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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide Awards 2025: Our favorite gaming accessories, consoles, controllers and more
There's never been a better time to be a gamer, especially now that there are so many ways to play your favorite games. Whether it be on a console in front of your TV, on the go with a handheld, fully immersed in your favorite virtual world in VR or even just on your phone through a cloud gaming service, you have plenty of options and we've tried them all. From massive curved gaming monitors, to magnetic-powered keyboards and comfortable gaming headsets that let you hear every footstep, there are also plenty of great accessories to elevate your gaming experience across any platform. Our team of experts has tested and reviewed the latest consoles, handhelds and gaming accessories for the Tom's Guide Awards 2025. Below, we highlight the gaming devices and accessories that kept our play sessions going over the last 12 months and have made even the best games more fun to play. There are really only two candidates at the table when it comes to selecting the best console you can buy in 2025: the PS5 and the Nintendo Switch 2. While the latter is a fantastic hybrid and may well be a recipient of this award in the future, its launch library is too trim at present to take the win, and so Sony's flagship console, especially its improved PS5 Slim variant, holds its crown for another year. Almost five years into its lifecycle, and with two refreshed models on the market (PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro), this console is finally hitting its stride after a slow start to the generation. The Slim reduces the mammoth size of the chunky launch model, and it currently delivers the all-around console experience. While the Pro is a great pick for performance obsessives. The best PS5 games now include some truly phenomenal titles, including must-play exclusives like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Astro Bot. And we can't forget just how impressive the speedy SSD continues to be. It's relegated lengthy loading screens to a thing of the past. The DualSense is also the best console controller on the market, with its unique features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers still novel. The PS5 Slim also offers great value at $499 (often bundled with a game), and it drops even lower during major sales events. The Lenovo Legion Go S is the handheld we've been dreaming of. It combines the impressive specs of the ROG Ally X with the smooth experience of SteamOS. Unless another SteamOS device with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip somehow shows up this year, the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS is easily the best handheld gaming console of 2025. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. This device is a huge step forward for gaming handhelds, but it's also fantastic all on its own. If you've thought about getting a handheld, this is definitely the one to grab. Of course, if you're happy with your current Steam Deck or find SteamOS a bit limiting, the Windows 11 version of this handheld might be more up your alley. While you can't go wrong with any version of the Legion Go S, the SteamOS version is the best one for most people. The Meta Quest 3S offers a premium VR experience at an affordable price, featuring excellent AR capabilities and access to hundreds of Quest 3 games and apps. It's one of the best VR headset thanks to its Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor and 8GB of RAM, which ensures smooth performance with a variable 90-120Hz refresh rate that's comparable to the Quest 3. That said, it differs from the Quest 3 by using Quest 2's fresnel lenses, which results in a smaller field of view, lower resolution, and bulkier design. Despite these differences, the Quest 3S is a fantastic, low-cost alternative to the Quest 3 that's great for VR newcomers looking for an affordable entry-level device, unlike the costly Apple Vision Pro. The Alienware 34 QD-OLED maintains the excellent features of its predecessor while introducing significant improvements. The new flat stand conserves desk space, and the elegant "interstellar indigo" chassis ensures it looks fitting in both a gaming setup and a professional office environment. The display retains its impressive 1800R curved panel and ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, offering a deeply immersive gaming experience. Performance-wise, it boasts a fast 240Hz refresh rate and a low 0.03ms response time. These specs, coupled with its sharp 1440p resolution and vivid colors, deliver a visually stunning and incredibly smooth gaming experience with virtually no input lag. So, Lemokey finally showed up for the party. And by that we mean in 2025 it finally made a gaming keyboard worthy of mixing it with the big boys and that board is the Lemokey L5 HE — the best gaming keyboard from 2025. Lemokey is a sub-brand of Keychron, which makes some of the best mechanical keyboards for productivity. But Lemokeys have usually just been rebranded Keychrons with gaming-focused keycaps and some 'gamer' branding. The L5 HE changed all that: Hall Effect switches, 8K polling, tons of gaming features, as much modding potential as you could possibly need, and beautiful build quality. It's fully customizable with the epic Lemokey Launcher software, where you can adjust actuation, key binds and advanced features like Rapid Trigger and Last Key Prioritization (A.K.A 'Snap Tap'). The L5 HE is also an 8,000Hz polling board, making it suitable for elite-tier gaming and challenging boards like the Wooting 80HE. Lemokey might be late to the party, but better late than never. With AAA titles finally running smoothly on macOS machines, the Corsair M75 is the most capable gaming mouse for Apple today. Sporting a minimalist design that makes it look almost as elegant as a Mac, the M75 comes in a beautiful Glacier Blue colorway. But if that isn't enough to win you over, we love this mouse's 26,000 DPI and 1,000Hz polling rate, making it a stellar performer in Cyberpunk, Lies of P and others. Its optical switches are extremely responsive and comfortable to use for long periods of time. It's the easiest mouse to customize, and we don't mean that just in terms of its software. The side buttons can be replaced with different textured ones as they're magnetic, making modding the M75 a walk in the park. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 received a wireless update this year, and as soon as we tested it, we knew it would be hard to beat. That's thanks to its extremely comfortable design and fit, plush and spacious earcups, and elastic headband that lends the headset a lightweight feel. It also excels in the sound department. 40mm Neodymium drivers and 200 game-tailored presets ensure you hear every single sound, regardless of the title you're playing. It creates immersive soundscapes thanks to directional and spatial audio. In fact, we love it so much that when we stopped using the headset, real life started sounding boring. Its multi-platform compatibility is the cherry on top, as is its loud and clear mic that ensures everyone can hear you exclaim with joy when you take down an enemy or mumble under your breath in frustration when you fail to lockpick. The DXRacer Martian immediately stands out from other gaming chairs we've reviewed in the past. For starters, it has a firmer seat, less aggressive curves and only comes in a very sleek all-black design. When it comes to customization, the only real choice you need to make is whether you want the chair with a leatherette or fabric finish. While the DXRacer Martian may seem simple at first glance, it's packed with innovative tech we've yet to see on any other gaming or even office chair for that matter. What gives the Martian an almost out-of-this-world feel though is that DXRacer has equipped this gaming chair with a 5,000 mAh battery. For what purpose you may be wondering? Well, the Martian has an electric adjustable backrest. With the push of a button, you can instantly change its recline angle from 90° to 135°. That's not all though as the Martian also comes with built-in airbags which can inflate or deflate depending on how much lumbar support you need. They're powered by that same internal battery and when combined, the Martian's airbags and electric backrest really make it feel like you're sitting in your car instead of at your desk. Xbox Cloud Gaming may be the talk of the town (I'm still left having an existential crisis about whether I am, indeed, an Xbox after that ad campaign). But really, Nvidia GeForce Now is the clear leader in game streaming for three key reasons. First, Nvidia has optimized the service to a point that you won't feel any latency from your controls to what's on-screen, while the visuals are crispy without any of that glitching you get with bandwidth, and the demand on network connection is relatively minor at 35 Mbps. Second, the ways you can play are ever-expanding — most recently breathing new life into my Steam Deck, alongside apps being available on Mac, Meta Quest and even TVs. Having this service wherever you are is significant given how good the games look running on a remote gaming PC! And finally, it comes down to the games you can play. Beyond being able to play Game Pass games through streaming, you can connect other game libraries like Steam and play the titles you own too. There is one condition that Nvidia GeForce Now has to support the game. But given the service supports over 2,000 games, I highly doubt you'll ever run into a problem! Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
PS5 Slim falls to cheapest price this year but Amazon can't beat this rival deal
Amazon has slashed £100 off the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital console, but gamers may want to check out this rival deal that comes with a free game. The PlayStation 5 Slim has fallen to its cheapest price this year as two rival retailers slash £100 off the price. Gamers can now pick up the PS5 Slim Digital Console for £329 at Amazon rather than the usual £429.99. This represents a 23% saving and is the lowest price offered since December 2024, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. However, shoppers can get their hands on a free game by heading to Very, where the PS5 Slim Digital Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Bundle is now available for the same price. This means Call of Duty fans can get a PS5 console with the latest instalment of the first-person shooter franchise for the same price as the console on its own, but Very says the bundle is 'selling fast'. According to the retailer, Black Ops 6 has been optimised for the PS5 with reduced loading times compared to the PS4, as well as 4K visuals, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback support. Sony launched the PS5 Slim in November 2023 as a more compact version of the original PS5 console. It's 24% lighter and 30% smaller than its predecessor, but boasts 1TB of storage compared to the PS5's 825GB. It also features a second USB-C port, plus 4K graphics and HDR technology, with haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functionality on the DualSense wireless controller. The PS5 Slim is an alternative for shoppers still struggling to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2. Since launching in April, some retailers such as GAME and Smyths Toys are still out of stock of the console and are only offering the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle. But for PlayStation fans, the PS5 Slim Digital has achieved a 4.7-star rating after more than 1,000 Amazon reviews. One buyer said: 'Not disappointed. So quick to download, great graphics and good build quality. Upgrading from my PS4 was a breeze and transferred over so quickly. The games with a PS5 version downloaded without me doing anything. So happy.' Another said: 'The PS5 is the next gen console we had all been hoping for. The load times are lightning fast and the ability to switch between the home screen and game has virtually no lag. The games play remarkably fast with no slow down or poor rendering. The sound is also great.' This buyer had an issue with their PS5 controller, saying: 'Console is great, controller is not. After three to four months, I can't play anything because of the controllers Sony are making now - way too much stick drift.' It's worth noting that consumers can purchase spare or additional controllers if they do experience issues. This five-star review said: 'Great console. I have been needing to upgrade from a PS4 for a while and finally decided to go for it. Best decision I've made in a while. It's so much faster and for the games I've tried the loading times are basically non-existent. Couldn't really ask for more.'
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Deal confirmed — the PS5 Slim Digital Edition bundled with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is down to AU$569 right now
In what is probably the best console deal you'll find this side of Black Friday, Amazon has slashed the price of the PS5 Slim Digital Edition's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 bundle, bringing the console down to its current best price. Right now, you can grab the aforementioned console and game combo for just AU$569 — that's an incredible saving of AU$180.95 on the bundle's AU$749 RRP, and even cheaper than Amazon's price on the standalone PS5 Slim Digital Edition console. Our Black Ops 6 review cited the game as having "the franchise's best multiplayer in years", and while the game will be superseded by Black Ops 7 later this year, you can always use this bundle to sharpen your skills before the new game drops. Score a fantastic deal on this bundle, featuring the disc-free PS5 Slim and a digital copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This is currently the best price available for those who prefer digital media. That said, if you love physical media, the PS5 Slim Disc Edition is available for AU$699, down from AU$829.95. Worried about it being the disc-free version of the console? Don't fret — the PS5 Slim's modular design means you can always purchase the PS5 Disc Drive at a later date. At present, Amazon is selling the PS5 Disc Drive for AU$124. Alternatively, you could opt to buy the PS5 Slim Disc Edition for AU$699 — a saving of AU$130.95 from its usual price of AU$829.95. So if you're in the market for a new game console and a killer game to play on it, it's hard to go past either of these bundles.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is a good headset that could have been great — here's what I'd change
What do you do to relax and unwind after the working day is done? Me? I love spending the evening being silly with my partner or, when she isn't around, playing video games on my PS5 Slim. But when she's around and doing her own thing, I don't want my console to disturb her, so I always have one of the best gaming headsets at hand. I won't lie, I love the freedom a wireless headset provides as I don't have to contend with annoying cables, but wired sets of cans are great too, of course. I recently tested one such headset that I liked and, deep inside, wished I loved: the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II. It sounds fantastic, it's comfortable, it's got an awesome mic, so why don't I love it? Lightweight and comfortable, the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is a fantastic headset that doesn't break the bank. It boasts a wide soundstage thanks to powerful 40mm drivers, and features 7.1 virtual surround sound that makes games more immersive. However, there's no companion software, the design is divisive, the in-line controls are frustrating, and it's a wired-only headset. If the H1 Gen II was a wireless headset, I wouldn't have as many qualms. As it stands, its wired connectivity and in-line controls grinds my gears as does the anime-themed Hatsune Miku design which I just cannot stomach. To take it from good to great, here's what I'd change about the H1 Gen II. The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II headset is fitted with a cable that's 2 metres long — the same amount of distance they wanted us to maintain during the pandemic in the U.K. The distance between my PS5 Slim and my couch is 3 metres, so to test the headset, I had to pull a chair up to the halfway point. What's worse is that the headset needs to be plugged into a USB-A port which is located on the back of my PS5. Realistically, you can use the H1 Gen II only if your console (or PC) is on a desk or your couch is flush against your TV. This is why I would have loved a longer cable. And speaking of, I wish the H1 Gen II's buttons were located on the earcups and not included as an in-line remote that's located halfway down the cable. Having to pull up the cable every time I wanted to adjust the volume or toggle 7.1 virtual surround sound proved frustrating and tedious. It did make me feel like I was a doctor adjusting a person's IV drip flow, though, which was cool. I'm an emo kid at heart so if I was buying the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II headset, I'd go for the black model. But I also can't deny the charm of a colorful headset, like the Cooler Master CH351. The H1 Gen II comes in a Hatsune Miku Edition, sporting near-identical colors as the CH351. As I noted in my H1 Gen II review, prior to testing this headset, I did not know who Hatsune Miku was, but turns out she's a 'Vocaloid software voicebank' represented by a 16-year-old girl with long, turquoise twintails... and I do not like it. To each their own, of course, but anime has never been my thing and I really don't like that her silhouette graces one of the earcups. Personally, I'm not comfortable with the portrayal of Hatsune Miku in this context, given the character is canonically a minor. So yes, if the headset sported just the Asus TUF Gaming logo with the teal and pink colors, I would have liked it much, much more. One thing I love when using a gaming headset is customizing the equalizer and trying out different lows, mids and highs to achieve the best sound possible — and I wish I could do that with the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II. At the time of writing, there's no app support for the headset, which is a shame because Asus' other headsets (like the Asus ROG Pelta and the Asus ROG Delta II) allow for extensive customization. I think Asus missed a trick here. Letting users customize a headset that doesn't cost over $100 would have been brilliant and a game-changer in the budget market. I do hope this changes in the future because having a companion app would take this headset from being a 3.5-star product to a 4-star product. Of course, the H1 Gen II absolutely rocks when it comes to sound quality in games, as I discussed in detail in my H1 Gen II review. All of the flaws I've listed are subjective, and what I don't like, you may love, so take this with a grain of salt. A personal opinion of mine, if it were up to me, I'd make the design more minimalist and without the 16-year-old girl on the earcups, extend the cable, and add companion software. Then we'd have a winner on our hands.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sony unveils Ghost of Yōtei PS5 bundles inspired by Japanese art: Here's what buyers will get
Sony is celebrating the release of upcoming Ghost of Yōtei along with two limited edition PlayStatuon 5 bundles. These special console packages are said to come on October 2 along with the game. The limited edition bundle is said to offer homage to the traditional Japanese aesthetics. One variant of the will pay homage to kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, silver, or platinum lacquer, by featuring a stunning gold rendition of Mt. Yōtei's artwork on the console. On the other hand, the second version is said to embrace the simplicity of Sumi-e, traditional Japanese ink brush painting. Sony Ghost of Yōtei PS5 Bundles: The two artistic editions Sony has announced that it will introduce two edition of the gaming console. One will be the Gold Limited Edition which will be inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with the help of gold. This edition will feature raised golden lines depicting Mount Yōtei which is a symbol of protagonist Atsu's journey. Apart from this, Sony will also introduce a Black Limited Edition which will be available exclusively via PlayStation Direct. This edition draws the design inspiration from sumi-e, a black ink painting style. Both the bundles will include a PS5 Slim console with disc drive, a matching DualSense controller with Atsu's silhouette on the touchpad, a digital copy of Ghost of Yōtei Standard Edition. Also, the customers pre-order the limited edition will also get an in-game mask and seven PSN avatars of Atsu and the Yōtei Six. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Sony Ghost of Yōtei : Offers for existing PS5 owners For those who already own a PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro, Sony will offer Ghost of Yōtei-themed console covers and standalone DualSense controllers in both gold and black editions. These accessories carry the same intricate designs and engraved PlayStation maker's seal found on the full bundles. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
