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Seagate Game Drive for Xbox review: great for Game Pass

4:00 pm | December 8, 2024

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: One-minute review

If you’re shopping for an Xbox external hard drive, then you can’t go wrong with this officially licensed model from Seagate. Although a little more expensive than non-Xbox branded options, it’s still one of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs right now, delivering a solid level of performance and plenty of space for many of the best Xbox Series X games.

The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is significantly more affordable than the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card and comes in much larger capacities, including 4TB and 5TB, but it has some extra limitations due to its form factor. First and foremost, as an external hard drive it cannot be used to play Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S optimized games.

Its primary use case is to store large game installations between uses, cutting down on the need to constantly redownload files. This makes them particularly suitable for those with slow or limited internet connections. It’s a fantastic fit for Xbox Game Pass too, giving you the option to keep a considerable number of games on hand at a time.

It’s worth noting that older titles for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, or original Xbox will still run off the external hard drive - albeit with increased loading times compared to internal storage in most cases. If you have a large library of backwards compatible games that you don’t want clogging up your internal drive, this will be the perfect solution. This also means that those still sticking with an Xbox One can rest easy knowing that they will have no issues accessing their entire libraries.

As far as hard drives are concerned, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox also looks superb overall. It’s constructed from a sleek black plastic, decorated with an Xbox logo and a small strip of green LED lighting. It fits perfectly next to a black Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S 1TB console, though owners of white variants like the launch Xbox Series S or recent Xbox Series X Digital Edition might prefer to go for a white alternative to better fit their systems instead.

The bright LED lighting on the front of the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox. — (Image credit: Future)

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Price and availability

2TB costs $89.99 / £79.99
4TB costs $134.99 / £116.99
5TB costs $149.99 / £132.99

The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is available in 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB capacity options which come in at roughly $89.99 / £79.99, $134.99 / £116.99, and $149.99 / £132.99 respectively. The 4TB model is the best value model, as it frequently receives substantial discounts to around the $90 mark. If you’re able to find it on sale for this price, I would definitely recommend snapping it up.

While it is the cheapest, I would try to avoid the 2TB model as that more limited storage capacity is going to fill up quite quickly - especially if you intend to use it for a few large, modern games.

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Specs

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Design and features

Matches black consoles very well
Green LED lighting is bright and attractive
But looks out of place next to white consoles

As far as external hard drives go, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a stylish choice. It is constructed from sleek black plastic, which is pleasant to the touch and looks perfect placed next to a black Xbox console. In addition to small embossed Xbox and Seagate logos, there is a bright green LED positioned on the front of the drive lending it some extra flair.

I don’t have any complaints about the design, but I will say that it really stands out next to a white console. Given this drive’s price compared to a generic external hard drive, it’s undeniable that you’re paying a little more for the look. This makes sense if you own an Xbox Series X (or the black Xbox Series S 1TB) and want a fully color-coordinated setup, but not when it’s going to look out of place.

There are, of course, other reasons to choose this hard drive like its strong performance but it’s just something that owners of Microsoft’s white machines should bear in mind. Seagate also makes a white Starfield Special Edition hard drive in 2TB and 5TB capacities, which could be a better choice in purely aesthetic terms.

Setup is easy right out of the box, as the drive comes packed with a Micro USB that can be slotted into a free USB port on the back of your console. It also comes bundled with a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which is a fun little bonus.

A top down view of the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox. — (Image credit: Future)

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Performance

Faster than a game download
But slower than internal storage
Still a good fit for Xbox Game Pass

I tested the 5TB model of this external hard drive and found it to be perfectly sufficient as a game storage medium, though noticeably slower than both external SSD options and the console’s internal storage.

To give some real-world examples of what it can do, I moved a handful of games to and from the drive on my personal Xbox Series S 1TB. Moving to the drive, a 14.5GB installation of Dustborn was transferred in just 1 minute 54 seconds while a 16.8GB installation of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst was copied over in just 2 minutes 8 seconds.

Increasing the file size yielded roughly proportional results, with a 40.3GB copy of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 accomplished in 5 minutes and 14 seconds. The two largest games I tested, the 74.3GB Dead Island 2 and the 104GB Forza Motorsport were then transferred in 9 minutes 49 seconds and 14 minutes 19 seconds respectively.

Speeds were similar moving games back from the drive. A 48.1GB copy of Agents of Mayhem, for example, took 5 minutes 40 seconds while a smaller 5.2GB installation of Rumble Roses XX was fully playable from the internal storage in just 39 seconds.

Unless you have some kind of NASA-level connection, all of these times are going to be significantly faster than an internet download - which is exactly what you want from the external hard drive. This would be especially useful if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber who loves downloading new games to try, as you will be able to keep a vast library of included titles saved and on hand whenever you want to dip back into them.

The rear of the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox. — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox?

Buy it if...

You want a more affordable storage expansion
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox comes at a significantly lower cost than a Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, letting you increase the number of games you can save locally on the cheap.

You’re sick of waiting for game downloads
An external hard drive like the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a great alternative to uninstalling your games. If you find yourself running out of space often and are sick of waiting for big game downloads each time you want to return to an old favorite, this is for you.

Don't buy it if...

You want to play modern games natively
An unavoidable drawback for any external hard drive is the inability to play Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S optimized games natively. If that’s what you want from a storage device, you’ll have to look at an Expansion Card instead.

Also consider...

Consider these three alternatives if you’re not sold on the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox.

Toshiba Canvio Flex
This budget-friendly hard drive comes in a sleek silver color. You lose the Xbox branding, but it’s small, portable, and is available in a range of capacities up to 4TB. It’s also a fair amount cheaper.

For more information, check out our full Toshiba Canvio Flex review

WD Black P40 Game Drive
This external SSD from WD is smaller and lighter than the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, with significantly better speeds. It is much more expensive, though, and is only available in capacities up to 2TB.

For more information, check out our full WD Black P40 Game Drive review

Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card
If you want to play Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games on your storage device, and can afford its lofty price tag, then the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card is for you.

For more information, check out our full Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card reviewView Deal

A close up of the Xbox branding on the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox. — (Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox

Used for over a month
Tested with an Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X
Performance compared to other storage devices

I tested the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox predominantly with my Xbox Series S 1TB console, but I also spent a few hours checking compatibility with an Xbox Series X. I tested the external hard drive for over a month, using it as my primary external storage device for all things Xbox.

During my testing of the drive, I compared the performance to that of other hard drives, including the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 and WD Black P10. I also checked how it would stack up against external SSD options, such as the WD Black P40 Game Drive, and the official Xbox Storage Expansion Card.

Xbox Series S 1TB: two-minute review

If you’re currently debating whether to pick up the Xbox Series S 1TB or the original Xbox Series S model, then the choice is clear.

If you can afford that extra $50 / £50 / AU$50 for the 1TB edition, then it’s absolutely the version to go for and easily the best gaming console for the price. You get more than double the usable storage capacity (more than 800GB out of the box) for a fraction of the cost of any of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs, finally addressing what was easily the biggest shortcoming of the launch model for most buyers.

A capable current-generation machine for just $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 is nothing to sneeze at and, while the performance is definitely behind the fully-fledged Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, it’s still going to be more than enough for most people. Titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Dead Island 2 look absolutely stunning on a 1080p or 1440p display, though those with a 4K TV are much more likely to notice the decreased resolution and lower visual settings.

The lack of a disc drive helps the console maintain such a staggeringly small size, but does restrict your access to physical releases. Still, an Xbox Game Pass subscription will help save a bit of cash if you want to sample some of the best Xbox Series X games for less. Although no additional titles are on the horizon, Xbox’s backwards compatibility efforts are still leagues above those on PlayStation, making this system a great way to experience older games.

I’ve been loving going back to some real Xbox 360 gems like Alice: Madness Returns and Far Cry 2, an experience that is still just impossible to replicate on the far more expensive PS5. Older games can be absolutely breathtaking too, with some boasting enhanced resolutions and frame rates that help them look better than ever.

Some might lament the lack of desirable exclusives, but when it comes to sheer bang for your buck value the Xbox Series S 1TB is the best of the best.

The corner and power button of the Xbox Series S 1TB. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

Xbox Series S 1TB: Price and availability

$349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549
$50 / £50 / AU£$50 more than launch model
Absolutely killer value

The Xbox Series S 1TB is fantastic value overall. For just $50 / £50 / AU£$50 more than the launch model, you’re getting more than double the usable storage space. It also works out significantly cheaper than buying the older console and upgrading the storage via a Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card or WD Black C50 expansion card, which comes in at roughly $80 / £85 / AU$140 for just 512GB.

This makes it by far the best option if you're shopping for an Xbox Series S as, realistically, the cheaper model will not offer enough storage for anyone bar casual players looking for a low-cost way to play one or two popular games like Fortnite, EA Sports FC 25, or Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

At its $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 price point, the Xbox Series S 1TB still comes in significantly cheaper than any of its major competitors at retail. If you want to get into current-generation gaming on a budget, then this is the way to go.

Xbox Series S 1TB: Specs

Xbox Series S 1TB: Design and features

Compact size is perfect for a desk
Slick black or white color options
No shortage of ports, but lacks disc drive

The Xbox Series S really needs to be seen to be believed, as photos don’t really do its compact size justice. It’s significantly smaller than the Xbox Series X and the original Xbox One, making it ideal if you’re short on space and want a console that won’t struggle to fit on your desk or media center.

The console can be oriented both horizontally and vertically, which makes it easy to incorporate into a wide range of setups too. I have quite a small workspace but still found that it could easily squeeze next to my existing monitor, or on the floor right next to a PS5.

The front of the console is rather plain, with a simple illuminated power button (in the shape of the Xbox logo), a small controller pairing button, and a USB port for any wired accessories. The Xbox Series S 1TB can be found in both black and white colorways, though the latter only became available this year and seems to have since become the dominant model. I tested the black model and really appreciated its slick all-black look, though the white model, which has a few contrasting black elements, definitely has its own charm.

In its horizontal orientation, the top of the console is dominated by a large ventilation grille. The bottom is then completely smooth, bar a small ventilation grille and some tiny text that says both “Xbox” and “hello from Seattle” - a cute reference to the location of Microsoft’s campus. On the back of the console are its main ports. This includes an ethernet port, two USB ports, a HDMI output, a storage expansion port, and a two-pronged connector for the console’s power lead.

It’s a great design overall, but the disc reader is a notable omission. This is a digital-only console, which might be a dealbreaker for some. If you have a sizable collection of physical Xbox games, perhaps Xbox One releases, then this is something to bear in mind before you upgrade.

In the box, you get the console, an HDMI cable, the power lead, and an Xbox Wireless Controller in either Carbon Black or Robot White depending on your choice of console colorway plus two AA batteries to use with it.

Even four years after its introduction, the modern Xbox Wireless Controller remains a fantastic easy-to-use gamepad, with a comfortable shape and brilliant build quality that I find often means that they last substantially longer than your average DualSense Wireless Controller for PS5.

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The Xbox Series S 1TB in a vertical orientation. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

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The ports on the back of an Xbox Series S 1TB console. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

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The Xbox Series S 1TB and matching controller viewed from the side. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

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The black Xbox Series S 1TB on a colorful desk mat alongside a matching controller. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

Xbox Series S 1TB: Performance

Perfect for 1080p gaming
Unbeatable performance for the price
Easy to notice some imperfections

It’s simply impossible to fault the performance of the Xbox Series S 1TB given its more affordable price tag. Performance is the same as the base model, which means that it targets a 1440p resolution with the ability to upscale to 4K on compatible displays. Every title that I tested looked good on a 1080p display, though the differences between the Xbox Series S and the more powerful Xbox Series X do become quite apparent on a larger 4K TV. The console can also support frame rates of up to 120 frames per second (fps), though realistically most modern games are going to fall closer to the 60 fps mark.

The bright and vibrant world of Dead Island 2 maintained a solid 60 fps frame rate with no noticeable drops, even when experimenting with its impressive gore effects. It runs at 1080p, though, which did lead to a slightly blurry-looking picture on my TV. Compared to my playthrough on PS5, there were also some cutbacks when it comes to reflection and shadow quality though this was only really noticeable when comparing them side by side.

The differences were more apparent in my hours with Microsoft Flight Simulator, which still looks incredibly impressive but nowhere near as photo-realistic as on a high-power PC when you view environments up close. The frame rate was also quite unstable, sometimes dropping into the low 20s in particularly built-up cities like Tokyo.

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Microsoft Flight Simulator on an Xbox Series S. — (Image credit: Microsoft)

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Dead Island 2 on Xbox Series S. — (Image credit: PLAION)

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The quality of resolution, characters, and lighting in Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, another highly demanding game, also takes a hit and can even struggle to consistently maintain its 30 fps frame rate. It’s still perfectly playable, but did detract from the cinematic atmosphere somewhat.

Forza Motorsport offers two distinct visual modes, Performance and Quality, which target 60 fps at 1080p and 30 fps at 1440p respectively. I chose to prioritize frame rates and was pleased by the smoothness of races on my monitor, which was definitely helped by the smart use of dynamic resolution scaling. This is another case where larger displays will suffer, though, as the 1080p resolution and reduced level of overall detail will be significantly easier to spot. I would therefore recommend sticking to smaller 1440p, or even 1080p, screens for the best experience.

It’s just unfair to deduct any points for this, though, as you couldn’t achieve this kind of performance on a $300 PC. Even systems double or triple the price would struggle to replicate it without extensive settings tweaking and optimizations. If you’re shopping on a tight budget, there’s also quite a strong chance that you don't own a sizable 4K TV, which would stop you from getting the most out of the higher resolutions and greater detail of the PS5 or Xbox Series X anyway.

The roughly 800GB of usable storage will also be more than enough for the vast majority of players, particularly those not splashing out on the newest releases. With an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, I found that it was more than enough to keep a few live-service favorites such as Fortnite and Call of Duty on hand at all times while still having room for a rotating selection of games that I wanted to try.

The — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

Should I buy the Xbox Series S 1TB?

Buy it if...

You’re after the best value Xbox
If you’re buying an Xbox right now, then this is the model to choose. The extra storage space is worth the added cost compared to base Xbox Series S and could even save you money compared to buying an expensive Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card down the line.

You’re on a budget
The Xbox Series S remains unbeatable value almost four years after its original launch. If you want to get into the world of current-gen gaming without breaking the bank, it is by far the best option out there today.

You're content to game in 1080p or 1440p
The visual cutbacks on the Xbox Series S are much less noticeable if you play on a smaller display. Many games run at 1080p or 1440p making it a good fit if you haven’t upgraded to 4K quite yet.

Don't buy it if...

You crave the greatest performance
The Xbox Series S delivers amazing performance for the price, but is still noticeably behind the more expensive Xbox Series X and PS5. Those are better choices if you want higher frame rates and a 4K resolution.

You have an extensive physical game library
The Xbox Series S is still a digital only console. If you have an extensive physical game collection, it will most likely be cheaper to splash out for an Xbox Series X rather than repurchase them all digitally.

Also consider...

If you’re not fully on board with the Xbox Series S 1TB, then consider these two strong alternatives.

Xbox Series X Digital Edition
If you’re set on picking up a digital only console but want even greater performance, then the Xbox Series X Digital Edition could be for you. This clean white console comes in a little cheaper than the full-fat model, potentially a worthwhile saving.

For more information, check out our full Xbox Series X Digital Edition review.

Xbox Series X
If you want to access your physical library of Xbox games on a current generation machine, then the original Xbox Series X is your only choice right now. It boasts better performance than the Xbox Series S with resolutions up to 4K, though does come in significantly more expensive.

For more information, check out our full Xbox Series X review.

How I reviewed the Xbox Series S 1TB

I tested the Xbox Series S 1TB over the course of two weeks, alternating between using it with a Samsung 4K TV and a Lenovo 1080p monitor. Throughout my time with the console, I relied on the included Xbox Wireless Controller, in addition to a few extra peripherals such as a Seagate Game Drive for Xbox external hard drive and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 headset for audio.

I played a wide range of games on the console, both from my personal library and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Some of my favorites included Senua’s Saga: Hellblade, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Gears 5, Forza Motorsport, Call of Duty: Warzone, Dead Island 2, Fortnite, Cities Skylines Remastered, Forza Motorsport 7, Starfield, and Minecraft. I also tried plenty of backwards compatible games, such as Alice: Madness Returns, Mirror’s Edge, Skate 3, and Rumble Roses XX.

I constantly compared my experience to my hands-on testing of the original 512GB Xbox Series S, in addition to Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Two-minute review

There are many reasons why PC gamers may prefer a 1080p gaming monitor like the $179 Lenovo Legion R25f-30 over displays with higher resolutions. Beyond serving individuals who may be on a tighter budget, performance gains through higher frame rates in the modern gaming era can help more competitive-minded gamers.

With a 24.5-inch VA panel, 1080p native resolution and 280Hz refresh rate, the Legion R25f-30 does a great job where it counts. The image quality is wonderful thanks to covering 99% of the sRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space while supporting HDR. On the other hand, AMD FreeSync alongside a 0.5ms response time helps on the performance side of things.

To further improve gameplay performance, the Legion R25f-30 comes equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium technology and ClearMR 7000 certification, eliminating stutters and screen tearing for an ultra-smooth gaming experience. Gamers will enjoy stunning visual fidelity, as the monitor covers 99% of the sRGB and 90% of the DCI-P3 color space, delivering vibrant, true-to-life colors. This is great for entry-to-mid-level content creators or beginning colorists in terms of color accuracy for the Adobe crowd. The Legion R25f-30 works fine enough when browsing the web or using management software with clarity and crisp fonts.

With support for HDR, lighting and shadows appear more realistic, adding depth and detail to every scene. If that’s all PC gamers on the cheaper side are looking for, then that sub-$200 gaming monitor could be worth it. Gamers playing titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake II will get some of the best image quality they can get at this price point. The same goes for more esports titles like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty where input latency and high frame rates are vital for victory.

The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 has a few drawbacks, starting with its rather plain design that lacks visual flair. While the monitor provides adjustable comfort with lift, tilt, pivot, and swivel options, its two built-in 3W stereo speakers are underwhelming and not ideal for serious use. Additionally, it lacks USB ports and in-display overlays, with crosshair overlays and color settings only accessible through the separate Lenovo Artery software. Compared to other budget gaming monitors, it falls short at times.

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Price and availability

A Lenovo Legion R25f-30 on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

When is it available? Now
How much does it cost? $179.99/£139.00/AU $299.00
Where can you get it? US, UK, and Australia

The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is available now in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia territories. Priced at $179.99 (£139.00, AU $299.00), the gaming monitor can be purchased from Lenovo’s online store or various online stores like Newegg in the U.S., Currys Business in the UK, and Centrecom in Australia. If image quality and performance matter more to you, the sub-$200 price tag could be worth it.

You won't find any USB ports or powerful speakers in way of features, just the Lenovo Artery software compatibility and onboard speakers. If you want more bang-for-your-buck, you may want to look into the RCA Evolution Select M27SG134F. At the cost of only having 168Hz refresh rate, the 1440p display provides commendable image quality and performance, plus better speakers and on-screen displays.

Understand that there are affordable 4K monitors of quality as well like the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q. Of course, those two other potential choices will require a rig that can handle solid output beyond 1080p.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Specs

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Design

When it comes to overall design aesthetics, the all-black colorway of The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is a bit boring. Don’t expect an aggressive angular design outside of the base which features the Lenovo logo stretched across triangular grills.

No RGB lighting or anything of the likes are to be found here. Thankfully, the fairly generic design does lend itself to a simple setup. Simply screw in the base to the neck and snap both into the back panel.

To secure the back panel to the neck, there are four large screws that require some tightening.

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The overall weight of the gaming monitor is a bit less than 15lbs which means it's easy to maneuver around. Meanwhile, adjustments to display position include lift, tilt, pivot and swivel.

The swivel can also convert the Legion R25f-30 to portrait layout as well. There are several buttons on the back panel for power, input, game-related modes and a thumb stick for navigating and selecting options on the in-display menu.

Power comes through a port that connects directly to an outlet so you don’t have to worry about an adapter. Outside of that, the only ports are one single DisplayPort, two HDMI ports and 3.5 headphone jack. Some USB ports would have been nice but considering the budget nature, these are understandable.

Design: 3 / 5

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Features

The feature set of the Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is very light which is expected given the sub-$200 price tag. Alongside the lack of USB ports or more standard gaming monitor features like KVM, there are two extras that you may find interesting - the first is compatibility with Lenovo’s Artery software.

This allows features like crosshair and frame rate overlays and easier access to color correction on the monitor. Understand that console players are going to miss out on any of these capabilities since it’s tied to the software.

Another feature are the two 3W in-display speakers that are fairly weak for everyday usage. If the room is quiet, they could be good for the occasional YouTube video.

However, serious gamers are going to either use the 3.5m headphone jack or a pair of the best wireless headphones around. The volume on the speakers aren’t the highest and lack any real sonic nuance.

Features: 3 / 5

Lenovo Legion R25f-30: Performance

Performance is the highlight of the Lenovo Legion R25F-30 thanks to its 280Hz refresh rate and 0.5 latency which will definitely give gamers a competitive edge. Add AMD FreeSync Premium into the mix and this display competes very well in that department. Playing competitive online titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III feels great on the R25F-30.

Motion is buttery smooth with no noticeable screen tearing. Having a powerful desktop for this 1080p display means these games enjoy significantly higher framerates that make good usage of its 280Hz refresh rate. Even more fast-paced games like Black Myth: Wukong and Forza Motorsport (2023) feel incredibly tactile thanks to the low latency.

When it comes to image quality, the Legion R25f-30 makes great use of its 380 peak nits of brightness, 3000:1 contrast, and 16.7 million color support. Though some tinkering is required to get near perfect color accuracy in both SDR and HDR, images look great on the gaming monitor.

This is noticeable in gaming when playing titles like Alan Wake II and Cyberpunk 2077. Having the settings pumped up to max on these games provide great visuals that the Legion R25f-30 can really take advantage of at the 1080p resolution range.

This leads into general application use as well. Text is crisp and easily legible on Google Chrome, and videos offer bold colors and deep enough blacks. Creative tools like Adobe Suite mean that content creators will be fine using Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion R25f-30?

Buy it if…

You want a solid budget 1080p display
The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 is definitely for budget gamers with a lower-spec PC. The 1080p imagery this monitor provides is crisp and clear, and the price tag is definitely reasonable for the panel.

You want great performance
Having a high 280Hz refresh rate is one thing, but having a 0.5ms response time and AMD FreeSync Premium capabilities is another for any competitive-minded gamer.

You require fantastic image quality
This gaming monitor makes well use of its 380 nits and high contrast ratio. Add some good HDR into the mix(that might require some tinkering to get right) and the Lenovo Legion R25f-30 offers some great image quality.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a design that balances look and substance
The Lenovo Legion R25f-30 offers a pretty boring design that lacks any real extras like USB ports.

You need some in-display options and settings
This gaming monitor has some simple options from jump but things like overlays are only useful from the Lenovo Artery software.

You want high-quality speakers
Two built-in 3W stereo speakers are fairly weak on the audio quality side. Thankfully, there’s a 3.5 headset jack for gaming headsets.

Also Consider

RCA Evolution Select M27SG134F
At around the same price, the RCA Evolution Select M27SG134F offers so much more than the Lenovo Legion R25f-30. This includes a higher 1440p display with a reduced refresh rate of 160Hz, better speakers and more features.

Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q
If image quality matters more than performance, the 4K Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q might be something to look into.

Read our full Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q review

How we tested the Lenovo Legion R25f-30

For the review, the Lenovo Legion R25f-30 was tested over the course of about a week. Daily tasks primarily involved using Google Chrome and Slack, including working with Google Docs and project management software like Asana, as well as social media management tools such as Hootsuite. Slack was also frequently used to communicate across various channels. Additionally, Adobe Suite, including Photoshop and Premiere Pro, was used throughout the week for video and photo editing.

For gaming tests, I evaluated both image quality and performance. To assess image quality, I played Black Myth: Wukong, Hogwarts Legacy, Starfield, and Cyberpunk 2077. On the performance side, I tested Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and Forza Motorsport. Additionally, I played Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon and Redout 2.

I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for TechRadar. Outside of gaming, I’ve been proficient in Adobe Suite for over a decade as well.

First reviewed September 2024

Logitech G920 review: a great entry-level Xbox racing wheel, with one serious drawback

6:00 pm | July 28, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: Forza Horizon, Forza Motorsport, PC | Comments: Off

Logitech G920: One-minute review

While far from the newest racing wheel on the market, the Logitech G920 is still a popular pick and, having spent much time with it over the last couple of weeks, it’s easy to see why. Compatible with current and last-generation Xbox consoles (as well as PC), the Logitech G920 is superbly simple to set up thanks to its plug-and-play design. Just hook it up to the mains and your console or PC via USB connection and you’re ready to go.

The G920 also boasts exceptional build quality, with firm plastic forming the wheel base, pedal floor and the center of the wheel itself where you’ll find the layout of Xbox buttons. The trio of throttle, brake and clutch pedals are crafted from brushed stainless steel, and the leather wrapping around the wheel provides sturdy and comfortable grip.

It holds up performance-wise too, thanks to 900-degree rotation that makes it an excellent choice for the very best racing sims and sim-lite titles like F1 24, Forza Motorsport and EA Sports WRC. Force feedback from the wheel is pretty strong by default, though this can be adjusted based on your preferences on the PC G Hub software or in games that support force feedback settings.

The only real sticking point - almost literally - is the incredibly stiff brake pedal which certainly isn’t suited for beginners or casual racing enjoyers. It’s the one part of the Logitech G920’s package that you may consider to be a deal breaker. While you can make things a little easier for yourself here by adjusting the pedal’s sensitivity in the G Hub app, those of you on Xbox exclusively will need to rely on settings from game to game.

Logitech G920: Price and availability

$299.99 / £349.99 / AU$549.95
Pedals are included with purchase
Available at Amazon and Logitech’s website

The Logitech G920 will run you $299.99 / £349.99 / AU$549.95 at its retail price. However, given the wheel’s age, we do see it subject to some pretty great discounts (we’ve seen it drop below $200 in the US, for example), especially during big sales periods throughout the year. The wheel is purchasable and readily available at Amazon and Logitech’s own store page.

Otherwise, its retail price is about what to expect for a mid-range, but entry-level-friendly racing wheel. The Thrustmaster T248, for example, comes in at $300 / £300 and offers largely similar features. The G920 also costs considerably less than some premium choices, including the Thrustmaster T-GT 2 which comes in at an eye-watering $799 / £699. Though options like this are typically targeted at racing sim enthusiasts.

Logitech G920: Specs

Logitech G920: Design and features

Logitech products are typically known for high build quality and that’s no different with the G920 racing wheel. Almost every aspect of the wheel’s design has been built to meet a high standard, from its sturdy non-hollow plastic to the brushed stainless steel pedals.In terms of build you’re absolutely getting your money’s worth, and nothing here ever felt wonky or loose. A solidly-built product all around.

The wheel itself is the highlight here. Hand-stitched leather helps to provide a sturdy and comfortable grip during even the most technically demanding circuits. The center of the wheel has your standard Xbox controller layout, sans the analog sticks. The d-pad, share button and left bumper are over to the left, with the four face buttons, menu button and right bumper on the opposite side.

The Logitech logo sits firmly in the middle, with the Xbox Home button just below. Positioned just behind the wheel are two large metal paddles that can be assigned as you like on a per-game basis. Personally, I usually preferred to assign gear shifts to these in the absence of a dedicated gear shifter with my setup.

I’ll talk more about the pedals soon, but they are solid in terms of build quality. The brushed stainless steel lends a classy, professional feel. Meanwhile, the pedals’ plastic base is grippy and rarely alters position on carpeted surfaces without some degree of force applied. But again, more on this later.

One thing worth noting is that you’ll have a bit of cable management to handle with the Logitech G920. The wheel itself needs plugging into the mains, so be sure you have a nearby plug socket free during play. You’ll also need to wire up the pedals and wheel base together and - finally - hook the wheel up to your console or PC. It ends up being quite a few wires, and while the wheel base itself has a built-in cable tidy, it’s something to be aware of if you already don’t have great cable management for your setup.

Logitech G920: Performance

Across all compatible racing games I tested, including F1 24, Forza Motorsport, Forza Horizon 5, and EA Sports WRC, the Logitech G920 felt perfectly responsive across a range of different racing styles. The wheel’s 900-degree rotation felt more than plenty for racers with varying depths of simulation, and I never found myself having to adjust its sensitivity in-game or via the G Hub software.

I ended up being a big fan of its force feedback, too. It definitely took a bit of getting used to, as it felt relatively aggressive when compared to newer wheels on the market. But I found this to be a great fit for rally, in particular, where various types of terrain were rendered accurately and felt appropriately meaty in response.

There were also no issues to mention with the throttle pedal, which was brilliantly responsive and provided just enough resistance by default to let you manage speed without your foot slipping or losing position. Unfortunately, the brake pedal is a different story.

By default, the brake pedal is simply uncomfortably stiff, to the point where you really need to press your foot in to brake even remotely effectively. Monza’s iconic 90-degree first corner made this issue very apparent, where I felt I needed to apply the brakes far earlier than I would on a controller simply because I couldn’t get the force I needed by default.

I ended up having to set the brake pedal’s sensitivity to maximum in the G Hub app for braking to become effective on PC. And on Xbox Series X, I was left to the whims of individual game settings in order to adjust sensitivity. It does feel like the brake pedal is intended for more serious sim racing titles like iRacing and Assetto Corsa. It’ll likely also help to have a racing seat with a frame to slide the pedal base into at an angle, making it easier to apply pressure on the brakes.

Should I buy the Logitech G920?

Buy it if...

You’re after a quality entry-level racing wheel
Despite being a few years old, the G920 is still a top contender in its price bracket thanks to superb build quality, excellent force feedback and pin-sharp responsiveness.

You want immersion above all from your favorite racing games
The Logitech G920’s force feedback is incredibly immersive and feels great across a variety of racing disciplines including the high-speed of Formula 1 and the demanding, bumpy terrains of rally.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like the sound of that brake pedal
This will be the main sticking point for most potential buyers; the stiff brake pedal is something you’ll have to get used to or adjust with in-game settings or via the G Hub app.

Also consider...

If you’d like to learn more about a couple of other racing wheel choices before committing to the Logitech G920, check below for more top recommendations.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne
This racing wheel certainly won’t be for everyone with its higher price tag, but additional features like its bespoke race management display, robust button layout and high-quality build make it a solid choice for racing sim fanatics.

For more information, check out our full Turtle Beach VelocityOne review

Thrustmaster T248
If you need a wheel for PS5 or PS4 as well as PC, the Thrustmaster T248 should be your first port of call. While getting on in years like the G920, it offers exceptional value and the on-wheel electronic display is a really nice touch.

For more information, check out our full Thrustmaster T248 review

How I tested the Logitech G920

Tested for two weeks
Tested across Xbox and PC
A variety of racing games played

I used the Logitech G920 over the course of a couple of weeks across both Xbox Series X and PC. Being a huge racing game fan, I aimed to test out as many disciplines as possible with the wheel across games like F1 24, EA Sports WRC, Forza Motorsport, Forza Horizon 5 and Euro Truck Simulator 2.

I spent time with each game customizing control and sensitivity settings with the G920, either in-game or with the G Hub companion software. There was an element of finding a sweet spot with each game, though I did find that I had to maximize the brake pedal’s sensitivity across all games tested.

Design & features

The racing wheel of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedal set — (Image credit: Future/Ford James)

The VelocityOne Race features a D-shaped wheel with six face buttons, a directional stick for menu navigation, four dials, two buttons on the back, and four paddles. Turtle Beach hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel here, nor did they need to. The innovation comes in the form of the wheelbase, which is essentially a screen used for the ‘Race Management Display’ (RMD).

During setup and outside of races, this is an ingenious way to allow the user to tweak wheel and pedal settings without having to use an extra program on PC. On Xbox Series X, Series S, or Xbox One, it gives players an added level of customization you wouldn't find otherwise, as you can adjust sensitivity settings, button mappings, and the like, most of which are usually off-limits to those on console.

When you're racing is when it properly comes alive though, as it displays all manner of race info in supported games, such as your speed, current gear, lap times and delta, tire wear, and more. However, this comes with a big caveat: currently, no games support this functionality on Xbox, and getting it up and running on PC requires the SimHub third-party software.

While it's neat and looks impressive, its functionality is also limited, as your game of choice will likely display all of that information on the heads-up display (HUD), meaning you don’t have to not look away from the screen while hurtling down the track at ridiculous speeds. So, the display is, sadly, more of a gimmick than anything.

Close up of buttons on the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedal set — (Image credit: Future/Ford James)

Speaking of gimmicks, you can attach a button box to the wheelbase that sticks out of the right-hand side. This sports four buttons, four switches, and three dials, along with the engine start and a button to turn the device off, and an extra switch with a red plastic cover to ensure you don't knock it by mistake.

The problem is, outside of the hardcore sim racing games such as iRacing, dials and latched switches aren't ideal for most functions you'd need. Take F1 23, for example; there are far more functions in that game than there are assignable buttons on the VelocityOne because toggleable switches and dials aren't a good match for the game.

The shell of the button box itself also feels quite plasticky and tacky, and while the switches do feel clicky and tactile, it doesn't redeem the cheap quality of the surroundings. This carries over to the fabric and stitching on the wheel, as it feels a little spongy; if you squeeze and rotate it, you can feel it move in your grip. If you isolated the VelocityOne Race wheel and compared it directly to the Logitech G923, the latter has none of these issues and you'd likely assume the Turtle Beach offering is the one at less than half the price of the other.

Onto the pedals and there is one huge design flaw that makes it essentially unusable out of the box for anyone playing at a desk as opposed to a wheel stand or proper sim rig: the USB connector to link it to the wheelbase protrudes directly out of the back of the pedalbase.

This means that you cannot put the pedals against a wall or you'll damage the cable, and putting it against a wall is essential because, despite the inclusion of some sticky pads to place on the bottom of the pedalbase, it slides along the floor when you engage the gas or brake pedals with any force.

To hark back to the Logitech G923 again, the cable here goes under the pedals through a groove and is connected via a port in an indent in the bottom, so this issue doesn't occur. I fixed this problem with the VelocityOne pedals by placing two wooden blocks on either side of the USB, but it feels like something that should have been caught in the product’s design phase.

Performance

The pedals of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedal set — (Image credit: Future/Ford James)

When it comes to performance, the VelocityOne performs well with only a few minor bugbears present. For example, one tiny frustration is that when you're not in a race, the RMD displays the position of the wheel, and my review model always rests one notch to the left, so it isn't truly straight. This isn't a big deal thanks to the deadzone, but it's noticeable enough to be annoying.

Another issue with the pedals is that the front of the pedalbase isn't weighted anywhere near enough. Again, this won't be as much of a problem for those with a wheel stand or a full rig, but sat in a chair with the pedals below your desk means braking firmly will usually flip the base up, making it impossible to brake or accelerate quickly with any consistency. My solution was to place two 6.6lbs / 3kg dumbbells on either side of the base and avoid knocking them off with my feet.

Perhaps the biggest issue, albeit not one exclusive to the VelocityOne, is the lack of games on PC with native support. However, this product has an alarmingly small number of games supported out of the box, with only two - EA Sports WRC and Forza Motorsport - offering plug-and-play. The official compatibility list confirms every other game requires mapping the controls yourself, and that often doesn't work exactly as it should.

In Euro Truck Simulator 2 for instance, the VelocityOne wouldn't recognize the lower paddles at all. There were also instances in every game where the connection would be lost, forcing an auto-pause, before randomly reconnecting after 10 seconds or so, making it impossible to play using this wheel in any online race in fear of it happening again.

The one thing this wheel has in its favor is the fact it's direct drive, as opposed to gear-driven or belt-driven like the oft-recommended Logitech G923 and other cheaper alternatives. This means the VelocityOne is more responsive and much more akin to driving a real racing car thanks to the torque on offer, but if you're after a direct drive wheel specifically, you can get much better products, such as the Simagic Alpha Mini or one of Moza's many products, a few of which are still cheaper than this.

Should I buy the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race wheel and pedal set?

The VelocityOne is a tough one to fully recommend. While it certainly works (most of the time), this product is unfortunately about double the price it should be - certainly when comparing it to its competitors. Generally, the performance is good, but it's no better than a wheel you can get for half the price, which makes it tough to endorse.

The Race Management Display is cool but is still ultimately a gimmick, and while the fact it sports direct drive may be a selling point to some, it doesn't do enough to compete in my eyes. If you're a beginner looking to dive into simracing for the first time, the Logitech G29 or G923 is a better fit and much easier to point you towards. If you're looking to upgrade from that to direct drive, then you might find better mileage in products such as the Moza R5 or Fanatec GT DD Pro.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedals

I spent around five days using the VelocityOne in a variety of driving games on PC, including F1 23, Euro Truck Simulator 2, EA Sports WRC, and Forza Motorsport. I used it clamped on a desk with the wheels below. I also A-B tested the VelocityOne by returning to my other wheel, the Logitech G923, regularly to compare the two.

LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB: Two-minute review

The LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB is a special monitor, to say the least, and is effectively a new benchmark for the best ultrawide monitors thanks to its phenomenal balance of price, performance, and features.

The 45GR75DCB stretches its ultrawide display up from the usual 3,840 x 1,440p resolution up to 5,120 x 1,440p (32:9, rather than the more typical 21:9), and spreads that across just under 45 inches (44.5 to be precise) of display running up to 200Hz.

Then there are various features ranging from KVM capabilities for use across various devices, AMD Freesync Premium Pro compatibility, and more. Most importantly, the 45GR75DCB lacks the incredibly high $2,000 launch price tag of the LG UltraGear 38GN950, instead coming in at $799. This makes the 45GR75DCB one of the best gaming monitors currently available in its class.

An LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

The LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB has a simple set-up out of the box. Three parts need to be connected including the base, stand, and display itself. The base has an easy screw at its bottom that connects to the neck.

Once that’s done, the neck connects to four slots on the display’s back. Weight distribution feels pretty even during setup so putting all the parts of the 45GR75DCB together wasn’t difficult. Power is supplied by a slightly enlarged brick that connects to a jack in the rear near a larger collection of ports.

An LG UltraGear 45GR75C on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

The ports sit on the right side of the back panel directly next to the display neck. In this section are two HDMI ports alongside a singular DisplayPort, USB-C port, USB-B, and two USB-A ports for KVM capabilities.

At the panel bottom near the power button/menu stick is a 3.5mm audio jack that also features DTS Headphone:X for virtual surround sound. It’s incredibly easy to navigate system menus with the stick as the user interface is pretty snappy as well. Unfortunately, there aren’t any internal speakers so headphones or external speakers are going to be mandatory.

When it comes to aesthetics, it won’t win any awards for beauty as it's more about function over form. For a small bit of oomph, there is an UltraGear logo on the back panel and that’s about it. The bezels are thin enough not to interfere with display real estate due to its 3-sided virtually borderless design.

Thankfully, the feet of the base don’t spread out wide enough to be a nuisance, which is great. The 45GR75DCB also doesn’t have any of the customizable lighting of the 38GN950 but that’s fine, and some might even see that as a positive. Though it’s impossible to rotate the 45GR75DCB vertically to get into portrait mode, there are enough height, tilt, and swivel adjustment ranges for a comfortable setup.

There are plenty of features that come packed in the LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB that add to various levels of functionality from creative work to pure gaming applications. The USB-C port allows for various functions including video and data transfer alongside power delivery up to 90W.

There also are a slew of various picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture modes as well as the splitting the monitor between two 2560 X 1440p displays. Multitasking is taken even further through KVM capabilities which allows a single mouse and keyboard input over two devices. This is perfect for gamers who want to stream content through one monitor and set of inputs.

When it comes to more image quality-focused features, the 45GR75DCB has a 1500R curve and 178° viewing angle. The 44.5-inch VA panel produces true-to-life images and videos, boasting 1.07 billion colors and VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification for high-dynamic range, encompassing 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut. Additionally, it offers a 3000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 400 nits among its standout features.

Real-time frames per second data can be splashed across all four corners of the display through an FPS Counter. Though the accuracy of the counter is a bit wonky during our test, it’s a great resource to keep up with fps data without using a third-party app that could take away system resources. Shooter fans looking to become as accurate as possible have several choices of a center-display crosshair for improving precision and accuracy. Though the 45GR75DCB doesn’t have external speakers, having DTS Headphone:X certification for virtual surround sound is a phenomenal plug-in-play feature.

General gaming performance on the LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB is pretty fantastic despite the wide visual real-estate. High frame rate games like Doom Eternal, Fortnite, and Counter Strike 2 definitely make the most of the blistering fast 200Hz display. Input lag while playing those games was non-existent thanks to its 1ms (GTG) response time, as well. Moreover, its compatibility with multiple variable refresh rate standards, including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, allows users to seamlessly apply the suitable variable refresh rate function to any PC or console.

Fans of games including Forza Motorsport, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and recent PlayStation ports of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered are going to be in for a treat. They not only perform well but feature ultrawide support for incredibly immersive gameplay. Just be sure that you have the best gaming PC you can get because it'll need to be powerful enough to get the most out of the ultrawide resolution and refresh rate.

When it comes to general image quality, the UltraGear 45GR75DCB is respectable but is held back by its 400 nits of brightness alongside the anti-glare screen, which ultimately produces colors that aren’t as vibrant or crisp as they could be. This is more noticeable when HDR is turned on as colors feel even more flat and drab.

This means that the ultrawide desktop should be avoided by content curators like photographers or colorists. While using Photoshop, it was an issue getting internal monitor settings to look right. For optimal image quality, it’s best to leave HDR alone unless one wants to do a lot of tinkering. Like many premium gaming monitors, there are several genre-specific color settings for first-person shooters, racing, and the like. However, they don’t do much to help improve image quality.

Overall, though, the LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB is one of the best gaming monitor options for those who want the real estate of an ultrawide monitor but aren't looking to spend a fortune to get one. When it comes to functionality and performance, you'd be hard-pressed to find better, just don’t expect a premium look for overall image quality.

LG UltraGear 45GR75C: Price and availability

The LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB is available now in the US for $799.99 and in the UK for 979.94, though there isn’t a release date for the UK or Australia right now. For the size available, this pits it against larger ultrawide screens like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 or Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 but significantly cheaper.

Though the UltraGear 45GR75DCB lacks a lot of the image quality of those other ultrawide gaming displays, it nearly matches them with its functionality and performance.

Should you buy the The LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB?

Buy the LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB if...

Don't buy it if...

You want better overall image quality
Colors lack boldness and contrast compared to other ultrawide monitors in its tier. Though it’s good enough for gaming, creatives may have some issues when it comes to color correcting.

You don’t have a powerful PC
Gamers who already have trouble running games like Fortnite and Call of Duty Warzone at high frame rates on their rig, let alone higher fidelity games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2, won't be able to take full advantage of this display.

The LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB: Also consider

If my LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB review has you considering other options, here are two more monitors to consider.

How I tested the LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB

We tested the LG UltraGear 45GR75C for about a little over a week
We used it for gaming, creative work and general computing tasks
We used various games alongside Adobe Suite software

The LG UltraGear 45GR75DCB was made for high performance gaming so a majority of the time was spent playing various titles. To test the performance prowess of the monitor, I played games like Counter Strike 2, Fortnite, and Doom Eternal to test how far refresh rates could be pushed. When it comes to games displaying high levels of visual fidelity, I played Alan Wake II, Cyberpunk 2077, and Forza Motorsport.

I used Adobe Suite software including Photoshop and Premiere Pro to test its color accuracy and image quality. To test video capabilities, various YouTube videos were played across a range of image qualities as well.

I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for Techradar. Outside of gaming, I’ve been proficient in Adobe Suite for over a decade as well.

First reviewed March 2024

Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel review – kicks like a horse

2:25 pm | January 23, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Forza Motorsport | Comments: Off

The Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 is undoubtedly one of the most impressive, eye-catching racing wheels you could add to a sim racing setup. Officially licensed by automobile manufacturer Ferrari, this incredible replica (taken from the GT Championship car of the same name) is as versatile as it is aesthetically pleasing.

The wheel’s immaculate build quality, on-board LEDs, action buttons, and dials make it an exceptionally capable sim racing wheel. Especially for games that offer full support for the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3, including F1 23, iRacing, and Assetto Corsa Competizione.

The incredible amount of options and customizability the wheel provides is, unfortunately, something of a double-edged sword. The GT3 isn’t really made with newcomers in mind, and there’s considerably more to the initial setup process than plug-and-play add-ons like the Thrustmaster T248 or the Logitech G923.

Price is also a factor in the GT3’s enthusiast target market. Coming in at $249.99 / £199.99, it’s already on the pricier side. And that’s before factoring in the cost of a compatible wheel base (like the T818 or T300 servo base) and extras like pedals and a gear shifter - none of which are included with the wheel itself. If budget and ease of setup are factors into your buying decision, then consider checking out our guide to the best racing wheels and best PS5 racing wheels for a range of alternatives.

Design and features

What’s immediately apparent about the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel is its phenomenal build quality. Its carbon fiber faceplate and rubber grips ensure the wheel is resistant to wear and tear, and sits firmly and comfortably in your hands. Its 11 action buttons, dials, and switches add up to a lot to get used to, but they’re all carefully placed towards the edges of the faceplate. This placement means they’re all within reach of your thumbs and don’t require you to take a hand off the steering wheel.

On either side of the top-center Thrustmaster logo are four warning LEDs (two on each side) that can provide further information at a glance while racing. I found these to be entirely optional, but they do give an added layer of immersion for things like low fuel warnings or pit entry reminders.

Handily, the dials situated at the bottom of the wheel allow you to change out button profiles if you find yourself hopping from game to game. What’s more, the wheel is compatible with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and last-gen consoles. This variety ensures the wheel has a high level of versatility; you’ll just need to make sure you’re also buying a wheelbase that’s compatible with your platform of choice. I tested the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel with the T818 base, for example, which exclusively works on PC.

Performance

One of the highlights of the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel is its excellent force feedback. By default, I found the wheel to provide immersive, realistic feedback as I rocketed down straights and hit the brakes through tight corners. Racing at Monza in F1 23, for example, the wheel shook and provided strong (but not insurmountable) resistance as I slammed the brakes at that tight turn one. Then, navigating that long right-hand corner at the end of the lap felt more satisfying than ever, as the wheel registered feedback accurately as I carefully balanced my turning angle.

The on-board action buttons provided a very welcome layer of immersion, too. I was able to tell the pit crew to get ready for my entry at the push of a button. I was also able to access the team radio and navigate its options via a button press and with navigation from the directional encoder.

Changing gears felt incredibly easy, too, thanks to the large rear paddles that I’d bound to shifting both up and down. These do feel a little clunky and heavy at first, but they’re certainly not unresponsive. And after a period of adjusting, shifting gears eventually felt like second nature.

When it comes to steering, the GT3 feels ultra-responsive and customizable thanks to the T818 base. This higher-end wheelbase allows for a rotation up to 1080 degrees (and as little as 270, all adjustable in the base’s PC control panel). Thanks to the wheel’s comfort and responsiveness, performing full rotations to get through particularly tight corners never felt uncomfortable or unnecessarily challenging.

Should I buy the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel?

The Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel definitely isn’t one that I’d recommend for beginners given its breadth of customizability and the need for a wheelbase. It’s an expensive investment, but one that racing sim enthusiasts will get a lot of use out of thanks to its expert craftsmanship, exceptional performance, and fantastic force feedback.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we reviewed the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel

I tested the Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 racing wheel for about a week, with it fitted to the T818 wheelbase for PC. I aimed to test the wheel on a number of racing games, including F1 23, Assetto Corsa Competizione, and Forza Motorsport. I was particularly impressed with the GT3’s robust and accurate force feedback and range of on-board buttons that provided quick and easy access to a number of in-game features such as pitting and accessing team radio.

Check out our list of the best racing games for a range of top recommendations. Additionally, you may find a great price on the best peripherals by checking out our list of the best PS5 racing wheel deals.

Razer Edge review – a competent yet pricey Android handheld

4:26 pm | October 24, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Forza Motorsport, Razer Edge | Comments: Off

The Razer Edge is a mobile gaming handheld with some rather fantastic qualities. Bundled with the Razer Kishi V2 Pro mobile controller, it upholds Razer’s reputation for supreme build quality. The tablet part of the Edge is smartly designed, boasting a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with impressively sharp image quality. The controller’s lovely, too, featuring satisfyingly tactile buttons and adjustable width should you wish to swap out the Edge tablet for your phone.

It’s certainly not cheap, though, and this price tag brings the Razer Edge’s value proposition into question. While it’s generally very solid at what it offers, it doesn’t offer much of an experience that you can’t just get with your phone and a cheaper mobile controller like the Backbone One.

Overall performance is pretty standard for a contemporary mobile device. Fitted with the Snapdragon G3X Gen 1 processor, the Razer Edge offers comparable performance to smartphones from recent years and is on par with the likes of the OnePlus 9 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. All in all, while we can’t quite recommend it as one of the best handheld games consoles, it’s a competent tablet that offers adequate native play.

Price and availability

The Razer Edge comes in at $399.99 / £449.99 and is available to buy now from Razer’s official website. US buyers can also head to Newegg to secure a unit, and those of you in the UK can rely on Amazon for stock, too.

There’s no getting around the fact that the Razer Edge is an extremely expensive bit of kit. While the bespoke tablet and included Razer Kishi V2 Pro go some way to justify the high price tag, you may find better value in combining your phone with a mobile controller like the aforementioned Backbone One or Turtle Beach Atom, both of which are in sub-$100 / £100 territory. Alternatively, the Razer Kishi V2 Pro by itself costs $129.99 / £129.99 and is compatible with most Android phones that have a USB-C port.

Design and features

The Razer Edge tablet itself is quite brilliant. Its compact 6.8-inch screen size is perfect for portable play and is comparable to the Nintendo Switch OLED’s 7-inch display. The gorgeous AMOLED display allows for rich color depth and very sharp image quality, allowing vibrant games like Fortnite and Honkai Star Rail to really stand out.

The tablet’s rather light on buttons, with two for volume and a larger one for locking and unlocking the device. On the bottom, you’ll also find a microSD port if you want to bolster the unit’s 128GB of internal storage up to a maximum of 2TB. You’ve also got a 3.5mm headphone port and support for Bluetooth, meaning the Edge is compatible with both the best wireless gaming headsets and best wired gaming headsets.

As is usually the case with Razer products, I’m also really impressed with the build quality. Despite its lightweight and remarkably slim form factor, it ultimately feels sturdy and durable, lending the device a premium feel that’s fitting of its price tag.

The Razer Kishi V2 Pro controller, I’d argue, is even more impressive than the tablet itself. It’s delightfully comfortable in the hands and features wonderfully clicky buttons that feel ultra-responsive when playing games installed directly onto the Edge’s storage. Razer’s HyperSense haptics also feature here, offering contextual rumble that while not quite as strong as the vibration found in the PS5’s DualSense controller, still offers pleasant feedback when playing some of the best Android games.

A few shortcut buttons on the controller are a welcome quality-of-life touch, too. You’ll find a screenshot button, one that takes you to the tablet’s Android-based Home menu, as well as a button dedicated to bringing you to the pre-installed Razer Nexus app (more on that later). Overall, it’s one of the nicest mobile controllers I’ve used to date, with an overall higher quality feel than that of its competitors.

My favorite feature the Razer Edge brings to the table is its virtual controller option. Togglable on a per-app basis, it allows you to assign button and analog stick inputs to on-screen controls. For example, you can drag and drop a button module over the on-screen Fire button in PUBG Mobile and click ‘RT’ to assign it to the right trigger, allowing you an alternative method of firing over pressing the screen.

I found the virtual controller mode to be a far more responsive and comfortable way of playing mobile games on the Razer Edge. As someone who often finds his hands covering up much of a mobile screen - occasionally leading to unfortunate accidental inputs - the virtual controller felt like a much more reliable way to play. That, and it meant I was leaving far fewer fingerprints on the Edge’s lovely display.

Performance and battery life

The Razer Edge’s gaming performance isn’t quite state-of-the-art in the mobile space. Its processor is about on par with the Snapdragon 888, which was a popular choice for smartphones that launched around two to three years ago. That’s not to say the performance is terrible, or that it struggles, though. I was able to natively run Honkai Star Rail, PUBG Mobile, and Genshin Impact at a stable 30fps with medium graphics settings applied across the board.

That said, switching to 60fps across these games proved taxing on the Edge leading to inconsistent frame rates and causing the device’s internal fan to run loud. This is also where I could feel the Edge begin to warm up, so I ultimately had to settle for lower performance as a compromise.

Alongside playing games natively, the Razer Edge also supports cloud gaming and game streaming via services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Steam Link. Cloud gaming performance is about on par with that of my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Edge connected to cloud-based titles quickly, but ultimately offered a pretty subpar experience. A fast, stable internet connection will help here, mind, but I found overall cloud gaming performance to be more inconsistent here than on my Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Image quality while playing games like Forza Motorsport and PowerWash Simulator via Xbox Cloud Gaming was fairly grainy, and the occasional spot of lag muddied the experience. Input latency was quite noticeable, too; in PowerWash Simulator, washing away the last few specks of muck from Squidward’s house proved a challenge as a result of imprecise camera movement. This isn’t solely the Razer Edge’s fault, to be clear, as cloud gaming stability can vary wildly depending on internet speeds and connection quality. But I have had better experiences with Xbox Cloud Gaming when playing on Xbox Series X.

Thankfully, the Razer Edge performed wonderfully with Steam Link. Essentially Steam’s version of remote play (a service that lets you stream games from a nearby console or PC), tethering my library to the Edge via the Nexus app was a breeze. What was even better was that I was able to stream games like Horizon Chase Turbo and Station to Station at a high framerate with excellent image quality.

On-board audio performance is quite strong, too. The Edge has a set of rear-firing speakers built into the tablet. The overall sound profile was very clear, meaning you can go without headphones and still have a quality audio experience. For multiplayer shooters like PUBG Mobile, though, you may still want to opt for play with a headset, as the in-built speakers don’t handle directional audio such as footsteps and bullets quite as clearly.

The Razer Edge does disappoint when it comes to battery life, however. Much like a smartphone, battery life will vary depending on your activity, but from a full charge, I was only able to play games on the handheld for roughly three to four hours before needing to top up. Lighter tasks, though, like watching YouTube videos or streaming audio via Spotify, allowed the Edge to last around ten hours when left on in the background. Charging from empty to full, via USB-C, will take approximately two hours.

Software

The Razer Edge houses the Nexus app, which is accessible via a dedicated button on the Razer Kishi V2 Pro controller, or through an on-screen icon on the Android home menu. It’s a fairly simple app that’s quite similar to the Backbone’s app in that it houses shortcuts to several other applications within it. These include links to Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Steam Link which are all pre-installed on the device. PS Remote Play is also supported, but it wasn’t installed by default. Thankfully, it’s easy to add by downloading from the Google Play Store.

Scrolling down, you’re able to run games installed on the device via their own shortcuts (complete with lovely background art, too). Below that, you can browse a variety of games categorized by genre, not unlike how Apple Arcade organizes its library.

Nexus is a nicely laid-out app, but I did run into one major problem with it. Occasionally, the app elected to not recognize the Kishi V2 Pro’s inputs, even after rebooting. This left me to reach over and use the touchscreen instead, which was a mild annoyance.

Should I buy the Razer Edge?

Overall, the Razer Edge is a competent handheld gaming device with a handful of brilliant features like HyperSense haptics, virtual controller, and, of course, that gorgeously sharp AMOLED display. However, the performance it offers falls in line with smartphones that are a couple of years old, and the device’s price point makes it very hard to wholeheartedly recommend as a result.

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How we tested the Razer Edge

I spent a week testing the Razer Edge and its various features, for a total of about 25 hours. With pre-installed games like Honkai Star Rail and PUBG Mobile, I ensured features like the virtual controller and HyperSense haptics were enabled, finding they provided a smoother and more immersive gaming experience. I also spent much time playing games via Xbox Cloud Gaming and Steam Link, in order to get a good feel on how the Edge handles cloud streaming.

For other top handheld gaming recommendations, consider browsing our guide to the best Nintendo Switch accessories or best handheld games consoles for more suggestions for fantastic hardware.

Forza Motorsport review – revved up

10:01 am | October 4, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Forza Motorsport, Xbox Game Pass | Comments: Off

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X
Available on: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: October 10, 2023

Forza Motorsport provides a refreshing change of pace compared to the racing game landscape of the last couple of years. While it’s a sim racer at heart, it’s much lighter on realistic simulation than Gran Turismo 7, while offering a tighter, more intimate racing experience than the open-world shenanigans of The Crew Motorfest.

To sum it up in a word, Forza Motorsport is welcoming. There are swathes of accessibility options to accommodate players of all skill levels and levels of familiarity with racing games, and the handling model is generous compared to the pinpoint precision demanded by other sim racers. Throw in a wide range of difficulty options, over 500 cars, and multiple racing modes, and the latest Forza feels content-rich at launch. For the most part.

The truth is that you’ll get the most out of Forza Motorsport if you race online with other players. That’s because the Builder’s Cup career mode becomes quite repetitive early on. And that’s exacerbated by the limited number of circuits available to race on at launch, meaning you’ll be visiting the same tracks frequently. What’s here right now, though, is an exhilarating racing experience that rounds out a strong year for Xbox console exclusives.

Built to last

After a couple of introductory races in the game’s flagship cars - the No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray - Forza Motorsport will put you straight into the Builder’s Cup, the career mode. There are several individual cups, each featuring a specific car theme across five or six races. Each series of races will have you buy a new car that’s eligible for the category, and you’ll upgrade it as you progress.

What’s especially cool is upgrading goes hand in hand with how well you drive. As you race, you’ll earn Car EXP from overtaking, racing cleanly (i.e. staying on track and not shunting your competitors), and driving sections and corners quickly and efficiently. These are particularly important, as you’ll be graded on a scale of one to ten; an excellent way of incentivizing you to learn each track and the best racing lines through them.

Leveling up your car gradually unlocks new parts for upgrades, and accrues CP (car points) for you to spend on them. It’s crucial, then, that you race as cleanly as possible, as this’ll mean you can afford more upgrades to remain competitive with your rivals, who’ll also be upgrading their cars as each series progresses.

Best bit

I’m a huge fan of Forza Motorsport’s Car EXP system. I felt like I was constantly being rewarded for learning tracks and improving my overall driving skill. This in turn helped me perform better while racing online.

It sounds like a pretty satisfying loop on paper, but unfortunately, it creates a feeling of monotony throughout the Builder’s Cup mode. Each round features a practice session of two or three laps and a time to beat to get you familiar with the track and your car’s handling. The problem here is that I quickly felt the desire to just skip this and head straight to the race. And that’s not ideal at higher difficulties as practice also rewards valuable Car EXP and credits to buy new vehicles down the line, so they’re practically a necessity.

Instead, it would’ve been preferable to have a qualifying session that rewards you based on your lap times compared to other racers. Forza Motorsport sidesteps this with a risk vs. reward system that offers higher payouts based on where you choose to start on the grid. I’m not a fan of this; not just because it’s unrealistic, but also because the payouts are relatively tiny no matter where you elect to start.

Ultimately the Builder’s Cup is fun for shorter sessions, and it’s going to be regularly updated with new series post-launch. If you take it at a relaxed pace you’ll find there’s plenty of content and cars to enjoy here over a longer period of time.

Top gear

One of the best things about Forza Motorsport is its excellent vehicle handling. While not as strict or sim-heavy as Gran Turismo 7, the game provides a responsive and robust model with clear differences from car to car. That’s especially apparent when jumping from a front-wheel drive’s high speed to a rear-wheel’s more effective grip and handling.

There’s high attention to detail across all aspects of simulation. Tyre wear is a huge factor, with softs allowing for quicker lap times than mediums and hards at the cost of reduced durability. Tracks can also be rubbered in over time as tires wear down, increasing surface grip, or reducing it in wetter race conditions.

With that in mind, the best races are the ones that bring the game’s dynamic weather system into play. A wet track, for example, will dry over time once the rain has let up. And on longer races, you’ll need to effectively plan a pit strategy to make sure you’re not caught out on a suboptimal set of tires When the weather and track inevitably change.

Further exemplifying Forza Motorsport’s fantastic handling model is the wide range of assists and difficulty options presented. Just starting out? You’ll be able to make use of visual racing lines, traction control, brake assists, transmission type, rewinds, and more lenient penalties for shunting and track-cutting. You can toggle these off at any time to suit your comfort level, allowing you to tailor the game’s challenge to your preference.

There’s no limit to assists when racing online, either, which is fantastic for players who prefer racing against other players. While I had no issues with connection quality during testing, I did find the Featured Multiplayer (the game’s ranked mode) to be fairly limiting, as you’ll need to queue for races at specific times, with preset tracks, eligible cars, and conditions. Thankfully, private multiplayer lobbies with support for custom rule sets are also available if you just want to muck about with friends.

A feast for the eyes

Forza Motorsport is a visually beautiful game, which is highlighted superbly by the game’s revamped lighting system. The addition of volumetric lighting means that light accurately permeates through objects like trees, fences, and bounces off your vehicle. And if you’ve got ray tracing enabled, you’ll be able to see detailed reflections in vehicles and puddles of water. Rain-soaked races are especially lovely here, though the on-screen rain effect is a little overkill and quite distracting due to a frankly comical smattering of droplets smearing your vision.

Track detail is similarly impressive, with a high number of objects, animated 3D crowds, and high-resolution textures providing near-photorealistic results. If you’ve got an HDR-capable 4K TV, the results are especially breathtaking. And if you don’t mind the cut to 30fps, the Quality graphics setting is an absolute treat.

A big trade-off for all this extra detail, though, is that Forza Motorsport only features 20 circuits to race on, far fewer than GT7 at launch, and there are some baffling omissions. You won’t be racing on iconic tracks like Monza, Mount Panorama, or Brands Hatch - at least not at launch. More tracks will be coming in the future, but for now, you’ll find yourself racing the same tracks pretty frequently.

Despite its shortcomings and relatively slim track list, Forza Motorsport is a competent return to form for the sim racing series. It’s accessible to players of varying needs and skill levels, has enough content to last dedicated players months, and looks utterly gorgeous to boot. It’s not a game to miss if you’ve been craving an in-depth racing experience on Xbox.

Accessibility

Forza Motorsport’s accessibility suite is simply brilliant, accommodating players of all kinds. Subtitle and screen narrator options are plentiful, as are global colorblind settings for both the game and its UI elements. Most impressive, though, is the extremely robust blind driving assists, which enable audible cues for braking, cornering, overtakes, off-track indicators, wrong-way indicators, and pit lane response.

How we reviewed Forza Motorsport

I played Forza Motorsport on Xbox Series X over the course of a week, getting stuck into the main Builder’s Cup mode and ensuring I tried out a wide range of forward, rear, and all-wheel drive vehicles across all of the game’s tracks. I tested some online sessions too, with developers from Turn 10 Studios.

Forza Motorsport will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass. For more top racing titles, consider browsing our best racing games list, many of which work brilliantly with the best racing wheels you can buy in 2023.

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