The festive season is almost upon us, and for gamers, there are dreams of shiny new toys to add to their ever-growing collection.
There’s such variety in what you can get for the gamer in your life, from the general tools to up their skill level to the kind of booming sound system that can make every onscreen threat audible.
In this buying guide, we’ll select a few different potential gifts for varying budgets and needs. They should give you a flavour of what’s out there, and even if you don’t want the exact ones we’ve shown, it’s a decent jumping-off point to explore further.
Sonos Arc Ultra Premium Smart Soundbar
RRP: £999
You’ve got the proper telly, the gaming system of choice, but you want your favourite games to sound really, really good, right? If so, a high-quality soundbar is a must.
Enter the Sonos Arc Ultra. This self-proclaimed Premium soundbar delivers crystal-clear dialogue thanks to its Speech Enhancement technology, bass so deep it’s cavernous, and surround sound that can truly draw you into the game world.
Unlike most of your gaming setup, this soundbar is easy to integrate and can be controlled via its touch controls, your TV remote, the Sonos app, and voice control. So sublime sound is only ever a touch or a word away.
On top of that, when you fancy a break from gaming, the soundbar is excellent for streaming your favourite tunes, podcasts, and audiobooks as you get on with jobs around the home.
Sony Bravia Theatre Quad HT-A9M2 Home Theatre Speaker System
RRP: £1,799
The movie lover dreams of replicating the cinema-going experience at home without the sticky floors, yapping crowd, and limited film variety. It’s a tricky thing to do, and understandably, to really get close, it’s going to take some heavy investment.
One place you can get close is in your sound system, and Sony’s Bravia Theatre Quad speaker system is a fine example, as it utilises technology usually reserved for your local multiplex.
The set features four smartly portable speakers that can be placed precisely where you need them. Together, they create phantom speakers that fully optimise your sound experience for cinema-quality audio. And what audio that is, as it features Dolby Atmos, DTS X, and IMAX Enhanced certification to deliver a picture-frame-rattling theatrical soundscape.
Keep the neighbours in your thoughts, though, eh?
Devil Drivers
RRP: £159.99
For parents feeling whimsical about their Scalextric set but burned out by the fiddly nature of reviving an old set, Devil Drivers is the compelling modern equivalent.
The app-driven (literally) set features scale models of the Porsche 911 GT3 R in ‘’Red Devil’’ and ‘’Black Devil’’ forms and 15 wide-track pieces, totalling 6.09 meters, that can be combined in a variety of ways to ensure your racing action remains electric time after time.
Using the app on your mobile phone, you can control your mini-Porsche’s speed, tyre grip, and braking as it hurtles around the track, with realistic engine sounds adding an extra layer of immersion to the race-day experience.
The cars even work off the track if you want to add some Micro Machines-style spice to your racing action. The only issue is the potential arguments about who the best racing driver in the family is.
Turtle Beach Vulcan TKL Keyboard
RRP: $99.99
Competitive gaming requires every advantage you can ethically gain, and that has to start with the equipment you play with. A keyboard designed with that in mind is as good a place as any to start.
Turtle Beach’s Vulcan TKL is a tenkeyless form-factor variation of the company’s famous Vulcan range. It strikes a balance between the satisfying feel of mechanical switches and the smooth, rapid actuation.
It’s a stripped-back beauty in compact form, ready-made for tournament-level play, yet tough enough to withstand the abuse it will undoubtedly take as you blast your way to victory.
Turtle Beach Burst II Pro Mouse
RRP: £119.99
With the keyboard sorted, a complimentary mouse is needed, and the Burst II Pro is up to the job.
This sleek mouse boasts unmatched speed and tracking, with an 8kHz wireless polling rate and a staggering 0.125ms latency. The only way you’re missing that shot will be because you got distracted by the chat, not because of your tools.
Crucially, it’s a lightweight, durable mouse, ready to be the sword to the keyboard’s shield. It gives you up to 150 hours of battery life on 1kHz, but still manages 40 hours in 8kHz mode.
Even if the desktop you play on isn’t the best, the Owl-Eye 30k sensor on the Burst II Pro gives an impressive 99.8% resolution accuracy on all surface types. It’s a top-quality mouse at a pretty reasonable price.
Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless Headset
RRP: £159.99
So we’ve covered the controls, but there are still places to improve your setup. A wireless headset should slot in as another key weapon in your arsenal.
So, in keeping with the Turtle Beach setup, the Atlas Air comes highly recommended. This wireless headset offers the world’s first floating earcup and an adjustable floating headband. What does that mean? Well, it means it’s designed to be so light on your ears that you don’t even notice it’s on them. Plus, it means red, sweaty ears are a thing of the past.
In terms of sound quality, its open-back design maximises audio performance. At the same time, PC mode features a 24-bit, 96kHz sampling rate, which delivers more accurate reproduction of the original signal, ensuring optimal sound quality.
So whether you’re communicating with your teammates on your favourite shooter or revelling in the atmospheric sounds of a horror game, the Atlas Air offers the kind of immersive sound quality to complement all types of gaming.
Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 Wireless Headphones
RRP: £259
If you’re less fussed about online chatting and just want headphones that enrich your gaming audio experience, the studio quality of Beyerdynamic’s Aventho 300 set could be a game-changer.
The Aventho 300 offers impressive 3D sound thanks to its high-quality audio codecs and Dolby Atmos features. In fact, one nifty Dolby feature is its Head Tracking technology, which makes the sound follow your head movements, truly immersing you in 3D game worlds, and ensuring you always hear where danger is coming from.
It’s got a flexible sound setup that not only lets you block out the myriad outside noises, but also lets you use modes like transparency, so you can keep sound going whilst listening for the doorbell and not get jump-scared by someone walking in.
Qrevo Curv S5X Robot Vacuum and Mop
RRP: £999.99
With your gaming setup covered, there’s only one way to optimise your gaming time further. That’s right, you need help with the cleaning.
Qrevo’s Curv S5X will amble about, hoovering up rogue crumbs and the like, but it’s also handily equipped to deal with spills thanks to its hot water mop wash.
You get to sit back, headphones or headset on, and let it get on with the job, as its reactive tech obstacle-avoidance feature and myriad cleaning modes ensure it will be ready for whatever comes its way.
Stocking Fillers
The Festive season draws close, and the evergreen dilemmas come with it. Namely, what to get your friends and family.
The bigger presents are tough enough, but stocking fillers can be surprisingly tricky as well. Sure, you can go with the old favourites, like some chocolate treats, trinkets, and novelty items. But making things a little more specific for your loved ones goes a long way.
For the gamer in your life, the options are healthier than ever, so let us give you a few selections for different budgets, ages, and tastes.
PlayStation Astro Bot Cable Guy Phone Holder
RRP: £19.99
It’s a hard habit to break, but having your phone close by when playing is understandable. Picking it up between rounds to check messages, social media, or videos can be part of the routine. So why not give your phone a fitting companion for when it’s sat waiting for you?
This Astro Bot phone holder is a fine choice. The adorable new PlayStation mascot can sit cross-legged on your desk, dutifully holding your phone. It’s also nice enough to have as a little guy on your desk or shelf.
Nuka Cola Knight Phone/Controller Holder
RRP: £24.99
Who better to protect your precious controller or phone than a power armour-clad Knight?
Well, there’s probably better in terms of morals, but this Nuka Cola-emblazoned mini member of the Brotherhood of Steel is definitely sturdy enough to do the job it’s tasked with.
So Chill Mini Fridge Infinity
RRP: £44.99
When you’re in the zone playing online, and the only reason you’ll leave the room is because of a natural disaster, the need to swiftly quench your thirst becomes increasingly crucial. This is, of course, the only reason why mini fridges exist.
And if you do get one, then it’s gotta match your setup and be a rainbow cascade of lights. The So Chill Mini Fridge Infinity is a 4-litre fridge that can be plugged into the mains or charged via USB, and keeps your drinks at a deliciously chilly 15-20 degrees below ambient temperature.
But the big selling point is its infinity mirror door panel, which features 12 different LED colour modes. Usually, you stare in the fridge deciding what to make, but with this, you’ll have to get past the hypnotic quality of the door before grabbing a cold one from inside.
Atari Joystick Decanter Set
RRP: £96.25
For the, ahem, seasoned gamer in your life, how about a bit of classy retro gear to make their favourite drinks go down smoother than a remastered classic?
Novelty? Yes, but it’s a pretty good-looking novelty. This officially licensed Atari decanter set contains two 300ml branded whiskey glasses and a 750ml decanter designed to resemble the iconic Atari CX-10 joystick.
It can be a nice conversation starter, too, thanks to its sleek display tray that shows off the set in style.
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