Bren's stats
- Review count237
- Helpfulness votes1,745
- First reviewDecember 27, 2016
- Last reviewOctober 11, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count11
- Helpfulness votes1
- First answerDecember 27, 2016
- Last answerNovember 4, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
ROG Azoth X is a 75% wireless gaming keyboard with DIY-level customization and premium features keyboard. It features a metal top cover, south-facing PCB, silicone gasket mount, FR4 positioning plate, and five-layer dampening for a smooth, cushioned keystroke feel. Hot-swappable, pre-lubed ROG NX switches V2 ensure consistent, responsive typing, while three-sided translucent keycaps enhance aesthetics.
Customer Rating
5
A truly high-end gaming keyboard experience!
on October 11, 2025
Posted by: Bren
This keyboard is likely the best I have reviewed in its price range from a major brand gaming PC peripheral maker in many respects. Among them is the fact that I feel like there is no detail on this keyboard that “misses”. It feels like a custom keyboard, with all the tiny details that you would hope for, combined with the conveniences and compatibility of a bigger, brand-name maker.
The initial impression I got when unboxing this keyboard was being floored by how unique and outstanding this keyboard looks. It is like a mid-80s technology pipe dream meeting a Cyberpunk 2077 Gamer aesthetic. The three-sided translucent keys look stunning, even straight out of the box! Even more so when you plug it in, but more on that later in the review. The rest of the unboxing is excellent. I am grateful to see more PC peripheral companies reducing their reliance on plastic in packaging and instead exploring creative ways to protect accessories with additional cardboard and paper-based materials. This keyboard comes fully equipped with the full range of accessories I would expect at this flagship price-level keyboard. You receive the keyboard, a keyboard wrist rest, a USB cable, a USB dongle, a USB extender, a Switch puller, a keycap puller, and even some extra switches!
I will admit that I am no keyboard expert, but I have indeed reviewed many gaming keyboards, and I would love to share a few of the outstanding features of this keyboard design and build. First of all, this keyboard has a truly hefty weight, which speaks to its overall quality. The linear keyboard switches feel so amazing to type on and are already lubricated from the factory, so the typing experience feels outstanding whether writing or gaming. The sound is also really satisfying without having an over-the-top “clack” on the return of the key, as some linear switches will result in. As other reviewers have pointed out, when I use this keyboard wirelessly via the 2.4GHz USB-A dongle, I don't notice any latency at all.
I put this keyboard to the test against a few of my favorite games, including Doom Eternal, and I was not disappointed. This game is one of the most demanding FPS games I’ve played in terms of every key press needing to be precise and responsive, as I frantically maneuver the Doom Slayer around the killing arena like a death-guided ballistic missile. This is a game that I have reviewed keyboards for in the past, and I have easily been able to notice flaws, such as key presses being ignored by the keyboard or input lag so severe that movements or weapon actions occur at improper times. This keyboard performed exceptionally well, and I encountered no issues during several Horde mode arena clearings.
The RGB and Lighting of this keyboard are among my top 3 favorites I have seen on a keyboard to date. I love that the 3-sided clear keys allow for such a great RGB lighting profile to shine through without being overbearing or glaring right into your eyes from the desktop while gaming or typing. I also love that the OLED screen on the keyboard and handy 3-way knob allow you to scroll through color patterns and brightness on the fly. I have become more discerning as I have become more seasoned in my gaming life, and I really dislike having to install multiple software brands on my gaming PC to utilize their custom features. Thanks to the convenience built into this keyboard, I do not have to do that!
I am going to quickly go through a few things that I really like about this keyboard. The USB-A dongle has a storage spot on the keyboard, but unlike other flagship keyboards I have tested, this one is magnetized. The USB-A dongle snaps in with a very satisfying click, which reassures me that it won't come loose if I travel with this keyboard in a backpack or similar. I love the OLED screen and the information it gives. It is useful without being overbearing, and I have always enjoyed being able to control things like the volume from my keyboard easily without having to press an FN key first. The keycaps themselves feel sturdy and remind me, as I alluded to earlier, of the robust keyboards that were present on computers in the last decade of the 20th century, made of durable plastics that felt substantial as you pressed each key.
Overall, I am thrilled with this keyboard and still have much to explore in terms of creating on-the-fly macros and more! I would highly recommend giving this keyboard a shot, as it is one of the better ones I have ever reviewed in this price range.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Keep your car protected at all times with the world~s first truly Smart Dash Cam. The Nextbase iQ 4K gives you eyes on your vehicle even when you're not there, using Live View and real-time alerts to help prevent theft, damage, or suspicious activity before it happens. Built-in 4G connectivity and advanced AI turn your dash cam into a connected security system for your car.
Customer Rating
4
Very advanced and comprehensive dashcam!
on October 5, 2025
Posted by: Bren
This is a truly comprehensive dashcam package, providing everything you need to fully equip your vehicle with technology that offers monitoring and safety in situations one hopes never to encounter, but which can be a reality for modern motorists. What really drew me into this camera was the fact that you have both front, cabin, and rear window cameras all ready to go in a synchronized system. I don’t like mixing and matching monitoring technologies, whether for home security or car security, so this kit suited me nicely. I was also appreciative of the fact that I had multiple options for wiring power to this webcam, both OBDII and a hardwire kit option. This flexibility is outstanding since I am running an overland truck set up and I have wires running all over the place for radios, extra lights, etc. and wanted to have maximum flexibility in my dash cam set up. There are only a few detractions to this setup that I will mention. First of all, this Webcam is huge! I managed to get it slightly tucked away behind my rearview mirror, but it is a bulky piece of tech and definitely stands out visually on the windshield. The other thing I noticed is that the app is sometimes super slow to respond and getting videos off of the webcam via the wifi/Bluetooth connection is brutally slow. I am sure this can be worked on with a firmware update, but I just wish this is something that worked better out of the box.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Developed with Fnatic, the H9 II delivers pro-level clarity with carbon composite drivers and advanced noise canceling. At approx. 260g, it~s built for long play, with a boom mic that cuts ambient noise and dual wireless connectivity to keep game and chat in sync.
Customer Rating
5
An expensive but worthy upgrade for Sony fans!
on September 24, 2025
Posted by: Bren
I am very excited about this next-generation Sony INZONE H9 II Headset! Honestly, it is one of the best entries into the gamer accessory space that Sony has made, to date. I think on this H9 II headset, they have finally arrived at how to make it feel worth its price tag in terms of minimizing plasticky feeling materials and matching performance and versatility to that equation as well!
I really enjoy my blended use of this headset. The Bluetooth connection makes it a perfect companion for me when I am on the go and want to have some quality audio for my tunes. I actually this while out mowing my lawn and the active noise canceling was more than a match for the hum of my Toro 22” electric mower! I was super impressed by that. Further impressive was my experience of then getting to go back in with the exact same headset and hooking up to my PC via 2.4ghz wireless connection in order to play some Gears of War Reloaded! High-end headsets just can’t be beat in terms of versatility like this.
Speaking of video games, the preset audio profiles the Sony Inzone software has for gaming are actually quite impressive. They have varying FPS settings, including one that is dedicated to enhancing footsteps and enemy movements. In games like Hunt: Showdown and THE FINALS, it is so handy to have this edge if you feel like pulling on your competitive hat and trying to clutch some fights.
Overall, I have really no criticisms of this headset. Gaming peripherals have come a LONG way in the last 10 years, and I never thought I would be using a headset like this as a replacement in day-to-day life for dedicated audio headphones while still being able to take it home and game! Altogether, 5 out of 5 stars for sure!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
The HOVERAir X1 helps you capture stunning, hands-free videos of your favorite moments. Designed for ultimate ease of use, the X1 features a compact, foldable design, a quick 3-second takeoff from your palm, and intuitive self-flying modes. Its triple stabilization system ensures smooth, shake-free footage, while the built-in gimbal camera captures sharp 12MP photos and Ultra HD 2.7K HDR videos. With 32GB of built-in storage, you can save and access your footage easily using the Hover X1 app.
Customer Rating
5
Super fun and basic camera drone!
on September 19, 2025
Posted by: Bren
I have gotten a serious kick out of getting to use this little drone. I described it to my wife as really more of a “camera with hovering and smart filming features” than a typical remote-control drone, as we have come to think about them. This drone presents all kinds of features that I think would be a hit for those who are interested in trying out a drone with a camera, but don’t quite want to be responsible for full remote control of the drone. The app does allow manual landing of the drone though, so this is available as an important safety feature!
This drone comes with several features that are very thoughtful and appreciated as a customer. For one, the fact that this comes with two batteries with multiple methods for charging is excellent! The dual battery charger cradle can easily be powered by a good USB power bank and provide plenty of charge to these small drone batteries. Furthermore, you can charge the battery while it is plugged into the drone with an onboard USB-C plugin, complete with onboard charging indicators so you can know when you are ready for your next flight! With about 11 minutes of flight time, it is nice to have two batteries so you can swap them in and out between charges and flights!
It has 32GB of on-board storage, about 24 seems usable. This is honestly plenty in my opinion for a drone with 11 minutes or so of flight time and easy downloads of high-quality videos to your phone via the Hoverair app. There is no compatibility on this model for a removable SD card.
Altogether, I am very pleased with this drone. It is vastly better featured than its price would indicate and I think you should absolutely look into it if you are considering a more autonomous drone option! Thanks for reading and good luck with your purchase!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Meet the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker. Master Grill, Fool-proof BBQ Smoker, and Convection Baker and Roaster all in one with 100% authentic woodfire flavors. With Ninja Woodfire Technology, easily create rich, fully developed woodfire flavors with anything you make.
Customer Rating
3
Very handy cooking for the back patio enthusiast!
on August 5, 2025
Posted by: Bren
I have always wanted to play around with smokers like a Trager, but I have never wanted to deal with the hassle. I love smoked foods, but I had messes and ongoing frustrating maintenance that some of these smokers seem to entail. When I found this Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill and Smoker, I was intrigued. I have been cooking on a small propane barbeque for a while as well as a Blackstone griddle, so I was really curious to see how this compact but utilitarian grill would fit into our weekly cooking routine. Well, I am happy to report that it has found itself to now be a STAPLE of our cooking schedule!
The deal is, I am a busy millennial dad, and I desire simplicity and straightforward means to cook. I don’t need a charcoal grill I have to baby and nurse into being and consistent temperatures over an hour’s time. I just want something that I can turn on, add food to, and then take off the grill when it is done. This outdoor grill meets that need perfectly with built in temperature settings, cooking modes, timers, and foolproof instructions on a handy cooking guide even down to which time and temperature for various cuts and sizes of meats and foods! I will say that for grilling, it takes up to 18 minutes for it to get through preheating, but once it is heated, it cooks quite a bit faster than I am used too! I thick sirloin that normally takes 15 minutes with one flip in the middle on my propane grill only took about 8 means! Much of this has to do with how consistent the heat is across the Ninja grill plate according to my laser temperature probe and the fact that the overhead fan component of the grill is constantly circulating the heat above the food within the well-insulated environment of the grill. In other words, this grill is really efficient!
The smoking function is really cool and something I plan on exploring a lot more as I go on. The included booklet has some great ideas for recipes for pork shoulder and more and I want to explore those. The included pellets imparted a pretty good flavor and color on a sirloin that I grilled and smoked, but I will certainly be exploring more pellet options as I go. It should be noted that only pellets approved for use with the Ninja woodfire grill should be used, you can’t just go use random pellets from any old smoker!
One place I have to knock two stars off from is that I have noticed that on my very hot back patio in the summer heat, where it can exceed 105 degrees in the direct sunlight, this Ninja grill will just shut off! I have trouble shot it and even attempted direct plug in to the outlet with the built in power cord, so it isn’t a short or a problem with power rating and delivery. It must be some sort of safety mechanism or malfunction, but seems silly given that this is a GRILL that is supposed to be able to handle high temperatures. I will be consulting with customer service for more info, and will be back to update my review if they are helpful and this problem I experienced was just a one off unit experience.
Altogether, this is a very compelling little outdoor cooking device, but it needs some more evaluation for me to decide whether I would really go about recommending it to friends and family. Thanks for reading and I hope this review was helpful!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The esports headset trusted by pros evolves for ultimate dominance. Stay ahead of the competition with the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro~an advanced wireless ANC esports headset. Upgraded with industry-leading ultra-low latency wireless technology and a full band mic, victory is all but assured.
Customer Rating
5
Another excellent high-end headset from Razer!
on July 23, 2025
Posted by: Bren
I have had the blissful experience of getting to use this gaming headset for over a week and honestly, I am hooked. Razer really knows how to make gaming PC peripherals that just effortlessly blend into my daily use. I really love that this headset supports simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4ghz connectivity and audio! Being able to listen to music and game audio on my computer while watching a YouTube podcast on my phone at the same time is so great and supports my undiagnosed ADHD, haha! The audio of the headset itself is really great. I think that the esports setting is my favorite of the preset options as it seems to emphasize a good blend of mids and treble without going excessive on the bass.
The set up of these headphones was very easy. The Razer Synapse 4 software was prepared to update the firmware on the headset and all the settings were able to be managed appropriately on it when I first powered it on with the 2.4ghz wireless receiver plugged in. Speaking of, all the included cables are fabric braided and the 2.4ghz receiver is able to be placed wherever in your set up you need it with the hook up to a USB-C to USB-A braided cable that is about 3-4 feet long. The only thing that I have found to be lacking is ambient noise mode and microphone. I could use more volume on my ambient surrounds when in that mode and I the microphone comes through sounding rather compressed and tinny at times.
Altogether, I think this is yet another amazing iteration of the Blackshark gaming headset from Razer and they demonstrate a versatility and usefulness that is bound to be appreciated by most any user!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Slash through the game with blazing-fast tri-band speeds up to 18 Gbps, featuring AFC System, 320~MHz bandwidth, Multi-Link Operation, and one-tap gaming acceleration.
Customer Rating
5
The one Wifi-Router to rule them all!!
on July 15, 2025
Posted by: Bren
FINALLY! I have done it. I have acquired a gaming router that is actually set up for a highly intense household full of internet-connected items and people who like to game, stream, and use the internet all at once! We at last have a router that can handle our upgraded 2.5Gbps that we pay good coin for and that can distribute these speeds consistently and intelligently across our whole household! What is crazy about this router, among many things, is that it is so robust and powerful that it has a quad-core 2.0GHz CPU in it! This crazy router has as powerful a CPU as my first gaming laptop in 2015, haha!! To compound my happiness, it really is set up for connection with devices for the next 5 plus years to my reckoning, given that it is full triband (2.4ghz, 5.0ghz, and 6.0ghz) and that it has so many LAN ports and connectivity tricks up its sleeve to keep our house running for the long haul.
We legitimately have 30-plus devices connected to wifi. We are a government spying conspiracy theorist’s worst nightmare. We have Echo Dots, smart bulbs, smart picture frames, a smart thermostat, laptops, desktops, cellphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, projectors, Fire TV Sticks, Apple TV, security cameras, and even our baby monitor is hooked up to wifi! As such, security and reliability are my top priorities, and this monitor gives me extreme confidence in that regard. As I have read that there are a fair number of glitches with some of the features right now, I have this set up and am using it very basically right now with all of my devices hooked up. But I am excited for the possibility of playing with more of the AI enhancement features and such later on as this router gets through its growing pains!
Altogether, this is a 5 out of 5 star wifi router. Beyond a mesh system with multiple routers or “nodes”, I just don’t think you are going to go much more top of the line or as wide based on coverage of even very large homes in the 2500-3500 square feet realm than with this router!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Inspiron 14 Copilot+ PC with on-device AI. Fly through your to-do list with the Copilot+ Inspiron 14 PC, featuring responsive performance and exceptional battery life, virtually anywhere.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent performance at a 2025 budget price!
on July 12, 2025
Posted by: Bren
The Dell Inspiron line of laptops is not one that has ever stood out in my mind in terms of high quality or excellence. However, this laptop offers the right blend of price, features, and performance that I think many students and or businesses will appreciate for general productivity and web application use!
The build quality of the laptop is reasonable but not incredible. The laptop lid is not one-finger open capable, with a poorly tuned and very tight hinge that does not go flat or flip entirely over. The keyboard has a standard layout with a surprisingly excellent, quiet, and gentle typing feel. People with achy fingers or arthritis will love typing on this keyboard. The keycaps are a soft touch and quite comfortable to type on for extended periods of time. I am currently typing the review on this keyboard, and I would have zero problems using this for a full day of work or college-level essay typing. The only major disappointment for me is that the keyboard is not backlit. This is a surprising and disappointing finding in the setting of laptops in this same price range that have backlit keyboards. I don’t know why Dell decided to cheap out on this, but I do not appreciate it. The touchpad on this laptop is a traditional springboard-style trackpad with easier mechanical clicks at the bottom and impossible to click at the top. It is pleasant to use but not as great as haptic trackpad offerings out there.
The speakers on this laptop are slightly above average in the world of Windows laptops in terms of loudness and sound quality. The screen is a “good enough” 300 nits’ brightness 1920x1200p screen (basically full HD) that looks great and performs as expected at this price. It has a 60hz refresh and does not support a variable refresh rate that can drop lower or higher based on your needs, which is a bummer as this can contribute to improved battery life. This is not a touch screen, and the scaling of the desktop in the Windows settings was set at 150% out of the box, which looked terrible to my eyes. I set it to 125% and it looked much better scaled with more usable workspace for apps and web browser pages on the 14” screen.
Regarding some of the key specs, here is what you have on this particular laptop. It is equipped with a new 2025 Snapdragon ARM chip which is one of QUALCOMM’s newer 8 core 8 thread models that is still equipped with a ‘neural processing unit’ or NPU that is capable of handling modern AI tasks. This is not the fastest Snapdragon chip currently available, but I think it is going to be perfectly serviceable for most users. It has 16 GB of blazing-fast RAM built into the laptop, no upgradable RAM here after it leaves the factory. However, 16 GB is precisely the minimum of RAM I would recommend to most users these days, so I am glad Dell didn’t cheap out here with 8 GB of RAM. The 512 GB SSD in this laptop is large enough to be serviceable for most and is quite fast with well over 6400MB/s read speeds!
Benchmarks: The Geekbench 6 scores show an interesting comparison between the higher end Snapdragon Plus chip available in some of the other Dell Inspiron line up offerings. I got a single core score of 1707 and multicore score of 5869. This is quite a lot slower than the Snapdragon Plus processor with a single core score of 2285 and a multicore score of 12790. However, this chip is more than powerful enough for basic computing tasks, productivity, and web apps. I personally noticed no difference in the speed of my workflow compared to my other computers that I am used to using, like my desktop PC with an i7 13700F processor. I also got a Speedometer 3.1 score on balanced mode on battery of well into the high 20's, which is highly respectable given that the test is all about how rapidly a computer can cycle through a demanding web app task sequence. This test is very relevant in an era where more and more workflows are being done through web apps rather than programs downloaded onto the computer itself.
Now, to clear up a few expectations on this laptop. This Inspiron model is NOT one of these proclaimed 20-hour battery-life laptops. Based on my real-world mixed power use and screen brightness on balanced battery life, this is shaping up to be a 10–12-hour battery to me, tops. This is still excellent and vastly better than what higher-end mobile Intel processors have managed to return in recent times, so I know Windows lovers are going to be stoked to have a powerful and efficient laptop. Another expectation to clear up is that this is not a silent machine. This has a fan built in, and I was surprised to find that it spun up a lot to cool the laptop, even when doing low-intensity tasks like web browsing and Word processing. I will say that according to HWmonitor, my temperatures stayed nice and cool even during intensive benchmarking. Regardless, hearing fans is never my favorite thing on a professional on-the-go laptop.
Altogether, I give this specific Dell Inspiron five stars out of five. This is a high-performing laptop that can be had, particularly on sale, at an amazing price-to-value ratio. Thanks for reading my review. I hope it has been helpful!
Altogether, I give this specific Dell Inspiron five stars out of five. This is a high-performing laptop that can be had, particularly on sale, at an amazing price-to-value ratio. Thanks for reading my review. I hope it has been helpful!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Designed for Pet Families~The eufy Robot Vacuum E28. Say goodbye to fur, dander, and pet messes. The eufy E28 is built for homes with pets, delivering powerful 20,000Pa suction and anti-tangle DuoSpiral brushes that lift hair from every surface. The HydroJet one-pass mopping system cleans without streaks, while the detachable spot cleaner handles muddy pawprints and spills on the spot. Maintenance? Not your job. The smart base auto-empties, washes, dries, and refills~so you never touch the mess. CornerRover reaches edges where pet hair hides, and AI-powered navigation avoids bowls, toys, and tails. Control everything from your phone for a truly hands-free clean. Let E28 handle the mess, so you can enjoy more snuggles~not scrubbing.
Customer Rating
5
Incredible product for the busy, messy household!
on July 9, 2025
Posted by: Bren
I cannot begin to describe what an upgrade and overall boon this robot vacuum and carpet cleaner combination has been in our lives! We have a very busy household with wood floors in the dining room and kitchen with carpet in the rest of our house that see a lot of use between two adults, a labradoodle, and a 14-month old toddler who is finding new ways everyday to exercise her new mobility while creating messes and spills in the process. Enter the Eufy cleaning station I will call it. I would say that is probably taking a cumulative 2 hours of vacuuming weekly off of our plate with the consistent vacuuming cycles we are assigning it to do each day. Furthermore, the mopping is really quite handy for keeping the floors generally tidy. It is not a substitute for a real mop if you have a super large mess on the floor or a lot of debris (i.e., handfuls of macaroni and cheese tossed into giant globs on the ground by a eager toddler), but it really helps to keep a general shine to the floors between our spot cleaning! The carpet cleaning station has also been really valued by us! I spent quite a lot of time with it on our couches, chairs, and some area rugs that had small spills and stains and I was quite impressed by the results it yielded!
Altogether, this is a 5 out of 5 star product for me. I think your expectations have to be reasonably in line with what this is really meant to do!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Experience the height of gaming innovation with the ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring an all-new premium aluminum chassis with customizable lighting, this laptop merges style and durability. Its ultra-slim 0.59~ profile and lightweight 4.08lbs 16~ chassis redefines portability, but does not compromise on performance. Powered by Windows 11, the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, the Zephyrus G16 seamlessly aligns with your lifestyle, meeting all your gaming and creative demands. ROG Intelligent Cooling features liquid metal for reduced CPU temperatures and upgraded Arc Flow Fans for improved airflow to sustain peak performance on the Zephyrus G16 no matter the task. Immerse yourself in the OLED Nebula Display and enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 2.5K resolution, and a smooth 240Hz refresh rate.
Customer Rating
5
One of my favorite laptops ever!
on July 2, 2025
Posted by: Bren
I am having difficulty even starting this review, not because of any problem or negative views of the laptop, but just because of how good it is! I suppose one way I could sum up this laptop is that, in the present time, in entering quarter three of 2025, this is what a two-thousand-dollar laptop should look like, feel like, sound like, perform like! It cannot be denied that this is a pricey device. Nor can it be accurately stated that this is the greatest dollar-to-performance gaming laptop in the category. However, no gaming laptop I have ever reviewed in over a decade of doing laptop reviews has ever quite captured this grouping of features that just launches this sixteen-inch screen beauty into a high place of honor for both everyday productivity/school use and gaming. Let’s go on to detail some of those now.
First of all, the hardware and build quality of this laptop is basically perfect for what I look for in laptops. Full aluminum chassis, smooth one-finger-opening screen hinge, lusciously comfortable keyboard typing experience, generously sized and smooth-feeling trackpad, speakers loud enough to fill a couple of rooms with quality and full-range audio (in point of fact, the best gaming laptop speakers I have EVER heard, period). A screen with such rapid response and vivid beauty! It is all – just - here!
My normal strategy with my laptop reviews is to give super nerdy, in-depth insights into the laptop. In this era of amazing YouTube reviewers and quality blogs, though, I feel like my best served purpose in this instance is to try to convey to the best of my ability the emotional and visceral feeling of using this laptop.
When you first boot it on, you are greeted by the deep, perfect blacks of a certified OLED screen in all of its inky glory. The 16” screen brightens with the Windows login page and, when set up, you are welcomed into the use of your device with the handy Windows Hello camera option for login. Loading the home page of this device is lightning fast, the 16GB of soldered on 7467 MT/s RAM and 6700 mb/S speed NVMe SSD work in cooperation with the Core Ultra 9 285H CPU to ensure you have a fantastic workflow experience on day to day productivity tasks. And when you are ready to game plugged in, this machine stands up admirably to the task, delivering triple A gaming at max settings on almost all newer titles tested including Doom The Dark Ages, the latest update of Hunt: Showdown 1896, and on intensive VR games like Pavlov VR hooked up to a MetaQuest two! The fans can get a little noisy, but since it is a larger laptop with bigger fans and more breathing room, they make more of a constant “whooshing” sound rather than an aggravating whine and whir sound that some smaller gaming laptops tend to emit at high fan speeds.
At the risk of being repetitive, I just want to touch on a couple more of my absolute key features. First, as a MacBook user (yes, I admitted it), this laptop is a true match in build quality while possessing GREATLY more utility for a gamer-centric laptop user. Furthermore, the device possesses greater versatility in use with more I/O built in, like USB-A ports, while remaining a highly comfortable thickness. The keyboard is also a fantastic one, perfect for day to day typing of essays, emails, or whatever else you have in mind! This very review is being written on the laptop keyboard and I have no greater fatigue with it over my usual keyboards I type on.
This also almost goes without saying, but this laptop is NOT an all-day device on battery. It is super optimized with Nvidia Optimus built in which switches the laptop to using the built in graphics on the Intel Core Ultra 9 chip instead to the dedicated GPU which saves power, and it is also capable on silent mode in the Armory crate settings of toning down the power factors overall so you can enjoy about 3 to 4 hours of unplugged basic productivity use. Thus, my favorite way to use this laptop is on Silent mode for the battery savings and quieting of the fans, while switching the screen to 240hz refresh. I know that this is a source of inefficiency, but I just value a smooth display so much and since you are paying for this gorgeous OLED high refresh speed panel, I recommend you take full advantage of it for gaming and non-gaming scenarios! One MASSIVE benefit I found with this laptop that you are going to love. It is capable of charging at partial power over USB-C!!! Yes. You read that right, you do not have to bring around the 200watt power brick and dedicated charger all the time! I hooked up my 100-watt capable power supply to this laptop via USB-C, and it was pulling in the full 100 watts! Albeit, you do get warnings from the system that this is not enough power to run at full performance for gaming, etc., but the scenario I imagine using USB-C for is when I am at work with a laptop and just need to top it off without bothering to lug around a 200-watt charging brick! This is a great feature that honestly takes this laptop above and beyond competitors who do not offer this feature in terms of flexibility and versatility!
The ONLY thing on this laptop I can find some fault with is the trackpad. It is gigantic, which is super handy for navigating a large screen like this, but I have encountered some palm rejection issues while typing. Additionally, despite my griping and complaining on every platform I can manage, the trackpad is STILL not being offered with a haptic trackpad option. With companies out there like Sensel creating incredible haptic trackpads for Windows laptops, I would just truly hope that someday one of these gaming laptop companies gets on board with adding one. I know that for most gamers, this is not a necessity, given most of us will game with a mouse. But for those wishing to use a device like this as a multi-purpose work, school, and gaming device, it would be so great to have that option! A couple of other, far more minor complaints are the following: The outside does pick up fingerprints quite a lot; I am really hoping that a company like dbrand eventually releases as high-quality skin to help mitigate this issue. I basically find the slash lighting on the lid to be kind of silly and show-offy, so I keep it turned off most of the time.
Altogether, I will give this laptop an absolute 5 out of 5 stars. My very few complaints are so minimal compared to the veritable landslide of incredible features found on this laptop. I am so grateful to have this machine in my possession, and I would highly recommend that anyone comparing a gaming laptop in this category and price range give this one some serious consideration!
Altogether, I will give this laptop an absolute 5 out of 5 stars. My very few complaints are so minimal compared to the veritable landslide of incredible features found on this laptop. I am so grateful to have this machine in my possession, and I would highly recommend that anyone comparing a gaming laptop in this category and price range give this one some serious consideration!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Bren's Review Comments
Bren has not submitted comments on any reviews.
Bren's Questions
Bren has not submitted any questions.
From America's most trusted printer brand, the HP Smart Tank 7001 is a smart, connected and refillable tank printer that makes printing seamless for the whole family with its high capacity and wireless connectivity. Create everyday color documents at a low cost with up to 2 years of Original HP Ink included in the box~. It's AI-enabled to intuitively adapt to your workflow, with wireless and security features that keep your multifunction printer up to date and secure.
Is it supported by Big Sur Op System? Does it work with airprint?
It does work with airprint! I am having no problems on my Apple MBP currently :)
3 years, 11 months ago
by
Bren
The Canon imageFORMULA R10 portable document scanner is simple to set up and easy to use, anywhere. Easily convert paper documents to searchable digital files, using the built-in software, to get and stay organized.
Does this product scan both sides of a document? Is this user friendly? Thank you
Yes, it does scan both sides of a document and a card! I found it to be extremely user friendly, I just had to be patient with the updates to the software and firmware upon first setting it up :)
3 years, 11 months ago
by
Bren
The Apex 5 gaming keyboard has hybrid mechanical switches that combine the smoothness of a membrane switch with the added durability, performance, and satisfying tactile click of a blue mechanical switch. It also has per-key RGB customization, OLED Smart Display, aluminum alloy frame, premium magnetic wrist rest, and more.
Can the key caps be switched out with other key caps
Yes! They are compatible with most Cherry MX keycaps! From Steelseries' Blog post on the hybrid mechanical switches, "Like a blue switch, it registers a keypress with a click at 2mm, bottoms out at 4mm, and requires 50cn of force to press. Because it is a mechanical switch, you can even put aftermarket keycaps on them"
5 years, 6 months ago
by
Bren
The PRO headset from Logitech G is designed with and for esports pros. Aluminum forks, steel headband, and memory foam and premium leatherette head and ear pads keep you comfortable through marathon training and competition sessions. Pro-G 50mm drivers deliver incredibly accurate audio with improved bass response. The advanced USB DAC has a five-band onboard EQ that can be programmed via G HUB software with settings from your favorite esports pros. Pro-tuned, detachable boom mic with wind screen and pop filter ensures your comms are crystal clear. Designed for PC.
do these work for ps4?
Yes, the cable will plug into your PS4 controller and be good to go for use for audio and microphone use, no problem!
6 years, 2 months ago
by
Bren
With its Bluetooth interface, this Logitech MX Anywhere 2 910-004373 wireless mouse enables you to pair with up to 3 Bluetooth Smart Ready devices simultaneously. Darkfield Laser Tracking technology allows operation on most surfaces, including glass.
Does this product work for gaming?
Extremely well, depending on your needs. I use it for battlefield 1 and Doom and I love it. The programable buttons work awesome. For RPGs you may want a mouse that has more programable buttons, depending on your style :) If that is the case, I recommend the one's below:
Products from my answer
Razer - Naga Epic Chroma Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse - Black
(315)
Razer - Naga Hex V2 Wired Laser Gaming Mouse with Chroma Lighting - Black
(188)
Razer - Naga Chroma USB MMO Gaming Mouse - Black
(903)8 years, 7 months ago
by
Bren
Razer Blade Laptop: Developed in partnership with Intel and NVIDIA, the Razer Blade delivers performance to run the most demanding games of today. Powered by an Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU, NVIDIA GeForce graphics processor and a 14" LED display, you'll be blown away by the immersive visuals of your games in crisp high definition 1080p.The Razer Blade features 6th Gen. Intel Core i7 quad-core processor. This ensures your games and media playback run with powerful processing performance anywhere, anytime.The Razer Blade features a high-performance NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. This means you play games the way they were meant to be played, with fluid frame rates and rich DirectX 12 graphics, and in VR.With NVIDIA Optimus technology, the Razer Blade combines great performance and great battery life by intelligently delivering power only when you need it, and conserving it when you don't.
Is this with QHD or Full HD?
Razer Blade Laptop: Developed in partnership with Intel and NVIDIA, the Razer Blade delivers performance to run the most demanding games of today. Powered by an Intel Core i7 quad-core CPU, NVIDIA GeForce graphics processor and a 14" LED display, you'll be blown away by the immersive visuals of your games in crisp high definition 1080p.The Razer Blade features 6th Gen. Intel Core i7 quad-core processor. This ensures your games and media playback run with powerful processing performance anywhere, anytime.The Razer Blade features a high-performance NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. This means you play games the way they were meant to be played, with fluid frame rates and rich DirectX 12 graphics, and in VR.With NVIDIA Optimus technology, the Razer Blade combines great performance and great battery life by intelligently delivering power only when you need it, and conserving it when you don't.
is this the newest one razer blade?
Only at Best BuyPlay your way to the top with this HP OMEN notebook. The Intel Core i7 processor provides lightning-fast response times, and the 1TB hard drive is enough for all your favorite games and apps with room to spare for music and video files. This HP OMEN notebook has a full-size backlit keyboard for fast, easy typing.
How long does the battery last and can the ram be upgrade
Battery has averaged 2.5 to 3 hours under normal use and 1 hour or so with gaming (as should be expected in any gaming laptop, really). The RAM can be upgraded given you are patient and careful when you unscrew and pry open the back. 8GB of 2133Mhz RAM is what it has stock in one of the two available slots.
8 years, 9 months ago
by
Bren
Only at Best BuyPlay your way to the top with this HP OMEN notebook. The Intel Core i7 processor provides lightning-fast response times, and the 1TB hard drive is enough for all your favorite games and apps with room to spare for music and video files. This HP OMEN notebook has a full-size backlit keyboard for fast, easy typing.
will programs be installed on the ssd before the hdd
Yes, they will be. By default to allow quick bootup and accessing times. You can select the 1TB "D" drive though when you are downloading. I keep all of my games on the 1TB drive and it has worked perfectly.
8 years, 9 months ago
by
Bren
Only at Best BuyPlay your way to the top with this HP OMEN notebook. The Intel Core i7 processor provides lightning-fast response times, and the 1TB hard drive is enough for all your favorite games and apps with room to spare for music and video files. This HP OMEN notebook has a full-size backlit keyboard for fast, easy typing.