When I was a child my dad's office shelf was filled with plastic toys from McDonald's that I played with. Some of those sat there for years as a reminder of short stops on vacations for lunch. Since those days over three decades ago, McDonald's toys have evolved.

Rather than a heavy plastic Grimace or another colorful mascot, McDonald's food now comes with computer accessories. That is, if you're in China.

McDonald's China teamed up with Lenovo to create a wireless mouse that looks like a carton of McDonald's fries. Apart from looking like a fast food item, the mouse is rather unassuming. It features two buttons and a scroll wheel. It charges through USB-C, which is standard for mice these days.

McDonald's mice are made from around 60% recycled materials. Specifically, old Happy Meal toys were used.

The mouse comes with a carrying case that turns into a mousepad when you open it up, which is a clever design.

Unfortunately for myself and anyone else hoping to get their hands on one of the mice, McDonald's held a very limited run for the accessory. Only 4,000 units were made, and they were sold over a single weekend for roughly $14. There's also the geographic limitation of the fry mice only being made available in China.

My love of McDonald's is well documented. My Microsoft profile photo is me holding a Happy Meal. Call it a guilty pleasure or an occasional treat, I love a box of McNuggets or a taste of a limited-time item at McDonald's.

I often find excuses to review McDonald's food that is connected to Microsoft in some way, such as the Moa McNuggets inspired by Halo and the Minecraft Nether Flame Sauce.

If they ever launch a similar device in America, some of the mice may be made out of my old toys.

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The Razer Wolverine has been the torchbearer for premium alternative Xbox controllers for some time. And now we're on iteration V4, which was released just a few weeks ago.

It comes at an interesting time for the best Xbox controllers. Microsoft relinquished exclusivity over its Xbox Wireless signal. In previous years, all third-party Xbox controllers were wired, which was irritating to say the least, especially since Xbox refused to use new tech like haptics or anti-drift capacitivate thumbsticks.

That might be changing with the Xbox Elite Series 3, rumored to be imminent for release, but it's not here yet. Between then and now, we still have the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro, which might just be the best Xbox controller I've ever used — even if it is missing some crucial features on the convenience side.

But for how long will it remain the king? And is it really worth the cash?

Razer Wolverine V4 Pro — Specs and price

The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro is a powerhouse when it comes to raw specs, offering a truly absurd 8,000 Hz maximum polling rate on PC. It's limited to 250 Hz on Xbox (owing to Microsoft's Xbox Wireless signal), but for those who truly want some e-sports-grade connectivity on Windows PC, you need look no further.

The Xbox version is only compatible with Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, sadly lacking Bluetooth for anyone who wants something compatible with mobile devices on the side. It comes with a USB dongle in the box with Razer's high-spec polling rate capabilities and dynamic switching between Xbox and PC. No need to flip a switch on the dongle itself anymore.

The thumbsticks are capacitive and thus anti-drift (a major issue with all current Xbox controllers), and measures far more steps than typical TMR sticks. They come with programmable "claw" shoulder buttons as well as four removable back buttons, Elite-style.

It sports up to 27 hours of continuous play, is chargeable via USB-C cable, and has a removable faceplate for good measure.

It all comes in at $199.99, however, putting it on par with the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller with its full bundle of accessories. While you do miss out on a charge dock and Bluetooth, you are gaining some serious firepower and a design chassis built to last, rather than fall apart.

Razer Wolverine V4 Pro — Features, software, and ergonomics

The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro is becoming something of a leader in this space. I've been using the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro as my go-to PC gaming controller for some time now, and to say I'm used to it would be an understatement. I would say I've come to prefer it overall, particularly over time, as my Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 has succumbed to stick drift in a big, annoying way. But more on that in a sec.

The Wolverine V4 Pro doesn't reinvent the wheel over its predecessors, but does address some nitpicks and annoyances I've seen some people have.

It comes with the same two extra shoulder claw bumpers, which can be programmed to do a variety of additional things. The back paddles can be removed now, for those who prefer to only rock two instead of all four, for example. The buttons and D-pad still have a "clicky" actuation, which I know sometimes gets a mixed reaction. I don't mind it myself, but if you didn't like it, know that it's back here with the V4.

The sticks are capacitive anti-drift, and contactless, and should be utterly resistant against wear and tear. Quality-wise, they feel almost 1:1 with what Xbox offers — minus the inevitable drift, which is a huge plus. Razer includes some swappable options in the box too, and they're easy to swap out. Unlike the magnetic ones on the Elite, though, Razer's won't fall off as easily, as they're held in place with a small clasp. I can't tell you how many times I've dropped my Elite controller only for the thumbsticks to fall off and go hiding somewhere.

Design-wise, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro is not exactly a huge looker, but it does have a magnetic faceplate that can be swapped out for custom designs. I've not seen any available online yet, but I'm sure they're coming down the pipeline.

I'm not a huge fan of the large USB-C port on the top of the controller, which juts out haphazardly. It's not a big deal, and I guess it helps hold the cable in place for charging, but it isn't a pretty solution.

Speaking of charging, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro gets around 27 hours on a single charge according to the firm, although I'd say it clocks in a bit less than that in practice, maybe around 20-24 hours when used via Xbox. Coupled with the fact that it has no charge dock unlike other controllers in this price range, I was hoping Razer would look to move beyond cables with the V4 Pro. Alas, we might need to wait for the V5. Again, not a big deal, but it is something worth considering.

Razer's software is still among the best third-party solutions for gaming accessories on PC, in my view, with everything bundled in a single place. It's easy to manage the features on the Wolverine V4, assigning buttons and the like, although be wary of using Razer's macros in some competitive games — automation detection can get you banned in some PvP titles like shooters. Offline though, it can be a handy feature, especially in some management and simulation games.

Speaking of shooters, Razer's triggers are also well put together here. The trigger locks make activation more rapid, which can be a boost for pistols and rifle fire. You can disable them with a switch for full motion activation for acceleration in racing games and things like that.

Crucially, Razer also seems to have eliminated signal interference issues that came in the box with the V3. Firmware updates fixed those over time, but the V4 boasts flawless reception without disconnects or degradation, even in a radio-hostile environment (i.e., my office with a thousand other radio signals interfering with each other).

All in all, I think this is more of a refinement and iteration over the V3 Pro, improving and polishing the strong fundamentals to a mirror finish.

Razer Wolverine V4 Pro — Competition

There are many great Xbox controllers from third-party firms these days. As much as I truly adore the convenience of the Xbox Elite charge dock and monstrous, infinite-feeling battery, the sticks and general build quality degrade rapidly over time. It's hard to recommend the Xbox Elite controller these days to most people as a result, even if the dock is the best out there by a mile.

The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro is not cheap at $199, and perhaps is best considered over things like 8BitDo Ultimate 3E if you are looking for something on the higher end for rapid response in multiplayer PvP PC games, like Call of Duty and such. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3E Xbox / PC wireless controller has a charge dock, has Bluetooth, as well as anti-drift sticks and programmable additional buttons. It is also $70 cheaper than the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro, at the cost of a "premium feel" potentially. Razer also rocks that absurd 8000 Hz maximum polling, although the 8BitDo does also go up to 1000 Hz on PC for good measure, albeit with a smaller battery.

I wish Razer would jump on the battery dock train to reduce reliance on cables and charging. I shouldn't need to be scrambling for a cable mid-match in 2026, particularly when so many others are offering them now.

There are also even more premium options out there now too, like the SteelSeries Aeon Pro, which is $50 more expensive, but also offers a charge dock and the ability to connect and switch between two platforms at once. The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro asks you to physically move the dongle between platforms if you're moving between devices, which isn't always ideal either.

Razer Wolverine V4 Pro — Should you buy it?

I think the 8000 Hz polling radio does a lot of the heavy lifting on the price here, potentially making this a niche option for esports-grade level play — something other controllers simply don't offer right now. However, for the vast majority of consumers, I would've liked to have seen a bit more on the convenience end. This is branded as a "Pro" controller, though to be fair, i.e. for "Pro" gamers. In that, it does exactly the job it set out to do.

There are other options that might be better value for a regular gamer like those outlined above. There's also the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 which is probably just weeks away from a reveal, making the decision to grab this even murkier maybe in the near term (as of writing, that is). But one thing is for sure: you won't be disappointed if you do end up picking this controller up.

The Razer Wolverine V4 Pro absolutely nails the fundamentals like few other controllers do, delivering massive performance in a tidy, intuitive package.

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Monitors are a quintessential part of our lives as Windows users (and gamers), whether it's for achieving the best graphics and frame rates for our favorite titles or simply giving us better details and performance when going about our daily productivity tasks.

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Dell's monitors fulfill this need with gusto, and several of them are now on sale if you need one to tackle the winter influx of games or workloads. That includes the productivity-focused Dell 32 Plus 4K S3225QS) for $329.99 at Dell (was $369.99), the gaming-focused Alienware 27 240Hz QD-OLED (AW2726DM) for $319.99 at Dell (was $349.99), and the budget-friendly Alienware 32 (AW3225DM) for $249.99 (was $299.99).

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Razer's original Kiyo webcam was the first I ever tried where content creators were the target audience. While its video quality didn't stand out, its built-in ring light was something unique and genuinely useful.

Fast forward to late 2026, and I'm again looking at a Razer webcam: the Kiyo V2 Pro. This is 100% a webcam designed for content creators, and at $300, it's a pretty serious investment, though it's still less than a good mirrorless camera and easier to use.

It's a product I was immediately interested in, not because I'm some big-time streamer, but because I was such a fan of what the Kiyo has done in the past. It looks impressive, and it boasts some top-end specs.

But having spent some time getting to grips with the Kiyo V2 Pro, my opinions are mixed. It's a good webcam, of that there's no doubt, but given its price and how it's been to use, it's harder to give a blanket recommendation. It says Razer on the box, but it doesn't feel completely like the Razer product experience I'm used to.

Razer Kiyo V2: Specifications

The Kiyo V2 Pro is a serious (and large) piece of hardware

There's no other way of saying it — the Razer Kiyo V2 is enormous. It has a clip on its base to hang it on the top of a monitor, but unless you have a giant monitor, don't even try it.

I slapped it on the top of one of my 24-inch monitors, and it wasn't very stable up there. There's absolutely no chance you can use this attached to a laptop lid. Realistically, you'll need to do as I have and mount it on a tripod.

That's fine, though; after all, it's targeted at content creators. The sort of person who takes their setup seriously enough to have all manner of things mounted around their setup. It does make it less portable, though. Even one of the renders I saw during a pre-brief showed a laptop user with the Kiyo V2 Pro at the side on a tripod.

But it's not exactly portable.

It's also not for you if you need a microphone to use for video calls, because it doesn't have one. The Kiyo V2 Pro is purely a camera. You'll have to supply the audio. Again, given the target audience, it's not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of.

Despite the size, I do like the design, and I love the physical privacy shutter. You twist the ring on the front of the webcam, and the blades come across. Most satisfying.

The size also means some pretty serious hardware stuffed inside. Including, because it's 2026, AI. In this case, it refers to pretty basic stuff like auto framing, but it's all done on the camera, not in software, and as such doesn't use any of your PC's resources for it.

Also crammed inside and not remotely related to AI is an 8.3 MP Sony STARVIS 2 sensor with a 24 mm full-frame-equivalent focal length. In video terms, it means you can shoot 4K footage at up to 60 FPS, and you'll be well framed even without applying any zoom or crop. It's wide enough to include your well-designed streaming backdrops, but not so wide that you look lost.

The L-frame base also gives you some easy adjustments to its position, without having to faff about tweaking a tripod. It's far easier to raise and tilt a little with this, and it's sturdy enough to hold the hefty 380 g body securely.

I do have one fairly pressing concern, though. Our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, and I have this webcam, and both of us have experienced the same issue with making it work at all.

The long and short seems to be that it works fine with the Razer cable that comes in the box. But with others, it's not as simple. The webcam will fire up for a short period of time and then disable. Synapse won't see it, and Camo Studio gives an error message that the USB port isn't delivering enough power.

I've tried it with every suitable cable I have, and it's the same result every time. Razer has confirmed to me that it should work fine with a minimum USB 3.2 spec USB-C cable that can handle 5 Gbps data and above. But the USB-C cable lottery seems to be a thing, so look after the one it comes with for sure.

The Kiyo V2 Pro needs software to get the best from it (but not Razer's)

Away from the hardware is where the experience falls a little flat for me. I use a lot of Razer products, and I'm used to having all the customizations I need inside the Synapse app. Set it up, close it, and forget about it.

The Kiyo V2 Pro isn't like that, though. It is supported by Synapse, but with only a very basic feature set (despite what the spec sheet may say). To get the best from this webcam, you need to use third-party software, such as Camo Studio, which you get an included lifetime Pro license for with the Kiyo V2 Pro.

On one hand, it operates a little like the camera on your smartphone. It's a piece of hardware with an app, but it also has lots of things that other apps can tap into. Normally, Razer makes a full package to stand out; in this instance, it relies on others to make its hardware shine.

Camo Studio is a good app, and it's one I already used to make a far lesser-quality webcam, slightly less terrible. There are a ton of options to tweak, including ISO, exposure, zoom, white balance, and saturation — basically anything you'd want to adjust on a regular camera. It is fantastic, and all you need to do is select "Camo" as your webcam in OBS Studio or any other app.

You can also build out your own profiles for different purposes. For example, I use the 1080p profile for work calls because Google Meet doesn't seem to support 4K, so it's wasted. When I capture game content in OBS, I record at 1440p because that's what I play at, so it makes sense to have a matching webcam profile. Whatever you need, you can build, and your visual customizations will automatically apply to whichever you have selected.

But you really do need to spend some time dialing it in. Out of the box, it'll just look like video from any webcam. Compared to my ancient Logitech C922, default settings make it hard to tell which is which. The Kiyo V2 Pro has better colors and is sharper, but it's not a slam dunk. I still haven't really perfected it, but there's no shortage of tweaks that can be made.

Should you buy the Razer Kiyo V2 Pro?

So, should you buy a Razer Kiyo V2 Pro? It's not a simple yes or no and depends on what you really want from your camera.

A couple of years ago, it would have been an easy "yes." But there's a lot of competition out there (some of which we'll be featuring on the site soon enough), and it's priced at the highest end.

Some may see Razer's passing off of software duties as a plus for the best manual control, but others may lament that there's less plug-and-play aspect to it. Unless you're prepared to get in the weeds a bit, you won't get the result you're looking for.

But where it does stand apart from much of the competition is that the Kiyo V2 Pro can not only do 4K, but it can do it at 60 FPS. A lot of 4K webcams top out at 30 FPS, and for content creators, that might just be the edge they need. The Kiyo V2 Pro has the same sensor Elgato uses in the Facecam 4K but with a wider aperture and handles low light better.

So the answer to whether you should buy it leaves me saying that you shouldn't avoid the Kiyo V2 Pro. It's very deliberately a niche product, and if you're looking for a camera that can give you 4K60 video straight into your PC, then go for it. Likewise, if you're looking for manual controls, jump right in. You'll be very happy.

It won't look as good as a mirrorless camera, say, but it's less expensive and easier to live with. And that last part gets my vote every single time.

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I love doing interviews, chatting to developers and such, but I absolutely hate having to transcribe them afterwards. Not because of my company, of course, but the prospect of listening to my own voice on recording fills me with a dread I still haven't got over in my grand old age. Not only that, but transcribing is a painstakingly tedious process that, before suitable programs came in to help us, we used to do by listening to said recordings at half speed and trying to pick out suitable quotes. Now, there are plenty of tools to help, including the Comu Action Pro, a sleek device that records and transcribes audio on the fly.

Transcribing is the perfect task for AI

While there are plenty of reasons to curse AI, handling banal tasks such as this for me is one of its genuine godsend use cases and something I've been using Otter.ai for, for quite some time.

Now Otter.ai is fantastic, but it's also bloody expensive. You get 3 free audio imports, and that's it; after that, you have to cough up $16.99 a month (or pay $100-ish for the year). Well, guess who was on her 7th burner email address and forgot to cancel her "free trial"? This person right here.

To make this mistake sting even more, I was introduced to the Comu Action Pro not long after the yearly, yes, YEARLY Otter.ai fee had left my bank account. Alas, I had the opportunity to really test them against each other, so every cloud has a silver lining and all that.

What is Comu Action Pro?

The Comu Action Pro (also known as the less catchy Comulytic TN20) is a sleek, credit card-sized device which slides right into your pocket or bag. It does cost $169.99, and I know what you're thinking: damn, that's expensive, and you were just complaining about the Otter subscription. However, it's a one-off up-front spend for something that will then transcribe unlimited audio files for you, with no subscription required. Despite my hefty payment to Otter, I am still limited to 10 imports a month, which soon got swallowed up with an event like Gamescom.

Spec-wise, for such a tiny, unassuming-looking device, it packs a 6-microphone adaptive array, a live AMOLED waveform display, USB-C charging, real-time translation across 113 languages, and a massive 60+ hour battery life.

To be upfront, there are optional premium subscriptions for extra AI magic you can use with Comu, like automatic slide generation and generating meeting minutes, but I'm not interested in that; I just wanted the core transcription, which it handles beautifully and without ongoing subscription fees. Yes, $169.99 is a mighty hefty upfront cost, but it’s the price I pay for having a personal assistant without being locked into a recurring monthly fee.

What's free and what isn't

If you want to use the Comu Action Pro to its full AI potential, here's a breakdown of what is free and what requires a subscription (but to be clear, I haven't used the latter because I was trying to find an alternative to subscriptions!).

Using the Comu to make my work much easier

I've put the Comu through its paces at both Gamescom and Blizzcon this year, and it's safe to say it's earned its keep. I haven't had to worry about upload caps, and I'm not constantly fiddling with my phone on a busy show floor trying to launch the voice recorder app. The Comu is a simple hit-a-button device: hit the button to record; hit it again to stop. The recording then uploads to the app and transcribes to my phone. It's been a huge relief for me rushing between developer appointments.

The included software with Comu has also been a win for my colleagues. I wasn't sure I could use it for audio not recorded on the device, but it works just as well with files sent to me from other people's phones and has handled them with an impressive degree of accuracy, even though they were recorded in less-than-perfectly staged environments. It's certainly more accurate when picking up audio with its own mics, but given the deafening background noise at conventions, I've been impressed by how few words it has messed up. Plus, I actually had the conversation myself; you would hope I could spot and correct myself when something is relayed not quite as what was said!

Ultimately, the Comu Action Pro has quickly become an essential part of my travelling gear bag. It spares me hours of manual transcription and delivers reliable, local-first audio capture without locking me into a subscription. There are various extras you can use and pay for if you are interested, but I didn't have a use case for testing them in this review; I prefer to keep AI for the boring tasks rather than the creative ones.

If you do a lot of in-person reporting and hate transcribing as much as I do, this little card is worth checking out.

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If you're wondering why your favorite PC games don't look their best despite running on a monstrously powerful PC, it's probably down to an outdated monitor that can't keep up with the graphical luxuries of modern games.

• Shop for more PC-related deals at Dell

Fortunately, Dell is offering two of its high-quality Alienware gaming monitors to satisfy your gaming standards with limited-time discounts. They include the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF) at $749.99 at Dell (was $999.99) and the Alienware 500Hz IPS (AW2524HF) at $449.99 at Dell (was $549.99).

Why buy these gaming monitors?

If you're the kind of gamer who wants to play at 4K for the most detailed graphics possible, the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF) that's now on sale for $749.99 at Dell is for you.

It can render images and videos with broad contrast and rich colors thanks to its OLED panel, and its Dolby Vision integration allows it to automatically optimize brightness and shadow details via HDR tone mapping when watching movies or streaming videos.

Plus, the Alienware AW3225QF supports a 240Hz refresh rate at full 4K resolution (as tested by our sister site Tom's Hardware), so it can achieve extremely detailed images and razor-sharp motion without compromising visual fidelity or inducing much input lag.

On top of that, it has a solid and attractively designed build, and its 1700R screen curve adds wrap-around immersion to games while keeping text and geometric layouts untouched to make them easier to read.

However, if you're more interested in giving your games the smoothest performance rates possible for frame-perfect gameplay, then you're better off with the Alienware 500Hz (AW2524HF) that's now on sale for $449.99 at Dell.

This monitor features an overclockable refresh rate of 500Hz. This destroys any trace of standard motion blur and sample-and-hold limitations in a game to create perfect-motion resolution, as our friends at Tom's Hardware similarly found.

Add on top sub-millisecond response times, and you've got a gaming monitor that can ensure you suffer absolutely zero perceptible input lag while playing games. That way, you will be able to enjoy skill-based action games at their best and not have to worry about input lag costing you a match in esports competitions.

It's also no slouch in the visuals department, as the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) offers excellent color saturation and contrast. Plus, it has solid build quality, so you won't have to worry about it falling to bits anytime soon.

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Elgato, the tech company that prides itself on high-quality accessories for streaming, content creation, and gaming, has launched its first wireless microphone called the Elgato Wave Go.

This extension of Elgato's 'Wave ecosystem' is a combined clip-on and handheld microphone system that allows its users to record audio any time, anywhere, on their terms, with studio-level quality, processing, and routing.

Here's everything you need to know about how the Elgato Wave Go works, which you can buy right now on Elgato's official store for $99.99.

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The Elgato Wave Go has a convertible design that allows users to record audio in two ways while being connected to a phone via a USB-C receiver.

While in Clip-on Mode (which is a 7g transmitter the size of a coin), it can mount magnetically onto clothing with custom tuning that restores clarity and audio presence quality at chest distance.

In Handheld mode, Elgato Wave Go's transmitter fits inside a Smart Handle to become a full-sized interview mic with integrated controls, charging, and a sound profile that's been tuned for warmth and presence audio levels when used close up.

This microphone also features toggleable noise cancellation to block out annoying background noise, automatic EQ Shift and Auto Gain systems to apply different sound profiles and audio gain levels depending on its position and mode (without needing to mess around with its settings), and compatibility with the free Wave Go app on iOS and Android for users to customize these aforementioned features to their preference.

On top of that, the Elgato Wave Go will last you for a good long session, as its transmitter can run for up to 8 hours on a single charge or a full day while recording audio.

Its Smart Handle can be recharged alongside the transmitters when it's docked inside (even while recording), and it can store up to 5 full recharges so it can operate for at most 48 hours. The Elgato Wave Go can have all its components recharged while inside its carrying case, which can connect to USB-C chargers.

Its USB-C receiver also has pass-through charging, so you can recharge the Elgato Wave Go while connected to your phone.

Lastly, the Elgato Wave Go can integrate with Elgato's free mixing software called Wave Link. When this mic is used in tandem with the app, users can route audio, apply effects, control its settings via Stream Deck, and unlock Voice Focus, which cleans up reverb and background noise while recording audio indoors.

If this lightweight, convertible microphone with expert sound quality, portability, and customization sounds appealing for your content creation needs, you can buy the Elgato Wave Go on Elgato.com for the MSRP of $99.99 (other retailers will sell it shortly after). The Elgato Wave Go will be available in 40 countries and regions.

Elgato is also offering a Sky Blue variant of the Elgato Wave Go for a limited time on its website. Plus, the microphone will have a second transmitter sold separately for an MSRP of $29.99 (or $14.99 when bought together with the Elgato Wave Go).

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Pokémon turns 30 this year, which means those of you who remember playing Pokémon Red and Blue on a Game Boy are now old enough to have disposable income. Razer apparently understands the assignment.

Razer has announced three new Pokémon-themed gaming headsets featuring Charizard, Lucario, and Sylveon, expanding a collection that already proves Pokémon merchandise does not have to be confined to plushies, trading cards, and whatever extraordinarily expensive piece of cardboard you just lost an eBay auction for.

Technically, none of these headsets is new. Razer is giving existing models Pokémon makeovers rather than launching new hardware. Charizard and Lucario get versions of the Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed, while Sylveon adorns the wired Razer Kraken V4 X. They're being released as part of Pokémon's ongoing 30th anniversary celebrations.

That's fine by me. Sometimes I don't need a revolutionary new driver architecture. Sometimes I just want Charizard on my head.

Charizard wins the headset battle, obviously

I've got the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition here for photography, and Razer wisely resisted the temptation to simply make the entire thing bright orange.

Instead, there's a black exterior with fiery red Charizard artwork across the earcups and headband, contrasting against orange ear cushions and headband padding. The result looks unmistakably Pokémon without resembling something stolen from a ten-year-old's bedroom.

It also helps that Charizard remains one of the most immediately recognizable Pokémon ever created. The original Generation I Pokémon is officially Fire/Flying type, despite decades of childhood logic insisting that the giant fire-breathing dragon surely had to be Dragon type.

Underneath that paint job is the regular Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed, which starts at $99.99 without the Pokémon treatment. It uses Razer's second-generation TriForce 50mm drivers and 2.4GHz HyperSpeed wireless, with Bluetooth and USB connectivity also available. Razer lists the standard model at just 270g.

The Charizard tax, therefore, works out to $20, with this edition carrying a $119.99 MSRP in the United States. (And for some reason, it's at Target for $139.99, but you can pick it up today, at least!)

If you're still reading this, I'm sure you've paid more for considerably less sensible Pokémon-related things.

It's worth emphasizing that the V3 X isn't the flagship BlackShark. That distinction belongs to the BlackShark V3 Pro, which Windows Central's Zachary Boddy reviewed last year. He called the V3 Pro "the closest to perfection I've ever seen a gaming headset reach," praising Razer for addressing seemingly every complaint about the previous generation.

Basically, the "X" versions of Razer products are more budget-friendly, as the V3 Pro is $249.99.

If Pokémon isn't enough to dictate your purchasing decision, we've also extensively tested the competition in our best Xbox headsets guide.

Team Lucario has entered the chat

If Charizard is a little too "look at me, I'm on fire" for your tastes, Lucario gets exactly the same BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed treatment for $119.99.

Razer describes the design as inspired by Lucario's "calm intensity," and the blue finish certainly makes it the more restrained of the pair. The actual Pokémon is Fighting/Steel type, which makes attaching it to a competitive gaming headset feel appropriately on-brand.

Same headset, same 50mm Gen-2 drivers, same HyperSpeed wireless. Your decision essentially comes down to which monster you'd rather have watching over your K/D ratio.

Lucario gets a slight head start in the US, too. It's available exclusively from Target from October 7, while Charizard launches October 13 through Razer.com and Target. Both are also headed to broader retail in Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

And then there's Sylveon

Sylveon goes in an entirely different direction, and not just aesthetically.

The Razer Kraken V4 X Sylveon Edition is a wired headset with 40mm TriForce drivers, a retractable HyperClear cardioid microphone, and Chroma RGB lighting (sweet). It comes decked out in Sylveon's characteristic pink-and-blue color scheme.

It's wonderfully unapologetic.

Sylveon is a Fairy-type Pokémon and one of Eevee's evolutions, officially categorized as the "Intertwining Pokémon." Its ribbon-like feelers can apparently send out a soothing aura that erases hostility, which frankly sounds like technology every Call of Duty voice-chat lobby desperately needs.

The Sylveon Kraken V4 X costs $109.99 and launches October 13 exclusively through Target in the United States, with wider retail availability across Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

I choose you, Charizard

There's obviously no technical reason to replace a perfectly good headset purely because Razer printed a Pokémon on it. This is merchandising. Razer knows it, Pokémon knows it, I know it, and your wallet is about to find out.

But that's also rather missing the point.

The BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed is already a lightweight wireless headset offering 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. For an extra $20, Pokémon fans can get essentially the same hardware dressed as Charizard or Lucario. Sylveon fans have a slightly cheaper, wired alternative with RGB.

And having actually seen the Charizard edition outside Razer's immaculate press renders, I'll say this: it's pretty damn cool.

Sometimes that's enough justification.

Besides, it's Pokémon's 30th anniversary. Treat yourself.

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While I'm a Razer DeathAdder kid at heart and always will be, when it comes to gaming it's hard to top the Basilisk. I actually switched to using the Basilisk V3 Pro last year, and it's been an incredible mouse.

Not just for gaming, because it's so ergonomic, it's a fantastic mouse to use all day everyday for work, too.

It's going to be hard to top, but the Basilisk V4 Pro is now here, and as you'd expect, it's packed with improvements and new features.

On the surface it looks a lot like its predecessor, but there are some thoughtful improvements that help to elevate it a little further.

Equally, there are some choices I'm not as fond of, not least an out-of-the-box button binding for AI, which we'll talk about later. Overall, it's still an incredible package, though.

This review was conducted with a Basilisk V4 Pro provided to Windows Central by Razer. The company had no input in nor saw the contents of the review prior to publication.

What's new in the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro?

Rather than break down every little design feature, I'm going to try and keep it brief by outlining what's new and changed from the previous Basilisk V3 Pro 35K that I've been using every day.

The overall design has been very subtly changed, but for the better. Especially if you have smaller hands, like myself. Side-by-side with the previous Basilisk, it's very slightly shorter, but still noticeable. This makes the main mouse click buttons also a hair shorter, and they do sit better under my fingers.

The left mouse button also has a friend on the Basilisk V4 Pro, taking a little notch out of it but still positioned in such a way that you won't accidentally press it. This is the profile cycling button, moved up top from underneath on the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, and a much more sensible location for it.

Now, say, if you have profiles for work and profiles for gaming, you can just effortlessly go between them without having to flip the mouse over and press until you get the right one.

The buttons on the left-side of the Basilisk V4 Pro are much better on this year's model, too. There are now three, and the HyperShift button has been repositioned and redesigned and is easier to click with your thumb. Two of the others are vacant out of the box to be mapped to your own functions. But I love that they're smaller and more defined than the buttons on the older Basilisk.

In total there are 14 customizable buttons on the Basilisk V4 Pro, which, combined with HyperShift and the four profiles you can store on the mouse, leaves more space than most of us will ever need to set the perfect layout.

The sensor gets an upgrade, of course, to Razer's Gen-3 Focus Pro 50k optical sensor. But it's not this that is most exciting; it's Frame Sync. The Basilisk V4 Pro will align both the sensor scanning and the mouse's polling rate. This reduces motion latency when it's communicating with the PC but, crucially, also helps improve battery life, as there's no wasted reporting.

That leads to up to 200 hours off the charger (up to 275 hours on Bluetooth), though I haven't been able to push it that far. I haven't had it long enough, but it's not run out of battery yet, and it's going strong.

I'm far from a pro gamer, too, but I love using the Basilisk V4 Pro. It's so accurate; I feel better than I actually am. In some games you also have a built-in 'cheat' since you can map a button to do an instant 180-degree turn. I pass no judgment, but it's there.

When you do need to top up, if you already have one of Razer's wireless charging mousepads, the Basilisk V4 Pro is compatible. The charging puck is pre-installed, and it also works with the new mouse dock. It's an optional purchase, but you just drop the Basilisk V2 Pro on top, and it charges it up. If you use the mousepad, you'll never have to worry about running out. I've never once charged my Basilisk V3 Pro 35K manually.

Despite better battery life, the Basilisk V4 Pro is even lighter than its predecessor. While it's not a massive amount, it is noticeable, especially when you're actually moving it about the desk.

The best performance comes naturally wired or using the 2.4 GHz dongle, but you can also pair the Basilisk V4 Pro up with three additional Bluetooth devices. You're able to cycle between them with the button on the bottom, with each having its own color code to help you distinguish them.

I also want to shout out the Precision Tactile setting on the scroll wheel. As someone who's constantly scrolling through large chunks of text, it's really made this so much more pleasant to do.

Overall, though, I really like the changes made to the Basilisk V4 Pro. Not all of them, but as a package, it's such a nice mouse. Packed with features, insane levels of customization, and the performance we've come to expect, all wrapped up in a stellar soft-touch finish with better battery life.

What I don't like about the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro

Let's talk about AI. Yes, groan.

I should say up front, this feature is optional. You can make it go away. But out of the box, it's configured, and I don't like it one bit.

One of the three buttons on the side of the mouse launches the "AI Prompt Master." This opens a chatbot window, built by Razer but using ChatGPT to execute. You have pre-built options to compose emails, summarize, rewrite, and create images, with modifiers for what you want the results to look like, and you can create your own template.

My question, though: Why?

Razer is a company founded on gaming. Its core customers are gamers. This is the best gaming mouse the company has ever made, but by default, it has a hardware button bound to an AI chatbot. Not even one that lets you change the AI engine it uses (right now at least). And it even sits above all your open windows, even if you're not actively using it. Awful.

If you don't have Synapse installed on a PC, it won't work. And yes, you can remap the button to anything else you want. I just don't understand why it's even here. Gamers are not typically receptive to AI being shovelled into their gaming setups. We've been there already with Microsoft and its Gaming Copilot.

That's basically all I don't like about the Basilisk V4 Pro. I know it can be made to go away; I'm just really disappointed that a company I've used for gaming hardware for so long has gone down this path. And with a pretty bad app for it, too.

I should also mention the price. This is the top of the line, so it comes with a price tag to match at $169.99. But if you're looking for the best of the best, it's worth it.

I'd also maybe like to have seen more than just Razer's own wireless charging accessories able to charge the mouse. I get it, from a business perspective, and controlling the experience. But if you have a wireless charging pad for your phone already, I can't deny it'd have been nice to be able to use that with the Basilisk V4 Pro as well.

Should you buy the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro?

AI shenanigans aside, the Basilisk V4 Pro is a ridiculously good gaming mouse. If you've ever used a Basilisk before, you'll know why.

The core remains largely unchanged, just updated for 2026 with performance oozing out of it. Like its top controllers, you can top out at an 8,000 Hz polling rate, and with Frame Sync, it's one of the most accurate gaming mice for competitive players.

Whether you should buy one or not depends on which mouse you're currently using. If you're on a Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, as I have been, it's a harder sell. It's a little bit better, but I'm not sure you should be first in line.

If you're on anything older or from another manufacturer, it's far easier to recommend. It's ergonomic, so you can use it all day for work or play. The improved battery life means you can actually take it on the road with you for multiple weeks without having to worry about it even if you're using it heavily, and it's absolutely killer for gaming.

It's hard to make great products greater, especially when you already have one of the best gaming mice on the planet. But Razer managed it with the Basilisk V4 Pro.

The Razer Basilisk V4 Pro is available starting October 8 for $169.99, alongside the Mouse Dock V2 Pro, which costs $69.99.

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Xbox is about to celebrate its 25th Anniversary, and while there have been numerous brand collaborations to mark the occasion, the 8BitDo Xbox collection has actually been in circulation since November 2024. Inspired by the OG Xbox, the collection is a transparent-green dream consisting of a chunky keyboard, numpad, mouse, and even a controller.

I only got my hands on the set this year, which feels fitting with the Xbox anniversary about to be in full swing. While 8BitDo has just added a gorgeous Gears of War edition to the lineup, I'm firmly sticking with my bleed-green setup, which I've been using every day for around four months now.

The TL;DR of this review is that I absolutely adore this chunky, obnoxiously green keyboard, and I can't see myself using anything else, but read on if you need a little more swaying.

DEAL ALERT: This keyboard is currently 25% off thanks to Amazon Big Deal Days

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition: Price, availability and specs

The 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard (Xbox Edition) retails for $119.99 in the US and £99.99 in the UK. However, it frequently sees discounts and at the time of writing, it is on sale for $89.99 on Amazon US.

Out of the box, the keyboard includes 8BitDo’s iconic Dual Super Buttons, a pair of massive, programmable arcade-style macro buttons that plug directly into the back of the board via 3.5mm jacks without needing extra software configuration.

If you are a sane person who enjoys using a Numpad, rejecting all minimal keyboard ideology, then 8BitDo also offers a matching standalone Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad (Xbox Edition), which retails separately for $44.99 / £39.99.

The main tech specs you need to know are:

• Layout: 87-key Tenkeyless (TKL) with top-mount design
• Switches: Kailh Jellyfish X linear/clicky switches (Hot-swappable PCB, full N-key rollover)
• Keycaps: Double-layered ABS with a matte UV coating
• Connectivity: Tri-mode (2.4GHz wireless via magnetic dongle, Bluetooth 5.0, wired USB-C)
• Battery: 4,000mAh rechargeable Li-ion (rated for up to 280 hours on 2.4GHz / 300 hours on Bluetooth)
• Lighting & controls: Customisable RGB backlighting, dedicated volume dial, and connection mode knob
• Included extras: Dual Super Buttons module, USB-C charging cable, 2.4GHz dongle, and 1 month of Xbox Game Pass for PC
• Dimensions & weight: 376.6 x 169.6 x 46.8 mm; 1,100 g
• Software support: 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 (Windows & Android)

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition: What's good

Unboxing this was an experience in itself; the box was roughly twice the size of any keyboard package I’ve opened before. Coming from the Roccat Vulcan I’d been rocking (or should I say Roccing hur hur), I expected it to be chunky, and while it was different for sure, I'm kind of loving that 8BitDo has embraced the maximalist approach. To be honest, as I get older, I’m really appreciating the larger keycaps and moving away from that classic all-black "squint at the keys" aesthetic.

The green design is unabashedly Xbox of course, but with a lot of small, thoughtful touches. Like the A/B/X/Y colored arrow keys that mirror the OG controller and the glowing Xbox home button (which matches the look on the new 25th Anniversary Series X console.) This is a hell of a lot cheaper than that console too!

If the Xbox Duke controller were a keyboard and mouse, this would be it.

Even before typing a single sentence, the convenient design details impressed me. Having a dedicated magnetic compartment built into the base to store the 2.4GHz receiver is a godsend; I’ve lost count of how many wireless dongles I’ve misplaced over the years.

Connectivity is versatile, offering 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, or a wired USB-C connection. I wouldn't normally dedicate a sentence to a cable, but 8BitDo even made the braided wire matching Xbox green. Talk about attention to detail!

The board itself feels incredibly hefty, solid, and durable on the desk. That robust build quality is a major plus for me: regardless of how gentle I may be with the keyboard, my son also loves gaming at my desk and is considerably heavier-handed. This chassis easily withstands the enthusiastic key-slams of a kid navigating mods in Wobbly Life. The physical dials at the top for adjusting volume and switching connection modes feel equally premium and far from flimsy.

The box includes 8BitDo’s famous Dual Super Buttons. At first, I had no idea what to do with them other than getting my cat to play the bongos, but they plug in via a 3.5mm jack on the rear. You can map them on the fly directly from the board without software, though downloading the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 is essential if you want to set up complex macros or multi-key shortcuts.

While I didn't get overly creative with my bindings, mapping the giant "A" button to instantly grab screenshots is super handy during streams.

If you love RGB backlighting, the board comes packed with bright lighting modes and a full spectrum of color profiles. I usually keep the backlighting on boring white as I think having multi-colours looks a little 'busy' through the green casing, but the customization options are there if you want a full rainbow light show (I do not, and prefer less visual noise).

The stock switches deliver a wonderfully satisfying clickety-clackety feel (that’s a technical term), offering great audio and tactile feedback. I also didn't note any input lag even over wireless. For tinkerers, the PCB is fully hot-swappable if you ever want to pull the stock switches and experiment with custom ones later on. Finally, if you opt for the matching standalone numpad, it snaps flush against the side of the board with a deeply satisfying magnet click, just another detail that makes this feel pretty premium.

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition: What's bad

As I said, I love this keyboard, and I'm hard-pressed to find anything I don't like about it, but if I had any criticisms at all, I'd start with the fact that I have to clean it more often!

The super-matte, double-layered ABS keycaps tend to show finger oils and shine much faster and more noticeably than keycaps on previous boards I’ve used. I find myself wiping the keys down more often, but that's a small price to pay for how good the setup looks on my desk.

Second, while I appreciate that 8BitDo made the matching Numpad an optional extra, it's a bit frustrating that both the keyboard and the numpad require their own separate 2.4GHz USB dongles. USB ports on my dock are always at a premium, so I’ve ended up running the main keyboard wired most of the time. Given that the keyboard sits stationary on my desk anyway, it’s hardly a dealbreaker just a minor setup niggle to keep in mind if you are beholden to getting the Numpad too.

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition: The competition

You'll only be reading this if you're already interested in grabbing a very in-your-face Xbox fan-themed keyboard, in which case, it's worth mentioning that Razer have released the Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection just recently, and within that, a Black Widow V4 75% keyboard.

At $209.99 / £199.99, it carries a distinctly "Razer price tag" compared to 8BitDo’s accessible $119.99 MSRP.

However, that higher price tag gets you a sleeker, smaller frame and quieter tactile switches.

If you prefer a more subtle, understated tribute to the original Xbox without the chunky retro footprint (and don't mind waiting for pre-orders to ship on October 20), the Razer option is a gorgeous alternative. But for that loud, unapologetic early-2000s green Duke-style aesthetic at nearly half the price, 8BitDo is a no-brainer for me.

8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want a nostalgia-packed OG Xbox aesthetic

This board is certainly cheaper (and easier to buy) than the Xbox Series X25, and it nails the retro 2000s theme

✅ You love big keycaps and clicky switches

The keyboard is just as loud as the design

✅ You want versatile wireless options and handy extras

With built-in magnetic dongle storage, 2.4GHz/Bluetooth toggles, a dedicated volume dial, and programmable Dual Super Buttons, it’s packed with great quality-of-life details.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You want a silent, low-profile keyboard

The stock switches are loud and proud, and the chunky retro frame takes up a good chunk of desk space.

❌ You need a built-in numpad without extra dongles

It’s a Tenkeyless layout, and while 8BitDo sells a matching separate numpad, taking up two separate USB ports for two wireless dongles can quickly clutter up your hub or dock.

The 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard Xbox Edition is just perfect for anyone who holds a soft spot for early 2000s gaming tech, translucent and chunky. I can't wait to sink many hours of WoW Forever on it and live my millennial retirement home dreams.

It looks like a collectors edition item without the price tag you would normally expect, while managing to also be built to last and something I want to keep on using (not just take pretty pictures of for Instagram). If you want a desk setup that brings a smile to your face every time you sit down to type or game, this obnoxiously green and thicc beast is worth every cent.

"Babe?... Babe!? Is everything alright?" If you're in my house on a relaxing weekend afternoon, you'll often hear me trying to get a hold of my wife. I have to ask a few times, not because she's ignoring me, but because she has a pair of noise cancelling headphones on.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Big Deal Days discounts

For the last couple of years, my wife has donned a pair of Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. They're sleek, comfortable, and do a great job blocking out noise. And right now, they're on sale for $190 off.

You may be surprised to hear that I rarely spend a lot of money on gadgets. I love covering tech, but I try to keep my spending down when it comes to laptops, phones, and accessories. That's why it was a major shift when I bought my wife a pair of Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. Back then, the headphones were newer and closer to full price.

But I wanted to splurge on a gift for my wife. She loves music, audiobooks, and podcasts, so I knew she needed a pair of headphones that she could wear all day. The headset from Bose delivered. They're comfortable, block out noise with active and passive noise cancellation, and last a long time.

They're mostly my wife's headphones, but I use them at least once a month and am frequently reminded of how much I like them. After years of heavy use they show some wear and tear (I just ordered new ear pads), but they still sound great.

The Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are now a bit older, but they still deliver high-quality audio and are comfortable. They lack some of the bells and whistles you'll see in newer headsets, but they've aged well.

The $190 discount on the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones makes them easy to recommend.

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Razer controllers have been my personal go-to on Xbox and PC for years now, and the company isn't resting on its laurels. Announced today is the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro, alongside a less expensive but still similar Wolverine V4 Tournament Edition.

At first glance the Wolverine V4 Pro looks a lot like both the Wolverine V3 Pro and the PC-exclusive Wolverine V3 Pro 8K. I reviewed both, and I still use both, but the Wolverine V4 Pro now mixes the best of each into one package while making some meaningful upgrades to the tech and its features.

For starters, we're not talking about TMR sticks anymore. Razer has already moved beyond that, building the Wolverine V4 Pro with capacitive sticks. But what does that actually mean?

"Powering the Wolverine V4 line’s asymmetrical thumbstick layout are two new capacitive sensors, the next step in contactless sensor design, offering superior resolution, power efficiency and resistance to magnetic interference over TMR and Hall Effect counterparts, while maintaining the drift-resistant performance of both. Paired with a 16-bit ADC chip, the sensors register approximately 3,000 steps1 of movement for smoother tracking, reduced jitter, and overall higher accuracy for dominant FPS play. "

In real-world use it'll be hard to actually quantify, but it should help contribute towards better battery life. One of the biggest drawbacks with the Wolverine V3 Pro was its battery life, so we'll certainly take any improvements we can get.

The other big performance-related improvement in the Wolverine V4 Pro is also the 8,000 Hz polling rate on PC. On Xbox it's still limited to 250 Hz, but there's nothing Razer or anyone else can do about that. It's an Xbox limitation. But for players who play on both Xbox Series X|S and PC, you can now have all the best in a single package.

8,000 Hz is not essential, but if you play competitive games like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and the like, you want the best sticks and the fastest polling rates you can have. It's becoming increasingly common to get such high polling rates, but previously you'd need to own two of Razer's controllers if you wanted this as well as Xbox compatibility.

Improvements have also been made to the actual thumbsticks. There are now six total thumbcaps to choose from, as well as magnetic rear paddles that can easily be removed if you don't want to use them.

These, along with the additional bumper buttons, can still be remapped to whatever you want them to do, and as with previous controllers, you can store them in up to four different profiles on the controller itself. The Razer Synapse app will also allow you an insane level of customization, as always.

The incredible clicky face buttons are still here, too, as are the near-instant mouse click trigger stops. New for this year's controller, though, is a removable faceplate. It attaches with magnets for ease of use, and it's got a pretty slick translucent design behind it if you want to play without it on at all.

There are no custom faceplates at this point, but having the feature, it seems inevitable that there will be some kind of collaborations in the future. Oh, and haptics are back. But you can turn them off, of course.

It's not all add, though. Razer has decided this time around not to include one of its excellent controller cases. Even if you don't actively put your controller in the case, they've always been really good quality, and it's a nice way to keep your additional sticks and the wireless dongle organized, so it's a little sad to see it go.

The Wolverine V4 Tournament Edition keeps much of the same goodness but comes in a lot cheaper. For one, it's only available wired, but you still get the new capacitive sticks, the 8,000 Hz polling rate on PC, and the same design. The rear paddles aren't removable, however, and neither is the faceplate.

Both the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro and Wolverine V4 Tournament Edition go on sale today, October 6. The former will cost $199.99/£199.99 and the latter $99.99/£99.99.

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