It’s been rumoured for sometime that Lenovo was working on a cheaper Lenovo Legion Go with non-removable controllers and the first photos have leaked courtesy of Windows Central.

It seems to be called the Lenovo Legion GO S and according to Videocardz, it will use the new Ryzen Z2 platform, which is expected to be less powerful than the Z1 Extreme but fairly comparable. It will drop the removable controllers, the kickstand and it will also come in white. The larger trackpad that featured on the Legion GO has also been replaced with a smaller little one on the Go S.

It’s expected to be quite a lot cheaper than the standard Legion Go at roughly $499 USD (~$750 AUD), and we’d expect it to be announced at CES at the start of January alongside a bunch of other Windows handhelds likely using the next chipset from AMD.

It’s very clear that these notebook companies are having a lot of success with these Windows Handhelds, as we already know that MSI is set to release its larger MSI Claw 8 AI+ early next year as well, and we’ll keep you posted on all of the announcements as they come out.

In my Lenovo Legion Go review, I really liked the device saying: “The Lenovo Legion Go is a great handheld that tries to do things differently and goes a long way in succeeding. It offers a huge amount of control options and has a fantastic display, and could be unstoppable with some minor software improvements.”

The post The First Lenovo Legion Go S Photos Have Leaked appeared first on Press Start.

Telstra has today announced that it has acquired one of the most popular Telco brands, Boost Mobile.

Boost Mobile has grown in popularity over the years for its fantastic value for money plans that benefit from already being on the Telstra network, and Telstra has gone on the record to say it doesn’t plan to change these (in the near future at least). If you’re a current Boost customers, you don’t need to do anything as it’s likely nothing will change for the moment.

“We know Boost branded products are a fantastic option for those seeking more affordable mobile connectivity and we are committed to providing that choice in the market” said Brad Whitcomb, Telstra consumer Group Executive.

“Telstra has been an incredible partner to the Boost mobile family and, more importantly, to our customers – for more than 13 years. This acquisition of Boost is the natural evolution of the brand, and I am excited to see how the brand will continue to grow under Telstra’s ownership. The team at Boost are the best in the business and I wish them all well on the next part of Boost Mobile’s journey” said Boost Founder/Chairman Peter Adderton.

There’s some different reports out in market for costs of acquisition with the price of 100-200m being quoted.

Whist this is a big deal, and not likely the last acquisition Telstra will make in the space, Telstra was already responsible for the operational side of Boost, whilst Boost was responsible for the branding and marketing, so hopefully we don’t see too much of a change there as Boost has been positioned out in market very differently to Telstra, mostly targeting the youth of Australia.

The post Telstra Has Acquired Boost Mobile appeared first on Press Start.

8BitDo has announced the latest mechanical keyboard in its classics range following the release of the Famicon and Genesis models, and this time, the OG Xbox gets the keyboard/mouse treatment.

Both the keyboard and mouse have that translucent green goodness, and for the first time, they have RGB backlighting to shine through the clear keys. Just like the other models, it also comes with two super buttons (no software needed) which allow you to set hotkeys easily.

There’s also a dedicated integrated Xbox button that not only lights up, but allows you to quickly activate Windows Game Bar and coloured arrow buttons to match the original Xbox controller.

As far as the mouse goes, it has a charging dock so that you can keep it charged at all times, customiseable side buttons which are inspired by the original Xbox controller, compatibility for left/right hand and three connection modes (wired, bluetooth, dongle).

Both of these products will launch at the start of January for $119.99 USD (~$184 AUD) for the keyboard and $59.99 USD (~$94 AUD) for the mouse. We’ll keep you posted on Australian information once we have it.

The post 8BitDo’s OG Xbox Inspired Keyboard And Mouse Are Absolutely Stunning appeared first on Press Start.

The MSI Claw is going for an extremely cheap price at Centrecom at the moment making it one of the cheapest Windows 11 PC handhelds that we’ve seen so far (even cheaper than the ASUS ROG Ally deal).

Using code BFCLAW50 you can get it for the below prices:

• MSI Claw Ultra 5 512GB – $549 delivered
• MSI Claw Ultra 7 512GB – $609 delivered 
• MSI Claw Ultra 7 1TB – $649 delivered 

This is well below 50% off for all three models, which makes it a fantastic deal for anything from playing AAA games to emulation. You’ll struggle to find a better value for money product on the market.

The MSI Claw features a 7-inch 1080p 120hz touchscreen display, and it has a 53Whr battery which is said to delivery a two hour battery life with a full workload. It will also incorporate MSI Cooler Boost technology with dual fans and heat pipes to dissipate heat.

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A post shared by Shannon Grixti (@shannongrixti)

The device will comes with MSI Center M UI which has quick settings, a game launcher and instant platform access and will support the MSI App player to play both Windows and Android games.

The biggest difference between the MSI Claw and the ASUS ROG Ally is the ergonomics which is fitting given the name of the MSI Claw. It has a lot more curvier grips which should make it easier to hold.

Thanks, OzBargain.

The post The MSI Claw Is Going For An Absolutely Crazy Cheap Price appeared first on Press Start.

If Valve finally bringing the Steam Deck to Australia wasn’t enough for you, it’s now revealed a Limited Edition White Steam Deck OLED and it’ll be launching on the same day that the Steam Deck does into Australia.

The White Steam Deck OLED will come with white/grey accents, a matching white carrying case and also a white cleaning cloth, to complete the entire look. It’s fairly stunning if I do say so myself.

Just like the translucent black model that released alongside the OLED and sold out extremely quickly, this will only be available as one limited drop.

It’s available in the 1TB OLED model and it will be $50 more than the standard at $1,099 AUD. It will be available to order with the Steam Deck goes on sale in Australia (alongside every other market that the Steam Deck is available) at 10:00am AEDT on November 19th.

FULL AUSTRALIAN STEAM DECK RANGE

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD
• 1TB OLED (White): $1,099 AUD

Just in case you’re not as familiar with the two models, The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness. The refresh rate has been updated to 90hz and the latency of the touch screen has also been improved.

The device has a larger 50whr battery (up from 40 whr) and combined with a more efficient APU, you can expect a 30-50% better battery life which Valve says is good for 3-12 hours of gaming depending on what you’re playing. Despite the device having a larger screen and a larger battery, the total weight has been reduced by 30 grams or 5% which should make a big difference in comfort.

The post A Limited Edition White Steam Deck OLED Has Been Revealed And Australia Gets It Day One appeared first on Press Start.

AYANEO has today revealed the AYANEO 3 which is its next flagship device with a bunch of huge improvements.

It follows a similar formfactor of the AYANEO 2 but it comes with 7-inch OLED/LCD options with a high refresh rate.

As far as the new processors go, gamers will be able to choose between the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which should allow for performance increases but also better efficiency.

Other changes include new back buttons which look to sit comfortable on either side of the back of the device, and a new trigger lock feature that lets you lock the triggers in place.

The joy-stick and button layout which was always fantastic on AYANEO devices looks fairly unchanged which is good news.

The other major improvement comes in the way of new speakers that are front facing and are set to deliver much better clarity and bass than what’s been featured in the past.

AYANEO 3 FEATURES:

– Dual Processor Options: AMD AI 9 HX 370 or Ryzen 7 8840U.

@shannongrixti

God Of War Ragnarok (AKA the game of the generation) is the latest PlayStation game to arrive on PC #GodOfWar #GodOfWarRagnarok #GodOfWarRagnarokPC #PC #AYANEO #AYANEOFLIP #AYANEOFLIPDS #Handheld #WindowsHandheld

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

The post The AYANEO 3 Has Been Revealed With An OLED Display And A Bunch Of Other New Features appeared first on Press Start.

UPDATE: Valve has now confirmed with us that the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED will officially launch in Australia on November 19th at 10:00am AEDT. You’ll be able to place orders at htis time and that’s when units will start shipping as well. You’ll be able to order at this link and the Aussie prices are below:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD

ORIGINAL STORY: Valve has taken to the PAX Australia show floor this morning to announce that the Steam Deck is officially coming to Australia.

After being available for sometime through unofficial channels here in Australia, Valve has confirmed that both the LCD Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED will be sold and shipped through Steam directly here in Australia.

STEAM DECK OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN RELEASE DATE AND PRICES

The Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED available to wishlist now and will be available to order in November with units shipping out immediately at the below prices:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD

You can wishlist it over on Steam HERE before it ships in November.

@shannongrixti

The Steam Deck is finally coming to Australia and here’s a quick look at the gorgeous 1TB OLED model #SteamDeck #SteamDeckAustralia #SteamDeckOLED #Tech #Steam #Valve

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

This marks the first time that Valve has sold hardware directly in Australia, after partnering with the likes of EB Games for the Valve Index, and we had the chance to talk to them earlier this week where they confirmed that this was the start of them committing to bringing hardware to Australia in a much more timely fashion now that the groundwork has been done to sell and ship hardware directly.

I’ve got my hands on the 1 TB OLED version, so now that we’re officially getting it in Australia, I’m looking forwards to reviewing it and seeing how it compares to some of the other handhelds that I’ve used over the past few years. We also got the chance to speak to Valve ahead of the announcement and you can read that HERE.

Just in case you’re not as familiar with the two models, The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness. The refresh rate has been updated to 90hz and the latency of the touch screen has also been improved.

The device has a larger 50whr battery (up from 40 whr) and combined with a more efficient APU, you can expect a 30-50% better battery life which Valve says is good for 3-12 hours of gaming depending on what you’re playing. Despite the device having a larger screen and a larger battery, the total weight has been reduced by 30 grams or 5% which should make a big difference in comfort.

The 1TB and 512GB OLED versions also have a few differences with the 1TB OLED version coming with an anti-glare display, and also an extra removable liner in the case as well a a special exclusive startup movie and keyboard theme.

The post The Australian Steam Deck Release Date Has Been Officially Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

Apple finished off its week Mac announcements by announcing the new M4 MacBook Pros as well as an update to the M4 MacBook air range.

The MacBook Pro now comes with an M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, with each of the devices now coming with a minimum 16GB of memory which Apple says is required for Apple Intelligence.

As far as other hardware improvements go, there’s a new 12MP Center Stage camera, a longer 24 hour battery life and you can now get a new nano-texture display option (like in the iMac and Apple Studio display) which is said to help with glare. The display also just got brighter with the ability to show SDR content at 1000 nits.

Just like the Mac Mini, you can now get Thunderbolt 5 as well, and whilst it’s probably overkill at the moment it’s great for future proofing.

Apple has also announced that the MacBook Air will now come with a minimum 16GB of ram at the same starting price of $1,599 AUD, which is obviously a big deal.

M4 MACBOOK PRO AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The M4 MacBook Pro will release on November 8th and is available pre-order now. It comes in space black and silver at the below prices:

• M4/16GB/512GB – $2,499 AUD
• M4 Pro/24GB/512GB – $3,299 AUD
• M4 Max/36GB/1TB – $4,999 AUD

The post The New M4 MacBook Pros Have Been Revealed As The MacBook Air Gets Double The Base Memory appeared first on Press Start.

Apple has today revealed the new Mac Mini and it has a total physical footprint of less than half of the previous design.

It starts at the same price of $999 yet it has the new M4 (and M4 Pro) chip, it’s super tiny at 5×5 inches and now comes with double the memory.

On the front you get 2 x USB-C ports and a headphone jack and on the back there’s HDMI, ethernet, your power port and 3 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports as well.

Given this is the M4 and M4 Pro chip, you can expect to play games with ray-tracing, and for performance, it’ll go a long way if you’re editing videos or doing any graphically intensive tasks.

Obviously, as with every Apple product that’s been released in the last few months, Apple Intelligence is at the forefront of this device as well and will continue to roll out over the coming months.

NEW M4 MAC MINI AUSTRALIAN PIRCE AND RELEASE DATE

The Mac Mini is available for pre-order now and will release on November 8th. It comes in the below configurations:

• M4/16GB/256GB – $999 AUD
• M4/16GB/512GB – $1,299 AUD
• M4/24GB/512GB – $1,599 AUD
• M4 Pro/24GB/512GB – $2,199 AUD

The post The New Mac Mini Has Been Revealed And It’s Heaps Smaller And Much More Powerful appeared first on Press Start.

Apple has today announced an updated version of the 24-inch iMac with the new M4 chip and Apple Intelligence as well as a bunch of other updates.

The iMac comes in seven new colours which on paper are the same as the older model, but are much more vibrant and bold to stand out on your desk. Updated USB-C versions of the Magic keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad will also come with the device as well.

The display is still the same 4.5K retina display, but there’s a new nano-texture option which will help with glare. The webcam has also been enhanced and it’s now a 12MP Center Stage compatible webcam that has Desk View support as well.

As far as the internals go, obviously it comes with the M4 chip which should be great for gaming, and the minimum memory has been doubled to 16GB of ram (great improvement) and all USB-C ports are now Thunderbolt 4 which is fantastic for adding storage options.

M4 IMAC AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The M4 iMac is available for pre-order now and will release on November 8th.

It’s available in the below configurations:

• 8-Core/16GB/256GB – $1,999 AUD
• 10-Core/16GB/256GB – $2,399 AUD
• 10-Core/16GB/512GB – $2,699 AUD

The post The New M4 iMac Has Been Revealed With New Colours And Double The Base Memory appeared first on Press Start.

Razer has today announced a brand new headset in the Razer Barracuda x Chroma and it’s a new mid-tier headset that brings more RGB than I’ve seen in a headset before.

The wireless headset has six zones of customisable RGB lighting via the Razer Chroma Studio or Razer Audio App with over 16.8 million colour options and integration with over 300 games.

It has SmartSwitch Dual Connectivity to allow you to switch between USB dongle connectivity with PlayStation/PC and Bluetooth.

As far as battery life goes, it has a 40% increase in battery life with up to 70 hours of use and 6 hours of playtime with a quick 15 minute charge over USB-C.

RAZER BARRACUDA X CHROMA AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The Razer Barracuda X Chroma comes in Black and White with the Black version out now and the white version launching in Late Q4. It retails for $229.95 AUD in Australia and you can grab it from the Razer website HERE.

The post The New Razer Barracuda X Chroma Is All About That RGB Goodness appeared first on Press Start.

Xbox has revealed an updated version of its wireless headset that released in 2021 (review here). It’s available now from the Microsoft Store and will cost $159.95 (a $10 increase).

• Xbox Wireless Headset – $159.95 AUD

The new wireless headset has a 20 hour battery life (up from 15 hours), the microphone has been upgraded with auto-mute and voice isolation, and it now has Bluetooth 5.3 as well for PC connectivity. It also can utilise the Dolby Atmos codec at no additional cost as well.

As far as the design goes, it looks fairly similar, but it has dropped the green on the sides, which makes it look more premium. It’s also retained the volume dials on both cups which I absolutely loved on the original set.

At $160, you’ll struggle to find a better wireless headset. In my review of the original, I said: “For $150, The Xbox Wireless Headset is a great headset that I’d easily recommend to any Xbox owner. The design is premium, the sound pops and features such a dual connectivity, the easy to access volume wheels and auto mute take it to the next level at this price point. I really wish I could use this headset on my other consoles, because it’s that good.”

The post A New Official Xbox Wireless Headset Has Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

The Foxtel Group has announced that it is beefing up Binge’s content offering with live sport and more news channels. This comes after it was revealed that HBO Max content such as House of the Dragon and The Last Of Us likely leaving the service next year and the fact that Binge would get a small price increase. 

Binge will add sport from Kayo starting next month with the AFLW Grand Final and WBBL Grand Final on November 30th with Men’s Big Bash League, Super Netball to come later before NRL and AFL will both come to Binge on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays (the simulcast games) next year.

World Surfing League, Women’s Golf (USLPGA, Ladies’ European Tour, AIG Women’s Open), all Kayo Minis of the F1, and Fox Sports-produced magazine shows including fan favourites AFL 360, NRL 360, Sunday Night with Matty Johns, Bounce, and The Back Page will also come to Binge.

It’s also been announced that Sky News, Sky News UK, CNBC and Fox Sports News will also join the channels from a live news perspective.

You can read more about the changes coming to Binge HERE.

The post Binge Is Adding Live Sport From Kayo To Beef Up Its Content Offering appeared first on Press Start.

Apple has done one of its stealth reveals, this time revealing an updated iPad Mini with new colours and improved performance.

The new iPad Mini has the A17 Pro chip (same as the iPhone 15 Pro) which means it has a 2x faster Neural Engine, and this means that it’ll also be able to take advantage of Apple Intelligence when it launches in the next month or so.

The updated iPad Mini can also take advantage of the recently released Apple Pencil Pro, which you can read more about in our recent iPad Pro review.

As far as other changes, 12MP wide back camera now supports Smart HDR 4, and you get double the storage (128GB) at the entry level price. There’s also new colours in blue and purple in addition to the existing starlight and space grey.

IPAD MINI (2024) AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The new iPad Mini will launch on October 23rd in Australia with pre-orders available now at the below prices:

• 128GB – $799 AUD
• 256GB – $979 AUD
• 512GB – $1,329 AUD

The post A New iPad Mini Has Been Revealed With The A17 Pro Chip And Apple Intelligence appeared first on Press Start.

Sonos has today unveiled two new products in its home theatre line including the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4.

SONOS ARC ULTRA

The Sonos Arc Ultra has some big improvements including a new slimmer design to allow for an even smaller gap between your TV unit and TV.

It has an improved sound stage going from 5.1.2 to 9.1.4 with new transducers dedicated to high, mid and low frequencies. It also uses the new Sound Motion technology that Sonos acquired a few years ago, and Trueplay is now available on Android too. s far as power consumption goes it uses 20% less power when idle.

There’s now Bluetooth support for those that want to connect in that way, and a new Speech Enhancement feature that can go between three levels of speech enhancement depending on how important that is to you.

SONOS ARC ULTRA AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELASE DATE

The Sonos Arc Ultra will release in Australia on October 29th with pre-orders live now. It costs $1,799 AUD ($300 more than the Arc) and comes in both Black and White.

SONOS SUB 4

The new Sonos Sub 4 doesn’t look a whole lot different from the Sub 3, but it now has a new matte design, which I much prefer.

As far as improvements go, it has increased processing power and memory as well as better Wi-Fi radios which should allow for increased connectivity. As far as power consumption goes it uses 50% less power when idle.

The reality is from a performance point of view, there’s not likely to be a huge improvement over the already incredible Sub 3, so there’s probably not a huge reason to upgrade.

SONOS SUB 4 AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The Sonos Sub 4 will release in Australia on October 29th with pre-orders live now. It costs $1,299 AUD (same as Sub 3) and comes in a new matte Black and matte White.

We’ll have reviews for the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 in the next month or so. Keen to swap out the current Arc that I’ve been using and loved for the last few years and see how it compares.

@shannongrixti

The $699 Sonos Ace headphones have arrived and here’s your first look #SonosAce #Sonos #SonosHeadphones #Headphones #Tech #SonosAceHeadphones #Unboxing

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

The post The Sonos Arc Ultra And Sub 4 Have Been Revealed With Big Improvements appeared first on Press Start.

Just a month after announcing that the Samsung Galaxy Ring would be coming to Australia, Samsung has today announced that it is out in Australia as of right now.

In Australia, the Samsung Galaxy ring will be available for $699 AUD. It’s available in 9 size options (5 to 13) and in three colours: Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold. You can grab it exclusively from the Samsung website HERE.

• Samsung Galaxy Ring – $699 AUD 

Samsung has also announced an extended peace of mind return policy in Australia (like it does for its other wearables) where you can change your mind for a full refund for 30 days after wearing the product, if you’re not happy.

The Galaxy Ring allows you to track a bunch of health metrics including sleep, fitness and wellness providing more comfort than wearing a smart watch whilst performing activities such as working out and sleeping.

Samsung will put a sizing kit online as part of the checkout process, which comes free as long as you order a Galaxy Ring. You can find out about the process below:

1. Pick a size, try it on. Check the position of the three sensors on the bottom and the indicator on the outer surface. Wear the sample ring so that the sensors are facing up. Make sure the indicator is also on the palm side.
2. When you find one that feels right, move your fingers around. Finger sizes can change from day to night, so it’s recommended to keep the ring on for at least 24 hours. Go about your day and sleep through the night.
3. If your finger feels comfortable after 24 hours, that’s your Galaxy Ring size.

The post The Samsung Galaxy Ring Is Out In Australia Today And Here’s The Aussie Price appeared first on Press Start.

A year after its last increase, Binge has announced that it is one again increasing the price for its Standard tier which will go up $1 per month.

Starting on November 1st, the Standard tier will now cost $19 per month up from $18 a month (up from $16 a month in 2023). The Standard tier is the one without ads and allows for 4K streaming on up to two devices.

The Basic tier will stay at $10 per month and the Premium tier that allows for 4 devices at once will also stay at $22 per month.

BINGE PRICES AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST 2024

• Basic (1080p/Ads/1 Stream) – $10 per month
• Standard (4K/No Ads/2 Streams) – $19 per month
• Premium 4K/No Ads/4 Streams) – $22 per month

There wasn’t really any reason given for the price increase, you can you read more about it HERE. 

The post Binge Is Getting Another Price Increase appeared first on Press Start.

Valve has taken to the PAX Australia show floor this morning to announce that the Steam Deck is officially coming to Australia.

After being available for sometime through unofficial channels here in Australia, Valve has confirmed that both the LCD Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED will be sold and shipped through Steam directly here in Australia.

STEAM DECK OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN RELEASE DATE AND PRICES

The Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED available to wishlist now and will be available to order in November with units shipping out immediately at the below prices:

• 256GB LCD: $649 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1,049 AUD

You can wishlist it over on Steam HERE before it ships in November.

@shannongrixti

The Steam Deck is finally coming to Australia and here’s a quick look at the gorgeous 1TB OLED model #SteamDeck #SteamDeckAustralia #SteamDeckOLED #Tech #Steam #Valve

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

This marks the first time that Valve has sold hardware directly in Australia, after partnering with the likes of EB Games for the Valve Index, and we had the chance to talk to them earlier this week where they confirmed that this was the start of them committing to bringing hardware to Australia in a much more timely fashion now that the groundwork has been done to sell and ship hardware directly.

I’ve got my hands on the 1 TB OLED version, so now that we’re officially getting it in Australia, I’m looking forwards to reviewing it and seeing how it compares to some of the other handhelds that I’ve used over the past few years. We also got the chance to speak to Valve ahead of the announcement and you can read that HERE.

Just in case you’re not as familiar with the two models, The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness. The refresh rate has been updated to 90hz and the latency of the touch screen has also been improved.

The device has a larger 50whr battery (up from 40 whr) and combined with a more efficient APU, you can expect a 30-50% better battery life which Valve says is good for 3-12 hours of gaming depending on what you’re playing. Despite the device having a larger screen and a larger battery, the total weight has been reduced by 30 grams or 5% which should make a big difference in comfort.

The 1TB and 512GB OLED versions also have a few differences with the 1TB OLED version coming with an anti-glare display, and also an extra removable liner in the case as well a a special exclusive startup movie and keyboard theme.

The post The Steam Deck Is Officially Releasing In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

YouTube has today detailed some big changes coming to Shorts, many of which have been long-requested.

The biggest is that starting on October 15th, creators will be able to upload shorts up to 3 minutes long. This was previously capped at 60 seconds, with anything longer being uploaded as a regular video.

This will also be accompanied by a more streamlined video viewing experience that takes some of the text off-screen which yo can see below.

There’s also a bunch of other changes including the below:

Making creation easier and more fun

• See a Short you like? Now you can easily recreate that magic with templates! Jump on the latest trends, sync your clips to the hottest sounds, and add your own unique flair. You can try templates by tapping “Remix” on a Short that inspires you and select “Use this template” to give your own spin.

• Unleash the full power of YouTube in your Shorts! In the coming months, you’ll be able to tap into the vast universe of YouTube content right from your Shorts camera, making it easier to remix clips from your favourite videos, music videos and more. You’ll even be able to pull from multiple clips across YouTube.

• A few weeks ago, we told you that Google DeepMind’s most capable model for generating video, Veo, is coming to YouTube Shorts. Creators will be able to bring their ideas to life with even more extraordinary video backgrounds and standalone video clips, making your Shorts even dreamier later this year.

Helping the community engage more deeply

• Want to get a taste of the conversation? You will soon be able to get a preview of what people are saying in comments right from the Shorts feed, even before you jump into the comments feed.

Giving you more options to customise your feed

• We also want to make sure you can customise your YouTube experience based on your preferences, so we’ll introduce an option to “Show fewer Shorts”. You can choose this setting by clicking on the three dot menu in the upper right of any Shorts grid in your Home feed and we’ll temporarily show you fewer Shorts in your Home feed.

The post YouTube Shorts Is Getting Some Big Changes Including Longer Videos appeared first on Press Start.

It’s not a huge surprise given we’ve seen every other streaming service up their price this year, but Stan has also announced that all of its tiers will be going up on November 1st with prices increasing by $1-2 depending on which plan you’re on.

The Basic plan which allows for 1 device at SD will be going from $10 a month to $12 a month, the standard plan which devices for 3 devices and HD will be going up from $16 a month to $17 a month and the Stan Premium plan which allows for 4 devices and 4K will be going up from $21 a month to $22 a month.

The price to add Stan Sport doesn’t seem to be changing and will be staying at $15 a month.

NEW STAN PRICES AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST

• Stan Basic – $12 a month (previously $10 a month)
• Stan Standard – $17 a month (previously $16 a month)
• Stan Premium – $22 a month (previously $21 a month)

In an email sent to customers, Stan said: “As Stan continues to bring you the biggest line-up of entertainment with no ads, the price of your plan will change from your regular billing date on November 01, 2024. With all the latest global exclusives, unrivalled Originals, blockbuster movies, iconic TV shows and entertainment for the whole family, there’s always something for you to watch.”

The post Stan Just Got A Price Increase appeared first on Press Start.

Not content with all of its announcements at RazerCon 24, Razer today announced that it is updating its extremely popular Basilisk V3 Pro with a new V3 Pro 35K version.

The new updated version has a new Focus Pro 35K optical Gen 2 sensor which makes for more responsive tracking and it can also detect and adapt to what surface it’s on with the ability to adjust the DPI by increments of 1.

As far as battery life goes, that’s been improved too with the new 35K having an extended battery life with up to 140 hours on Razer HyperSpeed Wireless or up to 210 hours using Bluetooth on a single charge.

It also has Razer’s configurable HyperScroll Tilt Wheel allowing it to go from smooth and free-spinning to tactile incremental movements with you being able to auto-switch between the two.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is available now at the below prices:

• Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K – AUD $279.95 / NZ $319.00 [Wireless]
• Razer Basilisk V3 35K – AUD $139.95 / NZ $165.00 [Wired]

The post The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Mouse Has Been Revealed With A Better Battery Life And Other Improvements appeared first on Press Start.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Sonos released a new app experience earlier this year, which didn’t work to most user’s satisfaction dropping a number of key features and being a lot less functional than the previous app, which was a big reason why people loved Sonos to begin with.

Whilst the app has already come a long way in the last few months, CEO Patrick Spence has today detailed how it will win back the trust of its customer. Since the app launched in May, Sonos says that more than 80% of the app’s missing features have been re-introduced (said to be 100% in the coming weeks) with the reliability and speed improved with each release.

You can find all of the improvements that the company will introduce below with the two major ones being extending the consumer warranty by a year for all of its speakers currently under warranty, and also introducing a beta testing program that will allow people to opt in rather than being forced into an update.

WAYS SONOS PLANS TO WIN BACK TRUST

• Unwavering focus on the customer experience. To ensure that we deliver the highest level of customer experience, we will always establish ambitious quality benchmarks at the outset of product development and will not launch products before meeting these criteria. We will also enhance the tools necessary to measure the quality of the experience actually being delivered to customers to ensure that we maintain the standards our customers expect.
• Increase the stringency of our pre-launch testing phases. Our beta testing program will include more types of customers and more diverse setups for a longer testing period. This will allow us to ?nd, diagnose and solve customer concerns more quickly before going to market.
• Demonstrate humility when introducing changes. In contrast to the all-at-once automated app release we issued in May, any major change to the Sonos app will be released gradually, allowing customers to adjust and provide feedback before it becomes the default. For new features smaller in scope, we will introduce an opt-in experimental features option in the app for customers who would like to participate in testing them.
• Appoint a Quality Ombudsperson. This new role will ensure our employees have a clear path to escalate any concerns in terms of quality and customer experience. This person will be consulted by executive leadership throughout the development process and before any product launches. In this role, the ombudsperson will guarantee transparency and publish a report to management and employees twice per year, and will present regularly to the Sonos board of directors.

In addition, we are also committing to the following to begin to regain the trust of our customers:

• Extend our home speaker warranties. To re?ect our strong belief in the quality of our products, we will extend the manufacturer’s warranty by one year for all home theatre and plug-in speaker products currently under warranty.
• Relentlessly improve the app experience with regular software upgrades. We will roll out updated mobile software versions every 2-4 weeks to optimise and enhance the software experience, even once this issue is resolved.
• Establish a Customer Advisory Board. To ensure we never lose sight of the voice of the customer, this board will provide feedback and insights from a customer perspective to help shape and improve our software and products before they are launched.

The post Here’s How Sonos Is Going To Rebuild Trust For Its Audio Platform appeared first on Press Start.

SteelSeries has revealed its first pair of wireless gaming buds, called the Arctis GameBuds. Similar to the Arctis Nova Wireless range, there’s an Xbox version which will work with everything (PlayStation included) and a PlayStation version that comes in black or white (that won’t work with Xbox).

The battery life in the GameBuds will last a total of 40 hours, with 10 hours in the buds an an extra three full charges in the case, and there’s wireless QI charging of the case as well as 15 minutes of USB-C fast charging.

The GameBuds feature 360 spatial audio, active noise cancellation, a quick switch wireless system to go between game and Bluetooth audio and a new nano USB-C dongle that is a lot smaller than in other SteelSeries headsets. There’s also a mobile companion app with over 100 PS5/Xbox audio presets.

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds will release on October 29th and will cost $359 AUD. You can pre-order on the SteelSeries website HERE. 

The post The SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds Have Been Revealed With Active Noise Cancelling And An Epic Battery Life appeared first on Press Start.

Razercon took place overnight and with it game Razer’s new flagship headset, the Razer V4 Pro which has a new OLED base station as well as haptics built right into the headset.

Building on the Kraken V4 and Kraken V4 X, the Kraken V4 Pro features built-in Sensa HD Haptics technology with games such as Final Fantasy 16, Hogwarts Legacy, Stalker 2 and Silent Hill 2 all set to take advantage.

Much like other high-end headsets that have been released by other manufacturers, the Kraken V4 Pro will include an OLED Control hub that will allow you to tweak audio sources and settings on the fly.

It will allow connecting over four options: HyperSpeed wireless, Bluetooth, USB and 3.5mm allowing you to mix and toggle between PC and PlayStation without interruption.

The Kraken V4 Pro has a HyperClear Super Wideband retractable microphone and it has patented Razer TriForce Bio-Cellulose 40 mm Drivers and THX Spatial Audio that allow for clear and realistic positional audio.

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro releases in Australia today and it’s available to order on Razer’s website for $649.95 AUD.

The post The Razer Kraken V4 Pro Headset Has An OLED Control Hub And Haptics Built Into The Headset appeared first on Press Start.

Razercon took place this morning where the company announced a bunch of new innovative products including Freyja, a haptics gaming cushion.

Building on the haptics gaming chair that Razer showed off as a prototype earlier this year, Freyja is designed to go over the top of your chair and allows you to feel multi-directional haptics through six advanced haptics motors which are programmed to follow the direction of whatever is happening on screen, so for Hogwarts Legacy, it totally changes based on the direction of the spell for instance.

It will be compatible with PC through Razer Synapse as well as Android devices through the Razer Nexus app.

Developers will be able to release enhanced haptics with games such as Hogwarts Legacy, Final Fantasy 16, Snowrunner and Silent Hill 2 a few of the already announced games.

I got to spend some time with the insane new Razer Freyja haptics gaming cushion a few weeks ago. Full review soon ???? @RazerANZ pic.twitter.com/U8DCl0JQBR

— Shannon Grixti (@shannongrixti) September 28, 2024

I got to go hands-on with Freyja a few weeks ago, and it really adds to the immersion. It takes a little while to get used ot initially, but as you sort’ve forget that you’re sitting on a vibrating vibrating cushion, you really settle in and feel immersed in your game. Stay tuned for the full review.

Razer Freyja releases in Australia today and it’s available to order on Razer’s website for $549.95 AUD.

The post The Razer Freyja Is A Haptic Gaming Cushion That Lets You Feel Your Games appeared first on Press Start.

It’s been long rumoured, but Meta has this morning officially lifted the lid on the Meta Quest 3S and it’s a fantastic deal starting at $499.99 AUD with a copy of Batman Arkham Shadows.

The Meta Quest 3S has the same processor as the Meta Quest 3 meaning it’ll be able to play all the upcoming games such as Batman Arkham Shadow and the recently released Assassin’s Creed Nexus.

The differences from the Meta Quest 3 are that it is larger, the colour pass through doesn’t have the same depth technology (but is still says to be fantastic) and the lenses aren’t as high resolution, but it seems the experience will be fairly similar as even the newer controllers are included.

Another new feature is a new action button that allows you to activate pass through more easily than double tapping on the headset as was previously done.

It was also announced that both the Quest 3 and Quest 3S will be getting a new app store that welcomes 2S and spatial apps to take advantage of the mixed reality features.

META QUEST 3S AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The good news is that it’s available for $499 AUD in Australia for the 128GB version and also comes with Batman: Arkham Shadow for free too. There’s also a 256GB version for $669 AUD.

It will release in Australia on October 15th and pre-orders are available now right HERE.

• Meta Quest 3S 128GB – $499 AUD with free Batman Arkham Shadows
• Meta Quest 3S 256GB – $669 AUD with free Batman Arkham Shadows
• Meta Quest 3S/3 Compact Charging Dock
• Meta Quest 3 Open Facial Interface
• Meta Quest 3S Breathable Facial Interface
• Meta Quest Carrying Case
• Meta Quest 3 512GB – $1,049 AUD with free Batman Arkham Shadows

Interestingly enough the Meta Quest 3 now only comes in the 512GB version which will cost $1,049 AUD, so it’s a big difference in price.

The post The Meta Quest 3S Has Been Revealed And Here’s The Much Cheaper Aussie Prices appeared first on Press Start.

Sony has today announced two new gaming monitors in its InZone range.

The InZone M10S is a 1440p OLED monitor with a 480hz refresh rate. It has an absolutely gorgeous design with a slimline stand and super slim bezels. It has a peak brightness of 1,300 nits and HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 functionality as well.

It’s available in the US today for $1,099 USD (~$1,500 AUD), but an Australian release date hasn’t been confirmed.

Sony also announced that it is releasing an updated version of its 4K M9 monitor. It’s the M9 II and it has a faster 160hz refresh rate and Auto HDR mapping for PS5s. It also has an updated design with cleaner black lines rather than the white/black combo that it had before.

It’s also received a price drop to $799 USD (~$1,160 AUD), but also seemingly isn’t coming to Australia at least at launch.

The post Sony’s New InZone Gaming Monitor Has a 480hz OLED Display appeared first on Press Start.

It’s been announced that you can now use certain Amazon Echo devices as an Eero mesh extender with the ‘eero built-in’ functionality landing in Australia.

This allows you to use select Echo devices as a Wi-Fi extender to cover 92 sqm of coverage with up to 100 mbps of speed for 10 or fewer devices in a 5ghz band.

This will work with all Eero devices available in Australia including the recently released Eero Pro 6E and Eero Max 7 and the below Echo devices:

• Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock
• Echo Dot (5th Gen)
• Echo (4th Gen)
• Echo Dot (4th Gen) with Clock
• Echo Dot (4th Gen)
• Echo Pop

The cheapest device in the list is the Echo pop, which is currently $79 with free shipping, but is regularly discounted at sale events.

The post You Can Now Use Amazon Echo Smart Speakers As Eero Wi-Fi Mesh Extenders appeared first on Press Start.

Logitech has taken to its LogiPlay event to announce a bunch of new products including a heap of new racing gear, the new Astro A50 Gen 5, the new G915 keyboard range and a bunch of other products too.

NEW ASTRO A50 GEN 5 HEADSET

Following on from the A50 X that launched last year, the new A50 Gen 5 has all the same features but drops off the HDMI ports. This means it’s still compatible with all consoles and PC with its PlaySync technology, but it’s only pulling through audio instead of video. We’ve got a review of this one which you can read right HERE. 

@shannongrixti

The new Logitech G ASTRO A50 Wireless Headset can connect to the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC simultaneously, while also being connected to a Bluetooth device. #ad #LogitechG #LogiPLAY #Headset #Gaming #Tech #AstroA50 #A50 #Astro @Logitech G

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

• Logitech G Astro A50 Wireless Headset – $599.95

NEW LOGITECH G915 X KEYBOARD RANGE

The most popular keyboard range got a glow-up with a re-designed galvanic switch to improve overall stability and a quieter typing experience. The actuation point has also been reduced to 1.3mm with the aluminium top plate increased. It will have both LIGHTSPEED and Bluetooth connectivity offering up up to 1000 hours of battery life.

It will come in three flavours, the full size version, a TKL version as well as a full-sized wired version at the below prices:

• The G915 X LIGHTSPEED full-size keyboard (TACTILE) – $399.95 AUD
• The G915 X LIGHTSPEED TKL (TACTILE) – $369.95 AUD
• The G915 X Wired Gaming Keyboard (TACTILE) – $299.95 AUD

NEW LOGITECH G RACING SERIES

There’s been a bunch of huge improvements to the Logitech G racing line with the new racing series. It includes an expanded line of products including the RS Wheel Hub, RS Track Wheel, RS Round Wheel, RS QR Adaptor and the RS Shifter and Handbrake.

• RS Shifter & Handbrake – $299.95 AUD
• RS Wheel Hubs – $299.95 (PC) AUD
• RS Track Wheel – $149.95 AUD
• RS Round Wheel – $149.95 AUD
• RS QR Adapter – $129.95 AUD

Logitech also announced that it will partner with Momo to release two premium wheels in the SIM GT 320 and SIM GT-Racer 290 designed to the exact specifications of the RS wheel hub. These will be available next year.

NEW PRO PRODUCTS

Logitech announced three new products in the Pro space with Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse, the Pro 2 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse and the Pro K TKL Rapid wired gaming keyboard.

• Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Mouse – $299.95 AUD
• Pro X TKL Rapid Gaming Keyboard – $369.95 AUD

The post The Logitech G Astro A50 And New G915 X Keyboard Range Were Just Revealed Alongside A Heap Of Other Products appeared first on Press Start.

iOS 18 dropped today for iPhones alongside major OS updates for iPad, Mac, Apple TV and the Apple Watch, but without doubt, iOS 18 is the big one for gamers as it bring Apple’s Game Mode to the iPhone for the first time.

Previously available on Macs, Game Mode minimises background activity to ensure that all of the computing power is being focused on the game being played to allow frame rates to be as high as possible.

It also reduces audio latency for AirPods, and for controllers such as the DualSense controller improves responsiveness and reduces latency as well by doubling the Bluetooth polling rate.

This automatically turns on when it detects a controller is connected and a game is being played, and it also allows your phone to block out notifications.

You can read about many of these features on the Mac side, in our Resident Evil Village review for Mac/iPhone HERE.

Other improvements to iOS 18 include Apple Intelligence (which will come in 18.1), major home screen customisation improvements, as well as a new Passwords app and big improvements to stock apps including Messages, Mail and Phone.

It’s going to be interesting to see how gaming improves when using the iPhone 16 Pro alongside Game Mode. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro range are set to launch this Friday with pre-orders being available now. You can pre-order on Amazon HERE.

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Apple took to its annual Apple Park event this morning to reveal the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, the new Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods Gen 4 with noise cancelling and the AirPods Max with USB-C connectivity.

IPHONE 16 PRO AND IPHONE 16 PRO MAX

Without doubt the biggest announcement was the new iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max which comes with larger 6.3-inch and 6.9inch displays thanks to thinner bezels.

It has a new Camera Control button on the right hand size that can be used to not only open the camera app and take a photo/video, but it’s touch sensitive so can be used to control things such as zoom, focus and brightness and will allow you to short press it to focus on a subject later this year.

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A post shared by Shannon Grixti (@shannongrixti)

The ultra wide lens has also been upgraded to 48MP and the 5x telephoto lens that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max is now in both models this time around. As far as video goes there’s now 4K/120FPS capability.

As far as battery life goes, it has a 4-10 hour better battery depending on the phone with the 16 Pro Max providing the best iPhone battery ever. MagSafe can also charge at 25w although this will require a new MagSafe charger and a 30w charging brick.

Performance has also been improved with the A18 Pro chip which will provide 20% faster GPU performance and Apple Intelligence will run 15% faster than it does on the A17 Pro chip.

IPHONE 16 PRO AND IPHONE 16 PRO MAX AUSTRALIAN PRICES AND RELEASE DATE

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will release on September 20th with pre-orders staring at 10:00pm on September 13th. It comes in desert titanium, natural titanium, white titanium and black titanium.

The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $1,799 AUD whilst the 16 Pro Max stats at $2,149 for 128GB.

IPHONE 16 AND IPHONE 16 PLUS

The standard iPhone 16 has a surprising amount of new features this year. It retains the standard 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes, but it gets the new camera control button as well as the action button.

The chip hasn’t been hampered either with it having a brand new A18 chip that should allow for strong Apple Intelligence computing.

The cameras themselves haven’t been hugely improved, but the layout of lenses has to allow for spatial video capture.

IPHONE 16 AND IPHONE 16 PLUS AUSTRALIAN PRICES AND RELEASE DATE

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will release on September 20th with pre-orders staring at 10:00pm on September 13th. It comes in Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White and Black.

The iPhone 16 starts at $1,399 AUD whilst the 16 Plus stats at $1,599 for 128GB.

APPLE WATCH SERIES 10

The Apple Watch has been majorly redesigned with a thinner body and larger screens on both models. The new displays come in at 42mm and 46mm sizes which offers up to 9 percent more screen realestate than the Apple Watch Series 9. There’s new aluminium finishes including a gorgeous jet black watch.

There’s a new wide-angle OLED display which allows for up to 40% more brightness than the Series 9 when viewed at an angle making it even easier to read at a glance. It’s also more power efficient too.

The Series 10 Apple Watch now has faster charging as well with up to 15 minutes of charge providing up to 8 hours of normal use.

As far as new sensors go, there’s now 50-metre water resistance, automatic stroke detection and lap counting and it can sense the temperature of the water and how far down you are as well.

As far as the Apple Watch Ultra goes, it’s still the same model but now comes in a gorgeous new titanium black finish that looks absolutely stunning.

APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 AUSTRALIAN PRICES AND RELEASE DATE

The Apple Watch Series 10 release on September 20th with pre-orders available now. It comes in Aluminium and Titanium materials with a gorgeous new jet black finish.

The 42mm version starts at $649 whilst the 46mm version starts at $699.

APPLE AIRPODS 4 AND NEW AIRPODS MAX

Apple has announced the new AirPods 4 which are the first open-ear AirPods to feature active noise cancelling including all the new AirPods features including voice isolation and nod to interact. It also comes in a non-active noise cancellation version as well.

The charging case now is a USB-C one and it’s 10% smaller in volume than that of the AirPods Gen 3 case as well. It has the same battery life with up to 30 hours including what you get out of the case.

As far as the AirPods Max go, they finally have USB-C and come in five new colours: midnight, starlight, blue, orange and purple.

APPLE AIRPODS 4 AND NEW AIRPODS MAX AUSTRALIAN PRICES AND RELEASE DATE

Both the AirPods Gen 4 and new AirPods Max are available to order now and will be available on September 20th.

The AirPods Gen 4 are $219 for the regular version and $299 for the ANC version. The AirPods Max are still $899.

The post The iPhone 16 Pro Has Been Revealed With Larger Displays, A Bigger Battery And A New Camera Control Button appeared first on Press Start.

It’s been rumoured for some time that Meta is set to release a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3, and fines included in the latest software update for the headset gives us our first official look at the Meta Quest 3S.

The Meta Quest 3S is set to have the same processor as the Quest 3, meaning it’ll be able to play all the upcoming Quest 3 exclusive games, but it has the same lower display resolution of the Meta Quest 2, and it’s expected to likely use the same Fresnel lenses which will make it thicker and the sweet spot not as great as the Quest 3.

It’s said that it will offer colour pass through and inside out tracking, although it seems likely that it probably won’t be at the same level of the Meta Quest 3 and use different technology to allow for depth perception. It’s also rumoured that Meta is considering releasing a version of the 3S without controllers to lower the price even further, especially given the Quest 3 has great hand tracking.

When it comes to price, it’s expected to come in at quite a bit cheaper than the Meta Quest 3, but probably still a little bit more expensive than the Meta Quest 2.

It’s expected that the Meta Quest 3S will be revealed at Meta Connect on September 26th, so we won’t have to wait long for it to be revealed.

The post An Official Meta Quest 3S Image Has Leaked Ahead Of Its Reveal appeared first on Press Start.

The much-anticipated iPhone 16 event is finally happening in the next 12 hours. It’s titled “It’s Glowtime” with the event invite showing off the iconic new Siri animation. The event is taking place on September 10th, so there’s not much of a wait at all.

It’s expected that the event will show off the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max as well as the Apple Watch Series 10 with potential new AirPods announcements as well.

WHEN IS IPHONE 16 EVENT HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIAN TIMES

• AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane/Canberra) – 03:00 Tuesday, September 10th
• ACST (Adelaide/Darwin) – 2:30am Tuesday, September 10th
• AWST (Perth) – 01:00am Tuesday, September 10th

You’ll be able to watch the iPhone 16 event HERE.

WHEN WILL IPHONE 16 RELEASE?

Now that we have the iPhone 16 event time, it seems almost certain that the iPhone 16 range will launch on Friday, September 20th.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PHONE 16 PRO

It’s expected that we’ll see a new capture button for controlling the camera app, following on from the action button that was introduced last year. it’s also expected that we’ll see slightly larger displays with the iPhone 16 Pro having a 6.3-inch display and the 16 Pro Max having a 6.9-inch display. It’s also expected that the Apple Watch Series 10 will have a larger display as well.

Also rumoured to be releasing is updated AirPods (Gen 4) as well as AirPods Max with USB-C support and some other features that have recently hit the AirPods line.

Outside of this, I expect a lot of the focus to be on Apple Intelligence, which we saw unveiled at WWDC in June.

The post The iPhone 16 Event Is Happening Tonight And Here’s All The Aussie Times appeared first on Press Start.

After releasing in the US in July, Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Ring will release in Australia in Mid-October. This makes Australia the first country in the South-East Asian and Oceanic region to get the ring.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring will be available in 9 size options (5 to 13) and in three colours: Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold. There’s no pricing yet, but you can register your interest before it releases next month on the Samsung website HERE.

The Galaxy Ring allows you to track a bunch of health metrics including sleep, fitness and wellness providing more comfort than wearing a smart watch whilst performing activities such as working out and sleeping.

Samsung will put a sizing kit online as part of the checkout process, which comes free as long as you order a Galaxy Ring. You can find out about the process below:

1. Pick a size, try it on. Check the position of the three sensors on the bottom and the indicator on the outer surface. Wear the sample ring so that the sensors are facing up. Make sure the indicator is also on the palm side.
2. When you find one that feels right, move your fingers around. Finger sizes can change from day to night, so it’s recommended to keep the ring on for at least 24 hours. Go about your day and sleep through the night.
3. If your finger feels comfortable after 24 hours, that’s your Galaxy Ring size.

The post The Samsung Galaxy Ring Is Officially Coming To Australia appeared first on Press Start.

Acer is the latest large PC manufacturer to announce a handheld. It’s called the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 and it’s fairly similar to the likes of the ASUS ROG Ally and MSI Claw from the looks point of view.

It features a 7-inch 1080p IPS screen with a 144hz refresh rate, and interestingly, it’s a natively landscape screen as well. It has a Ryzen 7 8840HS chip, which is said to offer power improvements over the 7840 chip tahat so many other handhelds have.

It also has 16GB of 7500 MT/s memory, a 2TB SSd and a 50-watt-hour battery, so it’s slightly better than the original Ally, but not quite as good as the Ally X.

In terms of other design features, there’s not a lot outside of the standard shell, which has some pretty cool red markings around it. There’s no touchpads and no back buttons, but it does have two USB4 ports which is almost a necessity at this point.

In terms of price and release date, there’s not a lot on offer yet, but we’ll keep you posted as we learn more. You can find out a bit ore about the device on the Acer website HERE.

The post The Acer Nitro Blaze Has Been Revealed As The Latest Windows Handheld appeared first on Press Start.

The creator of EmuDeck, the software that utilises Steam to automatically setup emulation across a number of different consoles is crowdfunding his first console/PC called the EmuDeck Machine.

The EmuDeck Machine has a SEGA Dreamcast inspired design with 4 front USB ports, 1 back USB-C port, an ethernet port and a 4K HDMI port. Think of this as a glorified mini PC.

It will come with EmuDeck pre-installed and a Gamesir Nova Lite controller. The big deal about this is obviously the EmuDeck installation, and the fact that it’ll be pretty much ready to go out other box, much like how EmuDeck is when you install it on any PC.

There’s The EM1 model which has a Intel N97 CPU or the much more powerful EM2 model which has an AMD Ryzen 8600G as well as an 760M. The former is good for almost anything except PS3 and 360 whilst the EM2 is good for anything including PS3 and 360 as well as regular PC gaming too.

Both models are set to launch in December with the EM1 going to cost about about $487 AUD whilst the EM2 will cost about $992 AUD without a controller or $1,025 with a controller. You can find it on the Indiegogo website HERE

There’s also a docking station so that you can take advantage of RDN3 graphics utilising discrete power, for if you really want to have the best worlds between emulation and a mid-tier gaming PC for AAA games. With the dock you can expect 160 FPS playing Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p or 40 FPS at 4K which is pretty impressive.

The crowdfunding campaign is currently at $23,740 out of the required $102,495 (which is flexible), so it’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

The post The EmuDeck Machine Is A New Emulation Console From The EmuDeck Creator appeared first on Press Start.

Razer has today announced the Wolverine V3 Pro, a wireless esports controller that is officially licensed by Xbox meaning it’s also the company’s first wireless Xbox controller.

It has advanced customisation, ultra-responsive inputs and superior ergonomics with the most impressive feature is the new back buttons that are mouse click back paddles that should allow for fantastic responsiveness. There’s also 2 claw grip bumpers, Razer Pro HyperTriggers, hall effect thumbsticks and the previously mentioned HyperSpeed wireless connectivity.

In terms of other things included in the box, you get a custom carrying case, 2 replaceable thumbstick keycaps, a wireless dongle and a 10ft cable as well.

RAZER WOLVERINE V3 PRO AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is out in Australia today and it’s available from Razer’s website for $349.95 AUD. 

The post The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Is Razer’s First Wireless Xbox Controller appeared first on Press Start.

Apple has announced its much anticipated iPhone 16 event. It’s titled “It’s Glowtime” with the event invite showing off the iconic new Siri animation. The event is taking place on September 10th, so there’s not much of a wait at all.

It’s expected that the event will show off the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max as well as the Apple Watch Series 10 with potential new AirPods announcements as well.

WHEN IS IPHONE 16 EVENT HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIAN TIMES

• AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane/Canberra) – 03:00 Tuesday, September 10th
• ACST (Adelaide/Darwin) – 2:30am Tuesday, September 10th
• AWST (Perth) – 01:00am Tuesday, September 10th

You’ll be able to watch the iPhone 16 event HERE.

WHEN WILL IPHONE 16 RELEASE?

Now that we have the iPhone 16 event time, it seems almost certain that the iPhone 16 range will launch on Friday, September 20th.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PHONE 16 PRO

It’s expected that we’ll see a new capture button for controlling the camera app, following on from the action button that was introduced last year. it’s also expected that we’ll see slightly larger displays with the iPhone 16 Pro having a 6.3-inch display and the 16 Pro Max having a 6.9-inch display. It’s also expected that the Apple Watch Series 10 will have a larger display as well.

Outside of this, I expect a lot of the focus to be on Apple Intelligence, which we saw unveiled at WWDC in June.

The post The iPhone 16 Event Has Been Announced And Here’s The Australian Times appeared first on Press Start.

Update: If you’re keen to get your hands around this very slick-looking Elden Ring-themed Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 Pro Controller, pre-orders are live now in Australia from a number of retailers ahead of its August 16th release date. Find it in the links below:

• Amazon – $349
• EB Games – $349.95
• JB Hi-Fi – $349

One of the earliest signs of a rough release window for Elden Ring’s hugely-anticipated DLC expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, was the leak of a controller meant to tie in with the launch.

With the expansion now released and players everywhere getting lost in the Realm of Shadow, that very controller – a gorgeous, Shadow of the Erdtree-themed Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 Pro Controller – has finally been revealed.

Thrustmaster has officially unveiled the ESWAP X2 Pro Controller “Elden Ring Edition,” with a design inspired by the game and its huge new DLC. The controller sports all of the same features of the ESWAP X2 Pro with its modular design that allows players to swap modules in and out without the use of tools to easily change layouts and features.

The Elden Ring Edition of the controller looks quite schmick with deep red and gold accents, plenty of symbology and embellishments inspired by the game, and of course the stunning Shadow of the Erdtree key art front-and-centre.

Compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC, the Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 Pro Controller Elden Ring Edition will launch on the 16th August and will be available for preorder at Aussie retailers “shortly” at an identical RRP to its standard version of AUD $349.95.

Our review of the standard Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 Pro Controller praised its innovation and ease of customisation, with Harry’s review of the Shadow of the Erdtree scoring the expansion a huge 10/10 and saying, “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is yet another masterpiece by FROMSOFTWARE. It doubles down on all of the best parts of Elden Ring and bolsters them through an inviting new world, an engaging story, and a ridiculously moreish gameplay loop. It won’t change your mind on Elden Ring if it never clicked for you, but will undoubtedly wow you if it did,” so it seems these two are a match made in The Lands Between.

The post The Thrustmaster ESWAP X2 Pro Elden Ring Edition Is Available For Pre-Order In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

The much-anticipated refresh to the successful ASUS ROG Ally PC gaming handheld has finally arrived, with the ROG Ally X now in Aussie stores.

Here’s what you need to know about the Ally X, which improves on the previous iteration by getting to the heart of a lot of customer feedback, including exactly what’s new, where to pick one up and of course our full review:

What’s New In The ROG Ally X?

The key word when designing the new ROG Ally X seems to have been more, with this upgraded handheld featuring a bigger 1TB SSD (up from 512GB on the Ally) that’s also more upgradeable thanks to a new motherboard design, an increased 24GB of RAM which should help the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with VRAM allocation in a lot of modern games, as well as a beefed-up 80Wh battery – an increase of double over the original Ally.

That last feature is going to be the thing that tips many over the edge on buying in or upgrading to the ROG Ally X, effectively removing the biggest barrier on the original version, which could drain in less than an hour at full power. According to our testing, you can now expect at least two hours on a single charge, or more depending on your selected performance profile, which is significant.

It’s doing all this with just a 70-gram increase in weight too, thanks to smaller but more efficient fans. Thermals overall have reportedly been improved, with ASUS ROG claiming 24% more air volume moved through the device and a significantly cooler touch display under heavy use.

How Much Is The ROG Ally X In Australia and NZ?

The ROG Ally X retails for $1599 AUD (or $1799 NZD), which is about a $300 AUD increase over the existing model. That’s not too bad when you consider the upgrades, and part of the popularity of the original Ally was a half-decent price point so it’s almost like the Ally X is simply gaining back the cost-saving measures originally taken.

That said, the current ROG Ally can be routinely had for under $1100 (including right now on Amazon), which widens the margin to about $500 and might be a touch too steep for some to pick the X over the OG – at least until the new model gets discounted.

Where Can I Get The ROG Ally X In Australia and NZ?

The ROG Ally X is available right now, exclusively at JB Hi-Fi or the ASUS e-store. You can find links to both below:

• JB Hi-Fi – $1599
• ASUS e-store – $1599
• JB Hi-Fi (NZ) – $1799

“We’re excited to launch the new ROG Ally X in Australia and New Zealand after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from users on the ROG Ally last year,” the company wrote in a press release. “We have continued to listen to our customers’ feedback, resulting in the new ROG Ally X, which offers great improvements to battery, thermal cooling and storage. We are delighted that this best-in-class handheld console will now be available for individuals looking for a powerful yet portable on-the-go gaming experience.”

Is There A Review Of The ROG Ally X?

Shannon recently reviewed the ASUS ROG Ally X, saying, “The ASUS ROG Ally X is the most complete PC handheld that we’ve seen so far. It improves on the original in almost every single way with double the battery size, better performance, and improvements to the ergonomics and overall design.”

You can read the full review here.

The post The ASUS ROG Ally X Is Out Now In Australia So Here’s Where To Pick One Up appeared first on Press Start.

Logitech has announced that it’s finally releasing the full version of its MIXLINE audio software solution, bringing all the Logitech G product ecosystem together into one easy-to-use and streamlined suite for creators, streamers and players.

Having been in beta for a time, the full version of MIXLINE aims to make managing multiple audio sources easy, and to do so with minimal system overhead required. The drag-and-mix interface gives users a pretty powerful visual overview of where their audio is coming and going from different sources – whether it’s hardware like a Yeti microphone or software like games.

Requiring a single audio driver and keeping things simple and clean means it’s less system intensive, too, freeing up resources for your games and streaming software. Following the closed MIXLINE Beta, the full public version has added some much-requested features like colour customisation of input and output labels for easier identification.

“Anyone who has worked with PC audio routing and mixing knows it can be challenging to learn and manage with the tools that currently exist or with proprietary systems that only work in certain streaming scenarios,” said Andrew Coonrad, Head of Marketing at G HUB, in an accompanying press release. “We’re excited to bring the full capabilities of MIXLINE to our community, as it offers an easy and smart way to manage your PC audio for everything from gaming to full-blown content production.”

You’ll be able to download MIXLINE as of today, right here.

Here’s the breakdown of MIXLINE’s features courtesy of Logitech:

Features of MIXLINE include:

• Drag, Drop, Monitor: With a clean and straightforward interface, you can drag and draw preferred audio routes, monitor sound with a single button, and connect inputs to multiple outputs.

• Mix, Stream, and Record in One, Clean Interface: Connect, route, and mix professional-quality audio in a single application. A clean and straightforward interface reduces time, is quickly set up, and efficiently manages audio.

• Independent Volume Control: MIXLINE makes adjusting the input volumes for each submix individually easier. You can also control the sound for each input and output independently.

• Customise Professional-Grade Audio: Declutter desktop space without needing an external hardware mixer, maximise stream performance and customise how audio sounds in real time.

• Max Performance: A simplified system of one driver reduces the clutter in your mix session and maximises computer performance—with no compromise on quality.

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MSI stands as a world leader in AI PC, gaming, productivity and content creation – constantly breaking the barriers of performance and engineering to craft the future of technology. Find out more about MSI at Computex 2024 here: https://au.msi.com/blog/computex-2024-round-up-latest-motherboards-and-pc-components

With Computex 2024 in full swing, MSI has debuted a number of exciting new technologies, including its latest innovations in gaming and business monitors.

New Dual Mode And AI-Powered Gaming Monitors

MSI’s flagship monitor offering at Computex this year is the MEG 321URX QD-OLED AI Gaming Monitor, which boasts a stunning 4K UHD Quantum Dot OLED panel with all of the top-notch colour reproduction and fluid responsiveness you’d expect from an OLED display, and enhances it with “world first” AI gaming features.

What this means in practice, is that the monitor itself is packing the smarts via “AI Skylight” to offer features and help in games, in real time, entirely by its own analysis of what’s happening on-screen. An example given by MSI is the Monster Hunter franchise, where the monitor could intelligently scan your mini-map for enemies and highlight their presence, or keep an eye on your condition via the existing health, ammo and other bars and display it on the monitor’s built-in RGB Spectrum bar.

You’ll even be able to install and train your own AI models to fit different games and needs via firmware updates on the monitor, which genuinely sounds like a potential game-changer and a whole new way to experience PC gaming.

Aside from its AI smarts, you’re also getting a fluid 240Hz refresh rate, VESA-certified HDR, AMD Freesync Premium Pro, OLED and eye care features, multiple aspect ratio options and a lot more worthy of a premium gaming monitor.

Moving away from the MEG 321URX QD-OLED monitor and its AI trappings, MSI is also debuting another new technology with the MPG 321CUPF Monitor, which offers a “Dual Mode” VA panel that gives PC players the best of both worlds – ultra-high framerate, 1080p gaming and gorgeous, cinematic 4K, both natively on the same display.

You’ll be able to switch between the two distinct modes based on your needs, with the first mode offering 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution at 160Hz and the second mode featuring 1080p FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution at a huge 320Hz.

Moving back to the OLED displays, again without the fancy AI features, the MSI MPG 341CQPX QD-OLED gaming monitor is 34-inch ultra-wide beast with a 240Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 connectivity and 1800R curve, using cutting-edge QD-OLED display tech to offer gorgeous visuals and tight response times.

There’s also the smaller and more cost-effective MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2, which packs the same sharp and vibrant image into a 27″ WQHD display with the same 240Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 connectivity.

The Latest In Borderless 120Hz Office Monitors

When it comes Business Time, MSI’s new PRO MP252 E2 monitors feature a four-side bezel-less design to support more seamless multi-monitor setups for the ultimate in WFH productivity and desk aesthetics.

They’re decent performers, too, with a 120Hz refresh rate and all of the eye care and efficiency features you’d want from an office-focused monitor to ensure you can work safely and comfortably for as long as you need to.

You can read more about these new motherboard innovations from MSI along with all of its other Computex 2024 announcements and new products right here.

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MSI stands as a world leader in AI PC, gaming, productivity and content creation – constantly breaking the barriers of performance and engineering to craft the future of technology. Find out more about MSI at Computex 2024 here: https://au.msi.com/blog/computex-2024-round-up-latest-motherboards-and-pc-components

With Computex 2024 in full swing, MSI has debuted a number of exciting new technologies, especially for those of us inclined towards the world of gaming PCs.

MSI Gaming PCs at Computex 2024

One of the most interesting and unique bits of kit that the manufacturer brought along to the show is the MEG Vision X AI, a new flagship gaming PC that includes what’s being referred to as the world’s first AI-powered “Human Machine Interface.”

It is, essentially, a coupling of MSI’s “MEG” range of powerful gaming PC hardware with the “AI HMI,” which gives quick and beautiful access to important information like temperatures, clock speeds and other system info and links with the MSI AI Engine to automatically optimise things like performance, lighting effects, audio and colour settings and more.

The other side of the equation is the onboard AI hardware that can do all of the usual AI-powered tasks you’d expect along with being able to access the files stored on your PC (entirely locally to ensure privacy and security) to provide even more in-depth responses and analysis that take into account your existing data.

While the actual internal hardware is still an unknown, MSI says that the MEG VISION X AI gaming desktop also features the company’s back-connect design by moving all connectors to the back for the best aesthetics, reduce cable mess, enhanced airflow and better overall thermal efficiency.

If you’re interested in something more traditional and less AI-focused, the MAG series of gaming desktops is also getting a refresh with the MAG Infinite E1, which sports a brand-new design and updated internals to offer up to an Intel Core i7 14700F, a GeForce RTX 4070 Graphics card, and the latest DDR5 memory.

MSI Productivity PCs at Computex 2024

Moving away from gaming, MSI also introduced some new productivity-focused desktop PCs at Computex 2024, including the new Modern AM273Q AI Series of All-in-One desktops. Taking out the 2024 Best Choice Award at Computex, these are all about energy efficiency and low environmental impact without making compromises on form or function.

Made from PCR-recycled plastics, manufactured using 92% renewable energy and shipped in sustainable packaging materials, the commitment continues even further with the MSI Power Meter application that can help you see and manage your power consumption and various energy-saving modes, helping to make the most of the built-in 27” WQHD display and (up to) Intel Core Ultra 7 155U CPU with DDR5 memory to get class-leading performance when you need it and genuine power savings when you don’t.

Another Computex 2024 award winner – this time the Sustainable Tech Special Award – the Cubi NUC Series goes all-in on a miniscule form factor while still packing in a heap of performance for those power users for who desk space is at a premium. Probably the coolest feature on these is MSI Power Link, which can make your workspace even cleaner and more clutter-free by letting you mount the Cubi NUC desktop onto certain MSI monitors and have the PC automatically boot up when the display is turned on – essentially turning it into an AIO!

Like the new Modern AIOs, MSI mainly uses renewable energy in manufacturing the Cubi NUC Series machines and again uses PCR-recycled plastics and sustainable packaging materials, and also features the MSI Power Meter software.

You can read more about these new motherboard innovations from MSI along with all of its other Computex 2024 announcements and new products right here.

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MSI stands as a world leader in AI PC, gaming, productivity and content creation – constantly breaking the barriers of performance and engineering to craft the future of technology. Find out more about MSI at Computex 2024 here: https://au.msi.com/blog/computex-2024-round-up-latest-motherboards-and-pc-components

Motherboards might be simultaneously the most daunting, complex, crucial, powerful and objectively boring components of any PC build, but they’re also one that’s seen very little evolution in recent years. As revealed at Computex 2024 though, leading PC and gaming hardware manufacturer, MSI, is looking to change all that with “PROJECT ZERO.”

Taking a top-down approach to what a next-generation PC motherboard can be, MSI has debuted its forward-looking designs that spare no ideas to make your next PC build far more convenient, accessible, and (most importantly, if you ask me) aesthetically pleasing.

To that last point, PROJECT ZERO started out with MSI moving power, CPU power, fan pins, SATA, and other interfaces to the rear side of the motherboard for a cleaner overall look, a move that then created a need for smaller and more efficient components to avoid adding extra overall bulk to the new design.

The MSI Z790 PROJECT ZERO PLUS, for instance, supports CAMM2 memory modules, which save space by existing as a single module that rests flat against the motherboard. This not only makes for space saved and clean aesthetics but means more stability, less latency and easier upgrades or side-grades to/from other CAMM2-supporting devices. The MSI Z790 PROJECT ZERO PLUS also features a heap of next-gen-ready inclusions like lightning-fast Gen 5 PCIe, an extended heatsink, Wi-Fi 7 and DDR5 memory support.

Other new motherboard concepts and features that the manufacturer has been showing off at Computex 2024 include mechanisms for easier PCIe connection and removal, quick antenna connections and tool-less SSD installation, all which should make for far easier new builds and upgrades in future rigs and make the idea of a DIY PC build much more enticing and attainable for everyone.

MSI’s new M.2 XPANDER-AERO SLIDER GEN 5 PCIe add-on card is particularly exciting, offering a way to install or swap an M.2 SSD right from the rear of your PC without the need to open it or remove the card itself.

You can read more about these new motherboard innovations from MSI along with all of its other Computex 2024 announcements and new products right here.

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After an initial tease, ASUS ROG has finally lifted the lid on the ROG Ally X, an updated version of its incredibly-popular PC gaming handheld that launched last year.

The ROG Ally X, which improves on the previous iteration by getting to the heart of a lot of customer feedback, is set to launch on July 22nd, and pre-orders have already opened up at select stores in Australia and NZ. Here’s what you need to know:

What’s New In The ROG Ally X?

The key word when designing the new ROG Ally X seems to have been more, with this upgraded handheld featuring a bigger 1TB SSD (up from 512GB on the Ally) that’s also more upgradeable thanks to a new motherboard design, an increased 24GB of RAM which should help the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with VRAM allocation in a lot of modern games, as well as a beefed-up 80Wh battery – an increase of double over the original Ally.

That last feature is going to be the thing that tips many over the edge on buying in or upgrading to the ROG Ally X, effectively removing the biggest barrier on the original version, which could drain in less than an hour at full power. It’s hard to say without actual testing, but the battery on the Ally X will more than likely run somewhere in the 2-4 hour range depending on what you’re playing and how.

It’s doing all this with just a 70-gram increase in weight too, thanks to smaller but more efficient fans. Thermals overall have reportedly been improved, with ASUS ROG claiming 24% more air volume moved through the device and a significantly cooler touch display under heavy use.

How Much Is The ROG Ally X In Australia and NZ?

The ROG Ally X will retail for $1599 AUD (or $1799 NZD) when it launches on July 22nd, which is about a $300 AUD increase over the existing model. That’s not too bad when you consider the upgrades, and part of the popularity of the original Ally was a half-decent price point so it’s almost like the Ally X is simply gaining back the cost-saving measures originally taken.

That said, the current ROG Ally can be routinely had for under $1100 (including right now on Amazon), which widens the margin to about $500 and might be a touch too steep for some to pick the X over the OG – at least until the new model gets discounted.

Where Can I Get The ROG Ally X In Australia and NZ?

The ROG Ally X is available for pre-order right now, exclusively at JB Hi-Fi or the ASUS e-store. You can find links to both below:

• JB Hi-Fi – $1599
• ASUS e-store – $1599
• JB Hi-Fi (NZ) – $1799

“We’re excited to launch the new ROG Ally X in Australia and New Zealand after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from users on the ROG Ally last year,” the company wrote in a press release. “We have continued to listen to our customers’ feedback, resulting in the new ROG Ally X, which offers great improvements to battery, thermal cooling and storage. We are delighted that this best-in-class handheld console will now be available for individuals looking for a powerful yet portable on-the-go gaming experience.”

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After teasing it had an announcement in the works, ASUS ROG has sort of revealed it’s next ROG Ally gaming handheld, which is not yet a full follow-up but an evolution of the original, dubbed the ROG Ally X.

The ROG Ally X will be similar to its predecessor in many ways with the same 7″ 120Hz VRR display powered by the AMD Z1 Extreme chipset, but it will improve in areas that I think will matter more to most people, namely a sizeable increase to battery capacity. According to reporting from The Verge, ASUS has suggested it could result in a playtime of three hours or more in system-intensive games, which is a nice step up from the 1-2 hours you’ll get from the current model.

The promotional teaser that the ROG Global YouTube team debuted alongside the announce shows that the “X” in the name refers to an ethos of “Extra, Extend, Expand” and the chat from the team following suggests that the “Expand” part of the equation includes more storage, more RAM and more external ports, but we’ll know more come July 2nd when it’s revealed in full.

Along with new hardware, there will also be an improved 1.5 version of Armoury Crate SE which will ship with the Ally X and includes a “fairly big” UI overhaul and new features, and which naturally still come to the original Ally as ROG promises it’s still supporting the current model for the foreseeable future. You can see some of it in action in the video below:

In our review of the original ROG Ally, which only launched last year, we said, “The ASUS ROG Ally feels like a genuine step forward in the handheld space. It has a glorious 1080p/120hz display, runs all PC games extremely consistently and for the most part behaves exactly as expected. Some minor glitches and the battery life are the only thing that can still be improved upon.”

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The next ASUS ROG Ally is going to be to be discussed, perhaps even revealed in full, in a livestream from ROG Global tomorrow. The news will come via its regular ROG Pulse broadcast which gives fans a look behind the scenes at the goings-on over at ROG.

It’s unclear how much of the device we’ll see or hear about, but the new model is believed to swap out the stark, white look for a black aesthetic and would presumably offer up some improvements to performance, features and form factor. The original ROG Ally has been a pretty decent success but punters will no doubt be hoping to see things updated, in particular the battery life. But a new model on the way seems to show that the Ally had some success and ASUS/ROG is keen to push it even further.

You’ll be able to watch the live stream tomorrow at 5AM AEST, right in the player below:

“Jake and Whitson get hyped about new impending ROG Ally hardware. Celebrating one year of the ROG Ally (and its amazing community): ROG Pulse is your inside look at what’s happening behind the scenes at the Republic of Gamers. We air every Thursday at 3PM ET/12PM PT on Twitch and YouTube. The full live stream is even longer and includes giveaways, codes for ROG Elite points, new products on shelf, and the week’s best gaming deals!”

In our review of the original ROG Ally, which only launched last year, we said, “The ASUS ROG Ally feels like a genuine step forward in the handheld space. It has a glorious 1080p/120hz display, runs all PC games extremely consistently and for the most part behaves exactly as expected. Some minor glitches and the battery life are the only thing that can still be improved upon.”

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After being announced a while back in other markets, NVIDIA GeForce Now’s RTX 4080-powered “Ultimate” membership is now live for users in Australia and New Zealand, bringing seriously high-end 4K PC gaming to supported devices and screens.

Upgrading and internal testing of the cloud gaming infrastructure at Pentanet, which provides the service, has been completed meaning servers are now enabled with the very latest NVIDIA GPU architecture, and Aussie and NZ customers can get a cutting edge experience on the platform’s top-level tier.

Here’s what you can now achieve through Cloud.GG’s NVIDIA GeForce Now “Ultimate” membership at $29.99 per month (or $165 for 6 months):

• Exclusive access to RTX 4080 servers
• Full ray-tracing in supported games
• Up to 4K and 120 FPS (4K HDR at 60 FPS on NVIDIA SHIELD TV, and up to 120 FPS on select Android mobile devices)
• NVIDIA Reflex and 1080p 240 FPS streaming mode for the lowest possible cloud gaming latency
• NVIDIA DLSS 3.5
• Ultrawide (21:9) resolution support
• Unlimited 8-hour session times

The service’s updated list of four different tiered membership options is now:

Basic – $3.99 per month: 1 hour unlimited session times, up to 1080p at 60FPS

Casual – $10.99 per month: 3 hour unlimited session times, medium queue priority, up to 1080p at 60FPS

Priority– $21.99 per month: 6 hour unlimited session times, top queue priority, RTX on for supported games, up to 1080p at 60FPS

Ultimate – $29.99 per month: 8 hour unlimited session times, exclusive RTX 4080 servers, ultrawide and up to 4K at 120FPS, NVIDIA Reflex and 240FPS mode, DLSS 3.5

GeForce NOW also recently added support for Blizzard Entertainment’s Battle.net service and games, growing its already 1500-plus-strong library of playable titles with the addition of the likes of Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, Call of Duty HQ and Hearthstone.

You can find out more about getting into cutting-edge cloud gaming with NVIDIA GeForce Now, and the different membership tiers, on the official website here.

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It’s been a few weeks since we’d heard much of anything about the rumoured PS5 Pro that’s widely believed to be launching later this year, and after those most recent reports basically blew the lid open on what this new mid-generation refresh might be capable of, the video game graphics experts at Digital Foundry have just released a new report that sheds some extra light on its curious apparent GPU configuration.

Addressing the earlier revelation that the PS5 Pro’s GPU might actually have a lower clock speed than the existing PS5 (2.18GHz vs 2.23GHz), Digital Foundry has claimed to have seen new information that suggests it’ll actually ship with the ability to boost clock speeds above what was possible before, up to 2.35GHz. These numbers might seem incremental, but paired with the new configuration and supposed bumps up in other areas the new Pro console should deliver between 33.5 and 36.1 teraflops of performance versus the 10.23 teraflops of the original PS5.

This new information like won’t change a lot about the real-world performance difference in the Pro, with a 45% overall increase seemingly still the belief. It does introduce some new, more particular details like double GPU caches accomodating higher ray-tracing performance and support for more modern DirectX12 Ultimate features like hardware variable rate shading and hybrid MSAA, all of which should mean meaningful visual and performance improvements in games built with the new console in mind.

You can watch Digital Foundry’s full breakdown of these new details in the video below:

Again, it really does need to be reiterated that we still don’t know for sure if any of this will turn out to be factual until Sony says it from its own mouth, but when trusted outlets like Digital Foundry are picking up and heavily reporting on this stuff it’s really seeming like a sure thing at this stage.

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Razer has unveiled the latest in its Viper gaming mouse line with the Viper V3 Pro, an ultralight, wireless symmetrical esports mouse which is available now and comes in either a black or white colourway.

The company says it’s designed the Viper V3 Pro in collaboration with world-class esports pros like Zekken, which has resulted in the ultra-lightweight design at just 54g (black version) or 55g (white version), and the development of Razer’s “most precise” optical sensor in the excessively-named Razer Focus Pro 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2.

The sensor is geared for more than its 99.8% resolution accuracy though, and features a heap of customisation including single-DPI step adjustments, motion sync with the user’s PC, smart tracking and a “sensitivity matcher” for those coming from another mouse.

In terms of other features, you’re looking at updated side button designs, ergonomic shape with flatter sides and more pronounced finger grooves, larger mouse feet, up to 95 hours of battery life and 8000Hz Razer HyperPolling technology with the wireless dongle for optimal response and reliability.

At $279, the Razer Viper V3 Pro is definitely firmly in the territory of a “pro” gaming mouse upgrade, but if that’s what you’re in the market for it’s already available to order from the official Razer website here.

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Meta has announced that it’s working to bring its Quest operating system to a range of third-party devices in a new initiative to expand its ecosystem and open computing platform.

Meta revealed it’s releasing its “Meta Horizon OS” to new, non-Quest devices including some from the likes of ASUS ROG, Lenovo and Xbox, so that they can take advantage of the decade of advances made toward the platform that currently powers headsets like the excellent Quest 3. What it means is that consumers will now have more freedom to choose hardware that fits their needs and lifestyle, and get a connected and seamless experience across a common platform with the same accounts, avatars, friends and digital libraries – the Meta Quest mobile app will also be integrated and renamed to the Meta Horizon App.

Meta’s also opening up its app ecosystem more to developers to make it easier to ship software for Meta Horizon OS, and offering new tools for mobile developers to bring their apps across to the platform.

The devices “revealed” so far, though we still don’t know a ton about them, are a new performance gaming headset from ASUS’ Republic of Gamers brand, mixed-reality devices from Lenovo with a focus on productivity, learning and entertainment, and a special Xbox-themed limited edition Meta Quest headset.

Alongside the announcement on Meta’s blog, old mate Mark Zuckerberg also dropped an explainer video where he went over some of the possibilities that could come out of this new endeavour. This included the mention of a headset that “comes out of the box with Xbox Controllers and Game Pass,” suggesting that might be where this new Xbox-partnered headset is going – though there’s still room for the possibility of bespoke hardware or features in this Xbox headset that could be revealed at a later date.

You can watch it below:

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Elgato has long served gamers and streamers with some pretty top-notch gear (you can read my reviews of the Elgato Stream Deck+ here and the Elgato Wave DX here), but now it’s making moves toward everyday users with some very sleek but affordable new devices dubbed the Neo range.

The range encompasses a full solution whether you’re looking for productivity, to jazz up your on-cam presence for work or you are just looking for an entry-level and attractive streaming or gaming setup, with a USB mic, game capture device, Stream Deck, webcam and key light all decked out in a pearly white.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the $149 Elgato Wave Neo, which takes the brand’s gaming microphone chops and puts them towards a svelte, handsome USB-C condenser mic that reportedly stacks up pretty closely to the likes of the Elgato Wave:3 with a lower sensitivity rating but a wider frequency response. It’s got an elegant touch-to-mute button on front, a 3.5mm jack in the rear and a tall stand designed to sit at the perfect height. Like the rest of the range, it’s plug and play and can also be used with iPad.

The Stream Deck Neo is priced at a reasonable $159 and sports eight of the classic customisable panels while also featuring two touch points and a built-in infobar display, making it a pretty good alternative to the rest of the Stream Deck range. The Game Capture Neo is similarly geared towards creators with the ability to capture everything from consoles and PC to mobile devices with lag-free 4K60 HDR passthrough and up to 1080p60 recording.

Lastly, to ensure you look great on camera and on stream, the Facecam Neo offers full HD recording and an easy-slide privacy shutter with plug-and-play USB-C connectivity, and the Elgato Key Light Neo is a compact, monitor-mountable key light with on-device controls for brightness and colour temperature so you can use it anywhere without needing extra software to get the right look.

All of the products are also part of Elgato’s approach to sustainability with over 60% recycled plastic in the devices and 100% plastic-free, recyclable packaging. You can find the full range available to right now at the links below:

Elgato Neo Range Australia

• Elgato Wave Neo – $149
• Elgato Game Capture Neo – $199
• Elgato Stream Deck Neo – $159
• Elgato Facecam Neo – $159
• Elgato Key Light Neo – $149

WE LOVE BRINGING YOU THE BEST GAMING AND TECH BARGAINS. WE MAY GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE THROUGH AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS.

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Turtle Beach has just revealed a brand-new lineup of its iconic Stealth headsets launching next month, and they’re probably the most attractive cans the brand has offered up in quite some time.

The new Stealth 600 Gen 3 and Stealth 500 headsets have a much more understated and sleek look than previous releases, and the newly-introduced Stealth 500 offers some serious bang for buck with low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity and a 40-hour battery life for just $139.95.

The Atlas Air, on the other hand, has a more classic “pro gaming” headset look that supports its open back design, and Turtle Beach says it’ll be the first and only open back PC gaming headset that supports high-quality 24-bit audio when it launches.

Here’s what Turtle Beach says about each of its new headsets, which are launching into stores on May 23rd:

Turtle Beach^® Stealth 600 Wireless Gaming Headset

Turtle Beach has revealed a newly redesigned version of its best-selling Stealth 600 wireless multiplatform headset series, now entering its third generation. This newest Stealth 600 now features the brand’s signature 50mm Nanoclear drivers, an astounding 80-hour battery life, AI-driven microphone noise reduction and much more for the same AUD $179.95 RRP that’s made it the industry’s leading wireless gaming headset. The Designed for Xbox version will be available in Black or White, as will the PlayStation version. A PC version will also be available in Black.

Turtle Beach^® Stealth 500 Wireless Gaming Headset

Turtle Beach is also expanding its best-selling wireless multiplatform Stealth headset series with the introduction of the new Stealth 500, providing gamers with the brand’s signature high-quality gaming audio, plus low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, an adjustable floating headband, and best-in-class 40-hour battery life for AUD $139.95 RRP. The Designed for Xbox Stealth 500 comes in Black, as does its PlayStation and PC counterparts.

Turtle Beach^® Atlas Air Wireless Open Back PC Gaming Headset

For groundbreaking PC gaming audio, Turtle Beach has unveiled the Atlas Air – the first wireless open back PC gaming headset supporting high-fidelity 24-bit audio. The Atlas Air’s precision 40mm drivers pair with its revolutionary open back floating earcup design to produce ultra-clear natural audio quality for total immersion on PC. The Atlas Air is extremely lightweight at just 301 grams – the lightest gaming headset in its class by nearly 25 grams and comes equipped with low-latency 2.4GHz wireless plus Bluetooth to connect with Windows PCs, PS5 & PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. It is also able to connect in wired mode via its 3.5mm jack and included cable. The Atlas Air also features immersive Waves 3D audio, a high-bandwidth 16kHz microphone, plus up to 50-hours of battery life for AUD $299.95 RRP.

The post Turtle Beach’s New Headsets Are Some Of Its Nicest-Looking Yet appeared first on Press Start.

Turtle Beach has announced that it’s acquiring fellow gaming peripheral manufacturer, Performance Design Products (PDP) to the tune of $118 million USD, a move which it says will add “significant financial benefits to Turtle Beach that, in conjunction with synergies realised, fundamentally transforms the financial profile of the Company” and bring the company’s total revenue to $390 to 410 million USD in the first full 12 months of ownership.

“I’m honoured to work with the amazing team at Turtle Beach, now including our new colleagues from PDP, as we continue to deliver fantastic new products for gamers and value to our shareholders,” said newly-appointed CEO Cris Keirn in an accompanying press release. “Working with our industry partners, and with the combined expertise of our teams, we will drive a transformational change to the company’s scale and execution with innovation and expansion of our leadership positions across gaming accessory categories.”

If the PDP name sounds familiar, it’s not just because the company is a prolific manufacturer of licensed controllers and gaming accessories, but also recently revealed that it’s gearing up to release its brand-new take on one of gaming’s most iconic plastic controllers, with The Riffmaster.

Get ready to rock! Introducing the RIFFMASTER Wireless Guitars for Xbox and PlayStation.
Be one of 1st to play this Spring by entering our giveaway via the link in our bio. Winners will be selected 3/1. ????#playpdp #RIFFMASTER #rockband4 #PlayStation #xbox pic.twitter.com/Og5su60Ef1

— PDP (@PDPgaming) January 31, 2024

The brand-new wireless guitar peripheral will be available for both the Xbox Series/Xbox One and the PS5/PS4, with a price and release date yet to be revealed. The Riffmaster will be compatible with Rock Band 4, which recently launched its final bit of DLC, as well as with Fortnite Festival – though that’ll depend on what comes first, the guitar controller or Harmonix’ update for the game that adds guitar controller support.

IGN recently went hands-on with the Riffmaster, noting that while it’s pretty much what you’d expect of a modern Rock Band controller there are some interesting differences. It features a foldable design rather than the guitar neck and head splitting apart, there are extra controls, an ambidextrous design and a 3.5mm audio jack. The battery life is also reportedly around 36 hours on a single charge. You can read IGN’s coverage right here.

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ASUS has dropped its ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro gaming phones into Aussie stores today, bringing next-level mobile gaming performance along with some big-ticket features – one of which includes a programmable mini-LED panel on the back of the ROG Phone 8 Pro that ASUS calls “AniMe Vision” and can be customised to play user-created animations.

The 341-element display can play pre-built animations or users can edit and upload their own, and there are even secret animations to discover by touching the phone to another ROG Phone 8 Pro, which is the most unnecessary but incredible feature. It’s one of the key differences between the two version of the phone aside from bigger storage and RAM on the Pro, but if you ask me it’s the main reason to opt for the more premium model.

It reminds me a lot of the display on the ASUS ROG Azoth keyboard, which I reviewed and loved.

Some of the other features that ASUS is touting on its latest foray into uber-powerful gaming phones with the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Series are a slimmer, lighter design with big performance powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the world’s first IP68 water and dust resistant rating in a gaming phone, a huge 6.78″ 165 Hz flexible AMOLED screen with LTPO adaptive refresh, AI-powered camera with a 50MP main camera and a number of other AI-enabled performance and usability features. Backing all of this up is a huge 5,500mAh for maximum juice.

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 series is available right now in Australia from the ASUS Store as well as JB Hi-Fi.

ROG Phone 8 Pro 1TB– $2499 AUD – ASUS Store | JB Hi-Fi

ROG Phone 8 Pro 512GB – $1999 AUD – ASUS Store | JB Hi-Fi

ROG Phone 8 256GB (Black) – $1799 AUD – ASUS Store | JB Hi-Fi

ROG Phone 8 256GB (Grey) – $1799 AUD – ASUS Store | JB Hi-Fi

ROG Phone 8 DEVILCASE – $54 AUD – JB Hi-Fi

ROG Phone 8 Aero Active Cooler X – $149 AUD – JB Hi-Fi

ROG Phone 8 Antibacterial Screen Protector – $49 AUD – JB Hi-Fi

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Update: We’ve finally got an Australian launch date and price for MSI’s crack at the PC gaming handheld market, and it’s coming out reasonably soon on March 28th.

The Claw will coming in two flavours, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 135H/512GB model costing $1399 while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H/1TB SSD model will run you $1599.

Both models sport sport Intel’s XeSS upscaling tech and run on Windows 11 with 16GB of RAM, Hall Effect joysticks, and a reported two hours of untethered gaming on the 7″ 1080p display thanks to a 53Wh battery.

Pre-orders for the device are live now at JB Hi-Fi, and you’ll even nab a cheeky $30 Steam gift card when pre-ordering one.

Original Story: With CES giving us exciting tech and gaming-related announcements thick and fast, MSI has revealed its entry into the growing handheld PC gaming race with the MSI Claw, an Intel-powered device that the company is calling “the most all-around gaming handheld with the best user experience.”

To achieve this, the MSI Claw is packing some pretty compelling hardware including Intel’s brand-new Meteor Lake Core Ultra processor starting at a Core Ultra 5 in the base model and going up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. These processors sport Intel’s XeSS upscaling tech (think NVIDIA DLSS) and so compatible games should see some decent performance benefits. It’ll have 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, and the MSI Claw will also feature a huge 53Wh battery which will reportedly offer around two hours of untethered gaming even on the most demanding AAA titles.

MSI Claw – The most all-around gaming handheld with the best user experience.https://t.co/IkGv71u7yp pic.twitter.com/iBR0QDe0Gt

— MSI Gaming (@msigaming) January 8, 2024

On the outside, the MSI Claw sports tactile buttons and Hall effect triggers and joysticks, dedicated macro buttons and features a 7″ 120Hz VRR IPS panel with a resolution of 1080p. The handheld is reportedly designed with ergonomics

It’s all powered by Windows 11, which should allow for more flexibility with players’ game libraries than something like the Steam Deck’s own OS, and MSI’s dedicated software will allow easy handheld-enabled access to game libraries and will reportedly even feature the ability to run Android games.

The post The MSI Claw’s Aussie Release Date And Price Have Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

During IGN’s ongoing FanFest event, the folks at CRKD have unveiled yet another new product and this time it’s the successor to their fantastic Nitro Deck portable grip for the Nintendo Switch.

While the original Nitro Deck was already a fantastic product and (as far as I’m concerned) the best of its kind on the market, CRKD has gone ahead and taken it back to the shop to hammer out any of those last remaining kinks while also giving it one hell of a new feature – the ability to plug it into HDMI and use it as a docking station for the Switch. The Nitro Deck+ can now connect directly to a TV with its integrated USB-C output and comes with a USB-C-to-HDMI converter in the box, meaning you can now quickly go from portable to TV play without the need to remove your Switch console from the Nitro Deck, and even take it on the road without losing docking functionality.

If you do want to take your Switch out for whatever reason, though, the Nitro Deck+ also fixes the somewhat-fiddly unmounting solution of the original with a new easy eject system – no more anxiously pressing in on your Switch’s screen or pulling at the cartridge tab to get it out. Adding to the list of improvements driven by community feedback is tweaked right stick placement, an upgraded rumble system, Bluetooth support and added programmable Sidekick buttons.

“The Nitro Deck marked our first product release which was warmly received by both gamer and critics,” said Jack Guinchard, Global Brand Manager for CRKD in a press release. “We were taken aback with the positive response, and actively welcomed feedback from our CRKD community to guide us in how the Nitro Deck should evolve. The Nitro Deck+ is a direct response to the feedback we gathered, and we can’t wait to see how gamers respond.”

Pre-orders for the Nitro Deck+ are live now on the CRKD website, with both Clear Black and Clear White styles going for $76.99 USD including taxes (around $120 AUD) and shipping starting from late April 2024. Worldwide postage is a bit of a shocker on these, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for local availability.

I loved the original CRKD Nitro Deck, saying in my review, “The CRKD Nitro Deck is about the most transformative add-on for the Switch in its portable form that I’ve used to date. It’s super comfortable and well-built with mostly excellent buttons, packs some nifty added features and importantly promises zero stick drift all at a pretty decent price point. A couple of minor missteps aren’t enough to stop me from wholeheartedly recommending this to anyone who plays a lot of their Switch at home or on the road in portable mode.”

You can get that one locally for just $99 including shipping.

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Ever since we learned the first concrete details on Sony’s dedicated remote play device, the PlayStation Portal, including that the device runs on Android and has up to 6GB of internal storage, it’s been speculated that it could have hidden potential as an emulation machine. Now, that’s finally been put to the test.

A small crew of Google engineers have managed to hack Sony’s new streaming handheld and install PPSSPP, a popular PSP emulator that works on numerous platforms including Android-based devices. With this, PSP games have been able to run natively on the Portal’s own hardware without any kind of online connectivity or streaming.

One of the team behind the hack, Andy Nguyen, shared the news on social media and said that the hack was done without any kind of hardware tampering, but stressed that there are no plans to release it in the near future with plenty more work still to be done.

After more than a month of hard work, PPSSPP is running natively on PlayStation Portal. Yes, we hacked it. With help from xyz and @ZetaTwo pic.twitter.com/AXuRROo6Ip

— Andy Nguyen (@theflow0) February 19, 2024

Of course, it’s not exactly a use case that Sony would want or support, but it does highlight the tragedy that we have a very decent portable PlayStation device on the market that’s technically capable of playing a huge back catalogue of classic PlayStation games, but likely never will in any official capacity.

Used as intended, the PlayStation Portal is still a cracking device. In my review, I said, “The PlayStation Portal gets a lot of things right. It’s got the proper DualSense controller experience, a big and vibrant screen, decent battery life and seamless PS5 connectivity over WiFi. All of that is enough to make it worth considering over other PS5 Remote Play solutions, but some missing features and the unpredictability of WiFi in general mean it’s not going to cut through to a wider audience.”

You can pick up a PlayStation Portal for yourself right here.

The post The PlayStation Portal Has Been Hacked To Run PSP Games Offline appeared first on Press Start.

PlayStation’s newest official peripheral has landed, and this time it’s a new premium take on the iconic PlayStation PULSE 3D Wireless Headset. Appropriately dubbed the PULSE Elite, it’s a sweeping improvement on its more entry-level predecessor with improved comfort, sound and new technologies.

The PULSE Elite Wireless Headset is available now in stores for an RRP of $239.95, so whether you’re stepping out the front door as you read this to go and pick one up or you’re still on the fence, here’s what you need to know:

PULSE Elite Wireless Headset Features – What Makes It Unique?

The Pulse Elite Wireless Headset takes the familiar PULSE headset form factor and marries it with next-generation technology, starting with the inclusion of planar magnetic drivers. These drivers offer incredible audio accuracy with subtle details and deep, rich bass and paired with 3D Audio in supported games should make for an audio experience like no other. Usually reserved for expensive, high-end headphones, having planar magnetic drivers in a well-priced gaming headset is a literal game changer.

On top of this, the new PlayStation Link technology (which also features in the PULSE Explore wireless earbuds) not only delivers that sound at lightning speed but makes connecting and switching between multiple devices, like a PS5, PlayStation Portal and PC or Mac, fast and simple.

Lastly, Sony says the AI-enhanced microphone noise rejection built in has been trained to identify, isolate and remove unwanted background sounds while you’re gaming, like air conditioners, pets, vacuums and more. The headset even comes with a handy charging hanger, so it’s truly ready for a busy home lifestyle or slick office aesthetic.

PULSE Elite Wireless Headset Price – What’s It Cost?

You can pick up the PULSE Elite Wireless Headset for $239 right now from Amazon with fast, free shipping.

You can also pick a set up from the Sony Store, or if you’re looking to try your chances on-foot, the PULSE Elite is also stocked in the expected local retailers like JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, Big W and Harvey Norman.

PULSE Elite Wireless Headset VS Pulse 3D Wireless Headset – Which Is Better?

It depends on your budget! If you’re looking for a sub-$150 gaming headset that’s wireless, with decent sound and that’s designed for PS5 and its 3D Audio capabilities, the existing Pulse 3D headset is an easy recommendation.

If you want to take that experience up a notch though, with better sounding planar magnetic drivers, more than twice the battery life (around 12 hours versus up to 30), a handy hanging charger and PlayStation Link technology, the Pulse Elite is shaping up to be a great choice at just $80 more.

PULSE Elite Wireless Headset Reviews

Early reviews for the PULSE Elite Wireless Headset are largely positive, with most citing excellent audio quality on both PS5 and PC as well as good comfort and features all at a reasonable price point.

IGN scored the headset a 9/10 and said, “The PlayStation Pulse Elite headphones are true to their name and provide top-tier performance across multiple metrics. The audio quality is spectacular for gaming, they’re very comfortable, and the battery life is excellent. If you can get past the weak microphone and unusual design, their excellent usability and great sound quality make any other headphones hard to recommend for the PlayStation 5 at this price.”

CNET praised the sound quality thanks to those planar magnetic drivers, writing, “Ultimately, what sets the Pulse Elite Wireless apart from the competition are its planar magnetic drivers and excellent sound quality for both gaming and everyday music listening. While it may not necessarily look like a high-end gaming headphone, it does perform like one and seems like a relative bargain. I wish it had a few more features that made it a little more conducive to use as an everyday headphone, but I can’t complain too much because headphones with planar magnetic drivers would cost a lot more.”

Game Rant were big fans of being able to use PlayStation Link across PS5, Portal and PC/Mac, saying, “Sony’s Pulse Elite headset could have easily been a device built only for use with the PS5 and PlayStation Portal. As a dedicated PlayStation headset, it still delivers excellent audio, solid overall comfort, and a good-quality microphone. PlayStation fans in the market for a quality headset will be happy with their purchase.

“But the ability to use the headset and take advantage of PlayStation Link on PC/Mac and the Dual Device connectivity help widen the Pulse Elite’s appeal to more gamers and platforms. The sleek design is unmistakably PlayStation, but the functionality makes the Pulse Elite a great gaming headset, period.”

We’ll have our own review very soon, after we’ve spent a decent amount of time with the headset and really put it through its paces, so watch this space. You can read our review of the other PULSE headset equipped with planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation Link, the PULSE Explore wireless earbuds, right here.

WE LOVE BRINGING YOU THE BEST GAMING BARGAINS. WE MAY GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE THROUGH AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS

The post The PlayStation PULSE Elite Wireless Headset Is Out Now In Australia And Early Reviews Are Positive appeared first on Press Start.

Panic has revealed that the Playdate has finally crossed a very important milestone with all existing pre-orders fulfilled and units finally being made available for general sale.

“Today, after a lot of hard work and logistics, Panic is thrilled to announce that they have caught up to all Playdate pre-orders,” the company said, revealing that a limited number of Playdates are currently available for purchase at its official store at shop.play.date (and still are available at the time of writing). The Playdate is currently priced at $199 USD (around $300 AUD) with shipping to Australia coming in at roughly $30 AUD.

Going forward, Panic will be announcing to the public whenever more stock of Playdate is present and ready to deliver, but keen punters will still be able to place orders even when it sells out again with their place being reserved in the next batch and a clear estimate of when they’ll see it. The device itself has now sold over 70,000 units since launching in 2022.

Playdates will also now ship to even more countries, including our friends in New Zealand, with shipping expanded to quite a few more SEA and European regions.

We praised the simple joy and ingenuity of the Playdate in our review back in 2022, saying, “The Playdate takes the wonder and excitement that we used to get with video games in the 90s and jams it into a tiny portable handheld that delivers at every turn. Its price point and non backlit display are the only things holding it back from being something that every gamer should own.”

The post The Playdate Is Finally Back In Stock And Shipping To More Places Than Ever appeared first on Press Start.

It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that anyone’s hopes of getting a Steam Deck in Australia were reserved for either the shadiest or most expensive corners of the internet, but these days you can run into them almost as easily as an angry magpie on a morning walk.

The latest Aussie retailer to get in on the grey import Steam Deck train is none other than Big Woolies, with both the original Steam Deck as well as the new and improved Steam Deck OLED available for purchase. Of course, there’s still no official supply for the Steam Deck locally, so you won’t just be walking into your local Big W store and picking one up off the shelf.

These are available online, through its “Big W Market” system which essentially connects you to third-party sellers much like eBay or Amazon – albeit with the same Big W checkout system so you can use any vouchers you might have or PayPal/Afterpay/Zip.

Of course, there’s likely more risk involved in buying grey import stock than something purchased through official channels, though that’s going to be the case for any Aussie attempting to pick up a Steam Deck for as long as Valve refuses to sell them here. You can learn more about your rights with “parallel imports” as per the ACCC here.

The models currently available through Big W are:

Steam Deck/Steam Deck OLED Australia (via Big W):

Steam Deck

64GB – $745

256GB – $1008.95

512GB – $945

Steam Deck OLED

512GB – $1249

1TB – $1389

And below is a spec comparison between both models, with the main advantage of the Steam Deck OLED naturally being a slightly bigger, much brighter and richer display along with a more efficient chip, bigger battery, better WiFi and the option of 1TB storage.

STEAM DECK

• 64, 256GB or 512GB NVMe SSD
• 1280 x 800 optically bonded LCD display
• 7? Diagonal display size
• 7 nm APU
• Wi-Fi 5
• 40Whr battery; 2-8 hrs of gameplay (content dependent)
• 45W Power supply with 1.5m cable
• Carrying case
• Steam profile bundle

STEAM DECK OLED

• 512GB or 1TB NVMe SSD
• 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display
• 7.4? Diagonal display size
• 6 nm APU
• Wi-Fi 6E
• 50Whr battery; 3-12 hrs of gameplay (content dependent)
• 45W Power supply with 2.5m cable
• Carrying case
• Steam profile bundle

The post Even Big W Is Selling The Steam Deck And Steam Deck OLED Online In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

• Retro Gold Edition
• Classic Clear Edition
• Atomic Red Edition
• Emerald Green Edition
• Orange Zest Edition
• Electric Pink Edition
• Splatter Edition by POPeART
• Blossom Edition by POPeART
• Junkyard Edition by POPeART

The post The Makers Of The CRKD Nitro Deck Are Launching Gorgeous New Premium Controllers appeared first on Press Start.

Elgato has just unveiled the latest in its hugely-popular line of plug-and-play game capture cards, the Elgato 4K X and Elgato 4K Pro.

The 4K X brings with it full compatibility with HDMI 2.1 devices and passthrough, meaning you can capture up to 4K video at 144hz with the latest consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X|S without sacrificing the benefits of things like VRR and HDR10 on your display.

Like many of its other game capture products, the Elgato 4K X is a simple plug-and-play system that sits in-between your console or other device and your display via HDMI passthrough, and then feeds out your captured video via a 10Gbps USB-C port for the highest quality and reliability.

Meanwhile, the Elgato 4K Pro is a high-end PCIe capture card for PC that boasts up to a whopping 8K60 passthrough and 4K60 capture with the same HDMI 2.1 compatibility, making it great for capturing modern consoles or in a dual-PC streaming setup.

The Elgato 4K X is available now through Elgato’s website for $229 USD (around $350) and the Elgato 4K Pro is $280 USD (around $430 USD).

You can see product trailer for both new devices below:

The post Elgato’s New HDMI 2.1-Compatible Capture Cards Are Perfect For PS5 And Xbox Series X|S appeared first on Press Start.

Backbone and Kojima Productions have revealed an exciting new partnership, announcing a special BACKBONE One – Death Stranding Limited Edition Controller.

The controller, which will be available in limited quantities, is compatible with both iPhone 15 and Android devices with a USB-C connection, but is aimed primarily at iPhone users to celebrate the upcoming release of Death Stranding Director’s Cut for iPhone 15, iPad and Mac. Each purchase of the controller will also come with a copy of Death Stranding Director’s Cut for iOS.

The controller itself sports a translucent yellow front shell and a gold and black back, with the Kojima Productions logo visible on the inner side of the backplate.

So far, pre-order pages will open on January 30th direct from Backbone or the Kojima Productions Store in the US and Japan only, but Aussie fans can sign up for email updates on this page.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be available on the Apple App Store at $29.99 (a 50% discount) for those that pre-order and will come with universal purchase meaning that you’ll be able to play it on all of your compatible Apple devices with cross-save with just one purchase.

The game will come with the Director’s Cut content with new locations, a bunch of new delivery assists and more additional content.

• Experience Hideo Kojima’s groundbreaking open world adventure through the graphical prowess of Apple silicon. DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT will release as a Universal Purchase so users can play across iPhone, iPad and Mac with only one purchase.

• Journey through this post-apocalyptic narrative comprised of an epic Hollywood cast, including Norman Reedus as protagonist Sam “Porter” Bridges, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, and Lindsay Wagner.

• Experience new content exclusive to the DIRECTOR’S CUT: explore locations such as a dangerous underground factory, take on expanded story missions, and equip Sam with a wealth of new delivery assists like cargo catapults and a newly-added stabilizer function. Unravel the captivating narrative weaved through a fictional sci-fi wasteland and revel in legendary developer Kojima’s latest endeavor.

The post There’s A Death Stranding Limited Edition Backbone One Controller On The Way appeared first on Press Start.

Logitech G has unveiled its latest flagship gaming headset, the Astro A50 X, and it’s taken one the best headsets in the industry up a whole other notch by coupling it with one of the most useful-looking bits of tech we’ve seen in a while.

The Astro A50 X not only offers up the kinds of high performance gaming audio you’d expect from Astro’s top model, with its new 40mm driver that leverages breakthrough audio engineering with graphene material for increased clarity, detail and spatial accuracy, but it also includes new “PLAYSYNC Technology” through a special Base Station that allows users to seamlessly switch between PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC/Mac while using the Astro A50 X across all of them.

Using HDMI 2.1, this new Base Station will automatically direct audio wirelessly to the Astro A50 X while passing the selected console’s video through to the user’s display, meaning you won’t have to touch anything on your headset or in settings as you flick between platforms. Because it supports HDMI 2.1 it also won’t affect your console or PC’s visual fidelity or prevent use of specific features such as 4K 120Hz HDR, VRR, and ALLM.

The Base Station also supports Bluetooth, so you’ll be able to mix in your Discord chat or listen to music from another device while playing.

Naturally, all of this will come at a premium, with the Astro A50 X set to retail for a crisp $749.95 when it launches in the first half of 2024. You can learn more about the headset’s features and technology, as well as pre-order one for yourself, right here.

“Over the last decade, the A50 has become an icon in gaming headsets due to its focus on gamer-centric design, premium sound, and superior comfort and durability,” said Ujesh Desai, general manager of Logitech G. “Our new A50 X elevates this beloved headset with an unmatched level of performance by combining the A50’s award-winning design with several new features and advanced technologies that truly revolutionise gameplay.”

The post The New Astro A50 X Headset Includes A HDMI 2.1 Base Station For Seamless PS5/Xbox Series Switching appeared first on Press Start.

SEGA and watchmaker ANICORN WATCHES have announced a new collaboration, bringing out a series of incredibly-cool watch designs based on the iconic SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis console.

The Limited Edition Mega Drive/Genesis Watch launch features a trio of designs, each based on a regional variation of the console with the original Japanese Mega Drive, the PAL Mega Drive (that’ll be familiar to us here in Australia) and the USA’s SEGA Genesis – with the different versions of the watch being made available to their respective regions.

The watches have taken a lot of inspiration from the console’s top cover and use original fonts and embellishments that SEGA fans from way back will instantly recognise. Each comes in a “console” box as well, containing a metal numbered plate and tailored booklet of the legendary SEGA machine.

These watches are set to launch at 1AM on Wednesday, December 6th (yes, the same time as the GTA 6 trailer drops) but keen punters can sign up to ANICORN’s mailing list and get a secret “ROM Cartridge code” to get early access, provided you’re ready to drop $800 USD (around $1,200 AUD) on one:

The post These Gorgeous SEGA Mega Drive x ANICORN Watches Are Launching Next Week appeared first on Press Start.

Turtle Beach has just unveiled the Stealth Ultra, a brand-new “high performance” wireless controller designed for Xbox and PC that offers up all of the pro gaming bells and whistles like tactile microswitches, hall-effect AntiDrift thumbsticks and adjustable triggers along with a very exciting new feature – the full-colour Connected Comman Display that allows players to customise lighting, chat audio, button mapping and even get social notifications directly from the controller.

The Stealth Ultra also includes various power modes allowing up to 30 hours of battery life from a single charge, and comes with its own low profile, rapid-charge dock to quickly juice it up to 100% in under two hours and easily store it when you’re not playing.

The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is launching in Australia on January 26th next year for an RRP of $329.95 and it’s available for pre-order now from the below retailers:

• Amazon
• JB Hi-Fi
• EB Games
• Mwave
• The Gamesmen

The post The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Is A New Pro Controller With A Full-Colour Display appeared first on Press Start.

Steam has revealed that Steam Link, the free app used to stream Steam games from PC onto phones, tablets and other displays, has now been given the capability to wirelessly stream PC VR games direct to the Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro headsets.

Where previously you would need Meta’s proprietary link cable to plug the Quest headset directly into a PC, use Air Link and Oculus Desktop or a third-party app to enable wireless play, Steam now officially supports it at no extra cost – so Meta Quest users can check out games like Half-Life Alyx, or even check out existing Quest games like No Man’s Sky with the advantage of the power of the PC you’re streaming it from versus the Quest’s processing capabilities.

Here’s what you need to get started, according to the official Steam Link for Meta Quest announcement page:

• Make sure Steam and SteamVR are installed and running on your PC
  • Note: You may need to restart Steam to confirm you are running the latest version of Steam and SteamVR
• Connect your headset to the same network as your PC
• Download the free Steam Link app to your headset.
• The app will walk you through wirelessly connecting your computer to your headset.

Before you connect, make sure you have:

• Wi-Fi: 5 GHz minimum, wired connection to PC
• GPUs: NVIDIA (GTX970 or better)
• OS: Windows 10 or newer
• Headset: Meta Quest 2, 3, or Pro
• Recommended (but not required): A broadband internet connection with Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E, and a computer with at least 16 GB RAM and NVIDIA GPU, RTX2070 or better.

You can also find an official FAQ with more info right here.

The post Steam Link Now Officially Works With Meta Quest To Wirelessly Play PC VR Games appeared first on Press Start.

Overnight, Valve announced a new and improved version of its hugely-popular portable PC gaming handheld, the Steam Deck, not with a full-fledged successor (though it says it’s still working on a next-gen version to launch in a few years) but with a Nintendo Switch OLED-style upgrade featuring a bigger, better screen, improved efficiency and battery life and faster Wi-Fi. It’ll be lighter and cooler, too.

It’s also called, somewhat unoriginally, the Steam Deck OLED.

Along with the introduction of the new OLED version, Valve is seemingly phasing out its current 64GB and 512GB options by offering them up at discounted prices, leaving the future line-up to be the 256GB “OG” Steam Deck, and then the OLED version in both 512GB and a new 1TB option. Here are the specs on each for comparison:

STEAM DECK

• 256GB NVMe SSD
• 1280 x 800 optically bonded LCD display
• 7″ Diagonal display size
• 7 nm APU
• Wi-Fi 5
• 40Whr battery; 2-8 hrs of gameplay (content dependent)
• 45W Power supply with 1.5m cable
• Carrying case
• Steam profile bundle

STEAM DECK OLED

• 512GB or 1TB NVMe SSD
• 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display
• 7.4″ Diagonal display size
• 6 nm APU
• Wi-Fi 6E
• 50Whr battery; 3-12 hrs of gameplay (content dependent)
• 45W Power supply with 2.5m cable
• Carrying case
• Steam profile bundle

The Steam Deck OLED goes on sale on November 16th but, of course, when you navigate to Steam’s store page to look at purchase options from Australia you’ll see this:

Sad times.

That said, there likely will be options to buy this through less-official channels much like the current Steam Deck, so if you’re keen to drool over this shiny new version of Valve’s portable powerhouse, here’s a slick video:

The post The Improved Steam Deck OLED Has Been Announced But Australia Still Misses Out appeared first on Press Start.

Update: With the INZONE H5 headset having launched last month and the new black colourway for the INZONE H9 dropping last week, many of the early pre-order/launch prices have finished up, but EB Games is still offering both headsets along with pre-orders of the first INZONE buds at discounted prices – so take a look right here while they’re still on special!

The INZONE buds are launching on December 1st, and you can still grab them from Amazon for $249, which is $100 off RRP, as a pre-order.

Original Story: Sony has revealed its second line-up of INZONE gaming audio products, with a brand-new H5 model gaming headset, a new black colourway for the H9, and the first in-ear products in the range, the INZONE Buds.

The New INZONE 5 features a lightweight 260g build with lower side pressure and soft cushioning, 360 spatial sound for gaming, a bi-directional boom mic with AI noise reduction and up to 28 hours battery life with an optional wired connection.

The INZONE buds are fully wireless buds with an 8.4mm driver, noise cancelling technology, personalised spatial sound and up to 12 hours of battery life in the buds with an extra 12 hours from the charging case – something Sony’s claiming is the longest battery life in USB receiver-based buds on the market.

The INZONE H5 launches on October 20th locally, with the new black H9 coming on November 1st and the INZONE Buds launching on December 1st. Pre-orders for all of the new products are live now and select retailers are offering up to $150 off for pre-ordering:

Sony INZONE 2023 Range Pre-Orders

EB Games

• INZONE H5 Gaming Headset (Black) – $199 (limited launch price)
• INZONE H5 Gaming Headset (White) – $199 (limited launch price)
• INZONE H9 Gaming Headset (Black) – $349 (limited launch price)
• INZONE Buds Gaming Earbuds (Black) – $249.95 (special pre-order price)

Amazon

• INZONE H5 Gaming Headset (Black) – $299
• INZONE H5 Gaming Headset (White) – $299
• INZONE H9 Gaming Headset (Black) – $449
• INZONE Buds Gaming Earbuds (Black) – $249 (special pre-order price)

JB Hi-Fi

• INZONE H5 Gaming Headset (Black) – $299
• INZONE H5 Gaming Headset (White) – $299
• INZONE H9 Gaming Headset (Black) – $449
• INZONE Buds Gaming Earbuds (Black) – $249 (special pre-order price)

The post Sony’s New INZONE Gaming Headsets Are Still Available At Discounted Launch Prices appeared first on Press Start.

Elgato has just announced arguably one of its biggest new streaming and content creation products since it first introduced the Stream Deck.

Simply dubbed the Prompter, it’s a (you guessed it) teleprompter designed with at-home creators in mind and packing some nifty features to not only offer an easy-to-use readout for things like scripts and chat but pretty much anything you might want to display off-monitor and with camera eye contact in mind as well as huge compatibility and flexibility.

Just like other teleprompters, the Elgato Prompter works by projecting text from an upwards-facing (9″ 1024 x 600 px) display onto a mirror that faces the person speaking, with their choice of camera – whether it’s the Elgato Facecam or a multitude of other options including DSLRs with flexible mounting – mounted behind the glass to create direct eye contact with the camera while reading.

The big benefit with the Prompter of course is a full integration into the Elgato ecosystem. You’ll be able to control what it displays easily from your PC and/or Elgato Stream Deck device and it’s not just for reading scripts – you can pop anything you want to display on there to save space on your monitor display whether it’s a YouTube video, Teams chat or just some nice messages to yourself like “Hey! You’re looking less dehydrated today!”

When it comes time to throw actual scripts in there to up your content creation game, the Elgato software is also set to provide a wealth of customisation and options for how things are displayed, and if you’ve got the excellent Elgato Stream Deck+ you’ve got easy access to dials for controlling the scroll and speed on the fly. And it’s all plug-and-play through a single cable!

The Elgato Prompter is available to order direct from the Elgato website for $279.99 USD (approx $440 AUD).

The post The Elgato Prompter Is Here To Change The Streaming And Content Creation Game appeared first on Press Start.

Analogue, the company best known for creation some incredibly-slick modern versions of classic consoles that use specialty hardware to play original game cartridges without emulation – like the Analogue Pocket – has announced its next big project and it’s a very exciting one.

That’s right, Analogue is about to recreate the Nintendo 64.

Dubbed the Analogue 3D, it’ll sport 4K resolution with original Display Modes, all-region compatibility with legacy N64 cartridges, “reference quality” recreations of specific model CRTs, Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz compatibility along with four original-style controller ports and more all built on hardware designed to give a true retro experience without software-based emulation.

The website for the Analogue 3D also teases its controller redesign, which you can see below (we increased the brightness so you can see a little more of it than intended…):

The Analogue 3D is slated to launch next year, and you can sign up for notifications on the official web page at analogue.co/3d.

Introducing Analogue 3D.
A reimagining of the N64.

4K resolution.

The future is here.
64 bits of pleasure.

Coming in 2024.

Sign up to be notified when Analogue 3D is available at https://t.co/EoEWYYF6Dl pic.twitter.com/aoIAWmN44U

— Analogue (@analogue) October 16, 2023

From the official website:

“A reimagining of the N64.
4K resolution.
Original Display Modes.
Reference quality recreations of specific model CRT’s and PVM’s.

“The first and only aftermarket solution supporting 100% compatibility in every region. USA, EU & JP.

“Coming in 2024.”

The post The Analogue 3D Is A 4K Nintendo 64 Console Coming Next Year That Will Play Original Cartridges appeared first on Press Start.

After it was officially unveiled last month, the all-new Meta Quest 3 has officially launched in Australia and is available now.

Prices for the Meta Quest 3 start at $799.99 AUD for the 128GB variant – including Asgard’s Wrath II as a bonus for purchases before January 27th, 2024. A 512GB version is also available for $1049.99 with an extra added bonus of a 6-month Meta Quest+ membership.

Where To Buy Meta Quest 3 In Australia

Headset

• Meta Quest 3 128GB + Bonus Asgard’s Wrath II – $799.99
• Meta Quest 3 512GB + Bonus Asgard’s Wrath II + Bonus 6 months Meta Quest+ membership – $1049.99

Bundles

• Meta Quest 3 128GB + Carrying Case – $919.98
• Meta Quest 3 128GB + Elite Strap – $919.98
• Meta Quest 3 128GB + Elite Strap with Battery – $1019.98
• Meta Quest 3 128GB + Link Cable – $929.98
• Meta Quest 3 512GB + Carrying Case – $1169.98
• Meta Quest 3 512GB + Elite Strap – $1169.98
• Meta Quest 3 512GB + Elite Strap with Battery – $1269.98
• Meta Quest 3 512GB + Link Cable – $1179.98

What’s New In The Meta Quest 3?

The Meta Quest 3 is the next evolution in Meta’s mixed-reality push, and is (according to Meta) the first mainstream headset “built for mixed reality” as well as being the company’s most powerful headset to date. It sports double the graphical processing capability of the Quest 2 thanks to the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform – powering its stunning dual 2064 x 2208 displays which utilise 4K+ Infinite Display optical technology and have an increased field of view over the Quest 2.

The device itself has a new look as well, with better features for fit and comfort and slimmed-down controllers with no more giant rings. Of course, a noticeable update is the camera array on the front of the headset which powers the Quest 3’s mixed reality experiences, allowing you to interact with the real world around you and use virtual displays and tools overlaid onto actual space thanks to proper, colour video passthrough. There will even be Xbox Cloud Gaming support coming in December this year.

“Ready to experience the most powerful Quest yet? Introducing Meta Quest 3, the breakthrough mixed reality headset that lets you blend virtual objects with your physical space or dive into full immersion. Play, work out, create, watch your favorite content and connect with friends like never before. With the world’s best library of immersive content, get ready to expand your world. “

The post The Meta Quest 3 Is Available Right Now In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

SteelSeries has revealed a brand-new product line with the Alias series of gaming/streaming microphones, a pair of super-impressive solutions for gamers and creators that want a device purpose-built to capture them in the best possible light (or… sound field?).

Two models are launching, the Alias and Alias Pro, both powered by a new high-performance turbo engine called Sonar for Streamers. Building off of SteelSeries class-leading Sonar software, the free software suite offers up everything that creators of all levels could need to fine-tune their vocals and mix, manage audio routing, effects and more all while streamlining performance.

SteelSeries Alias

First up in the microphone range is the SteelSeries Alias, which offers up a fully-dedicated gaming and streaming solution with a 24bit/48kHz broadcast-quality microphone with a custom-built 1” condenser capsule and fine-tuned cardioid capsule pattern to both capture users’ voice in flawless detail while minimising the intrusion of background noise. The Alias also packs a 5-stage RGB LED level and mute indicator, RGB downlight and 3.5mm headphone jack – all plug-and-play on PC via USB.

The SteelSeries Alias will retail for $399 AUD and launch soon at local retailers.

SteelSeries Alias Pro

Then there’s the Alias Pro, which takes things a step further as a broadcast-quality XLR microphone with all of the same high-quality capture of the Alias plus dedicated XLR Stream Mixer, giving creators a pro-level audio station. The XLR Stream Mixer even offers dual USB ports that work alongside the Sonar software to make dual-PC streaming even easier. The mixer has customisable dials and buttons to give users a wealth of control at their fingertips and also features ambient RGB lighting and customisable LED indicators.

The SteelSeries Alias Pro will retail for $699 AUD and launch soon at local retailers.

The post SteelSeries’ New Alias Series Streaming Microphones Are Next-Level appeared first on Press Start.

Lenovo has finally lifted the lid on its heavily-leaked foray into the world of handheld PC gaming with the Lenovo Legion Go, a portable powerhouse not unlike the recently-released ASUS ROG Ally or other competitors like the Steam Deck, Ayaneo, etc but with the pretty significant point-of-difference that it has Nintendo Switch-style detachable motion controllers as well as a big, beautiful display and some serious power under the hood.

The Legion Go pairs a massive 8.8-inch QHD+ 16:10 Lenovo PureSight display with up to an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and AMD RNDA Graphics for cutting-edge gaming on the go, and the detachable Legion TrueStrike controllers sport drift-free hall effect joysticks as well as an integrated trackpad, large D-pad, an angled mouse wheel and a total of 10 mappable shoulder buttons, triggers, and grip buttons. Oddly enough, they can also be used in what’s called “FPS Mode” in which the right controller sits inside a tracking base and can be moved around on a desk like a mouse…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCAqkiO0OOQ

The Legion Go will feature special Legion Space software that heavily integrates Xbox Game Pass Ultimate but can also organise your other PC game launchers and give easy access to settings and other features.

You’ll even be able to pair the Legion Go with Lenovo’s new AR Legion Glasses so that you can sit in bed and play your PC games on a virtual screen via a handheld device, which sounds and looks ridiculous but could actually be quite novel and convenient.

When Does The Lenovo Legion Go Release In Australia?

The Lenovo Legion Go is expected to launch in October. An exact date hasn’t been communicated but we’ll update with more info as it comes.

How Much Will The Lenovo Legion Go Cost In Australia?

The price of the Lenovo Legion Go is expected to start at $1399 AUD, which is presumably for the 256GB storage model and may not feature the top-tier AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. We’ll update when we know a bit more about the full slate of models and pricing.

Is The Lenovo Legion Go Better Than The ASUS ROG Ally?

It depends on your needs! On paper the Legion Go is superior in some aspects, like its faster RAM and higher-capacity battery, the latter of which may not prove to add extra playtime given it’s powering a bigger, fancier display. The detachable controllers obviously introduce more use cases, and they feature hall-effect joysticks which means they should never suffer from stick drift. Some might appreciate the form factor and price of the ROG Ally more than the added features of the Legion Go, so both are viable options.

What Are The Full Lenovo Legion Go Specifications?

Dimensions (L x W x H) Base Module: (mm): 210mm x 131mm x 20mm / Base Module with Controllers Attached: (mm): 299mm x 131mm x 41mm
Weight Controllers Detached: 640g / Controllers Attached: 854g
Colour Shadow Black
Display 8.8” QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS; 16:10 10-point Touch (144Hz) / 97% DCI-P3 / 500nits / 83%AAR
Touchpad Multi-finger
Processor Up to AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with AMD RDNA Graphics
Memory 16GB 7500Mhz LPDDR5X on board
Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 22428
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Battery 2-cell 49.2WHr / Super Rapid Charge / Controller battery capacity: 900mah2
Power Adapter USB Type-C, 65W AC adapter / Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W / Input: 100~240V AC 50/60 universal
Ports Top 3.5mm audio combo jack / 1 x USB Type-C (USB 4.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x microSD card reader
Ports Bottom 1x USB Type-C (USB 4.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0)
Haptics HD haptics
Gyro 6-Axis IMU
Audio 2 x 2W Speakers / Dual-array near-field microphone
Connectivity – 2 x 2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 ax) / Starting from Bluetooth® 5.2
Software Legion Space / Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Complimentary 3-month membership

The post The Lenovo Legion Go Has Been Officially Revealed Along With An Australian Price And Release Window appeared first on Press Start.

Update #2: Windows Report has now blown the lid clean off of these ongoing Lenovo Legion Go rumours, sharing the full specs and price of the company’s entry into the ballooning handheld gaming PC market after obtaining official presentational documents ahead of a full reveal on September 1st.

Other than the notable fact that the Legion Go’s controllers can be attached or removed and used separately like Switch Joy-Cons, it’s also looking to be a bit of a powerful beast, and sports a huge display. At 8.8″ with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 144Hz refresh it’s sure to be impressive to behold, and it has the specs to back it up with up to an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and 16GB of incredibly fast 500Mhz LPDDR5X RAM. It’ll also feature up to a huge 1TB of storage, a fast charging, 49.2WH battery.

The Legion Go will reportedly cost $799 USD (around $1250 AUD straight converted) making it more expensive than the $599 USD ROG Ally, and release sometime in October.

Lenovo Legion Go
Dimensions (L x W x H)	Base Module: (mm): 210mm x 131mm x 20mm (inches): 8.27? x 5.15? x 0.79”   Base Module w/ Controllers Attached: (mm): 299mm x 131mm x 41mm (inches): 11.8” x 5.15” x 1.61”
Weight	Controllers Detached: 640g (1.41lbs)   Controllers Attached: 854g (1.88lbs)
Color	Shadow Black
Display	8.8” QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS; 16:10 10-point Touch (144Hz / 97% DCI-P3 / 500nits / 83%AAR
Touchpad	Multi-finger
Processor	Up to AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with AMD RDNA Graphics
Memory	16GB 7500Mhz LPDDR5X on board
Storage	256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2242
Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Battery	2-cell 49.2WHr Super Rapid Charge2 Controller battery capacity: 900mah2
Power Adapter	USB Type-C, 65W AC adapter Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W Input: 100~240V AC 50/60 universal
Ports	Top 3.5mm audio combo jack1 x USB Type-C (USB 4.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0)1 x microSD card reader   Bottom 1x USB Type-C (USB 4.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0)
Control and Input	Gamepad Controls Legion L/RABXY buttonsD-padL & R hall effect joysticksL & R bumpersL & R analog triggersLegion L & R buttonsView button (L)Menu button (L)Trackpad (R)6 x assignable grip buttons1 x mouse wheel (R)1x mouse sensor (R)2 x controllers release buttons Haptics: HD haptics Gyro: 6-Axis IMU
Audio	2 x 2W SpeakersDual-array near-field microphone
Connectivity	2 x 2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 ax)3Starting from Bluetooth® 5.2
Software	Legion Space Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – Complimentary 3-month membership4,5

Update: Windows Report has shared what it claims are images of Lenovo’s apparent entry into the rapidly-growing PC gaming handheld market and, well, it’s definitely got some similarities to another iconic handheld…

The device, which is still reportedly dubbed the Lenovo Legion Go, doesn’t look all too dissimilar from competing devices like the Steam Deck, Ayaneo range or the ASUS Rog Ally, with the one distinction that it features very Nintendo Switch Joy Con-like removable controllers on either side.

It’ll apparently be running Windows 11 on its 8-inch screen, powered by AMD’s new Phoenix chips, but none of that seems as exciting as the potential of those split controllers – it also has a very Switch OLED-style stand built into the back. Of course it’ll be going above and beyond the Switch’s capabilities with AAA PC gaming, and even has a Steam Deck-style touchpad on the right Joy Con controller.

Take a look at a couple more images shared by the outlet:

Image: Windows Report

Image: Windows Report

Original Story:

Windows Central is reporting that Lenovo could be next in line to enter the steadily-swelling handheld PC gaming market with a device apparently called the Legion Go.

The outlet’s sources say it’s a Windows 11 handheld sporting an 8-inch display and AMD’s new Phoenix chips, processors designed to be ultra-thin and focused on gaming, AI, and graphics for ultrabooks. Lenovo reportedly had an Android-based device in the works that it never took to retail, with prototypes having surfaced a few months ago, so this could represent a pivot from that to something more competitive in the space, but even if these reports are true there’s no guarantee this device will see a public release either.

If accurate, the Legion Go will face some stiff competition with all manner of brands entering the fray from the recently-released ASUS Rog Ally to long-time staples like the Ayaneo devices and of course Valve’s Steam Deck. With more devices, and especially more Windows-based devices, it’ll hopefully continue to push Microsoft to better the experience for users of these devices.

EXCLUSIVE: According to our sources, Lenovo is working on a Steam Deck competitor too. ?

Details: https://t.co/NTtTHJIrrO #PCGaming #SteamDeck #Steam #ASUSROGAlly #ROGAlly

— Windows Central Gaming (@WinC_Gaming) July 31, 2023

Lenovo’s closest competition in the space would likely be the ASUS Rog Ally, which launched just under a couple of months ago at $1,299 and sporting the full Windows 11 experience along with impressive specs.

We said in our review of the ROG Ally, “All-in-all, the release of the ASUS ROG Ally feels like a significant step forward in this category. It’s the second major company to join the space, and provides something totally different to that of the Steam Deck. It’ll be exciting to see where this space goes in the coming months and years, and I really hope ASUS continue to tinker with things and improve this device, as I feel like there is so much potential to still be realised, even beyond the fantastic experience that it is whilst gaming.”

The post The Specs And Price Of Lenovo’s Switch-Like PC Handheld Have Leaked appeared first on Press Start.

Atari has revealed a brand-new version of its iconic home gaming system, the Atari 2600, with the Atari 2600+.

The Atari 2600+ is an updated version of the iconic Atari 2600 and is designed to work with modern televisions with new enhancements along with the ability to play actual Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 cartridges. It’s around 80% of the original size of the console so it’s not a “mini” style device but also won’t have the huge footprint of the original machine. You’ll even be able to use the controllers with original Atari 2600/7800 hardware.

Here’s what this baby can do:

– Play both Atari 2600 and 7800 game cartridges
– HDMI output for connection to modern displays
– Widescreen mode available
– Enlarged cartridge socket to reduce sticking
– Atari logo that lights up when being played

The Atari 2600+ comes with a CX40+ Joystick which has been lovingly recreated to the same specifications as the original, and a 10-in-1 game cartridge featuring some of Atari’s most famous games: Adventure, Combat, Dodge ‘Em, Haunted House, Maze Craze, Missile Command, RealSports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball and Yars’ Revenge.

An Icon Returns… Introducing the #Atari2600+??
Learn more at: https://t.co/6C5Rk5rCOp pic.twitter.com/CFkX6HTzhp

— Atari (@atari) August 22, 2023

Pre-orders for the Atari 2600+ are live now across the globe, and so far locally EB Games has opened up orders for the system which launches on November 17th for $189.95:

Atari 2600+ Pre-Orders In Australia

We’ll continue to update this if/when more Aussie retailers open up pre-orders for the Atari 2600+

• EB Games – $189.95 ($50 deposit required)

The post The Atari 2600+ Is An Official Console That Plays Actual Cartridges And Pre-Orders Are Live Now appeared first on Press Start.

Famed merchants of everything clicky and full of RGB lighting, Razer, have announced their latest gaming keyboard, the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%.

This newest entry into the BlackWidow family shrinks the iconic BlackWidow V4 into a 75% form factor while retaining some of the added media keys and also introducing a new point of difference – a hot-swappable design to allow enthusiasts to quickly and easily change the pre-loaded Razer Orange Tactical Mechanical Gen-3 switches for custom 3 or 5-pin ones.

Built into a premium, aluminium case and sporting a function row, arrow keys and media controls in its compact layout, the wired  BlackWidow V4 75% also comes with a plush leatherette wrist rest and features both per-key and underglow lighting giving it an overall cutting-edge look and feel. Under the hood it’s a gasket-mounted FR4 plate, tape-enhanced PCB, lubricated stabilizers, and two layers of sound dampening foam for a comfortable and satisfying typing experience.

You can pick up the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% now on the Razer website for $349.95 in black or $369.95 for the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% White Edition, with the keyboard set to hit other local Aussie retailers soon.

We’ll have a full review up for the keyboard soon.

The post Razer Has Unveiled The BlackWidow V4 75% Keyboard With Hot-Swappable Switches appeared first on Press Start.

I don’t know what kind of upside-down, comic book multiverse-arse backwards day I’ve woken up in, but Alienware has unveiled its new line of Aurora 16 gaming PCs and they look… normal? This year’s models have done away with the “I think it’s about to take off?” vibe completely in favour of something much more svelte and sexy, shrinking down the overall form factor of the PCs by a whopping 40% as a result.

If anything, the new look is incredibly tasteful and understated. Maybe they should change the brand to Underware? [Note to self: Delete that last line before I hit publish].

I wish I looked this good.

It’s a design that means when people visit my house, I won’t be frantically trying to hide a giant, glaring space robot of a PC under my race car bed out of embarrassment. Now when folks come ’round I’ll say “Look at this!” and they’ll say “That’s a very nice gaming PC, Kieron, but I have other peoples’ McDonald’s to deliver.”

All this is being done with the impressive claim from Alienware that, despite shedding a ton of plastic and regret, these new Aurora 16 PCs meet or exceed the performance profile of their predecessors. They’re more performant while being quieter, cooler and also the other kind of cooler thanks to something called a Stadium Loop which sounds physically exhausting but is actually just a neat LED oval around the big air intake on the side.

Broke (left) vs I’m Broke (right)

Of course, for all of those number nerds out there wanting to know about specs, should’ve gone to Specsavers these are still very much the grunty, over-engineered beasts you’ve come to expect from Alienware. The new Aurora 16 desktops will feature the same level of customisability that you’ve come to expect, allowing for configurations in the realm of the following:

• NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs
• 12th and 13th Gen Intel® Core desktop processors
• Wi-Fi 6 (or 6E) and 2.5Gbps Ethernet for both wired and wireless connections
• Up to 64GB of 5200 MT/s DDR5 Memory or 32GB of 5600 MT/s DDR5 Memory
• Up to 8TB (2x4TB) of SSD Storage
• 80 Plus Platinum rated Power supplies (500W or 1000W)
• Optional extra 1TB Hard Drive for expanded storage
• Windows 11 Home and access to hundreds of high-quality games with the included one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

All of the front holes and back holes.

“But Kieron, when can I get one of these and for how much?” I hear you ask, through the power of my imagination. Well, the Alienware Aurora 16 is launching right about now in parts of the world and starts at $1,749.99 USD (around $2,700 AUD or approximately one week’s rent in inner Melbourne).

I’m still waiting for the wombat that delivers my mail to bring word on Aussie release timings and price, but they’re on the way. More powerful models are set to launch later down the track, too, so you’ve got extra time to save for a bigger upgrade than the life-changing day I switched my toilet paper for flushable wipes.

The post Against All Odds, Alienware’s New Gaming PCs Almost Look Like Regular PCs appeared first on Press Start.

ASUS has officially released both the ASUS ROG Phone 7 and Phone 7 Ultimate in Australia today. Both devices are extremely focused on low power consumption through its vapor chamber design that allows heat dissipation efficiency by up to 168%.

The new phones have a two phone design and 3.2 GHz Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile processors which equate in them being 15% faster and 15% more power efficient than the previous generation.

Both phones support real-time hardware accelerated ray-tracing and have 165Hz Samsung AMOLED displays with an increased brightness of 1,500 Nits. It’s said that the phones have 50% louder speakers for even more immersion when gaming.

The Phone 7 Ultimate has something called ROG Vision, which is essentially a unique colour display on the back of the phone that highlights events such as charging status, incoming calls and more with the ability to create your own animations.

ASUS has also announced the AeroActive Cooler which allows a constant flow of air for even more gaming power and power efficiency. It also adds a subwoofer, four physical buttons. a kickstand and also has that signature ROG RGB lighting for even more personalisation.

ASUS ROG PHONE 7/PHONE 7 ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN PRICES

• ROG Phone 7 (Black) – $1,799AUD
• ROG Phone 7 (White) – $1,799AUD
• ROG Phone 7 Ultimate (White) – $2,099AUD

@shannongrixti

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the most insane phone that I’ve used. Two batteries, a back OLED screen and an external cooler?! #ASUSROG #asusrogphone7 #asusrogphone7ultimate #rogphone7 #rogphone7ultimate #phone #tech

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

The post The ASUS ROG Phone 7 & Phone 7 Ultimate Are Out in Australia Today And Here’s The Aussie Prices appeared first on Press Start.

PlayStation has announced that the PS5 Access Controller will launch on December 6th for $139.95. Pre-orders will begin in Australia on Friday, July 21st at 10am AEST.

A features trailer has also been released showing off how all the new components come together to form PlayStation’s most accessible controller to date.

PlayStation has also confirmed exactly what will be included in the box with a visual breakdown as well.

On the PS5, you’ll be able to map buttons with up to 30 control profiles, adjust stick settings, toggle commands on/off or disable buttons and pair other Access or DualSense controllers to use them together.

The post The PS5 Access Controller’s Release Date And Australian Price Have Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

Razer has just unveiled a brand-new range of gaming mice today, with the Razer Cobra and Razer Cobra Pro.

The company is calling these two new additions to its well-respected suite of gaming gear a “seamless blend of form and function” with the Razer Cobra Pro in particular dubbed “the most immersive, feature-rich wireless and symmetrical mouse available today” by the company itself.

Razer Cobra Pro

The top-end model in the range is the Razer Cobra Pro, which features 10 customisable controls, 5 onboard memory profiles and 11 individualChroma RGB zones, which Razer says is the most RGB zones in its class, built into a symmetrical mouse design. It features a Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor, Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 and HyperSpeed wireless connectivity with up to 100 hours of battery life (or 170 hours via bluetooth) and is also compatible with the Razer Mouse Dock Pro, Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle and Razer Wireless Charging Puck. The Razer Cobra Pro also weights just 77 grams with all of these features packed in.

The Razer Cobra Pro is coming to local retail “soon” with an RRP of $234.95 AUD.

Razer Cobra

Meanwhile, the entry-level Razer Cobra carries across the seamless, symmetrical design to a wired mouse designed for more casual users. It’s got ultra-durable switches, eight customisable controls, and comes complete with its own striking, gradient Chroma lighting.

The Razer Cobra is also coming to local retail “soon” with an RRP of $70.95 AUD.

“With the new Razer Cobra line, illuminating immersion now comes in a symmetrical form factor. From vivid Razer Chroma RGB to cutting-edge customisability and connectivity, get the performance, flair, and freedom you need with all-rounded gaming mice that are perfected for play.”

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The TV market has been hugely exciting this year with the likes of the Samsung S95C and Sony A95K bringing in the next generation of OLED in QD-OLED which takes brightness and vibrant to a whole new level. LG’s C range was what kicked it off though, and has become the go-to recommendation for any high-end TV over the last half a decade. This year’s LG C3 doesn’t do anything incredibly different to the C2/C1 that came before it, but it does make some smaller improvements to fix common complaints over the last few years.

I’m not going to spend a heap of time talking about the basic features of the LG C3. It really hasn’t changed a whole heap from the C2 and C1 (you can read those reviews HERE and HERE). It’s still a fantastic TV, but it’s definitely being left a little bit behind in the brightness and vibrance space by the likes of the Samsung S95C and Sony A95K (A95L to be released later this year as well). There’s also now a really clear gap between the C3 and G3 which is using WOLED technology to get that extra bit of added brightness and vibrance.

You’re still going to get a perfect contrast for inky blacks, and decent brightness with LG’s EVO brightness booster. It’s going to provide a perfect picture in dark rooms, but if you’re in a bright Australian room, the brightness (or lack of) as well as the glare is going to still be an issue, with other top-end models from other brands doing a better job at glare reduction due to the increased brightness and a glare reducing coating that just both aren’t on offer here. If you’re coming from an LED, you’ll still notice a big step-up with the C3 and won’t be disappointed, and a lot of this won’t be noticed unless you’re comparing side-by-side or have spent a considerable amount of time with the flagship TVs from other brands.

The actual TV design itself hasn’t changed too much. You’ve got an extremely slim top portion of the panel, with the a much thicker portion below it. Again, compared to the G3 and S95C, it’s no longer the most high-end experience, but if you’re just happy to put the TV on a stand, and not looking to wall mount, it doesn’t make the biggest of differences, and it’s still a nice looking TV with fairly thin bezels and a really understated design that will go well on any entertainment unit.

LG C3 OLED CURRENTLY ON SALE AT THE GOOD GUYS: 55″ – $2,795 / 65″ – $3,695

One of my complaints with LG OLEDs in the past was the fact that if you’re using a soundbar, you couldn’t fit it below the TV, and LG has remedied this in a really clever way. If you buy the matching SC9S soundbar, it comes with a bracket that essentially allows you to do away with the C3 stand that’s included in the box, instead attaching both the TV and the soundbar to a singular bracket that not only ensures that the TV has enough clearance over the soundbar, but it’s a much cleaner setup having just one bracket tying both together at the back. It’s a little bit cumbersome to attach at first, but it’s a really nice finish. It also works for wall-mounting if you’re choosing to do that. If you’re trying to pair it with other, thicker soundbars, the TV stand in the box will still have the TV sitting quite low.

The actual soundbar itself is a really nice addition as well. The sound that comes out of the C3 is serviceable, but it’s a huge improvement when you add the soundbar and added sub. It’s got three upfiring channels which is perfect for Dolby Atmos content and you also get an extra HDMI 2.1 port (in lieu of the one you take up in your TV).

Not to be outdone by Samsung and Sony’s TV/soundbar sync, LG has introduced WOW Orchestra which basically utilises both the speakers of the C3 and SC9S soundbar in unison to increase the soundstage. The implementation feels on-par to that of other brands and sounds great for some content and not so good for others, so just turn it on and off as you see fit, but overall, the soundbar gets a tick of approval from me in terms of design and how well it integrates with the TV as well as the improved sound.

My only criticism is that I’d like to have seen rears included as well at $1,499 to be on-par with the Q990C as you’re definitely going to want rears if you take your audio seriously. I would definitely recommend pairing this soundbar with the TV though, just due to how well it integrates both in a design sense, but also how seamless the whole experience is from a UI point of view.

Other changes to the C3 include a quick cards system which basically groups categories such as home, sport, gaming etc into cards that you can use to access content and also HDMI Quick Switching which will basically cut out the weird black screen between going from an input such as the PS5 to your Apple TV.

Outside of that, it’s pretty much the same WebOS experience, with the magic remote not changing a whole lot either. It’s still really easy to use and pretty easy to make your way around content, and whether you’re using the Wii-like pointer, or just standard buttons, it’s hard to go wrong.

All-in-all, the LG C3 is going to be the TV that most people go for, just because it improves on a TV that has been a really easy recommendation to any movie lover or gamer over the last 3-4 years. Looking at current pricing though, the Samsung S95C is already on sale at $3,140 which is $500 cheaper than a C3, so for me with the S95C being significantly brighter, having a much better design with the One Connect box and the ability to reach 144hz, that would be an easy recommendation for me. Similarly, the LG CS can be had for well under $2,000 and for the everyday person, you’re not going to see a huge difference between these two TVs, so it does make the C3 a harder sell.

The post LG C3 OLED TV + SC9S Soundbar Review – A Perfect Match appeared first on Press Start.

A brand-new Switch controller grip accessory has been revealed that looks absolutely phenomenal as an alternative handheld grip for Nintendo’s traditional or OLED Model Switch consoles.

Developed by CRKD and set to release on September 18th this year, the Nitro Deck promises unparalleled comfort and speed when playing handheld, and with a direct USB-C interface, Hall-Effect thumbsticks for zero drift, swappable stick tops and remappable back buttons it’s certainly easy to believe. It’s obviously hard to say without holding one but they definitely look like an incredibly comfortable way to hold the Switch. The unit can even be used as a wired controller when the Switch is being used in a dock.

There are a couple of caveats here with the CRKD Nitro Deck only being available to pre-order in the US and Canada at this stage and also featuring some weird, Web3 digital ownership/collection type garbage, but it’d be great to see them made available globally anyways. My favourite thing about them is the selection of different colourways including some retro-flavoured schemes and even a couple of Limited Run branded designs featuring translucent coloured shells.

Check out a short video showcasing these gorgeous grips:

You can find out more on the official CRKD website here.

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It’s been the subject of a number of rumours and early leaks, but now it’s official – the Meta Quest 3 is coming in Spring this year.

Meta has lifted the lid on the headset just hours ahead of the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, where it’ll presumably be showing off a future line-up of software supporting both the existing Quest headsets and the new hardware.

The Meta Quest 3 will feature a first-of-its-kind Snapdragon processor developed in conjunction with Qualcomm that will reportedly boast double the performance of the Snapdragon chip in the Quest 2, powering a higher-resolution display with pancake optics.

Another major improvement over the Quest 2 will be full-colour video passthrough and machine learning to enable more richer real-world experiences, with Meta giving the examples of playing Demeo on a kitchen table or using Painting VR to virtually decorate a room.

On the design side, it’s a much more sleek headset with 40% slimmer optics, and the Quest 3’s Touch Plus controllers are doing away with the outer tracking rings as well as adding the TruTouch haptic technology from the Touch Pro controllers.

The Meta Quest 3 is set to start at $829.99 for the 128GB model when it launches, with the Quest 2 getting a price drop starting June 4, as well as a future update to the Quest 2 and Pro bringing an up-to 26% CPU performance increase and an up-to 19% GPU speed increase for Quest 2 and 11% for Quest Pro.

You can sign up to learn more about the Meta Quest 3 as it comes here.

Redesigned from the inside out, Meta Quest 3 is the wireless headset that can do it all. Enjoy more than twice the GPU processing power compared to Quest 2 thanks to the next-gen Snapdragon chip.

Graphics will be smoother and faster on our highest resolution displays. Dazzling visuals and rich audio mean VR will be more immersive than ever. And with the introduction of Meta Reality, you’ll have the power to blend virtual elements into your physical space, letting you explore like never before.

A 40% slimmer optic profile lets you play in ultimate comfort. Navigate more naturally with new, lightweight Touch Plus controllers that fit seamlessly in your hands, and TruTouch haptics that unlock experiences you can feel. Dive into any of the incredible 500+ titles and immerse yourself in the adventures that await.

The post The Meta Quest 3 Has Been Officially Revealed With A Sleek New Look And Colour Passthrough appeared first on Press Start.

As someone who uses a set of the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless on the regular for video calls and the like, they’ve quickly become a favourite of mine – and that’s coming from someone who rarely gels with in-ear buds.

Still, even the just-announced Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed might give me pause at a whole $369.95 AUD.

For that money, you’re getting a pretty impressive set of buds though, updating the Hammerhead form factor with a massive feature set including a cross-platform HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle delivery 2.4GHz connectivity across a number of devices with a latency of less than 40ms, as well as Bluetooth 5.3, adjustable hybrid active noise cancellation, THX Certified audio and of course – Razer Chroma RGB.

The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds will have up to a 6.5 hour battery life and an additional 24 hours from the charging case, dependant on the RGB/noise cancelling/connection features being used.

These will be coming to Australia “soon” but you can already order now for early June delivery from the Razer website.

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Logitech has today revealed the Logitech G Pro X 2 lightspeed wireless gaming headset which is available starting today for $499.95 AUD.

The headset has been designed and tested by top esports athletes and features new PRO-G graphene drivers. These have been engineered with a 50 mm graphene diaphragm featuring live edge suspension to deliver improvements in sound reproduction accuracy, time to signal accuracy and distortion reduction whilst still remaining lightweight.

These can be used with the Lightspeed wireless dongle, Bluetooth connectivity and a wired connection over 3.5mm aux. Logitech has said that they have a battery life of up to 50 hours, which is pretty damn impressive.

Logitech G Pro X 2 lightspeed wireless gaming headset FEATURES

• Robust Connections – Prepare for any situation with improved LIGHTSPEED wireless, Bluetooth, and wired connections (3.5mm Aux). LIGHTSPEED now delivers PRO-grade wireless with up to 50 hours of use on a single charge and a consistently robust wireless connection range of up to 30m.

• Award-Winning PRO Design – Designed for, and in collaboration with, pro gamers, PRO X 2 features a durable yet lightweight aluminium and steel frame, and supreme comfort with a rotating, durable hinge and swappable earpads in leatherette and velour.

• Communicate With Confidence -6mm cardioid microphone on a detachable boom arm, with advanced Blue VO!CE software filters through G HUB, for clear and consistent communications.

• DTS Headphone: X 2.0 Surround Sound – Precision surround sound helps you know exactly where your opponents are before they find you, with deeply immersive soundscape experiences.

The post The Logitech G PRO X 2 Wireless Is Logitech’s New Premium Esports Headset appeared first on Press Start.

Sony and Backbone have announced that the Backbone One PlayStation Edition, the officially-licensed mobile PlayStation controller, is getting an Android version and it’s releasing in Australian stores on in July.

The Backbone One – PlayStation Edition Mobile Gaming Controller for Android (a mouthful) sports the same essential design as its predecessor with aesthetics based on the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller including its button layout and icons. It’s the only mobile controller officially recognised by the PlayStation Remote Play app as an actual DualSense controller, so it’s perfect for playing PS4 and PS5 games remotely.

The Android edition of this controller is coming to local retailers on July 6th and it’s available to pre-order now for $179 from the below:

• Amazon
• EB Games
• JB Hi-Fi
• Gamesmen

Every pre-order of the Backbone One PlayStation Edition for Android from selected local retailers will also receive a gift of the 3rd Earth Protection Case for Backbone One, while stocks last.

The Backbone App is also now available now for Android devices. For those who pick up this new Backbone One PlayStation Edition for Android, the app is even fully customised to include the iconic PlayStation button icons in menus. The app also features a dedicated content row that is updated regularly with all the new game releases, news and updates from PlayStation, and will intelligently gather all your other non-PlayStation Android gaming content into one place, including mobile-native games like Genshin Impact and Diablo Immortal and services like SteamLink and NVIDIA GeForce NOW.

Backbone One transforms your phone into the ultimate game console. Snap in your phone and play any game or service that supports controllers. Inspired by the look and feel of the PS DualSense wireless controller, the Backbone One gives users tactile controls to enhance their gaming experience on Android. Pair with the PS Remote Play App and you can play your PlayStation® games anywhere with ease. Simply plug your phone into the Backbone One and start playing.

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SteelSeries has revealed one hell of a collection of Diablo IV-themed gear, featuring some of its best gear adorned with devilish details and a couple of stunning extras to boot.

While we don’t have Australian pricing for any of it just yet, we can confirm that the collection is headed to our shores in the coming weeks, so Aussie Diablo fans can look the part and get the best performance from their gear while sinking 100s of hours into the game.

Here’s what’s coming:

Arctis Nova 7 Wireless | Diablo IV Edition

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, which sports the excellent Nova Acoustic System, simultaneous dual-wireless, a massive 38-hour battery life and AI-powered noise cancelling mic, has been given a demonic makeover that includes devil-red embellishments and even a scaly headband.

As part of the collab, SteelSeries has also tapped Diablo IV’s sound engineers to create an official preset for its powerful and incredibly customisable Sonar Audio software suite, so you can heard the game exactly how its own sound team want you to with the themed Nova 7 Wireless headset.

Aerox 5 Wireless | Diablo IV Edition

The Aerox 5 Wireless also gets the black-and-red Diablo IV treatment, going as far as altering its normal lightweight honeycomb design to be a lot more twisted and demonic-looking.

QcK Heavy XXL | Diablo IV Edition

And of course, it wouldn’t be a SteelSeries collab without an oversized mousepad adorned with gorgeous artwork, which is what we’ve got here with the QcK Heavy XXL sporting a very gothic Diablo IV piece to match the rest of your very sombre and spooky setup.

And while there’s no keyboard in this collection, SteelSeries is also releasing a very limited supply of 2,160 gorgeous artisan keycaps inspired by Diablo IV’s hell gate, available through the SteelSeries website. And for the controller crowd, there are some sick KontrolFreeks performances thumbsticks to boot.

Learn more about all of this hot gear right here.

The post SteelSeries Is Launching A Devilishly Good Diablo IV Collaboration And It’s Coming To Australia appeared first on Press Start.

Razer has announced a refreshed version of its popular Nommo PC gaming speakers, with the Nommo V2, Nommo V2 X and Nommo Pro.

The flagship model, the Razer Nommo V2 Pro, boasts two speakers with 3″ full-range drivers, and is reportedly the world’s first PC gaming speaker system to feature a wireless, down-firing subwoofer. Each speaker features aluminium phase plugs for crystal-clear acoustics and also packs in rear-projection Razer Chroma RGB lighting to complete the look for those with a full suite of Razer gear.

“Today we’re redefining what gamers should expect from their desktop audio equipment,” Head of Razer’s PC Gaming Division, Barrie Ooi, said in an accompanying press release. “The Nommo V2 line isn’t just about listening—it’s about fully experiencing and immersing oneself in the game. Whether you’re tracking enemy footsteps in a first-person shooter or lost in the soundtrack of the latest RPG, these are the best PC gaming speakers to provide an incredibly engaging audio-visual experience.”

The entry-level Razer Nommo V2 X is a more simple, 2.0 speaker system with rear-facing bass ports at a more affordable price, while the Nommo V2 sports the same speakers with rear-projecting RGB as the Pro model albeit with a wired sub.

Also introduced is the Razer Wireless Control Pod, an optional accessory for the Nommo V2 and Nommo V2 X, and included with the Nommo Pro. The Wireless Control Pod is a rotatable, clickable dial and source button for easy navigation and intuitive control, allowing users to quickly control settings such as volume, play/pause, EQ and more. It connects to PC via Bluetooth, and Razer says the battery life lasts up to 8 months.

The new range will retail at the following prices, with the speakers coming to local retail “soon” and the Wireless Control Pod expected in August 2023.

Razer Nommo V2 Pro – $699.95 AUD

Razer Nommo V2 – $439.95 AUD

Razer Nommo V2X  – $269.95 AUD

Razer Wireless Control Pod – $89.95 AUD

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ASUS has revealed the local, Australian price and release date for the ROG Ally and it’s actually a fair comparison to the incredibly-competitive US price announced last week.

The 512GB/Z1 Extreme version of the ASUS Rog Ally is releasing in Australia alongside other regions on June 13th for $1299 AUD, which is roughly a $250 markup in comparison to the US price. Factoring in import costs and tax it’s not all that bad of an outcome. It’s available to pre-order now, exclusively through JB Hi-Fi. You can grab it from the link below:

• ASUS ROG Ally 512GB/Z1 Extreme Model – $1299 at JB Hi-Fi.

The 256GB Z1 base model will launch locally in the second half of 2023 for a yet-to-be-determined price, though we’d expect it to be closer to $1000 AUD.

Given the Steam Deck is still not officially available through local channels in Australia, the ROG Ally is in a pretty unique position to appeal to Aussies who want a powerful, portable gaming handheld and don’t want to go the grey import route or pay around $2k for a competing AYANEO 2.

Just like AYANEO devices, the ASUS ROG Ally will run Windows 11 out of the box which means you’ll be able to run games from the likes of Steam, Epic, Xbox Game Pass, EA Play, Ubisoft Connect and more, with three months of Xbox Game Pass included in the box.

As far as specs go, the display is a 7″ 1080p 120HZ touch display, so on specs alone, it’s better than anything we’ve seen in a handheld of this calibre. It also has a custom AMD Ryzen Z1 Zen 4 RDNA 3 GPU meaning it should offer a hefty performance boost on both the AYANEO 2 and Steam Deck which use RDNA 2 architecture. It’ll have a 512GB SSD for storage and quick booting of games. ASUS also called out the weight of the device at 608G which is a decent 50 grams lighter than both the Steam Deck and AYANEO 2.

Other inputs include a finger print detection power button and mappable back triggers. As far as the OS goes, it’ll run Windows 11 but ASUS has created a special version of its software called Armoury Crate SE that will provide a launcher for your games, as well as the ability to easily customise your console.

The post The ASUS ROG Ally’s Australian Price, Release Date And Pre-Order Availability Have Been Announced appeared first on Press Start.

Following on from last week’s reveal of the ASUS Rog Ally, several leakers have now revealed the price of the product ahead of its launch on May 11th. It was revealed at the event that the price would cost less than $1,000 USD, but it seems that both the high-end version and low-end version will come in at well below this price.

Absolutely shockingly, the AMD Z1 Extreme (the more powerful version almost on par with the PS5) will be priced at $699.99 USD ($1,057 AUD) which is a similar price to the top model Steam Deck, but this blows it out of the park both on a performance level but also with its 1080p/120Hz display. It’s also well below the $1,099 USD of the AYANEO 2 (although this is more competitive spec-wise).

https://twitter.com/_snoopytech_/status/1651354672081272834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1651354672081272834%7Ctwgr%5Ecaa889d685479b72780b9341f48f81e308aae47f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F23700094%2Fasus-rog-ally-price-amd-z1-extreme

ASUS has also confirmed that it will be dropping a Z1 version, which is still to be more powerful than the Steam Deck, and this will be even cheaper than the Z1 Extreme version, so we’d expect to see hundreds of dollars shaved of this again.

Just as a reminder, the ASUS Rog Ally will have a 512GB SSD for storage and quick booting of games. ASUS also called out the weight of the device at 608G which is a decent 50 grams lighter than both the Steam Deck and AYANEO 2.

Other inputs include a finger print detection power button and mappable back triggers. As far as the OS goes, it’ll run Windows 11 but ASUS has created a special version of its software called Armoury Crate SE that will provide a launcher for your games, as well as the ability to easily customise your console.

All will be revealed in just a couple of weeks on May 12th. It’s an exciting time for the handheld space.

The post The ASUS ROG Ally’s Price Has Leaked And It’s Surprisingly Competitive appeared first on Press Start.

ASUS had today lifted the lit off the ROG Ally, its new handheld Windows 11 gaming device that pushes things beyond anything we’ve seen from the likes of the Steam Deck and AYANEO devices.

Whilst ASUS didn’t reveal the price or release date, they did say it’d be under $1,000 USD (~$1,491 AUD) and with the launch event set to take place on May 11th, it seems like the launch is coming in the very near future.

Just like AYANEO devices, the ASUS ROG Ally will run Windows 11 out of the box which means you’ll be able to run games from the likes of Steam, Epic, Xbox Game Pass, EA Play, Ubisoft Connect and more, with three months of Xbox Game Pass included in the box.

As far as specs go, the display is a 7″ 1080p 120HZ touch display, so on specs alone, it’s better than anything we’ve seen in a handheld of this calibre. It also has a custom AMD Ryzen Z1 Zen 4 RDNA 3 GPU meaning it should offer a hefty performance boost on both the AYANEO 2 and Steam Deck which use RDNA 2 architecture. It’ll have a 512GB SSD for storage and quick booting of games. ASUS also called out the weight of the device at 608G which is a decent 50 grams lighter than both the Steam Deck and AYANEO 2.

Other inputs include a finger print detection power button and mappable back triggers. As far as the OS goes, it’ll run Windows 11 but ASUS has created a special version of its software called Armoury Crate SE that will provide a launcher for your games, as well as the ability to easily customise your console.

ASUS also revealed a heap of accessories for the device depending on how you’re using it. If you’re using it as a portable, there’s a case and noise cancelling headphones, if you’re playing at home with friends, there’s a charging dock with HDMI output as well as controllers that you can purchase separately to connect.

If you’r wanting to really up your game, you’re able to buy the ROG XG Mobile to connect a laptop GPU (up to a 4070) as well as keep your device charged, with a bunch of extra ports for USB, SD Card and HDMI 2.1 support to turn this into a fully fledged PC.

We’ll keep you posted when we have more concrete launch details, but the handheld PC gaming space is moving at lightning pace, and this is definitely one to watch.

The post The ASUS ROG Ally Has Been Officially Revealed And It’s An Absolute Beast appeared first on Press Start.

HyperX has dropped a range of new gaming gear, and it’s just hit Aussie shores for anyone keen to pick up a new gaming mouse, Xbox/PC controller or even a HyperX-branded charging solution for your Nintendo Switch controllers.

The big new addition to the HyperX range is the Pulsefire Haste 2 gaming mouse, a sequel to one of the brand’s most popular devices. The new Pulsefire Haste comes in at a ridiculously-small 53 grams making it a device aimed squarely at those who want big, fast movements. The same goes for its 8000Hz polling rate for minimal input lag, plus grip tape and paracord cable to ensure you’re not coming up against any resistance in your frantic, competitive play.

There’s also a wireless version of the Pulsefire Haste 2 that can be connected via a 2.4GHz wireless adapter or Bluetooth, and only sees a weight increase to 61 grams with a 100-hour battery life. Both versions can be customised in HyperX’s NGENUITY software suite to allow for custom sensitivity settings, button mapping and tweaks to RGB lighting.

In addition, there’s a new wired Xbox/PC controller in town with the HyperX Clutch Gladiate controller. It’s a budget-friendly controller alternative that also includes some unique features like mappable rear buttons and two-position trigger locks.

Finally, HyperX has introduced a new Nintendo Switch Joy-Con charging solution with the ChargePlay Quad 2, which can juice up four Joy-Con controllers at once in less than four hours via a direct USB-C connection to the Nintendo Switch Dock. It also looks like a legally-distinct Pokeball with its domed shape and definitely just HyperX colours.

You can pick up any of these new products right now from the below:

• HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Gaming Mouse (Black) – $99
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Gaming Mouse (White) – $99
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless Gaming Mouse (Black) – $149
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless Gaming Mouse (White) – $149
• HyperX Clutch Gladiate Controller – $69
• HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 Joy-Con Charging Station – $59

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The NVIDIA RTX 4070 was announced on Wednesday with a suggested RRP of $1,109 for the Founder’s Edition (which isn’t making its way to Australia).

WHERE TO BUY THE NVIDIA RTX 4070 IN AUSTRALIA

Retailer Mwave has popped up its RTX 4070 stock overnight, and surprisingly, there’s partner models for under $1,000 which makes it a much better value proposition.

You can find the whole range HERE, but here are the highlights below:

• PNY GeForce RTX 4070 VERTO Dual Fan 12GB Video Card – $999 AUD
• PNY GeForce RTX 4070 XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB 12GB Video Card – $1,049
• ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 Dual OC 12GB Video Card – $1,099
• MSI GeForce RTX 4070 VENTUS 2X OC 12GB Video Card – $1,079
• MSI GeForce RTX 4070 VENTUS 3X 12GB Video Card – $1,099
• Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12GB Video Card – $1,089
• Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 AERO OC 12GB Video Card – $1,159

@shannongrixti

The NVIDIA RTX 4070 has been revealed. It costs $1,109 AUD and releases on April 13th #nvidia #nvidiageforce #rtx4070 #nvidiartx4070 #PC #PCgaming #tech #nvidiartx

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

NVIDIA RTX 4070 PERFORMANCE

As far as performance goes, it’s very clear that this is a 1440p card first and foremost, blowing past 100FPS in games such as Cyberpunk 2077 (with RT ultra), A Plague Tale Requiem, Dying Light 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Spider-Man Miles Morales, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Warhammer 40K: Darktide.

NVIDIA says that it has 1.4x times the performance of a 3080 when utilising DLSS 3.0 (1x performance with standard DLSS), 1.7x the performance of a 3070 Ti whilst utilising DLSS 3.0 (1.2x performance with standard DLSS) and 1.8x performance of a 3070 (1.3x performance with standard DLSS).

This is fairly impressive given that just like the RTX 4080, it’s using a lot less power than its predecessor, but performing better than the 3070/3080 that came before it. Thankfully, the card is a dual-slot card, which makes it a lot smaller than it’s bigger brothers, the 4080 and 4090.

The post The NVIDIA RTX 4070 Is Now On Sale In Australia And Prices Are Cheaper Than Expected appeared first on Press Start.

NVIDIA has today announced its long-awaited RTX 4070 GPU, which is without doubt the cheapest way to get the DLSS 3.0 goodness into your life, particularly in the 1440p space.

@shannongrixti

The NVIDIA RTX 4070 has been revealed. It costs $1,109 AUD and releases on April 13th #nvidia #nvidiageforce #rtx4070 #nvidiartx4070 #PC #PCgaming #tech #nvidiartx

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

NVIDIA RTX 4070 AUSTRALIAN PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The RTX 4070 will cost $1,109 AUD in Australia (it has an RRP of $599 USD) and it’s assumed that partner cards will likely cost more than this.

The RTX 4070 is set to release on April 13th, so not too long to wait at all. It’s unlikely that the Founder’s Edition will be available in Australia but partner cards from the likes of MSI and Gigabyte will be available.

NVIDIA RTX 4070 PERFORMANCE

As far as performance goes, it’s very clear that this is a 1440p card first and foremost, blowing past 100FPS in games such as Cyberpunk 2077 (with RT ultra), A Plague Tale Requiem, Dying Light 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Spider-Man Miles Morales, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Warhammer 40K: Darktide.

NVIDIA says that it has 1.4x times the performance of a 3080 when utilising DLSS 3.0 (1x performance with standard DLSS), 1.7x the performance of a 3070 Ti whilst utilising DLSS 3.0 (1.2x performance with standard DLSS) and 1.8x performance of a 3070 (1.3x performance with standard DLSS).

This is fairly impressive given that just like the RTX 4080, it’s using a lot less power than its predecessor, but performing better than the 3070/3080 that came before it. Thankfully, the card is a dual-slot card, which makes it a lot smaller than it’s bigger brothers, the 4080 and 4090.

The full stats can be found below:

• CUDA Cores: 5888
• Base Clock: 1920 Mhz
• Boost Clock: 2475 Mhz
• Memory: 12GB
• Memory Interface: 192-bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
• Total Power: 200w

As far as NVIDIA’s current GPU line-up, they consider the line-up to be:

• RTX 4090
• RTX 4080
• RTX 4070 Ti
• RTX 4070
• RTX 3060 Ti
• RTX 3060
• RTX 3050

The post The NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU Has Been Announced And Here’s The Australian Price And Release Date appeared first on Press Start.

The folks at Seagate love a good themed hard drive, but this latest one is one of their most inventive and extra yet.

Taking aim squarely at Star Wars fans, Seagate has brought out a new version of its FireCuda 530 Gen4 NVMe SSD that features a glowing lightsaber design. The beauty of this one is that the faceplates can be interchanged, with the SSD coming with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi designs – complete with customisable RGB lighting.

The interchangeable faceplates also act as a passive heatsink and their unique loading mechanism and design were engineered with the world-leading designers at EKWB, with the SSD offering up to 7,300 MB/s sequential read speeds and coming in 1TB or 2TB capacities. The 1TB is priced at an RRP of $299 while the 2TB is set at $449.

You can get the 2TB model on Amazon now for $417 with free international shipping.

• FEEL THE FORCE Features three iconic lightsabers — Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Luke Skywalker.
• INTERCHANGEABLE DESIGN A one-of-kind design lets you swap out which faceplate fits your collection at any moment.
• A POWERFUL GLOW Customisable RGB LED lighting brings a galaxy of atmosphere to your drive.
• FULFIL YOUR DESTINY Accumulate an array of media, files, and games with up to 2 TB of formidable capacity.
• WARRANTY Enjoy peace of mind with our industry leading 5-year warranty and 3-year Rescue Data Recovery Services.

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ASUS has announced its own foray into the world of handheld gaming PCs with the ASUS ROG Ally, the culmination of the company’s years of experience in portable PC gaming performance.

It’s a clear competitor to Valve’s Steam Deck, and like that device it’ll give players a viable way to play their PC games on the go on a portable, handheld device. The ROG Ally will use Windows 11 and ASUS’ Armoury Crate software to manage game libraries from multiple platforms, as well as offer high-spec performance and features at a “competitive price.”

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ASUS has worked with AMD on the ROG Ally to produce what it claims is “the fastest AMD APU yet” for a proper AAA gaming experience in a handheld device, combined with a 7-inch, 1080p 120Hz display and quiet, dual fan design. It’ll also be compatible with the ROG XG Mobile eGPU to add extra performance with an external graphics card and allow play on a TV/monitor while charging the ROG Ally device.

Of course, the big question will be availability and price point. So far, ASUS has only flagged US/Canada retailer Best Buy to carry the device at release, but if it can get the ROG Ally into Australian Stores it’ll have at least one big advantage over the Steam Deck locally.

Take a look at the (strangely 80s-flavoured) promotional video for the ASUS ROG Ally below:

“At ASUS ROG, we’re always pushing the boundaries of gaming, constantly striving for better performance in smaller devices. From convertible laptops, tablets, to controllers and even smart lenses, nothing has ever stopped us from going further and harder.

Now we’re combining all our know-how into one single device: Introducing the ASUS ROG ALLY, ROG’s first handheld console! You’ll never have to stop gaming again!”

The post ASUS’ ROG Ally Handheld Is Coming For The Steam Deck’s Crown appeared first on Press Start.

Update: LG’s New UltraGear OLED GR95QE gaming monitors are now available for Aussies to pre-order between now and March 31st.

You can find them both below:

LG UltraGear OLED GR95QE Gaming Monitor Pre-Order

• 45” UltraGear Curved OLED 240Hz Gaming Monitor – $2,999
• 27” UltraGear OLED 240Hz Gaming Monitor – $1,799

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LG has announced that its new line-up of UltraGear OLED gaming monitors will be headed to our shores imminently, with pre-orders opening on March 22nd.

The two models are a 27-inch and 45-inch version of the “GR95QE” monitor, with the 45″ version being LG’s first-ever curved OLED gaming display.

The monitor/s feature a 240Hz refresh rate with VRR, HDR10, anti-glare OLED panels, two HDMI 2.1 ports, an adjustable base and UltraGear Remote Control. The 45″ model will sport an 800R curvature.

The specs for the new monitor/s are below:

• Display Type: OLED
• Screen Size: 27″ / 45″
• Resolution: QHD (2560×1440) / WQHD (3440×1440)
• Colour Gamut: DCI-P3 98.5%
• Contrast Ration: 1,500,000:1
• Refresh Rate: 240Hz
• Response Time: 0.03ms GTG
• Curvature: NA / 800R
• HDR: HDR10
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 x2, DP 1.4 x1, USB 3.0 upstream x1, USB 3.0 downstream x2, headphone out

Both monitors will be available for pre-order on March 22nd and are set to land in stores in early April at “leading retailers” as well as on the LG Australia web store. LG is also offering Aussie customers an exclusive pre-order offer, the nature of which it hasn’t fully revealed yet but curious punters will need to register here ahead of time before March 19th to receive the offer.

The post LG’s New UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitors Are Available To Pre-Order Now appeared first on Press Start.

LEGO has announced two new LEGO Mario sets that will release in the middle of this year.

Firstly, the company announced that Donkey Kong will be getting his own starter kit following in the footsteps of Mario, Peach, and Luigi. Mario will be able to ride him, which is pretty damn hilarious.

A brand new expansion set will be coming on August 1st featuring Dry Bowser. It’s a 1,321 piece set that will cost $169.99 AUD and can be pre-ordered now.

As far as characters that will be included in this set, you’ll get: Dry Bowser, a Magmaargh, a Bone Piranha Plant, a Bone Goomba and a Purple Toad.

We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about the release date for the LEGO Donkey Kong set.

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As announced last week, the Meta Quest 2 has just received a price drop.

Specifically, the 256GB model has come down $70 from an RRP of $789.99 to a new price of $719.99.

While not the most enormous reduction, it brings the cost of the headset just a little bit closer to its original RRP of $639.99, before Meta raised the prices on both the 128GB and 256GB Quest 2 devices. Currently, the 128GB remains at its RRP of $629.99

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Amazon has the headset at its new price, along with similar reductions on the bundled packages. Right now, all new purchases also come with two bonus games/apps in the forms of Space Pirate Trainer DX and GOLF+. You can grab them right here:

Buy The Meta Quest 2 256GB At A New Low Price

Includes bonus Space Pirate Trainer DX and GOLF+

• Meta Quest 2 256GB – $719.99
• Meta Quest 2-256GB + Carrying Case – $809.98
• Meta Quest 2-256GB + 5M Cable – $849.98
• Meta Quest 2-256GB + Carrying Case + 5M Cable – $939.97

• Experience total immersion with 3D positional audio, hand tracking and haptic feedback, working together to make virtual worlds feel real.
• Travel universes in blockbuster fantasies, scare yourself witless in horror adventures or collaborate with colleagues in innovative workspaces.
• Come together in incredible social spaces and multiplayer arenas as you take in live events with friends and family, find your new workout crew or join quests with fellow adventurers.
• Be truly free to roam in VR With a wireless headset, intuitive controls, a built-in battery, easy setup and no PC or console needed

The post The Meta Quest 2 Has Had A Price Drop appeared first on Press Start.

AYANEO has just revealed that its third handheld to hit Australia, the AYANEO 2 is up for pre-order in Australia with a release date of February 16th, which isn’t too far after its release to the rest of the world at all.

This is the one that the portable PC gaming world has been anticipating for a while and whilst we’ve only just got our review unit (impressions soon) early reviews and on paper, this is the one that is finally more powerful than the Steam Deck with its RDNA2 Zen 3 graphics. It has a 1080p display and is able to push to a 32W TDP (Steam Deck limited to 15W), which allows much better frame rates pushing to those higher performance modes.

AYANEO 2 AUSTRALIAN PRE-ORDER LINKS

• Amazon
• Big W
• JB Hi-Fi
• The Gamesmen
• EB Games

The AYANEO 2 model that is hitting Australia has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD and comes in black. Whilst there’s still no sign of an official Steam Deck release in Australia, we do have a bit to compare to price-wise, given that it has dropped at retailers such as Amazon, Kogan and Catch who have imported the international version of the Steam Deck.

The AYANEO 2 is priced at $2,099 AUD, so roughly twice the cost of the 64GB version of the Steam Deck, but given it’s 64GB of storage versus 1TB, and the AYANEO 2 having a larger battery and more powerful internals, as well as access to all of the PC storefronts VIA Windows 11, it really depends on what you’re after. The 2 is obviously a lot better priced than the NEXT was when it dropped here several months ago at an almost similar price point.

We’ll let you know when we’ve had time to properly road test the AYANEO 2 but as far as build quality and how games run on this Windows 11 device, you can read our AYANEO Next and AYANEO Air Pro reviews HERE.

The post The Powerful AYANEO 2 Handheld PC Is Now Up For Pre-Order In Australia appeared first on Press Start.

It’s 2023 and there’s still absolutely no sign of Valve dropping the Steam Deck in Australia either on its own, or through a retailer such as EB Games like it has in the past with the Valve Index, but as noted by Always-On, that hasn’t stopped retailers such as Catch, Kogan, Dick Smith and Amazon’s marketplaces importing units and selling them in Australia.

Now, if you’re wanting to buy a Steam Deck officially through Valve’s US store, you can do that and get it shipped here, but the prices on the Australian retailers that we’ve mentioned are quite comparable to the point that I’m not sure if it’d be worth it anymore.

WHERE TO BUY A STEAM DECK IN AUSTRALIA

In terms of warranty etc, you’ll need to look with each specific retailer what their policy is given that these are obviously international units. It’s important to note that these are likely independent marketplace sellers that are selling on these retailers, so look into feedback etc.

AMAZON

• Steam Deck 64GB – $886 with free shipping
• Steam Deck 256GB – $1,179 with free shipping
• Steam Deck 512GB – $1,475 with free shipping

KOGAN

• Steam Deck 64GB – $823 + shipping
• Steam Deck 256GB – $1,008 + shipping
• Steam Deck 512GB – $1,299 + shipping

CATCH

• Steam Deck 64GB $838 + shipping
• Steam Deck 256GB – $1,016 + shipping
• Steam Deck 512GB – $1,269 + shipping

DICKSMITH

• Steam Deck 64GB – 858 + shipping
• Steam Deck 64GB – $691 (sold out)
• Steam Deck 256GB – $867 + shipping
• Steam Deck 512GB – $1,127 + shipping

If you’re buying from Valve’s online store and using a postage forwarder, (you’ll need to use a VPN and a US credit card), you’ll be paying roughly $650 shipped for the 64GB Model, $850 for the 256GB model and roughly $1000 (but beware of the GST surcharge over $1,000 for the 512GB version, so honestly, the ability to just buy it from one of the below Australian retailers and have it ship within a day or two (locally) would be what I’d be doing.

I look forward to hopefully seeing a few more Steam Decks out in the wild in Australia over the coming weeks, and it’ll be interesting to see if we do get an official release soon.

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Despite still holding something of a niche status, virtual reality continues to be an exciting and innovate subsection of gaming and becomes more accessible every day. With the holidays and Black Friday/Boxing Day sales behind us, there are no doubt going to be a lot of gamers out there purchasing or receiving some kind of VR headset for the first time, and for many that’s going to be the excellent Meta Quest 2 (previously Oculus Quest 2).

With that in mind, and with this writer in particular having just started my personal Quest 2 journey, we wanted to shout out a selection of the games we reckon are essential Quest 2 VR purchases. Whether it’s about immersion, unique mechanics or simply the kinds of experiences you can’t get with “flat” gaming, these games are some of the highlights on the Quest 2 that shouldn’t be missed.

Pick up a Meta Quest 2 headset for yourself here.

It’s worth noting as well, the below are all games that work on the “standalone” Meta Quest 2 headset without the need to plug it into an external device like a gaming PC, so while there are definitely some stellar PC VR titles that Quest 2 users can also access (Half-Life: Alyx being a great example), everything here is perfectly playable with just the base, untethered Quest 2 hardware:

Iron Man VR

It really doesn’t matter whether you’re an Iron Man fan or not, Camouflaj’s virtual reality Tony Stark simulator is a prime example of game that could only work in VR. It’s a short, sharp adventure packed with high flying action and some great set-piece moments and it plays like an absolute dream on the Quest 2 with total freedom of movement and intuitive controls.

You can read our review to find out more.

Get Iron Man VR for Quest 2 here.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners/The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinner Chapter II – Retribution

If you’re after a tense, brutal zombie survival experience that’s heightened even further by being completely immersed inside it, then you really don’t need to look much further than The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and it’s direct sequel, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter II – Retribution.

Despite the second game being its own, standalone experience I would heavily recommend jumping into both games for very different experiences. The original puts a big focus on stealth and survival with scarce resources, where Retribution takes a more action-packed turn with more weapons and Walkers to take down. Either way, you’re getting massive games with runtimes in the double digits and production values far and above most other standalone Quest 2 games, plus the fun of smashing, skewering and decapitating zombies never gets old.

Get The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and Chapter II – The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Retribution for Quest 2 here.

Townscaper VR

Townscaper is a delightful game on its own, handing players a freeform toybox in the form of a loose city builder where the only objective is to slowly construct a very aesthetic city and find joy in seeing how the different pieces interact and combine as you click on the world and they’re placed largely at random. In VR, the whole thing becomes inherently more tangible as you use the Quest 2’s controllers to navigate around your tiny, growing city and intuitively plop down more structures. It’s incredibly simple but a fantastic and gorgeous little creative sandbox to wind down with.

Get Townscaper VR for Quest 2 here.

BONELAB

Taking a completely opposing tone to the previous game on this list, BONELAB is a (literal) killer app on the Quest 2. It’s a visceral, immersive collection of different game types where you’ll shoot, parkour and play with ridiculously satisfying physics in various challenges. It’s all quite intense, and doesn’t pull any punches in either content or VR simulation – I’d recommend looking up any relevant trigger warnings and comfort information before you throw money down on this one. With a huge variety of things to do, mod support, custom avatars and a sandbox editor there’s a lot of value in this hyper-violent slice of mayhem.

Get BONELAB for Quest 2 here.

Moss/Moss: Book II

I was blown away by the original Moss when it launched on the PlayStation VR, and now that it’s available on the Quest 2 alongside its even more charming sequel there’s no reason to miss it. Guiding the adorable mouse adventurer, Quill, on a larger-than-life adventure you’ll travel through gorgeous environments, solve clever VR puzzles and enjoy action-packed combat from a third-person perspective where every area presents like a lively diorama.

Moss: Book II picks up directly after the first game, so if you’re yet to play either we’d heavily recommending starting them in order.

Get Moss/Moss: Book II for Quest 2 here.

WHAT THE BAT?

From the team behind the Apple Arcade hit, WHAT THE GOLF? comes an absurd physics-puzzle adventure about trying to live life as a person with baseball bats for hands. Reminiscent of other wacky physics sims like Job Simulator and Octodad, what you’re in for is a series of 100+ levels with unique and ridiculous premises for you to navigate with your bat-hands in hilariously slapstick fashion with some quite devious solutions at times. It’s silly, it’s gaudy and obnoxious, and it absolutely rules.

Get WHAT THE BAT? for Quest 2 here.

Maskmaker

A Fisherman’s Tale was one of my favourite PSVR experiences way back when, so it’s great to see the team at Innerspace VR back with another immersive VR puzzle game in Maskmaker. It’s another wildly inventive concept from the studio as well, tasking players with creating magical masks with which to enter new worlds, solve puzzles, find new components with which to further embellish their masks and return to those worlds with new abilities. The act of mask making itself is super satisfying and feels great to act out in VR, not to mention the clever puzzles and intriguing narrative that move the process along.

Get Maskmaker for Quest 2 here.

Unplugged: Air Guitar

Guitar Hero/Rock Band fans looking for a way to get that classic virtual rock experience should absolutely be paying attention to Unplugged: Air Guitar. The concept here is largely the same, just minus the plastic instruments. Instead, Unplugged is a wholly hand-tracked game with zero controllers involved (hence the Air Guitar subtitle) which, while not 100% accurate all of the time, is genuinely impressive in action. There’s a pretty decent track list for a rather niche music game as well, with the developers having recently added new tracks as well as optional controller support in the free Take Control update, and there’s DLC available if you’re keen to expand even further.

Get Unplugged: Air Guitar for Quest 2 here.

Resident Evil 4

If you’re feeling Resident Evil 4 port fatigue, and we wouldn’t blame you, we’d still urge you to check out the VR version of Capcom’s survival horror classic. Not only does the drastically-changed perspective and extra immersion add to the already-great game, but it feels markedly different enough to be well worth replaying even if you’ve done multiple laps of RE4 in the past. Everything feels vastly more immediate, especially the action, and the item and weapon controls are a ton of fun in VR.

Get Resident Evil 4 for Quest 2 here.

Beat Saber

This one’s a total no-brainer. Beat Saber has long been the go-to app for VR, especially for beginners, and it’s still not old after all these years. The game is definitely best played on the Quest 2 purely because of the untethered freedom where you can slash and dodge to the rhythm with wild abandon and in total comfort.

Pistol Whip

Pistol Whip has been around a while, but it’s a VR game that holds up incredibly well. Part rhythm game, part arcade shooter, it’s a fast-paced blast with a banging electronic soundtrack and pulsating vaporwave visuals that’ll truly test your skill and feels shockingly good in action. There’s been a huge amount of excellent content added since the game first launched as well, and you’ll get it all included when you purchase the game.

Get Pistol Whip for Quest 2 here.

SuperHot VR

Yet another longstanding VR classic, SuperHot VR is an absolute banger. Somewhere between a puzzle game and a Matrix-inspired shooter, time only moves when you move in SuperHot’s abstract, low-poly world. Each level tasks you with bringing down all your enemies without taking a hit, using your ability to stop time by standing completely still to figure out the exact paths and actions you’ll need to take to survive. It’s exhilarating stuff that’ll tickle your brain and test your reflexes and it’s wrapped in a gorgeous minimalist aesthetic and plenty of metanarrative intrigue.

Get SuperHot VR for Quest 2 here.

The Climb 2

Like flying around as Iron Man, the idea of climbing giant structures and scaling cliffs in VR is something that just works. Crytek, of all studios, is responsible for The Climb/The Climb 2 and have taken this relatively meagre concept to great heights (sorry) with some of the most exhilarating VR experiences around. I’ve specifically called out the sequel in this list for its vastly improved visuals and streamlined design, and with no real story or ideas to carry over from one game to the next you’re not missing anything at all by jumping straight into The Climb 2. There’s a huge variety of climbs to experience, with a nice pace between somewhat relaxing climbs to heart-pounding and shockingly stressful moments.

Get The Climb/The Climb 2 for Quest 2 here.

I Expect You To Die 2

I Expect You To Die was a fantastic spy-themed escape room puzzler across the many platforms it released on, and the sequel builds on it wonderfully. Unlike traditional escape rooms, you’ll consistently fall victim to deadly tricks and traps (hence the name) but the fun comes in learning these and finding clever solutions to not only staying alive but making it out of each situation. There’s a great reverence for classic Bond-era spy stories here and a ton of charm and wit, and both this sequel and the original are well worth a look in for their relentlessly inventive puzzles.

Get I Expect You To Die 2 for Quest 2 here.

Little Cities

I really wanted to include a city simulator on this list and spent a lot of time deliberating between Little Cities and the much heftier Cities VR (based on the popular Cities: Skylines but ultimately went with the former for its more friendly approach to the genre. Little Cities definitely errs more towards cosy sandbox than complex and challenging city builder, which makes for a relaxing experience where you can really focus on making the city of your dreams. It’s super aesthetically pleasing and still has enough depth to cause hours to pass without you even realising.

Get Little Cities for Quest 2 here.

Haven’t made the leap into VR yet? You can get the Meta Quest 2 exclusively from Amazon at the below links:

• Meta Quest 2 128GB – $629.99 with free shipping (bonus copy of Beat Saber until Dec 31, 2022)
• Meta Quest 2 256GB – $789.99 with free shipping (bonus copy of Beat Saber until Dec 31, 2022)
• Meta Quest 2 128GB + 5M PC link cable – $759.86 with free shipping (bonus copy of Beat Saber until Dec 31, 2022)
• Meta Quest 2 128GB + Carrying Case + 5M PC link cable – $849.85 with free shipping (bonus copy of Beat Saber until Dec 31, 2022)
• Meta Quest 2 256GB + Carrying Case + 5M PC link cable + Elite Strap + Fitpack – $1179.83 with free shipping (bonus copy of Beat Saber until Dec 31, 2022)

WE LOVE BRINGING YOU THE BEST GAMING AND TECH BARGAINS. WE MAY GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE THROUGH AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS

The post Check Out These 15 Must-Play VR Games If You’ve Just Got A Meta Quest 2 appeared first on Press Start.

TCL has announced its 2023 range for Australia and it includes a variety of TVs including a Mini LED, two QLED tvs and a 4K Ultra HD TV.Whilst more info will be released at a later date, we TVs that we know will be dropping in 2023 include:

TCL’S AUSTRALIAN 2023 TV LINEUP

• C845 (Mini LED)
• C745 (QLED)
• C645 (QLED)
• P745 (4K LED)

TCL promises enhanced picture quality and an elevated gaming experience in its 2023 lineup, but more information will be available in the coming months.

At CES, TCL also announced a 98-inch Mini LED which is said to have more dimming zones than any other TV on the market, although it’s not immediately clear if that’s coming to Australia at this stage.

We’ll keep you posted on TCL’s 2023 TV lineup as the quarter progresses.

In 2022, we reviewed TCL’s C835 Mini LED TV and said: “The TCL C835 is packed with features, meaning you don’t have to skimp on functionality to keep within your budget. The bright, vibrant display, content-friendly optimisations, and slick interface make for a great gaming and entertainment experience. Only a couple of design grievances and the lack of jaw-dropping picture quality offered by newer and significantly more expensive OLED tech hold it back. Considering it’s already dipped below $1,500, the TCL C835 Mini LED 55″ is a strong contender in its category and absolutely worth considering as an alternative to similarly priced Sony and Samsung TVs.”

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Update: The NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti is now available in Australia at most major computer component retailers.

The current slate of cards range from $1479 all the way up to $2000+ with the cheaper models already selling fast.

Take a look at the range at Mwave here.

You might recall a few months ago that NVIDIA launched its new RTX 4080 GPU in two flavours – a 16GB and 12GB variant.

While the former was well-received (read our review here), it didn’t take long for the company to “unlaunch” the latter after the public at large deemed that having the 4080 badging on a second card that was significantly lower in price and performance was confusing.

That card has now returned in the form of the more appropriately-named NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti, announced during the company’s CES 2023 keynote. The 4070 Ti is, for all intents and purposes, exactly the same card as the unlaunched 4080 12GB and releases tomorrow starting at AUD $1479 according to the official website. That’s nearly $200 cheaper than its original price point of $1659.

The RTX 4070 Ti will naturally support the new 40-series features such as DLSS 3.0 and RTX Overdrive, and NVIDIA says it performs better and draws less power than the RTX 3090 Ti.

The full specs for the NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti are as follows:

• CUDA Cores: 7680
• Base Clock: 2.31 GHz
• Boost Clock: 2.61 GHz
• Memory: 12GB
• Memory Interface: 192-bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 557 GB/s
• Total Power: 285W
• Price: From $1479
• Release Date: January 5th

You can watch the full NVIDIA CES 2023 Address below:

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Razer has announced a stacked slate of new products at CES 2023, from stuff we knew about like the Razer Edge handheld to brand-new ideas like Project Carol. There’s a lot to be excited about here, so we’ve broken down each announcement below.

The Razer Edge Gets A Release Date

Razer announced the Edge and Edge 5G a few months ago, entering the dedicated Android cloud gaming handheld race alongside the likes of the Logitech G Cloud.

For its own take, Razer’s Edge handheld is a a 6.8″ tablet that has a 144Hz AMOLED, 2400×1080 display as well as a Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 processor with active cooling and a Kishi V2 Pro controller.

Both the Razer Edge and Edge 5G are set to release in US markets on January 26th, with the Edge retailing at $399.99 USD (approx $600 AUD). Pricing for the Edge 5G and local availability for both models are yet to be revealed.

New Razer Blade 16 And Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptops

Razer has unveiled two new models in its ultra-thin Razer Blade gaming laptop line at CES 2023, with the brand new Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18.

Both machines are a slight shift in size for the Blade range, with each sporting a 16:10 display and the Razer Blade 18 being the company’s largest model yet in terms of screen real estate.

Both the Razer Blade 16 and Blade 18 will carry the newest 13th gen Intel Core chipsets and NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs, with upgradeable DDR5 5600Mhz memory. Razer says these new models also represent breakthroughs in design and thermal regulation.

Both laptops will be launching in Q1 2023 with local pricing and availability to come.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro Is A Head Tracking Soundbar

Partnering with THX and Audioscenic, Razer has created a soundbar that aims to deliver a fantastic surround soundstage in a desktop soundbar that intelligently keeps the user in the sweet spot for the best sound experience. It works by using an integrated IR camera to adjust the beamformed audio in real-time to the users’ position, combining it with THX Spatial Audio for both stereo and multi-channel content to provide full immersive audio.

Like the standard Leviathan V2, the Pro model includes a dedicated subwoofer and Razer Chroma RGB, with 30 lighting zones this time (up from 18).

The Leviathan V2 Pro is set to launch in February 2023 at an RRP of $399.99 USD (approx $600 AUD). We’ll endeavour to update this story once local pricing and availability is revealed. You can learn more here.

Project Carol Is A Gaming Chair Head Cushion With Surround Sound And Haptic Feedback

Aside from being named after somebody’s mum, this concept from Razer’s R&D division is a unique marriage of the gaming brand’s audio prowess and its recent forays into the world of gaming chairs.

The idea is simple enough – a headrest that attaches to existing chairs (designed with Razer’s range in mind, of course) that offers near-field surround sound combined with Razer’s existing HyperSense haptic technology to put players’ heads right in the game.

Of course, it’s little more than a concept for now and not a product you’ll be able to pick up any time soon, but if you’re keen to read more about the project you can do that right here.

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra Has The Largest-Ever Sensor In A Webcam

The new big boi in the Razer Kiyo range, the Kiyo Pro Ultra sports an ultra-large Sony 1/1.2″ STARVIS 2 sensor with a customer F/1.7 aperture lens to capture more detail and more light than other high-end webcams.

The built-in processor can push through uncompressed 4K/24, 1440p/30 or 1080p/60 video directly into streams as well as powering AI Face Tracking auto-focus without the need for added hardware or software. The processor will also automatically adjust lighting and contrast with HDR support and can be tweaked further using the Razer Synapse software.

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is available now in select regions for $299.99 USD (approx $440 USD)

Razer Has New Meta Quest 2 Accessories On The Way

Lastly, Razer has announced two custom accessories for the ever-popular Meta Quest 2 – the Razer Adjustable Head Strap System and the Razer Facial Interface, both of which sound far scarier than they actually are.

The Adjustable Head Strap System aims to provide optimised weight distribution for Meta’s VR headset while providing comfort and reliability during gameplay and an easy slip-on fit.

The Facial Interface uses ultra-thin, textured membranes made of hypoallergenic materials to reduce skin irritation and provide extra facial comfort, while also blocking out light without sacrificing ventilation.

Both of these are aimed to be available in US markets in Q1 2023 with other regions coming later.

The post Every New Razer Product Announced At CES 2023 appeared first on Press Start.

Razer has unveiled two new models in its ultra-thin Razer Blade gaming laptop line at CES 2023, with the brand new Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18.

Both machines are a slight shift in size for the Blade range, with each sporting a 16:10 display and the Razer Blade 18 being the company’s largest model yet in terms of screen real estate.

Both the Razer Blade 16 and Blade 18 will carry the newest 13th gen Intel Core chipsets and NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs, with upgradeable DDR5 5600Mhz memory. Razer says these new models also represent breakthroughs in design and thermal regulation.

Razer Blade 16

The Razer Blade 16 will be available with a 16″ mini-LED HDR display capable of seamlessly switching between a UHD/120HZ “Creator” mode and a FHD/240Hz “Gamer” mode. It’ll retail starting at $2699.99 USD (approx $4000 AUD) when it arrives sometime in Q1 2023.

Razer Blade 18

Meanwhile the Razer Blade 18 is a full-on desktop replacement machine sporting an 18″ QHD+ 240Hz display, 5mp camera, 6-speaker array with THX spatial audio, upgradeable components and more. It’ll retail starting from $2899.99 USD (approx $4250 AUD) when it arrives sometime in Q1 2023.

Check out all of the other Razer announcements from CES 2023 here.

The post Razer Has Announced New 16″ And 18″ Blade Laptops appeared first on Press Start.