The best gaming tech we've reviewed in October 2026

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Shop the collection

Shop the collection

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1

Amazon

Evercade Nexus and Banjo-Kazooie Double Pack

$199.99

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2

Valve

Steam Frame

$1059

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3

Corsair

Corsair Skiff 100 Plus

$59.99 $69.99

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Amazon

Steelseries Aeon Pro

$259.99

The Fall months are now rolling in, but thankfully we've got more than a few ideas for how you could spend your time hunkering down. This month we've had headsets, controllers, handhelds, keyboards, and mini PCs on the test bench, but only the cream of the crop deserve their stars.

From the Evercade Nexus taking on the best retro handhelds with its own 4.5-star review score, to the cheaper Corsair Skiff 100 Plus showing the best gaming keyboards what a budget membrane deck can do these days, there's plenty to celebrate from this month's release roster. Of course, the Steam Frame took most of our time this month, looking to challenge the best VR headsets with its convenience and comfort.

Those gearing up for GTA 6 will be interested in the noise-cancellation of the new Razer Barracuda V2 Pro, while Zelda fans might be more excited by the CRKD Nitro Deck 2 joining some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers on the market.

This month's heavy hitters are all below, but you can look back on the year's top tech with the full GamesRadar+ Hardware digest as well.

4.5-Star gaming gadgets

Razer Barracuda V2 Pro

Read the full review

Pros

Extends foam padding from previous Barracuda pair

Earcup can store 2.4GHz wireless dongle

Equipped with ANC

Provides simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless

Improved 70 hour battery life

Dual mic system makes it ideal for gaming & lifestyle

Easy to store due to flodable design

Cons

Double the price of Barracuda X

Missing Chroma-powered tech of previous pair

Evercade Nexus

Read the full review

Pros

Larger, more vibrant 5.98 IPS screen than the EXP

Dual thumbsticks for 3D games

Still compatible with every Evercade cartridge

Wireless EverSync local multiplayer support

Bluetooth headphone connectivity

Includes excellent native ports of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie

Cons

Lacks sleep mode (suspend and resume)

Thumbsticks aren't Hall Effect

Bottom stick placement isn't ideal

No HDMI output

Access to global settings depends on the game

Corsair Skiff 100 Plus

Read the full review

Pros

Comfortable, silent keypresses

Six extra macro buttons

10 zone RGB lighting

Dedicated media controls

Already seeing discounts

Cons

Non-swappable ABS keycaps

Hardwired USB-A cable

12-key rollover only

4-Star gaming gadgets

Steam Frame

Read the full review

Pros

Offers excellent, lightweight convenience and a comfortable fit

Essentially a Steam Deck you wear on your face

Controllers are fantastic

Foveated streaming does a good job of minimising image compression

Lots of room for improvement with accessories and firmware

Cons

Battery life is really poor

Power bank and accessories aren't included

No wired mode at all

Price

Gaming performance feels like a work in progress

Razer Huntsman V3 HE

Read the full review

Pros

Competitive price point against other mainstream HE decks

Much improved sound profile

Smooth, comfortable typing feel

Recalibration tools in Synapse

Cons

Some tested models displayed chatter

Wired only

No additional controls

CRKD Nitro Deck 2

Read the full review

Pros

Easy to set up

Compatible with Switch, Switch OLED & Switch 2

Ergonomic shape is comfortable for long gaming sessions

Can tighten or loosen thumbsticks on a whim

Doubles as a Pro controller

Cons

Pricier than original Nitro Deck

Rumble is overly strong and loud

Tightening mechanism feels cheap and flimsy

Awkward to store as it's too big for Switch 2 cases

Hyperx Cloud 3

Read the full review

Pros

Comfortable for long gaming sessions

Great sound

High-quality mic

Includes 3.5 mm, USB-A & USB-C connection types

Available in a range of colorways

Prone to discounts

Cons

Wired only

Full price is higher than alternatives

Cord is long and can be a hindrance

3.5-Star gaming gadgets

Steelseries Aeon Pro

Read the full review

Pros

Excellent infinite battery life system

Good comfort

Excellent back button design

Helpful screen

Magnetic, swappable thumbstick tops

Cons

Back buttons still take a fair bit of pressure to actuate

Pause/Menu buttons are in the wrong place (objectively)

More expensive than the competition, and I'm not sure it warrants it

Only Hall sensor sticks, not TMR

Only four extra buttons, not six

GMKTec K8 Plus

Read the full review

Pros

Sturdy indie performance

Can push into moderate Triple-As with help

Easily upgradeable

Oculink port

Cons

Poor WiFi performance out the box

Could use one or two more connections

What didn't make the cut?

Razer Kiyo V2 Pro webcam

2/5 Stars

Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless

3/5 Stars

Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless

2/5 Stars

For a look back on last month's picks, check out the best gaming tech we reviewed in September 2026 .