There is no doubt: Video games are in our DNA. Nearly two-thirds of Americans consider themselves gamers — that’s more than 200 million people who tap, click and swipe for high scores on a regular basis. So, what’s the best new gaming gear of 2022?
Let’s start with a huge trend: Transforming your video gaming world into an immersive high-tech playground. There is a trio of devices that are great for that, starting with the Philips Hue Play Sync Box and Gradient Lightstrip.
The box syncs smart lights to on-screen content so that you can do surround lighting for movies, TV, music, and gaming. The light strip comes in a few different lengths to mount directly on the back of your TV and bursts to life with more than 16 million colors. It’s great for gaming dens or dorm rooms, and you can use them separately as long as you have a Philips Hue Bridge too.
What’s really cool is that you can pair these with your dream device, like this LG Electronics 32′-inch UltraGear Gaming Monitor ($899). This display really lets you see the game as it was meant to be seen, with vivid colors, responsive graphics, and a lighting-fast refresh rate for a gaming experience that is fast, fluid, and responsive. Your PC battle station will look cutting-edge with the monitor’s next-gen look that’s virtually borderless and fully adjustable. ($899)
Mobile gaming used to mean playing Snake on your Nokia phone, but things have come a long way since those days. Today, there are many great new gadgets that let you can take your games anywhere, like the MOGA XP7-X-Plus controller ($99).
It’s compatible with Xbox Game Pass, xCloud, and controller-enabled mobile games like Fortnite, and it really gives you the freedom to game on the go without sacrificing the competitive advantage. An integrated power bank lets you wirelessly charge your compatible device while you play too, which is great for power-hungry, graphics-intensive smartphone titles.
If you’re in the market for a new gaming rig but portability is a must, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro ($1,800) should be at the top of your list. It’s powered by Intel’s newest H-series Core processors for desktop-class muscle and efficiency — and efficiency matters when we’re talking about a laptop. Graphics might is provided by NVIDIA’s RTX 3000 series graphics cards, and the purpose-built Legion True Strike gaming keyboard ensures all your taps find their mark.
And, speaking of next-generation awesomeness — if your carrier is AT&T — you can test out the very best of 5G gaming with the award-winning hit game Control: Ultimate Edition — for free! This is a pretty big giveaway, and it’s the first time Control is available with click-to-play access on a compatible smartphone, tablet, or computer at no extra cost.
My go-to for scoring great deals on all things video-game is a site I talk about a lot: Slickdeals. It is all about shoppers helping shoppers find the best products at the best price. The 12-plus-million-person community who vet and vote up the very best deals from all the top retailers is super passionate about gaming, so you can know if you’re actually getting the best value.