We have spent four glorious years with the current gen of consoles, and with some games starting to creak around the edges a bit, an upgrade was inevitable.

And the console that needs that upgrade the most is the Nintendo Switch, but that isn’t the machine I am talking about. Instead what we have is the shiny new PS5, aptly called the PlayStation 5 Pro.

So what’s in the box?

The box is loaded with the shiny new PS5 Pro, a Dual Sense controller, and all the cables. What it doesn’t come with is a vertical stand, or any stand for that matter, or a disc drive. Initially with the high price I was expecting these which is unfortunate.

The good news is while there isn’t a model with the disc drive, you can add a disc drive yourself. The disc drive is the same model that was used for the PS5 Digital. It sells out fast so keep your eye out, but don’t pay the gouging prices on online auction websites, they will come back into stock.

When you compare the original PS5 prices, the digital edition was the lowest of course with the disc version being the more expensive, until now, so this is at least consistent. The big benefit with Sony doing it this way is you don’t have to worry about only one console version being available and having to buy a disc version you don’t want, or buy a digital version and wanting that disc drive. You can buy this, then get the disc drive when you’re ready. The challenge, especially when comparing to those original prices, is the PlayStation 5 Pro price tag is very steep.

What about style?

The console certainly has a look. I have always thought the PS5 was an ugly console, but the PS5 Slim made it way tidier by reducing the collars that were sticking out the top. The PS5 Pro has a similar style to the PS5 Slim, but with slightly bigger fins on the side.

When it comes to physical size it is bigger than the Slim, but smaller than the original PS5. So it is pretty dang sleek for a PS5. I still wouldn’t say I love the design, but it’s way tidier than the original.

So, what are you getting for the price?

Obviously the price point here is quite steep. So, what are you getting here?

The first thing is it is rocking a similar SSD to the original but it’s 2TB which is a decent step up. The real money is in the GPU though. The GPU has a way bigger 16.7 teraflops which is a huge jump over the 10.3 teraflops in the original. This and some other on board improvements allows for the big change which is PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution).

PSSR is essentially an AI system that upscales images being broadcast onto the TV. This is expected to get the images up to 4K without putting all the strain on the hardware. It should be able to hit higher eventually, apparently 8k with a lower FPS. Given the power of most TV’s, this is unlikely to be an issue any time soon.

So in essence, all the money has gone into the graphics. This may sound like a bad thing, but given how well games perform on the PS5, the main issue will be graphics related. If your game is jittering, or bouncing around, it’s more than likely to be the power of the graphics card. With the new upgrade, a bunch of games offer performance, graphics, or balanced options. In many situations performance gets the games to a consistent 60 FPS and the games look better than the graphics modes on the PS5. Each of these potential options come down to how they have been set up in the game, but generally you get at least a couple of options.

How do the games look?

Naturally I had to take these for a spin. The first game I took for a spin was Spiderman 2.

That game looked amazing and performed well before, so I wasn’t expecting a change. The biggest change is scenery in the background. Buildings and stuff look way more detailed at distance. This isn’t exactly a game changer, but it looks nice.

Gran Turismo 7 on the other hand looks bloody stunning. For some real perspective I played it for a few hours and then went back to my OG PS5 and the detail and quality looks almost night and day. Again, GT7 looks amazing on PS5, so you aren’t missing that much, but it looks just that little more gorgeous on PS5 Pro.

The real challenge to test are games that were struggling on PS5, and there aren’t many of those. Metaphor: ReFantazio for example supposedly had real frame rate issues on the OG PS5, which from anecdotes I have heard from others are sorted on the Pro. Baldur’s Gate 3 on the other hand ran perfectly decent on PS5, but I booted that up and there is a clear improvement on PS5 Pro. It looks and runs so much smoother.

There are some games that are reported to have some issues. I have heard issues with the Dragon Age, Dragon’s Dogma, and more where they can have some graphical or performance issues. I don’t have any of these so couldn’t test myself, but imagine they should be patched and fixed quickly.

Should you get one?

This is a tough one. There is a noticeable bump in the smoothness and graphics of games, and that extra storage is really sweet. The issue is that it is very expensive and the bump isn’t massive. If money isn’t an issue for you, then yea it’s great.

If you are looking to buy your first PS5, or your old PS5 is broken, then I would absolutely recommend buying it. But is there enough to justify it if funds are tighter to upgrade a working PS5 or Slim? For me, probably not when I could grab 12 brand new games to run on the excellent OG PS5.

While not an essential buy, the PlayStation 5 Pro is an amazing console, and well worth the cash if you have it.

The post PlayStation 5 Pro Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The new Xbox wireless headset promises easy-to-connect, untethered audio for Xbox, PC and mobile.

The hallmark of a great gaming headset is the ability to just put it on and play. No messing about with Bluetooth or dongle pairing, you just want to switch it on and get down to business, as you do with your gaming controller. Whilst there are plenty of third-party headsets that do exactly this, the Xbox Wireless Headset is designed for your Xbox and Windows PC.

Out of the box, the headset feels reasonably sturdy, with a flexible and extendable headband. It is a bit plasticky, but no more so than many other headsets. The black look of the headset, with a cheeky little bit of green for the on button, matches the styling of the Xbox Series X.

The lightweight construction compliments the soft spongy pleather of the headband and earcups to make the headset very comfortable. The earcups are a little on the smaller size if you have big lugs. The adjustable mic is very flexible and doesn’t feel like it will break off in your hand.

Adjusting the volume and chat mix is easy. The large dial on the right earcup adjusts the volume and the one on the left adjusts the mix. There’s a mic mute button on the left side of the ear cup on the bottom of the mic stalk. As previously mentioned, the green button on the left side turns the headset on. The simplicity of the design is exactly what you need. Nobody wants to be fiddling with tiny buttons to adjust the volume in the middle of the action.

There’s no manual in the box, something that is becoming the norm for consumer electronics. I’d applaud Microsoft for saving the environment if it wasn’t for the included fat (and useless) “Product and Regulatory Guide”. Instead, there’s a QR code that points to the set-up page on the Microsoft website.

To be fair, the setup is as easy as pairing an Xbox controller. To pair with an Xbox Series X|S You just press and hold the green button on the left side of the headset for four seconds and press and hold the Xbox button on the console until it flashes. It’s the same to connect to a PC or mobile device via Bluetooth. You just press and hold the green button for four seconds and look for “Xbox Wireless Headset” on your device’s Bluetooth options.

Microsoft boasts 20 hours of use between charges, which seems about right. The headset is charged via a USB Type-C socket on the side of the right earcup. There’s no USB cable included in the box, which is a bit tight, to be honest, since it is essential to charge the device.

The headset is Dolby Atmos compatible. Using the Dolby Atmos Xbox app optimises the spatial sound on the console. The volume is very good. I like listening to music at very high volumes and this headset delivers and is also more than adequate for games, as well. Whatever the volume, the audio remains crisp and clear with a hearty bass.

The mic pickup is good. I tested it with in-game chat and using Adobe Audition. It’s obviously not studio quality, but it does the job.

Whilst there are better (and more expensive) headsets out there, the Xbox Wireless Headset is designed for the Xbox Series X|S and excels in this regard. Not only does it complement the look of the Xbox Series X, but it also painlessly pairs and works without fuss. That you can use it with a PC or mobile device via Bluetooth is a bonus. It’s an easy headset to recommend to Xbox owners wanting a comfortable headset with crisp gaming audio.

The post Xbox Wireless Headset (2024) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Designed for the pro’s, the hardcore gamers and those super long battle marathons is Logitech G’s Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed gaming mouse.

Not having the flashing RGB lighting, in fact very minimalistic in it’s appearance Logitech G’s newest weapon in your PC gaming armoury is very much a quiet and light weapon, almost stealthy as it sits on your desk.

With a 0.5ms response rate and weighing in at just 60 grams, the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed is more than it appears to be.

The gaming mouse does not have Bluetooth. To connect you’ll need to use the supplied  dongle to connect. This goves you 1000Hz, 1ms (cabled) or a whopping 4000Hz 0.5ms response rate. Windows will automatically recognise this when it’s plugged in to a USB port on your gaming RIG or laptop – it is literally plug and play.

Why no Bluetooth? This is to keep the connection solid and uninterrupted by using the dedicated dongle. No stutters in connectivity mean fluid and precise play.

The Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed gaming mouse has five programmable Lightforce switches, to use these effectively you’ll need to download the HUB software.

Acceleration comes in at an impressive 88G’s with a Hero 2 sensor, add to that a 100 – 32,000 DPI and the contoured feel of the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed in your hand is both soft yet grippable.

Best yet, the battery life. You’ll get a well impressive 95 hours from a single charge. That’s actually 95 hours of motion, when the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed gaming mouse is not in use, it quickly goes to sleep within a nano second.

Depending on how fast, furious and frequent you play you’re going to be set for many matches ahead.

To charge up it’s via USB-C, so you can plug in and still play if you’re caught short. There’s also an included USB adaptor.

While the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed gaming mouse is a more subtle, almost plain looking accessory, it really does have the goods and being next to nothing in weight means your not going to suffer from wrist fatigue and can play longer.

If you’re an aspiring eSports athlete or simply someone who joins clans and goes on raids at every spare moment, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 Lightspeed is absolutely the mouse to wield in your gameplay.

The post Logitech G PRO X Superlight 2 Dex LIGHTSPEED Gaming Mouse Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

If you’re looking for something lightweight but completely on the mark and it’s not going to scream out for charging after a few hours of play, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless gaming mouse might be the one.

Made of a light and thin plastic shell casing, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless gaming mouse almost looks standard at first glance. But it has some goods within.

RGB lighting, while minimal, is behind the centre rotator and this mouse is not going to be blinking rainbow hues after you’re done with your gaming marathon, it goes to sleep real quick, within seconds of not being used.

Due to this, the battery life is phenomenal at over 100 hours. Impressive. But what is not so impressive is that it is not rechargeable. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless gaming mouse requires a AA battery. There is no option to cable in to your PC, so you’ll need to make sure you have a spare battery on hand.

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless gaming mouse is super responsive at 650 IPS and good for over 100M clicks. It’s also soft but firm to press. There’s one profile setting option and you can custom all buttons.

You have two methods of connecting. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless gaming mouse comes with a 2.4GHz USB-A dongle or you can use Bluetooth. If you opt for Bluetooth, you can store the dongle inside the mouse, near the battery placement.

I tried out both and found either one to be fully reliable. So really it is up to your preference here, the dongle will give you a more a stable connection, if you have a lot of wireless devices in your gaming room.

At just 61 grams it is never going to cause any wrist fatigue and with the built-in 26K sensor you’re never going to miss a moment, or lose out on some loot.

Given the mouse price point I would have liked to have seen the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless gaming mouse be rechargeable, but placing this aside, it is a solid PC gaming peripheral.

On appearance it’s minimal, until you start using it, then it’s a formidable and super reliable in-game weapon.

The post HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Core Wireless Gaming Mouse Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Soft to the touch, lethal on the battlefield, the HyperX Alloy Rise gaming keyboard is a full sized weapon for your PC gaming.

The mechanical keyboard has hot swappable keys – HyperX even supply a tool for you to extract the keys out, along with a built-in ambient light sensor.

The RGB lighting is second to none. you can customise this to your liking via the NGENUITY software (you’ll need to download this) as well as create up to 10 custom profiles.

The HyperX Alloy Rise gaming keyboard is designed for optimal customisation, you can get and swap out differing plates as well as add badges to it.

The keyboard itself is weighted, it is infact heavier than it looks, this is good, as it prevents the keyboard from sliding about on your desk.

Whether your chatting to your clan mates or playing solo while streaming a playlist, the HyperX Alloy Rise has you sorted for quick controls.

There’s media buttons to the top right of the keyboard. I found the volume toggle to be the most used in both gaming and streaming media.

Each mechanical key has a soft but firm press, and it’s quiet. You’re family or room mates aren’t going to hear you smashing the keys from the other end of the house. It’s stealthy.

This said, I did find that the keys are a wee bit narrow. A lot of the time I’d find myself bumping either side keys while typing, or using the keyboard to play. Something to get used to.

The HyperX Alloy Rise gaming keyboard is full sized so you do need to have a space to accomodate it. There is a numberpad built in and you’ll find there’s a secondar functionality to some keys too, but this comes down to your profile customisations.

Overall, the HyperX Alloy Rise is a solid peripheral for your gaming Rig or laptop without the expense of some other similar branded keyboards.

It gives you a world of customisation, making it your own, all the while being well built, and ready to game when you are.

The post HyperX Alloy Rise Gaming Keyboard Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

It’s time for the players to join the Elite. PlayStation’s Pulse Elite Wireless headset is designed for PlayStation 5 (PS5) gamers to get in the zone and immerse in to the game.

A full sized over-the-head headphone the Pulse Elite Wireless booms with studio-inspired planar magnetic drivers which replicate wide-spanning detailed audio with little to no distortion.

What this means is that you’re going to hear crystal clear gaming definition no matter your choice of title.

The Pulse Elite Wireless connect real easy to your PS5 console via Bluetooth, or even the new remote player, PlayStation Portal (and also PC).

There’s a retractable mic, meaning you can chatter away, or mute and just engross yourself in the experience.

The voice feature uses AI noise rejection technology. Have a noisy household? Not a worry, the Pulse Elite will filter out most background noise so your team mates can hear you loud and clear.

3D sound compatible, and it is this that is my favourite feature on PS5.

You can also dual connect. Rock out to your fav playlist on your phone while connected up and gaming on your PS5.

PlayStation knows that when us gamers play, it’s never a quick session. The Pulse Elite Wireless will see you right for around 30 hours on a full charge.

When you’re done gaming hang the Pulse Elite Wireless on the included stand and they will charge up for the next round.

The Pulse Elite Wireless headset packs so much for a very reasonable price. It will get you through the longest gaming marathons, ensure your ‘feel’ every audible detail and fully submerse you in your game no matter the real world environment you’re in.

Pulse Elite Wireless headset is a must for the players.

The post PS5 Pulse Elite Wireless Headset Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

There are so many options when it comes to headsets, that can vary from the under $100 low end, to the eye wateringly high $800.

The latest Logitech G Astro A50 X sits in that eye watering price range, so the question is, is it worth the money?

The Logitech G Astro A50 X is an interesting beast, as it isn’t just a headset but also works as a HDMI switcher.

As such there are a lot of cables to juggle your way around at first, but once finished your PS5 and Xbox Series X can be plugged into the headsets dock, and then the dock connects to your TV.

Once you have gone through the rigamarole of setting it up, the benefits are immediate.

With the simple press of a button you can change the headset and TV feed to flick from your Xbox to your PS5.  This is some stealthy serious benefits because despite TV’s having plenty of HDMI ports these days, once you have a SkyBox, a Firestick, a Switch and some consoles in, you can run out of HDMI ports fast.

One thing I have liked a lot about Logitech’s high end headsets are their docks.

Having to remember to plug headsets into a USB cable regularly means I run out of juice mid gaming session.  With the dock, when you put it down it is charging, so that’s seriously awesome.

I didn’t always find it the easiest to connect the headset on the dock, but there is a clear orange light to let you know if you got it right.

But a charging dock and HDMI switching isn’t just what you want to buy this headset for right?

You probably want to hear your games with it too. Well great news, the sound quality in this beast is amazing.  Seriously, between the quality of the mic and the sound, this might be the best headset I have used to date.

Whether you are jamming an action packed game, or watching a movie, I just cannot overstate how excellent the sound in the G Astro A50 X is.

The other major question is the comfort. If you’re jamming some long gaming sessions then you will need to be comfortable during it. The cups have a ridiculously soft foam that feels fantastic on your ears. Instead of opting for the leathery types that some headsets use, these beauties have a nice fabric covering which is much nicer, especially in the heat.

The one thing I would note is I would be careful buying these second hand as they wind up holding onto some skin flakes, as I found on this loaned from Logitech headset.

When it comes to style, it’s pretty similar to previous Logitech G Astro A50 X series headsets.

The distinct cylinder style up the sides looks pretty much identical to my older A50’s, and the cups look slightly cooler. Obviously, I can’t guess how long the headset will last, but given it’s similar feeling build, I suspect it will be as sturdy as my older A50’s which have been going strong for a few years.

The serious question is, should you get one.

It is a serious question, because at $800 (NZD) we are talking the entire cost of a new console, or some major component upgrades for your PC.

And honestly, if you can swing it, this headset is worth it. But if pulling $800 on a headset is stretching it for you, there are much cheaper ones that are good enough.

The post Logitech G Astro A50 X Headset Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

There are more headset brands than I can count out there with price ranges from the “yeah I can swing that”, to the “sweet mother of god, how much for a headset?”.

Well Fifine is a company I hadn’t heard of, so I was keen to check out their relatively cheap headset with the Ampligame H9.

Opening the box for this headset it is clear the company has it’s priorities right.

Sure some headsets have a fancy box opening experiences.  Foam holding the headset in a way that is an experience. Well, that experience lasts a few seconds but you’ll be using your headset for years, so less faff and more value is better. Opening the box, the H9 is just sitting there waiting for you to play.

There is one smaller box inside with the USB-A to 3.5mm adapter and the detachable mic. It’s just simple.

The headset itself looks nice. It clearly isn’t a top end headset, but it doesn’t look cheap.

The simple grey and white design, the stitched head padding, the little smiley faces on the outside of the cups.  It’s a very nice looking headset.

As for compatibility, this isn’t a bad effort as far as cheap headset go. The built in cable fits into your 3.5mm jack which is perfect for using with console controllers. This cable is very short but is a great length if you are using it for one of those controllers. It comes with a 2m extension which connects it to a USB-A port.

Here it will work with a lot of devices, but these days USB-C is becoming the more common standard.

So you will need to be wary of that.

The flip side is there is some decent functionality in this little fella.

The 3.5mm jack on the extension cord is a little mixer pad. This lets you put volume up and down, increase or decrease the mic pickup and mute it. Again, not going to blow you away, but functional. The mic also detaches which means you can use them as headphones or a headset on the fly.

Speaking of which, there is the biggest question of how they feel and sound. It is  headset after all.

When it comes to comfort, they are very comfortable. The cushioning on the cups are super soft, and the faux leather is comfortable enough. One issue is that it does let a lot of sound bleed through, but again, budget level headsets here.

The sound is really solid too, like not going to blow your socks off, but very solid for the price point with a simulated 7.1 surround compatibility.

As far as headsets go, the Fifine Ampligame H9 is fine.

In the price range it is solid, but it is likely not going to be your next top headset. If you are looking at the budget end of cabled headsets, you will be happy with the Ampligame H9.

You can connect with Fifine via their social media – Twitter: @FIFINEMIC, Facebook: @FifineStore, Instagram: @fifinemicrophone, Tik Tok: @fifinemicrophone

The post Fifine Ampligame H9 Headset Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Keen to get your play on, but the TV is occupied?

Or maybe you’re just keen to pick up and continue your game from the home office, bedroom, anywhere in the house.

The official PlayStation Portal allows you to do just that.

Looking like a stretched PlayStation 5 (PS5) DualSense controller with a vibrant touch 8 inch LCD screen, you’ll wirelessly connect to your PS5 console over your home WiFi as though you were sitting in front of your main tele or monitor.

From the box there’s a bit of a setup.

Most likely the PlayStation Portal will need a few updates once you have connected it to your WiFi. The review unit that STG Play received did.

You also need to make sure that ‘Remote Play’ function is turned on, on your PS5.

Sony have made the connection seamless, I was expecting it to be a bit trickier, but nope. Really straightforward.

The PlayStation Portal instantly found my PS5 console on my home network and connected. It was game on from there.

While I’d have liked the giant portable screen to have been OLED, despite the LCD route that Sony took, you could easily mistake it for being something of higher quality than LCD. The compressed visuals are stunning. Games run natively at or up to 60fps / 1080p.

There’s sound too. The inbuilt speakers are actually really, really powerful and output a grunty audio. If you have a pair of the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds, or the PlayStation Pulse 3D audio headphones paired to your PS5, then these are the way to go for either full immersion, or to game on the Portal in the wee small hours of the night without disturbing anyone else.

PlayStation 5 has always had remote play. Downloading the app, and connecting up your smartdevice, be it tablet, phone or laptop, being able to play your PS5 and PS4 games library on the go has always been possible. But it wasn’t without it’s caveats.

There can be moments of gameplay lag or graphical rendering issues if your smartdevice is using mobile data, there can even be a few issues if you’re remote playing on a laptop via another WiFi connection, other than your own at home.

The PlayStation Portal is Sony’s way of controlling the experience, keeping it real and making sure that the gaming experience is seamless for the players.

All games that are installed on your PS5 will play – you’re remote viewing and controlling your PS5 console, the console itself is still doing all of the work.

While, initially I was surprised that there was no mobile data option mentioned when the PlayStation Portal was first announced – but having one of these on hand I fully understand why.

Keeping it connected to your home’s WiFi retains fluidity in connection (up to WiFi 6). Out of home it is possible to remote play via hotspotting, but the experience can be a bit choppy . If you’re at a mates place and connected up to their WiFi. Then you’re good.

Chargeable via a supplied USB-C cable, the remote play time will last around 4 hours with a 2 hour charge up (from flat). This said, if you’re deep within the PlayStation zone and the Portal begins to run low, plug in to a USB charger and keep going.

PlayStation Portal is a mid-priced accessory to get you gaming in an instant at home and a must have accessory for the serious PlayStation player to game on the go.

The post PlayStation Portal Hands-on Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Go extra wide with Samsung’s 49 inch Odyssey OLED G9 mini-LED curved gaming monitor.

STG received a screen for review, and from the box there’s a bit of DIY.

You’ll get the super wide screen, stand and base with the required cables, including power and display connector cables.

The stand and base are in two separate bits, but it’s relatively easy putting them together. The stand itself clicks in to place and a single screw mounts the base to the stand.

Plug in your power and display connector cable and you’re good to go. Almost.

The Samsung 49 inch Odyssey OLED G9 has an onscreen menu. You may need to toggle through the settings to get your display working from Display port to HDMI or vice versa. I also advise that you check the capabilities of your Graphics Card (if using on PC) as this will help with applying the correct modes on to your screen.

To say that the Samsung 49 inch Odyssey OLED G9 monitor has a lot of screen real estate is an understatement.

For day-to day use (non-gaming) you can easily have multiple windows open, making the Odyssey OLED G9 to the likes of a dual monitor setup on a single screen.

There’s RGB lighting at the back, which is super cool, but not so effective in a darker environment. It’s just not quite bright enough.

Around the back you have more ports than you’ll ever need. There’s HDMI and Display Adaptor ports of course. In addition to those is a micro-HDMI and USB-A’s.

For the review model received, which was sadly in a well used condition, we tried both HDMI cable (not supplied) and Display port.

Ensuring that your GC (Graphics Card) is compatible with the 32:9 ratio and 5120 x 1440 resolution as well as HDR10+ you’re ready to get in to gaming, like you’ve never experienced before.

Some games tended to auto box – but this can be sorted for a fullscreen within that particular game’s menu / display settings. This is game specific though.

The 240Hz refresh and 0.03ms response rate really pays off if you’re playing something fast paced or when you need to react quickly and need know the threats as they appear in real time.

Despite the condition of the monitor that was sent to us, the OLED was popping, bright, detailed and on most games, having that extra graphical render space was mint.

The Odyssey OLED G9 monitor will require a large space. Bear this in mind when you’re looking to upsize your current screen. While the base is small it’s that super wide curved girth you’ll need to consider.

A killer gaming screen that makes gaming even that more submersible, but it does come at a price.

The Samsung 49 inch Odyssey OLED G9 monitor is a few thousand dollars of kit that is aimed at the serious PC players out there to loot, shoot and win on the battlefield.

The post Samsung 49″ Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Monitor Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.