Rode PodMic USB: One-minute review

You can see the rationale here: Rode’s XLR-based PodMic has been a staple of spoken-word recordings for half a decade now, delivering incredible value microphones for streaming for under $100 / £100. But not everyone has an audio interface capable of running XLR inputs, particularly not those with an eye for low-cost setups who might be drawn to the PodMic in the first place. So why not release a model with a USB-C input too?

On paper that sounds great. It means you can connect the PodMic USB directly to your PC or Mac and just start recording into a DAW. No fuss, no added audio interface expense. And don’t get me wrong, the setup really is that easy here. 

It sounds pretty good right out of the box too, through either connection type. The sound characteristics seem to favor the mid-range more than the highs, and while I personally prefer a more whispery, pronounced high end for spoken word recordings, ultimately that comes down to personal preference. 

However, what's less subjective is the topic of price. Manufacturing a USB microphone with two connections has pushed the price up to $199.99 / £199.99, double that of the original XLR-only PodMic. And that’s a problem, because a big part of the reason everyone loved the PodMic was its price, and how favorably it compared to rival mics in that same range. 

There’s a flaw in this proposition, then, but it doesn’t mean you won’t still enjoy its considerable benefits if you buy one. The construction quality is absolutely fantastic, typical of a storied studio mainstay like Rode, and the mic monitoring input is a great nice-to-have. Throwing in a stand might have sweetened the deal a little though, and considering the price it’s disappointing that this mic can’t be used to record USB and XLR tracks simultaneously.

Rode PodMic USB: Price and availability

• List price: $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.99
• Double the price of the XLR-only model
• Tough competition like the Shure MV7 at this price point

Price is the only major downside of the PodMic USB, but it’s a considerable one. Retailing for $200 / £200 means it’s going up against spoken word mic royalty like the Shure MV7, and it doesn’t offer a standout feature or discernibly better audio quality to draw you away from the latter. The fact that the extra outlay is due to an added connection type which can’t be recorded in series means it’s unlikely that most users will feel a real sense of added value here. 

Rode PodMic USB: Specs

Rode PodMic USB: Design and features

• Professional, sleek appearance 
• Straightforward setup 
• Direct mic monitoring input 

One of the best things about this mic is its look and feel. You get the sense you’re holding studio equipment as soon as you take the capsule out of its packaging and feel its 1.9lb/900g weight. While that might not be ideal for travel, it certainly conveys a sturdiness and premium construction which remains consistent under deeper scrutiny. 

Pulling away the rubber guard to reveal the XLR connection is like opening the briefcase from Pulp Fiction, so pristine and glowing are the pins and shielding. And while some mics in this space make a more explicit play for streamers by adding RGB lighting, Rode retains a sophisticated, professional studio gear aesthetic throughout. 

The supplied pop shield fits snugly over the capsule and does its job well. If you’re thinking of using this as an instrument mic it’s best used without the shield, and it’s nice to see the mic’s versatility accounted for by the easy shield fixing. 

Rather than a cradle, the mic capsule mounts to an arm or stang directly via a characteristically solid hinged metal bracket. It’s easy to get the angle you need from this design, and while a supplied stand would certainly have sweetened the deal at this high pricing, one can have no qualms about how it fixes to a boom arm. 

Setup via the USB-C connection couldn’t be much simpler. You run the cable directly from the USB-C connector at the base of the mic into your PC or Mac’s USB-C port via the cable provided. If you’re short on USB-C connections on your motherboard you could use a USB-C to USB-A cable instead, but that isn’t supplied with this mic. 

Via XLR it’s only slightly more involved, requiring an audio interface to convert that analog XLR input into a digital signal. Connecting that way does mean you forgo the use of Rode’s Unify, Connect and Central software programs for this mic, but if fidelity must be maintained at all costs, the option’s there.

This model is particularly light on physical, on-mic controls. A scroll wheel for mic monitoring gain is the one and only control here, in fact, which shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for the vast majority of use cases but when compared to the MV7’s gain/monitoring slider and mute control, it looks a little bit barebones. 

Mic monitoring sounds great, though. It’s common for these live mic monitoring signals to run hot and distort much more easily than the recording signal, but that isn’t the case here - you get a usable, representative tone. 

On the software side, there are three different programs that can be used specifically with the PodMic USB when you connect via USB: Rode Central, Rode Connect, and Rode Unify. Central is the top-level companion app that gives you all your basic controls, while Connect and Unify work more like mixers. After an initial foray, I found that I didn’t end up using any of them, preferring to just work in Ableton and add plugins to sculpt the sound. I can see the value of all three, but streamers, podcasters, and producers will all probably have their preferred software without the need to dip into these.

Rode PodMic USB: Performance

• Warm, full and a bit mid-focused
• Decent guitar amp recording
• Deals with ambient noise and knocks well

Rode’s name is hallowed in pro audio, so the fundamental sound of this mic was never going to be called into question. With the original PodMic having done the rounds for over five years now too, this is a known quantity for sound quality. 

However, sound quality is a blend of science and perception. There are specs involved, like the 48KHz sample rate via USB-C which can’t be debated, but there’s also the way its sound reproduction hits your ear. I found the PodMic USB lacks a little of the sparkle I look for from a vocal mic, at least out of the box. 

With some EQ and low pass, I can dial in that whispery, grainy high-end that makes podcasts, streams, and voiceover tracks sound glossy and broadcast-ready, so it’s not that the mic lacks fidelity. Far from it. It captures a lot of warmth and detail from a vocal source. It’s just that its natural tuning seems to emphasize midrange more than I’m used to, so I feel like dialing it back at the DAW level. That’s true when connecting via an XLR cable, or by USB-C. 

It’s the same sound characteristic story when you put this mic in front of a guitar amp speaker, although I found in this scenario the mid-emphasis works better. It’s particularly well-suited to my Mesa 2X12 closed-back cabinet - it seems to reproduce that tight, dry sound particularly well. 

A decade ago, vocals and instrument recordings at this fidelity for $200 / $200 - via USB, no less - would have been dreamland. How far we’ve come…

In a less studio-y environment like Discord or Twitch streaming where mechanical keyboards are clacking away and desk knocks are commonplace, the PodMic USB stands up well to audio intrusions. Its cardioid polar pattern tunes out keyboard noise if it’s placed so that the keyboard’s behind it, and using the supplied shock mount it suppresses knocks admirably.

Should I buy the Rode Podmic USB?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

Still not fully sold on the Rode PodMic USB? Here are two other strong gaming microphones to consider. 

How I tested the Rode PodMic USB

• Two weeks of professional and personal use
• Used for in-game comms, Discord chat, and as an instrument mic
• Both inputs tested

The PodMic has been my daily driver in online games, Discord chitchat, and recording voiceover tracks for YouTube for two straight weeks. In addition, I set it up on a stand in front of my guitar amp’s speaker cone and recorded some instrument audio. For both vocal and instrumental recordings, I ran an XLR signal through a Focusrite audio interface into Ableton. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2024.

One-minute review

The Scuf Nomad is a good mobile controller. If you’re looking for a portable gamepad that boasts similar features to the Backbone One but makes use of Bluetooth rather than a physical connection, then this is the product for you. Having to keep its battery topped up is a little less convenient than the plug-and-play nature of wired controllers, especially as the Scuf Nomad does seem to lose charge rather quickly while not in use, but still has some advantages - namely reducing the impact on your phone’s battery life as your play.

When it comes to build quality, the Scuf Nomad ticks all of the right boxes. Like many of the best PC controllers, it feels reassuringly robust in the hands, with a good weight. It also has a very smooth extension mechanism that helps it fit snugly around your iOS phone. Its smooth plastic exterior looks good and features some pleasant tactile elements, like the slightly softer textured rear grips, too. Although not mechanical, the face buttons and d-pad are comfortable to use and responsive despite their relatively small size. 

Its Hall effect thumbsticks are also decent, though feel extremely loose compared to much of the competition. I personally didn’t mind this and found it to be a good fit for fast-paced titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile and Zenless Zone Zero, but it could be a dealbreaker for those who want something to play slower role-playing games (RPGs) like Stardew Valley.

While the thumbsticks are concave by default, two alternate convex thumbstick shapes are also included in the box. This is a great inclusion on paper, but the method of swapping between them is incredibly fiddly and not something that you would realistically want to do more than once - if at all. It’s a shame, as these minor frustrations are what holds the Scuf Nomad back from greatness.

Scuf Nomad: Price and availability

• $99.99 / £89.99 / around AU$179.99 
• Available via Scuf and Amazon 
• No Android edition for now 

The Scuf Nomad is available for $99.99 / £89.99 / around AU$179.99 either directly from Scuf or at online retailers like Amazon. This price point puts it roughly on par with the cost of a Backbone One, which is clearly the product that Scuf intends this controller to compete with. 

Although a Bluetooth device, the Scuf Nomad is not compatible with Android devices - a fact that is clearly stated on the box and store listings. I found that the controller does actually pair with an Android device, though it does not function correctly in most games, for example by failing to register certain inputs. 

While the sample provided for review came in black, the Scuf Nomad is also available in a rather striking white and gray colorway. 

Scuf Nomad: Specs

Scuf Nomad: Design and features

The design of the Scuf Nomad has clearly taken plenty of cues from the overall form factor of the Backbone One. It features a similar extending back mechanism, though it feels considerably smoother and higher quality on the Scuf Nomad which is definitely a welcome upgrade. 

The area where your phone rests is also home to a really lovely grippy texture that features a subtle hexagonal design that looks a little bit like camouflage from a distance - a brilliant little nod to the Scuf brand’s roots in first-person shooters (FPS) accessories and a practical addition that helps keep your phone firmly in place. There is also a small slot for a rubber adapter, which you can slide in easily and helps create a little more room for larger phones. 

The two grips are both a little thicker than those on the Backbone One, making them noticeably more comfortable for those with larger hands. They are also a more ergonomic shape, plus each features a customizable rear input in addition to the usual face buttons, thumbsticks, shoulder buttons, and triggers. While the thumbsticks are Hall effect, the buttons and d-pad are not mechanical which is a little disappointing given the clear focus on premium-feeling components elsewhere.

I was also unimpressed by the two included alternate thumbstick tips, which are a more convex design. The process of swapping between these tips is incredibly fiddly and annoying, involving plenty of pushing and pulling with an uncomfortable degree of force that had me convinced that I was about to break the controller. It’s not a process that I would ever want to repeat.

On the bottom of the left grip, you can find a USB-C port, which is used to charge the controller with a high-quality braided USB-C cable that is included in the box. On the other side, there is a small Bluetooth pairing button, which puts the controller into pairing mode. The only other notable design element is the four LED lights positioned next to the Menu Button. These illuminate to denote the controller’s current battery level or pairing status.

The Scuf Nomad’s most significant features are all accessed through the aptly named Scuf Nomad Mobile Companion App. This includes the ability to quickly launch compatible games, update controller firmware, and save a wide range of customizable profiles. You can seriously tweak almost any aspect of the controller in these profiles from trigger dead zones to thumbstick sensitivity, and even assign new buttons to every single input.

There are also a range of presets available for the thumbsticks and triggers, which would be perfect for those just eager to dive right into games with the ideal setup. It’s also worth noting that the app does not require any subscription services to access all of its features, which is noteworthy in the face of the Backbone Plus membership offered with the Backbone app.

Scuf Nomad: Performance

I found the performance of the Scuf Nomad to be fairly impressive across the board. It sits comfortably in the hands and offers a good level of responsiveness, despite relying on only a Bluetooth connection. The small d-pad and buttons are easy to reach and well-suited for rapid presses. The thumbsticks are also a good size, but it is worth noting that they do feel particularly loose which might not be for everyone.

There was one notable occasion where the triggers and left thumbstick stopped working entirely halfway through a battle royale game. This was incredibly annoying but fixed by quickly rebooting the controller, so likely the result of a connection issue rather than any hardware problems. It was also not repeated again during my hands-on testing of the controller, so does not seem to be a persistent issue.

I played my usual gauntlet of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile matches, plus some cloud gaming via Amazon Luna and plenty of time in Zenless Zone Zero, and found every part of the experience to be on par with the Backbone One and Razer Kishi Ultra V2 - which is to say more than acceptable for the price. 

The only real issue that I did notice was that, while the controller boasts up to 16 hours of battery life (which appeared to be accurate in my testing), it does seem to deplete charge quickly between uses. If I made sure to charge it up in the morning, things were okay but there were some occasions where I took it out of my bag after a few days of no use only to find the controller completely out of juice.

Whether the result of the controller turning itself on during my travels or a less-than-stellar battery, it’s pretty unfortunate. Luckily, it does charge quickly and can be played from dead after just 20 minutes - so this didn’t cause much of a problem in the times when I had access to a plug socket. 

Should I buy the Scuf Nomad?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If you’re not keen on what the Scuf Nomad has to offer, then consider these two excellent alternatives. 

How I tested the Scuf Nomad

• Tested over the course of month 
• Used with an iPhone 15 Plus ts

I tested the Scuf Nomad over the course of a month, using it a few times a week as my primary mobile gaming controller. During that time I played plenty of mobile titles including the recently released Zenless Zone Zero and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile in addition to some cloud gaming on Amazon Luna. I used the controller with an iPhone 15 Plus and was careful to experiment with all of its hardware and software features via the compatible Scuf Nomad Mobile Companion App.

Throughout the testing period, I compared my experience to my hands-on testing of other mobile controllers including the Backbone One, Razer Kishi Ultra, Razer Kishi V2, Turtle Beach Atom, ROG Tessen, GameSir X2s Type-C, GameSir X2 Pro, and much more. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2024

One-minute review

Before you've even assembled it, the Corsair TC500 Luxe feels like an unbelievably high quality gaming chair. From its quilted fabric seat to its steel frame, it's hard not to praise every aspect of the chair. However, a chair this high quality means a relatively higher price point. But, I believe the Corsair TC500 Luxe is well worth the investment. 

Alongside its sturdy and comfortable build, it's got a plethora of features to help you tailor it to exactly what you need from your seat. In-built lumbar support is easily adjusted with two dials on each side of the backrest, and the magnetic neck support pillow is much easier to change the height for than the one attached to a strap like on the Boulies Master Series gaming chair which I am used to using, and used to readjusting when the strap inevitably slips off the top of the chair. 

In addition, omniflex armrests are ready to move around to suit however you're sitting and support your elbows and arms. For such a high level of personalization, it's hard to argue against its price point. Frankly, there's no other product I would recommend to someone looking for a gaming chair that is so comfortable and supportive in this price bracket.

Price and availability

• $499.99 / £499.99
• Available through Corsair
• 2 year warranty

The Corsair TC500 Luxe is an expensive chair. If you're a first time buyer when it comes to gaming chairs, the price tag might be overwhelming. But for $499.99 / £499.99 you're buying a chair that is guaranteed comfort from the second it's built, and a level of customization you wouldn't find in even the best budget gaming chairs. You're paying for premium and you’re getting it. 

Three colorways are currently available. Frost, Sherwood, and Shadow. All three, although fairly basic colors, feel like a sophisticated approach to gaming furniture. I'm used to seeing quite garish designs on chairs like the League of Legends Secretlab series, or even the Herman Miller Sayl gaming chair. Having three muted yet modern colors on offer  almost guarantees you'll be able to find something that suits your setup's aesthetic. 

A two year warranty is available from purchase as well, which is worthwhile but not as significant as other products currently available at a similar price point. For example, the Herman Miller Sayl is double the price of the TC500 Luxe, but offers an incredible 12-year warranty, or the Razer Fujin Pro which offers a slightly more humble five years. But, two years is still decent, and welcome.

Specs

Design and aesthetics

The Corsair TC500 Luxe has been designed with comfort as its main focus, but that doesn't mean any corners have been cut elsewhere. Rather than having your standard decals or colorful flourishes you'd see on other gaming chairs such as the Secretlab Titan Evo series or the Razer Enki, a more sleek design has been taken on board with a dark gray color for the chair itself and then black accents through its armrests and wheelbase.

The fabric of the chair itself is soft and breathable, which I found to be a nice change to the pleather or suede feel fabric used on cheaper chairs. It's not plush, but it's more comfortable and easy to move around on. The stitched details such as the diamond design sewn onto the seat and backrest are also a nice addition, reinforcing the premium, sophisticated feel of the chair. A Corsair logo stitched on the neck support pillow and the side of the chairs headrest is another detail which I appreciated.

The seat base is wider than my previous chair too. The TC500 Luxe has a seat base width of 59cm, which is significantly wider than the width of the Boulies Master Series gaming chair which was 53cm including the sides. On paper, it doesn't seem like a huge difference but when in use, that extra 6cm gives you a surprising amount of additional space. I'm a huge fidgeter, and having a seat base which is wider overall helped me find a position that suited me much faster than usual.

Comfort and adjustability

The TC500 Luxe isn't in short supply when it comes to customizable features. Its omniflex armrests give you complete freedom of movement, so you can adjust the height and direction of your armrests, alongside how far forward or backwards you want them. The only downside to this feature is that the armrests don’t lock into place, so if you lean on them at an angle with too much force (which I did more than once when adjusting my position in the seat) they will move out of place.

The wider seat gives you plenty of space to sit comfortably, and as someone who usually sits with their legs up on the seat, there was never a moment where it felt like a squeeze. But one thing I did immediately notice about the chair is how firm the seat cushioning is. A lot of the gaming chairs I've used previously such as the Boulies Master Series and the Secretlab Titan have a slight give on the seat to make it feel softer. The TC500 Luxe on the other hand is an incredibly firm seat. At first, I thought this would make the chair more uncomfortable when used for long periods, but it actually did the complete opposite. Instead, my whole body felt supported by the backrest and seat, and I didn't find myself slumping down into a position with terrible posture as I was before.

This is definitely helped by the in-built lumbar support of the chair which can easily be adjusted either side of the backrest with two wheels. One shifts the lumbar support vertically, while the other tailors support from left to right so you can perfectly pinpoint where you need support. In the past I've used this in-built support as a one-and-done thing, adjusting it the first time I sit in the chair and then leaving it to inevitably be ignored even when I shift position. But given how easy it is to adjust with the TC500, it was a feature I was happy to make the most of frequently. 

The magnetic neck support pillow is also a lavish flourish, and one of my personal favorite parts of the chair. I don't like how a lot of gaming chairs attach their neck support pillows to a fabric elastic band for you to pull over the headrest. They are clumsy, and the slightest shift in your position tends to result in the pillow moving around. The TC500 uses magnets, so once you've placed the pillow it will stay there until you need to remove it or change positions manually. Also, the pillow itself is made from plush memory foam, so that in itself exudes comfort and quality.

Assembly

I expected there to be a lot more steps to construct a premium gaming chair, but putting together the Corsair TC500 Luxe was surprisingly easy. Besides needing a bit of help guiding the base of the seat onto the wheel base, assembly can largely be a one person process. Instructions are easy to follow, and you only need a total of ten screws to build the whole chair included in the box. 

Inside its parts box, the allen wrench is also equipped with a large handle to help make screwing parts together even easier. If you're not using this, then a lot of the chair fits together by pushing parts into place such as wheels into the wheelbase or caps into open holes in brackets. 

The chair also has a slide bracket to support one side of the backrest when you're building, much like the AndaSeat Kaiser 4, which makes the process a lot easier. This is usually the part of assembly that makes construction a two-person job, since someone needs to support the backrest while another screws brackets into place. But, the addition of the slide bracket means you have all the support you need. I did have to use a fair bit of strength lining up the other side of the chair which wasn't supported by a slide bracket, but it was nowhere near as challenging as other chairs I've built. 

The assembly process also shows off a lot of the details on the chair, which Corsair has carefully considered to help support the premium labeling of the product. The plastic caps are embellished with Corsair logos, which isn't something I've seen on any other gaming chairs. It's not a detail you'd think to note since it's something so small and easy to overlook. But, it’s details like these that help the TC500 Luxe feel like a chair worth boasting about since everything feels so premium and detail-oriented.

Should I buy the Corsair TC500 Luxe Gaming Chair?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If you're not quite convinced by the TC500 Luxe, we've got some alternatives you might want to check out. 

How I tested the Corsair TC500 Luxe

• Used over two weeks
• Used for work and gaming
• Compared against other gaming chairs

I used the Corsair TC500 Luxe over a two week period for everything from daily work to gaming in the evenings and even watching movies at my PC to see if the chair is comfortable for more leisurely activities. While testing it for gaming, I played games such as Creatures of Ava, Tekken 8, and The Garden Path, alongside mobile games like Hello Kitty Island Adventure. At no point did I feel uncomfortable while using the chair, or as if I needed to shift my position to feel the benefits of its support. 

It's been my primary chair every time I've sat at my desk, but I've closely compared it to the Boulies Master Series and Secretlab Omega to see how it performs to similarly priced products. Each time, the TC500 Luxe impressed me with how supported my spine and shoulders felt, and there has been a noticeable improvement in my posture while in use. Two weeks of consistent use has convinced me that the TC500 Luxe is the only chair I'll need at my desk. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2024.

Seagate Game Drive for PS5: One-minute review

The Seagate Game Drive for PS5 is a product that exists to cater to a very specific need. It’s undeniably one of the best PS5 external hard drives right now, but is inherently quite limited compared to some of the best SSDs for PS5. 

The most important thing to know is that this drive cannot be used to directly play PlayStation 5 games. It can store them, though the data will need to be copied back to your internal storage before you’re able to jump in. This can take some time depending on the size of the game but, crucially, will be much speedier than a full download for the majority of people. The best way to use an external hard drive is therefore as an alternative to deleting your games, especially if it’s something that you’re likely to return to at a later date.

To give you a real-world example, I recently completed the brilliant Alan Wake 2. It takes up a whopping 90.23GB on my internal storage, which is space that I would much rather have available for other things. That said, I know that a new downloadable content (DLC) expansion is on the way - and would rather not spend hours waiting to download the entire game again when it drops. The best course of action here is to move the game to the external hard drive, freeing up space and meaning that I can still quickly copy it back to play in future.

Given that the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 comes in a hefty 2TB or 5TB capacity, you won’t need to worry about it filling up with your unused games any time soon. Although you undeniably pay a premium for the PlayStation branding here, it’s also cheaper than many PS5-compatible internal SSD drives in those capacities - making it a good lower-cost alternative. Then there's the fact that it’s incredibly quick to set up: you simply plug it into your PS5 via the included Micro USB cable, follow some on-screen prompts, and you’re ready to go in a matter of seconds.

The quality of the design of the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 also shouldn’t be understated. It's sleek, modern, and looks great sitting next to your console thanks to its white exterior and blue LED lighting. If you’re after an external hard drive for your PS5, or even PS4, then you simply can’t go wrong with this.

Seagate Game Drive for PS5: Price and availability

• 2TB costs $79.99 / £84.48 / AU$169.95
• 5TB costs $149.99 / £139.99 / AU$279.95 
• Available at Amazon and other retailers 

The Seagate Game Drive for PS5 is available in two capacities: 2TB and 5TB. The 2TB model costs $79.99 / £84.48 / AU$169.95, while the 5TB one is $149.99 / £139.99 / AU$279.95. Given its sheer size, the 5TB model is definitely the best value option as it should provide more than enough space for most game libraries.

The drive is available at Amazon and a wide range of other retailers including Best Buy, Walmart, and Gamestop in the US as well as Argos and Game in the UK. If a store sells PS5 games or accessories, it’s likely to also stock this drive making it very easy to get your hands on.

Seagate Game Drive for PS5: Specs

Seagate Game Drive for PS5: Design and features

As far as external hard drives go, the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 has a very attractive overall design. Its rectangular form factor is relatively compact and should be easy to unobtrusively place in your existing setup. The top half of the drive is a plain white, matching the look of the PS5, while its base is black. A small PlayStation logo is present in the very top left-hand corner of its front with a corresponding Seagate logo in the bottom right. The only other thing of note is a blue LED strip, which gently illuminates the surface below the drive. 

It’s compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC right out of the box with an included Micro USB cable which plugs into a smaller connector on the rear of the drive. The connector is next to a small LED indicator, which lights up when the drive is receiving power. While not stated by the manufacturer, it is also compatible with Xbox consoles, though will need to be reformatted if you intend to switch systems.

Although the drive cannot play PS5 games, it can be used to play PS4 titles either via backwards compatibility or on a PS4 console. This works well, though there is a noticeable difference in performance for those with a PS5. Expect longer load times compared to when you’re playing a PS4 game on the internal PS5 storage.

Seagate Game Drive for PS5: Performance

The performance of the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 is pretty much exactly what you would expect from your average external gaming hard drive. It’s slower than much pricier external SSD options, but is fast enough to copy large games in respectable times. The aforementioned 90.23GB installation of Alan Wake 2, for example, took 16 minutes and 46 seconds to copy over to the drive in its entirety. A large PS4 game, like the 67.21GB Dishonored 2, took 12 minutes and 28 seconds.

Going down a notch, the PS4 version of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone, which comes to 38.30GB with plenty of add-ons, transferred in 7 minutes and 20 seconds. The recently released Alone in the Dark remake, which is 30.67GB, took 5 minutes and 22 seconds. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess comes in 28.28GB and took just 3 minutes 49 seconds. Stray, which is only 7.31GB, was copied in 1 minute and 13 seconds. Finally, the tiny 1.63GB of Angry Birds Star Wars took just 22 seconds to transfer.

Though those who want to move around very large titles multiple times a week might be better off with something a little speedier such as the Crucial X6, all of these times were still significantly faster than a download on my home internet.

Should I buy the Seagate Game Drive for PS5?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If you’re not keen on the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 then you should consider these two strong alternatives.

How I tested the Seagate Game Drive for PS5

• Used for two weeks 
• Tested with a PS5 
• Compared against other storage devices

I tested the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 for two weeks during which time I used it as my primary PS5 external storage device. I spent a considerable number of hours assessing its performance in real-world scenarios by copying a wide range of PS5 and PS4 titles to and from it and timing the results. 

I compared the results against other storage options, including external SSD drives like the WD Black P40. I also used the external hard drive to play a number of PS4 titles, including Dishonored 2 and Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective and compared my experience to playing those same games on the console's internal storage.   

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2024.