Gaming & VR
Research-based gaming guides built from official prices, retailer price tracking and published reviews from named outlets: handheld gaming PCs and the Switch 2, graphics cards at real street prices, and VR and mixed-reality headsets.
Buying guides
The Best Gaming PCs in 2026
Tom’s Hardware’s best gaming PC is the Corsair Vengeance a7500 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti). PC Gamer and Tom’s Guide both pick the iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro, and the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme is the budget pick for 1080p.
Buying guideThe Best Gaming Consoles in 2026
Every major console got more expensive in 2026. Wirecutter’s picks are the PlayStation 5 (now $649.99), the Xbox Series X ($799.99) and, if you want to play on the go, the Nintendo Switch 2 ($499.99). The Switch Lite ($229) is the cheapest way into current games.
Buying guideThe Best VR and Mixed-Reality Headsets in 2026
Get the Meta Quest 3S ($349.99) if you’re new to VR, the Quest 3 ($599.99) for the best standalone mixed reality, or Valve’s Steam Frame (from $1,059) if you own a gaming PC. Vision Pro and Galaxy XR are premium headsets for apps and video more than games.
Buying guideThe Best PC Case Fans in 2026
Both Tom’s Hardware and PC Gamer put the Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 at the top for quiet airflow. The Arctic P12 Pro is the budget pick at both, and the P12 Pro RGB costs less than $10 a fan in 3-packs.
Buying guideThe Best Thermal Paste in 2026
Tom’s Hardware calls Thermal Grizzly’s Duronaut the best-performing thermal paste it has tested. For a budget pick, ID-Cooling’s Frost X45 ($6.99) topped its air-cooling tests. Liquid metal is faster still but electrically conductive and hard to apply.
Buying guideThe Best PC Game Controllers in 2026
Wirecutter’s best PC controller is Microsoft’s $49 Xbox Wireless Controller, which has built-in Windows support. Tom’s Guide’s best overall is Valve’s $99 Steam Controller, though it only works with SteamOS.
Buying guideThe Best Sim Racing Wheels in 2026
PC Gamer’s best racing wheel is the 11 Nm Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel (about $1,000, pedals extra). For less, the Moza R5 Bundle is its best budget direct-drive wheel (about $460), and the Thrustmaster T128 is its best budget pick (about $200).
Buying guideThe Best Capture Cards in 2026
GamesRadar+’s best external capture card is the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (HDMI 2.1, 4K60 capture). TechRadar’s top pick is the plug-and-play Elgato HD60 X, and PC Gamer’s best budget card is the Elgato Game Capture Neo.
Buying guideThe Best CPU Coolers in 2026
Most builds only need the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE: a $36 air cooler Tom’s Hardware says can cool 200W while staying extremely quiet. For the hottest CPUs, Tom’s strongest AIO is the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 ($125 MSRP).
Buying guideThe Best Gaming Chairs in 2026
The Secretlab Titan Evo is Wirecutter’s top pick and a PCMag Editors’ Choice: three sizes, adjustable lumbar support and a 165° recline. On a budget, Wirecutter’s pick is the GTPlayer Ace Pro, and PCMag’s affordable pick is the AndaSeat Novis.
Buying guideThe Best PC Cases in 2026
Tom’s Hardware’s best-looking case, the Fractal Design North ($139.99), also has exceptional thermals. On a budget, the Montech TG3 ($56.90) comes with four fans; for a big showpiece build, the NZXT H9 Flow (2025) fits the largest GPUs.
Buying guideThe Best Power Supplies in 2026
For a mainstream gaming PC, Tom’s Hardware’s picks start with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 650W (about $100). Running a big graphics card? The Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V3 ($109.99) is the value 850W choice, and the Corsair SF750 (2024) is for small builds.
Buying guideThe Best RAM for Gaming in 2026
Tom’s Hardware’s best 32GB DDR5 kit for performance is the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C30. But memory prices have soared: Tom’s reported in July 2026 that you can’t buy 32GB of DDR5 for less than $379, so check prices before you plan a build.
Buying guideThe Best Motherboards in 2026
For most AMD Ryzen builds, Tom’s Hardware’s B850 pick, the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Wifi II ($229.99), has all the essentials. Intel Core Ultra builders on a budget should look at the Asus Prime Z890-P Wifi ($199.99). Pick the socket first: AM5 for current Ryzen chips, LGA 1851 for Intel Core Ultra 200S.
Buying guideThe Best CPUs for Gaming in 2026
Both Tom’s Hardware and PC Gamer name the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (about $444 to $479) the best gaming CPU. For mid-range builds, both like Intel’s Core Ultra 5 250K Plus ($219), and the Ryzen 5 7600X ($139) is Tom’s Hardware’s budget pick.
Buying guideThe Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2026
Tom’s Hardware ranks the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti first and AMD’s RX 9070 XT second, but memory shortages mean most cards sell far above MSRP. On October 26 the 5070 Ti’s best US price was $1,229 against a $749 MSRP.
Buying guideThe Best Handheld Gaming Consoles and PCs in 2026
The Verge’s pick is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X at $999, the only top-tier handheld PC that hasn’t gone up in price. The Steam Deck OLED is still Engadget’s pick for most people, but it now starts at $789, so a refurbished Deck is the bargain. Switch 2 is $499.99.
Comparisons
Nintendo Switch 2 vs ROG Xbox Ally X
Half the money buys Nintendo’s first-party library and a docked TV mode. Twice the money buys a Windows handheld that can run Steam, Game Pass and PC stores. The trade-off is library versus flexibility.
ComparisonPS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X
Both consoles got much more expensive in 2026. The PS5 Pro is the more powerful machine, with a 16.7-teraflop GPU, PSSR upscaling and 2TB of storage, but no disc drive. The Series X costs $100 less with a disc drive and has the best backward compatibility.
ComparisonPS5 vs Xbox Series X
After 2026’s price increases, the disc PS5 is $150 cheaper than the Xbox Series X. Pick the PS5 for PlayStation’s first-party games and the DualSense controller, or the Xbox for Game Pass and the best backward compatibility.
ComparisonNintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck OLED
The Switch 2 is cheaper, docks easily and pulls ahead in power when connected to a TV. The Steam Deck OLED has the better screen, a faster CPU, more memory and your Steam library, but now starts at $789.
ComparisonXbox Series X vs Xbox Series S
The Series X targets native 4K with three times the GPU power. The Series S is smaller, digital-only and still the cheapest way into current Xbox games, but it now costs $499.99.
ComparisonPS5 Pro vs PS5
The PS5 Pro adds stronger ray tracing, PSSR upscaling, Wi-Fi 7 and 2TB of storage, but only in games that support it. It has no disc drive, and in October 2026 it was hard to find at list price.
ComparisonMeta Quest 3 vs Quest 3S
Both headsets run the same games. The $599.99 Quest 3 adds sharper pancake lenses, a higher-resolution screen and a wider 110-degree view. The $349.99 Quest 3S is Wirecutter’s pick for most people.
ComparisonSteam Deck OLED vs ROG Xbox Ally X
The Steam Deck OLED’s price rise to $789 narrowed the gap. For $999, the Xbox Ally X adds much more performance, a bigger battery and access to every PC store. The Deck is still the easiest handheld to pick up and play, and it has the better screen.
ComparisonPS5 vs Nintendo Switch 2
These consoles do different jobs. The $499.99 Switch 2 works on the TV and in your hands and runs Nintendo’s family-friendly exclusives. The $649.99 PS5 is a TV-only console for big-budget games and 4K Blu-ray.