PC Gamer's highest rated hardware favourites of 2024, plus five dishonorable mentions

HardwarePC Gamer’s highest rated hardware favourites of 2024, plus five dishonorable mentionsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Future)

Highest scoring hardware

Jump to:The 5 bestOther top productsThe 5 lowest

Gear of the Year(Image credit: Future)Check out more of the year’s best tech in ourPC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024coverage.

Gear of the Year

(Image credit: Future)Check out more of the year’s best tech in ourPC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024coverage.

(Image credit: Future)

PC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024 logo on a black background

Check out more of the year’s best tech in ourPC Gamer Hardware Awards 2024coverage.

To paraphrase an absolute belter from Andrew W.K., we here at PC Gamer do what we like and like what we do. Some may call us needlessly picky for it, but I prefer the word ‘connoisseur.’ Either way, that means it takes a lot for any hardware to nab a review score of 90 or more from us, and only 30 different bits of kit managed to do just that this year. So, let’s get a party going.

Those 30 hardware hits mean we enjoyed five more favourites thanlast year, though 2024’s extra candidates are really something special. It’s been a bumper year—so much so we’ve even got a three-way tie for the best OLED gaming monitor (more on that in a bit).

Besides that crowded edge of the podium, there are plenty of surprises ahead. For just one very honorable mention, who would have thought that we’d award a solid 92 to a Wi-Fi router of all things? Well, theTP-Link Archer GE800doesn’t just deliver great performance, but also looks quite a bit like a not-so-miniature black obelisk straight out of Blade Runner. I don’t know about you, but that’s the sort of ostentation I thinkdeservesa 92.

Interesting also to note is that, for the second year in a row, not a single graphics card features in our top five. As Nick wrote last year, this is in part down to high-performance cards simply costing too much while slightly less costly cards can’t compete in terms of performance. That doesn’t mean this particular hardware space is in a dire place, as ourbest graphics card guidewill attest. It just means that we’re hopeful 2025 will give us something in this arena worth shouting about.

Besides graphics cards, there’s a healthy mix of bits of kit in our top five highest rated hardware—and a not so healthy selection in our bottom five as well. That’s right, we’re not just here to celebrate; we’re here to shine a light into the shadowy corners of infamy for five deeply questionable hardware picks that received the lowest scores from us.

Last year, MSI had the dubious honour of featuring not once, not twice, butthree timesin our lowest-rated five. Has the company redeemed itself this year? Well, I don’t want to spoil anything but, with some scores in the forties among our lowest rated five this year, it’s still a long way to the top.

The top 5 best products of 2024

94%SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds$159.99at Amazon$159.99at Best Buy$159.99at Best BuyNow, I know what you’re thinking: “How muchfor wireless earbuds that could feasibly pop out of my ears and get lost?” A reasonable concern, but as Jacob wrote in hisSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review, these are a genuine game changer—especially for those withcartilage that doesn’t usually play well with other earbuds. Having ‘weird little ears’ is a pain I myself know all too well. So upon hearing that these earbuds not only sit pretty with a simple push-and-twist maneuver, but also deliver banging audio quality alongside Active Noise Cancelling, I’m starting to think it’s time I broadened my own horizons beyond my trusty over-ear headphones.ForIncredible audio quality for earphonesGame-specific audio profiles are useful and easy to changeEarphones and charging pod both look and feel wonderfulQi wireless chargingGreat battery lifeAgainstCan only connect to one Bluetooth device at a timeWearSense (auto-pause when earbuds are removed) is a little sensitive

94%

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in charging pod on a desk with the PC Gamer Editor’s Pick logo overlayed

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds$159.99at Amazon$159.99at Best Buy$159.99at Best BuyNow, I know what you’re thinking: “How muchfor wireless earbuds that could feasibly pop out of my ears and get lost?” A reasonable concern, but as Jacob wrote in hisSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review, these are a genuine game changer—especially for those withcartilage that doesn’t usually play well with other earbuds. Having ‘weird little ears’ is a pain I myself know all too well. So upon hearing that these earbuds not only sit pretty with a simple push-and-twist maneuver, but also deliver banging audio quality alongside Active Noise Cancelling, I’m starting to think it’s time I broadened my own horizons beyond my trusty over-ear headphones.ForIncredible audio quality for earphonesGame-specific audio profiles are useful and easy to changeEarphones and charging pod both look and feel wonderfulQi wireless chargingGreat battery lifeAgainstCan only connect to one Bluetooth device at a timeWearSense (auto-pause when earbuds are removed) is a little sensitive

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

$159.99at Amazon$159.99at Best Buy$159.99at Best BuyNow, I know what you’re thinking: “How muchfor wireless earbuds that could feasibly pop out of my ears and get lost?” A reasonable concern, but as Jacob wrote in hisSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review, these are a genuine game changer—especially for those withcartilage that doesn’t usually play well with other earbuds. Having ‘weird little ears’ is a pain I myself know all too well. So upon hearing that these earbuds not only sit pretty with a simple push-and-twist maneuver, but also deliver banging audio quality alongside Active Noise Cancelling, I’m starting to think it’s time I broadened my own horizons beyond my trusty over-ear headphones.

$159.99at Amazon$159.99at Best Buy$159.99at Best Buy

$159.99at Amazon

$159.99at Best Buy

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “How muchfor wireless earbuds that could feasibly pop out of my ears and get lost?” A reasonable concern, but as Jacob wrote in hisSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review, these are a genuine game changer—especially for those withcartilage that doesn’t usually play well with other earbuds. Having ‘weird little ears’ is a pain I myself know all too well. So upon hearing that these earbuds not only sit pretty with a simple push-and-twist maneuver, but also deliver banging audio quality alongside Active Noise Cancelling, I’m starting to think it’s time I broadened my own horizons beyond my trusty over-ear headphones.

ForIncredible audio quality for earphonesGame-specific audio profiles are useful and easy to changeEarphones and charging pod both look and feel wonderfulQi wireless chargingGreat battery lifeAgainstCan only connect to one Bluetooth device at a timeWearSense (auto-pause when earbuds are removed) is a little sensitive

ForIncredible audio quality for earphonesGame-specific audio profiles are useful and easy to changeEarphones and charging pod both look and feel wonderfulQi wireless chargingGreat battery life

AgainstCan only connect to one Bluetooth device at a timeWearSense (auto-pause when earbuds are removed) is a little sensitive

94%Shure MV7+ podcast microphone$279at Sweetwater Sound$279at Amazon$279at Best BuyYou know what they say, ‘with Shure you can be…’ No, no, it’s too obvious. How about ‘Shure: Wrap your vocal chords around this’? Hm, that one definitely needs workshopping. At any rate, Shure definitely doesn’t need to go back to the drawing board with this microphone. Replacing the still well-regarded though now discontinued MV7, theShure MV7+ podcast microphonerefines the user experience in a few key ways, including replacing those fiddly touch panel controls with a more elegant LED touch to mute button. It delivers great sound quality straight out of the box too, and even comes with RGB lighting options.ForFantastic sound straight out of the boxStraightforward and powerful softwareTank-like build qualityCustomisable RGB light stripAgainstExpensiveMic stand sold separately

94%

The Shure MV7 Plus Podcast Microphone, with a PC Gamer

Shure MV7+ podcast microphone$279at Sweetwater Sound$279at Amazon$279at Best BuyYou know what they say, ‘with Shure you can be…’ No, no, it’s too obvious. How about ‘Shure: Wrap your vocal chords around this’? Hm, that one definitely needs workshopping. At any rate, Shure definitely doesn’t need to go back to the drawing board with this microphone. Replacing the still well-regarded though now discontinued MV7, theShure MV7+ podcast microphonerefines the user experience in a few key ways, including replacing those fiddly touch panel controls with a more elegant LED touch to mute button. It delivers great sound quality straight out of the box too, and even comes with RGB lighting options.ForFantastic sound straight out of the boxStraightforward and powerful softwareTank-like build qualityCustomisable RGB light stripAgainstExpensiveMic stand sold separately

Shure MV7+ podcast microphone

$279at Sweetwater Sound$279at Amazon$279at Best BuyYou know what they say, ‘with Shure you can be…’ No, no, it’s too obvious. How about ‘Shure: Wrap your vocal chords around this’? Hm, that one definitely needs workshopping. At any rate, Shure definitely doesn’t need to go back to the drawing board with this microphone. Replacing the still well-regarded though now discontinued MV7, theShure MV7+ podcast microphonerefines the user experience in a few key ways, including replacing those fiddly touch panel controls with a more elegant LED touch to mute button. It delivers great sound quality straight out of the box too, and even comes with RGB lighting options.

$279at Sweetwater Sound$279at Amazon$279at Best Buy

$279at Sweetwater Sound

$279at Amazon

$279at Best Buy

You know what they say, ‘with Shure you can be…’ No, no, it’s too obvious. How about ‘Shure: Wrap your vocal chords around this’? Hm, that one definitely needs workshopping. At any rate, Shure definitely doesn’t need to go back to the drawing board with this microphone. Replacing the still well-regarded though now discontinued MV7, theShure MV7+ podcast microphonerefines the user experience in a few key ways, including replacing those fiddly touch panel controls with a more elegant LED touch to mute button. It delivers great sound quality straight out of the box too, and even comes with RGB lighting options.

ForFantastic sound straight out of the boxStraightforward and powerful softwareTank-like build qualityCustomisable RGB light stripAgainstExpensiveMic stand sold separately

ForFantastic sound straight out of the boxStraightforward and powerful softwareTank-like build qualityCustomisable RGB light strip

AgainstExpensiveMic stand sold separately

93%Adata SD810 1 TB external SSD$89.99at AmazonMost would agree that 1 TB of storage for that price tag is reasonable, but maybe not worth getting excited about. Good thing it’s not the only reason we love this 1 TB external SSD from Adata then; what we want to shout about is just how well pitched this bit of kit is for storing your backlog of games. So long as you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, you’ll enjoy swift file transfers that outpaces much of the competition as Jacob’sAdata SD810 reviewdemonstrates. The device’s IP68 dust and water resistance will keep your files safe through most adventures too. The only downside is that this straightforward SSD doesn’t offer much in the way of drop resistance, so be sure to treat it like a little prince.ForMaintains peak sequential transfer speed for a long timeFast game load timesIP68 dust and water protectionAgainstDust cover is a little hard to pop offNot massively drop resistantShort included cable

93%

ADATA SD810 external SSD

Adata SD810 1 TB external SSD$89.99at AmazonMost would agree that 1 TB of storage for that price tag is reasonable, but maybe not worth getting excited about. Good thing it’s not the only reason we love this 1 TB external SSD from Adata then; what we want to shout about is just how well pitched this bit of kit is for storing your backlog of games. So long as you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, you’ll enjoy swift file transfers that outpaces much of the competition as Jacob’sAdata SD810 reviewdemonstrates. The device’s IP68 dust and water resistance will keep your files safe through most adventures too. The only downside is that this straightforward SSD doesn’t offer much in the way of drop resistance, so be sure to treat it like a little prince.ForMaintains peak sequential transfer speed for a long timeFast game load timesIP68 dust and water protectionAgainstDust cover is a little hard to pop offNot massively drop resistantShort included cable

Adata SD810 1 TB external SSD

$89.99at AmazonMost would agree that 1 TB of storage for that price tag is reasonable, but maybe not worth getting excited about. Good thing it’s not the only reason we love this 1 TB external SSD from Adata then; what we want to shout about is just how well pitched this bit of kit is for storing your backlog of games. So long as you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, you’ll enjoy swift file transfers that outpaces much of the competition as Jacob’sAdata SD810 reviewdemonstrates. The device’s IP68 dust and water resistance will keep your files safe through most adventures too. The only downside is that this straightforward SSD doesn’t offer much in the way of drop resistance, so be sure to treat it like a little prince.

$89.99at Amazon

Most would agree that 1 TB of storage for that price tag is reasonable, but maybe not worth getting excited about. Good thing it’s not the only reason we love this 1 TB external SSD from Adata then; what we want to shout about is just how well pitched this bit of kit is for storing your backlog of games. So long as you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, you’ll enjoy swift file transfers that outpaces much of the competition as Jacob’sAdata SD810 reviewdemonstrates. The device’s IP68 dust and water resistance will keep your files safe through most adventures too. The only downside is that this straightforward SSD doesn’t offer much in the way of drop resistance, so be sure to treat it like a little prince.

ForMaintains peak sequential transfer speed for a long timeFast game load timesIP68 dust and water protectionAgainstDust cover is a little hard to pop offNot massively drop resistantShort included cable

ForMaintains peak sequential transfer speed for a long timeFast game load timesIP68 dust and water protection

AgainstDust cover is a little hard to pop offNot massively drop resistantShort included cable

92%Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GA605$1,529at Walmart$1,599at WalmartCheck AmazonThis 16-inch gaming laptop is a thing of beauty. So much so that I want nothing more than torub my face all over that gorgeous OLED screen and aluminium chassis—though such a premium, shiny outer shell would undoubtedly show the telltale smears of my crimes. Instead, allow me to take a brief tour through the specs that inspire such enthusiasm: it’s not just the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, nor the AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 CPU, but the spare NVMe slot that makes this storage sicko’s heart sing. As the other Jacob writes in his review, theAsus ROG Zephyrus G16comes right out of the box with one NVMe slot already offering a 2 TB SSD. That’s definitely a welcome inclusion, but I appreciate the option to make the on-device storage even roomier.ForSuperb chassis designSlim sizePunchy OLED screenResponsive trackpadGreat speakersSolid performanceSpare NVMe slotAgainstYou could buy a faster RTX 4070 laptopSoldered RAM

92%

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip inside it.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GA605$1,529at Walmart$1,599at WalmartCheck AmazonThis 16-inch gaming laptop is a thing of beauty. So much so that I want nothing more than torub my face all over that gorgeous OLED screen and aluminium chassis—though such a premium, shiny outer shell would undoubtedly show the telltale smears of my crimes. Instead, allow me to take a brief tour through the specs that inspire such enthusiasm: it’s not just the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, nor the AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 CPU, but the spare NVMe slot that makes this storage sicko’s heart sing. As the other Jacob writes in his review, theAsus ROG Zephyrus G16comes right out of the box with one NVMe slot already offering a 2 TB SSD. That’s definitely a welcome inclusion, but I appreciate the option to make the on-device storage even roomier.ForSuperb chassis designSlim sizePunchy OLED screenResponsive trackpadGreat speakersSolid performanceSpare NVMe slotAgainstYou could buy a faster RTX 4070 laptopSoldered RAM

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GA605

$1,529at Walmart$1,599at WalmartCheck AmazonThis 16-inch gaming laptop is a thing of beauty. So much so that I want nothing more than torub my face all over that gorgeous OLED screen and aluminium chassis—though such a premium, shiny outer shell would undoubtedly show the telltale smears of my crimes. Instead, allow me to take a brief tour through the specs that inspire such enthusiasm: it’s not just the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, nor the AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 CPU, but the spare NVMe slot that makes this storage sicko’s heart sing. As the other Jacob writes in his review, theAsus ROG Zephyrus G16comes right out of the box with one NVMe slot already offering a 2 TB SSD. That’s definitely a welcome inclusion, but I appreciate the option to make the on-device storage even roomier.

$1,529at Walmart$1,599at WalmartCheck Amazon

$1,529at Walmart

$1,599at Walmart

Check Amazon

This 16-inch gaming laptop is a thing of beauty. So much so that I want nothing more than torub my face all over that gorgeous OLED screen and aluminium chassis—though such a premium, shiny outer shell would undoubtedly show the telltale smears of my crimes. Instead, allow me to take a brief tour through the specs that inspire such enthusiasm: it’s not just the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, nor the AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 CPU, but the spare NVMe slot that makes this storage sicko’s heart sing. As the other Jacob writes in his review, theAsus ROG Zephyrus G16comes right out of the box with one NVMe slot already offering a 2 TB SSD. That’s definitely a welcome inclusion, but I appreciate the option to make the on-device storage even roomier.

ForSuperb chassis designSlim sizePunchy OLED screenResponsive trackpadGreat speakersSolid performanceSpare NVMe slotAgainstYou could buy a faster RTX 4070 laptopSoldered RAM

ForSuperb chassis designSlim sizePunchy OLED screenResponsive trackpadGreat speakersSolid performanceSpare NVMe slot

AgainstYou could buy a faster RTX 4070 laptopSoldered RAM

92%

MSI MPG321URX

MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED

$899.99at Best Buy$899.99at Amazon$1,129.69at Walmart

$899.99at Best Buy

$899.99at Amazon

$1,129.69at Walmart

ForStunning QD-OLED panel4K pixel densityMuch cheaper than the competitionAgainstUsual HDR complicationsABL is not configurable

ForStunning QD-OLED panel4K pixel densityMuch cheaper than the competition

AgainstUsual HDR complicationsABL is not configurable

The highest rated PC gaming gear of 2024

30 bits of kit earned a review score of 90 or more from us. For all of you statistic sickos out there, that’s almost 14% of everything we got our mitts on for the purpose of review this year. While I’m not going to feature each and every piece of high-scoring hardware here, there’s certainly room for more than a few honorable mentions.

92%TP-Link Archer GE800$567.97at Walmart$599.99at AmazonReminding me of Blade Runner’s sweeping cityscape is already strong footing for theTP-Link Archer GE800to be kicking off with. Promising solid internet speeds across my plethora of devices certainly helps too. The several hundred quid price tag though? Eh, not so much.ForWi-Fi 7Extremely fastEasy setupTotally unnecessary (in a good way)AgainstExpensiveKinda bigTotally unnecessary (in an unnecessary way)92%Keychron Q3 Max$234.99at AmazonThis certainly washes away the taste of my corporate MacBook’s shockingly low keyboard feedback (don’t ask, just go with it). The premium build quality of theKeychron Q3 Max mechanical keyboardaccompanies some truly creamy-feeling keys—now, that’s a sundae surprise.ForRidiculously sturdySmooth, lubed switchesSolid battery lifeAgainstQuite expensiveSide mounted keycaps may not be for everyone

92%

TP-Link Archer GE800 with Editor’s Choice award

TP-Link Archer GE800$567.97at Walmart$599.99at AmazonReminding me of Blade Runner’s sweeping cityscape is already strong footing for theTP-Link Archer GE800to be kicking off with. Promising solid internet speeds across my plethora of devices certainly helps too. The several hundred quid price tag though? Eh, not so much.ForWi-Fi 7Extremely fastEasy setupTotally unnecessary (in a good way)AgainstExpensiveKinda bigTotally unnecessary (in an unnecessary way)

TP-Link Archer GE800

$567.97at Walmart$599.99at AmazonReminding me of Blade Runner’s sweeping cityscape is already strong footing for theTP-Link Archer GE800to be kicking off with. Promising solid internet speeds across my plethora of devices certainly helps too. The several hundred quid price tag though? Eh, not so much.

$567.97at Walmart$599.99at Amazon

$567.97at Walmart

$599.99at Amazon

Reminding me of Blade Runner’s sweeping cityscape is already strong footing for theTP-Link Archer GE800to be kicking off with. Promising solid internet speeds across my plethora of devices certainly helps too. The several hundred quid price tag though? Eh, not so much.

ForWi-Fi 7Extremely fastEasy setupTotally unnecessary (in a good way)AgainstExpensiveKinda bigTotally unnecessary (in an unnecessary way)

ForWi-Fi 7Extremely fastEasy setupTotally unnecessary (in a good way)

AgainstExpensiveKinda bigTotally unnecessary (in an unnecessary way)

92%Keychron Q3 Max$234.99at AmazonThis certainly washes away the taste of my corporate MacBook’s shockingly low keyboard feedback (don’t ask, just go with it). The premium build quality of theKeychron Q3 Max mechanical keyboardaccompanies some truly creamy-feeling keys—now, that’s a sundae surprise.ForRidiculously sturdySmooth, lubed switchesSolid battery lifeAgainstQuite expensiveSide mounted keycaps may not be for everyone

92%

The Keychron Q3 Max gaming keyboard set-up on a desk with the RGB lighting enabled and the PC Gamer Recommends badge in the top right.

Keychron Q3 Max$234.99at AmazonThis certainly washes away the taste of my corporate MacBook’s shockingly low keyboard feedback (don’t ask, just go with it). The premium build quality of theKeychron Q3 Max mechanical keyboardaccompanies some truly creamy-feeling keys—now, that’s a sundae surprise.ForRidiculously sturdySmooth, lubed switchesSolid battery lifeAgainstQuite expensiveSide mounted keycaps may not be for everyone

Keychron Q3 Max

$234.99at AmazonThis certainly washes away the taste of my corporate MacBook’s shockingly low keyboard feedback (don’t ask, just go with it). The premium build quality of theKeychron Q3 Max mechanical keyboardaccompanies some truly creamy-feeling keys—now, that’s a sundae surprise.

$234.99at Amazon

This certainly washes away the taste of my corporate MacBook’s shockingly low keyboard feedback (don’t ask, just go with it). The premium build quality of theKeychron Q3 Max mechanical keyboardaccompanies some truly creamy-feeling keys—now, that’s a sundae surprise.

ForRidiculously sturdySmooth, lubed switchesSolid battery lifeAgainstQuite expensiveSide mounted keycaps may not be for everyone

ForRidiculously sturdySmooth, lubed switchesSolid battery life

AgainstQuite expensiveSide mounted keycaps may not be for everyone

91%Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGBCheck AmazonWhat’s better than one keyboard? Technically, two! If you’re looking for a more ergonomic typing apparatus, then dual-wielding keyboard halves is the way to go. TheKinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB keyboarddelivers twice over on comfort and usability. It helps too that those well-cushioned wrist rests are a dream all on their own.ForSuper comfortable to useFast and feature-packedLots of macro keysGreat for smaller handsAgainstFixed cables are pretty stiffLift kit is an optional extraExpensive, even for an ergo keeb91%Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed$99at Walmart$99.99at RazerCheck AmazonYou won’t hear a squeak out of me about the lower price point compared to the DeathAdder V3 Pro, especially when theRazer Deathadder V3 HyperSpeed mouseabsolutely brings its A game in terms of swift responsiveness. Weighing in at a mere 55 grams, it’s no wonder this lightweight mouse is such a breeze to use.ForSuper fast and accurateComfortable to holdWell pricedAgainstWheel is clunky out of gamesLoud button clicksPlastics attract grease

91%

Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB ergonomic keyboard

Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGBCheck AmazonWhat’s better than one keyboard? Technically, two! If you’re looking for a more ergonomic typing apparatus, then dual-wielding keyboard halves is the way to go. TheKinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB keyboarddelivers twice over on comfort and usability. It helps too that those well-cushioned wrist rests are a dream all on their own.ForSuper comfortable to useFast and feature-packedLots of macro keysGreat for smaller handsAgainstFixed cables are pretty stiffLift kit is an optional extraExpensive, even for an ergo keeb

Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB

Check AmazonWhat’s better than one keyboard? Technically, two! If you’re looking for a more ergonomic typing apparatus, then dual-wielding keyboard halves is the way to go. TheKinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB keyboarddelivers twice over on comfort and usability. It helps too that those well-cushioned wrist rests are a dream all on their own.

Check Amazon

What’s better than one keyboard? Technically, two! If you’re looking for a more ergonomic typing apparatus, then dual-wielding keyboard halves is the way to go. TheKinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB keyboarddelivers twice over on comfort and usability. It helps too that those well-cushioned wrist rests are a dream all on their own.

ForSuper comfortable to useFast and feature-packedLots of macro keysGreat for smaller handsAgainstFixed cables are pretty stiffLift kit is an optional extraExpensive, even for an ergo keeb

ForSuper comfortable to useFast and feature-packedLots of macro keysGreat for smaller hands

AgainstFixed cables are pretty stiffLift kit is an optional extraExpensive, even for an ergo keeb

91%Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed$99at Walmart$99.99at RazerCheck AmazonYou won’t hear a squeak out of me about the lower price point compared to the DeathAdder V3 Pro, especially when theRazer Deathadder V3 HyperSpeed mouseabsolutely brings its A game in terms of swift responsiveness. Weighing in at a mere 55 grams, it’s no wonder this lightweight mouse is such a breeze to use.ForSuper fast and accurateComfortable to holdWell pricedAgainstWheel is clunky out of gamesLoud button clicksPlastics attract grease

91%

A photo of a Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed gaming mouse resting on an office desk, with a PCGamer Editor’s Pick Award logo in the top right corner

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed$99at Walmart$99.99at RazerCheck AmazonYou won’t hear a squeak out of me about the lower price point compared to the DeathAdder V3 Pro, especially when theRazer Deathadder V3 HyperSpeed mouseabsolutely brings its A game in terms of swift responsiveness. Weighing in at a mere 55 grams, it’s no wonder this lightweight mouse is such a breeze to use.ForSuper fast and accurateComfortable to holdWell pricedAgainstWheel is clunky out of gamesLoud button clicksPlastics attract grease

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed

$99at Walmart$99.99at RazerCheck AmazonYou won’t hear a squeak out of me about the lower price point compared to the DeathAdder V3 Pro, especially when theRazer Deathadder V3 HyperSpeed mouseabsolutely brings its A game in terms of swift responsiveness. Weighing in at a mere 55 grams, it’s no wonder this lightweight mouse is such a breeze to use.

$99at Walmart$99.99at RazerCheck Amazon

$99at Walmart

$99.99at Razer

Check Amazon

You won’t hear a squeak out of me about the lower price point compared to the DeathAdder V3 Pro, especially when theRazer Deathadder V3 HyperSpeed mouseabsolutely brings its A game in terms of swift responsiveness. Weighing in at a mere 55 grams, it’s no wonder this lightweight mouse is such a breeze to use.

ForSuper fast and accurateComfortable to holdWell pricedAgainstWheel is clunky out of gamesLoud button clicksPlastics attract grease

ForSuper fast and accurateComfortable to holdWell priced

AgainstWheel is clunky out of gamesLoud button clicksPlastics attract grease

91%

Gigabyte Aorus 17X gaming laptop

Check Amazon

ForMore subtle designWebcam placement doesn’t suckResolution/refresh sweet spotSmashing battery lifeAgainstLags a little on batterySub-par keyboardCould do with more portsMoneys

ForMore subtle designWebcam placement doesn’t suckResolution/refresh sweet spotSmashing battery life

AgainstLags a little on batterySub-par keyboardCould do with more portsMoneys

91%Asus ROG Ally X$799.99at Best Buy$799.99at ASUSCheck AmazonSay the Steam Deck just isn’t your speed—Asus has the answer. The improvedROG Ally Xboasts 24 GB of RAM alongside a hearty battery and SSD for many more gaming adventures. Make no mistake, this is a handheld gaming PC worth getting your mitts on.ForCooling system is quiet and effectivePerformance is slightly better than the original AllyA big battery and SSD are now standard24 GB of RAMComfy to hold, despite the extra weightAgainstCan still get a bit hot when dockedNot very svelteExpensive compared to the Steam Deck

91%

A photo of an Asus ROG Ally X handheld gaming PC, with a PC Gamer Editor’s Choice logo

Asus ROG Ally X$799.99at Best Buy$799.99at ASUSCheck AmazonSay the Steam Deck just isn’t your speed—Asus has the answer. The improvedROG Ally Xboasts 24 GB of RAM alongside a hearty battery and SSD for many more gaming adventures. Make no mistake, this is a handheld gaming PC worth getting your mitts on.ForCooling system is quiet and effectivePerformance is slightly better than the original AllyA big battery and SSD are now standard24 GB of RAMComfy to hold, despite the extra weightAgainstCan still get a bit hot when dockedNot very svelteExpensive compared to the Steam Deck

Asus ROG Ally X

$799.99at Best Buy$799.99at ASUSCheck AmazonSay the Steam Deck just isn’t your speed—Asus has the answer. The improvedROG Ally Xboasts 24 GB of RAM alongside a hearty battery and SSD for many more gaming adventures. Make no mistake, this is a handheld gaming PC worth getting your mitts on.

$799.99at Best Buy$799.99at ASUSCheck Amazon

$799.99at Best Buy

$799.99at ASUS

Check Amazon

Say the Steam Deck just isn’t your speed—Asus has the answer. The improvedROG Ally Xboasts 24 GB of RAM alongside a hearty battery and SSD for many more gaming adventures. Make no mistake, this is a handheld gaming PC worth getting your mitts on.

ForCooling system is quiet and effectivePerformance is slightly better than the original AllyA big battery and SSD are now standard24 GB of RAMComfy to hold, despite the extra weightAgainstCan still get a bit hot when dockedNot very svelteExpensive compared to the Steam Deck

ForCooling system is quiet and effectivePerformance is slightly better than the original AllyA big battery and SSD are now standard24 GB of RAMComfy to hold, despite the extra weight

AgainstCan still get a bit hot when dockedNot very svelteExpensive compared to the Steam Deck

91%Elgato Key Light Neo$89.99at Amazon$89.99at Best Buy$89.99at TargetTikTok dancers and Twitch streamers alike can agree on one thing: Lighting is everything. Thiskey light offering from Elgatois not only compact, but also packs a whole heck of a lot of Lumens for its size. Absolutely worth the spotlight.ForSuper bright for its sizeClean and simpleSo many control optionsUseful in lots of different situationsAgainstYou can get far cheaper lights91%Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen EditionCheck AmazonThere’s a lot to be said about questionable looking gamer chairs—butSecretlab’s Titan Evois not part of that conversation. Looking very smart in sleek black Hybrid Leatherette, this is definitely a worthy throne.ForExtremely comfortablePlushCell armrests as standardResilientWell-madeLooks greatAgainstHuge price premium over Titan EvoNegligible tilt tensioning

91%

Elgato Key Light Neo set-up on a computer desk

Elgato Key Light Neo$89.99at Amazon$89.99at Best Buy$89.99at TargetTikTok dancers and Twitch streamers alike can agree on one thing: Lighting is everything. Thiskey light offering from Elgatois not only compact, but also packs a whole heck of a lot of Lumens for its size. Absolutely worth the spotlight.ForSuper bright for its sizeClean and simpleSo many control optionsUseful in lots of different situationsAgainstYou can get far cheaper lights

Elgato Key Light Neo

$89.99at Amazon$89.99at Best Buy$89.99at TargetTikTok dancers and Twitch streamers alike can agree on one thing: Lighting is everything. Thiskey light offering from Elgatois not only compact, but also packs a whole heck of a lot of Lumens for its size. Absolutely worth the spotlight.

$89.99at Amazon$89.99at Best Buy$89.99at Target

$89.99at Amazon

$89.99at Best Buy

$89.99at Target

TikTok dancers and Twitch streamers alike can agree on one thing: Lighting is everything. Thiskey light offering from Elgatois not only compact, but also packs a whole heck of a lot of Lumens for its size. Absolutely worth the spotlight.

ForSuper bright for its sizeClean and simpleSo many control optionsUseful in lots of different situationsAgainstYou can get far cheaper lights

ForSuper bright for its sizeClean and simpleSo many control optionsUseful in lots of different situations

AgainstYou can get far cheaper lights

91%Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen EditionCheck AmazonThere’s a lot to be said about questionable looking gamer chairs—butSecretlab’s Titan Evois not part of that conversation. Looking very smart in sleek black Hybrid Leatherette, this is definitely a worthy throne.ForExtremely comfortablePlushCell armrests as standardResilientWell-madeLooks greatAgainstHuge price premium over Titan EvoNegligible tilt tensioning

91%

Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition gaming chair

Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen EditionCheck AmazonThere’s a lot to be said about questionable looking gamer chairs—butSecretlab’s Titan Evois not part of that conversation. Looking very smart in sleek black Hybrid Leatherette, this is definitely a worthy throne.ForExtremely comfortablePlushCell armrests as standardResilientWell-madeLooks greatAgainstHuge price premium over Titan EvoNegligible tilt tensioning

Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition

Check AmazonThere’s a lot to be said about questionable looking gamer chairs—butSecretlab’s Titan Evois not part of that conversation. Looking very smart in sleek black Hybrid Leatherette, this is definitely a worthy throne.

Check Amazon

There’s a lot to be said about questionable looking gamer chairs—butSecretlab’s Titan Evois not part of that conversation. Looking very smart in sleek black Hybrid Leatherette, this is definitely a worthy throne.

ForExtremely comfortablePlushCell armrests as standardResilientWell-madeLooks greatAgainstHuge price premium over Titan EvoNegligible tilt tensioning

ForExtremely comfortablePlushCell armrests as standardResilientWell-madeLooks great

AgainstHuge price premium over Titan EvoNegligible tilt tensioning

91%Govee x Evangelion gaming light kits$89.99at AmazonFinally, an anime-themed bit of kit to redeem us weebs. You may well still judge me for my taste in shows, but you won’t judge me for my absolutely sick lookingGovee x Evangelion RGB gaming lightset up. Warning: Cruel Angel’s Thesis not included.ForAttention to detailThe aestheticPurple housingFeature packedAgainstExpensive to get the lotTab connectors could be more secure

91%

The Govee x Evangelion lighting kits set up on a wall and around a desk and drum kit with various RGB lighting modes enabled.

Govee x Evangelion gaming light kits$89.99at AmazonFinally, an anime-themed bit of kit to redeem us weebs. You may well still judge me for my taste in shows, but you won’t judge me for my absolutely sick lookingGovee x Evangelion RGB gaming lightset up. Warning: Cruel Angel’s Thesis not included.ForAttention to detailThe aestheticPurple housingFeature packedAgainstExpensive to get the lotTab connectors could be more secure

Govee x Evangelion gaming light kits

$89.99at AmazonFinally, an anime-themed bit of kit to redeem us weebs. You may well still judge me for my taste in shows, but you won’t judge me for my absolutely sick lookingGovee x Evangelion RGB gaming lightset up. Warning: Cruel Angel’s Thesis not included.

$89.99at Amazon

Finally, an anime-themed bit of kit to redeem us weebs. You may well still judge me for my taste in shows, but you won’t judge me for my absolutely sick lookingGovee x Evangelion RGB gaming lightset up. Warning: Cruel Angel’s Thesis not included.

ForAttention to detailThe aestheticPurple housingFeature packedAgainstExpensive to get the lotTab connectors could be more secure

ForAttention to detailThe aestheticPurple housingFeature packed

AgainstExpensive to get the lotTab connectors could be more secure

91%

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro gaming headset

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

$279.99at Amazon$279.99at Sweetwater Sound$299.99at Macy’s

$279.99at Amazon

$279.99at Sweetwater Sound

$299.99at Macy’s

ForProperly comfortableBalanced yet powerful sound profileExcellent micWide and airy soundstageAgainstPricey for a wired gaming headsetCable is slightly bulkyNon-detachable micNo noise reduction software

ForProperly comfortableBalanced yet powerful sound profileExcellent micWide and airy soundstage

AgainstPricey for a wired gaming headsetCable is slightly bulkyNon-detachable micNo noise reduction software

The five lowest scoring products of 2024

Alas, not everything is a winner. It brings me no joy to tear down the hard work of others, and I’ve no doubt each of the below were picked up with the highest of hopes. Unfortunately, the five following products ended up being our lowest-rated hardware of the year. Welcome to the dishonorable mentions.

41%Blacklyte KrakenAs Nick wrote in hisreview of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair, it’s not just the name that’s creaky, with questionable build quality too. Besides that, for a chair named after a gangly limbed sea beast, this seat is pretty cramped for tall folks—not so much a throne as a naughty step.ForDense memory foam seatWide cushionMagnetic head pillowAgainstToo short for tall peopleLumbar support is unpleasantQuestionable build quality

41%

A photo of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair

Blacklyte KrakenAs Nick wrote in hisreview of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair, it’s not just the name that’s creaky, with questionable build quality too. Besides that, for a chair named after a gangly limbed sea beast, this seat is pretty cramped for tall folks—not so much a throne as a naughty step.ForDense memory foam seatWide cushionMagnetic head pillowAgainstToo short for tall peopleLumbar support is unpleasantQuestionable build quality

Blacklyte Kraken

As Nick wrote in hisreview of the Blacklyte Kraken gaming chair, it’s not just the name that’s creaky, with questionable build quality too. Besides that, for a chair named after a gangly limbed sea beast, this seat is pretty cramped for tall folks—not so much a throne as a naughty step.

ForDense memory foam seatWide cushionMagnetic head pillowAgainstToo short for tall peopleLumbar support is unpleasantQuestionable build quality

ForDense memory foam seatWide cushionMagnetic head pillow

AgainstToo short for tall peopleLumbar support is unpleasantQuestionable build quality

45%Lexip Sasuke “Revenge” Naruto Shippuden HeadsetListen, I’m not going to judge you for your taste in anime…okay, maybe a little but I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. However, what I cannot stay quiet about is the lacking quality of this headset (even with my usually pretty pro-purple agenda). Poorly thought out, sharp (in every sense) design features are the least of your concerns with audio quality as bleak as this. Arguably, the one saving grace for this tortured (and arguably torturous) Sasuke headset isJunae’s entertaining review.ForSleek stylish headsetEmbodies Sasuke in ShippudenA great collector’s item.AgainstNot very comfortable to wearDifficult to useSharp microphone design

45%

Lexip Sasuke Revenge Naruto Shippuden gaming headset

Lexip Sasuke “Revenge” Naruto Shippuden HeadsetListen, I’m not going to judge you for your taste in anime…okay, maybe a little but I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. However, what I cannot stay quiet about is the lacking quality of this headset (even with my usually pretty pro-purple agenda). Poorly thought out, sharp (in every sense) design features are the least of your concerns with audio quality as bleak as this. Arguably, the one saving grace for this tortured (and arguably torturous) Sasuke headset isJunae’s entertaining review.ForSleek stylish headsetEmbodies Sasuke in ShippudenA great collector’s item.AgainstNot very comfortable to wearDifficult to useSharp microphone design

Lexip Sasuke “Revenge” Naruto Shippuden Headset

Listen, I’m not going to judge you for your taste in anime…okay, maybe a little but I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. However, what I cannot stay quiet about is the lacking quality of this headset (even with my usually pretty pro-purple agenda). Poorly thought out, sharp (in every sense) design features are the least of your concerns with audio quality as bleak as this. Arguably, the one saving grace for this tortured (and arguably torturous) Sasuke headset isJunae’s entertaining review.

ForSleek stylish headsetEmbodies Sasuke in ShippudenA great collector’s item.AgainstNot very comfortable to wearDifficult to useSharp microphone design

ForSleek stylish headsetEmbodies Sasuke in ShippudenA great collector’s item.

AgainstNot very comfortable to wearDifficult to useSharp microphone design

49%MSI Titan 18 HX A14VAh, scratch that redemption arc—looks like we’re back here again. MSI, what happened? We were all rooting for you! Alas, theTitan 18 HX A14Vis no great improvement over last year’s showing from theTitan GT77 HX. Both are noisy, and both offer the disappointing contrast of lacking outward build quality despite highly specced innards. And as for the price tag? Forget about it.ForGood screenSpecced to the gunsAgainstThe loudest laptop I’ve ever heardEye-wateringly expensive4K results are disappointingWorrying build quality issuesKeyboard and trackpad are awful

49%

The MSI Titan 18 HX on a wooden desk.

MSI Titan 18 HX A14VAh, scratch that redemption arc—looks like we’re back here again. MSI, what happened? We were all rooting for you! Alas, theTitan 18 HX A14Vis no great improvement over last year’s showing from theTitan GT77 HX. Both are noisy, and both offer the disappointing contrast of lacking outward build quality despite highly specced innards. And as for the price tag? Forget about it.ForGood screenSpecced to the gunsAgainstThe loudest laptop I’ve ever heardEye-wateringly expensive4K results are disappointingWorrying build quality issuesKeyboard and trackpad are awful

MSI Titan 18 HX A14V

Ah, scratch that redemption arc—looks like we’re back here again. MSI, what happened? We were all rooting for you! Alas, theTitan 18 HX A14Vis no great improvement over last year’s showing from theTitan GT77 HX. Both are noisy, and both offer the disappointing contrast of lacking outward build quality despite highly specced innards. And as for the price tag? Forget about it.

ForGood screenSpecced to the gunsAgainstThe loudest laptop I’ve ever heardEye-wateringly expensive4K results are disappointingWorrying build quality issuesKeyboard and trackpad are awful

ForGood screenSpecced to the guns

AgainstThe loudest laptop I’ve ever heardEye-wateringly expensive4K results are disappointingWorrying build quality issuesKeyboard and trackpad are awful

50%Xreal Air 2 and BeamPicture this: Your own private, portable cinema experience—any time, any place. It’s a compelling fantasy, isn’t it? Now, here’s a healthy dose of reality: wires, too many wires, and an alarmingly toasty peripheral hooked up directly to your already hefty glasses frames. That’s theXreal Air 2, which shoots for the moon and unfortunately lands somewhere in Slough. That is to say, it’s not that bad but it isn’t exactly what you were promised either.ForAllows for very comfortable viewingWorks with a range of devicesEasily portableAgainstOften doesn’t workBeam gets hot easily

50%

Xreal Air 2 glasses on a glass table.

Xreal Air 2 and BeamPicture this: Your own private, portable cinema experience—any time, any place. It’s a compelling fantasy, isn’t it? Now, here’s a healthy dose of reality: wires, too many wires, and an alarmingly toasty peripheral hooked up directly to your already hefty glasses frames. That’s theXreal Air 2, which shoots for the moon and unfortunately lands somewhere in Slough. That is to say, it’s not that bad but it isn’t exactly what you were promised either.ForAllows for very comfortable viewingWorks with a range of devicesEasily portableAgainstOften doesn’t workBeam gets hot easily

Xreal Air 2 and Beam

Picture this: Your own private, portable cinema experience—any time, any place. It’s a compelling fantasy, isn’t it? Now, here’s a healthy dose of reality: wires, too many wires, and an alarmingly toasty peripheral hooked up directly to your already hefty glasses frames. That’s theXreal Air 2, which shoots for the moon and unfortunately lands somewhere in Slough. That is to say, it’s not that bad but it isn’t exactly what you were promised either.

ForAllows for very comfortable viewingWorks with a range of devicesEasily portableAgainstOften doesn’t workBeam gets hot easily

ForAllows for very comfortable viewingWorks with a range of devicesEasily portable

AgainstOften doesn’t workBeam gets hot easily

55%Logitech Wave Keys$54.50at Amazon$59.99at Sweetwater Sound$59.99at Best BuyAfter spending far too long tapping away at the low profile keys of a corporate MacBook, you’d think lacking key feedback would no longer phase me. Turns out, it sure can. So, despite the retro design charm of theLogitech Wave Keys, I don’t think I will ever get past Nick’s two word summation of just how unappealing these keys feel.ForCompactLong battery lifeAgainstLifeless typing experienceErgonomic features too basicErr, how much money?

55%

Logitech Wave Keys ergonomic keyboard

Logitech Wave Keys$54.50at Amazon$59.99at Sweetwater Sound$59.99at Best BuyAfter spending far too long tapping away at the low profile keys of a corporate MacBook, you’d think lacking key feedback would no longer phase me. Turns out, it sure can. So, despite the retro design charm of theLogitech Wave Keys, I don’t think I will ever get past Nick’s two word summation of just how unappealing these keys feel.ForCompactLong battery lifeAgainstLifeless typing experienceErgonomic features too basicErr, how much money?

Logitech Wave Keys

$54.50at Amazon$59.99at Sweetwater Sound$59.99at Best BuyAfter spending far too long tapping away at the low profile keys of a corporate MacBook, you’d think lacking key feedback would no longer phase me. Turns out, it sure can. So, despite the retro design charm of theLogitech Wave Keys, I don’t think I will ever get past Nick’s two word summation of just how unappealing these keys feel.

$54.50at Amazon$59.99at Sweetwater Sound$59.99at Best Buy

$54.50at Amazon

$59.99at Sweetwater Sound

$59.99at Best Buy

After spending far too long tapping away at the low profile keys of a corporate MacBook, you’d think lacking key feedback would no longer phase me. Turns out, it sure can. So, despite the retro design charm of theLogitech Wave Keys, I don’t think I will ever get past Nick’s two word summation of just how unappealing these keys feel.

ForCompactLong battery lifeAgainstLifeless typing experienceErgonomic features too basicErr, how much money?

ForCompactLong battery life

AgainstLifeless typing experienceErgonomic features too basicErr, how much money?

More about hardwareIf you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12See more latest►

More about hardware

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

A robot having its face pulled off

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video

Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12See more latest►

Latest

Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12

Wordle today being played on a phone

Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12

See more latest►

The top 5 best products of 2024#

The highest rated PC gaming gear of 2024#

The five lowest scoring products of 2024#

The top 5 best products of 2024

The highest rated PC gaming gear of 2024

The five lowest scoring products of 2024