Your sleep data might be doing double duty. While wearable headbands promise to help users understand their sleeping patterns, some of the companies behind them are also turning the electrical signals collected from their customers' brains into training material for artificial intelligence models. Science recently conducted an investigation alongside Pulitzer Center's AI Accountability Network and found that the customer neurology companies have accumulated tens of millions of hours of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings — a rather technical way of saying brain-wave data. As per the findings, several are using those recordings to develop so-called brain foundation models, despite initially failing to spell out that use in their privacy policies.

Interaxon, the Canadian firm behind the Muse sleep and meditation headband, is one of them. Its devices monitor electrical activity in the brain, alongside other physiological measurements, while users sleep. The recordings are processed into reports that help customers track their rest and identify changes in their sleeping patterns. But there is another use for that information. Interaxon has already trained an AI model using about 50,000 hours of EEG recording and says it removes identifying information, including names, email, and addresses, before using the data. “We aim to use as much of that eligible corpus as possible,” Nadia Kumentas, its Chief Marketing Officer, said.

That was not made particularly clear to customers, though. Prior to talking to Seince, Interaxon's privacy policy did not explicitly disclose that users' brain recordings could be used to train foundation models. The company has, however, updated the same with Kumentas acknowledging, "We agree users should be explicitly informed." For customers whose recordings had already been used, the classification came late, which likely exposes the company to potential lawsuits. Privacy, it seems, remains a major issue. As per Science, more than two-thirds of the companies studied explicitly allowed corporate transfers of data without user consent. That could be significant if a small neurotechnology firm is acquired, potentially putting its accumulated recordings in the hands of a new owner. Colorado and California, however, have amended their consumer privacy laws to cover neural data, although other states lag behind.

Interaxon isn’t the only company pushing this idea. Emotiv, another wearable EEG maker, is training its Large Brain model partly on recordings from customers using its high-end devices. It also updated its privacy policy following questions by Science, disclosing the use of de-identified neural data for model training subject to opt-in consent.

Notably, the idea behind these systems is particularly different from training a large language model. Instead of feeding AI an enormous amount of text, developers supply it with recordings of electrical activity in the brain. The model then learns recurring patterns that can be adapted to recognize different brain states or assist with specific research tasks. And there are already some interesting results. AI startup Piramidal has trained its model on more than 4 million hours of EEG data in partnership with Cleveland Clinic. The company developed a seizure-detection system that correctly identified nine out of 10 seizures in a pilot study after being fine-tuned on the clinic's recordings. That, however, doesn’t mean consumer headbands can suddenly read people's thoughts. Most wearable EEG devices use just one to six electrodes, considerably fewer than 19 to 25 typically found in clinical EEG systems. Also, their recordings are generally less comprehensive.

That said, the privacy implications of wearable brain technology aren't entirely new. In February, an engineer discovered he could access other people's brainwave recordings through a smart sleep mask he had purchased. He reportedly investigated the device after running into connection problems. By examining its Android application, he discovered hardcoded credentials that appeared to be shared across devices, which he later found were EEG readings belonging to other users.

The industry has also been gathering neural recordings on a considerable scale. Last December, we covered Coundit’s effort to collect 10,000 hours of neural data from thousands of patients. The San Francisco startup built its own headset system to capture brain activity alongside speech and text, with the aim of developing AI capable of translating signals into language. Meta has also been working on BrainQwerty, a non-invasive brain-computer interface that translates brain activity into keyboard inputs. Its second-generation system improved average word accuracy to 61% from 40% in the earlier version, although the technology remains a far cry from practical everyday use.

A hobbyist building on open-source driver for DisplayLink hardware received a cease-and-desist from Synaptics, resulting in a lengthy written argument and a threat to sue from the company. According to Phoronix, the Vino driver was “clean-room reverse-engineered” and partly developed using AI and written in Rust. However, even though the person behind the open-source driver, Mike Lothian, did not break the copyright of the code behind the driver, Synaptics argued that his work violates its patent on the DisplayLink technology.

The story began in July 2026, when Lothian reached out to Łukasz Spintzyk, a software engineer working at Synaptics, to help solve a few bugs he’s been encountering. However, Michal Lukaszek, the Strategic Engineering Partnerships Lead at the company, replied a couple of weeks later, saying that the company is concerned that Lothian is attempting to implement the DisplayLink protocol itself, which is a violation of its patents. This resulted in a cease-and-desist letter from Synaptics’ legal department asking him to take down the Vino GitHub repo, among other things.

Synaptics claims that Lothian’s work infringes on two patents: GB2484736 and GB2485613. The former, called Image generation, is about sending screen updates over a general-purpose data network like USB or Ethernet using a specific architecture and compression method, while the latter, called Display control device, details hardware that works with compressed data and only decompresses it as needed. Lothian responded, asking for complete details as to how his work infringes on its patents, but received no response, prompting him to follow up three weeks later.

This was when Synaptics decided to escalate, telling him that it would be billing Lothian “to recoup the cost and effort required to create such documentation of your infringing acts.” Andrew Bateman, the company’s Assistant General Counsel, also added, “By open sourcing our DisplayLink technology for whatever personal reasons you may have as a ‘hobbyist,’ you will be single-handedly eviscerating DisplayLink's competitive advantage in this crowded market by educating our competitors and other third parties as to how we implement our proprietary technology, which we have gone to great lengths and great expense to prevent.”

“If you'd like to notify the media or otherwise publicize our response, I encourage you to do so. We welcome any and all free publicity to let the world (in particular, our competitors and our shareholders) know that Synaptics aggressively defends and protects its DisplayLink IP from all threats of infringement.”

Lothian eventually took the GitHub repo containing the Vino driver offline, but it seems that the fight isn’t over yet. The hobbyist claims that Synaptics’ patents are invalid, saying, “In both cases the independent claims as filed contained no network or transport limitation. The claims were granted only after being amended to add delivery of the display data over a ‘general-purpose data network’ (and, for GB2485613, a ‘transport protocol’ with an ‘unpackaging’ step). That added feature was not new.”

He further argues that even though the company says that DisplayLink isn’t part of the Open Invention Network, Synaptics itself is an OIN licensee. Some say that an OIN license requires that any subsidiary acquired by the original licensee and all its patents would also fall under the company’s OIN license, although Synaptics apparently disagrees with this.

Despite the escalation, Lothian says that he remains open to discussing a sensible resolution. But unless the two parties come to an agreement, it looks like they’re getting ready for a legal face-off. You can see the complete email thread between Lothian and Synaptics in this Linux Kernel Mailing List page and the attached email thread (PDF).

Lothian said that he used a Claude subscription to help out with his cleanroom reverse-engineering efforts, revealing the headache that advanced AI tools pose for tech giants. A user has created a free Adobe Creative Suite clone in Rust using Claude, and was also reportedly working on an open-source office suite and Autodesk tools. Aside from that, we’ve also seen a lot of reverse-engineered games running on platforms they’re not designed for, forcing Anthropic to enforce some limitations on Opus 5.5. There was also concern that the widespread use of AI in chipmaking could result in the inadvertent spread of a copied design or an infringed patent across thousands of chips before anyone catches it.

Logitech's G502 X Lightspeed has been around for awhile — the mouse was introduced in 2022 alongside the fancier Logitech G502 X Plus (and the wired G502 X), but since it’s receiving a firmware update that upgrades its Hero 25K sensor to a Hero 44K sensor, this seemed like a good time to take a look at it. The G502X Lightspeed is available in black and white colorways and currently retails for $159.99, which is the same price as the G502 X Plus — however, it can (and should) normally be found for less than this.

Design and Comfort of the G502 X Lightspeed

The Logitech G502 X Lightspeed is a right-handed gaming mouse with an ergonomically contoured shape. It's the same size and shape as the G502 X Plus, with large primary mouse buttons, textured rubber side panels for grip, and a smooth matte chassis with glossy accents. It comes in black and white colorways (our review unit was black) and has no lighting aside from a small indicator light at the front of the mouse to indicate connection and battery life.

Like the G502 X Plus, the G502 X Lightspeed is definitely on the larger side. It measures 5.17 inches (131.4mm) long by 3.12 inches (79.2mm) wide, and is 1.62 inches (41.1mm) high at its tallest point. It's larger than the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro and V4 Pro (5.11 x 2.96 x 1.67 inches / 130 x 75.4 x 42.5mm) — not by a lot, but it definitely feels like a much larger mouse. It weighs about 3.6 ounces (102g), which makes it lighter than the Basilisk V3 Pro, but slightly heavier than the Basilisk V4 Pro.

The G502 X Lightspeed has 11 programmable buttons, and 13 programmable controls if you include scroll up/down. There are the left and right primary mouse buttons, as well as two side buttons along the left edge of the left mouse button. On the left side of the mouse there are the two standard thumb buttons, plus a "sniper" button that's magnetically attached and can be flipped so that it's not in your way. The sniper button can also be "deleted," and Logitech includes a delete cover in the box that makes the button unpressable (and also has the same soft, rubbery texture as the rest of the thumb rest).

The scroll wheel is a 4-way tilt wheel, so it has three programmable "buttons" (left click, right click, and center click), as well as scroll up/down. Above the scroll wheel are two buttons: One is a mechanical scroll wheel switch that switches between notched, tactile scroll and free scroll — that’s not programmable, as it's a physical switch — and the other is a profile cycle button that can be remapped.

On the bottom of the mouse you'll find UHMWPE mouse feet — at the top and bottom, around the sensor, and under the thumb rest. There's a power switch, as well as a magnetically-attached dummy puck that can be swapped out for the charging puck included in the Logitech PowerPlay 2. Under the puck is a slot for storing the mouse's wireless dongle.

In the box, the G502 X Lightspeed comes with a 6-foot (1.8m) USB-C-to-USB-A cable, a USB-A dongle, a USB-C converter, and a sniper button delete cover.

Specs

Performance of the G502 X Lightspeed

The Logitech G502 X Lightspeed ships with Logitech's Hero 25K optical sensor, which has a max resolution of 25,600 DPI and a maximum speed of 400 IPS, and can handle up to 40 G's of force. However, both the G502X Lightspeed and the G502 X Plus are receiving a firmware update that will upgrade the Hero 25K optical sensor to a Hero 44K optical sensor, with a maximum resolution of 44,000 DPI and a maximum speed of up to 678 IPS. It's not clear when this upgrade will roll out, however, and I wasn't able to upgrade my review unit in G Hub as of this writing.

Upgrades aside, the G502 X Lightspeed's sensor is very good. It tracks on just about every surface you might possibly use while gaming, and is speedy, sensitive, and very accurate. The mouse supports a polling rate of up to 1,000 Hz, which is still pretty standard for most gamers — however, if you're someone who's convinced that the extra 0.125 milliseconds of lag is the reason for your losses, this is not a mouse with an 8,000 Hz or even a 4,000 Hz polling rate.

The G502 X Lightspeed features Logitech's Lightforce hybrid optical-mechanical switches in its primary mouse buttons, which combine the feel of mechanical switches with the speed and reliability of optical ones. The G502 X Lightspeed's switches do have a nice, tactile click with a crisp sound that's definitely on the louder side. The side buttons also feel and sound good — not quite as tactile as the primary buttons, but with a very crisp click sound.

The mouse features a dual-mode tilt wheel with a mechanical switch that lets you move between a notched, tactile scroll and a smooth, speedy free-scroll. Logitech's implementation of this is different from Razer's — Logitech's is mechanical, while Razer's is software-based. This means the modes are more distinct, but I'm not really sure if that's a good thing. While I liked the free-scroll mode of the G502 X Lightspeed better than I liked the free-scroll mode on Razer's mice (such as the Basilisk V4 Pro and the Naga V3 Pro), the tactile scroll was stiff, clunky, and very loud — with a lot of rattling. The scroll wheel only has two modes, so there's no middle ground — and while I'm fine to use free-scroll for most things, there are definitely games where I need a notched scroll wheel.

Features and Software of the G502 X Lightspeed

The G502 X Lightspeed is configurable via Logitech's universal peripheral software, G Hub. You can use G Hub to change the mouse's DPI settings (DPI steps and DPI shift speed — the DPI switch that occurs when you hit the DPI shift button) and remap keys. You can also use G Hub to update the mouse's firmware, so this is presumably where the Hero 44K sensor upgrade will come through.

Wireless Experience & Battery Life of the G502 X Lightspeed

The G502 X Lightspeed connects to your PC via 2.4GHz wireless; it can also utilize a wired connection, though the included USB-C cable is rubber and won't get you that smooth, drag-free wired mouse movement you can get with flexible paracord-covered mouse cables. The mouse does not include Bluetooth.

Logitech rates the G502 X Lightspeed at 140 hours of battery life, which is about 10 hours longer than the G502 X Plus (with no lighting). This is pretty impressive, even if there are similar wireless mice that last longer (the recently-launched Razer Basilisk V4 Pro gets up to 200 hours, for example). This should give you at least two weeks before you need to recharge, even with intense use. The G502X Lightspeed is also compatible with the PowerPlay 2, Logitech's wireless charging mousepad (sold separately).

Bottom Line

The G502 X Lightspeed is a solid gaming mouse for most gamers — its contoured, ergonomic shape is comfortable, though it does feel bigger than similarly shaped mice, such as the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro. It has enough extra well-placed buttons for the average gamer (though, not enough for the average MMO player), and its 140-hour battery life is higher than average. Plus, assuming it actually gets this firmware update, it will have a competitive sensor — though it's not going to be quite as good as the actual Hero 2 sensor. But this mouse is currently priced at $159.99, which is the same price as the fancier Logitech G502 X Plus — and it's definitely supposed to be the more budget version of the two. Unless you find it at a great sale price, I'd pick up the G502 X Plus or even Razer's Basilisk V3 Pro 35K at a similar price.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) just announced the new Bluetooth High Data Throughput (HDT) feature on November 4, allowing a maximum bandwidth of 7.5 Mbps, almost 4x that of the previous Bluetooth LE 2M (2 Mbps). The new bandwidth is intended for high-bandwidth interactions between devices, such as AI, spatial computing, and even lossless audio transmission; the latter of which may finally satisfy audiophiles and their enjoyment of uncompressed audio.

Bluetooth HDT is Bluetooth’s new feature allowing for up to 7.5 Mbps of bandwidth. This new feature is needed by sophisticated modern devices that use a lot of data in their communication. It could be smartwatches, AI, or even extended reality (XR); less sophisticated but high-bandwidth, however, is lossless audio, which Bluetooth has never had enough bandwidth for, until HDT, that is.

Purists have long since criticized Bluetooth, but HDT may finally be the feature that satisfies them. Audiophiles have always preferred wired over Bluetooth, especially those who prefer lossless audio over compressed formats. Bluetooth LE 2M, even with its 2 Mbps bandwidth, cannot reliably transmit CD-quality 1.4 Mbps lossless audio, so it gets compressed through various means: SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC, LC3, etc., and for audiophiles who want to listen to their lossless audio, compression is a downgrade to their experience, even if they likely can’t tell the difference between lossless and a high-quality 320kbps MP3 file.

However, HDT not only offers higher bandwidth but also improved reliability for consistent communication and uses even less power, as stated on Bluetooth’s feature enhancements page, which adds that HDT provides the capacity, efficiency, and wireless performance needed for high-resolution and lossless audio. As mentioned, CD lossless quality hovers around 0.8-1.4Mbps, while 24-bit 48 kHz is around 2.3 Mbps, and 24-bit 96 kHz is 4.6 Mbps, well under the maximum 7.5 Mbps bandwidth; only 24-bit 192 kHz exceeds it at 9.2 Mbps — but who is really able to tell the difference at that sampling rate?

It is worth noting that just because a device complies with the Bluetooth Core Specification 7.0, it doesn't mean that it automatically has the HDT feature, much less the maximum 7.5 Mbps feature. On page 2795 of the Core_v7.0 document (yes, I dug that far), it says that HDT2, HDT3, and HDT4 are required if HDT is featured, but HDT6 and HDT7.5 are optional. And it should be further noted that just because an audio device supports even the highest HDT7.5, it won’t immediately equate to a good experience, as tuning is also a big factor. With that said, HDT might make it possible for high-end wired audiophile favorites to get a wireless version.

It only launched at the beginning of this year, but Logitech's most innovative, game-changing mouse, the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike, has already gotten an upgrade.

The new Logitech G Pro X3 Superstrike looks just like its predecessor (okay... the colors are different), but it's what's inside that counts. The new mouse features Logitech's new NxLOGI chipset, which improves performance and efficiency and supports 8,000 Hz polling over both wired and wireless connections. The mouse also weighs two grams less and has been rebalanced to be more center-weighted rather than front-heavy, like the X2 Superstrike.

The upgrade doesn't come without an upcharge, of course: The new G Pro X3 Superstrike costs $199.99, which is... kind of crazy for a mouse. The X2 Superstrike debuted at $179.99, which was already higher than average, but $200 seems like a line most will not want to cross. The mouse does come in two colorways now — black and "magenta eclipse," a black and pink colorway that matches Logitech's other pink G Pro peripherals.

Design and Comfort of the G Pro X3 Superstrike

The G Pro X3 Superstrike has the exact same shape as the original G Pro X2 Superstrike — which has the exact same shape as the G Pro X Superlight and Superlight 2. The mouse has a pseudo-symmetrical design, with sides that taper at the middle, and a centered hump with a mild slope. It's not a terribly exciting or revolutionary shape, but it's comfortable, easy to handle, and quick to get used to. The mouse measures 4.92 inches (125mm) long by 2.5 inches (63.5mm) wide, and is 1.57 inches (40mm) high at its highest point.

The X3 weighs just 2.08 ounces (59g), which makes it 2g lighter than its predecessor (2.15oz / 61g). While that's not a big difference, Logitech has rebalanced the weight in the X3 Superstrike to make it feel more centered — and it does feel more centered, though it still felt slightly front-weighted to me. But still, it feels noticeably different (and better) than the very front-heavy feel of the original X2 Superstrike.

Fancy chipsets and HITS technology aside, the X3 Superstrike is a pretty basic five-button mouse, with two large primary buttons that have slight finger grooves, two large side buttons, and a clickable, notched scroll wheel covered in textured rubber. The mouse has the same smooth matte finish as the X2 Superstrike and the Superlights, which feels fine but is prone to fingerprints. Of course, the mouse still has the Superstrike branding all over it, with crosses on the mouse buttons, "Superstrike" on the right side, and a giant "X3" on the left.

The bottom of the mouse is also pretty simple, with large UHMWPE mouse feet at the top and bottom, plus a strip around the sensor. There's also a power switch and a magnetic mouse puck that you can swap out — either for the included extra puck, which is covered in UHMWPE for even more glide, or for the charging puck that comes with Logitech's PowerPlay 2. Under the mouse puck, there's a slot for storing the mouse's wireless dongle, which is a nice touch — other ultra-lightweight, performance-focused mice don't always have this.

In the box, the X3 Superstrike comes with a rubberized 6-foot (1.8m) USB-C to USB-A cable, a 2.4GHz wireless USB-A dongle, an extra mouse puck, pre-cut grip tape, and a USB converter. The cable is lightweight and flexible — while it's not covered in paracord, it's fairly usable as a mouse cable with the X3 Superstrike. It's worth pointing out that the X3 Superstrike does support 8,000 Hz polling over both its wireless and wired connections, now (the X2 Superstrike only supported 8,000 Hz polling over wireless).

Specs

Performance of the G Pro X3 Superstrike

The G Pro X3 Superstrike features Logitech's Hero 2 optical sensor, which has a maximum resolution of 48,000 DPI and a maximum speed of 930 IPS, and can handle up to 90 G's of force. If those numbers seem different from the Hero 2 optical sensor in the X2 Superstrike, that's because they are — while both mice have the same sensor, apparently the new NxLOGI chipset in the X3 Superstrike unlocks the true potential of said sensor, and allows for higher resolution, speed, and acceleration. That said, it is a great sensor — accurate, consistent, and able to track on virtually any surface without skipping.

Like the X2 Superstrike, the X3 Superstrike features Logitech's Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS), which means there are no switches under the primary buttons — instead, there's a combo of haptic motors and inductive sensors that allow for adjustable actuation and create the illusion of a mouse click. This is the most intriguing part of the Superstrike line, since raising the actuation point genuinely does translate to faster, more responsive clicks.

The haptic click feedback is interesting. I found the feedback to be surprisingly convincing on the X2 Superstrike, even though it's still pretty obvious that it's not a "real" switch. The click feedback on the X3 Superstrike is still... fairly convincing, but it's definitely softer than the feedback on the original. You can still adjust the feedback level (five levels), but feedback just feels firmer on the original — I guess Logitech sacrificed some haptic power for efficiency, or something. The side buttons still have regular switches, and they're a little mushy but otherwise inoffensive. The scroll wheel has a very soft scroll and muted click, but at least it's not loud. In fact, this is probably the quietest mouse I've ever used — even with click strength set to the highest (5), it's barely audible.

In addition to adjustable actuation, the X3 Superstrike also allows for Rapid Trigger, which resets the mouse button's actuation as soon as your finger lifts, allowing for even faster clicks.

Features and Software of the G Pro X3 Superstrike

The G Pro X3 Superstrike is configurable via Logitech G Hub, which is the company's universal peripheral software. You can use G Hub to adjust the mouse's settings — DPI, DPI steps, and polling rate (both wired and wireless) — calibrate the mouse, and remap buttons (though you're probably not remapping a ton of buttons on a five-button mouse). You can also enable BHOP for the scroll wheel, which helps prevent accidental movement when you bump the scroll wheel.

And, of course, you can set up the HITS features in the HITS tab. These include adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and click haptics, and each mouse button can be set independently. There's also a bunch of presets from professional competitive gamers, in case you're not sure where to start (you can also add your own custom presets to this list).

Wireless Experience and Battery Life of the G Pro X3 Superstrike

Logitech rates the battery life of the G Pro X3 Superstrike at 135 hours in constant motion, which is actually a pretty big improvement over the X2 Superstrike's 90-hour rating. This is over a 1,000 Hz polling rate, of course, and the number drops to under 40 hours with an 8,000 Hz polling rate (which is still not terrible, I suppose). Thankfully, the X3 Superstrike can get an 8,000 Hz polling rate over both its wired and wireless connections — the X2 Superstrike has an 8,000 Hz wireless polling rate but maxes out at 1,000 Hz when plugged in — so it won't be the battery life that does you in.

Bottom Line

The G Pro X3 Superstrike isn't too different from the X2 Superstrike — but the difference in balance, at least, is absolutely noticeable. This doesn't make me think the X3 Superstrike is revolutionary, though it makes me think that Logitech should have waited and launched the Superstrike line with this mouse. The click haptics are weaker here, but the mouse is better overall. However, is it better enough to justify the $200 price? Probably not.

If you're at the top of your game and you're absolutely certain that the only thing holding you back is the minuscule latency from non-adjustable actuation, sure, get the X3 Superstrike. If you already have the G Pro X2 Superstrike, the upgrade probably isn't worth it — in the time it took you to get used to the click haptics, you probably also got used to the balance, and that's the only noticeable difference. And if you're just looking for a symmetrical, ultra-lightweight mouse, you can always pick up the G Pro X Superlight 2, which can often be found for around $100.

DockCase is no stranger to Kickstarting unique SSD enclosures and docks, with the company’s Visual Smart M.2 enclosure making its way onto our list of the best SSD enclosures. The Mount Ling 2 Pro, however, is gunning for a spot among the best USB-C docks. It’s a dock for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Switch 2, an external enclosure for an NVMe SSD, and a game capture device, all packaged up in a dock that can show off your handheld and expand your port selection.

There are two versions of the dock: the standard Mount Ling 2 and the Pro version. The only difference between them is the internal capture card. The base version is $109 via an early bird deal while the Kickstarter gets underway, and the Pro version is $149. They’ll be priced at $199 and $249, respectively, after the early deals are gone.

It’s the world’s first “smart creator dock,” says DockCase, which is partially true. There are other docks that give you additional inputs, a stand, and capture capabilities with a handheld, and at a lower price. The AVerMedia X’TRA GO, for instance, offers all of that for $160. The differentiator here is the internal M.2 slot that can support up to 4TB of NVMe storage, with points to mount 2280, 2242, and 2230-sized drives. Of course, this external storage only works with platforms that normally support external storage (so, not the Switch or Switch 2).

For PC-adjacent handhelds running Windows or Linux, the Mount Ling 2 Pro is an expensive but useful dock that gives you capture, storage, and port expandability in one attractive package. For the Switch and Switch 2, the usefulness isn’t as clear. You can’t use the SSD with either platform, and Nintendo’s game of whack-a-mole with third-party accessories means a system update could break HDMI passthrough (and, in the process, the capture function of the dock).

Mount Ling Dock 2 specifications

DockCase says the Mount Ling 2 Pro supports the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Switch, Switch 2, and “more,” presumably wrapping up other Windows- or Linux-based handhelds like the ROG Ally X Xbox or Lenovo Legion Go S. Switch and Switch 2 are supported, as well, though getting Nintendo’s handheld to connect properly isn’t always smooth.

The dock connects to your handheld with a USB 3.2 Gen Type-C connection capable of 10 Gbps, and DockCase includes a small, braided 40 Gbps cable in the box, along with two right-angle connectors. That single connection gives you up to 100W through the USB-C port, along with Gigabit Ethernet, an HDMI 2.0 connection (4K@60Hz), and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port. An additional USB-C connection serves as another USB 3.2 Gen 2 port on the Mount Ling 2, while it becomes the capture card output on the Pro model.

Interestingly, there’s also an optical audio output available. Although I don’t suspect most users will put it to use (HDMI transfers audio, as well), it’s a nice fallback if you plan on using the dock with a more elaborate audio setup. It’s a nice bonus, though I would’ve liked a 3.5mm audio jack as well, considering handhelds no longer have access to that connection.

The dock itself is constructed almost entirely of plastic, and holding it in your hands, you can tell it’s filled with more air than hardware. It’s a sizable package at 8.4 x 7 x 3.5 inches. Outside of the shell, there’s a thick layer of firm silicone to rest your handheld on. There are grooves to provide a natural resting place for just about any handheld, as well as a deep central cut that fits the Switch and Switch 2 specifically.

You can install your SSD at the bottom of the dock, with mounting points for 2280, 2242, and 2230 drives. There's a single 40mm fan internally, as well as venting around the back and side edges, to keep the drive cool. The fan will automatically adjust its speed out of the box, but you’re free to manually adjust the speed or turn the fan off, if you want.

Unfortunately, there’s no room for a heatsink. The face of the drive sits nearly flush against the vented cover on the bottom of the dock. Even if you left the cover off, most heatsinks would push past the rubber feet and prop the dock up.

Using the Mount Ling 2 Pro dock

Setting up the Mount Ling 2 Pro is mostly a matter of plugging everything in and getting on your way. The dock goes through a connecting phase when you hook up a new device, and it’s finicky. Sometimes it would drop one part of the connection, like charging, while picking up another, particularly with the Switch 2. You want to have the dock fully connected before hooking up your host.

The main page of the dock’s screen provides HDMI, SSD, and power info at a glance, which is helpful to quickly check, for example, that the HDMI passthrough is operating at the correct resolution and refresh rate without digging into the settings. A swipe to the right brings up five quick-access settings, which just take you into the settings menu, while a swipe to the right gives you access to volume and fan controls. The volume adjustment on the dock is passed through to the host.

Swiping up instead gives you the full settings menu, which has more to monitor than adjust. You can see the SSD details (including SMART monitors), the status of USB connections, and your HDMI info, andother details about the dock. For settings, there are different HDMI transfer modes, in case you run into a broken handshake, along with power delivery settings if you need to roll back to PD 2.0.

For the dock itself, you have some small control over the fan and built-in lighting. For the fan, you can adjust the speed manually, turn it off, or leave it on the default automatic mode. The lighting settings are surprisingly bare. You can choose between blue, red, or a gradient between them, and that’s it. Otherwise, you can just dim or turn off the lights. If you find the screen and lights distracting, there’s a dedicated button on the back of the dock to turn all the lights off (including the screen).

Thankfully, the dock supports dynamic RGB through Windows Dynamic Lighting. You just don't have much control over the lighting on the dock itself.

Although the screen is responsive with minimal lag between swipes and taps, the software running here isn’t perfect. Particularly with the Switch 2, if I connected things in the wrong order, the dock would force itself to reboot, only sometimes picking up the Switch 2 when it came back. DockCase offers firmware updates over USB, and hopefully it gets a patch between units shipped to fix some of these quirks.

The firmware updates are a nice sign, but they bring up an unfortunate reality of creating a device for the Switch 2 without Nintendo’s seal of approval. Both the Switch and Switch 2 are infamously fickle with third-party docks and hubs. A system update could break compatibility, forcing a firmware update.

DockCase plays up Switch 2 support on its product page, and that is a big draw. However, the dock can’t get around the limitations that Nintendo itself has placed on its handheld. You may as well fill the SSD slot with concrete if you’re docking a Switch 2, and docking the device is troublesome. It took multiple emails for me to get the Switch 2 to pass through its HDMI signal at all. You have to connect everything in a specific way, and critically, have the Switch 2 already unlocked when you plug it into the bottom USB-C port; the top port won’t work.

With the Steam Deck, everything was seamless, and although I didn’t have a Windows handheld on hand to try out, I don’t anticipate there will be major issues. DockCase may offer a lot of functionality in a single box with the Mount Ling Pro 2, but it’s all operating over standard connections that are well supported in the Windows ecosystem.

You can use the SSD with the Steam Deck, though you’ll need to head to desktop mode to partition the drive and add a folder for Steam games. The process is similar on Windows handhelds if you’re using some sort of handheld-native overlay.

For the capture portion, it serves its purpose. Critically, DockCase doesn’t have any software for capturing or recording like the mainstream capture cards you’ll find from Elgato and AVerMedia, so you’ll need to use something else like OBS. For any of these types of recording/streaming platforms, the DockCase shows up as a simple video capture device, with resolution and frame rate determined by your settings on the host device (assuming it’s within that 4K60 limit that HDMI 2.0 is capable of).

There isn’t much of a need here for HDMI 2.1, considering the types of devices connecting to the Mount Ling Pro 2, though it would’ve been a nice upside. You can still push the refresh rate higher, just not at 4K. And in fairness to DockCase, the devices it’s targeting really have no business driving a 4K display.

Mount Ling 2 Pro SSD performance

You shouldn’t expect wonders out of SSD performance with the Mount Ling 2 Pro, given that it uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection that’s only capable of up to 10 Gbps. High performance in an external enclosure is the game of Thunderbolt 5 docks with M.2 storage, which can often reach sequential reads above 5,000 MB/s over the 80 Gbps Thunderbolt 5 interface. Here, the connection will bottleneck your speeds, all the way down to typical PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs.

Still, in the context of gaming on a handheld, that isn’t the end of the world. It’s nice to have that much storage on tap for a device like the Steam Deck, which is otherwise only expandable with a larger internal SSmicroSDicro SD card.

In CrystalDiskMark, the Mount Ling 2 Pro landed with sequential reads and writes around 820 MB/s, with random performance far lower. We tested with a 2 TB WD_Black SN770, which is a PCIe 4.0 drive that boasts sequential reads up to 5150 MB/s when installed directly in a motherboard. In the Mount Ling 2 Pro, it behaves more like an external SSD like the SK hynix Beetle X31 2TB, naturally hamstrung by the connection.

Overall Mount Ling 2 Pro impressions

The Mount Ling 2 Pro does a lot, combining external storage, a capture card, and an attractive dock into a single package that works with both PC handhelds and the Nintendo Switch 2. The SSD performance isn’t great, as is to be expected out of a dock that uses a 10 Gbps USB link for connection, but that downside isn’t much of a concern considering the devices this dock targets.

Although Switch 2 support is a big upside, it’s also fickle. You don’t get access to the SSD, and the connection can fail if you don’t follow the order of operations for connection. The Mount Ling 2 Pro makes sense if you have a Switch 2 and a PC handheld of some kind, but as a pure Switch 2 dock, it doesn’t make much sense. You’d be better off buying an external capture card for use with the official dock.

Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been pushing advancements in the brain-computer interface (BCI) space, with patients now able to play World of Warcraft through a Neuralink brain implant. However, the billionaire founder gave a recent update on its second product, which will be Blindsight. Musk claims that it will “enable even those who are completely blind or have never seen to see,” and that it’s already “ready from an engineering standpoint” and “just waiting on regulatory approval.”

Neuralink was founded in 2016, but it didn't begin human trials until 2024. The progress also started small, with the first implantee starting with moving a mouse cursor “just by thinking.” It has since advanced its technology, with Musk seemingly launching its first product on X and calling it Telepathy. “It enables high-speed communication with computers or humans simply by thinking,” Musk wrote. “Output bandwidth will vastly exceed the fastest human speed or typing in a few years. Read that sentence again.”

While Neuralink isn’t the first to work on BCIs, it’s one of the more successful companies, partially because of Musk’s financial backing. Other companies are working on similar technologies, though. For example, Meta is developing a non-invasive magnetoencephalography scanner that lets users turn thoughts into keypresses, while Chinese outfit NeuroXess, founded in 2021, is accelerating toward human trials this year.

However, Blindsight is unique, as most of these technologies currently focus on the brain sending signals to control external machines. Cochlear implants and sensory neuroprosthetics already send signals from sensors into the brain, allowing deaf patients to hear again and patients to regain the ability to feel through touch. Neuralink’s Blindsight, on the other hand, aims to create an artificial visual pathway, allowing a patient to use a camera to capture visual images and then convert the signals into something that the brain can understand via a BCI.

These medical advancements could help people with limited movement or those who have lost the ability to move their bodies regain independence, as they could use BCI to control machines with their thoughts. But Musk's mention that the technology could enable high-speed communication with humans simply by thinking could also mean much more than helping people regain mobility. Beijing announced last year that BCI technology is a nationally strategic sector, and with the renewed arms race between the East and West in drones, lasers, and new technologies, it’s not far-fetched that someone, somewhere, has thought of using BCI to create super soldiers.

Bastian Recha, “Unskilledcast,” is a German former CS:GO commentator, tech reviewer, and 3D printing enthusiast. On October 28, he posted a demo of his “Mausstudio” project on X that generates a customizable mouse shell around an imported 3D model of a mouse PCB intended for 3D printing — all running locally and not generated using AI.

Bastian posted on X after six days of inactivity, stating that he’s been busy working on Mausstudio, his custom 3D-printed mouse shell generator. His post shows a video of him demonstrating the software, playing around with the ways users can customize their mouse.

Mausstudio works by importing an STL 3D file of a mouse PCB, like the Razer Viper V2 Pro and Zaunkoenig M2K PCBs in Bastian’s demo, from which the software detects the location of several key components: Mouse button switch locations, sensor location, scroll wheel location, and screw hole locations. It then generates a shell around those key components, placing stems to reach the switches, cutouts for the scroll wheel, buttons for the side switches, and base cutouts for the sensor.

Bastian’s demo also showed how users can adjust the width, length, and height of the mouse, including the location of the hump. Further customizations include weight-reducing cutouts for the upper and lower shell, with options to have a fully enclosed shell without the cutouts. To demonstrate the level of customizability, Bastian also showed a battery shelf option, allowing you to customize the location of the battery and the shelf’s size by inputting the battery’s dimensions — this feature, Bastian emphasizes, is lacking in many custom 3D-printed mice, and battery placement is treated as an afterthought, often just using hot glue or double-sided tape to adhere it.

Bastian also boasts that Mausstudio runs completely locally and without generative AI, just math and algorithms.

Bastian has not yet announced a release date for this project, nor has he announced whether this is paid or free, but he has posted an update on what has been changed since his demo, including being able to edit detected component assignments, more side button control, saving shell designs to be used on other PCBs, and cleaner geometry. We’re not sure if it can handle split PCBs like on the G Pro X Superlight, but support for that may come in the future as well.

This project looks to be a great way for users to create a mouse that’s closer to their ideal shape; good gaming mice are not cheap, and it’s a costly endeavor to buy many mice just to try out various shapes. This project may be able to let users experiment with more shapes more affordably with their existing mouse without needing CAD skills or hoping that someone has designed a mouse shell for their PCB that fits their needs. We will have to see how good the software is when it releases, and how it will improve and mature with future updates.

Developer notaroomba (AKA Nathan Alspaugh) has published details of his Keybytes project on GitHub. In essence, this is a modular project where a Keyword hub is magnetically connected to Keybit keys, and each key has its own microcontroller. Hence the number of keys and their layout are entirely up to the user, with a modular design akin to building Lego.

We’ve seen oodles of imaginative and truly excellent mechanical keyboards over recent years, but Keybytes probably offers the greatest flexibility with regard to layout and key selection we’ve ever seen.

It starts with a Keyword, which is the main board that the Keybits connect to. This central component houses a stacked pair of PCBs. The top board packs an Arm Cortex M4-powered microcontroller, Bluetooth antenna, and flash memory. The lower board offers USB-C, charging, and a buck-boost converter.

Adding keys seems like a cinch. Every Keybit, one of the modular keys, contains a CH32V003 RISC-V microcontroller. Moreover, it features pogo pins on all 4 sides of every key for power and I2C. The case is magnetic so you can connect it to any aspect of the Keyword and other Keybits. Atop the Keybit, a Cherry MX switch is installed. We guess you can follow the GitHub MIT-licensed plans for this project and use your preferred variety of mechanical switches.

On the GitHub project page, there are no more than two Keybits together with a Keyword, so you don’t get to see what crazy layout plans he’s hoping to conjure up. However, it is still early days. Per the project journal, Keybytes only became a thing back in March this year, and it was only over the weekend that the developer got to finally boast “it finally works!!”

Both the Keyword and the Keybit modules are 1U sized (19.05 x 19.05mm).

Alspaugh, a student at MIT, has shared all the assets, files, and details you might need to make your own Keybytes keyboard. The GitHub repository says that everything is released under the permissive MIT license.

It might quickly become expensive for individuals to put together a usable layout with, say, 60 keys. Getting the PCBs made, buying and soldering all the components, and 3D printing all the custom bits and pieces is also a considerable task when your proposed keyboard layout is more than a handful of shortcut keys. In the aforementioned journal, Alspaugh actually mentions that he priced up a “full sized keyboard (2 keywords and like 110 keybits) and it's around $900 assembled.”

Keyword has a status light, but the Keybits lack any kind of lighting. My wishlist for Keybytes 2.0 includes customizable RGB lighting, and I would also like to propose Dialbits, a Fingerprintbit, and a matching Touchpadbit.

When it comes to mechanical keyboards, IQUNIX has always been ahead of the curve. Before COVID turned the mainstream onto mechanical keyboards, the company had already been releasing some of the best mechanical keyboards available, quietly making the case for PBT keycaps and premium materials that have since become the norm.

With a catalog of traditional mechanical keyboards under its belt, it’s not surprising that the company would be ready to branch into new territory. It has the Hall Effect demographic covered with its EZ series, but the MQ80 goes another direction entirely. It takes all of the lessons the company learned about how to create an exceptional typing and gaming experience and compressed it. It’s all aluminum, low profile, and offers some of the best-sounding keystrokes of its kind, but steep competition and poor portability hold it back from being the go-to pick it might otherwise be.

IQUNIX MQ80 Specs

Design and Construction of the IQUNIX MQ80

The IQUNIX MQ80 breaks the mold for IQUNIX, but carries the same 75-percent layout as countless mechanical keyboards before it. The form factor is sometimes referred to as a “Compact TKL,” since it shares most of the same keys — minus the blank spaces in between. The result is a condensed slab of keys, including a full function row, arrow cluster, and seven navigation and editing keys.

Nothing too out of the ordinary there, but the MQ80 marries that compact layout with an impressively low height of only 0.4 inches (10.8mm) at the front and 1.08 inches (27.5mm) in the rear. The keycaps are the same height across every row, and while they're scooped to keep your finger centered above the switch, they otherwise feel identical below the finger tip. This makes it an easy transition if you’re coming from a laptop or Apple Magic Keyboard, but first-time LP users should be prepared for a learning curve.

The keyboard is wireless and supports both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 connections, as well as wired if you need to use it while it’s recharging. It sports a 4,000 mAh battery which IQUNIX claims can sustain the keyboard for up to 350 hours. This is with the usual caveats of that being over Bluetooth with all of the lighting disabled, etc. etc. — but I was able to use it for close to two weeks between recharges, even with the lighting on.

The MQ80 is a bit of a curiosity, if I’m being honest. It's thin, yes, but it’s certainly not light. It uses a heavy, CNC-milled aluminum case, just like the company’s prior models and countless others aiming for that “premium feel.” It’s a case study in how looks can be deceiving.

In fact, it has been a pretty common occurrence for people to comment on how surprising its weight is. The keyboard tips the scales at 2.6 pounds, which is around what you encounter with a full-size mechanical keyboard or nicer TKL. From a low profile keyboard that everyone assumes will be airy and effortless to carry around, it flies in the face of what you might expect.

So while technically, yes, it’s a portable keyboard (IQUNIX even provides a nice hardshell carrying case to tote it around in), it's not one I could see most people wanting to carry every day. Instead, this seems designed to live on your desk, providing a solid option for fans of the profile who prefer to use it for all of their typing — not just on the go.

In typical IQUNIX fashion, the MQ80 is built to an enthusiast's standard. The case features intricate milling with plenty of small accents that lend it a vaguely cyberpunk impression. The keycaps feature colored legends and contrasting accents that complete its visual identity. The keyboard is available in white or black with keycaps to match, and both look fetching.

The keycaps are made of thick PBT plastic. They have a light texture to add some grip to your typing experience and use dye sublimated legends that won't chip or fade over time.

The switches below those keycaps are Kailh Rose Red, a lightweight linear switch with a 40g actuation force, 2.8mm of travel distance, and a 1.2mm actuation point. Despite their shortness, they offer 70% of the movement of a full-height switch. This makes them easier to transition to in how they feel to bottom out, but they still feel sensitive. This is a keyboard to use with a light touch or you'll find yourself with strings of single letters or running from cover before you mean to.

The switches are hot-swappable with any Kailh Choc V2 alternative, but there just aren't many options. Gateron has run away with the variety end of the low profile switch market, but you can swap them out if you're inclined to do so.

The keyboard features per-key RGB backlighting, customizable within the VIA web configurator or with shortcut keys. The keycaps aren't backlit, however, so it's not great for use in the dark if you aren't a touch typist.

The internal structure of the keyboard is where things get really interesting. The MQ80 came into the world following a run of pre-built custom keyboards IQUNIX produced under its SUPER product line. It pulled direct influence from the boutique, limited run, group buy custom keyboards popular on r/mechanicalkeyboards. All of those lessons come into play with the MQ80.

Beneath the keys lies a multi-layer assembly that makes even the best gaming keyboards look simple in comparison. It's an intentional system meant to filter and refine the sound and feel of every keystroke without the need to customize or adjust anything yourself.

Moving from the top down, the switches snap into a fiberglass (FR4) plate, a middle-ground material that balances firmness with crisp keystrokes.

Beneath the plate and PCB are two layers of foam, each with different acoustic properties, and a plastic film. The first layer of foam is thick PORON and fills in the empty space between the switches, plate, and PCB. It cuts reverb and helps isolate each switch. A much thinner, less dense sheet of IXPE foam and a plastic PET sheet sit below the switches to add a crispness and pop to each keystroke.

Below the circuit board is another layer of PORON foam that filters soundwaves that pass through and cushion each press. Finally, in the very bottom of the case is another layer of IXPE foam intended to reflect mid-range sounds and act as a final buffer before hitting the aluminum of the case.

It sounds like a lot and it is, but it doesn't end there. The PCB assembly attaches to the case with a modified gasket mount ("Le-Tray Gasket Mount") that imparts some of the qualities of gasket mounting into this much slimmer design. Six arms from the assembly attach to the case with silicone buffers, holding it aloft to deliver pillowy bottom outs.

As a wireless keyboard, IQUNIX also had to fit a battery into its slim frame. It's surprisingly large given the space constraints with a 4,000mAh capacity. This translates into 350 hours of rated uptime, but only when using Bluetooth and no RGB backlighting. In practice, keeping RGB on high and using 2.4GHz, it lasts around 45 hours but your specific figure will depend on use.

Typing Experience on the IQUNIX MQ80

While there's an obvious pre-requisite to prefer low profile keys, you'll also need to be a fan of linear switches. And not just that, you'll need to be a fan of lightweight, fast actuating low profile switches with keycaps that feel identical under your fingers.

If I sound a little salty, I'm not. It's just that I've used hundreds of mechanical keyboards and typed A Song of Ice and Fire worth of words on them, including more than a fair share of competing low profile keyboards, and it's still a pain in the ass to switch back to them.

At least at first, because you do get used to it and the light touch required. Before long, I remembered to pay special attention to the navigation bumps on the "F" and "J" keys. Once everything clicked, I honestly felt faster and more nimble as a typist.

Surprisingly, this didn't translate into actual WPM in my case. I average right around 110 WPM on my day-to-day full height keyboard. Swapping to the MQ80, my raw speed increased slightly, likely due to the lightweight switches and the floating posture I adopted to accommodate its height. My actual average words-per-minute on MonkeyType actually decreased to 105 WPM due to having to backspace to correct typos.

So, typing speed is a bit of a wash (at least for me) but it's hard to argue that the sound and feel of typing on the keyboard is less than exceptional. The multiple layers of sound dampening quiet and deepen the sound of each keystroke in a satisfying way. The Le-Tray Gasket Mount system also gives bottom outs a softness that's reminiscent of, but slightly stiffer than, the gasket mounts used on most full height gaming keyboards.

The thing is, since IQUNIX launched the MQ80 to Kickstarter in early 2025, Nuphy released the third iteration of its Air75 series, the Air75 V3, and it delivers a typing experience that I feel is at least as good and is objectively more customizable with its Gateron low profile switches and tactile and silent switch options at checkout.

As a heavy handed typist, I prefer a lot of tactility, especially on a keyboard with perfectly flat rows. The only option for "not a light tactile" were Kailh Black Cloud switches and would have run me half the cost of the keyboard itself.

None of this is to say that the typing experience is bad. It's genuinely not. IQUNIX knows its stuff. All of this is simply to say that there's an important trade-off and if you don't like light linear switches or paying a premium to replace them, the MQ80 probably isn't the keyboard for you.

If you like that light touch, the custom keyboard-esque feel of its keystrokes filtering through all of that foam and milled aluminum, then you're probably going to love it.

Gaming Experience of the IQUNIX MQ80

Most of the same considerations from the typing experience apply to gaming as well, but fragging enemies is really where the MQ80 felt most at home to me.

Those lightweight switches that were a liability to typing accuracy suddenly feel like hair triggers. If you're connected using the 2.4 GHz dongle or plugged in via USB, its 1,000 Hz polling rate ensures that every keystroke comes through instantly - though, it still doesn't compare to the growing number of 8,000 Hz keyboards out there on paper. Whether you'll be able to tell the difference is up for debate.

While the layers of cushioning and damping don't have a direct impact on how effective the MQ80 is for gaming, much like typing, they just make the experience that much more pleasant.

Apart from its switches, there's a dearth of dedicated gaming features unique to the keyboard. The keys are reprogrammable and support string macros, but you won't find a fancy software suite to support the experience here. Instead, IQUNIX went open source and the MQ80 is better for it.

Software for the IQUNIX MQ80

Where the MQ80 comes into its own is its programmability. Unlike many traditional gaming keyboards, it doesn't have downloadable software that needs to stay running in the background. Instead, IQUNIX opted to support VIA, a web-based configurator that allows you to make changes on the fly while also saving them to the keyboard.

It's simple on the surface, but is surprisingly powerful once you dive into it. Every key can carry up to four different actions or macros, broken into layers for quick shortcut access. Much like holding Shift, you hold or tap a key of your choice and access those additional layers of keymaps.

While this functionality isn't unique to VIA or the MQ80 by any means, big gaming companies usually require you to keep their software running to access layered functions (ex. Razer HyperShift). Here, every change is written directly to the keyboard's firmware and will work on any machine, exactly as programmed.

The web client itself is fairly simple. You have a graphic of your keyboard layout with all of your current mappings on display. Underneath are all of the different commands that can be mapped, including things like media controls, additional F-keys (all the way to F24), macros, RGB controls, and virtually anything else you might want to assign to a keystroke.

The biggest feature you'll miss out on, apart from proprietary features like game-synced RGB backlighting, is the ability to assign backlight colors to individual keys. It's possible to change the brightness, hue, and saturation across its dozen or so preset animations, but creating an entirely custom lighting scheme requires creating your own code and flashing it to the keyboard manually.

The Bottom Line

The IQUNIX MQ80 is a very good keyboard. For a lot of users, I'm confident that they would describe it as "Great" or even "Amazing." I wouldn't fault them for that. This is essentially the luxury option in the low profile space at this point.

But it's too heavy to easily tote around without questioning your life choices. If portability is important to you, I highly recommend the Nuphy Air75 V3. Or, if you're looking for something a little more office friendly than the Nuphy, the Lofree Flow 2 is another great choice that also comes with a tactile switch option.

At the end of the day, all three of these options are good for the money but only the MQ80 feels like a luxury option thanks to its heavy case. If you're not planning on carrying it back and forth to work and you like a fast switch, the MQ80 is a solid choice.

Even as optical media sees a resurgence and new CD players hit the market, some optical drive and component manufacturers have ended production. As a result, PS Audio and Naim have halted production of their high-end CD players, raising questions about the maintenance and repairability of these new devices. Headphonesty says that of the eight new models, four are from Musical Fidelity, two from Marantz, and one each from Arcam and NAD.

Musical Fidelity reportedly sources its key components from SUOS-HiFi, with three of its new models using SUOS disc mechanisms. In contrast, the fourth uses a SUOS-sourced servo but a tray-loading mechanism from an unnamed manufacturer. On the other hand, Marantz reportedly develops its drives in-house, though it’s unclear whether it also outsources production to a third party. As for the two remaining manufacturers, they did not reveal who made their optical drives.

PS Audio had to end production of the PMG Super Audio CD Transport because D&M, Marantz’s parent company, has ceased external orders for its optical drives. Although the company bought D&M’s entire remaining stock, it wasn’t enough to keep production going. Naim faced the same issue with its Uniti Star—though it didn't name its optical drive supplier, it had to find an alternative when the manufacturer stopped production. Naim was evaluating a replacement manufacturer when it, too, stopped making the components the Uniti Star needed. While both companies retained some optical drives in inventory, they are only for repairs and replacements.

What hardware deals are you hoping to pick up during Black Friday?

These issues highlight the problem of relying on a single manufacturer for such a critical component. But even though these manufacturers would love to find alternative sources for the drives that they need, it’s likely that only a few companies are capable of making such a niche product, even if demand has grown substantially recently.

The best option for them would be to design these parts in-house, which is what Marantz is doing. That way, even if the current maker they rely on goes out of business, they could plausibly find another one to take over production (or even build it themselves). This is difficult to accomplish, though, with PS Audio CEO Paul McGowan saying that building its own optical disc reader is beyond the company’s capabilities.

It's been over 20 years since the first Guitar Hero arrived on the gaming scene in 2005 and catapulted music rhythm games to the top of the charts. This was followed by multiple Guitar Hero iterations and competition from rival rhythm games such as Rock Band, and even Clone Hero on the PC. Now, in 2026, band-based rhythm games are due to make a return with the imminent release of Stage Tour from developer RedOctane Games. This brings new opportunities for brand-new music peripherals, and one interesting entry with a unique spin is the InfinaKore Fender Telecaster guitar controller from manufacturer Drakong, which will retail for an MSRP of $129.99 / €129.99 / £119.99. This new controller has a modular design to let creative users fully customize the guitar to their own look and feel, and even 3D-Print their own parts.

• Preorder the InfinaKore Guitar Controller at Amazon

The premise of open-source and customizable peripherals isn't a new one, but it certainly does make this new guitar controller from Californian-based peripheral maker Drakong (Part of HyperKin) interesting. Being able to take the core of this guitar controller and modify the shape, size, and color of the body and head by 3D printing your ideas or community designs will allow you to instantly transform this controller into something else.

Apart from the customization aspects of the InfinaKore controller, the guitar peripheral hosts the latest tech, with the top frets using low-profile Kailh Choc switches (these are hot-swappable) and the bottom frets using membrane switches, with the strum-bar and whammy-bar using hall-effect switches for less wear and tear.

The fret bar has some of the frets styled like a D-pad for some interesting strumming possibilities, plus the controller can be easily stored away thanks to a foldable neck, allowing convenient storage and transportation.

There's also tri-mode connectivity, a 4-mode slider switch, tilt functionality for entering the power-up mode, or just use the new dedicated power-up button. Even better, the buttons are mappable.

There's plenty of rhythm music gaming to look forward to when Stage Tour drops later on in the year, and this could be a great controller to complement the game.

Razer has been updating its gaming mouse lineup systematically over the past two years, and it's finally the Basilisk's turn to get a real update. The last update we saw to the Basilisk line was the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K in October 2024, which was basically just the Basilisk V3 Pro with a new sensor.

The Basilisk isn't Razer's most popular gaming mouse line, but it is the more versatile, all-rounder line for people who aren't chasing performance above all else. The Basilisk V4 Pro maintains the general design of its predecessor — a contoured, right-handed gaming mouse with bright RGB lighting and a handful of extra buttons, for the serious gamer who isn't trying to break esports records. It features Razer's newest Focus Pro 50K optical sensor, gen-4 optical mouse switches, and up to an 8,000 Hz polling rate, plus multiple forms of connectivity and up to 200 hours of battery life (over 2.4GHz at 1,000 Hz).

It is admittedly pricey, like all of Razer's flagship mice, at $169.99 for both colorways (black and white), and it launched with Razer's Mouse Dock V2 Pro — which is sold separately for $69.99.

Design and Comfort of the Basilisk V4 Pro

Following in the footsteps of its other recent next-gen mouse launches, Razer has kept the design of the Basilisk V4 Pro largely the same. The Basilisk V4 Pro has basically the same size and shape as its predecessor — it has a right-handed ergonomic shape with a contoured thumb rest and a hump that sits slightly back and to the left. It has large primary mouse buttons with shallow finger grooves, and a slight contour on its outer edge that makes it relatively easy to pick up and move.

It's not exactly the same as the V3 Pro, however. The V4 Pro has two new buttons, for a total of 12 programmable buttons on the mouse: the left and right primary buttons, three thumb buttons (instead of the usual two) and a trigger button in the thumb groove, a clickable tilt wheel (three "buttons" — center click and left/right click), two buttons above the tilt wheel, and an extra button on the left side of the left mouse button. The third thumb button and the extra button on the left mouse button are the new ones; the third thumb button sits in front of the first two and is set to open up Razer's AI prompt by default, while the extra button on the left mouse button is set to switch through profiles by default.

I'm... actually not a big fan of the new buttons. Or, well, I don't really think they're necessary — the Basilisk already had plenty of buttons for a mouse that's not all about having buttons, and I don't really see myself incorporating these new buttons into my workflow in the near future. The extra button on the left mouse button is a little too far forward — this is a very long mouse (it measures 5.02 inches / 127.5mm long), and the extra button is right at the front edge. I have medium-sized hands and relatively long fingers, and the button felt too far for me to press comfortably. It's not a big deal if you plan to leave it set as a profile switch button (which are often located on the bottom of mice), but it's not really viable as a real extra button.

Worse, however, is the location of the third thumb button — the AI prompt button — which is located in line with the other two thumb buttons. I generally have no issue with three rows of thumb buttons, as my daily driver is the Razer Naga V3 Pro, but this new AI button is the same size as the other thumb buttons and it pushes everything back a little. This puts the first thumb button (MB4) back too far to press comfortably (and that's a mouse button I use often). And while you can swap the buttons around, the AI prompt button is slightly too far forward. Basically, there are now three buttons where there should be only two, and they all feel slightly off.

The tilt wheel has three different modes you can switch through with the button right above it: two tactile modes (24 and 48 steps), and free-spin mode. I generally love free-spin mode, but the tilt wheel on the Basilisk V4 Pro is a little too sensitive and will backscroll if you even think about moving your finger near it. The precision-tactile scroll hits a great balance and feels great, however, so this didn't bother me too much.

The Basilisk V4 Pro comes in both black and white colorways; ours came in white, which has shiny black accents so it's a little more Stormtrooper than iPod. It has a smooth matte white body with dimpled rubber texturing for grip on both sides. While it's nice to have built-in side grips, I suspect they will wear down like the grips on the V3 Pro — and then you'll have to find or make your own grip tape, as the mouse comes with none. The mouse is roughly the same size as its predecessor, but it weighs less: the black version weighs 3.53 ounces (100g), which is almost half an ounce lighter than the V3 Pro 35K (3.95oz / 112g). It's not an ultralightweight mouse (or anywhere close), but the weight difference is noticeable and the mouse is definitely easier to pick up.

On the bottom of the mouse, you'll find pure PTFE feet — two near the front, a strip at the back, and a strip under the thumbrest, as well as a strip around the sensor, a power switch, and a connection switch button that is not programmable.

In the box, the Basilisk V4 Pro comes with a USB-A dongle, a USB-A to USB-C converter, and a 6-foot (2m) braided USB-C to USB-A cable. While the cable is braided, it is not one of Razer's flexible HyperFlex cables — it's meant for charging the mouse and plugging the dongle into your PC, not for using the mouse in its wired form.

Specs

Performance of the Basilisk V4 Pro

The Basilisk V4 Pro sports Razer's latest optical sensor, which is the Focus Pro 50K Gen-3 optical sensor. It has a maximum resolution of 50,000 DPI and a maximum speed of 930 IPS, and it can handle up to 90 G's of force. This is the third Razer mouse to feature this sensor (others are the Viper V4 Pro and the Naga V3 Pro), and it's a solid sensor that works with Razer's dynamic sensitivity (the sensitivity can be set up to change based on how quickly you move your hand) and rotation tool in Synapse. It tracks well across just about every surface, including glass that's at least 4mm thick.

The Basilisk V4 Pro isn't an ultra-lightweight mouse, but its shape and grippiness mean it's pretty easy to pick up and move quickly if you're playing an FPS. The trigger button is right under your thumb, however, so you may accidentally trigger (haha) it if you have a tendency to pick up your mouse a lot. The Basilisk's shape isn't quite as natural-feeling as that of the DeathAdder V4 Pro, but it's a comfortable mouse for a variety of games — from multi-button-needing MMOs to competitive shooters (though, perhaps not for peak competition). While I still take issue with the placement of the new buttons, it is nice to have a few extra buttons without jumping straight to 19.

The Basilisk V4 Pro sports Razer's Gen-4 optical mouse switches, which are rated for over 100 million clicks. The switches have a nice, crisp sound that's not too loud (not as loud as Logitech's, anyway), though it's not a mouse for those trying to minimize mouse clickiness. The primary buttons have a solid, tactile feel, and I had no issues with misclicks or double-clicks while I was testing. While the tilt wheel's free-spin mode was too sensitive for me to get to work properly, I love the precision tactile mode — it blends speed and tactility perfectly.

Features and Software of the Basilisk V4 Pro

The Basilisk V4 Pro is programmable with Razer Synapse 4 (not Razer's web-based version of Synapse). You can use Synapse to remap the mouse's 12 programmable buttons (14 programmable controls, if you include scroll up/down; the connection switch button on the bottom of the mouse is not programmable). Synapse has a variety of remap options, as well as a built-in macro recorder / editor. Synapse is also where you'll be able to customize the mouse further by tweaking things like the scroll wheel, DPI stages, and surface calibration. There's also a sensitivity matcher that will match the Basilisk V4 Pro's sensitivity to match that of your old mouse.

You can also use Razer's Chroma Studio to customize the mouse's lighting and sync it with games and/or your other Razer peripherals. The Basilisk V4 Pro has seven RGB lighting zones: a five-zone underglow strip along the bottom curve of the mouse, as well as one in the scroll wheel and one in the logo on the palm rest. The lighting is bright and the underglow's five zones blend nicely — the underglow strip is tilted outward so it's pretty visible when the mouse is just sitting on your desk.

Wireless Experience and Battery Life of the Basilisk V4 Pro

The Basilisk V4 Pro has three forms of connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired (via USB-C), though it doesn't really come with a mouse-ready USB-C cable. Razer rates it at 200 hours of battery life over a 2.4GHz wireless connection with a 1,000 Hz polling rate, which is excellent. This number does drop to 54 hours at an 8,000 Hz polling rate, which is... still pretty good, to be honest.

The Basilisk V4 Pro launched alongside Razer's Mouse Dock V2 Pro, which is a wireless charging dock with built-in RGB lighting and an integrated 8,000 Hz wireless receiver. The Mouse Dock V2 Pro is sold separately for $70, and comes with a wireless charging puck that slots into the bottom of the mouse. It sits on your desk (it's small — 3.28 x 2.2 x 1.71 inches / 83.5 x 56 x 43.5mm) and serves as a magnetic dock and wireless receiver for your mouse. It has eight RGB lighting zones around the base, and it lights up to indicate battery level (flashes red when the battery is low). It's made for the Basilisk V4 Pro and V4 HyperSpeed, but it will also work with the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, the Basilisk V3 Pro, the Cobra Pro, the Cobra HyperSpeed, the Naga V3 Pro, and the Naga V2 Pro (up to 8,000 Hz polling rate for all except the Naga V2 Pro).

The Basilisk V4 Pro is also compatible with Razer's HyperFlux V2 charging mouse pad, but you'll need to connect to your PC via the mouse's dongle for 8,000 Hz polling.

Bottom Line

The Razer Basilisk V4 Pro is an expected update to the Basilisk V3 Pro / 35K. The bump in battery life, from 150 hours in the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K to 200 hours in the Basilisk V4 Pro, is very nice (and 54 hours with an 8,000 Hz polling rate isn't bad, either). While I didn't like the new buttons, I'm sure some people will (although I find it difficult to believe that every mouse and keyboard needs a dedicated AI prompt button), and the reduced weight feels good even if, at 100g, it's still nowhere near the ultra-lightweight category. The Basilisk V4 Pro is a great gaming mouse for gamers who want something a little more exciting and versatile than a DeathAdder V4 Pro, but not as button-heavy (or as heavy) as a Naga V3 Pro.

"Best gaming headset for audiophiles" is one of the categories on our list of best gaming headsets, and it's easy to look at that and wonder if you shouldn't be looking at just audiophile headsets to begin with. Headsets are mainly about audio, after all, and it does seem to logically follow that audiophile headsets would have the best audio (I mean, it's in the name).

Well, not so fast.

Headsets are mainly about audio, but that doesn't mean that the "objectively" best-sounding headset by audiophile standards translates to the best-sounding headset by gaming standards. Nor does it mean that you should choose your gaming headset based on audio quality at the expense of everything else.

Audiophile headsets, including headphones, are primarily designed around one thing: audio fidelity. In other words, they're designed and tuned to reproduce audio exactly as it was recorded, which is exactly as the artist heard it when they were recording it, and is therefore exactly as the artist intended for it to be heard. This doesn't necessarily mean it's going to sound amazing to everyone. In fact, to many people it will probably sound somewhat underwhelming, but it's really the only objective way we have of measuring what makes audio "good," since how something sounds depends largely on individual listeners' preferences.

Gaming headsets, on the other hand, are designed around... well, everything else. This doesn't mean they ignore audio fidelity completely, but it tends to not be the priority. (Many premium flagship gaming headsets have been focusing more on audio fidelity in recent years, but it's still generally not the priority.) Gaming headsets tend to focus on other features, such as comfort, convenience, and communication. And when they do focus on audio, their priority is about making games sound good — which is generally not the same as making them sound accurate to their original recording.

Don't get me wrong, some of the "audiophile" elements do help games sound better; for example, detailed, layered sound and a wide soundstage make virtual environments sound more realistic. But ultimate realism isn't always what gamers are looking for. If you're playing a competitive first-person shooter, you're probably looking for audio cues to give you a tactical advantage: you want sound that's directionally accurate and that singles out specific details, such as footsteps and gunshots. You're not here to appreciate the individual details you can pick out from different layers of audio if those details prevent you from hearing what's important. If you're playing a game that's designed to make you feel something with the sound, an epic fantasy or a horror RPG, for example, then the goal isn't really accurate sound reproduction; it's for the game to sound epic (or horrifying, I guess).

There isn't a universally perfect answer, of course, because it depends on how you're going to use the headset. It's easy to get swept up in the audiophile hype, but you shouldn't ditch your mainstream gaming just yet. Here's what you should consider before buying into either side.

Comfort

There are plenty of audiophile headsets and gaming headsets that are comfortable — and plenty that are... not so much. While both categories tend to put comfort at least somewhat high on the priority list, comfort means different things for different listeners. Audiophile headsets tend to be larger and more open — larger drivers can produce more sound with less movement, and less movement means less distortion; an open-back design lets sound waves move through the headset instead of bouncing off the enclosure for a wider soundstage and better spatial accuracy. Open-back headsets offer more listening comfort: you won't feel like the sound is closing in and overwhelming you like you will with closed-back headsets, and you'll be able to listen for longer.

Gaming headsets, on the other hand, are largely closed-back (though there are several open-back gaming headsets on the market now, including the Corsair Virtuoso Pro and the Turtle Beach Atlas Air), with smaller drivers, so there's not as much consideration toward listening comfort. They do, however, tend to focus more on physical comfort. They are lightweight and flexible, with gamer-oriented features such as Turtle Beach's "ProSpecs" earpads, which have softer foam near the front to prevent discomfort for gamers who wear glasses. Or the hinge-free design of Logitech's G735 headset, to prevent snagging on longer hair and piercings. Audiophile headsets are designed to be physically comfortable, but gaming headsets are specifically designed around the gaming audience.

Convenience

Convenience is one area in which gaming headsets will basically always win, hands-down. Not only are audiophile headsets not designed with convenience in mind, they're usually the opposite: wired, with very little non-audio-focused tech, and many require a separate audio interface to even work with a PC or gaming console.

Gaming headsets, on the other hand, are packed with technology to make your life easier. Headsets like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II and the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro let you connect to multiple devices and switch between them seamlessly, listen to two audio sources simultaneously, and quickly cycle through game-ready EQ presets. Gaming headsets try to put as many controls as possible at your fingertips, from on-ear dials and buttons to detailed app-based EQ tuning to separate desktop base stations (such as the one included with the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless).

Even wired gaming headsets often include multiple ways to connect to various devices. For instance, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Air is wired, but it comes with a standard 3.5mm analog cable for plugging into a standard audio jack, a USB-C extension (with USB-A converter) for plugging into a USB-C/USB-A port, and a PC headset extension for plugging into separate audio/mic jacks.

The wireless gaming headsets from the audiophile sector that have these features still manage to implement them in a way that is... well, inconvenient. Audeze's Maxwell and Maxwell 2 allow for dual-wireless connectivity but do not give you a way to manually switch between the two. Instead, Bluetooth always takes precedence over 2.4GHz wireless — full stop. It's infuriating, and it's one of my only real grievances with those headsets.

Communication

A standalone USB gaming mic will almost always make you sound better than a built-in headset mic. But that doesn't mean that you should ignore headset mics or how gaming headsets implement other features that help you communicate with others, whether they're team members or stream viewers, while gaming. (Besides, some headsets, such as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023), have microphones that actually can rival the best USB gaming mics.)

If you go with an audiophile headset — or headphones — you'll likely need to invest in a separate gaming mic regardless. There's more to communication than just the mic, though. Many gaming headsets, such as SteelSeries' Arctis Nova series, have built-in ChatMix, which lets you channel your game audio and your chat audio through different channels and mix them together on your headset. This lets you dial up (or dial down) chat if you need to hear what's being said over whatever epic music or sound effects are playing in the game. Gaming headsets are also backed by peripheral software that, while often frustrating, is, ultimately, designed around the needs of gamers. Software-based noise reduction/cancellation, microphone EQs, and sidetone are all particularly useful communication tools that you won't find on most audiophile headsets.

Audiophile or gaming headset?

At the end of the day, audiophile headsets tend to focus on audio above everything, which is exactly what audiophiles want. But it's not really what most gamers want. A great gaming headset does have to sound good, but that's not all it has to do.

There are, of course, gaming headsets from audiophile companies, such as the Audeze Maxwell and Maxwell 2, as well as headsets from gaming companies that implement audiophile features, such as the open-back Corsair Virtuoso Pro. And while a headset like the Audeze Maxwell 2 does a decent job of bridging the gap between audiophile and gaming, it makes some sacrifices; it's a very heavy headset (thanks in part to its large, 90mm planar magnetic drivers), though it is relatively comfortable for its weight. It sounds great, but it doesn't do the best job of implementing the gamer side of things — while it has a wide soundstage and decent spatial immersion, that's not the same as pinpoint spatial accuracy when you're listening for footsteps and gunshots.

And while the much pricier Audeze LCD-GX sounds incredible, it's basically the perfect example of how an audiophile headset focuses on sound at the expense of all else, as its gaming features are... mostly non-existent. The only thing that really makes the LCD-GX gamer-friendly is the fact that you can plug it directly into a PC because it comes with a 3.5mm cable and a PC (dual 3.5mm headphone/mic) converter.

So, should you get an audiophile headset in lieu of a gaming headset? Probably not. If you need a gaming headset for its gaming features: multi-device connectivity, super accurate positional audio for tactical advantage in shooting games, the ability to mix chat and game audio on the spot, convenient microphone, connection, and volume controls at your fingertips, or physical comfort for a marathon gaming session, definitely not. Yes, you will give up some audio fidelity and quality by picking a gaming headset over an audiophile one, but you aren't going to miss that when you're arguing over voice chat while trying to determine how far away the enemy is.

Windows 98 SE devotees can now enjoy (experimental) support for USB4 and Thunderbolt 3/4. Developer and maker Yeo Kheng Meng, who also enjoys retrocomputing, recently released the vibe-coded xHCI98 v3.0.0.0, enabling the practical use of generic USB 3.x, USB4, and Thunderbolt 3/4 host controllers on systems running Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7. An extensive blog post by the dev provides further reading about the driver, compatibility, its creation, and usage.

Demo video “shows many different USB devices being hotplugged to a modern 2020 ThinkPad P14s Gen 1 with only xHCI controller.”

Some of you will be wondering why a project to bring USB4 (Thunderbolt 3 and 4) to PCs running Windows 98 SE exists. Retro computing fan Meng explains on his GitHub that this project should appeal directly to users of PCs from the mid-2010s that have xHCI-only (USB 3.x) chipsets and no legacy EHCI controller. However, older OSes don’t have xHCI drivers, and that’s where xHCI98 steps in. “Without xHCI support, even keyboards, mice, and flash drives need the BIOS's legacy support, cannot be hotplugged, and devices such as Ethernet and audio do not work at all,” explains Meng, revealing his motivation. “This project fills that gap.”

Impressively, xHCI98 drives a lot more than USB storage. It replaces Windows’ own USB port and hub drivers to facilitate the connection and use of USB 1.1 and 2.0 and SuperSpeed (USB 3.x) devices and hubs, UAS (USB Attached SCSI) storage through a second driver (xhciuas.sys), and Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 docks and NVMe enclosures through a third driver (xhcicm.sys).

Meng has developed and tested xHCI98 mostly on Intel hardware, as that is what he owns. Candidly, he admits “this is a solo human's project with AI assistance, so bugs are not unexpected,” even if you do have the same hardware as the dev - a 2020 ThinkPad P14s Gen 1 (Comet Lake xHCI, no EHCI). It stands up pretty well during the plug/unplug video demo above, though the test rig used is not quite the USB cart of death.

As a solo developer, Meng isn't shy to admit he leaned heavily on AI assistance to prepare the xHCI98 release. His vibe coding adventure was supported by Claude Fable 5.1 for planning, Claude Opus 5.5 for coding, and Codex GPT 6 Astra as an adversarial reviewer.

In addition to a few bug warnings, there are some other things to know about using this driver with the various older versions of Windows it supports, standby and hibernation, and more. The dev helpfully sketches out a process for checking your hardware, outlines various install methods, discusses updating, and talks about tuning the driver for those who will be jumping in at the deep end with this project.

HyperX has decided to toss its hat in the ring of open-back gaming headsets with its newest, the Cloud Alpha Air. It's definitely not the first open-back headset we've seen in the past few years — others include the $200 Corsair Virtuoso Pro, the $180 Turtle Beach Atlas Air, and, of course, the $900 Audeze LCD-GX. The Cloud Alpha Air is at least somewhat budget-friendly at just $149.99.

The Cloud Alpha Air is a wired over-ear open-back gaming headset designed for comfort and immersion. It features dynamic 40mm drivers with a frequency response range of 20 - 20,000 Hz and a special "HyperX Bass Tube" to keep the low end present without compromising the open-back design. And, like other HyperX headsets (which are some of the best gaming headsets we've tested), it's extremely lightweight and easy to wear for hours at a time.

Design and Comfort of the Cloud Alpha Air

The Cloud Alpha Air is a wired over-ear (circumaural) open-back headset with a detachable boom microphone. It has large, plastic oval-shaped earcups with metal grilles attached to a padded steel headband. It's a fairly lightweight headset — HyperX has its weight listed at 9.6 ounces (272g) without the boom mic attached (the boom mic is listed at approximately 0.42 ounces / 12g), but we found the headset weighed closer to 10 ounces (283g) (the boom mic, however, weighed closer to 0.07oz / 2g), and came in at just under 10.6 ounces (300g) with both the boom mic and cables attached. This still makes it one of HyperX's lightest headsets — slightly lighter than the HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 Wireless and Turtle Beach's Atlas Air open-back headset.

The Cloud Alpha Air's earcups are pretty roomy, with thick memory foam padding covered in soft ultrasuede material. The earcups tilt and swivel a little, but they're not as flexible as the earcups on many gaming headsets — and they don't swivel flat. The headset features a steel headband with leatherette-covered padding at the top and metal-reinforced yokes, so that explains the rigidity. The earcups are independently height-adjustable, with about an inch of extension for a maximum inner headband measurement of approximately 12 inches (300mm).

I found the Cloud Alpha Air to be very comfortable, despite the headband's relative rigidity, since the whole package is pretty lightweight and well-padded. However, I can see users with larger heads having problems with the top of the headband, as the padding did press on my crown slightly.

This is a wired headset, so there aren't a lot of ports or on-ear controls. The left earcup has two 3.5mm jacks, one for the detachable boom mic and one for the primary audio cable, as well as a microphone mute button, and the right earcup has a volume wheel.

The Cloud Alpha Air is wired, but the wires are detachable, and it comes with everything you need in the box to plug it into various devices. The main cable is a standard 4-foot (1.2m) 3.5mm, and it comes with two extension cables: a 4.5-foot (1.37m) 3.5mm to USB-C extension (with a USB-C to USB-A converter attached) for plugging it into a PC or console, and a 3.5-foot (1m) PC extension cable with separate audio and microphone jacks. That gets you about 8 - 8.5 feet of cable when you're plugged into your PC, which is decent — though I would personally prefer single long cables instead of the extension system, as the extension system means there's a weight (where the cables connect) in the middle. The cables are braided and seem high-quality, if a bit heavy. The headset also comes with its detachable boom microphone in the box, as well as a thick drawstring carrying bag for keeping everything together.

Specs

Audio Performance of the Cloud Alpha Air

The Cloud Alpha Air features dynamic 40mm neodymium drivers, with a frequency response range of 20 - 20,000 Hz (still pretty standard for gaming headsets, despite several companies coming out with premium models that have wider ranges).

Music sounds very good on the Cloud Alpha Air. The headset has a mostly neutral sound profile, with bright, detailed highs, a full, present mid-range, and solid but not overly powerful bass. It definitely has a wider sound stage than its closed-back counterparts, though it's not quite as wide or as open as some open-back headsets (such as the Audeze LCD-GX). Mid-range-heavy songs such as K-931's Lonely World and Enya's Orinoco Flow sounded especially dynamic. The headset has a built-in "HyperX Bass Tube" designed to maintain powerful bass, despite its open-back style. This works decently well — while I still found bass to be more powerful on closed-back headsets such as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, the bass was definitely present (and fairly detailed — I could hear the full run of the bass drum in Lorde's Royals).

Games sound even better on the Cloud Alpha Air, thanks to the open-back design. Games with multi-layered audio environments, such as Uncharted 4 and God of War: Ragnarok, really stood out on the headset — I could hear every individual creature in jungles and make out conversations with (possibly unrealistic) clarity in cities. Directional audio was also very good, though I would probably still opt for a closed-back headset for competitive first-person shooters where the direction of footsteps and gunshots is paramount. But you can't beat open-back headsets for exploring an open world (and for being able to hear things happening in the real world).

Microphone of the Cloud Alpha Air

The Cloud Alpha Air has a detachable 10mm boom microphone with a unidirectional polar pattern. It sits at the end of a 3-inch flexible metal gooseneck you can bend toward your mouth for better pickup, and the arm has a small red indicator light near the microphone end that lets you know when it's muted. It's the same microphone found on HyperX's other premium headsets, including the Cloud III S Wireless and the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless.

The mic performs about as well as expected — it's good for a headset mic, but it's definitely still a headset mic. My voice was clear and full-sounding over both voice chat and in recordings. But the mic's pickup was pretty low by default — for other HyperX headsets I've been able to adjust the gain in its Ngenuity software, but I wasn't able to get Ngenuity to recognize the Cloud Alpha Air (I imagine if it had recognized it, it would have been adjustable, however). Hopefully this is fixed in a software or firmware update soon.

The mic mute button is easy to press, and the indicator light is a nice thought — but it was too low and too dim to be useful to me (I had to keep moving the mic up to see it, which seems like it sort of defeats the purpose of having an unobtrusive indicator light). I also had the same issue I did with the mute mic button on the HyperX Cloud III wired headset, where pressing the mute button caused a noticeable blip in my recordings.

Features and Software of the Cloud Alpha Air

The Cloud Alpha Air is supposed to be configurable with HyperX's Ngenuity peripheral software, which should let you do things such as tune the EQ and adjust the microphone's input gain. But, again, I couldn't get any version of Ngenuity to recognize the Cloud Alpha Air.

Bottom Line

If you've been thinking of getting an open-back gaming headset, the Cloud Alpha Air might be the headset you've been waiting for. As long as you don't mind the wires, it's an excellent headset for the price — it's comfortable, lightweight, and it sounds great whether you're listening to music, watching movies, or gaming. While I couldn't get it to connect to Ngenuity, I honestly don't count that as much of a point against it — peripheral software often causes more headaches than it's worth, especially for a headset that's mostly analog to begin with.

Over the past several years, MOZA Racing has become one of the most recognizable names in sim racing, earning a reputation for producing high-quality racing wheels and peripherals. Founded in 2012 by a group of automotive engineers and sim racing enthusiasts, the company initially focused on manufacturing and selling videography equipment before entering the sim-racing market.

More recently, MOZA has expanded into the world of flight simulation, bringing the same focus on build quality and performance that has made its racing products so popular. Today, we’re taking a look at the MOZA AY210 Force Feedback Base and MFY Yoke. We’ll be putting both products through their paces in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, testing them across a variety of challenging flight scenarios to see how they perform in the cockpit.

Inside the Box

While you can purchase the base and the yoke separately, they also come in a bundle. With the bundle, you get both the yoke and the base in the box, along with a toolkit and user manual. The base comes with a power cable and a USB Type A to Type B cable.

MOZA also sent us a couple of table clamps for the yoke to secure it to our test setup. The clamps are sold separately.

Customization

The base and yoke feature several programmable buttons and switches, but the real depth of customization comes from MOZA Cockpit Software. The software provides an impressive range of options for fine-tuning the yoke to your preferences. You can adjust individual settings to create your ideal feel, or choose from one of MOZA’s presets or community-created profiles.

Build Quality

The base is constructed from aluminum alloy, giving it a sturdy, durable, and premium feel. An aluminum quick-release mechanism allows you to swap yokes quickly while keeping them securely attached.

Under the hood, the AY210 is powered by a 280 MHz processor and features a 15-bit high-resolution magnetic encoder. This is designed to provide precise and responsive inputs across the full range of motion, whether you’re making small, delicate adjustments or larger, more aggressive inputs. Combined with MOZA’s proprietary active force-feedback system, the AY210 is designed to deliver a high level of control while adding another layer of immersion to the flight experience.

The MFY Yoke features a premium build made from high-quality synthetic engineering thermoplastic and ergonomic design that closely replicates the feel of a yoke found in a real commercial aircraft.

How Does it Feel?

The star of the show is undoubtedly the force feedback. With up to 9 Nm of torque and 210 N of push force, the system adds a level of immersion that simply isn’t possible with conventional yokes that lack force feedback.

When flying the PMDG 737, the yoke gives the aircraft a noticeably heavier feel through the control column, closely mimicking what we experienced in a 737 simulator. As airspeed increases, the yoke becomes progressively harder to deflect in both pitch and roll, accurately reflecting the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft.

But the force feedback goes far beyond simply simulating control forces. You can feel the vibrations from the engines, as well as the movement of the flaps and spoilers. After takeoff, the yoke conveys the increasing resistance of the airflow as the aircraft accelerates. Approaching a stall during a climb produces a noticeable buffet through the controls, while landing provides feedback as the wheels make contact with the runway.

The AY210 also replicates the movement of the aircraft's controls when the autopilot is engaged, with the yoke moving under the control of the autopilot servos.

All of these effects work together to create a remarkably convincing connection between the aircraft and the controls. It’s a level of immersion that most other yokes simply cannot replicate.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Testing

We tested the AY210 Force Feedback Base and MFY Yoke in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 primarily using the PMDG 737-800. While the iFly 737 MAX is a great addon with a superb flight model, especially in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, it is not yet natively built for MSFS 2024. As such, it does not handle wind and turbulence effects entirely well in MSFS 2024. We wanted to stick with MSFS 2024 because of its more realistic flight dynamics. We also tested the yoke with the PMDG 777. For our tests, we used the latest 737 NG and 777 profiles from Tonyaviation on Flightsim.to. Tony is a real-life pilot with experience in the 737 and 787. The 787 and 777 share many of the same flight characteristics.

We tested the base and yoke in three different scenarios:

1. Basic maneuvering. Flying at 5,000 feet, we performed gentle turns and pitch changes to evaluate the precision of the base during small, accurate control inputs.
2. Turbulent approach. We performed an approach into Las Vegas under hot, windy conditions with strong updrafts and downdrafts. This scenario required larger, more frequent control inputs to assess how the base handles turbulence and rapid corrections.
3. Curved approach. Finally, we flew the RNAV Visual approach to Runway 1R at San Francisco International Airport. This approach is available in MSFS 2024 if you use the Navigraph database, but it is missing the RF leg between the waypoints KLAUS and SQIRL, so we added it to the navigation database of the PMDG 737 and 777 ourselves. The procedure features a sweeping right-hand arc that continues until roughly one mile from the runway threshold, requiring the aircraft to remain in a turn at very low altitude. The approach demands precise tracking of the flight path while also requiring a smooth, accurate transition to the runway centerline after the final waypoint. This scenario tested both the precision and responsiveness of the AY210 Base.

Basic Maneuvering

Basic maneuvering feels precise and smooth with the right settings. That last part is important, however, because the AY210 does not necessarily deliver this experience out of the box. Based on our previous experience with a 737 simulator, even with significant pitch input, the control column should maintain a smooth and consistent feel throughout its movement. With the AY210, we found that the motion could feel less natural and “sticky” unless Pitch Friction Correction was enabled in the MOZA Cockpit Software. Fortunately, this setting significantly improves the feel, giving the control column a response that is much closer to what we experienced in a 737 simulator.The 280 MHz processor and 15-bit high-resolution magnetic encoder also contribute to the AY210’s precise and responsive inputs. We were able to make accurate turns and precisely set our desired descent rate, with even small control inputs translating smoothly and predictably into the simulator.

Turbulent Approach

Here, we perform our usual turbulent approach, landing in Las Vegas during the summer. The combination of extreme heat, strong winds, and thermals along the approach path can create significant turbulence, making for a much less stable approach. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is able to replicate these conditions through its Live Weather system, providing a challenging environment for testing the AY210.

The level of immersion provided by the AY210 is simply incredible. Through the force feedback system, you can feel the effects of wind and turbulence directly through the yoke, rather than relying solely on visual cues or the aircraft’s instruments. This provides useful feedback that helps you anticipate and make the necessary control corrections. The AY210 handled these conditions exceptionally well, accurately conveying the changing forces throughout the approach and giving us a much better sense of how the aircraft was responding.

Curved Approach

The RNAV Visual approach to Runway 1R at San Francisco International Airport contains an RF leg between the final two waypoints – KLAUS and SQIRL – which is a sweeping right-hand arc. The AY210 was responsive and precise throughout, allowing us to follow the arc all the way to SQIRL, at which point we were able to accurately align with runway 1R and perform a smooth landing.

By comparison, the Thrustmaster TCA Boeing Yoke felt noticeably jerkier throughout the approach. The two products are also in completely different price tiers, so this is not necessarily a direct or entirely fair comparison. However, the TCA Boeing Yoke is a popular choice among simmers flying Boeing aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator, making it a useful reference point. The difference was immediately noticeable, and the AY210’s ability to provide smoother, more natural control while conveying the effects of turbulence is a clear example of what you gain from its more premium design and force feedback system.

Bottom Line

The MOZA AY210 Force Feedback Yoke Base delivers one of the most immersive experiences available in desktop flight simulation. It comes at a premium price, but after spending time with the AY210, it is genuinely difficult to go back to a yoke without force feedback. The combination of realistic feedback, precise control, and the level of detail conveyed through the yoke adds an entirely new dimension to the flying experience.

It is not without its flaws. Some of the force feedback effects could be stronger, while the control column can feel slightly unnatural and “sticky” out of the box. Fortunately, both issues can be addressed to some extent through the extensive customization options in MOZA Cockpit Software.

Overall, the AY210 is an impressive piece of hardware. For those willing to pay the premium, its force feedback and overall level of immersion make it a compelling upgrade for any serious home cockpit.

For years, the standard polling rate for gaming peripherals — mice, keyboards, etc. — has been 1,000 Hz, which equates to a delay, or latency, of 1 millisecond. This is significantly higher than the standard polling rate for non-gaming peripherals, by the way, which is 125 Hz (8ms latency) — in fact, it's eight times as fast.

Well, over the last couple of years, gaming companies have been asking: What if we made the polling rate even faster than 1,000 Hz? What if we made it eight times as fast?

And now just about every single ultra-lightweight, esports-oriented gaming mouse that comes out has up to an 8,000 Hz polling rate. And, of course, this raises the question every time: Do you actually need a mouse with an 8,000 Hz polling rate?

And the answer is... probably not.

What is polling rate, and what does it mean?

Polling rate is, simply put, how often your mouse communicates with your PC. That is, how often it reports mouse movement and clicks to your CPU. At a standard gaming mouse polling rate of 1,000 Hz, your mouse is communicating with your PC 1,000 times per second — or, once every millisecond. Hence, a 1,000 Hz polling rate means 1ms latency. At a standard non-gaming mouse polling rate of 125 Hz, your mouse is only communicating with your PC once every eight milliseconds — or an 8 ms latency. At a polling rate of 8,000 Hz, your mouse is communicating with your PC once every 0.125 milliseconds — a 0.125 ms latency.

Polling rate affects both mouse movement (if the polling rate is low enough, mouse movement might be jerky) and, more importantly, click latency — you want your mouse clicks to translate instantly.

But it's important to keep this in perspective, because higher polling rates yield increasingly diminishing returns. Going from 125 Hz to 1,000 Hz is definitely noticeable — it cuts your latency from eight milliseconds to just one. But while going from 1,000 Hz to 8,000 Hz cuts your latency by the same factor, we're now talking about fractions of a millisecond. The average gamer can tell if their mouse is lagging by several milliseconds, but can they tell if their mouse is lagging by less than one millisecond?

Maybe. But probably not.

Why not?

Well, inability to distinguish whether your mouse is lagging by 0.875 milliseconds aside, there are some potential downsides to ultra-high polling rates. The main one being that your system may not be able to handle it. A higher polling rate means that the mouse is communicating with your PC more frequently, so this can affect CPU performance — if you don't have a pretty solid gaming CPU, you may see more of a performance hit than is worth the infinitesimal lower latency (which may not even end up being lower if performance issues cause latency). And if you don't have a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate (at least 240 Hz, if not higher), any perceived smoother mouse movement will be just that — perceived. (Of course, with a higher refresh rate you'll need an even better system to keep up with that and the 8,000 Hz polling rate, and... well, you get the point).

Another downside to an 8,000 Hz polling rate is battery life, because it drops significantly on wireless gaming mice. The battery life of the Corsair Sabre v2 Pro Wireless is a pretty impressive 120 hours at 1,000 Hz, but this drops to just 21 hours at 8,000 Hz. The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K gets up to 150 hours at 1,000 Hz, and just 28 hours at 8,000 Hz. The Turtle Beach Burst II Pro does a little better, going from 150 hours at 1,000 Hz to 40 hours at 8,000 Hz, but it's still a significant drop.

And while you can cheat the system with select Razer and Logitech gaming mice by pairing them with either the Razer HyperFlux V2 or the Logitech PowerPlay 2 wireless charging mouse pads, you will need to pair the mice to your PC using their included (or, in some cases, sold separately) 8,000 Hz dongles — neither the HyperFlux V2 nor the PowerPlay 2 offer 8,000 Hz polling rates if you connect through the built-in receivers.

But... 8,000 Hz!!

You may not need an 8,000 Hz polling rate, but maybe it will make you feel better.

If any category of gaming mouse is going to benefit from lower latency, it's the esports category — where mice need to be lightweight so they can fly across surfaces, relatively small so they can be picked up when sliding them is too time-consuming, and hyper speedy and accurate so competitors can shoot people in the head without missing a beat. And so it's not surprising that flagship gaming mice like the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro or the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Extreme (or the Asus ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20) tout 8,000 Hz polling rates.

But you don't have to spend a ton on an extreme edition flagship gaming mouse to max out your polling rate — several of Razer's older mice work with the company's Mouse Dock Pro and/or HyperPolling Wireless Dongle to get up to 8,000 Hz wireless polling rates, including the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro, and many of its newer mice come with 8,000 Hz polling out of the box (e.g. the Razer Viper V3 Pro, which is currently on sale for $110 at Amazon — 31% off its retail price of $160).

If you don't need a wireless mouse, Razer's DeathAdder V3 wired gaming mouse gets up to an 8,000 Hz wired polling rate (and is currently on sale for $45 at Amazon — 36% off its retail price of $70). Even Redragon, one of our favorite budget-friendly peripherals companies, has a mouse with an 8,000 Hz polling rate: the Redragon M916 ULT, which is wireless and ultra-lightweight (49g) and retails for just $50.

Ultra-high polling rates are creeping in everywhere, not just in the competitive esports market. Even Razer's recently launched V3 Naga Pro, which isn't even an ultra-lightweight, esports-oriented gaming mouse (it's a relatively hefty 23-button mouse for games that definitely do not need to worry about ultra-smooth, accurate mouse movement or click latency), can get up to an 8,000 Hz polling rate if you pair it with either the company's Mouse Dock Pro or HyperPolling Wireless Dongle (both are sold separately, naturally, because — again — you don't need this).

Corsair recently showed off its Nightsword v2 Wireless SD, a mouse with a built-in Stream Deck (sort of), which also has up to an 8,000 Hz polling rate (170 hours of battery life at 1,000 Hz, which drops to 47 hours with the lighting turned off and 25.5 hours with the lighting turned on at 8,000 Hz). And if you think that you can tell the difference between half a millisecond but not that extra quarter, there are also mice with up to 4,000 Hz polling rates, such as the HyperX Pulsefire Saga Pro and the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2.

And as for whether you need a keyboard with an 8,000 Hz polling rate, the answer is: absolutely not.

While compressed air is affordable, it becomes less practical if you clean your system frequently. You could unknowingly spend hundreds of dollars a year on disposable cans, especially if you use compressed air outside of system maintenance. Amazon has plenty of deals on cordless air dusters during the Big Day sales, which not only helps save you money in the long run but is also better for the environment.

• Check out these air blower deals at Amazon

As with any product, air dusters come in different shapes, specifications, and features. So, choose one that meets your needs. Prices also vary, but we have curated a selection of air dusters, starting at $19, which is a few dollars more expensive than a can of compressed air, and going up to premium options.

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Finding a budget gaming chair that checks all the right boxes is rare. Our top recommendation, the Razer Iskur V2 X, is now available at a record-low price of $189.51, an $110.48 discount off its usual price.

• Check out the Razer Iskur V2 X deal on Amazon

The Iskur V2 X, one of the best gaming chairs, offers some of the best ergonomics in any budget gaming chair. Designed for long gaming sessions, it features an adjustable lumbar support system and high-density foam cushions that adapt to your body. Meanwhile, the 21.4-inch seat base evenly distributes your weight, so you stay comfortable whether you are leaning forward during gaming or lying back to relax.

The Iskur V2 X caters to a wide range of users. It can accommodate adults up to 6.2 feet tall and supports a maximum load of 299 pounds. Whether you are petite or average-sized, the Iskur V2 X's robust construction and reinforced frame are designed to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Razer backs the Iskur V2 X with a generous limited three-year warranty. That alone really sets it apart from the competition, where entry-level gaming chairs typically come with one-year warranties. The level of support demonstrates Razer's confidence in the Iskur V2 X's quality and durability, two areas that matter a lot when it comes to something that you will likely sit on every day until it breaks.

At just $189.51, you are unlikely to find another chair that matches the Iskur V2 X's blend of comfort, durability, and support. Whether you need a gaming chair or plan to use it as an office chair for long workdays, the Iskur V2 X offers outstanding value.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.