REVIEW OF GAMING

      -   Bargain price     -   Stylish design      -  Excellent build quality        -Lacking midrange audio compared to the Steelseries H Wireless       - Shorter battery life at around 10 hours It’s an oldie, but  Corsair’s Gaming H2100  wireless set is as strong a package now as it was at launch in late 2013, and of course a couple years before that in its earlier incarnations. And now that it’s dropped below the $100 mark, it’s kind of a no-brainer for budget buyers. As with every peripheral Corsair puts out, the build quality on show in these cans is extraordinary. The closed-cup design features massively oversized cups, big enough to envelop any set of ears, and thus block out distracting noise while giving the bass a little chamber to resonate in. The body’s constructed using a mixture of plastics and lightweight aluminium, keeping the overall weight low enough to max...

  -   Great virtual surround sound  -   Memory foam pads keep it comfortable for prolonged use   -   Elegant transmitter/charging station makes swapping between the two included batteries extremely convenient    -   Expensive Well, here it is: our pick for the absolute best wireless gaming headset available, the  Steelseries Siberia 800 . And hoo boy, it isn’t a cheap one, weighing in at a stout $250—$50 less than when we first recommended it. We know that's a lot of cash, but there are two major considerations at play here.  First is that wireless headsets tend to be pricier than their wired counterparts in the first place, so if you’re browsing this side of the market you’ve probably set aside a reasonable chunk of money in the first place. Secondly, scrimping on wireless tech is like seeking out bargain bin dentistry—a lot more can go wrong than right. The $250 in question buys not just incredible sound, comfort and c...

             Can be used to control mouse-keyboard games            Highly configurable control mapping            Design isnt comfortable, feels like a prototype            Niche utility and big learning curve Valve’s first attempt at making the living room a viable PC gaming space doesn’t feel complete yet. Sure, the  Steam Controller  can control games, but it still feels like  an awkward midpoint between gamepad and keyboard-mouse control . The grips are huge, part of an intentional convex design meant to arch your thumbs over the touchpads comfortably. Problem is, they’re too bulbous and jut out a bit too hard into the heel of each hand. My fingers tense up after a few minutes of play, which leads to a few too many accidental back paddle presses and thumb cramps. The circular track pads work pretty well as a mouse replacement, e...

        Beautiful, sturdy design        Easy to swap out components        Robust companion software for mapping        Triple the price of a normal gamepad for the same basic shape and feel The ‘Elite’ nomenclature is typically marketing nonsense, but in this one instance, I think it applies. For those who like their PCs state of the art, clean, and beautiful; for those with Swedish headphones made of volcanic glass; for those who make their PB&J from scratch, the  Xbox Elite controller  is for you. It’s a sturdy, configurable, and gorgeous controller for enthusiasts of fancy. The shell and button layout don’t feel distinct from the vanilla Xbox One controllers, though it feels heavier than most pads I’ve used. I like a bit of weight in my controllers and mice, but it might not feel good on tiny wrists after a long play session. The face buttons are large and still mushy, the bumpe...

            Affordable             Officially supported by most game            Poor D-Pad The DualShock 4 is my favorite controller, but the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers are still excellent choices. I've had an Xbox 360 controller since 2006 which, aside from desperately needing a cleaning, still works great. The slightly-smaller Xbox One controller feels just as well-made, and has an improved d-pad. Both have official drivers ( Xbox 360  and  Xbox One ) and have required no troubleshooting—most PC games which support controllers are made with these controllers in mind. And even though the DS4 is my overall winner, I'll probably still use an Xbox 360 controller often simply because I prefer the analog stick layout. I also prefer its triggers and bumpers to the Xbox One's. Getting an Xbox 360 controller is a good way to save a bit of money compared to the DualShock 4. ...

      Triggers and bumpers have a more tactile feel than Xbox controllers      Great analog trigger feel      Sturdy construction      Some users report damaged analog sticks after prolonged use      Requires unofficial software tool to work on PC It isn't intended for use on the PC, but the  DualShock 4  is my favorite controller anyway. I've used each of its predecessors, the two current Logitech controllers, the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R., the Razer Sabertooth, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers, and just about every console controller from the NES to present day. The DualShock 4 isn't superior in every way to every one of these competitors, but it's the superior all-around choice. It doesn't  look  as durable as the Xbox One controller, but it's durable. When I squeeze the handles with as much force as I can, I can barely hear the strain. I also pushed each of the buttons, trigger...