2022 Christmas Gadget Buying Guide

Turtle Beach

I’ve long been a fan of Turtle Beach, and while 20 years ago using their £20 headsets wasn’t anything particularly special, these days, they’ve been one of the most consistent and reliable brands I’ve ever tested, and I’ve tested a LOT of headsets. One of the best things about Turtle Beach is their signature sound from the premium 50mm Nanoclear Drivers. It’s a big sound with plenty of power, but they also handle pretty wide EQ adjustments with ease, allowing you to get the sound you desire the most.

The two huge Aerofit cooling-gel ear cushions are some of the largest and thickest I’ve ever seen on a headset, and my god are they comfortable. Especially 6 hours into a night of playing Apex, they distribute the weight of the headset really nicely. Sure, it’s a big headset, but it’s big on sound, big on noise isolation and big on comfort too.

I like the really understated design of it too. There’s no obnoxious RGB, no bright chrome, just a muted black and silver design that is comfortable and durable. However, for what plastic you can see, it’s fully metal-reinforced throughout, ensuring it lasts.

There’s an Xbox and PlayStation version (both work with PC), and Bluetooth is built-in for mobile, and for using their app, which provides profile and EQ options. Overall, it’s a pretty killer headset. Sure, it’s not cheap, but I’ll be hard pushed to find something that sounds this awesome for less.

The built-in microphone is a Flip-up Omni-Directional design, so no chance of you removing it and losing it behind the sofa.

Features

• Aerofit Cooling Gel-Infused Comfort – Re-shaped Aerofit cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions provide premium comfort for hours of gaming
• Xbox Wireless – Enjoy the simplicity and superiority of a direct connection from your headset to your console– no wires, no base station, and no adapter needed
• Game and Stay Connected with Bluetooth – Enjoy the ability to take mobile calls or listen to your own music simultaneously while gaming, ensuring you’ll never miss a moment of action
• Superhuman Hearing Sound Setting – From quiet footsteps sneaking up from behind to enemy weapon reloads, Turtle Beach’s exclusive Superhuman Hearing gives you the ultimate battlefield advantage
• Get the most out of your headset with the latest headset firmware available at Turtle Beach website

For more information, please check the official product page here. Available now for just £129.

A lot of amazing gadgets here, that’s for sure, but I’ve saved one of my favourites for last. The Turtle Beach Atom turns your smartphone into a handheld console not unlike the Nintendo Switch in terms of form factor. Unfortunately, I only had my dead Samsung to take pictures on not the sexy S22 Ultra I’m taking pictures with.

It’s a very premium quality gadget though. The analogue sticks feel superb, the buttons are tight and responsive, like an official Xbox Series X controller level of quality. The shoulder buttons have a light mechanical click to them that feels very premium, and the triggers have a beautiful and smooth action to them that allows for genuinely great control in racing games. What’s more, with the app, you can configure trigger and stick curves and dead zones, making it a more versatile controller for competitive gaming.

The two halves snap together, making it idea for travelling, and also so that both parts charge from a single Type-C cable. Just pull it apart, drop your phone in and two halves connect to each other automatically using 2.4 GHz wireless, while the controller pairs to your phone using Bluetooth. It’s super easy to setup too which I love.

Once installed, you’re ready to rock. I’ve had so much attention playing on this with friends and family asking what system it is. Then again, I was playing Tony Hawks 3 on the PS2 emulator, but honestly, this is such a great device. The only downside is that you can’t use it as a standalone controller, but hey ho.

It comes in some really great colours too!

Features

• Compact & Comfortable – The Atom magnetically fuses together into a convenient, compact shape to fit in your pocket, and console-style controls provide a familiar console experience to mobile.
• Low Latency Bluetooth Connection – The Atom connects to your Android device via Bluetooth connection and is formed from two independent modules that are connected via proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless link.
• Built for Cloud Gaming – Take the console experience on-the-go and play familiar mobile games on the cloud using Xbox Game Pass, GeForce Now, Stadia, Steam Link, and more.
• Built for Cloud Gaming – Take the console experience on-the-go and play familiar mobile games on the cloud using Xbox Game Pass, GeForce Now, Stadia, Steam Link, and more.
• Console Level Controls – Atom is equipped with full-size thumb-sticks, d-pad, bumpers, triggers and ABXY buttons for precise responsive controls on any cloud streaming title.
• Adjustable Phone Clamps – Integrated phone clamps with a depth range of 67-92 mm, and ingenious two-piece controller design, snugly fits any size Android smartphone while in its case.
• Atom Companion App – Download the Atom Controller companion app from the Play Store to configure additional features, discover new games to play, and update firmware.

For more information, please check the official product page here. Available now for just £89.