Monitors generally last so long that I often forget how significant an upgrade can be, but seeing some of the 4K displays and OLED panels in our recent reviews always proves they're among the best investments you can make. After all, you're looking at your PC monitor most of the time, so it's worth it.• Back to school deals up to $900 off PCs and more at DellSure enough, Dell is offering generous discounts on some of the best monitors we've tested, including a ga
Monitors generally last so long that I often forget how significant an upgrade can be, but seeing some of the 4K displays and OLED panels in our recent reviews always proves they're among the best investments you can make. After all, you're looking at your PC monitor most of the time, so it's worth it.
Sure enough, Dell is offering generous discounts on some of the best monitors we've tested, including a gaming variant in its Alienware subbrand. If you're thinking about a screen upgrade for your new semester, now's the right time to buy. Here's my curated collection of Dell monitors that are easy to recommend.
Dropping below $600 makes this an easy choice for anyone who has the space. You get built-in audio with 5 speakers and a gorgeous, color-accurate 4K QD-OLED panel.
For the gamers — and it's a beast. A curved QD-OLED 1440p (not 4K) panel running at 240Hz, with a 0.03ms response time, alongside HDR and G-Sync support.
Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor (S3225QC). (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Dell has consistently impressed my team and me with each monitor that we've sampled — and in some cases permanently adopted — with accurate color representation on sharp panels with good contrast. Their construction is consistently above average, too, often with a toolless setup and included stands offering plenty of tilt and swivel adjustment options.
The Dell S3225QC's 5-speaker system easily sounds better than the majority of monitors with built-in audio.
Zachary Boddy, Former Staff Writer
With its $200 saving, the 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED (S3225QC) stands out as the best deal, and we particularly praised its five-speaker array for delivering "some of the best audio you'll hear in a monitor or TV". Indeed, it includes a two-piece toolless stand for a straightforward setup and affordable access to a Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) panel with "perfect" contrast.
Connectivity is bountiful on the UltraSharp 27. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
One of the most important considerations is connectivity and whether your existing PCs and devices can connect to the monitor you buy. For example, the S3225QC offers a gorgeous panel, but it's limited to a single HDMI port and two USB-C ports — one of which supports DisplayPort 1.4 output — but there's nothing for a traditional full-sized DisplayPort cable.
The opposite side of that coin is the UltraSharp 27 4K (U2725QE) with its Thunderbolt Hub and two DisplayPort options, HDMI, alongside a positively huge array of USB-A and USB-C ports. For gamers, responsiveness matters more, and the Alienware AW3425DW dominates with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time built into a 21:9 (3440 x 1440) panel.
Overall, our own testing proved that Dell monitors are great picks for practically anyone. Nevertheless, you should always consider your needs, including which display size best fits your desk setup (or whether you'll use a mounting arm over the included stands). Right now, availability is healthy at Dell's US store, with fast delivery times.
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Image of the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE).
Keyboard switches used to be a fairly niche topic. Enthusiasts knew what they wanted and sought it out, while more casual gamers and typists just went with what seemed best. I'm talking about the feel, the sound, and the speed — not to forget pricing, durability, hot-swap support, and layout, especially when getting into gaming keyboards.But the days of switches being an enthusiast's niche are over. Hall Effect and optical switches are enjoying a mainstream push,
Keyboard switches used to be a fairly niche topic. Enthusiasts knew what they wanted and sought it out, while more casual gamers and typists just went with what seemed best.
I'm talking about the feel, the sound, and the speed — not to forget pricing, durability, hot-swap support, and layout, especially when getting into gaming keyboards.
But the days of switches being an enthusiast's niche are over. Hall Effect and optical switches are enjoying a mainstream push, especially in gaming hardware, and the less flashy keyboards for office work are also seeing some major upgrades.
These advancements can make buying a new keyboard in 2026 a confusing endeavor. You step away for a few months, and it feels like there's a completely new set of literature to read up on.
I'm here to lay out the main types of different keyboard switches you may encounter, helping you get the perfect hardware for your needs.
What are mechanical keyboard switches?
A Razer BlackWidow V4 with its keycaps removed to show off the mechanical switches. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Mechanical switches are the baseline for keyboards. When the keycap is pressed, a stem compresses a spring, and two separate metal contacts touch to complete a circuit and let your PC know you've performed a keystroke.
Mechanical boards are popular because they allow for quick swapping of keycaps (and in many cases, the switches themselves) without needing any special tools. If you're just starting on your path down the keyboard rabbit hole, a mechanical option is likely your best bet.
You might have heard of Cherry MX before, and that's because it's the company that essentially created the mechanical keyboard in the 1980s. It's still the default switch today, with many competitors attempting to outdo its creations.
There are three basic versions of mechanical switches that you'll most often encounter when shopping: Linear, Tactile, and Clicky.
Linear switches
Linear switches offer a smooth feel from the top through to the bottom. There's no noticeable bump when you hit the actuation point (in this case, the two metal contacts coming together), and there's minimal noise while typing.
Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Black switches are probably best known, but there are also Speed Silver, Silent Red, and Low Profile Speed options.
Linear switches are great for PC gaming because they're generally faster and more consistent when the action gets going. The fact that they don't make noise is also a boon, especially if you're gaming in a shared space.
Tactile switches
The Keychron Q6 Pro's tactile switches are an excellent option for gaming or for work. (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Windows Central)
Tactile switches are a common ground between linear and clicky. They offer a small, noticeable bump at the actuation point without adding a loud click.
Cherry MX Brown is the classic example of a tactile switch. They're sought after by gamers and typists alike who prefer having that little bit of pressure to let them know that a keystroke has been made.
Clicky switches
Clicky switches are what I consider the "extreme" version. They offer the same noticeable bump as tactile switches when the actuation point is hit, but a loud click follows.
Some typists and gamers prefer the heavier feel and the loud click (especially if you're going for a retro vibe), but that audible feedback can definitely get annoying over time.
Cherry MX Blue switches are the default example here, but there are also Green and Ultra Low Profile clicky switches to watch out for.
Pro Wireless Gaming: It's a result of a collaboration between Alienware and over 100 esports athletes, and it's a genuine step up over the company's previous products. Build quality is exceptional, typing feels great, and gaming performance is flawless.View Deal
Cherry MX's competition in the mechanical market
The Glorious GMMK 3 Pro is available will classic MX or Hall Effect switches. (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Windows Central)
Cherry MX remains the brand that's best known, and it has been upgrading its switches to better compete with new competitors. For example, its MX2A lineup with a redesigned stem helps make its switches feel a lot smoother.
This innovation to compete is driven by companies like Gateron, Kailh, and Glorious that have jumped on expiring patents to create their own mechanical switches. They generally fall into the same three basic mechanical switch categories, so it's not too difficult to figure out what's best for you.
What are optical keyboard switches?
Optical switches on the IOGear HVER PRO X gaming keyboard. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Optical keyboard switches are a lot like their mechanical counterparts. They use the same stem-and-spring setup, but there are no metal contacts to form a circuit when pressed.
Instead, optical switches place a beam of infrared light below each key. When you press a keycap, that beam is interrupted, and your PC recognizes a keystroke.
The main benefits of an optical switch are durability and response. There are no metal contacts to wear out, and keypresses are usually registered just a bit faster.
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro features optical keyboard switches. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
When I think of optical switches, I usually think of Razer. It's the brand spearheading this tech most of the time; its Analog Optical Gen-2 switches in the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro are a perfect example. There are, however, competing brands.
Optical switches offer things like adjustable actuation (making keys easier or harder to register keystrokes) and rapid trigger mode (allowing for faster repeated presses).
Most optical switches are hot-swappable like their mechanical counterparts. However, the main catch is that optical switches can't be added to mechanical keyboards, and vice versa, due to different circuit technology underlying each option.
Razer's Huntsman V3 Pro uses optical switches for improved durability and performance, making it a particularly excellent option for gamers who don't want to spend extra on Hall Effect hardware.View Deal
What are Hall Effect keyboard switches?
The Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic Mini keyboard with Hall Effect switches. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
I first began hearing about "Hall Effect" to do with controller joysticks some years ago, but the tech actually originated with keyboards way back in the 1960s. Hall Effect seems to have now become the upgrade choice for many gamers in 2026.
Hall Effect works by placing a magnet in the switch's stem. A separate sensor measures how far the switch travels based on magnetic strength, meaning there's no actual physical or optical activation required.
This opens Hall Effect switches up to far more customization options than mechanical or optical hardware. Actuation distances can be fine-tuned, often as low as 0.1 mm, as in the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic we recently reviewed.
Because Hall Effect switches offer such tight customization and because there are fewer mechanical parts to wear out, they're becoming much more popular in PC gaming circles.
It was Wooting that really kicked this category off in the early 2020s, but since then, companies like SteelSeries, ASUS, Corsair, Keychron, Logitech, and the aforementioned Razer have jumped into the market.
Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic TKL 8KHz: With adjustable actuation from 0.1–4.0 mm, Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, Snap Flex and Dynamic Keystroke, Razer’s HE Magnetic TKL give players granular control over inputs and movement — and back it with factory calibration, a 100‑million keystroke rating and on-demand recalibration via Synapse.View Deal
What are Topre switches?
The RealForce RGB is a Topre keyboard we reviewed in 2020.
The final switch category I'm covering separately is Topre. These are capacitive switches designed by a Japanese company of the same name, and they're proving to be popular amongst people who type all day every day.
They work by combining a rubber dome on top of a spring. A sensor detects when the dome compresses (aka when you press down on the keycap) and registers a keystroke. It's a lot like Hall Effect, where there's no circuit to complete, but they have a softer feel that doesn't bottom out as hard.
Keyboards using Topre switches, like those from RealForce, are generally more expensive, but for some people, that extra money might save them from serious typing fatigue.
Other types of switches worth mentioning
The switches I mentioned above are the major options you'll find when shopping for a new keyboard. But there are a few others worth mentioning.
Mechanical, optical, and Hall Effect switches sometimes come in a low-profile option, which just means that the keycaps are not nearly as high. You'll sometimes find these keyboards installed in high-end gaming laptops, but there are plenty of standalone options available as well.
For budget keyboards, you're almost always going to find membrane or scissor switches in play. They're generally quiet, cheap, and relatively comfortable. The big problem? They don't usually last nearly as long, and they don't feel nearly as nice to type on.
Which type of keyboard switch should you buy?
The ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20 mechanical keyboard is one of the most expensive on the market today, but not because of its switches. (Image credit: Future)
So, with all the keyboard switch info in mind, which one should you buy? Our guides to the best keyboards and best gaming keyboards are great places to start, but let me break it down into the different categories of PC users who care most about their hardware.
Competitive PC gamers should seriously consider investing in a Hall Effect keyboard. They're more durable, they offer extreme precision, and they can be customized to your liking. Optical switches can also do a great job here if you'd rather skip the magnetic setup.
Casual PC gamers might want to splurge on Hall Effect or optical switches, and there's nothing wrong with that. But for the majority, classic mechanical switches, whether linear, clicky, or tactile, will do a great job of keeping up with repeated keypresses. You won't have to spend as much, and you can still have a lot of fun customizing your board.
For professional typists or programmers, I recommend a tactile mechanical switch. You still get a comfortable setup and extra durability, without all the extra noise that might annoy you or those around you over time. If you have the budget, this is where Topre switches can also be super appreciated.
And if you're on a budget, you can always check out a cheaper mechanical switch. There are plenty of options available at the low end of the market. And if you really don't care? Just get a cheapo membrane keyboard and forget everything you just read.
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Huion, known for creating high-quality drawing tablets and pen displays, is launching a back-to-school sale on some of its best models. These discounted tablets are built for the aspiring student, whether they need extra help taking notes during class or creating beautiful digital works of art.There are tons of discounts on offer, so I've picked out some of the best in both the budget and premium price ranges while showcasing a couple of drawing tablets we've rev
Huion, known for creating high-quality drawing tablets and pen displays, is launching a back-to-school sale on some of its best models. These discounted tablets are built for the aspiring student, whether they need extra help taking notes during class or creating beautiful digital works of art.
There are tons of discounts on offer, so I've picked out some of the best in both the budget and premium price ranges while showcasing a couple of drawing tablets we've reviewed and given high marks in the past. So, if you want to overcome a wave of AI-generated knock-off art by showing off real creativity with top-grade drawing tablets, these are for you.
"This is a worthy competitor to Wacom with its 24-inch drawing surface that produces a great color gamut with 4K clarity. It offers 8,192 pressure levels to accurately depict strokes and there are a number of useful items included in the box such as an amazing Keydial Mini for better control while drawing, an artist glove, multiple pen nibs, a pen holder, and more." ~ Rebecca Spear, Former Gaming and News Editor
"This purchase nets you a drawing display, two pens, a pen holder, replacement nibs, a drawing globe, and a Keydial Mini. The display offers great color and works creates excellent brush stroke pressure to add depth to my pen strokes." ~ Rebecca Spear, Former Gaming and News Editor
Transfer your handwritten research notes from paper onto your phone as PDF files with the press of a button or record and sync your art sketches with your phone through the power of the Huion Note.
This smart notebook features 50 A5-sized pages, a battery life of 18 hours, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, 4 ballpoint pen refills, and 2 plastic pen nibs.View Deal
This is a Huion Note's beefier 'E' variant, with a display screen capable of 1920x1200 resolution with 60Hz refresh rates, a bundled stylus pen, a soft-light screen for protecting eyes, a customized launch interface with smart handwriting tools, and more features that will make note-taking a much less tedious chore.View Deal
With a 1920x1080 display that features 99% sRGB Gamut Coverage, a durable anti-glare glass casing, and a responsive tablet pen with tactile feedback that feels like a real pen, the Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) makes for a fine drawing tablet for beginner and veteran digital artists.View Deal
The Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) is the cream of the crop when it comes to drawing tablets by Huion, as it's built for drawing the cleanest, most digital art thanks to its 15.8-inch, 2.5K QHD display and PenTech 4.0 technology.View Deal
This is one of the most budget-friendly drawing tablets you can buy from Huion. It features respectable performance rates, a responsive stylus pen that uses PenTech 3.0 technology, and 8 programmable keys.View Deal
FAQ
Which of these tablets is best for note-taking?
The Huion Note E is the best standalone for taking notes as it doesn't rely on paper or internet connections to get the job done.
Which of these tablets is for digital art?
The Kamva Pro 19 and Pro 24 (Gen 3) are the best overall tablets for drawing digital art thanks to their rich features, responsive stylus pens, and high-quality displays that render images with crisp resolutions.
The Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) and Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) are good mid-range alternatives in case you don't have the budget for the Pro tablets that offer very good resolutions, display sizes, and portable-friendly designs.
How long with Huion's Back-to-School campaign sale last?
Huion's Back-to-School campaign sale will last from August 14, 2026, to September 15, 2026.
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A person uses a stylus to draw a floor plan in a notebook, while a smartphone displaying a similar digital sketch rests on the open pages nearby.
The computer peripheral market has always been more experimental at its edges than in the mainstream. Ergonomic trackballs, in particular, have attracted a devoted following among power users, but the options tend to cluster at two extremes: consumer-facing products with locked-down firmware, and niche open-source hardware that trades polished finish for deep customizability. Finding something that genuinely does both has rarely been straightforward.
Ploopy’s Adept trackball made a compelling c
The computer peripheral market has always been more experimental at its edges than in the mainstream. Ergonomic trackballs, in particular, have attracted a devoted following among power users, but the options tend to cluster at two extremes: consumer-facing products with locked-down firmware, and niche open-source hardware that trades polished finish for deep customizability. Finding something that genuinely does both has rarely been straightforward.
Ploopy’s Adept trackball made a compelling case for the latter category, earning a loyal following with its open-source, 3D-printed design and QMK compatibility. But it always felt like it had more to say. Its circuit board had always reserved space for two more switches that never made it to production, and the base had slots for a wrist rest that never materialized. The A+ is that unfinished story, now finished.
The most visible addition is the button count. The Adept had six; the A+ has eight, two of which also function as knobs. Out of the box, the knobs handle high-resolution vertical and horizontal scrolling, but both are fully reprogrammable for other functions. That dual-purpose approach keeps navigation and control within a single hand without needing a separate scroll wheel or accessory sitting alongside it.
The gesture system is arguably the more interesting addition. Hold a button and flick the ball in any of eight directions, and the device fires a command. By default, the left knob activates cut, copy, paste, desktop switching, and media controls. For someone who lives inside a browser and a text editor all day, that’s a significant amount of functionality without ever lifting a hand off the device.
Layers add another dimension. The A+ has two: a navigation layer for everyday use and a control layer accessed via the right knob. The control layer handles on-device configuration, covering left-hand mode switching, toggling between high-resolution and stepped scrolling, and other adjustments. It’s the first trackball to bring this kind of layered behavior, working entirely without any software running on the host computer. There are also two bright LEDs that can be used to visually tell you what layer you’re on without having to rely on some embedded screen.
The detachable wrist rest is another long-promised feature that finally arrives with the A+. It slots in or out during use and can be screwed on permanently if preferred. The device stays ambidextrous throughout, and its 3D-printed shell means the community can print modified bodies, alter the layout, or swap in custom colors. That kind of adaptability isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of how the whole thing is designed.
The Pixart PMW-3360 sensor carries over from the Adept, running at a 1,000Hz polling rate with the tracking accuracy that has made it a standard for performance-oriented pointing devices. Omron D2LS-21 switches handle the physical buttons. The firmware remains QMK, configurable through VIA, with all design files, firmware, and assembly instructions freely available on GitHub. Kits start at $99 CAD.
I made the switch to a full-time OLED monitor a few months ago, and it's been a welcome upgrade on my desk for gaming and for work.Apparently, I'm far from the only one who decided to make this upgrade.The latest market research from TrendForce shows that the OLED monitor market picked up momentum as it moved through the second quarter of 2026.In fact, TrendForce saw global OLED monitor shipments rise by a healthy 26.1% in Q2 2026 compared to Q2 2025. Year over y
I made the switch to a full-time OLED monitor a few months ago, and it's been a welcome upgrade on my desk for gaming and for work.
Apparently, I'm far from the only one who decided to make this upgrade.
The latest market research fromTrendForce shows that the OLED monitor market picked up momentum as it moved through the second quarter of 2026.
In fact, TrendForce saw global OLED monitor shipments rise by a healthy 26.1% in Q2 2026 compared to Q2 2025. Year over year, shipments are up a whopping 98%. No, I don't think the OLED display market is in any jeopardy.
TrendForce posits that the OLED market's growth in Q2 2026 was largely driven by the launch of new models, especially those that measure 27 inches (the industry's most popular size).
Alienware's AW2726DM is an outstanding OLED gaming monitor for those who want to spend $350. (Image credit: Future)
Another market growth factor TrendForce includes is China's 618 shopping day. It's akin to the Black Friday/Cyber Monday events on this side of the Pacific, when countless people make tech upgrades.
ASUS remains at the top of the OLED industry with a healthy 23.1% market share. It notably launched the 34-inch ultrawide ROG Strix XG34WCDMSrecently, which is currently being tested here in my office.
Samsung remains in second place with 13.1% market share, with MSI and AOC coming in at number three and four with 12.8% and 8.6% market share, respectively.
LG remains in last place out of the big brands with 8.4% market share, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that number drop next quarter as the company deals with fallout from its monitors installing unwanted adware on Windows 11 PCs.
The hidden driver behind the rise in OLED monitor sales
The price of many PC components, including NVIDIA GPUs, is on the rise due to AI-influenced hardware shortages. (Image credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The TrendForce report suggests that improved OLED panel supply chains have helped smaller brands compete with the big names I mentioned above, but I suspect there's another reason driving monitor sales that TrendForce doesn't mention.
The ongoing RAM and storage crisis doesn't seem to have any end in sight. The rosiest of estimates puts a market correction towards the end of 2027, but more realistic estimates are pushing into the 2030s, barring some sort of AI bubble collapse.
The shortage of DRAM and NAND chips is affecting other hardware prices as well, including GPUs. When your next PC upgrade is looking, at best, like a motherboard and CPU swap, many enthusiasts are looking elsewhere for a meaningful (and not overpriced) upgrade path.
Dropping $350 on a new OLED gaming monitor doesn't seem so bad when standard RAM kits cost hundreds more. (Image credit: Future)
The recent drop in OLED prices, highlighted by the $350 Alienware AW2726DM monitor I reviewed, is making it a perfect time to swap monitors. And when other PC upgrades are off the table, OLED really starts to make sense.
Do you agree that sky-high PC component prices are forcing people to look at other upgrade avenues? Do you think OLED sales will level out in the next quarter as the market becomes more saturated? Let me know in the comments section below!
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Windows Central's Ben Wilson wearing a black cap sits at a desk playing Euro Truck Simulator 2, with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS monitor showing a DAF truck interior.
Windows Central's Ben Wilson wearing a black cap sits at a desk playing Euro Truck Simulator 2, with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS monitor showing a DAF truck interior.
I am not a parent myself, but I have been around enough parents that I make some unsolicited observations (to myself, to be fair), especially when it comes to them carrying babies and toddlers. Whenever I see them carrying babies on a sling, I keep thinking, “That doesn’t seem to be that comfortable for both the parent and the kid.” So it’s interesting to see baby brands try to come up with design solutions for this kind of problem, since it’s something that will be around forever.
South Korean
I am not a parent myself, but I have been around enough parents that I make some unsolicited observations (to myself, to be fair), especially when it comes to them carrying babies and toddlers. Whenever I see them carrying babies on a sling, I keep thinking, “That doesn’t seem to be that comfortable for both the parent and the kid.” So it’s interesting to see baby brands try to come up with design solutions for this kind of problem, since it’s something that will be around forever.
South Korean baby brand Konny’s contribution to easing the life of parents is the Dual Support Hip Seat Carrier. It aims to solve two of the prevalent problems that they face when using slings. First, it has a foldable hip pad and back pad to make it more comfortable for the kid. Second, the parent doesn’t just bear the weight on one shoulder because of this carrier’s Dual Support.
This portable baby hip seat carrier’s main purpose is to replicate the security of a parent’s arms so the baby is upright, safe, and comfortable. It has a foldable hip pad combined with a back pad to give this sense of security. It even has a non-slip bottom so the kid will not slide off the seat, which I sometimes see happen with other seat carriers. The seat is made of soft 3D mesh, giving a more comfortable feeling for your baby as you carry them around.
It also takes into consideration the comfort of the parents since they’re carrying the heavy load, so to speak. The carrier has wide shoulder straps that are able to spread the weight evenly across the back to avoid the one-shoulder strain that a lot of parents experience. You also have the option to carry the baby from a hip position or a front-facing hold. The fabric used is the same stretch-and-resilience material that the other Konny Baby Carriers use, a fabric tested and trusted through over one million carriers sold.
The Dual Support Hip Seat Carrier weighs only 0.5 lbs and can be folded into a small enough item to put in a purse or a diaper bag. But when not being used to carry a baby, it can actually function as a chic and stylish bag that you can carry stuff around with. It claims to be a one-size-fits-all accessory as it is accessible for all kinds of body types.
What I find particularly reassuring, especially for those who aren’t baby gear experts, is that the Dual Support Hip Seat Carrier is IHDI certified. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute recognizes baby carriers that actively support healthy hip development in infants, so this isn’t just a comfort win for parents; it’s a safety win for babies, too. That kind of certification adds a layer of trust that goes beyond just good design.
And speaking of good design, the carrier actually won the 2024 Good Design Award, one of the most prestigious design honors in the world. The jury praised it for achieving a “near-perfect balance between infant safety and parental convenience,” and honestly, it’s easy to see why. The fact that it doubles as a bag when you’re not carrying a baby is already a clever touch, but knowing that the structure was the result of dozens of prototypes and extensive real-world customer testing makes it even more impressive.
The Dual Support Hip Seat Carrier is available on konnybaby.com starting at $59.99, and it comes in a range of colors, from classic Charcoal and Black to more playful options like Green Tea and Blue Grey, as well as a Corduroy version for something a little more textured.
As someone who has watched many a parent struggle with a squirming toddler and a lopsided sling, I’d say this is the kind of product that makes you think, “Finally.” It may not replace the full-on baby carrier for long hauls, but for that “carry me now” stage, when your toddler suddenly decides their legs no longer work, this seems like exactly the right tool for the job.
Home fragrance, for the most part, has been a market of compromises. Scented candles are warm and atmospheric but burn through a fragrance’s more delicate top notes in the process, gone with the smoke. Reed diffusers take a gentler approach but dilute the oil with water, delivering something noticeably thinner than what was originally intended. Neither gives much meaningful control over how much scent actually fills a space.
Droplet’s Scent Amplifier takes a fundamentally different approach, on
Home fragrance, for the most part, has been a market of compromises. Scented candles are warm and atmospheric but burn through a fragrance’s more delicate top notes in the process, gone with the smoke. Reed diffusers take a gentler approach but dilute the oil with water, delivering something noticeably thinner than what was originally intended. Neither gives much meaningful control over how much scent actually fills a space.
Droplet’s Scent Amplifier takes a fundamentally different approach, one that borrows more from audio than from aromatherapy. The idea is to treat scent the way a good amplifier treats sound: amplify it faithfully without altering what’s already there. Instead of heat or water, the device uses pressurized air to atomize neat fragrance oil into micro-particles, so what reaches you is the fragrance exactly as it was composed.
That analogy isn’t just conceptual; the physical form carries it well, too. The Scent Amplifier is built around a walnut-toned wooden base, with a hand-blown crystal glass vessel sitting on top that’s shaped much like a vintage light bulb. A single oxidized silver dial handles all the control. When switched on, the base emits a warm, tungsten-like glow that rounds out the valve-amp look completely.
Unlike most home-fragrance gadgets that quietly get shuffled out of sight, this one’s meant to be displayed. Droplet designed it to sit in a living space as a sculptural object rather than pass as a functional appliance. And it holds up to that treatment. It has the quiet confidence of something that belongs in a room rather than something that just happens to be sitting in one.
Using it is simple enough. Fill the glass vessel with oil, turn the dial to the preferred level, and the device handles the rest. It diffuses fragrance for three minutes, rests for two, and repeats, keeping the scent consistent rather than releasing it all at once. Only four to six drops are needed for an average-sized room, and a 10ml bottle lasts roughly a month.
On a full USB-C charge, it runs for up to 15 hours of cordless diffusion, which means it isn’t tied to a wall socket or any fixed spot. That’s a more practical detail than it might seem. You can move it to the bedroom before winding down for the night, or take it out of the study when you’re done working, without losing anything.
The six fragrance oils that pair with it were developed in Grasse, France, essentially the historical heartland of perfumery. The range covers floral, fruity, citrus, earthy, and woody profiles, each tied to a specific place in the world. You can go from fig leaf and cedarwood to orange blossom and tuberose, or something brighter like wild berry and bergamot, without much fuss. All six are vegan and cruelty-free.
The glass vessel is refillable, and switching between scents takes under a minute with no residue left behind. The Scent Amplifier costs £80 on its own, with the full six-oil set running £125. That’s not bad for something that does away with all the usual trade-offs, keeps the fragrance pure, and looks good enough on a sideboard that you’d actually want to leave it out.
The beauty of a handheld gaming PC is its size and that it's also a full PC. The downside is that, unlike a laptop, you need to accessorize in order to achieve productivity status. A Nintendo Switch 2 may well have a 'mouse' now, but you're not going to use it to bang out some emails and spreadsheets on the train. I've had a Steam Deck since the very beginning, and as an open fan of Linux, I'm more than happy using it as a PC as well as a handheld games machine.
The beauty of a handheld gaming PC is its size and that it's also a full PC. The downside is that, unlike a laptop, you need to accessorize in order to achieve productivity status.
A Nintendo Switch 2 may well have a 'mouse' now, but you're not going to use it to bang out some emails and spreadsheets on the train.
I've had a Steam Deck since the very beginning, and as an open fan of Linux, I'm more than happy using it as a PC as well as a handheld games machine. Razer has now released a new product to go with one of its existing products that's particularly useful for the former.
Unlike everything else Razer makes, it doesn't have some wild monicker. It's simply the Razer Travel Case Folio, and it's designed to transport your favorite portable keyboard and prop up your favorite portable device.
Nothing overly fancy, but in the case of handhelds, it's actually pretty nifty.
Compatible with both the Razer Joro and Apple Magic Keyboard, this simple product is perfect for using with a tablet or a handheld gaming PC thanks to its sturdy kickstand.
The keyboard part is designed primarily around the Razer Joro wireless keyboard, which I have, and is the only keyboard I ever travel with in conjunction with my Steam Deck. The box also says it's a seamless fit with Apple's Magic Keyboard, if you're so inclined.
As yes, one of the reasons you'd want to buy this case is if you're an iPad owner (other tablets are also available). It'll support up to a 13-inch tablet to use with your keyboard, as the back of the case opens up in a manner regulars in these parts will be familiar with.
The kickstand may not look that sturdy, but it is. (Image credit: Windows Central)
The Travel Case Folio has a Surface-style kickstand on the back.
I have to say I'm surprised at how sturdy it is. It has zero struggle propping up my hefty Valve handheld, and in the same vein as a Surface kickstand, you can adjust your angle to suit.
The keyboard doesn't lock into place or anything, but it's secure when the case is closed, kept in snug by the magnetic closing flap. I also like that there's a cutout on the case to connect a charger without needing to open it up. One is for the Joro, and one is more centralized for Apple's keyboard.
One small gripe I have though, and it is only small, is that the cutout for Razer's own Joro could have been a little larger or had a secondary one for the power switch. I never remember to turn the keyboard off, and every single time I've pressed something as I've packed it away, and that translates to something happening on the screen.
The Travel Case Folio doesn't add much extra bulk to the Razer Joro keyboard. Windows CentralPerfect if you don't have a kickstand case for your handheld. Windows Central
So I have to get it out again, open up the case, turn off the keyboard, and pack it all back up. And no, after many, many times of doing this, I still haven't remembered.
It's a really nice product though. Spill resistant on the outside, soft and protective on the inside, and it works better than I expected as a kickstand for a handheld. Even with my Steam Deck in a case, it will still stand up just fine. Perfect for those of us who don't have a Legion Go.
At $55.99 from the Razer Store, it's not that expensive, either. Obviously, if you don't have one of the two keyboards it's built for, then it's probably not worth it, but given that the Razer Joro is a $140 portable keyboard, it's worth the investment. I think I'm more surprised it took this long.
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The Razer Travel Case Folio with Razer Joro Keyboard and a Steam Deck
A perfect companion to turn a handheld PC into a mobile workstation.
Razer, one of my favorite manufacturers that has produced some of the best PC gaming accessories I've ever used, has released a new mouse built to conquer any game you throw at it — the Razer Naga V3 Pro.This gadget is the long-awaited evolution of the Razer Naga V2 Pro, which takes everything we loved about its predecessor (which we gave a near-perfect review score) and refines it to create the ultimate PC gamer mouse.Here's what you need to know about the Razer
Razer, one of my favorite manufacturers that has produced some of the best PC gaming accessories I've ever used, has released a new mouse built to conquer any game you throw at it — the Razer Naga V3 Pro.
This gadget is the long-awaited evolution of the Razer Naga V2 Pro, which takes everything we loved about its predecessor (which we gave a near-perfect review score) and refines it to create the ultimate PC gamer mouse.
Here's what you need to know about the Razer Naga V3 Pro and where you can buy it.
The side plates of the Razer Naga V3 Pro gamer mouseWindows Central | Jez CordenSide view of the Razer Naga V3 Pro MouseWindows Central | Jez CordenTop view of the Razer Naga V3 Pro MouseWindows Central | Jez Corden
The Razer Naga V3 Pro mouse is equipped with cutting-edge tech to improve input detection speeds and swappable button plate configurations so that it can handle a wide variety of game genres.
Its biggest selling points include:
23 programmable buttons and three interchangeable side button plates (a 12-button MMORPG plate, a 6-button MOBA plate, and a 2-button FPS plate).
A Razer HyperScroll Tilt Wheel Gen-2 with new dual tactile, free-spin, and smart-reel modes to adjust its scrolling speeds to a user's preference.
A Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-4 to give its buttons an upgraded lifecycle up to 100-million clicks, cleaner and faster input detection, tactile feedback, and a zero-bounce optical design to prevent accidental misclicks.
A Razr Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen-3 with precise mouse-movement detection and adjustable sensitivity that can go as high as 50,000 DPI.
Polling rates from 1000Hz to 8000Hz to help improve the mouse's input accuracy and detection speed.
A lightweight build of 117g (with the 12-button MMORPG plate attached) so it's not so heavy to move for the wrist while allowing it to be moved more quickly when making sharp turns in first-person action games.
A battery life of 155 hours on HyperSpeed connectivity (2.4GHz).
This mouse is Razer's next amazing premium outing for MMORPGs, MOBAs, FPS titles, and more
The Razer Naga V3 Pro gamer mouse on a base charger (Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)
Our resident PC gaming accessory expert, Jez Corden, reviewed the Razer Naga V3 Pro and found it to be one of the best PC mice he's used so far this year. Jez praised it for possessing dozens of programmable buttons, the best-in-class software solution, and a premium feel that emphasizes tactility.
So, if you generally play input-heavy PC games and you want to get your hands on the Razer Naga V3 Pro, it will cost $179.99/£179.99/€199.99 at select digital retailers including Best Buy, directly from Razer.com, and at physical RazerStores.
Dominate any PC game imaginable with the Razer Naga V3 Pro Wireless mouse, complete with three swappable button plates, a Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen‑3 with 50,000 max DPI, 23 programmable inputs, and many more rich features.View Deal
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A hand holding a Razer Naga V3 Pro mouse on a mouse mat next to a Razer keyboard
Take your PC gaming skills to the next level with the Razer Naga V3 Pro mouse.
I've been using Razer mice for decades, and have tested dozens upon dozens of iterations of the firm's products. I'm also a dedicated MMORPG and MOBA player on PC, flipping between games like World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm as seasons wax and wane.For the Warcraft-faithful, I play a Demonology Warlock, which has been simplified over the years, but in previous expansions I had anywhere up to 30+ keybinds for playing the class effectively in PvE and PvP.
I've been using Razer mice for decades, and have tested dozens upon dozens of iterations of the firm's products. I'm also a dedicated MMORPG and MOBA player on PC, flipping between games like World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm as seasons wax and wane.
For the Warcraft-faithful, I play a Demonology Warlock, which has been simplified over the years, but in previous expansions I had anywhere up to 30+ keybinds for playing the class effectively in PvE and PvP. It was a bit like learning a musical instrument back in the day, particularly when you throw in battle potions, trinkets and other additional buttons.
As such, I've tended towards Razer mice with extra inputs to make my gaming life easier. I had no idea how much easier it was going to get until I went palm-on with the new Razer Naga V3 Pro — which is quite easily one of the best mice of 2026.
Razer Naga V3 Pro: Specs and price
MMO player's best friend. (Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)
The Razer Naga V3 Pro builds on its predecessor in a variety of ways, but chief among those is the inclusion of a further three configurable inputs, bringing the maximum total to 23 (and many, many more if you use HyperShift and other modifier keys).
1000 Hz native; upgradeable to true 8000 Hz (Mouse Dock Pro / HyperPolling Dongle); HyperSpeed Wireless (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth LE, USB-C wired
Battery & Lighting
Up to 155 hours (HyperSpeed); 3-zone RGB (logo, wheel, 12-button plate); 5 onboard profiles
Materials & Accessories
100% PTFE feet; USB-A to USB-C cable; HyperSpeed dongle; compatible with Mouse Dock Pro & HyperFlux V2
Dimensions & Weight
119.5 × 75.5 × 43.5 mm; 117 g base weight; Side plates: 12-button (20 g), 6-button (17 g), 2-button (15 g)
Price & Availability
$179.99 USD / £179.99 GBP / €199.99 EUR — Available worldwide Aug 11, 2026
Razer also doubled down on durability with reinforced molding processes for the switches, which the firm says will now last up to and potentially beyond 100 million actuations.
The obvious headline feature is the magnetic button plates that can be customized at will, adding between two, six, and twelve additional buttons. Razer has also included a uniquely configurable scroll wheel that comes with haptic feedback capabilities.
The mouse goes into general availability on August 11, 2026, and will set you back $179.99 from Best Buy in the United States.
Razer Naga V3 Pro: Features
Three's a crowd they say. Not here. (Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)
The Razer Naga range has long been designed with MMO and MOBA gameplay in mind, adding a huge amount of additional inputs via a unique magnetic side plate feature.
Razer has enhanced the force of the magnets to ensure it feels well and truly part of the mouse when connected, and I can say without doubt that it well and truly does. The buttons can be programmed at will using Synapse, and modified further with a ring-finger button that defaults to Razer's dedicated "Hyper Shift" modifier key. Of course, all of these can be reconfigured too.
What struck me immediately when going palm-on was the new scroll wheel. Razer has included some unique functionality here that I've not experienced previously in other mice. You can set it to free-wheeling mode, which allows it to quite literally spin indefinitely under its own weight. There's also a standard step-stop function that most users will be familiar with, but also a precision-stop feature that adds some haptic feedback and shortens the actuation for rapid hot bar or weapon switching with more forceful control.
There is a parade of other buttons and functions too. The DPI rates have been placed in the top right corner of the mouse out of the way, requiring a little more intent to reach to prevent accidents, I suppose. There are two buttons below the scroll wheel, and the scroll wheel itself can be tilted and clicked for additional inputs too.
It sports 155 hours of battery life out of the box, and supports Razer's new Mouse Dock as well as its wireless Hyper Flux charging mouse mat. Either plugged in or connected to a compatible Hyper Speed dongle, this bad boy can go all the way up to 8,000 Hz. You will not be left wanting for speed.
Razer Naga V3 Pro: Comfort and usage
All the buttons. Windows Central | Jez CordenLight weight, maximum function. Windows Central | Jez CordenIt feels good in the hand, although some users may find it a little too high. Windows Central | Jez CordenRazer magnetic charge dock capable, but not included. Windows Central | Jez Corden
How does it feel to actually use, though? I dropped into a couple of World of Warcraft raids and played a few games of Heroes of the Storm to get a feel for it, but it was in games like Age of Empires where it truly felt transformative.
As noted, you can add up to 12 extra buttons with the side plate feature. It does take some getting used to, and I think Razer could've perhaps done a bit more to help differentiate the keys, particularly on the 12-button plate. The six button plate felt like the sweet spot for me, given that the profile of the buttons made them easier to memorize, but also I didn't find it as hard to squeeze my thumb backwards to hit the keys closest to my palm.
Indeed, you might struggle with this mouse if you don't have the most flexible hands. I found its palm hump to be a bit tall for my tastes (small ass hands maybe, or perhaps poor desk ergonomics on my end), but overall it was incredibly comfortable. I suspect most people won't have any issues with it. I also suspect that it was designed quite intentionally to be "palm grippy" to facilitate the fact users will be reaching for buttons on the side more often than on other mice.
Six buttons felt like the sweet spot for me. (Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)
There are probably neuroscientific reasons for this, but it does feel genuinely more intuitive to actuate inputs on the same hand as your movement intentions. Perhaps it stems from my console-oriented history in some ways, but I found it a lot easier to drop Guldan's ult with a mouse swipe and mouse click, as opposed to lining up my mouse with a keyboard press.
For Age of Empires, it was particularly fun binding various quick keys directly to the mouse. Assigning regiments, bypassing certain menus, and being able to select specific units instantly from anywhere won't make up for my lack of skill with RTS, but it did boost the fun factor.
Razer Synapse is a fantastic piece of software that ties everything together. It's still better than solutions from other companies by a country mile. Configure RGB lighting, set up profiles for specific games, configure literally all the things — quick and easy.
Sync all the Razer things. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Some of the less useful features include Razer's macro functionality, which will sadly get you banned in a lot of online games for "automation."
The Naga V3 Pro also comes with an AI assistant key by default, which lets you bind certain Copilot prompts to mouse inputs for some reason. You can turn it off, but it's 2026 so everything has to have some kind of "AI" feature in it apparently, even if it's effectively useless. Perhaps this might become more useful if Microsoft ever ships agents to consumers, but as for right now it feels like boardroom fluff. Thankfully, that's the only "feature" here I could describe as such. Practically everything else is genuinely useful and represents a demonstrable upgrade.
There is a lot of functionality in the Razer Naga V3 Pro, and you won't need all of it all of the time. It is designed primarily for people who want maximum control over their games, and indeed, it is priced as such.
Razer Naga V3 Pro: Conclusion
It ain't cheap! (Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)
The Razer Naga V3 Pro is a tour de force of functionality, with unmatched versatility for practically every genre of game you can throw at it. FPS, RTS, MOBA, MMORPG, and beyond — even the most control-complex games fall before the Naga and its capacity to inject intuitiveness into the least intuitive games and control schemes possible.
But yes, it will require configuring to get there. That's ultimately who it's designed for, though; people who play more complex games to a hardcore level, and want their peripherals to reflect their desire to configure and control their experience.
You should buy this if ...
✅ You play complex input-heavy games like MMORPGs and RTS.
✅ You like to configure your controls to the nth degree.
✅ You prefer your inputs on your mouse, rather than your keyboard.
You should not buy this if ...
❌ You find configuring keybinds exhaustive and annoying.
❌ You have particularly small hands (you might find its height uncomfy).
❌ Price might be a concern.
This will become my default mouse moving forward. Being able to effectively keybind number keys 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, etc. without needing to physically reach away from WASD is a big boost in some games I play.
However, I am cognizant of the fact that I got the review unit here. Almost $200 for a mouse is tough to justify unless you're particularly passionate about the functionality the Razer Naga V3 Pro is going to provide for you. For configuration enthusiasts, there's well and truly nothing better than the Razer Naga V3 Pro right now.
Razer
Naga V3 Pro
"Stay one step ahead—no matter how the game changes."
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Razer Naga V3 Pro mouse
Customize the thumb buttons with a variety of options for maximum MMO-bility. Yes, I just made up a word; it's Monday, and I can.
The ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS gaming monitor is planned for release in September 2026. ASUS provided a sample, but the company had no input on the article nor saw its contents before publishing.OLED gaming monitors have been around for a while, but concerns about text clarity and burn-in left me less excited to buy something like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS. Given the chance to test an upcoming model from its range shown at Computex earlier this year, I coul
The ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS gaming monitor is planned for release in September 2026. ASUS provided a sample, but the company had no input on the article nor saw its contents before publishing.
OLED gaming monitors have been around for a while, but concerns about text clarity and burn-in left me less excited to buy something like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS. Given the chance to test an upcoming model from its range shown at Computex earlier this year, I couldn't resist, and my review could be the moment that helps me overcome my apprehension. Here's what I learned.
How much does the 32-inch Strix OLED cost?
4K looks fantastic in Windows 11, and UHD is perhaps better suited to gaming if you don't want to stress your PC. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
The ROG Strix XG32UQWMS is targeting a September launch for $899, with specific US retailers to be confirmed. In the United Kingdom, that converts to £819, with planned third-party resellers including Amazon UK, Currys, and Very. In the meantime, you can sign up for availability notifications on the monitor's official ASUS listing for your region.
ROG Strix XG32UQWMS sample specifications
Component
Spec
Display type
WOLED
Resolution
UHD (3840 x 2160) FHD (1920 x 1080)
Refresh rate
240 Hz (UHD) 480 Hz (FHD)
Brightness
330 cd/m² (typical) Up to 1,500 cd/m² (peak)
Viewing angle
178°/ 178° (vertical/horizontal)
Response
0.03 ms (Gray-to-Gray)
Dimensions
28.27" x 22.13" x 7.40" (71.8 x 56.2 x 18.8 cm)
Weight
10.64 – 14.46 lbs (4.83 – 6.56 kg)
Originally announced at Computex 2026, ASUS targets a September launch in the United States at $899, with sign-ups offered for availability notifications.View Deal
Is the 32-inch Strix OLED easy to set up?
The chunky middle section makes it much easier to move this monitor around.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralThis push-button release system is inspired and makes the stand easy to attach.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralThe height-adjustable table stand is heavy, but it's definitely sturdy.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralIf you prefer a VESA mount, you'll have to provide your own screws.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralThe footplate fixes tight with a simple thumbscrew and feels secure.Ben Wilson | Windows Central
I'm a big fan of toolless setups wherever they appear, and ASUS ROG wins points for delivering a straightforward process here. Everything hinged on a push-button release mechanism that either gripped the stand or the VESA mount; I used the former and attached the footplate with a simple thumbscrew.
I'm a big fan of toolless setups wherever they appear, and ASUS ROG wins points for delivering a straightforward process here.
The display alone weighs 9.92 lbs (4.5 kg), and adding the VESA mount brings the total to 10.64 lbs (4.83 kg) in a mounted setup. Otherwise, the foot plate and strut together weigh 4.54 lbs (2.06 kg), controlling height with a sturdy but not overly stiff response. On my desk, the monitor is 14.46 lbs (6.56 kg) overall.
Ports aplenty, but you only get a DisplayPort cable and AC power in the box.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralThe proximity sensor helps the monitor automatically dim when I move away, preventing burn-in.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralASUS throws in a cute pouch for spare parts I won't use.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralA big, satisfying peel of a protective plastic film under the advertisements is all that remains.Ben Wilson | Windows Central
Attaching the stand gave me a clear view of the ports and navigation via the multi-function button (MFB) located behind the bottom-mounted ASUS ROG logo and its accompanying "Neo" proximity sensor. It's a pretty standard affair that matches rival brands, and its controls should feel familiar to most people.
While there are two HDMI 2.1 ports, a pair of USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 with a hub port, and a headphone jack, there's only a single DisplayPort cable in the box for its matching DP 1.4 port, along with the AC cord. Bundling a free USB-B cable shouldn't be too expensive, and I'm disappointed to see it missing here.
Does the 32-inch Strix OLED look good?
Now that I've played on an OLED monitor, it'll be hard to go back to my IPS screen. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
Moving from a 27-inch IPS Alienware monitor to an OLED panel made its benefits immediately obvious, with an experience similar to the one I get from my LG C2 TV in the living room. High contrast, deep blacks, and crisp visuals come with its 4K resolution and that smooth 240Hz refresh rate. Windows 11 adjusted my settings accordingly, and the monitor looks great out of the box.
The UHD @ 240Hz mode looks fantastic, and I'm left wondering who would ever want to switch to 1080p for the sake of 480Hz on a 32-inch display.
In motion, the UHD @ 240Hz mode looks fantastic, and I'm left wondering who would ever want to switch to 1080p for the sake of 480Hz on a 32-inch display. I know it has its place in ultra-competitive shooters like Counter-Strike 2 and its many rivals, but 240Hz still feels like plenty to me. If you're the target audience, I think you'll be happy, because FHD gameplay still looks quite good.
There are plenty of visual tweaks to make in the OSD, primarily balancing brightness, if you need them.Ben Wilson | Windows CentralText looks fine, aided mostly by the sheer clarity offered by 4K in the first place.Ben Wilson | Windows Central
Up close, the clarity of on-screen text looks fine; nothing particularly groundbreaking, but nothing looks noticeably fringed when I sit at a comfortable distance in UHD mode. Adjusting ClearType in Windows 11 might give results that better suit you, but I didn't feel like anything looked out of place during my usual daily work and gaming.
The OSD is at least easy to navigate, and I could install the DisplayWidget Center if I really wanted to use a mouse to tweak several settings at once. Otherwise, the "TrueBlack Glossy" panel looks significantly darker at a glance than the other screens in my office, which certainly helps with the deep blacks OLED is famous for, and I found the visible room reflections were tolerable.
Testing the display
Out of the box, the XG32UQWMS defaults to "Racing mode", hitting 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut as advertised, and sRGB accuracy earns a perfect score, while Adobe RGB maxes out at 93%. Without changing settings, a 100% brightness level reached around 306 to 311 nits, so getting it to 330 nits will require a bit of tweaking. On the whole, I'm satisfied with its stock settings.
Should you buy the 32-inch Strix OLED?
At this price, it's certainly considered an investment, but burn-in prevention tools make it much easier to recommend. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
You should buy this if ...
✅ You want an OLED monitor built for preventing burn-in
✅ You're a competitive gamer who thrives on high refresh rates
You should not buy this if ...
❌ You want an out-of-the-box USB hub monitor
A built-in presence sensor probably sets off alarm bells for some gamers, but the proximity detection is literally there to help protect this OLED panel by switching off when you walk away. That, along with adjustments to uniform brightness and pixel-cleaning settings, helps prevent burn-in, which was my biggest concern with monitors like these. ASUS definitely could have thrown in a free upstream USB cable for its hub, but the display itself is solid, so it still wins praise.
ASUS ROG
Strix OLED XG32UQWMS
Due for release in September 2026, this OLED gaming monitor should be at the top of your considerations if you're shopping around.
Windows Central's Ben Wilson wearing a black cap sits at a desk playing Euro Truck Simulator 2, with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS monitor showing a DAF truck interior.
The Steam Machine has swappable faceplates, which is a genuinely good idea that Valve doesn’t appear to have fully exploited. The concept is essentially that the front panel of the console is a blank cosmetic slate, open to third parties and hobbyists to design around. So far, most of what’s been proposed has leaned on that word: cosmetic. Different textures, different graphics, different visual personalities for what is otherwise a matte black gaming cube.
This faceplate mod takes a different
The Steam Machine has swappable faceplates, which is a genuinely good idea that Valve doesn’t appear to have fully exploited. The concept is essentially that the front panel of the console is a blank cosmetic slate, open to third parties and hobbyists to design around. So far, most of what’s been proposed has leaned on that word: cosmetic. Different textures, different graphics, different visual personalities for what is otherwise a matte black gaming cube.
This faceplate mod takes a different approach by asking what the panel could actually do. The result is a replacement front cover that integrates a charging cradle for the Steam Controller directly into the face of the console, turning what would normally be dead real estate into a functional docking station. Set the controller down, it charges. Pick it up, it’s ready. No separate charging puck dangling off to the side.
The charging mechanism uses the Steam Controller’s own wireless puck seated inside the faceplate cradle, with a USB cable routed discreetly around the inside edge of the panel and into one of the Steam Machine’s existing USB ports. It’s a routing solution rather than a rewiring one, which keeps the electrical side simple and reversible. The puck sits in the cradle, the controller sits on the puck, and the whole arrangement slots onto the front of the machine like any other faceplate.
What makes it more than a wall mount with ambition is the kickstand built into the rear of the panel. It folds out from the back of the faceplate, propping the cradle up at an angle, turning the entire assembly into a standalone desk dock that works independently from the Steam Machine. Take the faceplate off the console and prop it up on a table, and it functions as a charging stand on its own terms.
The inspiration came partly from Valve’s own demonstration of an e-ink faceplate, which showed that the panel slot was capable of doing more than holding a decorative cover in place. That demonstration didn’t ship as a product, but it established the idea that the faceplate system had functional potential beyond aesthetics. This mod picks up that thread and takes it somewhere more immediately useful for anyone who has both pieces of Valve’s current hardware sitting on the same desk.
Design files haven’t been released yet, and there are no confirmed plans to sell finished units. The prototype is out, it works, and it raises a question worth asking about Valve’s approach to the faceplate ecosystem: if a single modder can turn the front panel into a functioning charging dock over a weekend, what would a dedicated accessory program actually look like at scale?
Anyone who has seen K-Pop Demon Hunters or an episode of a Korean historical drama is familiar with what a gat is. Even if you don’t know what it’s actually called, it’s pretty recognizable: the black hat with its cylindrical crown and wide, dramatic brim that sometimes hides the eyes or even the entire face. It was traditionally worn by men of high social standing during the Joseon era, serving as a marker of Confucian values, refinement, and status. It’s rarely worn now unless someone is shoo
Anyone who has seen K-Pop Demon Hunters or an episode of a Korean historical drama is familiar with what a gat is. Even if you don’t know what it’s actually called, it’s pretty recognizable: the black hat with its cylindrical crown and wide, dramatic brim that sometimes hides the eyes or even the entire face. It was traditionally worn by men of high social standing during the Joseon era, serving as a marker of Confucian values, refinement, and status. It’s rarely worn now unless someone is shooting a drama or attending some sort of costume party, though the gat did have a major pop culture moment thanks to Netflix’s Kingdom, where it became instantly iconic worldwide.
The National Museum of Korea called for designers to reimagine the gat for a modern setting. Design studio TOSO created the winning entry, the Gat Umbrella, which is exactly what it sounds like. This is part of the MU (the official merchandise brand of the National Museum Foundation of Korea) competition that invites designers to reinterpret historical objects into something that can actually be used in modern times. It’s a brilliant initiative that bridges Korea’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary everyday life.
The Gat Umbrella looks like a regular umbrella when folded, but when opened, it looks like you’re standing under a huge gat, with the added bonus of an actual canopy to keep you dry. It’s around 33 inches long and has a width of 1,050 millimeters when opened. The canopy is made from PVC with a fiberglass-reinforced frame, its tip from polypropylene, and the handle from EVA material. The deep black canopy is a direct callback to the traditional color of the gat, and the proportions of the brim have been carefully scaled to capture that wide, commanding silhouette. When held up against a grey sky, you can almost picture the Joseon-era scholar it was inspired by.
Aside from being a status symbol, the original gat was also used to protect its wearer from the sun, rain, and wind, which makes this reimagining feel even more intentional. Anyone who has watched enough K-dramas knows those dramatic scenes where characters brave storms with a gat firmly in place, rain streaming off its wide brim. So this transformation of the headwear is still a clever nod to its origins. It’s just more modern looking and has the added protection of a proper canopy, since the elements now tend to be a lot more mercurial.
What makes the Gat Umbrella especially appealing is how it straddles the line between functional product and cultural artifact. It’s not just a novelty item you display on a shelf. It’s something you actually take out on a rainy Tuesday and suddenly feel like the most stylish person on the street. There’s something deeply satisfying about a design that takes centuries of history and makes it wearable (or in this case, holdable) in the most practical way possible. And given the global reach of Korean culture right now, something tells us this won’t stay a niche item for long.
It also arrives at a moment when the global appetite for Korean culture is at an all-time high. From K-dramas to K-pop to Korean food, the world is paying attention, and the Gat Umbrella is exactly the kind of conversation starter that lets people engage with that culture in a tangible, everyday way. It’s not just merchandise; it’s a story you carry with you. The kind of thing that makes strangers stop you in the street and ask where you got it.
Whether you’re a K-culture enthusiast, a design collector, or simply someone who appreciates carrying a piece of history through a rainstorm, this is the kind of purchase that feels both indulgent and meaningful. It’s proof that heritage doesn’t have to stay locked behind glass. Sometimes, the best way to honor the past is to take it out into the rain.
Screen time management has spawned an entire industry of apps, built-in focus modes, notification filters, and weekly usage reports that most people glance at and promptly ignore. The fundamental problem with all of them is that they live on the same device you’re trying to avoid, which keeps willpower in charge of the whole arrangement. And willpower, predictably, tends to lose that particular argument somewhere around the third notification.
The Sonic Digitox The Routine sidesteps that proble
Screen time management has spawned an entire industry of apps, built-in focus modes, notification filters, and weekly usage reports that most people glance at and promptly ignore. The fundamental problem with all of them is that they live on the same device you’re trying to avoid, which keeps willpower in charge of the whole arrangement. And willpower, predictably, tends to lose that particular argument somewhere around the third notification.
The Sonic Digitox The Routine sidesteps that problem entirely by making your phone physically unreachable for as long as you decide. It’s a timed lock case with no app to disable, no passcode to talk yourself into entering, and no settings menu to rationalize your way through. You put the phone in, set the lock, and that’s the end of your access until the timer says otherwise.
Two lock modes handle different approaches to the problem. Routine Lock works on a schedule, letting you define repeating daily windows during which the case locks automatically and signals each transition with light and sound. If 11 PM to 7 AM is meant to be phone-free, the case enforces that without asking for your cooperation every night, which is precisely the point.
Timer Lock handles the more immediate situation where you need to focus right now, without a preset schedule. You set a countdown of up to 99 hours and 59 minutes, and the phone stays sealed until it runs out. For a study session, a focused work morning, or a dinner where nobody at the table needs to be somewhere else digitally, it removes the option before the habit has a chance to argue back.
Neither mode traps you completely. An emergency reset function exists for genuine urgency, but it isn’t quiet about it. Triggering it sounds a one-minute alarm and leaves a RESET mark displayed on the case for 24 hours afterward. The friction is deliberate, designed to make the difference between an actual emergency and a momentary craving feel tangible rather than theoretical.
Two additional modes round out the four-mode system for lighter use. Time Display shows the time without any lock, while a Timer mode runs a count-up or countdown without physically securing the phone. The case also includes a goal sticker and a smartphone contract form, a pairing that makes it a practical tool for parent-child agreements around device time, where putting terms in writing and then sealing the phone inside creates a layer of accountability that app-based controls don’t quite replicate.
The body is ABS plastic with a polycarbonate lid, running on three AAA batteries, and the whole thing measures approximately 190mm x 70mm x 170 mm. It comes in white, blue, and pink, and was recognized with a category award at the 2026 Japanese Stationery Awards, which is about as specific an endorsement as a phone lock case can hope for.
There’s a refreshing bluntness to what the Digitox offers. Most products in the digital wellness space treat phone overuse as a behavioral settings problem, one more toggle away from being solved. This one treats it as a custody problem, and the solution is handing custody over to a box that doesn’t negotiate. At roughly $33, it costs less than a single month of most productivity apps and requires no subscription to keep working.
Last night I surprised myself by working an extra hour at my desk. I occasionally work late, but what surprised me is that it happened by accident. I believe the blame falls on GUNNAR and a pair of glasses the company sent me to try out.Like many people, I sit at a desk for the majority of my workday and stare at a screen for hours on end. I often get headaches or eye strain after working for too long without a break. I've spent years building up an ergonomic wor
Last night I surprised myself by working an extra hour at my desk. I occasionally work late, but what surprised me is that it happened by accident. I believe the blame falls on GUNNAR and a pair of glasses the company sent me to try out.
Like many people, I sit at a desk for the majority of my workday and stare at a screen for hours on end. I often get headaches or eye strain after working for too long without a break. I've spent years building up an ergonomic workstation to help my back, knees, and wrists, but I've neglected my eyes.
GUNNAR glasses are designed to block blue light. I've been aware of the company for years, in part due to their various gaming partnerships, but I had never used a pair myself. Gunnar and I got in touch to let me try a pair.
The Novato pair of glasses I was sent has the amber tint that's available in many frames from GUNNAR. This particular pair has a slight magnification as well, though it's available with a neutral focus.
When I slipped on the glasses, I felt my face relax almost instantly. I then continued to work throughout the afternoon.
Later in the evening, I noticed that I had worked an hour later than usual.
I got to the end of my normal day and just kept working because I didn't realize how late it was. I usually need breaks every once in a while to rest my eyes, but since my eyes didn't hurt I lost track of time.
These glasses filter out blue light to reduce eye strain caused by staring at a screen. They're made with a lightweight titanium frame and have anti-reflective coating.View Deal
GUNNAR glasses vs. f.lux and Windows 11's Night Light
I've used apps like f.lux and Windows 11 features such as Night Light to filter out blue light from my PC screen. I still recommend those apps to anyone who wants to reduce eye strain or who works late at night.
I was, however, surprised how much the GUNNAR glasses felt different than using software to reduce blue light.
I'm not an eye doctor or any type of medical professional, so please take my experience as simply a hands-on with the GUNNAR glasses. When I put them on, it felt like the entirety of my eyes could relax rather than just having a specific screen filtered.
While apps like f.lux are great, they don't do anything to filter out blue light from overhead lighting or any other light sources in your room. Slipping on a pair of GUNNAR glasses came much closer to filtering blue light out of the entire room.
This particular model of GUNNAR glasses rests quite close to my face, though they have models that wrap around even more.
I'm sure that part of the improved experience is mental. My mind feels like it can relax my eyes, so my face follows. With the glasses on, I caught myself squinting or flexing my face less.
I'm not sure if accidentally working an extra hour is a good thing or a bad thing, but if I can harness the experience for my normal working hours, I'll be very excited. I plan to use these GUNNAR glasses and some other frames over the coming weeks and will follow up with how things go.
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Close-up of Gunnar Novato Onyx computer glasses featuring amber lenses and a matte black geometric metal frame resting on a wooden desk in front of a monitor and keyboard.
Slipping on the GUNNAR Novato Onyx glasses instantly reduced my eye strain.
Camera batteries are one of those accessories that photographers never think about until something goes wrong. They’re small enough to vanish into the bottom of a bag or a jacket pocket, common enough to own several of and regularly mix up, and important enough that losing one mid-trip can force an early stop to a shoot. The solution most people reach for is buying more of them, which only increases the number of things to keep track of.
The FALCAM TagBatt addresses the problem from inside the
Camera batteries are one of those accessories that photographers never think about until something goes wrong. They’re small enough to vanish into the bottom of a bag or a jacket pocket, common enough to own several of and regularly mix up, and important enough that losing one mid-trip can force an early stop to a shoot. The solution most people reach for is buying more of them, which only increases the number of things to keep track of.
The FALCAM TagBatt addresses the problem from inside the battery itself. Compatible with Sony’s NP-FZ100 form factor, it integrates Apple’s Find My tracking technology directly into the cell, so the battery carries its own location data wherever it goes. If it ends up left behind at a studio, a venue, or the seat pocket of a flight, the Find My app will flag it and show its last known position.
Because the tracker lives inside the battery rather than clipped to a camera strap or screwed into a cage mount, it’s considerably harder to spot. An opportunistic thief who grabs a camera bag and removes any obvious Bluetooth puck from the outside can’t strip out what’s already built into the power source. It’s the kind of discreet integration that external trackers can’t quite replicate, no matter how small they get.
The tracking isn’t the only thing the TagBatt changes about how a camera battery behaves. A built-in USB-C port lets it charge directly from any standard USB-C source, including a power bank or a travel adapter, without needing the dedicated Sony battery charger that typically takes up its own space in a kit bag. Pop it out of the camera, plug it in overnight, and it’s ready in the morning without routing around a charger at all.
Capacity comes in at 2,600mAh against the OEM Sony NP-FZ100’s 2,280mAh, which translates to a modest but real advantage per charge. An advanced decoding chip handles the communication with the camera’s internal systems so the body treats it as it would any genuine battery, with accurate charge-level reporting and none of the “non-genuine battery” warning messages that typically accompany third-party cells.
Compatibility covers a wide sweep of Sony’s current lineup, including the Alpha 7 series through the Alpha 7 V, the Alpha 9 series, the Alpha 6700, the FX3 and FX30, and the ZV-E1, among others. A Canon LP-E6 version is also available now, with Nikon EN-EL15 and Fujifilm NP-W235 versions confirmed to be in development.
At $69.99, the TagBatt costs more than a standard third-party replacement but considerably less than the Sony original, and it comes with two capabilities that the original simply doesn’t offer. For photographers who travel frequently, work in locations where gear occasionally goes astray, or are just tired of carrying a charger they’d rather leave at home, the trade-off makes a fairly straightforward case.
The multi-tool has been around long enough that most people have developed a frustrated relationship with it. You carry one because having a blade, a screwdriver, and a bottle opener in one place sounds practical, and then you grumble when you actually need something. Getting to the right tool means prying at a tightly packed frame with both hands, and that dynamic hasn’t changed much in decades.
GEO, designed by Invento Design, takes issue with that familiar frustration. Rather than folding to
The multi-tool has been around long enough that most people have developed a frustrated relationship with it. You carry one because having a blade, a screwdriver, and a bottle opener in one place sounds practical, and then you grumble when you actually need something. Getting to the right tool means prying at a tightly packed frame with both hands, and that dynamic hasn’t changed much in decades.
GEO, designed by Invento Design, takes issue with that familiar frustration. Rather than folding tools out from a layered frame, it uses a patent-pending rotating disc mechanism that cycles through five tools, exposing each one through a single opening. It’s a deceptively simple reframing of an old idea, and one that makes you wonder why nobody had taken this approach before.
Designer: Francisco Molina (Founder of Invento Design)
The way it works is fairly intuitive. Outer index levers let you rotate the internal mechanism until the tool you want lines up with the access window. A sliding lock then holds the selected tool in position before you start. The whole operation happens in one hand, without setting anything down first or needing a second hand to hold the frame steady.
The five tools cover a surprisingly practical range of everyday needs. You’d reach for the blade and scraper when a label refuses to peel cleanly, the box opener when a taped-up package isn’t cooperating, the bottle opener at the end of a long day, the flathead driver for a loose screw or a stubborn paint can lid, and the string cutter when scissors aren’t anywhere nearby.
Carrying something with a blade in your pocket raises the obvious question of what happens when it isn’t in use. GEO handles this with a dedicated safety mode, a neutral rotational position where no edges are exposed. The sliding lock serves a separate purpose, preventing the mechanism from turning mid-task. Together, they make it safe enough to pocket, clip to a belt, or drop into a bag.
The form factor makes carrying it a fairly easy decision. At 53.5mm in diameter and only 8.7mm deep, GEO lands somewhere between a large coin and a watch face. The integrated belt clip adds some depth but keeps the total thickness under 15mm. It fits in a jeans pocket, clips to a gear bag, or disappears into a drawer without demanding much space.
There’s something worth noting about how it actually feels to use, too. The rotation isn’t purely functional but also incredibly satisfying. Each position clicks into place with enough tactile feedback that you know exactly where you’ve landed, and the smooth lever action makes it oddly enjoyable to cycle through even when nothing needs doing. It tends to stay in your hand a bit longer than the task requires.
The construction does a good job of reinforcing the premise. GEO’s tool body is milled from 440C stainless steel hardened to 57–59 HRC, placing it in the same material territory as quality kitchen blades. Cover panels come CNC-machined from either 6061-T6 aluminum or Grade 5 titanium, with internal hardware in 304 stainless steel throughout, a quietly serious specification for something this compact.
GEO isn’t meant to replace the full-size tools sitting in workshop drawers or on a fully loaded belt. It’s better understood as something for the other moments: the stubborn tape, the loose screw, the cord that needs a clean cut. Its compact, circular form makes it easy enough to keep close that reaching for it becomes the natural first move rather than an afterthought.
Magnetic keyboards used to feel like a side quest in the keyboard world. You either bought one from a tiny boutique brand and hoped the firmware wasn’t held together with duct tape, or you ignored the whole category because it felt too experimental.Now Razer has stepped in with its first Hall Effect Magnetic Huntsman keyboards, and that changes everything. When a company with global retail presence decides magnetic switches matter, it suddenly becomes a lot easie
Magnetic keyboards used to feel like a side quest in the keyboard world. You either bought one from a tiny boutique brand and hoped the firmware wasn’t held together with duct tape, or you ignored the whole category because it felt too experimental.
Now Razer has stepped in with its first Hall Effect Magnetic Huntsman keyboards, and that changes everything. When a company with global retail presence decides magnetic switches matter, it suddenly becomes a lot easier for regular players to try the tech without worrying about sketchy support or limited availability.
Razerhad no input, nor did it see the contents of this review, prior to publication.
Design and build
Top-down comparison of the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Mini 65% keyboard (top, cyan RGB) and TKL keyboard (bottom, green RGB) on a pink surface. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Both keyboards share the same DNA: aluminum top plate, doubleshot PBT keycaps, and dense internal foam that gives each keystroke a quieter, more muted sound. Razer told me they added extra lubrication and a “very dense layer of foam to absorb high‑pitch pinging noises,” and I can hear the difference. These boards sound cleaner than the Huntsman AK and even the V3 Pro.
The TKL gives you the arrow keys and navigation cluster, which I prefer for writing and general use. The Mini 65% keeps the arrows but trims the rest, which frees up desk space and feels great for shooters.
Razer confirmed both models have full feature parity, so you’re choosing layout, not capability.
Magnetic switches explained
Low-angle close-up of a black Razer gaming keyboard with vibrant cyan RGB backlighting glowing under the keycaps. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Hall Effect switches use magnets and sensors to track key travel. There’s no physical contact point, which means the keyboard can detect exactly how far a key has moved. That unlocks features that optical or mechanical switches can’t do as well.
Razer calibrates every switch at the factory. They told me:
"Hall Effect boards are prone to interference from environmental factors… metal desks, magnets, metal objects."
Instead of pretending this isn’t an issue, Razer built a calibration tool directly into Synapse. If your desk or environment causes drift, you can reset the keyboard back to factory accuracy in three guided steps. I didn’t run into interference myself, but I like knowing the fix is built in.
Actuation is fully adjustable from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm, and you can tune each key individually. I set WASD to 1.2 mm for shooters and left the rest at 2.0 mm for typing. The onboard adjustment tools make this easy.
Razer also claimed:
“We are the most accurate Hall Effect board available to players.”
They admitted true 0.1 mm accuracy is impossible because “pushing two magnets together is damn near impossible,” but their margin of error is small enough that I never noticed inconsistency.
Latency and performance
Screenshot of Razer Synapse software displaying customizable options for polling rate, gamepad settings, and macros on the Huntsman V3 HE. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Razer pairs the switches with true 8000 Hz HyperPolling. They measured the HE Magnetic at 0.6 ms latency, which is only 0.12 ms behind their analog optical switches. That’s impressive for a first‑generation magnetic design and still faster than other Hall Effect keyboards by about eight percent.
I can’t measure latency myself, but the keyboards feel snappy. Movements in Counter‑Strike 2 and Valorant felt crisp, and Rapid Trigger made counter‑strafing easier.
Movement‑focused features
Screenshot of Razer Synapse software displaying Actuation tab settings for the Huntsman V3 HE, including actuation point, Rapid Trigger, and Snap Tap. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
This is where the HE Magnetic line stands out. Razer didn’t just add magnetic sensing. It built a suite of features that take advantage of it.
Rapid Trigger — Keys reset as soon as they start moving upward. This helps you stop moving faster in shooters, which tightens your hitbox and improves accuracy.
Snap Tap — This prevents two directional keys from actuating at the same time. If you press D while holding A, the keyboard prioritizes the latest input. It makes counter‑strafing more reliable.
Snap Flex — You can bind two actions to a single press. For example, pulling a grenade pin and jumping at the same time. It simplifies multi‑key combos.
Dynamic Keystroke — Up to four actions can be assigned to a single key based on press depth and release. This is powerful and a little scary. I’m curious to see what players come up with.
Dual‑Keypress Priority — This keeps diagonal movement stable. If you’re holding W and A, pressing D won’t override the movement until you release A.
Good Molly, that's a lot of software tech, but while it may not make a difference if you play Brotato (like me; don't judge, it's great), for first-person competitive shooters, it all can absolutely improve your performance and enjoyment of the game. There is a bit of a learning curve here, and all of that is optional to use, but while Razer sometimes catches flak for Synapse, I can't help but feel these are some real value-plays.
Now, some of these are "launch-exclusive" to the HE Magnetic line, for now, but Razer hinted that these features will eventually trickle out to other Huntsman keyboards, likely in the coming months.
TKL vs Mini 65%
Top-down view comparing the compact Razer Huntsman V3 HE Mini 65% keyboard (top) and the larger TKL keyboard (bottom) on a white desk. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
I think most people buying keyboards today know Tenkeyless (TKL) versus Mini 65%, but just in case you don't, here's the recap, as I’ve used both layouts for years, and the choice is simple.
Choose the TKL if:
You type a lot
You want dedicated navigation keys
You prefer a familiar layout
Choose the Mini 65% if:
You want more mouse space
You travel or attend LANs
You want a compact gaming setup
Both keyboards have identical features. You’re choosing workflow, not capability.
Personally, I go TKL or even Compact / 96% Full‑Size like the 2026 Razer Huntsman Signature Edition ($499), as I like having media keys and arrow keys but detest numberpads.
Mini-65% is adorable and shockingly portable (great!), but you may end up missing some functions if you use it for more than competitive-ish gaming. No arrow keys is a move; let's just say that.
Either way, it's great that Razer gives you the choice.
Pricing and competition
The $499 Razer Hunstman Signature Edition (2026) is a very unique offering. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The new Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic TKL is $139.99, and the Mini is $119.99. That’s cheaper than Razer’s Pro models and competitive with other magnetic keyboards. Some boutique Hall Effect boards cost more and don’t have Razer’s distribution or warranty support. That alone makes these easier to recommend.
Launch date is today, July 30, so they should be available globally and shipping out to third-party sellers, including Amazon (HE Magnetic TKL; HE Magnetic Mini 65%) and Best Buy.
Typing and sound
Side-profile comparison of the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Mini 65% and TKL keyboards, showing their incline and height on kickstands. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Typing feels smooth and consistent. The foam and lubrication help, and the magnetic sensing gives each key a clean, predictable feel. I prefer deeper actuation for writing, and the keyboards handled that well.
Gaming felt great with shallow actuation and Rapid Trigger.
Should you buy the Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic?
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
You should buy this if ...
✅ You play competitive shooters
✅ You want adjustable actuation
✅ You want movement‑priority features
✅ You like what Razer is cookin'
You should not buy this if ...
❌ You only need a simple keyboard
❌ You don’t care about magnetic sensing
❌ You prefer optical switches
❌You want wireless options
I give the Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic line a 4.5 out of 5. Razer took magnetic switches and made them accessible, polished, and backed by a major brand. The keyboards feel great, the features matter, and the layouts cover both mainstream and compact preferences.
The Huntsman family may be getting crowded, but these new models earn their place, and we'll be updating our best gaming keyboards guide shortly.
And as someone who has gone through something like 5 of these Huntsman variations in the past months, all I can say is I don't think I'll be jumping to anything else anytime soon. Even as someone who does more gaming on their MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and Xbox Series X, these Huntsman just feel good to use, whether for typing or gaming.
TKL
Razer
Razer Huntsman V3 He Magnetic TKL 8khz
With adjustable actuation from 0.1–4.0 mm, Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, Snap Flex and Dynamic Keystroke, Razer’s HE Magnetic TKL give players granular control over inputs and movement — and back it with factory calibration, a 100‑million keystroke rating and on-demand recalibration via Synapse.
Mini
Razer
Razer Huntsman V3 He Magnetic Mini 65% 8khz
The Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic line pairs Hall Effect magnetic sensing with 8,000 Hz HyperPolling and deep per-key customization to deliver a top-tier competitive keyboard experience. This Mini 65% version pairs down to the most minimal design.
Low-angle shot of Razer Huntsman V3 HE TKL and Mini 65% keyboards with RGB backlighting placed in front of their retail packaging.
Low-angle shot of Razer Huntsman V3 HE TKL and Mini 65% keyboards with RGB backlighting placed in front of their retail packaging.
JLab, a brand we usually recognize for its headphones, still dips out of its wheelhouse from time to time to make broader PC accessories for productivity and gameplay performance on the side.Now, its ergonomic "Epic Wireless Mouse", featuring a 2,400 DPI sensor, 4-month battery life, and remappable buttons, is available at Best Buy (currently discounted by a third-party seller to $51.77).If you're looking for something different, there are more affordable ergonom
JLab, a brand we usually recognize for its headphones, still dips out of its wheelhouse from time to time to make broader PC accessories for productivity and gameplay performance on the side.
Now, its ergonomic "Epic Wireless Mouse", featuring a 2,400 DPI sensor, 4-month battery life, and remappable buttons, is available at Best Buy (currently discounted by a third-party seller to $51.77).
If you're looking for something different, there are more affordable ergonomic JLab mice and keyboards at Best Buy, flaunted as "Better for your wrist. Better for your budget" — with options available directly from Best Buy alongside third parties.
Annihilate your opponents and your daily workload with JLab's responsive 2,400 DPI sensor, nine silent and customizable buttons, and a four-month-long battery life.View Deal
Why buy the JLab Epic Wireless Mouse?
The JLab Epic Wireless Mouse displaying its OLED screen (Image credit: JLab)
JLab's Epic Wireless Mouse offers features for any worker navigating life's daily grind while taking breaks for some light gaming. These include an ergonomic design that fits snugly in your hand, the ability to connect to 3 devices via Bluetooth or its USB dongle, rechargeable batteries that last for around 4 months, and 9 buttons that can be customized with key bindings or shortcuts via JLab's Work app.
Elsewhere, it features silent buttons so they don't make distracting noise, a tiny OLED screen to show its status, and a 2,400 DPI sensor, making it responsive when moving the cursor while browsing or gaming.
So, if you're looking for a new mouse to help you with your assignments or games, then JLab is worth a shot. At least 114 shoppers on Best Buy have given it 5-star reviews, with some saying its performance is comparable to Logitech's MX Vertical Mouse but at a much cheaper cost (JLab's Epic Wireless Mouse has a listing price of $59.99, compared to the MX Vertical's listing price of $119.99).
FAQ
Which devices are compatible with this mouse?
The Jlab Epic Wireless Mouse is compatible with PCs running Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS, and mobile devices with Bluetooth connectivity.
What is the max wireless range on this mouse?
The max wireless range is 30 feet.
How long is the warranty on this mouse?
The JLab Epic Wireless Mouse has a 2-year warranty.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
A hand holds the JLab Epic Wireless Mouse, showing its side display with DPI, wireless mode, and connection status.
A hand holds the JLab Epic Wireless Mouse, showing its side display with DPI, wireless mode, and connection status.
Technology rarely stands still, and having a job like this means seeing newer, better, faster hardware on a regular basis. But through all of the upgrades I've made in the last decade, there's one piece of tech that has been with me throughout and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Many years ago, I bought a monitor to pair with my gaming PC of the time. You can read about it in my Dell S2417DG review, which I had to double-check the date on. I've had this mon
Technology rarely stands still, and having a job like this means seeing newer, better, faster hardware on a regular basis. But through all of the upgrades I've made in the last decade, there's one piece of tech that has been with me throughout and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
Many years ago, I bought a monitor to pair with my gaming PC of the time. You can read about it in my Dell S2417DG review, which I had to double-check the date on. I've had this monitor for 9 years now.
It's not the only PC monitor I've used in that time, of course. I've paired it with various other secondaries, and I've moved it off to use with another PC while I review other monitors.
But almost a decade after cracking open the box, it's still here. It's my primary display for work and for PC gaming, and unlike every other piece of tech I've got itchy feet over upgrading through the years, I've got no plans to get rid of the Dell S2417DG. It's still plenty good enough, even for gaming when refresh rates have gone through the roof. I absolutely adore it.
What makes the Dell S2417DG so good
When I originally bought and subsequently reviewed the Dell S2417DG, I was looking for three things in particular.
At a then-list price of $430, compared to a lot of the competition, the S2417DG represented phenomenal value. The key specs that drew me to this specific model are highlighted in the table below.
Category
Key Specification
Screen Size & Panel
23.8" QHD (2560 x 1440) TN
Refresh Rate
144 Hz (Overclockable to 165 Hz via DP)
Response Time
1 ms (GtG)
Adaptive Sync
NVIDIA G-Sync
Inputs
1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 1.4, 4x USB 3.0
Ergonomics
Height, Tilt, Swivel, Pivot (90°), 100x100 VESA
When I bought it, I'd just secured an NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti, the beast of its time, and my previous primary monitor didn't have a refresh rate or resolution high enough to allow me to stretch its legs.
Fast forward 9 years and I'm still happy gaming at 1440p and still happy at 165Hz. Could I do 4K? Sure, I'm fortunate to be running an RTX 5090 these days. Could I do more frames? Absolutely.
I've tested laptops and monitors with higher resolution and/or refresh rates far in excess of 165Hz and never once felt I needed more in my own setup. Playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at 240Hz rather than 165Hz is not going to suddenly change the game for me. It certainly won't help a gamer in his forties be any better at it.
For day-to-day use, I've long felt 120Hz is the sweet spot. I only really use 165Hz because this monitor has a factory overclock, so why not?
Yes, I've left the stickers on for 9 years as well. (Image credit: Windows Central)
But it has everything I need. The color isn't the absolute greatest, but 98% sRGB is fine for my needs since I don't do any serious color accuracy work, and games still look great.
Even with an older DisplayPort standard, I haven't yet been held back, and the 1ms response has since been beaten by newer monitors, but again, it was more than enough back then for me, and it's still the same today.
In years past, I also made use of the USB 3.0 hub built into the monitor. Nowadays my desktop PC has enough USB ports that are faster than this that I don't need to. But in the early days it was extremely useful.
Only one area this monitor has started to underperform
The HDMI needed to keep up with the Xbox Series X is the only thing letting this monitor down. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Over the lifespan of this monitor, I've also used it hooked up to my Xbox console. It's only here, now, that it's starting to show its age.
The HDMI 1.4 port on the Dell S2417DG is hard-capped at 60Hz, even though it will still support the 1440p native resolution. Even dropping to 1080p, that 60Hz cap applies on this monitor.
It's not a total dealbreaker, since 60Hz has been fine on console for long enough, but with an Xbox Series X I'm not able to make full use of the 120Hz capabilities in supported games using this monitor anymore.
As such, the Xbox Series X has been hooked up to a more modern 1080p monitor with a newer spec HDMI connection. I'll take frame rate over resolution any day.
I don't see the point in 'upgrading' to a newer monitor
There are far more technically impressive monitors out there now, but I feel like I'd be wasting my money. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Are there better monitors out there? Of course there are. There are plenty with 4K displays, OLED, faster refresh rates, and larger panels.
But I've long felt 1440p is the sweet spot for gaming. I don't have the space for large displays, and having tested higher refresh rate panels, I don't actually feel like I'd be getting anything beneficial.
Call of Duty is the only 'competitive' game I play, and I've got enough FPS to be comfortable in that. Looking at what's out there right now at prices I'd be comfortable paying, I feel like any new monitor would be a sidegrade, less so than an upgrade.
Would I be better off with more up-to-date ports? Most likely I would, but I've been fine for 9 years now without feeling like I'm held back. The old warhorse is still pulling along as well as it ever did.
I'm also a big believer in not adding to e-waste. I could sell this on to someone else, but it works well enough still, so what's the point in that? Times are hard, everything is more expensive than ever before, and you never know when you'll need to cash in a kidney to buy another stick of RAM or an SSD.
I truly can't think of another piece of tech I still own and have used for as long as this monitor consistently. I'm just praying that writing about it doesn't hex the whole thing and I wake up tomorrow and it decides it's had enough...
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A photo of the Dell S2417DG pc monitor on a white desk next to a HP Elite X3 smartphone in front of a purple and gold patterned wall.
This was my monitor when it was new. It's got a few marks since then but, otherwise, remained faultless and still keeps up with today's games.
Connexion
