Every month, TechRadar's gaming team members make it their mission to test out all the buzziest new bits of gaming kit, so you know what's worth investing in and what to avoid.
This past month we tested three five-star masterpieces. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II is a premium headset that "takes everything that was good [about the previous version] and drives it up into the stratosphere". The GameSir G8+ MFi mobile gaming controller is also a more polished version of its predecessor, and costs the same. Impressive. Finally, there's the 8BitDo Pro 3 controller, which we crowned "the new budget champ".
It wasn't all smooth sailing, though — we had to endure a few clunkers too. The SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud dual-mode controller is "an excellent idea... poorly executed" (especially for the asking price), the GameSir Pocket Taco is the Game-Boy-style clamshell mobile controller that no one asked for or needs, and the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 managed to earn itself the unwelcome title of "the worst our tester had ever used".
There were plenty of worthwhile devices in-between, though, so scroll down for a rundown of all the gaming gadgets we tested this month, and exactly what we thought of them. Hit the 'View details' button for the main pros and cons, plus a link to the full review for each.
Note: you'll only see cards for the products that are available in your region.
4.5 or 5 stars
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II wireless headset
Pros
- Exceptional audio performance
- Highly stylish aesthetics do not disappoint
- Class-leading battery life
- A staggering wireless range
- Swarm 2 software is top-notch
- An almost XLR quality mic
Cons
- Clamping force takes a while to adjust to
8BitDo Pro 3 Controller
Pros
- Beautiful, drift-beating TMR sticks
- Seriously customizable, in terms of both hardware and software
- One of the best d-pads I’ve ever used
- Both analog and digital trigger settings feel great
- Pairing is easy and instantaneous
Cons
- Start and Select buttons are crowded in the center, and feel mushy
- No Xbox or PlayStation compatibility
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
GameSir G8+ MFi mobile controller
Pros
- MFi certified for iPhone and iPad mini
- Swappable ABXY button caps and thumbsticks
- Hall effect sticks and triggers
- Improved case compatibility
- GameSir app now works on both iOS and Android
Cons
- Vibration motors go virtually unused in games
- Still only one of each additional thumbstick style
GameSir G8 Galileo mobile controller
Pros
- Comfortable grips with a console-like feel
- Hall effect sticks and triggers
- Swappable thumbsticks
- Passthrough charging and 3.5mm headphone jack
- Rear programmable buttons
Cons
- Limited iPhone functionality
- Screenshot button is too close to the D-pad
3.5 and 4 star
GameSir G7 Pro 8K controller
Pros
- Light and easy for long sessions
- Everything is customizable
- No premium on 8K
- Plenty included in-box
Cons
- 8K not for everyone
- Can be a dirt magnet
- Quick to disconnect
Scuf Omega controller
Pros
- Ergonomically brilliant, for the most part
- Customization is a real selling point
- Satisfyingly clicky d-pad and buttons
- Some of the best triggers in the business
- Handy on-board mic and headset volume buttons
Cons
- Way too easy to hit those side buttons
- Removable parts and accessories feel flimsy and cheap
- Build quality does not reflect the price
GameSir X5 Lite mobile controller
Pros
- Great gaming performance
- Easy to use
- Snug and secure fit for your phone
- Great price
Cons
- Lacks both software and hardware customizations
- Lacks features, basic
- Not wireless
- Grips might be too small for some
Nacon RIG R8 Spectre Pro HS headset
Pros
- Tight, low-distortion sound
- Snap-lock earcups and cushions
- Replaceable battery
Cons
- Fiddly multifunction button
- Limited RGB customisation
- Short headband
Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2
Pros
- Durable, scratch-resistant exterior
- Huge amount of storage space for games and SD cards
- Secure interior compartment…
Cons
- …but it’s a tight fit in certain areas
- It’s not winning any beauty contests
- Arguably oversized
Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Station
Pros
- Grips and charges two sets of Joy-Con 2s
- Dock is small and thin
- Simple and easy to use
Cons
- Not the most premium dock around
- LEDs don’t light while charging
- Included USB-C cable is quite short
Creative Sound Blaster GS5 gaming soundbar
Pros
- Relatively inexpensive
- Plenty of sound-shaping features
- Versatile connectivity
Cons
- Not the best fidelity
- Too big for desktop use
- Many features locked to PC
- Unresponsive IR remote
3 star and below
Anda Seat Phantom 4 Pro gaming chair
Pros
- Remarkably sturdy, with solid build quality
- 360° fully rotational armrests
- Auto-tracking lumbar support
- Full ergonomic certification
Cons
- Lumbar adjustment is not intuitive
- Hard seat base isn't comfortable
- Limited max weight and height
SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud dual mode controller
Pros
- Clever dual-mode extending design
- Hall Effect sensors on both sticks and triggers
- Light with a comfortable shape
- Well-placed rear paddle buttons
Cons
- Triggers feel mushy and lack detail
- Intermittent missed inputs on face buttons
- Rough compatibility across platforms
- No companion app for customization or button remapping
- Build quality doesn’t feel particularly premium
GameSir Pocket Taco vertical mobile controller
Pros
- Neat, pocketable design
- Great value
- Fun concept
Cons
- Aspect ratio cuts off native games when docked
- Won’t work with every emulator
- Frustrating, unpolished user experience
Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2
Pros
- Customizable RGB lights
- Pretty comfortable in-use
- Decent features for a budget model
Cons
- Long-winded pairing process
- Some input lag problems
- Occasional disconnections
