We do not give a rating of 90% or extra to only any outdated factor—we’re actual {hardware} sickos with requirements to match. And, as actual {hardware} sickos, many a shiny bobbin has obtained an intensive humbling at our palms. Sure, we love RGB lighting as a lot as the following individual, nevertheless it’ll take excess of a shiny gentle present to impress us.
All of that stated, a whopping 34 bits of package earned a assessment rating of both 90% or greater—that is 4 greater than final yr. However what was merely the very best?
It is attention-grabbing to notice that just one little bit of {hardware} among the many highest-rated six prices lower than $100. Spoiler alert, it is the Arctic Freezer 36, going for a significantly spectacular price ticket that rests comfortably below $50. Nonetheless although, it is arduous to disregard simply how costly PC gaming continues to be.
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With the reminiscence pricing apocalypse upon us, to not point out the way it’s set to hold on into 2026 and past, a little bit of package’s worth proposition isn’t removed from our minds. That stated, the WD Black SN8100 2 TB NVMe SSD continues to be sitting fairly amongst our prime six {hardware} assessment scores.
There is a wholesome mixture of package in our prime six, however as soon as once more, no graphics playing cards characteristic among the many heaviest hitters—when you’ve seen how way more than MSRP some GPUs have been going for all through 2025, that in all probability comes as no shock. Nonetheless, the identical can’t be stated for the other finish of the scoring spectrum.
Carrying on Nick’s grinch-esque custom from 2023, I am additionally going to incorporate six dishonorable mentions that had been completely {hardware} misses. Virtually nothing loved the infamy of a rating lower than 40% this yr, which I feel usually speaks to the standard of package that tends to pique the {hardware} group’s curiosity. Nonetheless, that does not imply I will go straightforward on 2025’s 4 {hardware} flops. Anyway, earlier than all of that, let’s check out the six highest assessment scores we gave in 2025.
The highest 6 greatest merchandise of 2025
An exceptionally quiet air cooler at an distinctive value at comfortably below $50. Certain, you possibly can spend a bit extra for the all-black model or just a little nearer to $60 for the mannequin that comes with RGB, however both manner this stays a decidedly inexpensive little bit of package. For that value, you get a contact body included within the field plus a completely frosty efficiency that belies this cooler’s finances origin.
Professionals
Oh so affordableQuietExcellent performance-per-dollarComes in blackContact body included
Cons
Set up on Intel PCs is extra concerned than most
Thermal Grizzly
Der8enchtable
From {hardware} hits that supply one thing to everybody, to one thing decidedly area of interest, Thermal Grizzly’s Der8enchtable was all however made for our resident motherboard testers. Primarily an open-platform circuit board with centralised storage and fan management, it is the right little bit of package for probably the most inside-baseball use circumstances. In case you do occur to be a motherboard nerd excited by testing an entire bunch of boards, or overclocking the twangers off them, be forewarned that this benchtable comes at a premium.
Professionals
Chic construct qualityBig array of headers and portsEasy to arrange and useMakes mobo testing a pleasure
WD Black
SN8100 2 TB NVMe SSD
Zak was calling this probably the greatest SSDs of 2025 all the best way again in Might, and in the present day it holds agency as our prime choose for the very best PCIe 5.0 drive. The straightforward purpose why is that, throughout Zak’s testing, this drive turned in a sequential learn pace of 14,710 MB/s, and a write pace of 13,926 MB/s, alongside exceedingly robust random 4k efficiency. And all through all of that, this SSD’s temps solely topped out at about 74 levels—the nerve!
Professionals
Excellent artificial performanceStupidly fast load-timesCompetitive pricing
Cons
No 4 TB possibility till later
Razer
Wolverine V3 Professional 8K PC
PC controllers merely do not get extra premium than this. Alongside the sturdy construct high quality you’d anticipate for that wince-worthy price ticket, you are additionally getting an 8,000 Hz polling charge, plus TMR thumbsticks and Corridor impact triggers. Understated in look, however positively not options, reprogrammable buttons, or certainly its asking value, there isn’t any doubt this gamepad goes for professional in each sense.
Professionals
8,000Hz polling rateTMR thumbsticks and Corridor impact HyperTriggersDurable construct and understated looksCustomizable capabilities and thumbsticksPlenty of remappable buttons
Cons
Price’s a king’s ransomNo extra haptic suggestions
Be Quiet!
Gentle Mount gaming keyboard
I will be actual with you—that is the keyboard I personally use each single day. Boasting lovely construct high quality, vibrant RGB lighting, and genuinely the quietest typing expertise anybody at PCG towers has loved, it is arduous to discover a single factor that dulls the Gentle Mount’s shine.
Professionals
Truly quietVibrant RGB lightingStraightforward softwareA Mountain Everest 60 successor
Cons
Recreation mode choices look just a little slimNot as inexpensive because the Mountain Everest 60
It at all times feels a bit bizarre to be recommending earbuds to a PC gaming crowd—certainly the whole-head embrace of a gaming headset is the place it is at, proper? Nicely, these wee dangerous boys simply go to point out how a lot earbuds can provide, boasting crisp gaming mode audio, weeks of battery life, a wealth of customisable options, and loads of Energetic Noise Cancellation settings for gaming at residence or on the go.
Professionals
Nudge-proof contact sensorsSuperb bodily and digital customisationWearing detection is greatWeeks of battery lifeSuper quick charging
Cons
White model scuffs easilyBetter earbuds are solely barely costlier
The best rated PC gaming gear of 2025
So, that was the six highest-rated {hardware} this yr—what about the remaining? For anybody that loves a very good statistic, I can reveal that about 12% of the 289 {hardware} opinions we revealed in 2025 earned a rating of 90% or extra. By an odd accident, 11 of these {hardware} hits earned a assessment rating of precisely 92% this yr. Although that is not fairly excessive sufficient to characteristic on the tippy-top of this listing, that is nonetheless value shouting about. You’ve got already perused the easiest—now prepare for {hardware} that is nonetheless higher than the remaining.
I feel it greatest I let Jacob’s unbelievable opening paragraph from his assessment do no less than a number of the speaking right here: “Smaller than a fairly sized dachshund however accessible as a two-sided bread bin: the Fractal Design Terra is a dream to construct with.” Granted, your cooling choices are just a little restricted for any builds calling this PC case residence, nevertheless it’s arduous to say no to a desktop tower that includes actual wooden.
Professionals
TinyPlenty of accessReal wooden!Good GPU assist
Cons
Simply markedLimited cooling choices
If all you care about is responsiveness, this low-profile, Corridor impact gaming keyboard is for you. What earned its place as our choose for the very best low-profile gaming keyboard although is its wealth of customisation options, together with the really diabolical possibility of a 0.01 mm actuation reset level, all accessible by a web-based app slightly than yet one more little bit of bloating software program. Add to that Speedy Set off and an 8,000 Hz polling charge, and it isn’t arduous to see why we’re impressed—effectively, blink and you will miss it nevertheless it’s positively there.
Professionals
Funky design is, effectively, funkyRidiculously brisk low-profile HE switchesSeemingly infinite software program customisation
Cons
Purely wired connectivity will not be sufficient for energy customers
And right here comes the very best PCIe 4.0 SSD, which, to the shock of nobody, is one other stellar effort from SanDisk. This Gen 4.0 drive demonstrates a number of the greatest in school random 4k learn efficiency, handing over a prime pace of 101 MB/s. The sequential speeds are removed from half dangerous both, providing up a sustained learn of seven,250 MB/s and a sustained write of 6,900 MB/s too, all with hardly breaking a sweat below load. Make no mistake, that is nonetheless an amazing gaming drive if you may get it at an honest value.
Professionals
Finest in school 4K learn performanceDecent pricing for a 1TB driveLow temps and single-sided
Cons
Not precisely ground-breakingSlower load occasions relativelyProduct stack confusion
AVerMedia
Elite Go GC313Pro
This little bit of package is actually a seize card stuffed up inside a charging brick—speak about a bizarre roommate state of affairs. Nonetheless, with how straightforward it’s to file and even stream gameplay with no seize card, maybe this 2-in-1 system design is smart. Hope definitely appeared to suppose so, praising its stealthy design and its “full seize setup full with HDMI passthrough” providing. Alas, there’s solely HDMI 1.4 on provide right here, however meaning you are still getting 4K footage at 30 fps.
Professionals
A number of system chargingCharge and recordReliably simpleStealthy
Lian Li
O11 Imaginative and prescient Compact PC case
Check out this magnificence! A fishtank fashion PC case at a downright inexpensive value level, it is arduous to say ‘no’ to the Lian Li O11 Imaginative and prescient Compact—although our Zak would want for a fan or two to be included on this in any other case very cheap bundle.
Professionals
Stupidly low value pointWildly versatile inside layoutStrong aesthetic chops
Cons
GPU sag bracket may very well be lowerCable administration may very well be barely betterCould use a fan controller… and a fan or two.
Now, I do know what you are pondering: “A assessment rating of 92%? However it’s obtained holes in it!” Nicely, you see, these are ‘pace holes’–they make the mouse go quicker. Joking and dated Simpsons reference apart, that is an exceedingly light-weight, wired gaming mouse with an asking value that will not sluggish you down both.
Professionals
Light-weight, comfy frameSolid efficiency for many peopleDecent software program
Cons
Lacks superior options of costlier miceCable can really feel just a little low-cost
SanDisk
Excessive Professional 2 TB exterior SSD
You would not essentially suppose to make use of an exterior SSD as your main sport drive, however the SanDisk Excessive Professional makes a powerful case in its defence. This chunky lad presents a number of the greatest random 4k efficiency we have seen from any exterior drive, and in addition manages to maintain these tasty USB4 speeds whereas staying comparatively cool too.
Professionals
Truly sustains USB4 speedKeeps coolBest gaming efficiency we have seenLooks and feels nice
Cons
Slightly wideRequires write caching for sustainPremium price ticket
ASRock
B860 Metal Legend Wi-Fi
Even with out overclocking assist (owing to this board’s B860 chipset), this mobo continues to be significantly spectacular. Moreover assist for Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe 5.0 SSDs, you are additionally a price ticket that ought to provide change for 200 bucks. Add to that the very fact it will not make your PCIe 5.0 SSD sweat below load unnecessarily, and this motherboard is one significantly cool buyer.
Professionals
Glorious valueLoads of USB ports and fan headersCool VRMs and chipsetHandled a PCIe 5.0 SSD
Cons
No Wi-Fi 7Mediocre EFISilver design possibly not excellent for white casesCan’t overclock
Gentle within the hand, and light-weight to your desktop too, as there’s completely no software program to tug this speedy little mouse down. That does imply there’s not an entire load to customize, providing up just one onboard profile to play with, but additionally below the hood is an as much as 8,000 Hz polling charge, Corsair customized tactile mechanical switches, and the Corsair Marksman S optical sensor (rated for as much as 33,000 DPI and 750 IPS).
Professionals
Extremely lightNo app to installGreat sensorSturdy
Cons
Just one onboard profileUPE skates
TP-Hyperlink
Deco BE68 BE14000
Although costing a really fairly penny, this mesh Wi-Fi setup makes a stable case for its price ticket with its robust characteristic set. For a begin, the Deco can pump out speedy Wi-Fi 7 connections throughout your property. The bodily system additionally presents 10 Gbps LAN ports for fast information transfers too, plus the triple pack claims to supply protection to the tune of a whopping 8,100 sq. toes.
Professionals
Full Wi-Fi 7 spec10 Gbps LAN portHigh information switch speedsSeparate visitor, MLO, IoT networks
Cons
Telephone app required to arrange and configurePoor availability outdoors of the US
Kinesis
Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Plus
In case you’re not but an ergonomic keyboard convert, this break up Kinesis board is effectively up for holding your hand by the method. Although not likely geared in direction of the higher echelons of aggressive, esports gaming, the Freestyle stays some of the comfy gaming keyboards to make use of.
Professionals
Tremendous comfy to useEight macro keysHot-swappable switchesLift package now included
Cons
USB cables are fairly stiffWrist pad materials is not nice for sweaty handsNo snap faucet or fast set off for professional avid gamers
The six lowest scoring merchandise of 2025
Whereas many misfires aiming for the moon nonetheless land among the many stars, you possibly can wager there is a subset that results in a lot much less sparkly firm. In the end, it is time to take a gander on the 4 lowest rated bits of {hardware} we reviewed this yr. Now, none of those flops scored decrease than 40%—however there are nonetheless loads of higher choices for the cash.
The 2025 theme of screens on every thing reached its nadir with the Xeneon Edge, an extremely costly, although admittedly decent-looking display screen, you could kinda stick on something. It is a second display screen, however one with such restricted utility, and a few bizarre tearing that makes it extremely arduous to suggest to anybody.
Professionals
Myriad methods to mountiFrame widget is helpful
Cons
Not significantly vibrantLimited widget choice or customisationStrange tearing on ThunderboltA lot of cash for a really area of interest display screen
Razer
Joro & Basilisk Cellular
A center of the street misfire from Razer—and worst of all, it is obtained a decidedly premium Razer asking value. Although the Joro keyboard is slim and light-weight for moveable gaming, the Basilisk mouse commits two fairly unforgivable acts: providing an AI button, and inserting that AI button the place it may be too simply activated throughout frantic gaming classes. The keyboard additionally presents an AI button, and its scissor switches really feel surprisingly sluggish for a gaming-focussed board. All in all, it is a two-for-one bundle that appears decided to carry you again.
Professionals
Razer Joro is slim and lightweightRazer Basilisk Cellular performs effectively in video games
Cons
Joro has too many compromises for portabilityBasilisk Cellular struggles to face out towards rivalsHigh value for what you get
Colourful
iGame RTX 5070 Ti Vulcan OC
It is hardly information that RTX 50-series graphics playing cards too usually ask for foolish cash, however this one actually takes the biscuit. Make no mistake, the Vulcan OC is an actual try-hard, providing a one-key Overclocking button that makes the GPU huff and puff at 2,835 MHz with a single click on—a number of the time, anyway. For such a dear card, that kind of inconsistency is unforgivable.
Professionals
All that RTX Blackwell DLSS 4/MFG good stuffDetachable LCD display screen
Cons
One-key OC button goes too hardStock efficiency is comparatively weakPricing stays ludicrous for overclocked RTX 5070 Ti cardsHard to seek out in retail anywayA reference-price RX 9070 XT is a simple, cheaper advice
Attempting to be all issues to all individuals not often ends effectively. A tool that tries to do every thing usually finally ends up doing nothing effectively, and so it involves go with the X1 Air, a thick pill that is making an attempt to even be a laptop computer and a gaming handheld, too. Whereas the elements inside are glorious (this is to Lunar Lake) and the display screen is a stunner, the system is simply too flaky and too awkward to justify its price ticket.
Professionals
Lunar Lake efficiency is sweetBright, crisp 11-inch displayQuiet
Cons
FlakyDoesn’t excel in any of its three varieties
We have dipped previous merely mediocre {hardware} and distinctly into the realm of the underachievers—and this diva is right here to greet us. Although this microphone presents good vocal seize shut up, it is sort of a ache to arrange and alter. Its value and sizable footprint hurts it too. Alas, this stage merely is not large enough for each of us, darling.
Professionals
Good vocal seize shut upImpressive sampling rateBluetooth monitoring
Cons
Fiddly and fussy to adjustToo quiet, but background noise susceptible in a desktop positionZero softwareToo expensive for what you find yourself receiving
Logitech G
PowerPlay 2 mouse pad
I am positively all ears for a mousepad that additionally acts as a charging station for my wi-fi mouse. Sadly, the Logitech G PowerPlay 2 is a disappointing execution of the idea; that is very a lot the ill-advised sequel to an attention-grabbing first installment. Whereas the restricted mouse compatibility could also be comprehensible, the pad itself is skinny, flimsy, and sort of on the small facet. This is hoping the three-quel improves on what got here earlier than.
Professionals
Clean fabric padYou by no means must plug your (appropriate) mouse in once more
Cons
ExpensiveNo built-in wi-fi receiverPretty smallThin and flimsy mouse padOnly one mouse pad included


