some getting used to, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is instead your standard two-analogue stick, handle-gripped pad. It feels like an Xbox 360 controller if a little curvier in hand. 

It is nicely weighted for balanced play and has a slightly translucent finish to its plastic casing, with a circuit board-style pattern delicately etched into its surface. Suppose you found the Joy-Con buttons a little fiddly. In that case, the Pro Controller is far beefier, with larger A, B, X and Y buttons sat in the traditional diamond formation on the right-hand side, backed by two triggers and offset analogue sticks.

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feels a little chunkier than its PS4 and Xbox One counterparts, but that could be down to its class-leading battery life. Where you’ll get around six or seven hours from a DualShock 4, you’ll get a whopping average of 40 from the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. That’s a hell of a lot of playtime, so a little top-up now and then means you’ll probably never see it totally wiped out.

It’s a forward-thinking pad too. It features a USB-C reversible charging port, meaning you won't have to fiddle around to get it to plug in, while there’s also NFC built-in for connecting up your Amiibo collectible figurines. If the black aesthetic isn't to your liking, Nintendo's released several themed options over the years, including tie-ins for Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller: functionality

As innovative as they are, the Joy-Con pads can be an act in perfecting hand contortion when used singularly, and the optional Grip pads still don’t quite make up the difference with the competition.

The Switch Pro Controller is much better, however. Its sticks have a great level of resistance and are comfortably offset, and the face buttons also have a perfect amount of depth. When it comes to the D-Pad, Nintendo has had the best since the days of the NES, allowing for pinpoint accuracy in 2D sidescrollers. 

It’s still present and correct with the Pro Controller here and really shows up just how lacking the split-button D-Pad attempt on the right-hand side of the Joy-Con (when used in a singular set-up) is.

If there’s one point of contention, it’d be with the rear triggers, which don’t have quite the depth we’ve come to expect from triggers on other pads. They’re far closer to additional shoulder buttons than deep triggers. That’s not an issue with many games, but it can be a bit jarring with shooters or racing titles.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller: verdict

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is an excellent pad. It’s a must-have if you primarily use your Nintendo Switch at home, but it is great for tabletop mode too. However, it is also one of the more expensive pads on the market compared to those paired with rival consoles at $69.99 / £59.99 – but none offers its NFC capabilities or capacious built-in battery capabilities. It’s a premium addition to your Switch set-up, but we’d say it’s also essential.

• Upcoming games 2022: all the game releases for console and PC

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription combines multiple services into one monthly payment, and for the first time, you don't even need to own an Xbox or PC to play your favorite games. 

Streaming Xbox games via Xbox Cloud Gaming means that the Xbox ecosystem is now accessible to those who wouldn't even consider buying a console. That's currently available on Android, iOS, PC, and directly through Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

While Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass are two different services, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles both together and then a slew of extra goodies on top.

While Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass will set you back $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$10.95 each, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers both for $15 / £10.99 / AU$15.95 per month, and also includes Xbox Live Gold (now only available annually in many territories, which costs $60.00 / £50.00 / AU$80.00). You also get EA Play, which costs $4.99 / £4.99 per month, and Xbox Cloud Gaming at no extra cost.

If you're hoping to get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for an even cheaper price, we've got good news. While this is currently being trialled in just the Republic of Ireland and Colombia, Microsoft is looking to launch an Xbox Game Pass family plan, allowing you and four players to jump in for a monthly cost of €21.99 – which comes to around $21.99 / £19.99 / AU$32.99.

Subscribers can download huge titles on the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC like Doom Eternal, Forza Horizon 5, and Gears 5. You can then play whenever you’d like, and try out backward compatible titles from both the original Xbox and Xbox 360 console generations, thanks to Xbox’s extensive backward compatibility program.

Since you get Xbox Live Gold included, too, you’ll be able to hop straight into a match of Rainbow Six Extraction or any other multiplayer title in the service like Sea of Thieves. PC players won’t need to pay to play online, but they can still pick a wealth of games to download. Releases like Crusader Kings 3, alongside first-party hits like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, can be found on the Xbox app for Windows 10.

Add in the EA Play catalog, and you’ve got the likes of Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Skate, too. Previously a $4.99 / £4.99 added cost, it’s now free of charge for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. 

Oh, and did we mention that 20 Bethesda games are now on Xbox Game Pass as well? As part of Microsoft's acquisition of the company, you can now access games like The Elders Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Prey, Fallout 76 and Wolfenstein: Youngblood to name but a few.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also offers its own unique perks, with digital goodies for free-to-play titles like Warframe, as well as gaming-adjacent bonuses like Discord Nitro and Spotify memberships. Speaking of extras, players can complete ‘Quests’ by trying new games and ticking off Achievements, redeemable towards giveaways and gift cards – although it’ll take time to get. Still, it’s a nice incentive to try new games.

While games aren’t permanently fixed in the service, you’ll get plenty of notice before titles leave. If you want to add them to your collection permanently, you’ll get a 20% discount, and you’ll also save 10% on any DLC for games in the Game Pass library too.

As we've mentioned above, players can even play many of the included titles on their phones – at least if you’ve got an Android device. Over 50 games now support touch-controls, too, so you don't even need to connect an Xbox Wireless Controller or fork out for a dedicated gamepad for mobile gaming like the Razer Kishi.

You’ll need a solid connection (and 5G is likely to boost your chances of a lag-free experience), but it’s something that opens up the Xbox ecosystem to millions more potential players, and is a nice bonus to those who already play on Xbox or PC.

Competitor Sony has since retired PlayStation Now, it's former subscription service, merging into a recently revamped PS Plus instead. As such, you'll need to subscribe to the top tier, PS Plus Premium, instead, which doesn't guarantee day one access to Sony's catalog. Even if you only opted for the standard Xbox Game Pass, you're still getting a lot more for your money with Microsoft.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: design and interface

Because Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is made up of several elements, it doesn’t necessarily have a unified interface. Instead, there’s the Xbox app on PC, as well as a section on the Xbox dashboard (which is now unified between Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X consoles).

For console users, it’s hard to miss – Microsoft has put Game Pass almost front and center on the home screen. With just a couple of button presses, users can start browsing the catalog. Each game has a trailer, screenshots, and the file size listed, so you can pack as much onto your hard drive as possible. You can also see at a glance if it has any enhancements for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

You can also filter by genre, see what friends are playing, ask the app to "surprise me", or flick through recommendations. It's similar to Netflix and also shows games that are recently added or leaving soon, too. The 'My Games and Apps' menu will show which titles are from Game Pass or EA Play, too, so you can easily spot them amongst games you’ve purchased.

For PC users, you’ll find Game Pass within the existing Xbox app, meaning you won’t have to worry about downloading any extra launchers. Games don’t have to be launched from the app either, meaning you can manage installations from the Control Panel, just as if you’d installed the game from the Microsoft Store (which, incidentally, is where games are updated from).

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: content library

Taking the perks, the Quests, and the Xbox Live membership out of the equation, it’s time to answer the question: what is there to play?

Xbox Game Pass offers around 470 titles on console, all of which are able to be downloaded and played locally, while PC players have around 440 to enjoy. That number continues to grow as over 20 Bethesda games are now on the service, and EA Play has also inject over 50 more titles into the mix.

Both Xbox Game Pass on console and PC get a healthy mix of genres and games, so expect the likes of indie darlings like Slay The Spire and Dead Cells to sit alongside Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Sea of Thieves on both platforms. Some games will only be available on console or PC, however.

Then there are big-budget third-party titles, with the likes of the aforementioned Doom Eternal and Rainbow Six: Siege on console, while PC players can enjoy new releases like Wasteland 3 and popular titles like ARK: Survival Evolved. Destiny 2 is also available for console players, with the Beyond Light expansion launching into Game Pass.

Not only is Microsoft looking to snap up plenty of upcoming content, but Game Pass offers plenty of backward-compatible titles to get your teeth into as well, doubly so with EA Play adding everything from Plants vs Zombies to Peggle to sports titles and Need For Speed. Some backwards compatible titles have also been enhanced thanks to FPS Boost, which has the potential to quadruple a game's frame rate.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: what we liked

• A simple, all-in-one, subscription service that offers incredible value for money
• EA Play bolsters an already large library of titles
• Plenty of added perks, including free digital content and discounts
• Xbox Live Gold included, allowing online play, as well as cloud gaming on mobile

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: what we disliked

• Cloud Gaming won't suit everyone

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: verdict

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is an obvious purchase for anyone planning to play games on both Xbox and PC. If you own an Xbox or have even the slightest interest in Microsoft's first-party games, it's almost impossible not to recommend Xbox Game Pass.

It's cheaper than paying for each platform’s library separately and includes online play for console, which would be worth the monthly fee alone. But when you add in discounts, a reward system, EA Play, cloud gaming, free digital goodies for gamers and non-gamers alike, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft is changing the game.

Whether it’ll entice people to buy an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S is another question entirely, but it’s also almost beside the point: make no mistake, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is Microsoft’s real focus for next-gen, and as it stands, is easily the best deal in gaming. 

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