Instead, this new version from director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) leans into the origins of the story’s ill-fated lovers. Bill Skarsgård’s Eric is a recovering addict who meets FKA Twigs’ Shelly in a rehabilitation centre, before the pair fall madly in love. 

At first, it works well – the duo has chemistry, and Skarsgård, in particular, brings both action-hero gravitas and vulnerability to the role of the eyeliner-sporting avenger. But they're ultimately let down by cringey dialogue. Shelly bears the brunt of this, including one bizarre moment when she croons to her love while contemplating death, “Do you think angsty teens will build little shrines to us?”

The story does eventually veer into familiar territory when Eric is brought back from the dead to avenge his lost love after they’re both brutally murdered. It’s here that The Crow finally takes flight, along with its gothic superhero. Unlikely character choices like the Suicide Squad-era Joker tattoos make a bit more sense in this context, and there are moments of grandeur as Eric stalks through New York City on a path of vengeance, leather coat blowing behind him. 

An ultra-violent opera killing spree gives Skarsgård the action role he skirted in John Wick 4 too, as blood, arias, and dark eyeliner make a surprising synergy. Yet, it’s all over too quickly – just as The Crow is really spreading its wings, it abruptly ends, thanks to a rushed conclusion involving Danny Huston’s incongruously demonic Vincent Roeg. It's all enough to make you wonder if this is a flight that should have stayed grounded. 

The Crow is in US theaters and UK cinemas now. 

For more upcoming movies, check out our guides to upcoming horror movies and 2024 movie release dates. 

Star Wars Outlaws does its best to render this fantasy into reality, but developer Massive Entertainment has misinterpreted elements of its appeal through an ailing contextual stealth system, unkind progression checkpointing, and frequently rigid objective parameters. Critical missions teeter between fantastical and frustration as a result, drawing attention from the litany of successes achieved elsewhere in the experience.

Don't get caught and don't raise alarms. Don't do this, and definitely don't do that. When Massive is dictating the pace of play the fantasy falls apart. Star Wars Outlaws doesn't appropriately communicate detection and visibility, not enough to support stealth as such a principal focus of the critical path. Main missions leave little room for you to exercise your own judgment, instead insisting that you infiltrate ventilation systems of Imperial starships and syndicate outposts. Get caught, start over at the cost of your patience and credits.

It's a shame, because if Han Solo and Lando Calrissian have taught me anything it's that figuring out what to do once you do get into trouble is all a part of the game for a scoundrel. And like any good scoundrel, you'll feel a desire to go quiet until it's time to go loud, no matter the situation. You'll want to try and charm your way past enemy personnel, dress up in ill-fitting costumes to avoid detection, and have the space to talk your way out of (and into) trouble. What we have here instead is a whole lot of vents, and an annoying lockpicking minigame to access them. Star Wars Outlaws exists in this weird space as a result; it's one of the best Star Wars games on the strength of its sense of place, but a bad stealth experience; understanding what you value more will ultimately tip you towards or away from this adventure. 

One step at a time

Kay Vess is a scoundrel in search of a quieter life. Star Wars Outlaws tracks the pursuit of that dream, and the dark paths that wait for those who blindly follow their intuition. An earned death mark is a death sentence, pushing Vess out of the only home she's ever known and into exotic new lands – Akiva, Kijimi, Tatooine, and Toshara. For planets like Kijimi and Tatooine, you're given freedom to explore wide environments that have always existed on the periphery of a camera lens; and in the case of Toshara, Massive demonstrates that it's more than capable of making additive contributions to the wider Star Wars universe. 

These planets are microcosmic open worlds – lush, sprawling landscapes with pockets of civilization, challenges, and collectibles to encounter – that connect via stretches of explorable galaxy; a little drab, but free-flight is thrilling as Tie-Fighters screech overhead. Massive throws out the playbook honed by Assassin's Creed and Far Cry to great effect, leaving you free to wander by foot, by speeder, or by ship without any reliance on crow's nest cartography to progress across landscapes. Your journal fills with optional tasks as you accept contracts, stumble across locations, and overhear snippets of conversation whilst walking through beautifully-constructed cities. 

Star Wars Outlaws is at its best when it leaves you well enough alone to soak in the atmosphere of these locales, authentically capturing the iconic visual aesthetic and terse tension inherent to populations externalizing the events of The Empire Strikes Back. Syndicates wrestle for control over territories, taking advantage of Imperial forces turning their attention to a resurgent Rebel Alliance. The Hutt Cartel is extorting moisture farmers on Tatooine, maybe you can help. The Pyke Syndicate is fixing Sabacc tournaments, perhaps you want in on that action. Crimson Dawn is a shadow in the corner of every cantina, lurking close as you lean at a bar watching a band play live on a stage in the back. 

Building and breaking uneasy relationships with syndicates is an area where Star Wars Outlaws shines. As your reputation grows, a light system of choice and consequence underpins every decision you make. This system works because of its simplicity; it's ever-present but never a burden, a smart way to reflect the dire circumstance Vess must navigate as she assembles a crew capable of pulling off an impossible heist. 

Reputation management is authentic and organic, which is also true of character customization and progression. Experts discovered in your travels help refine your skill-set over time – Massive's decision to divest from funneling experience points through skill trees is liberating. Altering the efficiency of your blaster or the speed of your cruiser is similarly organic, with Vess bartering over parts to make steady improvements. The effect of these progressive design decisions means that you really do feel a part of a wider world, rather than a function of it. 

Never tell me the odds

When Star Wars Outlaws isn't locking you into forced stealth scenarios, it's far snappier – combat is chaotic. A blaster may be considered an inelegant weapon for a more uncivilized age but it's a lot of fun to wield, sharp and punchy. Cycling through Plasma, Ion, and Power modules is easy enough, introducing some flexibility in your approach to crowd control. Your companion, Nix, is easily controlled too, giving you scope to distract or dispatch enemies as you focus your attention elsewhere. Adrenaline Rush fills over time as plasma bolts fizz through the air around you, letting you mark multiple aggressors and dispatch them with cinematic ease. It's in these moments that you remember Star Wars has plenty of potency when there isn't a lightsaber in sight. 

Star Wars Outlaws has immaculate vibes, capturing the feel of existing in the Star Wars universe perhaps better than anything before it. Massive does a wonderful job recreating the '70s-inspired, lived-in style which defined the original trilogy; exterior and interior environments look the part, the atmosphere brought to life with authentic VFX and SFX, and a phenomenal performance from actor Humberly Gonzalez as Kay Vess acts as a suitable grounding into the adventure – doing enough to draw attention away from some surprisingly mediocre character models and animations which blight the supporting cast. 

All told, Star Wars Outlaws is a compact open-world adventure that often succeeds in spite of itself. The sort of video game that doesn't hide its influences, opting instead to wield them to blunt any sharp edges that may turn even the most casual player away from enjoying a Star Wars adventure. Environment navigation has echoes of Uncharted, albeit without the polish typically associated with a Naughty Dog production. The way side stories unfurl through the open worlds has shades of Red Dead Redemption, although Massive never commits to intricate systemic design as a catalyst. The easy, atmospheric vibes remind me of Ghost of Tsushima. Gears of War's 'perfect reload' dictates combat flow, the way Vess contextually shifts around cover brings about memories of Quantum Break, and the Adrenaline Rush mechanic is a great revival of Splinter Cell's beloved Mark and Execute. A lot of different pieces assemble to show a Star Wars-themed picture. 

But what I was reminded of the most while playing Star Wars Outlaws was the experience of sitting down with Mass Effect for the first time in 2007. A game that, despite its poor performance and flawed combat, really ignited the imagination. It wasn't until I took my first steps onto the Citadel with Commander Shepard that I realized I had been waiting all my life for Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Star Trek to be made interactive – for an RPG to so convincingly satisfy the fantasy of stepping into a world that was alien to my own. I've sacrificed my time to Star Wars: Galaxies and The Old Republic, fallen in love with the 'Jedi' games in all their forms, and played countless other games set in this franchise. But it's Star Wars Outlaws that truly made me feel a part of this universe for the very first time, and that has to count for something – even if I hope to never see the inside of another Imperial ventilation system in my lifetime. 

Lego Isabelle's House Visit (77049) features

• Includes Isabelle and Fauna minfigures
• Nice customization options
• So many different elements

Lego Isabelle's House Visit is the second largest in the Animal Crossing range - at least at the time of writing - consisting of a villager house, and some smaller details that you can arrange around the exterior. The house itself is two-sided, like a doll's house, and includes so many of the little details that so many of us spent many hours (read: days) fiddling around with during the hazy days of 2020-21. From the little vegetable patch and tool station out front to the gift balloon flying overhead, there's a lot to love about the external details of this delightful build. 

But it's the house itself that's bound to please. There's so much crammed in here, from a patchwork bed to a table and chairs, but also smaller items like a Nook Phone and a K.K. Slider album to mount on the wall. A tiny stove and sink makes for an adorably compact kitchenette. 

I had great fun messing around with the placement of everything, and the good thing about this build - and all of the Animal Crossing Lego sets - is that there's so much versatility with how you layout and connect all the pieces together to make your own display or playset. It also means you can make it neat and compact enough to ensure it doesn't take up much room on a display shelf.

It's also worth noting that you get two minifigures with this set - Isabelle herself and Fauna the deer villager - which feels like great value for a set this price.

Lego Isabelle's House Visit (77049) build

• So many brilliant details
• Build only takes an hour or so
• Lots of ways to display

Altogether it took me just over an hour to complete the Isabelle's House Visit build. It's not complex, but there are plenty of little details and some hidden features to appreciate as you work your way through the manual. If anything it's easy to get distracted by how detailed the set is as you build, rather than stumbling on any complexities in creation. It's a great set for a family to enjoy together, just as you can the Animal Crossing game itself. 

There are a lot of small pieces that aren't able to be fixed down though, which can be annoying if you're looking to display or neatly tidy away the set - including a small basket, a paintbrush, and a book. Not a deal breaker, but I can see them getting lost if this set is being played with regularly. 

Lego Isabelle's House Visit (77049) design

• Sweet minifigures and accessories
• Plenty of interactivity
• Excellent two-sided design

Nintendo and Lego's partnership with these Animal Crossing sets really feel like a celebration of both bricks and the video games themselves. Lego Isabelle's House Visit is a brilliant example of this, and easily the best set in the range. The villager house itself is a compact slice of island life, with excellent detailing in the house's exterior fixtures and fittings like the chimney complete with 'smoke,' a tiled roof that lifts up for even more interior access, and the option of choosing between two window styles. The interior comes complete with so many pieces of furniture, household items, and decorations that you may well struggle to actually get it all inside the house. It definitely encourages playing around with all the pieces until you get the interior look you want. 

However, I also love that you can fling open the door to your villager house to appreciate the details beyond too. There's a little postbox, which even comes with a letter you can post through the slot and store inside. There's a vegetable patch with pumpkin and carrot, a little tool station where you'll find you can hang your slingshot, axe, and shovel - clearly minifigs don't get inventory space.

There are also other placeable items like an apple tree – which has hidden secrets – with a fossil and dig spot, flowers, and even a balloon-lifted present held aloft by a clear Lego block that you can hide other items inside. There's so much here to appreciate that it's a real treat.

It's all displayed on a variety of little grassy squares too, interconnected to hold them together, but also to allow you to not only display the set however you want but also connect it to other sets in the Animal Crossing Lego range. I love this detail, as it encourages you to try and recreate your island in Lego form, although it's a dangerously slippery slope for my wallet too.

Should you buy Lego Isabelle's House Visit?

I honestly can't think of a reason not to recommend this set as the best in the Animal Crossing Lego range. It's affordable, offers plenty of spectacle in the build, comes with two minifigures, and oozes with Animal Crossing charm. Your villager's house is one of the most iconic visuals in the Animal Crossing games, and it's somehow better immortalized in Lego bricks.

Buy if if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Lego Isabelle's House Visit

The Isabelle's House Visit set was built over the course of a sunny Sunday morning, taking around an hour and a half including photography. We compared the quality and features of the set to the rest of the Animal Crossing Lego range, much of which I had also bought and built myself in the same weekend. 

For more on our review process, make sure to check out our 'how we test' guide.

Want other recommendations? Be sure to check out our guide to the best Lego Star Wars sets. You can also add to your collection for less with the latest Lego deals.

It’s a great time for fans of both cinema and Lego, with some of the best Lego sets in recent years being tie-ins for big screen movies, both old and new. We’ve seen Lord of the Rings sets for Rivendell and Barad Dur, and there’s also a Jaws set that’s just around the corner. 

But this isn’t the time for fantasy; we’re getting out sci-fi on so, let’s sandwalk over to the table and get building this thing. Hey, stop laughing at my sandwalk, you want to get eaten by a sandworm? I didn’t think so.

Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter features

• Eight minifigures
• Moving wings and landing gear
• Based on Dune: Part 1

The Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter was launched to coincide with the release of Dune: Part 2 back in February 2024. While the movie itself is PG-13, this set is recommended for ages 18 and up. Teenagers can handle violent scenes and ruminations on what it means to be human, but a moderately complex Lego build is seemingly beyond them. 

Jokes aside, this kit would be absolutely fine for most teenagers.

The Ornithopter is a dragonfly-inspired sci-fi version of a helicopter in the Dune universe, and it’s one of the main modes of transportation for members of House Atreides when they first arrive on the desert planet. This Lego version replicates the iconic profile of the aircraft beautifully, while also going the extra mile and including mechanisms to extend and retract the wings and landing gear.

Fans of the movies will also be thrilled by the healthy roster of minifigures that come with the set. There are eight figures comprising all the major characters in the first movie: Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho and Baron Harkonnen in his hilariously long robe.

Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter build

• 3-4 hour build
• Lots of Technic pieces
• Fun build with plenty of variety

With 1,369 pieces, the Dune Ornithopter is a mid-sized Lego set that took me around 3-4 hours to assemble over a couple of days. It could easily be done in one night if you have thumbs of steel, but the large number of Technic pieces in this set meant pushing a lot of pins into holes, which can take a toll on your hands.

They’re not here without good reason though, as there are a lot of mechanisms that are needed for the moving parts of the Dune Ornithopter — namely the landing gear and folding wings. Given the relatively simple shape of the Ornithopter’s fuselage, the build process is fairly straightforward, with most of the construction focused on the main body of the aircraft, attaching the various gears and linkages as appropriate.

To keep things fresh, eight out of the ten bags of Lego pieces contain one of the minifigures. Once the fuselage is done, you then move onto assembling the cockpit and finally attaching the rather remarkable wings.

Despite my complaints about my poor thumbs, I had a lot of fun assembling the Lego Ornithopter. It has a good mix of regular and Technic Lego pieces, and there aren’t really any repetitive sections to drag the pace down. There are also no stickers in the set, with all the details coming from printed pieces — huzzah!

Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter design

• Folding wings and landing gear
• Clear cockpit with room for pilots
• Wings can actually move

When it’s all assembled, the Lego Ornithopter is a real work of art that perfectly captures that sleek and unusual design from the movies. It’s not the most colorful piece, sporting the gray paintjob of its movie counterpart, but it’s full of sharp lines and fascinating details that draw the eye.

At the back of the craft is the boarding ramp, which can be raised or lowered using a cleverly-disguised dial on the side of the hull. You’ll have it down by default, as the controls are tied together with the landing gear.

The cockpit looks great too, with that unique inverted triangle shape that sees it get wider at the top. If you detach the cockpit glass, you can fit two minifigures in the pilot seats, which come with little printed computer screens and moving levers to represent the flight controls.

The wings are definitely the most striking part of the set, especially when they’re extended out to their full width via the sliding lever on the top. The Lego Ornithopter has an impressive wingspan of around 31-inches (79 cm), and there is even a button on top that you can press rapidly to flap the wings, which is a very nice touch. In practice, you’re only going to extend the wings when you’re showing it off to friends though, as it’ll be impossible to display on any normal shelf with the wings out. Fortunately, with the wings tucked in the Ornithopter shrinks down to a very display-friendly profile.

I have found that there is a panel near the wing assembly that occasionally pops off when I extend the wings out. One of the gear linkages is clearly catching on it as it moves past. It’s a minor annoyance, but on a $165/£150 set, minor annoyances are worth mentioning. 

Outside of the craft itself, you also get a very decent array of minifigures. Most of them are fairly standard — Lady Jessica has a dress instead of legs, and a couple of them have helmet on or off head options. The star of the show is definitely Baron Harkonnen though. Look at this big tall boi… he’s hilarious! His robe is fashioned from a long piece of fabric that hooks under his head, and I love him.

Should you buy the Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter?

Whether you're a fan of the movies, the books, or both, the Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter is an absolute must-have for Dune fans. As a display piece, it looks fantastic and thanks to the folding wings, it fits neatly on normal-sized display shelves. Then, when you want to show it off, you can extend the wings out and blow some minds.

It’s not the cheapest Lego set out there, especially for the relatively tame piece count (for the price), but you get your money’s worth with the build thanks to the blend of classic Lego and fancy Technic mechanisms — just do it in a couple of sessions to stop your thumbs from falling off.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter

I built this set over the course of two evenings, and it took around 3-4 hours to complete. I followed the instructions, making notes of sections that were difficult, confusing or, in this case, painful, as well as highlighting enjoyable aspects of the build.

Once the build was finished, I considered the overall design: how good it looks, how accurately it replicates the Ornithopter from the movie, and any special features that it has (or is lacking).

You can find out more about our process in our 'how we test' guide. 

For more bricky goodness, check out our guide to the best Lego Star Wars sets. You can also boost your collection for less with these Lego deals.

There’s far more to the best gaming monitors than refresh rate, and while the $599 / £599 AOC AGON Pro AG246FK is ridiculously fast, it’s not going to be for everyone. I’m pretty sure most players out there will think that even 360Hz, which is understandable since the 4K monitor scene only just reached 240Hz peak. Even I’m having to  chow down on my own words, as I previously said I couldn’t imagine ever needing a 500Hz monitor in my Alienware AW2724HF review. Silly Phil – if only you’d known what ramping things above that figure could do for your FPS game sessions. 

Admittedly, I do still feel like this screen compromises on the fidelity front a bit too much for me to use full-time. The fact AOC has stuck with 24-inches for the Agon Pro AG246FK does help its full HD capabilities look less offensive than they would on a larger panel, and I was actually pretty impressed with its vibrancy considering we’re dealing with TN tech. But, when all is said and done, this is a gaming monitor for players who prioritize speed above all else, and trading away other qualities absolutely has its benefits.

Specs

I’ve already let most of the AGON Pro AG246FK’s specs out of the bag, but let’s recap what this high refresh rate monitor has to offer. The screen comes equipped with a 24.1-inch 1080p 540Hz “Ultra-Fast TN eSports” panel with a 0.5ms GtG response time. Accompanying those competitive grade qualities are DisplayHDR 400 certification and AdaptiveSync Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) capabilities, alongside an anti-glare coating that keeps aggressive reflections at bay. 

In terms of ports, the AG246FK comes with two HDMI 2.0 and one Displayport 1.4. I can already sense you PS5 monitor users out there reaching for your virtual pitchforks, but if we’re being honest, you’ll be using DisplayPort on PC to hit 540Hz anyway, as even HDMI 2.1 doesn’t support past 240Hz. I guess it’s a bit of a bummer if you’re aiming to use a console next to your PC, even though I’d suggest going for something other than a 24-inch TN panel in that case.

Design

At a glance, the AG246FK looks like a fairly conventional 16:9 display, with the most notable thing on the front being the panel’s three-sided frameless design. The last thing you really want is any aesthetic that could distract you in competitive scenarios with a monitor like this, so I completely understand the need to keep things vanilla. Yet, AOC has reserved its freaky side for its pedestal stand, as for whatever reason, it uses an asymmetrical pentagonal base. 

I imagine the look on my face was priceless when I went to line up the monitor, thinking I’d just placed it down at an angle, only to find it was purposely designed that way. It almost feels like it's mocking the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 with its straight pentagon base, even though both use a low-profile approach that makes it easier to slide over soundbars like the Blueant Soundblade. Simply put, the weirdo stand beats V-shaped feet or any other desk-dominating nonsense.

There is something slightly funky going on with the AG246FK’s height adjustment and pivot approach, which had me messing around with the screen for a solid 10 minutes. When lifted to its max height, the bottom bezel will hit off the base when switching to vertical, meaning you’ll have to tilt it slightly to swivel things around. That’s perhaps not a biggie, but it was a strange hiccup in the otherwise smooth process of rotating the monitor. 

Round the back you’ll find all the bulk you’d expect from a high refresh rate TN panel, with a hump integrating a two-port USB hub, video inputs, and even a pop-out headphone stand. If you’re into RGB, you’ll also potentially dig the lighting “ring”, which is just as oddly shaped as the monitor’s stand. I imagine some of you will be dragging this screen to LAN events where people can actually see behind the monitor, so putting on a show for them while you play is probably worthwhile. You’ll even be able to avoid cable management embarrassment thanks to some clips on the pedestal stand. Phew.

If you’ve read any of my monitor reviews, you know what’s coming next – the obligatory rant about OSD joystick controls. The AG246FK commits extra sins by using a ridiculously wobbly nub that dares to be the same shape as the stand. Good luck feeling any sense of direction with this movable button, as you’ll pretty much need to just fumble around and hope for the best. 

Features 

Like most monitors, the AGON Pro AG246FK has got an OSD menu filled with novel gaming options. In this instance, the screen splits these up into their own “Game Settings” menu, with other collective compartments including dials for “Luminance” and dedicated Picture-in-Picture and RGB lighting sections.

Keeping everything to the right-hand side of the display and having a shortlist of options in each setting does aid navigation, as I never felt stuck with where to find things. I would perhaps like settings like Freesync and HDR to be upfront and out of the way of the “sniper” overlays and other quirks, but that’s just what I’d do if I were putting together a monitor OSD. 

It admittedly feels like a standard feature at this point, but the AG246FK does come with a two-port USB hub. These days, I’m not really fussed unless a screen comes with USB-C capabilities and Power Delivery that’ll satiate my handheld shenanigans. But, since you’ll likely be hooking up a gaming mouse and keyboard to your rig with this monitor to play competitively, you can at least do so via a single cable. 

Performance 

Alright, strap yourselves in, as we’re about to dive into the Wild West of high refresh rate gaming. To check whether I could feel the difference between this Agon 540Hz screen and other speedy displays I’ve used thus far, I stuck to primarily playing both Overwatch 2 and Halo Infinite multiplayer. To also ensure I was able to boost fps appropriately, I also used the Alienware Aurora R16, as I know for a fact the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 inside can deliver the PC performance required. 

Playing Overwatch 2 at 540Hz felt a little surreal, with all my first-person movements noticeably translating as if in real-time. By that, I mean it was like watching something moving right before me in reality rather than the virtual realm. Weirdly, I’ve never experienced this when playing at 360Hz, but something about the unconventional jump here provides a whole new sensation entirely. 

In practice, this meant that my twitchy reactions flying around as Pharah felt far more precise, resulting in missiles flying precisely where I needed them to. Visually speaking, the way I was playing looked frankly ridiculous, as I was throwing my mouse around in a way that wouldn’t normally be possible, but the fast refresh rate meant I was able to see everything clearly and move with intent. I would have potentially put all of this down to a placebo effect sparked by knowing it was a 540Hz screen if I hadn’t got Play of the Game four times in a row the other night – something that rarely happens when I play at 144Hz. 

It’s also worth noting that I’m just off the back of finishing both my Hisense U7N and LG OLED G4 reviews, both of which are gaming TVs that can hit 144Hz. I naturally tried both the PS5 and PC versions of Overwatch 2 on those larger panels, and it helped amplify the benefits of using the AOC AGON Pro AG246FK at a desk. There’s a good chance I might not even go back to playing the hero shooter in the living room after this review, as now that I know how responsive and slick things can get with a monitor, the idea that I’m too slow will be lingering in the back of my head. Just to be clear, I am still very much a casual FPS player, but I think there’s a tiny part of all of us that wants to be at peak performance. 

While I was able to consistently hit 540fps+ in Overwatch 2 to satiate the AG246FK, the same didn’t quite happen with Halo Infinite. Microsoft’s shooter is a bit more sporadic when it comes to maps and frame rates, and I averaged out at around 480fps. Still more than high enough to be considered competitive, but it does feed into the “do we need 500Hz monitors” argument. Again, I’m using an RTX 4090 build for testing, so there won’t be much enthusiasts can do to hit higher performance in this instance.

Despite that, Halo Infinite felt stupidly slick on the AG246FK. One of my most memorable moments using the monitor to play the shooter involved a Super Fiesta match where the objective was to wreak havoc with random powerful weapons. Did I use a M41 SPNKr or a fancy energy weapon to get the job done? Nope, all I seemingly needed was a 540Hz screen and a Mk50 Sidekick pistol. I came out the other side of that battle with more kills and no deaths.

The extra responsiveness, stability, and sheer speed here are what I believe helped me ultimately up my game. Yes, I’m not what I’d call a skilled player, and I usually jump into multiplayer sessions for fun or to test screens like the AG246FK. The thing is if I can take advantage of 540Hz visuals as a casual player, imagine what either you or someone who’s fully dedicated to competitive play could achieve. Those few split seconds it’d take to swing around to make a shot on a slower screen can matter, especially if you’re up against fierce rivals. 

So, we’ve established that the AG246FK is a speed demon, but what about its visual capabilities? I expected to find this AGON Pro model to be a little unsightly at 1080p, especially when running games I normally play at higher resolutions on an OLED. Yet, its abilities are fairly serviceable, managing to pull off colors that just avoid looking completely washed out and decent brightness too. 

In Cyberpunk 2077, HDR provided Night City with the usual lick of realism I’ve become accustomed to, with glowing neon signs standing out against the game’s concrete jungle. You will notice some softness as a result of playing at 1080p, but if you keep the 24-inch monitor at an appropriate distance away, it won’t feel quite as obvious. I’m still of the opinion that if you’re looking to play new single-player adventures where frame rates aren’t a deal breaker, this probably isn’t the screen for the job. That said, if you mostly play FPS games and merely want acceptable results when you do occasionally launch into something else, you won’t be horrified by the visuals on show.

Should you buy the AOC AGON Pro AG246FK? 

Whether you’re a budding esports player or just someone who likes getting competitive in your spare time, the AOC AGON Pro AG246FK is going to elevate your experience. You’re going to need a rig that can actually match its 540Hz refresh rate with appropriate performance, and this gaming monitor does trade away other visual qualities for speed. Still, if you’re hellbent on improving your performance in first-person shooters and want an ultra-response screen, opting for this display won’t disappoint. 

As for the general player, I wouldn’t outright advise avoiding this monitor, but this TN panel might not feel like a big visual upgrade for $600. It’s fast, sure, and you’re not going to find many other models that can hit over 540Hz. What you will be able to grab is 360Hz screens like the Samsung OLED G6 for less than $200 more, which could be a much wiser choice due to its phenomenal colors and contrast. 

In any case, I’d like to personally thank the AGON Pro AG246FK, as this gaming monitor made me feel like an esports pro, even if in reality I shoot like a stormtrooper.

How I tested the AOC AGON Pro AG246FK

For two weeks, I used the AOC AGON Pro AG246FK as my main monitor for playing FPS games. Specifically, I used Overwatch 2 and Halo Infinite with low settings enabled on an Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC with an RTX 4090 graphics card to boost fps to match the displays 540Hz panel. During gameplay, I observed qualities like responsiveness and speed in addition to brightness and contrast to get a feel for whether the higher refresh rate comes with caveats.

In addition to those competitive FPS games, I also tested Cyberpunk 2077 in order to evaluate the screen's HDR and resolution scaling abilities. In turn, this helped a visual establish a comparison point between other reviewed monitors.

For more information on how we test gaming monitors and other screens, take a peek at our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Looking for more screens? Check out the best 4K monitors for gaming and the best monitors for PS5. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming TV for large living room panels with a punch.

The $79.99 / £79.99 cups still have plenty of competition, but moving further away from that $100 position means they’re able to drop more features and prioritize audio quality while keeping that price relatively low. They’re not going to give some of the best gaming headsets in the premium range a run for their money, but they still offer a solid experience all-round. 

Design

With identically shaped cups and a similar silhouette, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 follows its sibling in its general aesthetic. However, the shortcuts to reach that low price point are pretty obvious when held side by side. The leatherette cushion cover on the Stealth 500 is much less comfortable than the mesh design of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600, often growing hot and slightly claustrophobic during longer play sessions. 

The actual build of this cushioning is also questionable - my test unit has a section with particularly stretched fabric. The actual cup warps slightly around the left edge, with heavy wrinkling and a less plump cushioning. This leatherette material is already prone to flaking over time, and I’m not too optimistic about the durability of that already-loose corner. 

The most noticeable difference between the two headsets, though, is the headband. This is where the Stealth 500 wins out the most. The Stealth 600 is shipped with a pretty standard solid band, but there’s just not enough padding in there to remain comfortable for longer sessions. The cheaper version, however, throws a floating piece of elastic into the mix, similar to SteelSeries’ range of Nova devices. That alleviates any sense of pressure on the top of the head, with the crown only ever hitting the elastic and never the simple plastic frame on top. I much prefer this design during everyday use, especially when I’m playing for hours at a time. 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless achieves this effect with a slightly higher $129.99 / £129.99 price tag, with a similarly flexible headband that provides just a touch more adjustability. There are no sliders to adjust the actual slide on the headband itself on the Turtle Beach, whereas the SteelSeries is fully adjustable. However, you’re still getting three size options for the elastic itself, swapped using a set of notches on each side. 

I’m lucky, though. Placing the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 straight on my noggin from the box, I didn’t notice any pain points for mis-alignment in the earcups. If you have a particularly large or small head, though, I’d recommend steering clear. The cups themselves don’t swivel and there’s not enough adjustment in the headband to be truly customizable in shape and size. 

For all their leatherette sins, the earcups remain comfortable over longer periods of time, temperature concerns aside. There’s a plush cushioning under each side, with a low clamp force trying desperately to keep things feeling loose - at least for the first few hours. 

The plastic housing of the Stealth 500 feels cheaper and more tinny compared to the Stealth 600, but looks like it could hold up against longer term use. It’s also a lightweight design that works towards its comfort as well. The Stealth 500 weighs in at 233g, a considerable improvement over the 301g Stealth 600 - especially with that lower clamp force in tow. 

Features

There was a time when cheap wireless gaming headsets abandoned pretty much every fancy feature in the book to keep their prices low. That time has passed. Now the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 features not only 2.4GHz low-latency connectivity but also Bluetooth 5.2, and the ability to quickly swap between the two. That means you can run this on pretty much anything - though the option to default to a wired mode when the battery runs out is absent. That’s the same connectivity suite as the Stealth 600, though the Razer Barracuda X adds a wired connection for its $99.99 / £99.99 RRP. That makes it a better buy for Nintendo Switch players who don’t want to worry about running out of juice while out and about. 

You’re also getting chat-mix controls right on the headset itself, right next to the volume wheel. That’s not an idea placement, especially considering my natural reach consistently hit the chat wheel instead of volume during testing. In fact, everything is pretty clustered on this left cup, with very little tactile difference between various controls. While I’m impressed with the comprehensive selection of buttons and scrollers, it takes a bit of work to discern the difference between each option on-the-fly. 

This is still a lower mid-range (very almost entry-level) wireless headset, though, so you won’t find any of the fancier features you can grab further up the price scale. However, the Swarm II software still provides access to EQ tweaks, microphone adjustments, and customization options for the multifunction button. There’s also a mobile version of the full PC suite which will come in particularly handy for console players (a rare addition, I usually see cheaper headsets relegating all of their customization features to PC-only use). 

The mobile app does do away with the full 10-band EQ feature, but can otherwise be used to check battery, swap presets, and adjust your microphone. Overall, Swarm is a solid piece of software that provides excellent functionality while still remaining intuitive in its menus, all without demanding too much from your PC. 

This is also where you’ll be toggling Superhuman Hearing, an audio preset that’s been shipping with Turtle Beach headsets for years now. This setting emphasizes ranges that hold things like footsteps and gunshots, with the aim being to make certain sounds clearer for competitive play. The result is an overly-processed soundstage, though, that never feels comfortable to listen to for too long. 

The battery is another indicator of a slightly lower price tag, though the 40 hour rating is more than workable for everyday play. I used the Stealth 500 for around five days averaging around five hours of use per day and still had 35% remaining, so Turtle Beach’s suggestion certainly rings true from my own testing. If you’re a heavier user, it’s worth noting that the Stealth 600 bumps your battery up to 80 hours for just a little extra cash. 

Performance

The Turtle Beach Stealth 500s aren’t going to give high-end headsets any concerns in their audio quality. However, they do offer a nicely energetic soundstage with plenty of range and a nice balance. The lower ranges are naturally a little more powerful than the mids, as is expected from this cheaper bracket. That means the mids can feel a little clustered at times. Octopath Traveler’s soundtrack feels a little restricted through these cups, compared to the Razer Barracuda X where there’s more space for detailing in the lower-mids. Nevertheless, there’s a warmth to the Turtle Beach Stealth 500’s sound quality that shines through particularly well in dialogue and cut scenes, and everyday play still sounds natural and well-balanced. 

Unlike cheaper headsets that over-emphasize the bass at the expense of clarity, the Stealth 500s still sound impressively clean in the low ranges. I didn’t notice any distortion during everyday use, though it’s also worth noting that I couldn’t seem to crank the volume to the levels where I would usually hear this degradation in quality either. If you like your games at ear-splitting volumes you might struggle to feel the full power of this device. 

Overall quality is impressive for $79.99 / £79.99, though, especially considering directional audio is still worth a shot. Apex Legends and CS:2 both benefited from additional positional cues, with footsteps and gunshots easily heard amongst the heat of battle. That spatial sound wasn’t quite as precise as more competitive-minded headsets like the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, but I could easily discern the general direction of certain effects. If you’re a truly competitive player you’ll need to move further up the price scale to notice a difference in your play, but the Stealth 500 nails the basics particularly well for the price. 

The microphone does its job in the same way, offering a nicely clear pickup for the price but without the extra tonal or volume qualities of more expensive models - it’s certainly not a patch on the BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed. 

Should you buy the Turtle Beach Stealth 500?

I’d recommend the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 to anyone who doesn’t want to go near the $100 / £100 price bracket, but wants more than a $50 / £50 headset can provide (namely a wireless connection and light form factor). In isolation, the Stealth 500 offers a solid price proposition - it’s one of the first cheaper headsets to offer both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections at an affordable rate. However, the Stealth 600’s build quality, battery life, and materials make it the better buy overall. For just $20 / £20 more you’re doubling your juice and picking up a more comfortable set of cup cushions. While the headband itself is a little less comfortable than the floating style of the 500s, the adjustability makes it a more viable option for many as well. 

The Razer Barracuda X also offers a similar proposition, with better sound quality in the lower ranges and a more adjustable form factor. You’re still getting both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, though with only 10 hours more battery life. The microphone is also detachable on Razer’s model rather than the handier flip to mute version on the Stealth 500.

How I tested the Turtle Beach Stealth 500

I used the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 headset as my only gaming headset for a period of two weeks, while also testing alongside the Stealth 600, Razer Barracuda X, Corsair HS35 V2, and Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed for a period of one week. During my full testing period I tested for competitive accuracy in CS:2 and Apex Legends, while also running Octopath Traveler and Fallout 4 on PC as well.

I tested environmental audio and definition in Horizon Forbidden West, with further PS5 directional testing accomplished in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Doom Eternal was used to test the power of the lower ranges and lower mids in a more clustered soundstage, with The Last of Us Part 2 being used for dialogue and soundstage recreation. For more information on how we test gaming headsets, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. 

We’re also rounding up all the best PS5 headsets and the best Xbox Series X headsets on the market, as well as the best Nintendo Switch headsets for on-the-go play as well.  

Sitting at a very reasonable $143 for the 2TB model and $79.99 for the 1TB model it does come in more affordable than many of its bigger-name rivals. So we know it can compete on price, but can it compete when it’s put to the test against the best SSDs for gaming? 

Having previously tested and reviewed the Nextorage NEM-PA Series SSD, a similarly unknown brand, I know first-hand that you don’t need to splash out the cash to get bang for your buck, or in this case - speed.

Design & Features

The Klevv CRAS C930 drive looks like your standard stick of SSD, nothing out of the ordinary or flashy here. With the option of this being used as an SSD for PS5, it does come with a heatsink that you can attach to the drive yourself. This is a unique design choice as this allows users on PC to easily slot the SSD into their build using their own heatsinks if needed.

Attaching the heatsink was a very straightforward task. Simply removing the adhesive strip coverings on the heatsink and attaching it to the SSD drive is all you need to do. Honestly, having only worked with SSDs that come with integrated heatsinks before I was a bit nervous to be attaching this myself, but it couldn’t have been easier.

I really like the design of the heatsink, it has a slight grille-like design towards the end of the chassis which boasts a matte black color and contrasts with the ‘KLEVV’ logo branded on the other end. Despite knowing I won’t actually be looking at the SSD or its design with it being in my PS5 99% of the time, I do appreciate the fact it looks nice and premium.

I am happy to report that in the 1% of the time that I am actually looking at the drive, it remained nice and cool despite it being used heavily in PS5 just minutes prior. Unfortunately, I am unable to measure the actual temperature of the drive while in use inside the PS5, but if the temperature post-use was any indication, the heatsink works really effectively.

Not only does it work, but it’s a very small drive and heatsink combination. It doesn’t feel heavy and it fits perfectly into the PS5’s M.2 SSD additional storage slot allowing you to lock it into place in the ‘80’ screw slot. Like with attaching the heatsink, you won’t struggle to actually install it into your console.

Performance

As I have previously mentioned the Klevv CRAS C930 M.2 2TB drive boasts an on-the-box read speed of 7,400 MB/s and a write speed of 6,800 MB/s, both impressive numbers that puts it ahead of the WB Black SN850X, the Samsung 980 Pro and the Nextorage NEM-PA Series. These are seriously impressive advertised speeds, especially considering how much you're actually spending.

Wanting to test that impressive read speed, I installed it into my PS5 and found that unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit that mark when the console formatted the drive. Coming in at 6,408 MB/s read speed, this falls short of the read speed by just shy of 1000 MB/s. This comes in less than the Nextorage NEM-PA Series which achieved 6,539 MB/s but higher than the WD Black SN850P which came in at 6,293 MB/s. 

When testing the drive in CrystalDiskMark on my PC the numbers it was achieving were in line with what the Klevv CRAS C930 box advertises. Across three tests the drive saw an average read speed of 7,327 MB/s and a write speed of 6,795 MB/s. Both are impressive numbers, but that write speed particularly impressed me as that’s only 5 MB short of what the box advertises. 

Now that the technical jargon is out of the way, how does it actually perform in real terms and real use? Well, across multiple games on my PS5, I whizzed through load screens with ease with barely enough time to think about picking up my phone to doom-scroll Twitter/X.

Jumping into Hitman 3: World of Assassination I was able to deploy Agent 47 on a top-secret mission in just 12 seconds from the main menu on my first attempt. This actually improved throughout my use as every time I entered a new level across an approximate 2-hour playtime I measured the load times. At its fastest pace, it loaded me from the mission select screen into Miami, one of the biggest maps and most populated maps in the game, in only 7 seconds. On average, I wasn’t waiting longer than 9 seconds to get right into the action.

I witnessed similarly quick speeds that Quicksilver would be jealous of in Marvel’s Midnight Suns as on average it would load me into my save in just 3 seconds from the main menu. I was incredibly impressed by this across multiple tests which all achieved similar speeds.

Not only did it load super quickly to get me into my save, but leaving the game mission hub area and actually deploying into a mission scenario, it only took me 8 seconds on average across three tests.

My final test was with the PlayStation-exclusive Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, which is specifically designed to utilize SSD technology. As we’ve seen in our tests of the Gen 5 Crucial T700 Pro, loading times were blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fast. Genuinely I could not believe that from the main menu, I loaded into the game in less than 2 seconds. Across 10 tests that I put it through, the slowest was 1.7 seconds and I feel part of that could have been human error on my part being too slow to hit the timer.

There were similarly impressive speeds when it came to transferring games between the internal storage and the additional drive. Hitman 3, which sits at a hefty 78GB, transferred to the Klevv CRAS C930 in just 30 seconds with it returning to the internal storage from the additional drive in just over 5 minutes. Midnight Suns which is half the size of Hitman 3, 43GB, made the jump in half the time - funny that - at only 15 seconds and was back on my internal storage in only 3 minutes. You won’t be waiting long to fill up that SSD, essentially. In fact, I think you’ll struggle to fill it all as 2TB provides you with more than enough space to pack with games. I moved my entire library onto the drive and still had 500GB of space left - just enough to download Warzone…maybe.

Should you buy the Klevv CRAS C930 2TB M.2? 

While Klevv might not be the most recognizable brand on the market at this point, it doesn’t mean it should be ignored for the bigger names. If you’re looking for one of the best SSDs for gaming then I think you should seriously consider purchasing the Klevv CRAS C930 2TB SSD. 

With an entry price of just $79.99 for the 1TB model or $143 for the 2TB model, you can’t really go wrong. It undercuts the Nextorage NEM PA-Series price which we consider to be the best budget SSD for PS5. And I think that’s exactly the market that this drive manages to hit. You’re not going to break the bank when picking up one of these and that’s what makes those lightning-quick speeds even more attractive. 

The box that the drive comes in proudly says ‘Born for Faster Life’ and I think that sums it up pretty perfectly. It has breathed faster life into my PS5.

How we tested the SSD 

I used the Klevv CRAS C930 2TB M.2 SSD as my primary drive inside my PS5 for a week and used it both in a testing environment where I measured load times etc but also just in day-to-day use. 

I used the PS5’s internal benchmark when installing the drive to measure the read speed in the console and transferred my library to the drive and downloaded multiple games to it for testing purposes - this included Hitman 3, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, the three games that I chose to highlight in this review. I chose the latter due to its DirectStorage prowess, as well as the fact it was designed to lean on the PS5's SSD storage. 

When testing on PC I installed the drive into my PC’s SSD slot and used CrystalDiskMark to measure the drive’s read and write speeds. I calculated the average after I conducted three unique tests.

If you want to know more about how we test SSDs here at GamesRadar+, check out our full hardware policy.

You don't need to go with a flashy internal drive. Check out the best external hard drives for gaming, the best PS5 external hard drives, and the best PS4 external hard drives.

Adapted from author Mick Herron’s fourth novel in the Slough House book series, titled Spook Street, we rejoin our not-so-merry band of dysfunctional MI5 agents as the threat levels in the UK reach a critical point following a suicide bomber targeting a shopping mall. That’s only the start of the story though, as our misfits are pulled into a case that is the show’s most personal one yet.

Spook Street

Just like with previous chapters, two storylines run concurrently here before seamlessly coming together as the connections between the mysteries are uncovered. At the park, Kristin Scott Thomas’ Taverner and co. are busy looking into the terrorist attack, trying to figure out if another bomb is likely. However, this is Taverner we are talking about, who – as ever – remains full of surprises, particularly when her reputation comes under threat. She is willing to do anything – and I really do mean anything – to protect it. The secrets about MI5 that are uncovered here are as intriguing as the case itself, which is especially true as a new player enters the ring.

That’s because this season, Thomas’ notoriously haughty Second Desk agent is also having to babysit newcomer James Callis’ Claude Whelan, a bumbling fool who has somehow landed himself the job of First Desk at MI5. Watching the condescending Taverner having to deal with Claude’s idiotic nonsense is delicious and adds a brilliant new dynamic for the show, particularly when it’s revealed that Whelan may not be the moron we first assumed he was. Let’s just say we can only hope to get more from the pair in future seasons of the show.

This time it's personal

Whilst the terrorist plot is indeed thrilling, it is significantly overshadowed by the second storyline which centers on the Cartwright family – Agent River (Jack Lowden) and his grandfather David (Jonathan Pryce). This season of Slow Horses really should come with the tagline 'this time it’s personal' as the show explores new emotional and intimate depths, with this arc’s laser focus on the Cartwrights raising the stakes like never before. 

The always brilliant Lowden takes this in his stride, giving River a new edge as his grandfather’s life is threatened. Meanwhile, Pryce also comes into his own, finally being given meaty material after only ever popping up in previous episodes. With David struggling with his memory, Pryce delivers an incredibly affecting performance that will stay with you, recognizing that his character’s erratic nature is dangerous and terrifying, but also that these are the actions of an unwell man. It’s about time the writers put the spotlight on Pryce’s former agent and it’s also a relief to see it not go to waste.

On their journey, River and David clash with Hugo Weaving’s Frank Harkness, arguably the show’s best threat to date. Harkness is someone to be very afraid of, with his mere presence sending chills down the spine. Slow Horses isn’t the type of show to feature your usual run-of-the-mill villains, so what Weaving’s violent mob boss brings to the table is incredibly fresh and scary. Seriously though, the violence that ensues in his wake is gnarly (with a capital ‘g’) and it’s clear that the show’s stunt team enjoyed bringing these brutal fight scenes to life, with the action scenes always impressing.

The rejects

However, whilst it is great to see the focus shift to the Cartwrights, the rest of our beloved ‘rejects’ at Slough House are unfortunately sidelined. The likes of Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, Christopher Chung’s Roddy Ho, Aimee-Ffion Edwards’ Shirley Dander, and Rosalind Eleazar’s Louisa Guy all have their moments, but they ultimately aren’t given too much to do this season. Which is a shame given that this hapless crew are the beating heart of Slow Horses, bringing warmth, emotion, and laughter to the truly great series. That’s not to say that isn’t present here as this season is still a complete joy to watch, but I just can’t help but feel we could have had more from them.

Especially since we have three newbies at Slough House: Tom Brooke’s mysterious hooded figure, Joanna Scanlan’s secretary who believes she deserves better, and Ruth Bradley’s matter of fact head of the dogs who doesn’t directly work at that office, but finds herself continually wrapped up in their antics all the same. This trio of additions are all excellent, especially Scanlan’s Moira who is desperate to know why she has been sent to Slough House – an enticing question we see a new character ask each season. The issue is the balance between old and new as our original favorites find themselves somewhat lost in the mix.

Despite this hiccup, it’s clear that Slow Horses is showing no signs of slowing down, delivering yet another charming and compelling season. It remains one of the best shows on TV right now and it’s quite frankly a crime it is still so underseen. But with a fifth season already filming, if you haven’t visited Slough House yourself yet, now is the time to do so.

Slow Horses season 4 premieres globally on Apple TV Plus on September 4 with new episodes airing weekly.

For more upcoming television that needs to be on your radar, here's our guide to the best new TV shows to watch out for.

With prices starting at $799 / £1,299 for the 55-inch model, the Hisense U7N is one of this year's best gaming TV contenders in terms of value. For your money, you’re getting a Quantum Dot mini LED display with HDMI 2.1 capabilities and plenty of smart features to boot, all of which will help bring out the best in your PS5 and Xbox Series X. Of course, just like the Hisense U7K I reviewed last year, this new version boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, making it a great option for PC players looking to kick back on the couch with some Steam games. 

I’ll fully admit that I prefer OLED displays over mini LED, and that’s not just exclusive to the LG OLED G4. Typically speaking, I normally end up feeling underwhelmed by the lack of realistic vibrancy provided by the latter, but the Hisense U7N has managed to keep me on side thanks to its approachable price tag and speed. There are ultimately a few caveats mixed in that keep it from true greatness, but for under $800? This screen is still going to leave you satiated.

Specs

The U7N might be a mid-ranger, but Hisense hasn’t skimped on kitting it out with impressive specs. In honesty, I’m still surprised that 65-inch 144Hz screens like the one I'm testing are available at under $1,000 at all, as it feels like 120Hz 4K TVs were a significant investment just a few years ago. To quote Bob Dylan himself, the times they are a-changin', and we’ve reached a point where living room displays can rival gaming monitors without costing the world. 

What’s perhaps more impressive is that the U7N doesn’t drop the ball in including plenty of other perks alongside its punchy panel. Dolby Vision and Atmos audio capabilities are on standby to give movies and games a premium lick of paint, and HDR10+ certification will ensure accurate levels across supported content. If you’re worried about keeping things smooth, you’ll also be able to tap into Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) abilities and eliminate any high frame rate weirdness – something I end up missing on displays without it. 

Hisense includes two HDMI 2.1 ports with the U7N, with the rest sticking with 2.0 standards. I don’t personally think that’s a biggie since most of you will likely only have a couple of devices that require the bandwidth. Those limitations may rear their head in the future if new systems like the Nintendo Switch 2 or PS5 Pro end up boasting faster refresh rates and resolutions, so just keep that in mind if you like to keep last and next-gen systems running in unison.  

Design

Entry to mid-range TVs are sometimes guilty of using too much plastic, but the U7N almost cosplays as a more expensive model. You’ll find that most of the back, bar some sections on the hump, are metal, which provides that sort of robust feel you’ll want when spending upwards of $800. The display also wears a lavish-looking silver frame that adds an elegant accent, but it’s a little thicker than the bezels you’ll find on premium panels. We’re talking millimeters of a difference, and I only really noticed since the wall behind my setup is white. 

Hisense keeps the port layout simple with the U7N, as you’ll be able to access everything from the left-hand side of the TV. Annoyingly, the power connector is located at the complete opposite end on the right, meaning you’ll have to wrangle cables in both directions. You will be able to use two plastic clips on the back of the screen’s stand to funnel wires out of sight, but you’ll still need to provide your own cable management provisions to completely hide cords. 

One sin the U7N commits that is tormenting me a little relates to its stand. Rather than keeping its feet out of the way to accommodate sound systems or even consoles, they stick out in front and come with a massive plastic facia to make them look like a wedge. Some soundbars may have enough clearance to slide over the hump, but options like the LG S95QRE simply aren’t going to fit. I completely get the appeal of a centralized pedestal, as it’ll save you picking up a new TV bench if you’re rocking something older, but this weird extra-large toenail approach isn’t demure. Isn’t cutesy.

Swinging back around to a more mindful design approach – the remote comes armed with USB-C and solar panel charging. Not to get all sentimental, but my late Granda always used to ask me why TV makers still forced us to use AA batteries when everything else is rechargeable, and I wish he was around to see this impressive channel flipper. 

It’s about the same length as a Lightsabre hilt since it has that solar array at the bottom, and I’m not really a fan of having specific streaming service buttons on a remote that could vanish in 10 years. But, considering the OLED G4’s Magic Remote still uses disposable batteries, this remote manages to make that three grand TV’s buttons feel prehistoric. 

Features

Just like most TVs that cater to gaming these days, the Hisense U7N comes with its own “Game Bar.” I’m mentioning this element first as it ties into most other features the screen has to offer, providing a speedy way to change crucial settings when using consoles and PCs. 

Side by side, the Hisense’s dedicated gaming menu has virtually the same toggles as LG’s Game Bar, alongside indicators for VRR, HDR, and FPS. These are pretty invaluable, as even a seasoned hardware reviewer like myself can sometimes get HDMI cables mixed up and not realize they’re using an old HDMI 2.0 cord. 

Yes, this did happen right after I’d just got all my wires organized, prompting me to re-discover the appropriate cable for my PS5. The result would have otherwise been not being able to use Variable Refresh Rate or hit 4K 120Hz, and the last thing you want is to realize you’ve not got either when all settled in for a gaming session. Another quick access setting I really appreciate is the AMD FreeSync toggle, as while some PC games can really benefit from the tech, others can feature weird artifacts as a result of upscaling.

Outside of gaming specifically, the U7N has a whole array of smart features that cater to streaming. For whatever reason, the UK model I’m testing uses Hisense’s own Vidaa OS while US screens make use of Google TV. For what it’s worth, the company’s own software holds up well in terms of navigation, layout, and search capabilities across apps. You’ll even be able to use Alexa or the TV’s own voice functions if you prefer hands-free.

Performance

I’m used to using wildly fast screens these days courtesy of the gaming monitor world, so it’s safe to say I’m sensitive to playing games at 60Hz. Given enough time with slower refresh rates, I’d probably reacclimatize, but with the likes of the Hisense U7N providing up to 144Hz, I’d arguably never have to. 

I’m also acutely aware that screens sometimes abandon other attributes to maximize speed. Therefore I went into my U7N testing sessions looking for a good balance between excellent colors, contrast, and sharpness alongside an elevated refresh rate. Sure, I already had an idea of the experience Hisense is capable of providing thanks to previous U7K experience, but with models like the LG OLED G4 raising the performance bar ever higher, I was curious to see whether this mid-range display could also go a step further.

Thankfully, the U7N has more than proven itself as a high-spec gaming TV, and a few visual gripes aside, it provides a great experience for the price. I spent an entire week testing the screen with high frame rate PS5 and PC scenarios and came out the other end feeling pretty satisfied with the results. 

Let’s kick things off with Overwatch 2 on PS5, as the hero shooter demonstrates both U7N pros and cons. The console will automatically switch to 120Hz since that’s the most Sony’s system can manage, and it’s more appropriate anyway considering the game runs at 120fps. Or at least, it should do most of the time – the last update has somewhat made things a bit jittery at the start of matches. 

That’s where VRR comes into play beautifully, especially since the switch from sub-60fps to 120 whenever performance picks back up is jarring. With the feature off, I felt quite distracted when I should have been psyching myself up to boost into action as Pharah. Switching Variable Refresh Rate on effectively masked the dip enough that I couldn’t immediately notice it was happening, stopping me from wanting to head upstairs and play on PC. 

In play, the U7N provided the slick results I’d expect from a 144Hz screen. Pinballing back and forth using Pharah’s boost abilities was responsive and didn’t obscure my vision, meaning I was able to rapidly bombard the enemy team without any noticeable lag or blurring. One thing I did notice, however, was that Overwatch 2 didn’t look quite as sharp at 120Hz on Hisense’s TV compared to the OLED G4, in turn demonstrating the value of the more expensive chip doing the upscaling in LG’s premium model. 

It’s been the best part of a year, but I’m still making my way through Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, which gave me a reason to use the remastered collection as a color test. Since we’re dealing with mini LED here, I was expecting contrast to take a major backseat but found that the U7N was pleasantly vibrant. Most of you out there won’t be jumping from having an OLED G4 to this cheaper Hisense option on your bench, and the results are even more impressive if you jump from a bog standard LED display to this screen. 

Moving onto PC gameplay, and jumping into shooters like Halo Infinite feels sensational at 144Hz. There’s a debate to be had over whether using controllers with faster screens is as beneficial as using a high-polling gaming mouse, but I’d argue it’s likely what playing on future-gen consoles will feel like. Everything is just that bit more responsive at this refresh rate over 120Hz, and if you want to hook up your rig in the living room without spending a bomb, the U7N is a solid solution.

The U7N’s High Dynamic Range has somewhat improved compared to last year’s model, as it provides excellent brightness laced with decent color balance. I did still pick up on some washed-out tones with HDR switched on, and your mileage will still vary based on both what you’re playing/watching. For instance, games like Cyberpunk 2077 benefit from the feature, as it adds depth to Night City’s illuminated streets, whereas shows like Star Wars: The Acolyte end up looking a bit too muted.

It’s worth noting that I did have to dial in some brightness and contrast settings myself to get things looking decent, especially with HDR enabled. All the default presets, including standard and HDR dynamic looked both blown out and a little hazy without manual intervention, but some adjustments got things looking the way they should. 

Just like other mini LED panels, backlight blooming can also be an issue, especially when the backlight is cranked up. It’s not intrusive by any means, and I typically only spotted it with wider contrast variances, but it might get on your nerves if you’re looking for that distinct OLED look. 

Audio

Built-in speakers are rarely anything exceptional, and I’d be lying if I said the U7N’s 40W setup was anything but average. I’ll take that over it being terrible or tinny, and Hisense’s integrated subwoofer is handy when trying to detect more subtle noises like footsteps in shooters. I normally play at lower volumes so as not to completely torment my neighbors with pew pew sounds, and while there’s a complete lack of detail when things aren’t cranked up, I could at least rely on the TV’s extra bass for some match-changing audio clues. 

Should you buy the Hisense U7N? 

It’s hard to argue with what the Hisense U7N provides for its price tag, and it’s a mid-range mini-LED TV champ in terms of value. If you’re debating on adding a PC to your living room, or just looking for something that’ll serve the PS5 and beyond with speedy visuals, this panel will deliver excellent results that still look the part. 

Put it this way, the 65-inch U7N comes in at under $1,000 and delivers the same 144Hz capabilities as something like the LG OLED B4 for a chunk less. Naturally, there’s more to it than that, and OLED panels still have the upper hand in terms of inky blacks and vibrant colors. If vibrancy matters to you among other subtleties, you might want to fork out more. However, most players are going to be pretty pleased with Hisense’s cheaper alternative, particularly if harnessing higher frame rates is a priority. 

How I tested the Hisense U7N 

Throughout testing, I used both a PS5 and PC to benchmark the U7N’s 144Hz refresh rate capabilities as well as assess its 4K mini LED visuals. During that time, I played games like Overwatch 2, Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, Cyberpunk 2077, and Halo Infinite alongside general use, taking comparative notes to see how it fairs against competitors and previous models. In addition, I also used apps like Disney+ to stream shows like Star Wars: The Acolyte to evaluate HDR performance. 

For more information on how we test gaming TVs and other screen types, check out our GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

 Looking for more displays? Check out the best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X and best QLED TVs for more options. Alternatively, swing by the best 4K gaming monitors for desktop-friendly panels.  

Friends, drug dealers and pro-republicans, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh (stage name: Mo Chara) and Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) find their calling when the latter is arrested. Tasked to translate Naoise’s Irish for English-speaking cops, teacher JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí) sets Naoise’s notebook rhymes to music. Soon gigging in pubs, the Irish-language rappers scrawl ‘Brits Out’ slogans on their arses, mistake ketamine for coke, call for change – and, inevitably, draw the attention of the ‘Peelers’ and worse.

Mixing fiction/reality, comedy/drama and more, Peppiatt treads tonal high wires confidently. Alongside pro turns from Michael Fassbender (Naoise’s terrorist dad), Simone Kirby (Naoise’s mum) and others, the track-suited title trio’s natural presence carries the film assuredly. 

Grounding events in near-truth, Peppiatt also flaunts energizing shows of formal playfulness and wit, albeit with debts to Trainspotting. And as things darken, a subplot involving the ‘Radical Republicans Against Drugs’ amusingly echoes Life of Brian, while fast-forwarding VHS-style over violent beatings.

Amid these outlandish detours, a call to recognize the Irish language is cannily handled. Even as the climax threatens to turn sober, the blistering soundtrack rectifies that risk: cutting to Kneecap in concert, Peppiatt fuels the film’s message with exuberant, exhilarating life.

Kneecap is released in UK cinemas on August 23 and is US theaters now. 

For more, check out our guides to upcoming movies and 2024 movie release dates.