Techwise Corner

 The #ad  Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5070 Ti OC is a thoroughly modern graphics card that strikes a very agreeable balance between brute‑force performance and user‑friendly design. Boasting 16 GB of the latest GDDR7 memory, a hefty 2,527 MHz boost clock and support for PCIe 5.0, it’s clearly pitched at enthusiasts who demand more than just “good enough” for 1440p or entry‑level 4K gaming. Yet, unlike some of the louder, flashier “gamer‑brane” offerings on the market, the Prime OC opts for a more restrained, professional look—ideal for someone who wants power under the bonnet without gaudy RGB on the outside. Design & Build Quality Out of the box, the Prime OC feels sturdy. The metal backplate is solid, with subtle Asus branding that doesn’t scream for attention. Its shroud follows the classic Axial‑Tech fan design, featuring slightly smaller hubs and longer blades designed to push air more effectively through dense fins. The dual‑fan configuration and 2.5‑slot footprin...

 When you first unbox the #ad  AtomMan G7 PT MINI PC , it’s immediately clear that this isn’t your run-of-the-mill small form-factor machine. Encased in a slick, gun-metal grey chassis with subtle angular styling, it strikes a balance between industrial robustness and modern minimalism. At roughly the size of a hardcover novel, it feels reassuringly solid in the hand yet compact enough to slip onto a crowded shelf or tuck discreetly behind a monitor. There’s a pleasing heft to it, too—not so heavy that it’s a chore to move, but substantial enough to suggest that premium components lie within. Sliding your fingers around the sides, you’re greeted by a veritable smorgasbord of ports. On the front panel, there’s a USB-C socket (which doubles as a DisplayPort 2.0 output), a pair of USB-A ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and a power button that clicks satisfyingly. Flip it around, and you’ll find HDMI 2.1, another DisplayPort 2.0, two more USB-A ports (one of which supports fast-c...

 The #ad  LG Gram Pro 2in1 2024 (16T90SP) feels like a breath of fresh air in a market crowded with weighty convertibles. From the moment I lifted it from its box, its feather-light frame (weighing in at just under 1.4 kg) belied the reassuring solidity of its build. The magnesium-alloy chassis has a lovely smooth finish in Obsidian Black, and though I was initially worried that the silky surface might pick up grease or fingerprints, it resisted smudges admirably. Design and Portability At 16 inches, the display is generous without being unwieldy. The ultra-narrow bezels draw you into the vibrant WQXGA touch-screen, which pivots a full 360° to transform the laptop into a sizeable tablet. The hinge mechanism is reassuringly firm—there’s no wobble when you rest it on your knees or type in tent mode. Over the course of several commutes, I appreciated how the laptop simply nestled into my bag, barely altering its shape or weight. For travellers or students who must juggle ...

 From the moment you step ashore on the windswept docks of Lumière, #ad  Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels like stepping into a living painting. Sandfall Interactive’s ambitious RPG marries the grandeur of Belle Époque aesthetics with a dark-fantasy narrative that steadily unspools into something far more profound than your average monster‑slaying quest. On PlayStation 5, the game’s gorgeous vistas, fluid animations and hauntingly beautiful score combine into an experience that is as much about atmosphere as it is about tactical combat. A World Painted in Light and Shadow Expedition 33’s narrative premise is elegantly simple yet brimming with metaphorical resonance. Once a year, a mysterious entity known as the Paintress reduces the island’s inhabitants by “erasing” those older than an ever‑lowering age. To break this cycle, a band of volunteers—Gustave the resourceful engineer, Maëlle the wide‑eyed youth, Lune the scholarly mage and Sciel the calm ...

 When I first unpacked the #ad  KOORUI G2411P , I immediately noticed how sleek and understated its design is. The stand, finished in matte black with subtle angular lines, feels sturdy without taking up too much desk space. The slim bezels on three sides of the panel give it a modern, almost frameless look, which is especially welcome when you’re running multiple monitors side by side. It’s surprising how much a minimalist aesthetic can elevate your gaming setup, and the G2411P achieves that without ever feeling ostentatious. Once powered on, the G2411P’s 24‑inch Fast IPS panel really comes into its own. Colours are vibrant and accurate, thanks to its advertised 99% sRGB coverage, and I found that games like  Horizon Zero Dawn  and  Forza Horizon 5  looked particularly striking. Greens in lush forests bloom with depth and reds in fiery explosions really pop, without feeling over‑saturated. Of course, this is only Full HD (1920 × 1080), but on a 24‑inch screen it still l...

 From the moment you glimpse the sun rising over Hyrule’s rolling hills to the final, heart-stopping confrontation in the depths of the sky, #ad  The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom delivers an experience that feels both comforting and exhilaratingly new. Nintendo’s latest entry in the venerable Zelda franchise doesn’t merely build on the foundations laid by Breath of the Wild —it reimagines them, weaving a tapestry of exploration, invention and surprise that will keep you enchanted for hundreds of hours. At its core, Tears of the Kingdom is an open-world adventure, and what a world it is. Hyrule has been transformed, not merely by Ganon’s lingering evil, but by cataclysmic events that have lifted great chunks of earth into the sky and revealed ancient underground ruins. The result is a landscape that constantly dazzles—one moment you’re traversing familiar valleys ringed by mountains, the next you’re soaring through cloud-swept islands, deftly navigating between...

 From the moment the #ad  Gears of War: Reloaded logo splashes across the screen in glorious high definition, it’s clear that this isn’t just a straight port; it’s a heartfelt tribute to one of the most influential shooters of the last generation. On PlayStation®5, Reloaded breathes fresh life into Marcus Fenix’s brutal war against the Locust Horde, combining the muscle of Unreal Engine 5 with the precision of Sony’s DualSense controller to deliver an experience that’s both nostalgically familiar and thrillingly new. Narratively, Reloaded remains steadfast in its grim, apocalyptic vision of Sera, where colossal subterranean creatures have driven humanity to the brink of extinction. The story doesn’t deviate from the original beats—Marcus forsakes his chains of command, reunites with Dom in the depths of Jacinto, and fights tooth and nail towards the city’s last bastion. Yet, this retelling feels more intimate. Character animations are richer, facial models more nuanced,...

 The ASUS ROG Ally X is the boldest step yet into the world of high‐end handheld gaming. From the moment you pick it up, it feels like a premium piece of kit – solid in your hands, beautifully finished in matte black, and with just the right weight to reassure you that this is no toy. ASUS has clearly aimed for a device that appeals to serious gamers who crave PC‐level performance on the move, and on paper, the Ally X delivers in spades. Design and Build Quality The first thing you’ll notice is its ergonomic shape. The gently curved grips fit snugly into your palms, and the button layout feels instantly familiar even if you’re used to a controller rather than a keyboard and mouse. The triggers and bumpers click satisfyingly, and the analogue sticks are firm, precise and resistant to drift. Despite packing in a 7-inch display, AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset, plus all the ports and ventilation you could wish for, the device remains surprisingly compact. The solid construction gives ...

 From the moment you lift the #ad  Beosound Explore from its soft, yet reassuringly solid packaging, it becomes clear that Bang & Olufsen have not merely designed another outdoor speaker; they have crafted a companion for life’s colourful adventures. Finished in a lush, mossy green, the Explore feels at home in the shade of an ancient oak as much as it does against the sleek, minimalist backdrop of a modern living room. It’s a speaker that welcomes touch, invites exploration and promises reliable, high-fidelity audio wherever you decide to roam. Design and Build Quality Encased in a rugged anodised aluminium shell, the Beosound Explore immediately inspires confidence. Its form is both elegant and practical: a cylindrical silhouette with gently rounded ends, offering a comfortable grip for single-handed carrying. The non-slip fabric weave around the speaker’s midsection not only adds a tactile beauty but also enhances durability. Remarkably, this device carries an I...

 When you first unbox the #ad  Sapphire PURE AMD Radeon™ RX 9070 XT Gaming OC , one immediate impression is how clean and unassuming its design is. Eschewing gaudy RGB extravagance, Sapphire has leaned into a more minimalist aesthetic: a matte-black shroud framed by subtle, angular accents that give it a confident, purposeful look. The card occupies two expansion slots and measures just over 280 mm in length, so it’s worth checking your case dimensions before firming up your purchase. Despite its compact appearance, however, the dual fans do their job admirably, keeping noise levels notably low even under sustained load. At a glance, this is a graphics card for someone who values performance without ostentation. Out of the box, you’ll notice four DisplayPort 1.4 outputs and two HDMI 2.1 ports, lending itself well to both multi-monitor setups and the latest generation of high-refresh-rate, 4K HDR televisions. You’re unlikely to run out of connectors, whether you’re juggli...

 If you’ve been looking to dive into virtual and mixed reality without being tied down by cables or the need for an expensive gaming PC, the #ad  PICO 4 Ultra 256GB is an excellent place to start—or even upgrade to. With a generous 256GB of storage, sharp optics, and the added bonus of two free games bundled in, this all-in-one headset packs in a lot of value and functionality. It’s not just a step up from previous PICO devices—it feels like a leap forward. Design and Comfort From the moment you pick it up, the PICO 4 Ultra impresses with its sleek, lightweight design. The weight distribution has clearly been a focus here, with the battery located at the back of the head strap to balance out the headset at the front. This simple design choice makes long sessions much more comfortable, and the updated facial padding is soft and breathable. Unlike some chunkier headsets on the market, the PICO 4 Ultra sits snugly without pressing too hard or sliding about. The headset a...

 It’s impressive how compact the #ad  GMKtec AMD Ryzen 7 Mini Gaming PC is, cramming so much power into a chassis that could almost double as a paperweight. At first glance, you might mistake it for a particularly sleek external hard drive rather than a bona fide gaming rig, yet there’s far more to this diminutive wonder than meets the eye. Featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor—which boasts eight cores and sixteen threads, with turbo frequencies of up to 5.1 GHz—this system seems determined to rewrite expectations of what a mini PC can achieve. Having spent a fortnight with it, I’ve come to appreciate its strengths, quirks and overall suitability for both gaming and productivity. Physically, the unit is remarkably well put together. The chassis is made from a matte-black aluminium alloy, and though it’s predominantly plastic on closer inspection, it still feels solid. There’s no sense that you’d be worrying over dents or scratches in day-to-day use—this is a design ...

 The  #ad   MSI Raider 18 HX AI is an absolute powerhouse of a machine that pushes the limits of what a gaming laptop can be in 2025. With a design that screams performance and a spec sheet that reads like every gamer’s dream, it’s hard not to be impressed at first glance. But is it all just raw power, or does MSI deliver a well-rounded experience that lives up to the price tag? After spending some time with it, here’s how it holds up. Design and Build Quality MSI has gone all out with the design of the Raider 18 HX. This isn’t a laptop that tries to be subtle – it’s big, bold, and unapologetically built for serious gaming. The chassis is finished in a slick Core Black with angular lines and RGB lighting across the front edge, giving it that aggressive, futuristic look. It’s definitely not one for the minimalist crowd, but for gamers, it strikes the right balance between flair and function. The build quality feels solid, with premium materials throughout. It’s on the ...

 The #ad  Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook strikes a fine balance between affordability and functionality, offering a convertible design that feels surprisingly sturdy for its price point. In Arctic Grey, the chassis presents a subdued yet refined aesthetic, making it suitable for both work and leisure. At 15 inches, the Full HD display is spacious, providing ample room for spreadsheets, streaming video, or writing essays. While it may not boast the brightest or most vivid panel in its class, colours remain accurate enough for general multimedia use, and the anti-glare finish helps to reduce reflections in well-lit environments. Upon opening the Flex 3, one notices how the hinge feels solid and reassuring. The screen can rotate a full 360 degrees, allowing for laptop, tent, stand or tablet modes. In laptop mode, the keyboard deck remains stable, with minimal wobble when typing; Lenovo’s signature lift-hinge design slightly raises the rear of the chassis, improving typin...