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Octopus Arcade Stick review: a premium fight stick with versatility to match

3:00 pm | October 5, 2024

Octopus Arcade Stick: two-minute review

The Octopus Arcade Stick is a versatile fight stick that provides an excellent gaming experience for fighting game fans with exceptional compatibility across a range of platforms. The arcade-grade joystick and buttons from Sanwa benefit from a durable, aerospace-grade aluminum shell.

Indeed, in practice, using it does feel exactly like stepping into the ring on a brawler at your local arcade (minus the beer-soaked cabinets of course). Buttons are responsive and the joystick reliably moves with precision and purpose as you’d expect from a Sanwa stick, always snapping back correctly ready for the next combo, block, or evasion. If Sanwa doesn’t fit your playstyle, then the supplied stick and buttons are easily swapped out for alternatives.

It’s the sheer number of supported consoles and platforms that truly impresses here. Where other contenders for best fight stick can tie players into a single or limited ecosystem, the Octopus Arcade Stick is compatible with over twenty platforms out of the box. Everything from the Mega Drive and SNES, to the entire PlayStation home console family, to PC and even several niche consoles play nicely with TR Fight Stick’s debut behemoth.

Achieving this versatility does require additional cables though, with an array of 2m leads available directly from TR Fight Stick to suit consoles that feature proprietary controller connections that predate the USB standards of today. The included USB-C cable will still provide ample platform coverage across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, PlayStation Classic, MegaDrive Mini, NeoGeo Mini, Astro City Mini, MiSTer FPGA, RetroPie, and other Raspberry Pi apps, plus X-Input devices.

An image of the Octopus Arcade Stick among retro games consoles and games, and a Nintendo Switch — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

While the Octopus Arcade Stick is happy to throw down on a range of systems, it’s clear that it was designed with Sega’s Dreamcast as its champion. The Octopus’ secret weapon is one strictly for fans of Sega’s final home console, and appears as a built-in virtual VMU (Visual Memory Unit) switcher, with a capacity for ten individual VMUs, providing easy access to more save data slots than even the most prolific Dreamcast player will ever need.

The Octopus Arcade Stick even includes an LCD screen at the top of the unit, allowing you to see at a glance which VMU they’re using and enjoy the little animations, mimicking their appearance on the original Dreamcast VMUs. Soul Calibur fans rejoice as tiny, pixelated Ivy is alive and well.

Serious players also tend to be serious about their fight stick aesthetics, and the Octopus doesn’t disappoint here either with customization options for faceplate designs and layouts, including options to switch from the standard Sega 2P layout to Viewlix, Noir, or HitBox faceplates. Accessing the innards of the Octopus is straightforward, with the rear aluminum plate easily removed by loosening the seven Phillips head screws.

Octopus Arcade Stick: Price and availability

List price: $399.00 / £297.24 / AU$576.06
Premium pricing…
…but early adopters can bag one of the first batch of units for $299

The Octopus Arcade Stick is currently only available from TR Fight Stick’s official store page. The list price of $399.00, roughly £297.24 or AU$576.06 in the UK and Australia respectively, means that the Octopus Arcade Stick comes in as one of the pricier arcade sticks on the market today, costing more than an Xbox Series S or a Nintendo Switch OLED.

While that ticket price may cause some to flinch, remember that the Octopus Arcade Stick’s wide array of compatible consoles and platforms could remove the need for additional peripherals and provide additional value to players wishing to use fight sticks on multiple systems. Even those looking for a fight stick for a single platform should feel confident in their purchase as the quality on display in the Octopus is stellar.

Mercifully, those aforementioned additional cables carry a reasonable $14.99 price tag so won’t break the bank for players looking to wield the Octopus on older systems.

The Octopus Arcade Stick is scheduled to launch sometime in October, and early adopters can snap up a unit in either black or white for $299 while TR Fight Stick’s initial stocks last.

An image of the Octopus Arcade Stick on a white surface — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

Octopus Arcade Stick: Specs

An image of the internal wiring of the Octopus Arcade Stick — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

Octopus Arcade Stick: Design and features

Striking visuals with a range of changeable faceplates
Fantastic build quality with high-end materials
Bulky and heavy

Probably the first thing that’ll catch your eye on the Octopus Fight Stick is the artwork. TR Fight Stick has produced a series of faceplates, dubbed ‘OctoPlates’, allowing users to change the appearance of their arcade sticks. The majority of the OctoPlates include artwork featuring the titular cephalopod in a number of graphic styles, with designs inspired by everything from street graffiti to Grecian mosaics. If tentacles aren’t your thing, however, there is also a transparent OctoPlate which shows off the units’ inner workings, and even a limited edition plate featuring Ryo Hazuki from Dreamcast classic Shenmue.

There’s no avoiding the octopus in the room though, no matter how it's dressed, the Octopus Fight Stick is a hefty unit. The chassis size is a significant increase over the prototype I tested back at the start of the year, measuring almost 17.7in / 45cm across its width and 10.2 / 26cm deep. After opening the back of the unit to inspect modification options, I gleamed that there exists plenty of free space internally, meaning that TR Fight Stick could potentially slim this design down without greatly impacting its overall visage.

It's not just the size of the Octopus either, but the weight, that may dissuade some would-be buyers. Tipping the scales at around 7.7lbs / 3.5kg, the Octopus Arcade Stick definitely falls into the heavyweight category alongside other sticks such as the Nacon Daija and the Victrix Pro FS. Personally, I don’t mind the weight resting on my lap during a gaming session, as it feels secure and unlikely to move around during play, however, its weight may be off-putting to some.

An image of the top and rear of the Octopus Arcade Stick — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

Octopus Arcade Stick: Performance

Exceptionally responsive buttons and stick
Switching between platforms is a little fiddly yet forgivable
Fantastic for arcade games and retro titles as well including a well-implemented turbo function

When you’re in the heat of battle the last thing you want to worry about is an unresponsive controller, and the Octopus Arcade Stick uppercuts those concerns into oblivion. The sturdy metal case eliminates any flex you might experience with a plastic shell, with the buttons and stick feeling purposeful and reliable during heated online exchanges.

A far cry from ‘the claw’ I often use when playing the best fighting games with something like one of the best PC controllers, the Octopus’ size affords a comfortable space for players to rest their wrists during gameplay, with the ergonomic layout putting every button at my fingertips, ready to engage at a moment’s notice. I found using the Octopus left me feeling less fatigued following a long play session, no doubt thanks to not needing to unnaturally wrap my digits around a pad.

The joystick offers similarly high levels of responsiveness, with dashes, blocks, and circle movements all feeling immediate while delivering that satisfying clicky feedback one only gets with an arcade stick. Special moves quickly become second nature and the experience of inputting button and directional sequences truly captures that arcade machine feeling.

An image of the Octopus Arcade Stick in use — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

The majority of my review time was spent online in Tekken 8 on PS5, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was to move between the various platforms the Octopus Arcade Stick supports.

TR Fight Stick provided me with a range of cables, allowing me to connect to all manner of systems. Plugging the fight stick into each one for the first time does require a bit of dexterity though. The first step is to connect the cable to the console or PC, before holding either a single-button or a two-button combo while inserting the other end of the cable into the Octopus Arcade Stick. It’s not the most elegant of methods for connecting, but with so many platforms supported it feels like TR Fight Stick has achieved a relatively painless process.

Similarly, the VMU switching on Dreamcast is vastly improved from the prototype model I’ve tested previously. Flicking between memory cards on Dreamcast now requires you to hold a single, dedicated button labeled ‘VMU’ before flicking the joystick left or right, whereas the prototype required me to contort my fingers unnaturally and enter a sequence of prompts to achieve the same thing.

A close up of the screen on the Octopus Arcade Stick in use — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

All initialization fumbling is quickly forgotten however once you’ve booted up your game of choice. A handy rocker switch on the unit's far side allows you to quickly toggle the joystick function between left and right analog sticks or a d-pad input, making navigating menus a breeze. Whether playing on PlayStation, PC, Mega Drive, Dreamcast, or Switch, the button and stick inputs remained sharp and responsive, with no noticeable lag present at all.

As a big retro-head, I was keen to take the Octopus Arcade Stick out of its natural brawler habitat and throw some stone-cold classics its way. Far from a one-genre master, the Octopus delivered a fantastic gaming experience across puzzle games like Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine on the Mega Drive and even excelled on the challenging platforming of Disney’s Aladdin. The Octopus’ performance in the latter even led to me reaching the penultimate level of the game in a single life, something I’ve never achieved on a control pad.

Should you buy the Octopus Arcade Stick?

Buy it if...

You’re serious about fighting games
The premium parts and materials warrant the premium price tag. This a serious piece of kit for hardcore beat ‘em enthusiasts and even features a tournament lock switch to avoid accidental disqualification during competitions.

You play on a variety of platforms, both old and new
Looking for a stick to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Switch, Mortal Kombat 1 on the PS5, Killer Instinct on PC, Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast, and Street Fighter 2 on the SNES? The Octopus supports over twenty gaming platforms.

You love customization
With a range of OctoPlates available, a variety of button layout options, and the ability to swap out buttons and joysticks, you can make their fight stick a truly unique peripheral.

Don't buy it if...

You’re looking for a lightweight fight stick
If you’re anticipating long play sessions or having to regularly move your fight stick around the house, then the Octopus’ 7.7lbs / 3.5kg weight and large form factor may make it a little too cumbersome.

You plan to play on Xbox Series consoles
If you primarily play on Xbox Series X or S then you’ll need an alternative fight stick, as despite the Octopus’ long list of supported platforms, Microsoft’s latest consoles didn’t make the cut.

Also consider...

If you’re in the market for a premium fight stick but not completely sold on the Octopus then here are two other similar arcade sticks for your consideration. It’s worth highlighting however the list of compatible platforms on these alternatives is much smaller than the Octopus Arcade Stick, however, that may not be an issue if you’re only looking to play on modern PlayStation or PC hardware.

Victrix Pro FS
This is a great alternative because just like the Octopus Fight Stick, the Victrix Pro FS comes with Sanwa parts as standard. While it doesn’t feature customizable faceplates like the Octopus, it is available in a variety of stylish colorways across its stunning design.

For more information, check out our full Victrix Pro FS review.

Nacon Daija
This is a great alternative because of its premium build quality and highly responsive inputs. Officially licenced from PlayStation, this stick was designed in collaboration with eSports legend Kayane and features profile support in addition to customisation options.

For more information, check out our full Nacon Daiji review.

A close up of the stick and buttons on the Octopus Arcade Stick in use — (Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

How I tested the Octopus Arcade Stick

Tested for a week on PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, PC, Mega Drive, Dreamcast, and Nintendo Switch
Tested with multiple beat ‘em ups, arcade and retro titles
Competed in online tournaments

As somebody who indulges in online battles of Tekken 8 daily, I replaced my PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller with the Octopus Arcade Stick for the duration of my week-long review period, clocking in roughly ten hours of ranked, online gameplay in Namco Bandai’s seminal beat ‘em up. I’ve also become accustomed to entering PS5 tournaments in Tekken 8 so again used the Octopus Fight Stick for my daily humbling with some of the best players on the platform.

I also explored Tekken’s history on PlayStation using the Octopus, connecting the unit to my PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4. I also took this opportunity to play an hour or so of the wonderful Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, fighting through various arcade modes and in the online lobbies.

Moving away from PlayStation, I took several of my favorite Mega Drive classics for a spin during my regular retro game day. In addition to the aforementioned Mean Bean Machine and Aladdin, I used the Octopus Arcade Stick to play through the first half of Sonic 2 and hopped my way through to Pizza Planet in Toy Story.

I tested Nintendo’s platforming pedigree next, firing up several classic titles from the Mario series on Switch before diving headlong into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for some competitive local multiplayer with my partner and friends.

Those same friends kindly provided me with a Dreamcast and some games, including a copy of Soul Calibur, so I could put the Octopus’ VMU features through its paces.

Lastly, on the PC side of things, I enjoyed bouts of Killer Instinct and Multiversus, before throwing myself back into Cuphead and making generous use of the Octopus’ turbo functions.

Xiaomi 14T Pro: two-minute review

The era of AI phones has well and truly arrived, and the Xiaomi 14T Pro proves that mid-range phones don't have to miss out on all the fun. As with previous generations of T Pro models, Xiaomi hasn't skimped on the hardware included in this latest edition, meaning the door is more open than ever for accessible, and affordable, AI exploration.

Unlike many of the latest phones, however, Xiaomi hasn't put all its focus into AI, and it's for the better. Straight out of the box, you can see some of the new thought that's gone into the 14T Pro's design, with the phone sporting a clean aluminum frame and what Xiaomi describes as a "3D curved back". These changes, partnered with a traditionally large (if now a tad less obvious) camera bump, give the 14T Pro a superbly premium feel and weightiness in the hand.

Get it loaded up and frankly, AI is the last thing you'll be thinking about. Xiaomi's HyperOS is smoother than ever, and the continued priority given to the phone's display and processing capabilities means you'd easily be fooled into thinking you're handling a much more pricey device than it is.

Xiaomi 14T Pro in Titan Gray on post in grass field — Xiaomi's new 14T Pro in Titan Grey features an improved design, with a glass back and color matched camera bump. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Xiaomi's ventures into AI are much more measured than we've seen from the likes of Google and Samsung, and, in fairness, what you're given here is a pretty good starting point if you're looking to AI-ify your day-to-day life. While Xiaomi has, of course, added Android-wide features such as Circle to Search and Gemini to the 14T Pro, it has taken positive, if potentially cautious, steps in its own direction in terms of what's offered uniquely on its devices. Rest assured, though, that the Xiaomi 14T Pro is a more than capable scalpal with which to enter the AI world.

Whether your focus is on AI or some of the other more necessary advancements Xiaomi has made in recent years – I'm looking at you, wireless charging – then you're unlikely to be disappointed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. In fact, as ever, you'll likely find yourself seriously impressed with just how much can be packed into a device whose price tag doesn't even come close to those of its flagship competition.

Xiaomi does, however, continue to limit the markets in which it operates (by choice or otherwise), which does a disservice to the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Lacking availability in America leaves a market gap that the likes of Samsung or OnePlus can quite happily fill, and while the price of the 14T Pro is impressively cheap for a phone of this quality, there are plenty more premium options out there for, in some cases, only a fraction more money.

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: price and availability

Starts at £650 for 256GB and 12GB RAM
Unavailable in the US or Australia
No rise in price from the previous model

As a value proposition, the Xiaomi 14T Pro stands strong. No price rise from its predecessor, but a host of increase-worthy upgrades such as an aluminum alloy frame and wireless charging mean you're now getting even more bang for your buck than you'd once have expected, which is something we rarely see from mobile phone manufacturers nowadays.

Here's how much the Xiaomi 14T Pro costs in each of its available regions:

Despite being an extremely high-value phone, the 14T Pro's availability in other regions is frustratingly limited. Since Xiaomi's US presence became muted in the wake of the controversy surrounding Huawei, there's never been a direct route through which to buy a Xiaomi phone in the US. This alone is seriously annoying given how well the 14T Pro fares against similarly priced competition from the likes of OnePlus and Samsung. Maybe next time, US readers.

Value score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: specifications

The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts some impressive specs given its price tag. Take a look at the full breakdown below:

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: design

Xiaomi 14T Pro in Titan Grey — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

New aluminum frame with 3D-curved back
Smaller camera bump than previous models
Some fingerprint issues

The Xiaomi 14T Pro takes a notable step up in terms of design versus its predecessor, but that doesn't make it flawless. Coming in three colors – Titan Grey, Titan Blue, and Titan Black – you'd almost expect the phone to be built from titanium, right? Well, despite pre-launch rumors hinting at such an upgrade, there is, in fact, no titanium on the Xiaomi 14T Pro, which, while disappointing, isn't necessarily a bad thing.

All three colors look positively premium, and with the aluminum alloy frame and 3D-curved back, the phone possesses a flagship-like feel in the hand, much like the Google Pixel 8, which isn't bad company to be in whatsoever. One thing I did find in testing, however, was that while the back of the phone is indeed lovely, it was an absolute fingerprint magnet. I mainly used the phone in the case that comes with it, but my Titan Gray test model became covered in fingerprints the moment it left that case, which is somewhat of an annoyance when frankly the phone is otherwise rather pleasing to the eye.

Xiaomi 14T Pro side angle view in a field — The camera bump on the Xiaomi 14T Pro has seen serious improvements versus the 13T Pro. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

The biggest improvement in terms of design comes to the phone's camera bump. The best Xiaomi phones are known for their cameras, mainly due to the brand's partnership with Leica (which we'll come to later), but also due to the sheer size of their camera bumps. In reality, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is no different; the bump covers over 50% of the width of the phone and, by rough maths, over a third of the length, from its position in the top left of the back panel. Despite this, the bump is a huge upgrade from prior models, with this year's cameras not only protruding less far from the rear of the phone, but also being housed in a color-matched bump.

Gone are the days of a large, garish black block on the back of your device. Instead, you get a lovely, Lego brick-esque square in a color that matches your back panel seamlessly. What's more, the reduced depth and increased width of the bump means you experience very little wobble should you choose to use your phone without a bump-eliminating case or any case at all, which is a nice (if a tad niche) benefit.

Design score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: display

Xiaomi 14T Pro displaying TechRadar homepage on wooden surface — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Bounds of brightness with viewing angles to match
Great responsiveness thanks to adaptive 144Hz capabilities

The 14T Pro continues the Xiaomi trend of putting superb displays on phones you wouldn't expect. The display resolution sits between FHD and QHD at 1220 x 2712 pixels, a resolution unique to Xiaomi, Xiaomi Redmi, and Xiaomi Poco devices.

It's near impossible to find fault with a display like this; CrystalRes AMOLED technology and adaptive refresh rates up to 144Hz meant, more often than not, I had a seriously smooth and vibrant experience. Whether gaming, streaming, or simply scrolling Instagram, the adaptability of the phone's display meant I rarely saw any choppiness that impacted my experience, and I mostly enjoyed 120Hz of seriously pleasant viewing. What's more, if you want to save battery, there's always the option to lock the display to a maximum of 60Hz. That is, if the app you are using doesn't automatically limit your refresh rate, should you choose to simply use the default refresh rate settings.

One limitation I found of the 14T Pro's unique display composition was the compensation some apps made to accommodate it. Most often this came in the form of black bars on either side of applications in landscape mode, which is a frustrating, but not fatal, flaw, especially if you're trying to see the full benefit of the now 93.3% screen-to-body ratio when streaming, for example.

Despite this, the display's 4,000 nit peak brightness and lack of glare make for a very consistent viewing experience at almost any angle. With phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, manufacturers boast about readability, but this seems to have gone especially under the radar with the Xiaomi 14T Pro, despite it being continuously impressive and something that day-to-day use benefits from tremendously during brighter days.

Display score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: software

Xiaomi 14T Pro on wooden surface — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

HyperOS with Android 14
Steady but well-thought-out steps into the world of AI

Every phone right now seems to be throwing all its eggs in the AI basket, but Xiaomi seems to be taking a more measured approach to its AI rollout. Despite this, there are still some fundamental qualms I have with Xiaomi's approach that tarnish the near-premium experience the rest of the phone provides. While the days of being greeted by tens of preinstalled apps on Xiaomi devices are long gone, it seems that Xiaomi isn't quite ready to give up on them entirely.

On loading up the phone, you're not only greeted by the array of on-device tools and features, which I'll get to in a second, but you're also met with apps such as AliExpress, TikTok, WPS Office, and LinkedIn. Plus, in the same app folder, you're bombarded with a host of recommended apps and games that aren't yet installed but could be downloaded from the Mi Store via a shortcut, which overall seems a tad messy and unnecessary in an otherwise impressively clean layout.

Pre-installed qualms aside, there's very little to take offense to about Xiaomi's HyperOS or the tools that come installed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Instead, this is where we start to see Xiaomi's slow and steady approach to introducing AI come into its own. First and foremost, your digital assistant comes preset to Google Gemini rather than Google Assistant, and, while it wasn't available during our review, Circle to Search will also be rolling out to these devices.

Xiaomi 14T Pro home screen on wooden surface — Xiaomi's HyperOS offers a superbly clean experience, including what it calls Super Wallpapers such as the Mars example above, which spins as you flick between pages. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Outside of what Google adds to the device, Xiaomi's app offerings have become evermore positive since the launch of HyperOS. The biggest benefactor for mobile users of the HyperOS upgrade was the Gallery, which not only saw a number of small feature improvements to improve efficiency and add easy access to auto-generated folders and media types, but also gave prominence to Xiaomi's Best Take feature, which can analyze multiple similar photos and tell you which of the shots is, you guessed it, the best.

The general theme of HyperOS was always to improve the interconnectivity of Xiaomi devices, which essentially boiled down to making everything look clean, work efficiently, and interact seamlessly with each other, no matter what device you were using. The downside of having the nicest user experience on Android, however, is that HyperOS hides some of its best features in the depths so as to not look overly messy – which is made more baffling by the array of apps you're shown on receiving the device.

One of the best examples of this is Xiaomi's AI Subtitles feature, which you can use to translate conversations either in-person using the microphone, or even to translate films and TV shows by configuring it to translate system audio. Pretty cool right? The issue is, to find this feature, which worked impressively well in testing, you need to go into the depths of the settings menu, apply for beta access (as it is yet to be fully released), and then add a shortcut to your home screen.

Xiaomi's control centre featuring on the Xiaomi 14T Pro — Xiaomi's Control Center was one of the biggest benefactors of HyperOS, gaining this new, clean layout with an array of customizable options. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Xiaomi is, however, remaining steady with its AI releases, and we're expecting AI Recorder and some AI Film features to arrive in the near future. One thing's for sure, though: this is the most polished HyperOS we've seen since launch and the Xiaomi 14T Pro is, arguably, the perfect example of this software given just how smoothly you can access everything, from settings in the updated Control Center to your favorite photos via improved image searching.

If the slow, steady, and simple approach does one thing very well for HyperOS and the Xiaomi 14T Pro in particular, it's the extent to which simplicity is combined with effectiveness throughout its apps and interfaces. Whether you're using the Control Center to control your music or the redesigned weather app to check the forecast, there is little to no excess in terms of what you're shown, and yet you can quickly access anything you might need. When partnered with the Xiaomi 14T Pro's hardware, this gives you a seriously impressive mobile experience.

Software score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: cameras

Xiaomi 14T Pro camera layout on grey phone — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Leica partnership continues to impress with standard shooting
Some strange variations in light capture and vibrance

If there's one thing the Xiaomi 14T Pro is supposed to excel at, it's photography, but right now I'm constantly flitting between loving it and hating it. Since Xiaomi brought its Leica-partnered camera systems to its T series with the 13T and 13T Pro, it has probably set the bar for mid-range photography. With these latest phones, however, it seems to play jump-rope with this bar a little too much, with some features seriously pushing the mark, and some falling annoyingly beneath.

Take, for example, close-up photographs. There's no denying that the results I was able to achieve were extremely positive, especially when you consider that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, aka the best camera phone from the brand, offers similar close-up performance. However, I often found myself resorting to standard camera modes rather than the usually more effective portrait mode to take the best shots, as I was having difficulty getting the right levels of focus and exposure otherwise. This isn't a major issue, but if one mode can get into focus in less than half the time that another can and produce equal – if not better – results, why wouldn't I use that?

Xiaomi's partnership with Leica brings into focus several features that supposedly enhance your shooting capabilities. The first of these you'll likely encounter is the shooting styles: Leica Authentic, and Leica Vibrant. Shooting with the 50MP wide lens is the best opportunity to see the variations in style in action, as the results can be starkly different. Something that became immediately apparent using the Xiaomi 14T Pro was that, whether you chose Authentic or Vibrant, you were guaranteed an immense amount of color. In either mode, shooting in wide made each color almost excessively saturated, with greens of grass making England seem much more beautiful than it was in reality, and, in fairness, making a much more visually appealing scene out of something that was otherwise rather grey. All in all, superb photos, but not necessarily the most honest to the colors in the scene.

Berries in field — In our tests, our best results came in close-quarters shooting scenarios, with impressive colours and crisp focus. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Something this color-frenzy does help with, however, is the 14T Pro's night photography. This was something that Xiaomi put immense focus on in the build-up to launch, and, with its AI processing systems helping along the way, is an element they've pulled off impressively. There's little to complain about on the night photography front: great colors, impressive light collection, and all-around enjoyable results.

If there's one thing that continues to irk me about Xiaomi's camera systems, it's the interface. Xiaomi continues to assume that you'll instantly understand everything about its cameras, and when I say everything, there's a lot! Take shooting video, for example. You have a standard video mode, and film mode. Within these, you've then got options for Xiaomi's Master Cinema mode, which is given zero explanation anywhere in the camera app itself and requires a Google to work out what it is, as well as options for functionalities such as Motion Tracking Focus and Steady Video. Other settings can also be found in the Camera settings area and the same goes for photos and other modes, too.

When you take into consideration the likely increase in AI functions coming to Xiaomi phones in the next few years, I hope this design gets a rethink. Some of Xiaomi's AI-related photo tools are already hidden in the icons menu of Gallery, and others are annoyingly poorly marked in the editor windows, which isn't an issue once you find everything, but it could take you a while to do just that.

The bottom line is this: Xiaomi's cameras continue to elevate what we expect from phones at this price. While, yes, there are definitely some areas that frustrate – most notably some strange instances of smoothing and occasional extreme amounts of light being pulled in – there's no denying that the results you get are often some of the most stunning among mid-range competitors. In the same way, although there are annoying limitations in terms of camera layout, there's no denying the Leica partnership has played a key role in driving overall quality forward. The 14T Pro, then, is a great all-round camera phone.

Cameras score: 4 / 5

Camera samples

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wide shot of a forest in a gloomy time of the day — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

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path among dark clouds — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

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A path winds between bushes and grasses of different vibrant greens — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

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Wide angle camera shot of a field of differing green and yellow grasses and bushes — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

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Close up shot of red flowers on a branch in a field of yellow long grasses — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: performance

Xiaomi 14 Pro playing Mortal Kombat at a desk — (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

Dimensity 9300+ chipset benchmarks seriously well
Impressive performance in intense gaming scenarios, if a tad hot

As it doesn't come from Snapdragon or Apple, the Xiaomi 14T Pro's Dimensity 9300+ chipset could be easily overlooked, but, if our testing is anything to go by, there's a seriously impressive bit of kit powering this phone, and I struggled to find any scenarios that put this in any doubt.

In our benchmark testing, the Dimensity 9300+ scored only just under the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in single-core testing, and above the S24 Ultra in multi-core, so I wasn't joking when I said it could hold its own. Whether it's the focus on simplicity and efficiency behind HyperOS, sheer performing power, or, most likely, a combination of both, I struggled to create any scenario that caused a genuine performance impact, so you don't need to worry about killing the 14T Pro off with Chrome tabs or your daily Wordle.

The sheer amount of RAM available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro could also play a big part in these benchmark scores, with the device having up to 12GB physical LPDDR5X RAM onboard, plus the option to extend this by up to a further 12GB using the device's internal memory. For the majority of the testing period, I ran the 14T Pro with 6GB of Memory Extension as Xiaomi calls it, meaning it totaled 18GB of available RAM at any time with the model I was reviewing, but, in all honesty, that's probably as much as anyone would need, so having a further 6GB of extension available is just an added bonus.

In gaming scenarios, most notably with the likes of Call of Duty Mobile and Mortal Kombat, I saw very little in terms of performance drops or impact post-session, with the phone able to comfortably play these more graphically intense titles at maximum settings without impacting my ability to smoothly demolish my foes. One thing to note, however, is that the phone was playing games while running at between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius – or 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, if that's your preferred unit of measure. Not exceptionally hot, but hot enough that even with a case on you could tell there was some serious work happening under the hood. Either way, the lack of any performance drops no matter the circumstance puts the Xiaomi 14T Pro in strong company in terms of performance.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: battery

Xiaomi 14T Pro 3D-curved back with logo

(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)

120W wired HyperCharge continues to impress
Wireless charging finally available with 50W wireless HyperCharge

For me, perhaps the best upgrade available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is the arrival of wireless charging. What for many phones has seemed like a reasonably standard feature for several years now has long been missing from Xiaomi's mid-range phones, but now it has arrived with truly Xiaomi-worthy power capabilities.

With 50W wireless charging, the Xiaomi 14T Pro instantly puts the cat among the pigeons in terms of wireless capabilities across both Android and Apple devices. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, for example, only offers 15W wireless charging, also for a 5000mAh battery, so this is a serious step in the charging game for Xiaomi, whose flagship phones were, frankly, already among the best available from a charging perspective.

The Xiaomi 14T Pro continues to offer Xiaomi's 120W HyperCharge when wired, meaning you can get a full charge in around 20 minutes, though Xiaomi is yet to confirm any official charge times. Partner this with a 50W wireless charging alternative, and a 5000mAh battery, and you needn't worry about regularly charging the 14T Pro.

Regular day-to-day use saw me comfortably get multiple days' worth of runtime from the 14T Pro, while more intense use from gaming saw a battery drain of roughly 10% per hour, which, when you consider the strain of maximum graphics settings and online gameplay, is seriously impressive. Nice work, Xiaomi.

Battery score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro?

Buy if...

You love a beautiful display
While the resolution is a tad strange, there's no denying that the display on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is one of the most enjoyable to use for day-to-day mobile tasks, gaming, and, streaming.

You never want to worry about charging again
Xiaomi's offering of both 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging on a phone with a 5,000mAh battery and some serious efficiency features means you'll never be left wanting for battery life.

You want serious gaming performance
In our tests, the Xiaomi 14T Pro handled even some of the most intense games with ease, and without completely wiping out your battery after one round.

Don't buy if...

You want an infinite array of AI capabilities
While a whole host of AI capabilities are available from Xiaomi, with more to come too, it's still behind some competitors in terms of the variety and amount of AI-oriented features available.

Xiaomi 14T Pro review: also consider

Honor Magic 6 Pro

A pricier but more premium alternative. The Honor Magic 6 Pro offers an equally, if not slightly more, premium experience in the same regions as the Xiaomi 14T Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

If you don't quite fancy escaping the safety of Samsung in terms of Android, the newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers a toned down and affordable version of Samsung's flagship device that will be sure to suit.View Deal

How I tested the Xiaomi 14T Pro

I spent around 10 days with the Xiaomi 14T Pro prior to its launch, using the device as my day-to-day machine. During this time, I tested every feature, and was able to conduct benchmarking tests and more technical testing surrounding temperatures, refresh rates, and battery drains.

Day-to-day use of the phone saw me test features such as calling, texting, gaming, Android Auto, and playing music via Bluetooth-connected devices and the built-in speakers. I also performed work-based tasks like searching the web, and using Google tools such as Sheets, Docs, Drive, and Photos. Finally, I used the phone to take pictures, videos, and selfies, while editing these with both the in-built editing tools and Google's editing tools.

My CPU and GPU benchmarking tests were carried out using Geekbench, while temperature and refresh rate tests were conducted using the developer tools built into the Xiaomi 14T Pro. My battery tests were completed using a standardized process for all TechRadar phone reviews.

You can find out more about how we test devices such as the Xiaomi 14T Pro in our dedicated how we test guide.

First reviewed September 2024

Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 review – a solid fighting pad

4:30 pm | March 8, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: Mortal Kombat | Comments: Off

If you’re searching for a wired fighting game controller, then the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 is a solid choice. Its six face buttons are pleasantly tactile and responsive with an intuitive layout that’s ideal for many of the best fighting games. Even though it takes some getting used to, the D-pad is also a major improvement over the one found on the DualSense Wireless Controller thanks to a concave design that makes it far easier to execute complex inputs.

Unfortunately, the thumbstick holds it back from being one of the best PS5 controllers as it can be quite fiddly as a result of its small size and octagonal gate (an octagon-shaped ring around the base of the thumbstick). While it’s not unusable, those who prefer to play fighting games with a thumbstick would be better served by the PS5’s own controller or even one of the best fight sticks. It’s also hard to ignore the fact that the controller is very lightweight and feels quite cheap and hollow in the hands, which is disappointing given the steep $59.99 / £51.99 / around AU$94.95 price tag.

Design and features

The Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 on a white surface. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

The overall design of the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 is an interesting mish-mash of elements from both the DualSense and the PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 controller. It roughly maintains the form factor of the DualSense but is a little wider with shorter grips and a 10ft / 3m non-detachable USB cable sticking out the top. Its buttons and touchpad look more like those found on the DualShock 4, but several key differences set them apart.

Firstly, the buttons use tactile micro switches that offer incredibly satisfying and tangible input actions. They’re also slightly larger than the buttons of a standard controller, making it a little easier to reposition your fingers quickly. There’s also the matter of the controller’s layout, which follows a typical ‘fighting controller configuration’. This means that R1 and R2 buttons have been repositioned next to the face buttons, allowing for much speedier access to more inputs - something that could be a huge benefit in games that use those inputs to block or trigger special attacks.

There are still shoulder buttons and basic triggers on the controller, with the left set mapped to R3 and L3 and the right set mapped to L1 and L2. Unlike the face buttons, these shoulder buttons do not use micro switches and feel noticeably mushier. The right thumbstick has been removed entirely, with the additional space now occupied by a large home button, a mic mute button, a function button, and three accompanying status LEDs. The left thumbstick is slightly smaller than that of a DualSense, with a thicker base and an octagonal gate that forces it into one of eight possible directions.

The controller’s D-pad has a concave shape and is clearly intended to be used with your thumb positioned in its center. It’s a significant departure from the design of the DualSense D-pad - which requires you to lift your thumb to hit different directions - and is a dramatic improvement on the whole. Diagonal inputs in particular feel considerably more precise and the ability to roll the tip of your thumb to execute complex directional movements in a single fluid motion is very welcome.

The back of the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

Above the D-pad is the usual create button, alongside a touchpad and the options button. Despite how it looks, it’s worth noting that the touchpad is not touch-sensitive but can still be pressed down like a regular button input. There is also a standard 3.5mm jack for use with a compatible wired gaming headset on the bottom of the controller. If you flip the controller over, you will find two small switches. The first allows you to disable the touchpad, options, and screenshot button. The second lets you alternate between PS5, PS4, and PC compatibility.

Although certain features are unavailable while playing on PC, such as the headphone jack and touchpad button, the controller is compatible with the Hori Device Manager software. This lets you save up to four custom button profiles, which can be alternated through the function button. The software is a bare-bones affair but is easy to use and performs its limited functions well.

Performance

The Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 being used. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

The Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 is at its absolute best when you’re using the D-pad. It’s reliable and remains very comfortable over extended play sessions, with its concave layout allowing for far smoother motion than the flat D-pad of the DualSense. The responsive face buttons also perform very well and have a low actuation point that helps reduce fatigue after particularly intensive combos.

Diving into some online matches of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 almost immediately improved my performance. The positioning of the R1 button next to the face buttons made executing Skill attacks (which require the R1 button to be held) faster and much more comfortable. Its precise micro switches also helped prevent the more frantic button mashing encouraged by the spongier DualSense buttons. It took a few moments to loosen up, but the D-pad also felt much less sharp on the tip of my thumb.

Unfortunately, the controller’s weaknesses became much more apparent when I switched over to using the thumbstick. It largely functions adequately but I found that I occasionally missed diagonal inputs thanks to the octagonal gate, which caused me to skirt over corners while attempting a full rotation. Octagonal gates might be a popular choice on many fight sticks, but their inclusion on a small thumbstick seems poorly judged.

The controller’s overall shape can also be an inconvenience depending on your playstyle. If you’re going to be using this controller with the popular ‘claw grip’, then the large right-hand grip makes it difficult to position on a table or rest on your leg.

There’s also the matter of its build. I didn’t experience any issues with the quality of the controller during my testing, but it just feels incredibly cheap in the hands. It's eerily light, coming in at roughly 4.2oz / 120g, and feels very hollow too, leaving me a little wary of gripping it with too much force during more intense moments. Wired controllers are often on the lighter side, but it’s not unreasonable to expect a product that costs just $10 / £8 shy of the DualSense to feel more substantial.

Should I buy the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5?

The front of Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

If you’re a fighting game player who often uses the D-pad, then the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 is a solid choice. Although the cheap feeling build is a letdown, compared to the DualSense it offers a better D-pad, a more convenient layout, and far superior micro switch buttons. Those who prefer to play using a thumbstick, however, should consider other options.

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How we reviewed the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5

I used the Hori Fighting Commander Octa for PlayStation 5 as my main fighting game controller for well over a month. During that time, I played numerous matches of the excellent Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising in addition to a fair amount of Mortal Kombat 1 and a little Dead or Alive 5 Last Round. In addition to PS5, I I tested the controller on PC and made sure to experiment with the compatible Hori Device Manager software to test all of its features and functionality.

For more on fighting games, check out our Tekken 8 review or learn why you should start with Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising if you want to get into the genre.

Robocop: Rogue City review – aye, robot

5:51 pm | October 31, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Mortal Kombat | Comments: Off

Review information

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: November 2, 2023

It only takes the length of the pulse-pounding TV station shootout that kicks off first-person shooter Robocop: Rogue City for you to feel like ol’ chrome dome himself. Whether it’s the recognizable Auto-9 in your hand, the clunking gait, or just the fact your 9mm pistol is blowing off limbs with spurts of claret, it’s immediately apparent that this isn’t just another run-of-the-mill shooter, but a faithful adaptation of the Robocop universe.

Rogue City makes a hell of a first impression, and while it doesn’t deliver on its promises all of the time, it’s charming and full of ambition. It’s also a hell of a lot of fun, a combination of my own personal nostalgia and the fact that it’s a very solid shooter that constantly mixes up what you’re fighting against. There are, however, a lot of bugs here - I had to restart at a checkpoint several times because a gate wouldn’t open or a hidden enemy was blocking progression, and when that happened I was happy with the generous checkpointing. Elsewhere, some assets were in Polish and had not been translated, and at the start of one gunfight, I strafed left and dropped through the world.

These experiences showed off the game’s low-budget status, but they didn’t really hinder my enjoyment.

If you’ve never seen RoboCop, it’s a dystopian vision of the '80s but flung into the future. It’s 2043 in Detroit, Michigan, and capitalism has won. The police force is privatized and Robocop is a, er, robot cop. It’s a vision of 2043 where people still use VCRs and payphones, a terrible future where the criminals are all tremendously evil people and nuance is just a thing Robocop has crushed under his big metal feet on the way to gunning down another perpetrator.

The Robocop of the films immediately feels like a video game character already, with an unlimited ammo sidearm built into his leg, nigh-invulnerability, and a built-in targeting visor that highlights enemies and has a little heads-up display too. As a result, developers Teyon have merely lent into this and given us a faithful rendition.

He’s the cop that can’t be stopped

Robocop: Rogue City screenshot — (Image credit: Nacon)

In the original trilogy of films, it’s all a satire - although I try to forget the terrible Robocop 3 exists - and the game is clearly swinging for that same position. This is, ultimately, a story about corporate greed and the militarization of police that’s as relevant today as it was back in the late 80s. It doesn’t quite have the same bite of Verhoeven’s original movie, but it feels like a facsimile of this, and the branching storylines and skill-specific dialogue options remind me of Alpha Protocol, an unsung classic that I suspect will be joined in the cult status basket by Robocop: Rogue City.

This story is set between Robocop 2 and 3 and does a much better job of capping things off than the third movie, and it’s incredibly compelling. Welling returns to give his likeness and voice to the role of Robocop, a role he’s returned to for KFC commercials and an appearance in Mortal Kombat 11, but hasn’t been the lead in since 1990’s Robocop 2.

Best bit

A shootout at an arms fair highlights everything Robocop: Rogue City is best at. The flimsy walls come apart under the heavy gunfire and explosives while you can get your hands on some of the meatiest weapons in the game, even hurling prototype missiles at your opponents. It’s an arena shooter moment in the best way.

When you’re not blasting baddies you’re digging into investigations and exploring a chunk of downtown Detroit in a hub world that you’ll revisit time and again. This is most involved the first time and has you solving murders, investigating an arcade, and issuing citations for crimes, with the choice often being a binary one of warning the criminal or fining them for their misdemeanor. This can be a little agonizing because the area is decently sized and Robocop moves slowly, but it’s almost like the game is bored of serving this up to you too because there are fewer and fewer of them each time you revisit the hub.

Combat feels pretty distinct in Robocop: Rogue City too. Part of this is down to your sluggish movement and the fact you feel like a tank, with even sustained small-arms fire being barely an inconvenience. Enemies will throw grenades at you or open up with heavy machine guns and sniper rifles to do damage, but generally in the early days, you’re free to move through combat in a fairly relaxed way, a predator amongst a pool of enemies that really can only hope to overwhelm you with numbers.

Later, you’ll fight more heavily armed gangs, corporate mercenaries, and even a variety of different robots, but the power curve is often just about right and you never feel outmatched, at worst it’s just harried by the enemies that have the sheer insolence to try and bring you down.

Of course, Robocop’s iconic Auto-9 is the star of the show. This would have happened regardless - the three-round burst is iconic and makes an absolute mess of enemies. But the game has a ridiculously convoluted upgrade system for the sidearm that means you can power it up and ensure it’s a high-quality weapon throughout. Elsewhere, every weapon from the Robocop series shows up for a little bit, whether it’s the Steyr Aug’s used by megacorp OCP, junky submachine guns, and even the iconic Cobra assault cannon, used in one memorable scene.

There’s an RPG-lite skill system that gives you percentage-based increases to different stats (the worst), which is a series of linear paths with unlocks given when you hit certain milestones. These are often very powerful: max out your armor and not only will you negate 50 percent of your damage, but all small arms fire will also ricochet off you, hitting nearby enemies. Max out your health and you’ll regenerate 75 percent of your health without needing healing items.

As you can see, I built my Robocop in the “being a tank” style, but I felt like the combat was already punchy enough. I also put a lot of points into scanning so I could ricochet bullets around corners to hit enemies - a cool idea that rarely works in the game as I just throw explosives at anyone silly enough to hide and most enemies just assault you regardless - and deduction which gave me a 30 percent experience point boost, which is incredibly useful but very boring to write about. It’s a lightweight system but like everything else in Robocop: Rogue City punches way above its weight class.

You can feel this particularly in how authentic the game feels. Whether it’s in how “Robocop” you feel as the leading man, the exhausting police griping in the station, or even just the way everyone in a suit is trying to ruin your day. It also looks the part, whether that’s the grainy scanlines when you hold right-click to enable Robocop-vision or just the haze coming off the streets. It’s also clearly made by fans, because there are a lot of fan-serving moments here, both in terms of some impressive boss fights but also in terms of beats of dialogue and even some of the areas you’ll throw down in.

At times, Rogue City feels like a five-star game. Flashes of brilliance that go above and beyond what I’d expect. Sadly, the lack of budget means that things feel unpolished and occasionally cheap. Again, it doesn’t hinder my enjoyment, but with a little extra polish, this could have been an all-timer, instead of a faithful adaptation of the franchise.

Still, perhaps that’s fitting. The game here feels like Robocop himself, a shiny exterior sitting on top of a mechanically sound but clunky chassis, backed up with a human side that elevates the mechanical.

Accessibility

There’s no dedicated accessibility menu here and the offering is fairly weak. Subtitles can be turned on and off and there are options to lessen screen shake, but that’s about your lot. There’s also a toggle to reduce how loud Robocop’s footsteps are, which may not seem useful now but is likely to feel incredibly worthwhile after playing the game for ten hours.

How we reviewed Robocop: Rogue City

I played Robocop: Rogue City for 13 hours on PC, finishing the main campaign, every quest, and only missing out one secret area - I have 25 of 27 achievements for the game so I feel like I’ve seen pretty much all of it.

There’s no New Game+ mode or anything of the sort, so it feels very much like a one-and-done game.

Want even more game recommendations? Visit our list of the best FPS games or the best free games.

HP Omen 16 review: a great mid-ranger held back by some design quirks

11:14 am | October 27, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Final Fantasy, Mortal Kombat | Comments: Off

HP Omen 16: Two-minute review

Shopping for laptops can be difficult. You have to ask yourself so many questions just so you have an idea of what you're looking for. Do you want the best laptop out there or do you want something more run-of-the-mill for work? Or maybe you prefer a gaming rig? If you find yourself agonizing over the right laptop, allow me to introduce the HP Omen 16.

It's a slim, lightweight laptop able to fit snuggly in almost any bag. You can lug it around and hardly know it's there. I used it as my main computer for everyday work for a few weeks. Typing on the keyboard was quite pleasant since the keys have a nice, springy feel to them and the deep travel distance made it easy on my hands. The touchpad itself sports a smooth, responsive, enjoyably clicky feel. And its large size makes it great for productivity.

My review unit had an AMD Ryzen 7-7840HS processor paired up with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. Although it comes equipped with a low-end model from the GeForce 40 series, the performance of the Omen 16 was still phenomenal. Its matte Shadow Black color is a real head-turner, I have to say. The deep black is a great backdrop for the RGB lights and the stunning Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixel) resolution display.

Speaking of the screen, there's a problem with it that I find baffling. The bottom of the screen has a huge, 1.5-inch bezel taking up a large amount of space. The laptop's display is 16 inches and that bezel cuts in way too much for my liking. Also, the colors look muted on this - not sure why this is the case. I think it could be because the anti-coating on the glass is getting in the way, or maybe the Omen 16 doesn't properly offer all of the DCI-P3 color gamut. You can bump up the brightness and saturation via the on-device Omen app, but it can only do so much.

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HP Omen 16 facing forward — (Image credit: Future)

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HP Omen 16 keyboard glowing at night — (Image credit: Future)

But despite all the complaints I have, I would argue that the Omen 16 has a place among our list of the best gaming laptops. If you look at the ranking, the Omen 16 takes some of the best parts of those entries for itself. It's great at being a work/gaming laptop hybrid. If you need an all-rounder, this might just be the best computer out there.

Despite my recommendation, it does have questionable design choices that may make or break it for some people out there. Don't get me wrong: I liked it a lot, but certain things do frustrate me.

HP Omen 16: Price & availability

How much does it cost? Prices start at $1,269.99
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Dell's website/Best Buy

With prices starting at $1,270, the HP Omen 16 is a well-priced gaming laptop especially if you plan on using it for other workloads. Gaming hardware can be handy in helping professional video editors in their work or developers render projects. It's able to handle intense visual workloads with aplomb. However, if you have to do color-sensitive work, this computer isn't the best choice. As stated earlier, colors can look dull on the screen.

Low-end models come with a GeForce RTX 4050 while the high-end configurations come with the more powerful GeForce RTX 4070. Sure, the high model capping out with a GeForce RTX 4070 GPU may disappoint some. But considering the price point, I think it's a fair tradeoff.

Price score: 4 / 5

HP M16: Specs

The HP Omen 16 is available in four different configurations, with the base model coming with an AMD Ryzen 5-7640HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, and 512GB of storage.

HP Omen 16: Design

Comfortable keyboard
Robust ventilation
Little storage space

HP made some interesting design choices with the Omen 16. Most of them are great, some not so much.

It features a 75 percent keyboard meaning it's your standard tenkeyless layout with directional and navigation keys on the side. As stated earlier, typing on it felt pretty nice thanks to its springy feel. Structure-wise, the laptop as a whole is quite solid so it can survive a bit of rough handling. I should mention the keys are quiet. They lack the clicky or tactile feel of a traditional gaming keyboard.

One of the areas the Omen 16 impressed was its cooling system. Heat sinks are located on the sides, rear, and underneath the laptop. What's more the Omen 16 stands on slightly raised feet ensuring good airflow. During the majority of my time using the Omen 16, it never once got hot. It did get a little warm a few times, but that was because it was charging. No matter how hard I pushed the machine, it never got uncomfortably hot which is wonderful. I've typed on gaming laptops that got so hot I had to stop. It was awful. I'm very happy to not have had that experience with the Omen 16.

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HP Omen 16 keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

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HP Omen 16 USB-A port — (Image credit: Future)

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HP Omen 16 rear ports — (Image credit: Future)

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HP Omen 16 USB-C ports — (Image credit: Future)

Additionally, I enjoy the array of ports present on the laptop. Each model comes with two USB-C ports, two USB-As, a headphone jack, an HDMI port, and an ethernet input. All these are situated on the sides and back of the Omen 16, which I appreciated; I didn't have to deal with the cables becoming intertwined with each other.

What I am not a fan of is the storage space. 512GB for three of the four primary configurations just doesn't cut it nowadays, especially when you realize how some AAA games take up over 100GB of storage space. With so many big games coming out every year, players need more. I need more. 1TB would've been more appropriate for everything above the entry-level model.

Design score: 3.5 / 5

HP Omen 16: Performance

Great performance
High refresh rate
Easy on the eyes

HP Omen 16: Benchmarks

Here's how the HP Omen 16 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Night Raid: 58,705; Fire Strike: 26,797; Time Spy: 11,141; Port Royal: 7,003
GeekBench 5: 1,993 (single-core); 11,377 (multi-core)
Geekbench 6: 12,097 (multi-core)
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 91 fps; (1080p, Low): 205 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 82 fps; (1080p, Low): 128 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 103 fps; (1080p, Low): 189 fps
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 2 hours

If you look at our benchmark results across several tests, you can see Omen 16 is pulling some big numbers, but are they good? Yes. In fact, they're very good. To put it all into perspective, let's take a look at a similarly sized gaming laptop — the Alienware M16. If you compare the benchmarks, you'll notice HP's device outperforms in several areas. It was able to achieve higher framerates than the Alienware in every listed game at 1080p Ultra resolution. The Omen 16 did better than a computer that already had very high scores.

This power is thanks to the internal Ryzen 9 processor, GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, and 16 GB of RAM. This hardware combination results in a 165Hz refresh rate which is a perfect number for competitive play. If you're someone who enjoys climbing the leaderboards on your favorite game, you should be smiling from ear to ear looking at that number.

During my testing period, I played several rounds of the Mortal Kombat 1. Fighting games necessitate having a high frame rate. You need to be able to see your opponent's attack coming, so you can adequately respond with your own combo. To have a high FPS (frames per second), you need a high refresh rate to allow smooth, lifelike animations. Because the visuals were so clear and stable, I was able to keep up my corner combos with Reptile. I knew exactly when to throw out a punch or force ball keeping my opponent pinned to the wall. This is all due to that stellar refresh rate.

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HP Omen 16 on table — (Image credit: Future)

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HP Omen 16 closed — (Image credit: Future)

Additionally, the powerful hardware greatly increases the immersion. Mortal Kombat 1 features amazing-looking stages and I was able to truly enjoy every bit of detail NetherRealm Studios (the game's developer) put into the title. The Flesh Pits looked absolutely horrifying on the screen seeing all the body parts strung from the ceiling on chains. Conversely, stages like Sindel's Palace look beautiful with the light leaking through giving the area an ethereal look.

Things could be better, admittedly. The screen peaks at Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels). That is a perfectly good resolution, don't get me wrong. Games will look great, but it won't be winning any awards either.

Outside of gaming, the HP Omen 16 runs well as a day-to-day computer. I should note the screen is Eyesafe Certified which is great for someone like me who spends hours in front of a screen. This tech lowers the amount of blue light your eyes receive to lessen fatigue. Also, the laptop comes with a 1080p webcam — great for streamers or people who want to look good in Zoom calls.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

HP Omen 16: Battery life

Doesn't last long while gaming
Doesn't last long while working

I strongly recommend keeping the charger close at hand, because the Omen 16's battery doesn't last very long. The short battery life is, without a doubt, the laptop's biggest flaw.

As part of testing, I played Final Fantasy 14 with its in-game settings maxed out and performance further boosted via the Omen Gaming Hub app. It lasted about an hour and a half before it completely died on me. That amount of time shocked me because the game is a decade old. I didn't think a 10-year title would draw so much power that the battery drains completely in less time than it takes to kill a raid boss. I figured since the game is pretty old at this point it wouldn't be a huge burden. I guess I was wrong.

When it comes to less intense workloads, the Omen 16 does last a lot longer but not by much. It lasted about three and a half hours, nearly four before I had to run off and grab the charger. This is with Battery Saver as well as Eco Mode turned on. On average, it lasts about two hours. The machine performs well, but it has low stamina.

Battery score: 1 / 5

Should you buy the HP Omen 16?

Buy it if...

You want an affordable gaming laptop
The Omen 16 offers great performance at a mid-range level price.

You want a well-performing laptop
Although it may not have the greatest hardware, the Omen 16 can still churn out high-quality gaming.

Don't buy it if...

You want a long battery life
The HP Omen 16 struggles to last longer than an hour and a half while gaming - poor even for a gaming laptop.

HP Omen 16: Also consider

If you're curious about other options for the HP Omen 16. there are a couple you should consider...

How I tested the HP Omen 16

Tested the laptop over the course of two and a half weeks
Used it for both work and gaming
Ran it through several stress tests

I tested the HP Omen 16 for about two and a half weeks in various use cases. Half of the time was spent using the Omen 16 for everyday things like responding to emails, writing, and watching videos. I wanted to see how the laptop performs on a light workload.

Besides that, I spent several hours gaming on, trying out recent and older titles. Final Fantasy 14 was one of those titles. I wanted to see how well the Omen 16 boosted the performance of a 10-year-old game. As stated earlier, I tried out Mortal Kombat 1 plus Monster Hunter Rise. I wanted to the high refresh rate in action. Those titles are games where smooth character animations matter immensely.

Of course, the team at TechRadar ran the Omen 16 through several benchmark tests to see how it performs while firing on all cylinders, too.

Price and availability

The Logitech Yeti GX launched on September 19 in territories such as the US and the UK for $149 (around £119 / AU$230) placing it in the mid-range of USB microphone offerings. For context, that’s around the same price as the standard Blue Yeti before it, and comparable to the Logitech Yeti Nano. It also comes in a little cheaper than the similarly-sized USB-powered Rode X XCM-50.