The holidays are here and that means it’s time to begin planning your shopping lists. No matter what games you have planned to pick up, you’ll need the right gear to get the job done. There are a variety of peripherals to use per platforms from controllers to keyboards. Our holiday shopping list of the this year’s best gear will help narrow down choices and maybe even show a few you didn’t know existed.
SGO Gaming Hardware Holiday Gift Guide
PC Peripherals
Razer Tartarus V2 Wired Keypad/Tartarus Pro – $79.99/$129.99
Razer’s Tartarus V2 isn’t a full keyboard, but the additional keys and left handed thumb pad is sure to give any advance player a significant advantage. At glance, this command companion features 32 programmable keys, unlimited macro lengths, ergonomic palm rest, and back-lighting with 16.8 million customizable color options.
While this model is 2-years old, you can opt for the more expensive Pro version. The Tartarus Pro comes with the above as well as analog optical switches, 8 macro profiles, adjustable actuation, 8-way direction thumb-pad, and dual function keys.
Corsair K55 RGB USB Wired Keyboard – $49.99, on sale for $39.99
Corsair’s K55 RGB keyboard sports RGB back-lighting split into three zones of color with the ability to swap between 10 plus color modes and affects. The keys are quiet, yet responsive using a membrane style build. In addition, it has dedicated multimedia and volume controls. There’s an integrated keypad for convenience and a detachable wrist rest. An expert review for Best Buy claims the keyboard is good for beginners with a few pros for veterans as well.
Lexip Pro Pu94 Mouse – 129,99 Euros or about $142
This 3D mouse may be niche in its intend design, but still has some pretty cool features worth mentioning. It is given the name 3D mouse as it capable of navigating 3D world spaces all on its own. The Pu94 features an internal pivot allowing to remain in place will rotating like a joystick making it great pitches and yaws. It also had a second exposed thumbstick for strafing and maneuvering. Like any effective gaming mouse, it has adjustable DPI with a max setting of 12000. The mouse also features Lexip’s Mo42 Ceramic Pads by default reducing glide friction across any surface while improving movement control.
Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless Mouse – $149.99
Logitech has a lot of products on the market and this is one of the best. The G502 comes from a line of competitive gaming peripherals. It features 11 customizable buttons, up to 60 hours of battery life, adjustable DPI range, macro and shortcut command capabilities, and weight tuning among several other performance driven features.
Elgato HD60 S+ – $199.99
For the longest time, the only way to capture 4K content was to use something that sat on your motherboard. With the HD60 S+ from Elgato, that all changes. With USB 3.0 and unencrypted HDMI, the HD60 S+ allows seamless capture from all of your consoles in full 4K 60FPS HDR passthrough. For capturing purposes, the device allows up to 2160p30, but also offers 1080p60 HDR.
Console/PC Controllers
Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller – $179.99
Early this month, Microsoft released the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller which features several advantages over its predecessor. The Elite Series 2 improves upon performance and fit, allowing users to swap out a variety of components on a whim. In addition, the controller has Hair Trigger locks to reduce the time needed to fire the left and right triggers. These can be switch independently of one another. It also includes, haptic feedback, a 3.5mm audio jack, configurable inputs, and wireless/wired compatibility. This controller is, of course, for the Xbox One but also can be used with PCs running Windows 7 or later. PC use requires the included USB cable or a Wireless Adapter.
Hori Real Arcade Pro Stick – $149.99, on sale for $139.00
This tournament-grade fighting stick allows players to experience the arcade at home. It supports the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC through XInput. The finishes and buttons are the same used in modern Japanese arcades. Other features include a touch pad, multi-speed Turbo controls, stick control toggle, configuration controls, L3/R3 buttons, and a Share button for recording and sharing gameplay.
Evil Shift Custom Controller – Starting at $99.90
Two years ago we got a look at the debuting Evil Shift controller that brought enhanced features to competitive play. This year, Evil Controllers have improved upon their design starting with an eSport approved version of their Evil Shift.
The presence of the four pads or buttons trademark the Evil Shift’s design. These pads are configurable as additional inputs giving purpose to the middle and ring fingers on both hands. When purchasing your Evil Shift, you can choose from a wide variety of options in aesthetics and performance profile mods. Other features include:
- Competition grade thumbstick tension for finer control
- Hairpin Tactile triggers providing instant feedback with 1mm travel and 100% range of motion with 50% tension reduction
- High sensitivity face button for faster input
- Xbox, PC, and PS4 options
For more on the deep customization options and enhancements to choose from, check out the Evil Shift Controller website.
Microphones
HyperX Quadcast – $139.99
The HyperX QuadCast is an ideal standalone mic for anyone needing a condenser mic with quality sound. QuadCast is certified by Discord and TeamSpeak meaning it’s proven to deliver quality sound to listeners. It also features:
- Anti-Vibration shock mount
- Tap-to-Mute sensor with LED indicator
- Mount adapter
- Convenient gain control adjustment
- Internal pop filter
- Built-in headphone jack
- Multi-device and chat program compatibility
Blue Yeti X – $169.99
The Yeti is a professional grade USB power microphone for gaming, streaming, and podcasting. Inside, the four-capsule array condenser provides clearer audio. Additionally, it features a 11-segment LED meter for monitoring voice levels. Other product features include:
- Multi-function smart knob controls headphone volume, mic gain, blend and mute
- Broadcast vocal effects including streamer and podcast presets
- Configurable lighting for personalizing your mic
- Logitech G HUB integration for deeper control of microphone settings
- Cardioid, omni, bi-directional and stereo pick up patterns
Samson G-Track Pro – $99.99
Heralded as the best mic for streaming and gaming, the G-Track pro works as a mic, audio interface, and mixer. Quite a feat for such a small device. It comes with a comprehensive list of features and specifications. you can see the major functions below:
- All-in-one professional USB microphone with audio interface software
- Dual 1″ (25mm) condenser capsule
- Cardioid (unidirectional), bidirectional and omnidirectional pickup patterns
- USB output for connecting to any Mac or PC device
- 1/4″ instrument input for connecting guitars or line level devices
- Record Mic and Instrument input simultaneously
- 1/8″ stereo headphone output with level control for zero-latency monitoring
- 3-color Power/Clip/Mute LED
- Integrated desktop base
Speakers & Headphones
Logitech G560 Gaming Speaker – $199.99
Logitech’s premiere gaming speaker looks to take your audio immersion to the next level. LIGHTSYNC RGB immerses your environment with lighting that automatically reacts to the content played. Light and color can sync with what’s on your screen, respond in rhythm to audio, or deliver special lighting effects based on various programming. The G560 connects to multiple sources: USB, 3.5mm, and Bluetooth.
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds – $99.99
Razer’s Hammerhead earbuds brings a unique wireless audio experience to gaming. With a low 60ms, these earbuds promise to bring little to no audio latency or stuttering. Additionally, it also comes with a built-in mic, and several features including:
- Up to 10m / 30 ft Bluetooth 5.0 range
- 4 hours battery life (12 hours with charging case)
- 13 mm drivers
- Touch Controls including pause, skip, and activate smartphone virtual assistant
- Android and iOS compatible
HyperX Cloud Revolver Pro Gaming Headset – $119.99
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a tried-and-true gaming headset. The Cloud Revolver Pro features studio grade sound, HyperX’s signature memory foam for comfort, a durable steel frame, and 50mm drivers for crispy audio. This headset is compatible with multiple platforms and, is certified by TeamSpeak and Discord for noise-cancelling.
Other Cool Stuff
Elgato Stream Deck – $99.99-$249.99, depending on version
Elgato’s Stream Deck optimizes your workflow with 15 LCD keys that help eliminate the need for keyboard shortcuts and command memorization. Users can customize their deck by drag/dropping actions onto keys as well as label them with custom icons. There’s also the option to turn keys into folders for ease of access. Additionally, you can save unique key configurations as dedicated profiles for different games and apps, allowing you to switch between them and share on the fly.
SEGA Genesis Mini – $79.99, on sale $49.99
A must for any retro gaming fan, the SEGA Genesis Mini brings the iconic console to modern homes. It comes with 42 classic games including Sonic the Hedgehog, Earthworm Jim, and Street Fighter 2. Out of the box, the system is plug and play ready with 2 wired controllers and an HDMI cable.
Be sure to check out the SGO games shopping guide featuring the top sports games to pick up this holiday season.
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