I’ve spent two years testing 300 cameras, earbuds, drones, keyboards and more: here are my favorites from each category
Last week marked my second anniversary as a reviews writer at Digitpatrox. For the last two years, I’ve had my fingers in many pies and I’ve juggled many plates, and I’ve reviewed nearly every type of product. From mechanical keyboards and mirrorless cameras to drones and hiking boots, I’ve covered everything. It’s made me more knowledgable and, along the way, I hope I’ve succeeded in sharing that knowledge with you, and have helped you make better buying decisions.
I’ve wanted to be a journalist and a writer for as long as I can remember, and I’m very privileged that I get to share my writing with you, dear reader, almost every single day. You’d be as surprised as I was when I counted the total number of products I’ve reviewed so far: it’s just under 300. That’s crazy to me, so I thought I’d share my favorite products from each category with you today.
My favorite camera
The X-T50 packs everything I need in a compact, travel-friendly camera. Its 40.2MP sensor captures stunning photos with vivid colors and plenty of detail. I love the film simulation dial which lets me quickly swap between my favorite recipes, and the camera’s straightforward control scheme makes it extremely easy to use. Featuring outstanding 7-stops of IBIS and boasting the ability to record 6.2K/30fps video, it’s the best camera I’ve used — and it looks stunning too.
My favorite drone
I’ve reviewed every quadcopter that appears on our best drones buying guide, and these nifty aerial photography devices are some of my favorite products to test. After having spent many, many hours flying drones, my top pick has got to be the DJI Mavic 4 Pro which is basically a Hasselblad with wings. In its triple camera system, you’ll find a 100MP Hasselblad lens that takes the most beautiful photos and 6K/60fps videos a consumer drone possibly can.
What I love most about the Mavic 4 Pro is the RC Pro 2 controller, which feels revolutionary. It’s extremely bright with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and highly responsive. And because the Mavic 4 Pro has a ‘Infinity Gimbal’ capable of full 360° rotation, the RC Pro 2’s screen rotates and puts the drone into vertical shooting mode, negating the need to manually toggle the orientation. All in all, it’s a solid package that’s well worth the premium.
My favorite earbuds
Alongside cameras and drones, I thoroughly enjoy testing audio gear as I love music and analyzing every aspect of a soundstage. The Sony WF-C710N are my favorite earbuds I’ve tested so far, and it has a lot to do with their sleek, see-through design and powerful sound quality. They give the pricier Bose QuietComforts a run for their money, to be honest.
With up to 33.5 hours of battery life and highly effective ANC that rivals Bose, the WF-C710Ns are some of the finest buds you can get for under $120. I haven’t stopped thinking about them since I tested them. Alongside their good looks, the earbuds also boast incredible bass response even though they’re tiny, and deliver consistent sound across genres.
My favorite headphones
Over-ear headphones are my go-to as I find them more comfortable than in-ear buds. Though I use the Marshall Monitor IIIs every day, I didn’t have the pleasure of reviewing them, so my favorite headphones that I’ve personally reviewed are the JLab Epic Lux Lab Editions. I adore these cans as they’re extremely comfortable, thanks to their plush faux leather ear cushions and light weight.
The Epic Lux Lab Editions sound fantastic too, boasting a refined and well-balanced sound profile. The wide soundstage features great sub- and mid-bass, clean and crisp treble, and outstanding lows and mids. Also packing effective ANC and long battery life of up to 90 hours (ANC off), it’s hard to beat these mid-range headphones.
My favorite speaker
For this category, I was spoiled for choice. I could have picked any of the best portable Bluetooth speakers I’ve tested but instead, I chose to go for a different kind of speaker — a party speaker. The Marshall Bromley 750 is my favorite speaker I’ve tested yet, and though it has a very specific use case, it’s the all-in-one speaker I’ve been waiting for as a guitarist and an audiophile.
The Bromley 750 doubles (or triples) as a guitar amp and a karaoke machine, and it boasts peerless sound quality. The incredible bass response makes you want to headbang while the vibrant treble and crystal clear vocals make you appreciate your favorite artists more than you did before. It also features beautiful integrated LED lighting which dances and reacts to the track you’re playing. It’s a sound and light show for the price of one.
My favorite computer speakers
You’ve got the option for wired and wireless playback, as well as a built-in GaN charger that can pump out 65W total power to charge your external devices, essentially making the QR65 a power source. The sound is phenomenal in battle sequences as well as dialogue-heavy cutscenes. Oh, and you get hi-res playback for music, so what’s not to love?
My favorite gaming controller
I LOVE gaming. Yes, the all-caps was necessary. If I have free time on my hands and I’m not spending it with my partner, you’ll find me playing RPGs on my PS5 Slim. While I love the DualSense, the second controller I have is the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded. It’s extremely customizable thanks to its 11 interchangeable components, and boy is it comfortable for hours and hours on end.
Featuring four customizable back buttons and highly responsive Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks, the Victrix Pro BFG is one of the most powerful controllers I’ve tested. The magnetic components give me a competitive edge in FPS and racing titles, and I love how easy it is to adjust their sensitivity via the user-friendly companion software.
My favorite gaming headset
Alongside the aforementioned Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is also a permanent part of my gaming setup. I haven’t used a better gaming headset, as the BlackShark V3 Pro makes my favorite games sound the best they ever have, thanks to its wide soundstage and spatial audio support.
My favorite keyboard
You know the type of product I’ve reviewed the most? Yes, even more than cameras? It’s keyboards. That’s not surprising given that there are so many out there — mechanical, Hall Effect, membrane, you name it. The one I keep coming back to and the one I use when I work from home is the Hexgears Immersion A3 TKL. It’s quiet, it’s sleek, and it’s a joy to type on.
The Immersion A3 TKL features lovely, soft, matte polycarbonate plastic (PC) keycaps that feel great to touch and type on. I can type quickly thanks to the highly responsive Kailh White Rain linear switches, and the very low-profile design means my hands don’t feel fatigued. One of my favorite features, though, is the customizable TFT screen which I can display GIFs on to add some personality to my workspace.
My favorite mouse
With a maximum DPI of 26,000 and a 1,000Hz polling rate, the M75 is excellent for casual gaming, and the one to beat when it comes to productivity. Its buttons are clicky and highly responsive, and they’re wide enough for maximum comfort too. The shape of the mouse feels lovely under my palm. I have no qualms with the M75 — it’s one of the best mice money can buy today.
My favorite monitor
I spend up to eight hours five days a week looking at a screen — or three, if I’m in the office. As the person responsible for lab testing monitors for the reviews team in the U.K., I’ve reviewed my fair share, and none have come close to the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED. It’s one of the most powerful monitors I’ve tested, for both gaming and productivity. It’s a hybrid beast.
With its 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and 4K QD-OLED 27-inch panel, it’s an utter delight to game and work on. Colors are bright, vivid and accurate, while there’s plenty of detail revealed in the shadows and dark areas, especially when playing horror games. Games feel immersive and you can lose yourself while playing them. Equally, you can lock into work because the 27-inch panel lets you make quick work of navigating massive spreadsheets and long threads on Slack.
My favorite shoes
The Zionic NXT Mids are supremely comfortable and don’t need to be broken in. Keen’s ‘Contoured Fit’ means the boots are more streamlined than a straight or wide fit, making the Zionic NXT Mids fit snugly around my feet. There’s plenty of bounce in the foam insoles so it feels like I’m walking on clouds, and they’re extremely waterproof — my feet have gone straight into ankle-deep water and no water has made it through to my socks.
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