nickcal's stats
- Review count323
- Helpfulness votes1,307
- First reviewFebruary 22, 2014
- Last reviewJuly 11, 2025
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- Average rating4.7
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- First answerMay 23, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 7, 2020
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Customer Rating
5
High-performance in a pro-level designed product
on July 11, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve been using the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro for about a week, and I must say it’s been one of the best mouse experiences I’ve ever had. I’m moving to the mouse from the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro, which is heavier and chunkier. Even though the Basilisk is better suited for hybrid gaming situations due to its thumb rest, I’ve found the DeathAdder to be a wonderful work companion as well as a gaming mouse.
The first thing I noticed was how lightweight it is. It’s only half of what the Basilisk is, and it’s classified as ‘ultralight’ by Razer. It’s a little different than what I’m used to in terms of connection. The mouse comes with a Razer Hyperspeed Wireless dongle, which is the bridge between the mouse and the host computer. Once you plug that into your computer and power on the mouse, the DeathAdder is connected. There is no hassle with Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz USB dongle. It just works. I haven’t had any connection issues and have found the responsiveness of the mouse remarkable.
The mouse is the perfect size and travels well. Since either a wired connection or the dongle are the only two ways to connect it, you might be stuck with hauling a cable around for remote work. I think the only thing I’m not a huge fan of is that the DPI button is on the bottom of the mouse. While that keeps you from accidentally pressing it, it’s much harder to change mouse settings on the way.
As far as battery life goes, it seems to hold up to its specs. Since I’ve only had the mouse for a short time, I don’t know that I’ve met the 90-hour threshold yet, but I haven’t had to charge it yet.
I really love the simplicity and smoothness of this mouse. The design is ideal for someone who wants high performance in a pro-level device. With its lightweight design, high performance, and long battery life, this gaming mouse is a great choice for both casual and serious gamers. If you're looking for a reliable, comfortable, and efficient option, this one is definitely worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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MAG 275QPF X30 design language that conveys ruggedness and toughness, embodying the very essence of the MAG style. For gamers who are determined to dominate their digital battlegrounds, the MAG series is here to stand with you, establishing the ultimate defense.
Customer Rating
5
A great value monitor
on June 23, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
When you’re a gamer, your monitor is one of the most important parts of your setup. After spending the past year researching what makes a gaming monitor truly stand out—like refresh rate, resolution, responsiveness, and image quality—I decided to try the MSI MAG 275QPF X30. This monitor offers a 2560 x 1440 resolution with a blistering 300Hz refresh rate, and it’s surprisingly budget-friendly for what you get.
Setup
Getting it set up was pretty easy. It comes with a stand that is in two pieces - the base and the spine. One thing that was unusual to me was that the monitor had to be screwed to the mount on the spine. One of the things I’ve seen from modern monitors is that the mount on the monitor usually slides onto or snaps onto the stand. This one screwed directly into the back of the monitor. The pattern on the monitor is a VESA pattern, but it was odd to me to find this type of mounting system on a modern monitor.
Connectivity
The monitor doesn’t require any special software. Just plug it into your device using DisplayPort or HDMI and you’re good to go. It comes with a DisplayPort cable, which I used for the best performance. Everything connected without issues, and it was up and running in seconds.
Refresh Rate
At it’s native resolution (2560 x 1440), I was able to get 300hz as a refresh rate from my MacBook Pro, which was the maximum refresh rate. Results might vary based on your Mac’s specs and cable setup, but it worked flawlessly for me. I was moving from a 60Hz monitor to this 300Hz beast and I noticed that regular movements like scrolling and cursor movements were much smoother. The device I game on the most is my Red Magic Nova tablet. I did connect it to this monitor, but unfortunately, it caps out a 144Hz. That said, I was able to achieve that 144Hz when playing Call of Duty: Mobile and the game ran super smoothly.
Picture Clarity
The image quality on this monitor is excellent. The IPS panel produces vibrant colors and maintains great clarity from different viewing angles. While my previous monitor was an ultrawide with the same 1440p vertical resolution, this MSI display has a more traditional 16:9 layout. I actually found that games and media felt more focused and less stretched, and the standard aspect ratio works better for everyday use and console gaming. Motion clarity was excellent even at high speeds, with little to no ghosting.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this monitor is a great value. It delivers sharp visuals, incredibly smooth motion, and solid build quality—all at a price that’s easy to justify. Whether you’re coming from 60Hz or just want a monitor that keeps up with fast-paced games, this one is definitely worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Lumen empowers you to make smarter, personalized choices for your body by using your breath to measure your metabolism in real-time. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and the constant juggle of finding balance can take a toll on both physical and mental well-being, Lumen provides a simple, effective way to tune into your body’s needs. Whether you're burning carbs or fats for fuel, Lumen offers insights that help you make informed decisions about your nutrition, fitness, and overall well-being. As the world’s only handheld, gold-standard metabolic tracker, Lumen acts as your personal metabolic health coach, offering tailored nutrition plans and expert coaching that align with your unique metabolic needs, so you can reach your goals – from weight loss to increased energy, enhanced athletic performance, and even menopause symptom management – without the guesswork.
Customer Rating
4
A Helpful Tool for Carb Awareness, but Not a Quick
on June 23, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes. Fortunately, I’ve been able to manage it quite well by limiting sugar intake along with medications. Since I’ve gotten the A1C level in check, the next step in my health journey is to lose some weight. While the Lumen is not marketed as a weight loss device, my hope is that it will help me with carb awareness and help to encourage me towards better eating habits for the long term.
The Lumen device is a very premium-looking piece of technology. It comes in an impressive black box and comes with its own charging stand and travel pouch. The app for Lumen is quite nice, too. Downloading it is the first step in setting it up. The app will guide you through the set up process and train you in how to measure your breath with the device. Lumen does require a subscription ($19/month or $180/year) for ongoing use, but it comes with one month free with the purchase.
In a world that seems to have a subscription for nearly everything, I wasn’t surprised about this added expense, but it was disappointing. Since this is a health-tracking device, I would put it in a similar category to something like a gym membership, which requires a monthly fee, but I think it could be lowered quite a bit. As a means of comparison, I’m able to monitor my glucose and track it through an app without an recurring fee. I did have to purchase my glucose monitor, but the app came with no strings attached. So, while I accept there is an ongoing fee for this type of system, I think the cost could be lowered.
Using it in practice is somewhat of a feat. First of all, you have to discipline yourself to use it the same time everyday. While having this sort of requirement is helpful for forming good habits, it’s still a hurdle to overcome. Second, the breath capturing process is a little different than I expected. You have to take a slow breath in, hold it for ten seconds, and then exhale slowly. This could be very difficult for some people who have breathing deficiencies. I found it a little difficult at first because the app guides you not to do it to fast or hard. It gives you an on-screen prompt and tells you to keep the ball inside a certain perimeter while you are completing your breathing exercise. It took me a couple of tries to get it just right. So, like I said, discipline is key with this device.
For me, I was using Lumen as a supplemental device to help kick start weight loss and monitor my carb burning. I feel that it is helping by providing more information to me, but I question how accurate it is since you have to do the testing ‘just right’ every time you do it. Plus, I was expecting information that was more specific than simply burning fat or carbs.
That said, I could see Lumen being very useful for people because the full benefit comes from committing to the daily routines and guidance, not just using the device.
Pros:
Easy to use
Device feels premium
App guides your habits
Can help drive smarter decisions if you’re looking to optimize energy levels, fat burning, or diet timing.
Cons:
Device feels premium
App guides your habits
Can help drive smarter decisions if you’re looking to optimize energy levels, fat burning, or diet timing.
Cons:
Requires discipline to make sure you are doing it the same time everyday at the right times for accuracy
Device gives you a ‘rough estimate’ of fuel usage, but it’s not as precise as clinical testing (can’t replace that)
Not a ‘magic bullet’ for weight loss - could confuse some people expecting that
Device gives you a ‘rough estimate’ of fuel usage, but it’s not as precise as clinical testing (can’t replace that)
Not a ‘magic bullet’ for weight loss - could confuse some people expecting that
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Flip into joy with Flip Folio, the iPad case featuring a stowable keyboard and front and back protection. You can type anywhere, any way you like—or stash the keyboard away and just relax. Find the right angle with adjustable viewing angles, plus portrait and landscape modes for iPad. Dock your iPhone, or connect to your TV for even more options. Now available for iPad Pro and iPad Air.
Customer Rating
5
A flexible iPad keyboard alternative
on June 17, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
I love my iPad, but I feel it's incomplete without a keyboard. There are plenty of options available, some more budget-friendly than others. The Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad seems like the obvious choice, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Plus, I've noticed that it's nice to use the iPad without it being permanently attached to a keyboard. These are the main reasons I was excited to try out the Flip Folio from Logitech.
The Case
The case is protective and it wraps around the entire case quickly and easily. You don’t have to snap the iPad into a case it just attaches to the magnetic backing and then the cover wraps around the front of the iPad’s screen. The case provides adequate coverage and is still slim enough to be suitable to for travel.
The Fold
When you first open the case, there is a sticker on the bend of the folding cover. It shows the bottom half of the cover being folded toward the screen. It doesn’t bend easily. You really have to force it hard the first time. I didn’t believe that it was supposed to bend until I saw customer images of it bent. Once I forced the bend, it was very sturdy as a stand.
The Keyboard
The first thing I wondered about the keyboard was how it was powered. The keyboard needs four (4) CR2016 batteries for power. It comes with those pre-installed, but personally I would rather see the keyboard be rechargeable than battery-powered. There is an on/off switch so you can turn it off when it’s not in use. I do love how slim the keyboard it and the fact that it magnetizes to the back of the Flip Folio. That said, I do wish there was a travel case for the entire kit so that you don’t lose the keyboard when you are moving from place to place. The keyboard is very responsive and I didn’t have any issues with connection. I was able to connect it to both my iPad and MacBook Pro with no issues.
Final Thoughts
The Logitech Combo with Flip Folio strikes a good balance between functionality, portability, and price. While the Apple Magic Keyboard offers a premium, all-in-one experience, its cost and bulk can be drawbacks. The Flip Folio’s modular design gives you the freedom to use your iPad on its own or with a keyboard when needed. Though the fold took some effort to break in and the use of disposable batteries is a bit outdated, the overall experience is practical and travel-friendly. If you want keyboard functionality without committing to the full Magic Keyboard investment, the Flip Folio is a smart alternative.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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G522 LIGHTSPEED was designed for the future legends of gaming. Whether you’re conquering RPG worlds, shaving milliseconds from your speedrun, or just messing around with your friends, this is the headset worn when gaming legends are born. G522 LIGHTSPEED features bold lighting with LIGHTSYNC RGB, a microphone with best-in-class voice quality, and incredible audio for legendary gaming performance.
Customer Rating
5
Premium Performance with Everyday Comfort
on June 13, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
Finding good gaming headphones can be difficult - especially if you use multiple types of gaming devices. Logitech headphones have consistently been reliable for me and provided great listening experiences and the G522 LIGHTSPEED headset is no different.
To start, I tested out the wireless range and I found the wireless connection on the headset to be consistently reliable. I didn’t notice any dropouts or signal issues, even when moving around our house. The headset maintained a stable connection with its 2.4 GHz dongle.
Latency was not an issue during testing. The headset’s LIGHTSPEED wireless technology delivered a seamless experience with no perceivable audio lag. Whether watching videos, listening to music, or playing fast-paced games, the audio stayed perfectly in sync, making it a reliable choice for performance-driven users.
I used headphonetest.net to see how the G522 fared against different frequencies. Bass reproduction was strong down to 20Hz, while treble extended clearly up to 15,200Hz without distortion, buzzing, or rattling. The drivers passed both left/right channel tests and responded accurately to ear-specific tests. These results indicate that the headset delivers clean, balanced sound for both music and immersive in-game audio.
During gameplay, sounds such as footsteps and gunfire appeared precisely where expected, helping with directional awareness and enhancing immersion. This accurate spatial imaging makes the headset especially effective for competitive and narrative-driven games that rely on precise audio cues.
Beyond gaming, I tested the headset with music and various forms of media, and the overall sound quality was outstanding. The audio was rich, clear, and well-balanced, providing an immersive listening experience. Sound isolation was particularly impressive—once the audio was playing, external noise was almost completely blocked out, allowing me to stay fully focused on what I was hearing.
The headset fits securely without applying excessive pressure, and the memory foam ear cups were comfortable even during longer time periods. I also really like the lighting effects. The RGB lighting is vibrant and looks great.
Overall, the headset is a good investment especially for those who want premium features without sacrificing comfort or multi-device compatibility.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ASUS Chromebook CX14 is made for boosting productivity and having more fun while on the move. This lightweight, ultraportable device is powered by an Intel processor with a vivid slim-bezel NanoEdge display that fits more screen into the compact chassis for easy multitasking and immersive entertainment. It’s speedy and secure, suitable for all your daily tasks.
Customer Rating
5
A Practical Chromebook for Everyday Basics
on June 3, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
I’m not a huge fan of Chromebooks, but I do recognize that they serve a very specific market. They are great for students and people who just need a simple interface for cloud-based productivity apps. It’s not designed for heavy gaming or anything graphics intensive. It can, however, run some mobile games, and is great with productivity apps like Google Docs and Sheets.
The first thing I want to state is that getting started with this Chromebook was super simple. I’ve set up several Windows laptops and this Chromebook was much easier. There wasn’t a lot of bloatware I had to work through. I just logged into my Google account and marked what I’d likely be using the laptop for. Then, it gave me the option to install different apps that went with those categories.
The keyboard has very strong, mechanical feel to it. The keys aren’t ‘squishy’ at all and because the keys have a slight texture to them, it’s easy to tell when you’ve pressed them. I did a typing test to see how accurate/fast I was with it. I ended up with 65 WPM with 98% accuracy. My typical average is 73 WPM with 99% accuracy. So, while I might have been a little slower than normal, I still found the keyboard very easy to use and great for typing. The trackpad seems to be very responsive and I haven’t had any issues with speed or control of any inputs I’ve made with it. The screen is very clear bright. It’s resolution is 1080p (full HD), which is ideal for productivity tasks because it provides a high-quality viewing experience without bogging the system down.
In addition to using the laptop for regular tasks, I also completed a Geekbench test on it. The single-core score was 457 and the multi-core score was 614. These scores are low by modern standards, but roughly in line for the CPU that is part of this Chromebook’s system.
This Chromebook is a solid entry-level device best suited for students in elementary or middle school, casual users, seniors, or anyone needing a lightweight secondary computer. It handles basic tasks like web browsing, email, video streaming, and cloud-based work in Google Docs or Classroom easily and its lightweight design makes it ideal for portable work. With just 4GB of RAM, a dual-core Intel Celeron processor, and 64GB of eMMC storage, it’s not ideal for gaming, multitasking, or any demanding work like programming or video editing. For users with modest needs and a focus on simplicity and portability, it’s a practical, affordable option.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The X870 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE supports AM5 Processors and features unparalleled performance. GIGABYTE X870 motherboards come with upgraded power design, high grade storage standards, and outstanding connectivity that enables you to optimize your performance.
Customer Rating
5
A future-proof, budget-friendly motherboard
on May 18, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
As a gaming enthusiast, I wanted to check out this GIGABYTE motherboard as a part of my new PC build. The build consists of the Corsair 4000D RS ARGB PC case, AMD Ryzen 7800X3D CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB Samsung 980 Pro SSD. I wanted to ensure I would be able to play most PC games but stay within a certain budget with room to grow in the future. That’s one thing the GIGABYTE motherboard is perfect for — future plans. Users can easily upgrade the CPU, GPU, and storage, and the updated technologies built into the motherboard make it possible to keep it longer, even if you want to upgrade other parts year-to-year.
SET UP
I found the GIGABYTE motherboard to be very easy to work with. The size/shape of the ATX board allowed for ample room to work with while running cables to other components. The SATA connectors were placed close together, which made accessing them harder once the motherboard was installed, but it wasn’t impossible to work with.
Because this motherboard has WiFi 7, I did have to use an Ethernet connection to complete updates and the Windows installation since Windows doesn’t natively support the GIGABYTE motherboard’s WiFi 7 capabilities out of the box. After the initial setup, I didn’t have any issues getting the right driver. I will likely use the PC with Ethernet most of the time, but it’s nice to have all the features unlocked from the start.
PERFORMANCE
I’ve been running this system for a little over a week now and I’m thoroughly impressed with the stability and overall performance of the motherboard. Without overclocking, I haven’t had any issues with standard computing tasks and games like Call of Duty: Warzone and Red Dead Redemption 2 (an oldie, but a goodie) run smoothly on the system alongside my 45-inch LG 2K OLED 240Hz gaming monitor.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This GIGABYTE motherboard can keep up with the pace of evolving standards and it doesn’t break the bank. It’s a great combination of performance and features for any PC build.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Hisense U6 Series is the access point for serious sports fans like you. It’s the ultimate in Mini-LED technology: hyper-real contrasts, bright lighting and rich shadows. This is the kind of TV that drops you right in the action so you can catch all the details—down to every bead of sweat on a player’s brow.
Customer Rating
5
Exceptional quality, Extraordinary Value
on May 14, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
I've worked long and hard on making my office a comfortable space. There are different sections to the room and one of them includes a very large TV. For the past six years, I've had a 65-inch 4K QLED television hanging above a stand that contains my Xbox and networking equipment. It's been a good TV, but I was ready to upgrade to something that would get me closer to an OLED experience -- as well as something larger. Unfortunately, OLED TVs larger than 65 inches get very cost-prohibitive. So, I started looking into Mini-LED QLEDs. This one from HiSense checked all the boxes for me and so far, my experience has been wonderful.
Design & Build
Since I was moving from a 65-inch TV to a 75-inch TV, I expected there to be some big differences in the dimensions and weight -- especially since my existing TV was six years old. Everything has gotten smaller and slimmer since I added that TV to my office so I was surprised to find that the HiSense TV was actually thicker than my existing one. It wasn't a huge difference, but it is defintely noticeable when you look at how thin flat panel TVs are these days. The HiSense TV is built very well. It's a solid device and even though we were extremely cautious with it as we got it installed, I wasn't concerned that the screen would get damaged simply by handling it.
Since I was moving from a 65-inch TV to a 75-inch TV, I expected there to be some big differences in the dimensions and weight -- especially since my existing TV was six years old. Everything has gotten smaller and slimmer since I added that TV to my office so I was surprised to find that the HiSense TV was actually thicker than my existing one. It wasn't a huge difference, but it is defintely noticeable when you look at how thin flat panel TVs are these days. The HiSense TV is built very well. It's a solid device and even though we were extremely cautious with it as we got it installed, I wasn't concerned that the screen would get damaged simply by handling it.
As far as installation goes, I opted to hang it on my wall in place of the existing 65-inch TV. At first I was concerned about this because the VESA mount on the back of the HiSense TV had a different placement than the existing monitor did. So I was worried that the bottom of the TV might be too close to the top of my TV stand. Since the sizes of the two TVs are similar enough, the placement of the HiSense ended up being very close to where the 65-inch TV was.
Set-up, Settings & Customization
After I got it hung on the wall, I powered the TV on per the instructions in the manual. The HiSense TV has to go through its initial setup process, which can take a while. I believe we sat and watched the HiSense loading screen and then the FireTV loading screen for at least 2 minutes. When this happened I was worried that the TV's start up would be that slow every time. Fortunately that wasn't the case. My main method for viewing content is to use my Apple TV. It was plugged into HDMI 2 while my soundbar was plugged into the HDMI eARC port. I did add my Amazon account to the FireTV interface so that I could use Prime Video natively on the TV.
After I got it hung on the wall, I powered the TV on per the instructions in the manual. The HiSense TV has to go through its initial setup process, which can take a while. I believe we sat and watched the HiSense loading screen and then the FireTV loading screen for at least 2 minutes. When this happened I was worried that the TV's start up would be that slow every time. Fortunately that wasn't the case. My main method for viewing content is to use my Apple TV. It was plugged into HDMI 2 while my soundbar was plugged into the HDMI eARC port. I did add my Amazon account to the FireTV interface so that I could use Prime Video natively on the TV.
As far as settings and customization go, I found the menus a little confusing. After watching some videos through YouTube, the picture on the TV seemed to dim and shift colors a bit. As it turned out, the Dynamic Backlight Control was the culprit. I had turned some of the lights off in my office and the TV adjusted for that without my knowing. This is something to be aware of because it can catch you off guard.
Picture Quality
I was very impressed by the picture quality. I view several 4K demos on YouTube and the picture was superior to my previous 4K television because of the inclusion of the Mini LEDs. After checking out the demos, I ventured over to Disney+ and watched the opening sequence to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 because it has a high contrast of different colors as well as text and visual effects. This is a video segment I use frequently to test out video quality. The edges of the text were clean and I didn't notice any tearing when it came to seeing bright red on a white background. Colors were vibrant and blacks were very black. This TV definitely passes the picture quality test in my book.
I was very impressed by the picture quality. I view several 4K demos on YouTube and the picture was superior to my previous 4K television because of the inclusion of the Mini LEDs. After checking out the demos, I ventured over to Disney+ and watched the opening sequence to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 because it has a high contrast of different colors as well as text and visual effects. This is a video segment I use frequently to test out video quality. The edges of the text were clean and I didn't notice any tearing when it came to seeing bright red on a white background. Colors were vibrant and blacks were very black. This TV definitely passes the picture quality test in my book.
Final Thoughts
Even though there is a small learning curve figuring out the menus and placement of different settings, the HiSense U6 TV is a great option for high-quality viewing. The TV feels like the right compromise between price and performance. It offers deep contrast, vibrant colors, and smart features that hold their own against much more expensive models.
Even though there is a small learning curve figuring out the menus and placement of different settings, the HiSense U6 TV is a great option for high-quality viewing. The TV feels like the right compromise between price and performance. It offers deep contrast, vibrant colors, and smart features that hold their own against much more expensive models.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ProArt Display PA27JCV is a 27-inch 5K HDR monitor designed for professional content creators. This Calman Verified display boasts a wide gamut with 99% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB and 95% Adobe RGB coverage, and it’s factory calibrated to Delta E<2 for exceptional color accuracy. Built-in Auto KVM allows for convenient, effortless switching between two connected laptops or PCs using a single keyboard and mouse. To ensure brightness and color temperature accuracy, ambient light and backlight sensors automatically adjust visual settings. Plus, a USB-C port offers DisplayPort support and enables superfast data transfers and 96-watt power delivery via a single cable.
Customer Rating
4
Great for Creatives, but Not a One-Monitor Solutio
on May 5, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
As a creative professional, I've struggled with finding the best possible monitor to cover all my needs. I usually have my MacStudio connected as well as a gaming tablet. So, for gaming, I want a high refresh rate and for photography and video editing, I want premium color accurancy. For both activities, I need the highest possible brightness level to help with fine details. My current monitor is a 4K display and while it's been fantastic, I've been interested in upgrading to a 5K display. There are a handful of options in the market, but some are extremely pricey. This ASUS ProArt has very similar specs to more expensive competitors, but is it ideal for my purposes?
Refresh Rate Since I would like to have at least a 120Hz refresh rate for gaming, the 60Hz refresh rate that this monitor has is less than ideal. That said, the 60Hz refresh rate is more than adequate for photo and video editing. I don't do a lot of motion graphics work, but if I did, a higher refresh rate might be beneficial for that type of work, too. For basic non-gaming use, 60Hz is great. At this time, there are no 'true' 5K monitors that offer more than 60Hz refresh rate for consumers.
Bezel In general I like the look of the ASUS display, but there is one annoying feature -- the bottom bezel. There is a very thin bezel around the top and sides but the bottom of the screen has the ASUS logo and the control buttons on it. While it's nice to be able to see the buttons on the front, to me, it's distracting and honestly, just plain ugly to have that size of a bezel on the bottom. I would much rather see something more subtle.
Colors and Brightness This is one area that I really pay close attention to. I plugged my MacBook Pro into the ASUS monitor while my MacStudio was plugged into my 4K display. The 4K display's colors appeared richer and had truer blacks than the ASUS monitor appeared to have. While the ASUS monitor was brighter, it ended up feeling a bit washed out. That said, I think it's important to point out that the ASUS monitor is designed for accuracy and prescision while my 4K monitor is an OLED panel and is meant for that 'wow factor'.
Connectivity
As far as connection ports go, the ProArt offers three options — DisplayPort 1.4 (1), HDMI 2.1 (1), and USB-C, which also provide 96W power delivery. ASUS only included a USB-C and HDMI High-speed cable with the monitor, so I used the HDMI cable as my primary connector. It worked fine, but I did notice that the ProArt didn’t scale icons and text as well as my 4K monitor did.
Final Thoughts
The ASUS ProArt is a solid display choice for creative professionals. It has great color accuracy and comes calibrated from the factory. For me, since I have multiple purposes for my monitor, I will likely use this as a secondary monitor when I need to do color correction on photos or videos.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience unparalleled gaming freedom with the Turtle Beach Kone II Air wireless ergonomic gaming mouse. Its exceptional battery life lets you play for weeks uninterrupted, lasting up to 350 hours via low-latency Bluetooth or up to 130 hours using high-performance 2.4GHz wireless. Designed with ergonomic precision, it fits comfortably in medium to larger hands, accommodating various grip styles such as claw, palm, or fingertip plus additional grip tape is included for enhanced control. Take command of your gameplay with Easy-Shift [+] duplicator technology, expanding its 7 buttons and 4D scroll wheel into 21 customizable functions. Glide seamlessly through content with the multi-function 4D scroll wheel, offering both free-spinning and tactile scrolling options, along with fully customizable tilt controls. Engineered for speed and durability, its TITAN Optical Switches ensure precise and reliable clicks over a 100 million click life cycle. Equipped with the advanced Owl-Eye 26K optical sensor, enjoy superb tracking performance from 50 DPI up to 26K DPI with 650 IPS (16.5m/s), complemented by pure, heat-treated PTFE glides for smooth mouse movements. Customize your gaming experience with dual-zone RGB illumination and charge effortlessly with the ultra-flexible PhantomFlex charging cable and USB-C-to-A adapter. NVIDIA Reflex compatibility further enhances your gaming prowess, delivering sub-25ms response times for lightning-fast reactions and enhanced aim precision.
Customer Rating
5
A fantastic gaming mouse
on April 21, 2025
Posted by: nickcal
Right from the start, I was incredibly impressed with the Kone II Air mouse. The packaging for it is easily identifiable and details of the mouse are included. The mouse comes with grip tape, a quick start guide, a 2.4Ghz wireless USB receiver and USB-A adapter, and a USB-C to USB-A charging cable. Even though the Kone II Air came in a pretty package, it really impresses with its performance. So far, the battery life is what I expected it to be.
Build Quality
The build quality is solid. It’s very lightweight but doesn’t feel cheap. The material has a matte finish, but doesn’t seem to retain fingerprints or oils from hands easily. The wheel turns easily and it’s easy to reach all the buttons on it without straining my hand or fingers. I like the placement of the RGB effects. There are a lot of mice that have RGB lighting, but the placement is such that you can’t see it if you are using it. The mouse seems durable and it’s very comfortable to use.
Ergonomics & Comfort
The mouse is definitely designed for right-handed users. It does, however, support palm, claw, or fingertip grips well (I tried all three). It seems to be well-suited for long gaming sessions. I played for a couple of hours and didn’t notice any major strain on my hand. It’s a medium to large sized mouse and it’s shape is conducive to standard use as well as gaming. It does not have a place to add additional weight to it.
Connectivity & Compatibility
The Kone II Air can be connected through Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz dongle, or wired through a USB-C connection. It connected quickly and effortlessly using any of the options. I used it with my PC Gaming Laptop as well as a secondary laptop and even a tablet. The USB receiver can be stored underneath the mouse, which is perfect for traveling.
Gaming Performance
The mouse has been incredibly responsive. I love the way the buttons feel and I haven’t experienced any lag with it. There was very minimal lift off distance and button input was snappy. The polling rate of this mouse is 1000Hz and I could definitely tell when I was gaming. The scroll wheel gives you the option of free-spin or notched scrolling. The wheel does tilt and it acts as a button, too. You can also change the DPI at will while using the mouse. This has helped me immensely as I game and just use the mouse in general.
Software
The Turtle Beach Swarm II software is easy to install and simple to use. Everything is on one scrollable page, and it walked me through a quick update for both the mouse and receiver right after setup. Within a few minutes, I had my DPI levels set, firmware updated, and RGB lighting turned off (except for the battery indicator, which I kept on).
You can adjust just about everything—DPI, polling rate, lift-off distance, debounce time, angle snapping, and more. One feature I really like is Easy-Shift[+], which lets you assign a shift button to unlock secondary functions for the rest of the buttons. It also supports automatic profile switching and RGB syncing with other Turtle Beach devices. I didn’t run into any bugs or issues while using it.
Overall, the Kone II Air is a fantastic wireless gaming mouse that checks all the right boxes. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and packed with features that actually make a difference whether you’re gaming or just getting things done. The multiple connectivity options, solid build, responsive buttons, and customizable software all come together to deliver a premium experience. If you’re looking for a reliable, ergonomic mouse with excellent performance and customization, the Kone II Air is absolutely worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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