Hardware & Tech

PowerA OPS V1 Wireless Controller Review

19Dec

By StuartNo Comments

PowerA OPS V1 Wireless Controller Review

PowerA are a peripheral company that has grown in popularity over the years. Best known for their cheap alternatives to the official controllers on the market. With a number of brand collaborations including Super Mario, Pokemon and many many more. However, this review will concentrate on the PowerA OPS V1 Wireless Controller for Cloud Gaming - Fortnite Edition, to give it its full name. Where are we dropping? If you've never checked out the PowerA website I highly recommend that you do. There are so many great controllers on there, especially in the Fortnite range. Be careful though, they will take all of your money. Design The PowerA OPS V1 is an Xbox-style controller, with asymmetric thumbsticks and standard face buttons. It's comfortable and extremely light at less than 300g. On th...

Edifier M60 Compact Desktop Speakers Review

17Dec

By PaulNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Edifier M60 Compact Desktop Speakers Review

A few weeks back, we brought you news of a new set of speakers from the folks at Edifier, the M60s. We're back now to bring you a full review. The Edifier M60 desktop speakers are designed to be compact while delivering a powerful listening experience. Compact and Performant First and foremost, I was very impressed with the simple and environmentally friendly packaging the speakers arrived in. Very little plastic, no polystyrene, and a minimalistic approach, made the unboxing quick and easy. Once they were out of the box and set up, it was time to start putting them through their paces. Design For the purpose of this review I received the classic oak variant of the Edifier M60s. Although full black, and white editions are also available. In terms of size, each single speaker withou...

10Dec

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Mouse Review

We love hardware here at Thumb Culture. We also really enjoy everything that Razer releases. Back at the start of November, we were gifted the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35k. To start, what a name, not something that rolls off the tongue but wow. This mouse represents something great from the Razer team, a combination of technology from some of the best-selling mice available. What does that really mean though? Shall we go and take a look? Razer-ing the Bar! I have only been using this mouse for just under a month now, but it's overtaken the previous mouse that had pride of place on my desk. Why is it such a great mouse though? There is so much to say about this one, so let's dive right in. Design The design follows the traditional shape of the Razer Basilisk range, with a slight lip where ...

27Nov

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

JBL Quantum 910 Wireless Headset Review

The JBL Quantum 910 Wireless is a high-end gaming headset designed for audiophiles and competitive gamers. With cutting-edge technology like JBL's QuantumSPHERE 360 and Hi-Res audio certification, this headset promises a premium listening experience, offering a significant edge in immersive gaming and detailed sound reproduction. Its compatibility with multiple platforms and robust wireless connectivity positions it as a strong contender in the wireless headset market. But how does it perform in real-world scenarios? Let’s dive into its design, features, performance, and overall value. Design The JBL Quantum 910 Wireless headset features a sleek and robust build that balances functionality with a gamer-oriented aesthetic. Lifting the headset from the box, the construction of it feels...

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD Review

14Nov

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD Review

Samsung's 990 EVO Plus is the latest addition to Samsung's highly popular NVMe SSD lineup. Offering a combination of speed, reliability, and efficiency targeted at a wide range of users, from gamers to creative professionals. This SSD features upgraded NAND technology, an optimized controller, and firmware improvements, enabling it to deliver stellar read and write speeds. However, with the market’s shift toward PCIe 5.0, the question arises: how well does the 990 EVO Plus hold up on a PCIe 4.0 interface, and what should users consider as they prepare for the next-gen PCIe 5.0 platform? I was kindly sent a 1TB version to explore, however, it is also available in 2TB and 4TB variants. Design Samsung has kept the design of the 990 EVO Plus clean and practical. They have followed the...

12Nov

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Fantech World Aria II Pro Mouse Review

Since the launch of Fantech's Aria mouse, it has been wildly praised for being an amazing option for esports gaming. Now, Fantech has decided to introduce the Aria II, an updated and improved version of their beloved mouse. Available in a standard and pro version, we were lucky enough to get our hands on it early to put it to the test so we can tell you whether it's worth investing in. With the standard mouse on sale for ~£37, the Aria II is a high end mouse for a pretty low price point. Is the price point the best thing about it though, or will its connectivity make it stand out in the crowd? The next step in e-sports wireless gaming mice Design The new Fantech World Aria II mouse comes in three colours. You can choose from black, red and white. I received the black Aria II and ho...

1Nov

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

iFi GO Link Audio DAC Review

As the world moves onto all things wireless, sound quality can be sacrificed by doing so. Depending on how much of an audiophile you are, wired is still the best way to listen to music. It is strange to think that an analogue signal can carry more data than its wireless digital counterpart. This is due to the analogue data being uncompressed rather than being sent through Bluetooth codecs. These will compress the audio data before sending it to your wireless listening device and it has a big effect on sound quality for certain audio formats such as ALAC/FLAC & WAV. Cost-Effective Audio Enhancements Ok, so you want to listen to some high-quality lossless music via Tidal or Amazon Music. You don't want to use your wireless headset or buds. But your device doesn't have a 3.5mm stereo ja...

30Oct

By Jason1 Comment

Hardware & Tech

EcoFlow River 3 Review

Landing on my desk at TC HQ recently was one of EcoFlow’s latest portable power stations to soon hit the market, the River 3. The technological successor to the River 2 series. Launching around November time, the River 3 series units are compact in size, especially when compared to the larger Delta series. Options There are 2 power units in the latest series; the River 3 and the River 3 Plus. The River 3 Plus can be expanded by a separate stackable battery to form the River 3 Max and the River 3 Plus Max. Through the available expansions, the River 3 series offers varying capacities and differing outputs. Choosing the right unit for you comes down to a couple of questions. How much power do you need? How long you need it for? For comparison: The River 3 has a capacity of 245Wh an...

28Oct

By Tyler Denyer1 Comment

Hardware & Tech

Krafted Connex – Hardware Review

Today we’re diving into a new piece of kit: the Connex device by Krafted. This little gadget is compact, clever, and has a bit of a Swiss Army knife charm. On paper, it promises to handle all your charging and connecting needs in one neat package. But does it deliver, or is it more of a "nice-to-have" than a "must-have"? The features Krafted for you Arriving in cardboard/ paperboard packaging. The Krafted Connex is small and lightweight, with a size of (95mm x 31mm x 19mm) and weighing 87.5 grams. (Their website says 875 grams, but this must be an error, with six flip-out connectors. Each item is encased in a flexible silicone that allows just enough movement. But here’s the snag: the connectors don’t fold out completely straight. So there’s a fair bit of adjusting to get them to plug in...

24Oct

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

UGREEN Uno Series Released

UGREEN recently revealed their Uno Series, and we were lucky enough to get some hands-on time with some of the range. Join me as we check out three of the products in the line up, with a further article with an unreleased product coming soon. Bear in mind not all of these products are available on the UK UGREEN site, but we are working with UGREEN to find out when they will hit this side of the sea. UNO REVERSE Advertised as Fast & Fun accessories for the iPhone 16 line up, I can confirm that they work just as well with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. UGREEN Uno 6-in-1 USB-C HUB The first product from the UGREEN Uno Series is one of the cheapest, coming in with an RRP of $19.99. It offers a multi-port option for plugging into your current laptop or computer. Expand your connectivity...