What should you get for the gaming Dad in your life this year? Or, perhaps you're the Dad and need to drop some hints for family asking for ideas. Here are some great ones to keep your gaming session top-notch.
Satechi 2-in-1 headphone stand and wireless charger
This elegant, stylish stand is a practical gift that doesn’t take much room but yet provides excellent dividends. First of all, it’s a headphone stand so Dad can store his headphones nicely without them being sat on, lost, or otherwise left lying about. And secondly, it’s a 7.5W wireless charger, too, so he can charge his smartphone, earbuds, or any other wireless charging item.
Now, if it can charge wirelessly, that means it needs power - and yes, it has a USB-C input and also a 5W USB-C output. So, you can charge something else simultaneously via USB-C - including your headset.
Note that the box comes with one USB-C to USB-C cable, so you’ll need to provide a USB-C wall socket yourself, as well as a USB-C to whatever cable for charging things. For instance, if Dad has Apple AirPods Max, you’ll want a USB-C to Lightning cable, and for most other headset brands, USB-C to USB-C.
iTWire uses one of these ourselves; it's an attractive metal unit with a robust base, as well as a cable tidy clip on the stand to wrap cords around. A handy LED indicator lets you know the power/charging status.
And if Dad doesn't have a good set of headphones, then keep reading ... we've got not one but two here for you.
EPOS hybrid H3 Pro gaming headset
EPOS are masters of audio, and they've done it again with the hybrid H3 Pro. This headset delivers secure, low-latency wireless performance with multiple connection options and dual connectivity. Enhanced noise cancellation with ANC and superb acoustic seal eliminates ambient noise, allowing total immersion in the game experience.
The detachable magnetic microphone adds versatility to this lightweight adjustable headset. It comes in black, white, and green. It works with your PC and laptop, as well as the PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, mobile phone, and VoIP softphones.
Hey, if Dad has to take constant Teams or Zoom calls for the office, let him do it in the comfort and clarity of a gaming headset designed for long-time use.
Keep reading for another great headset choice too!
Elgato HD60X video capture
The Elgato HD60X box allows your Dad to play and create with compromise. This box is super simple to use, effortlessly capturing gameplay recordings so Dad can replay his victories over again, taunt his friends, and show them off on YouTube and other platforms.
The unit provides 1080p60 HDR capture, with 4K60 HDR passthrough - what that means is you slot it between your games console (or any device, really) and TV; plug the HDMI out cable from your console into the Elgato HD60X, and then plug its HDMI out into your TV. It’s that easy. It will pass 4K video through - so there’s no loss of quality - while capturing in HD. It’s optimised for PS5 and Xbox has ultra-low latency, supports HDR10, handles audio, and allows you to connect and review video via USB 3.0. The box contains the HD60X game capture, a USB 3.0 A-to-C cable, and an HDMI 2.0 cable.
Let Dad stream or record all the content he wants, with no watermarks or time limits. Slide back in time even to capture epic moments retrospectively. It integrates with the Elgato stream deck if you have one (or want one) and weighs a mere 91g.
Philips Hue HDMI sync box and gradient lighting
Chances are you are already aware of the Philips Hue smart lighting range. It’s an incredible display of colour, with globes that swap with your current ones, as well as other fancy lighting solutions. Control your lights with your favourite digital assistant, with the Hue app, with IFTTT automation, and more.
The Philips Hue HDMI sync box and gradient lighting are two separate items that work together to bring your games and movies outside the TV and onto your walls.
Let me clarify: the sync box contains four HDMI inputs and an HDMI out. It also has a USB port that you connect to a spare USB port on your TV which simply tells the sync box if your TV is on or off. The sync box requires you to have a Hue bridge already - which you can get with a Hue starter kit - but if you do, it gives you a world of options to bring your lights to life based on the action on screen. You can connect the output to your TV and the inputs to all different devices.
The lightstrip comes separately but caters for 65" - 70” TVs; affix it around the rear edges of your TV using specifically-designed mounts and with 45-degree angle protection for optimal light effects. You can blend multiple colours in one light strip. It is a fast and easy way to make your living room or games room absolutely come to life with an explosion of action and bring more incredible thrills from games and shows.
The lightstrip requires the Hue HDMI sync box for the best effect, or you can use it without via the Hue Sync desktop app. The sync box gives you greater flexibility and ensures the lights are constantly responding, but the desktop app is a lower-cost option too.
The lightstrip provides 1100 lumen at 4000K, 2x corner connectors, 3x straight connectors, a power supply, and a 1.5m power cable. It’s rated for 25,000 hours and 50,000 on/offs.
This is an ultra-lightweight MMO / MOBA mouse to aid Dad in dominating his favourite gaming genre.
It includes a USB-C to USB-A cable, USB-C wireless receiver, and an extension adapter.
The mouse's secret sauce is the SteelSeries TrueMove Air Sensor - what this means is incredible precision; the sensor features 18,000 CPI, 400 IPS, 40G acceleration and tilt tracking. The mouse becomes an extension of your hand, reacting immediately and fluidly to your will.
The mouse also includes 18 programmable buttons and is rated for 80 million clicks. It connects via wired USB-C, 2.4G wireless, and Bluetooth. It has up to 150 hours of battery life and provides three-zone RGB lighting.
It feels so light, yet also solid. Its matte finish lets you look right into it in a unique design. Pair the mouse with SteelSeries' GG software to enjoy GameSense integration, program macros, customise lighting effects and change other mouse settings.
Corsair HS80 premium gaming headset
Another excellent headset to consider is the Corsair HS80; Corsair is well-known for its RAM and solid-state drives but deserves huge accolades for its headsets, keyboards, mice, and other devices.
The HS80 RGB Wireless is an affordable, attractive headset. It’s designed for comfort with a band to prevent stress on your head and natural-fitting earcups. It supports spatial audio and is a great headset choice.
It also must be heard for itself; technically, iTWire can explain it has a pair of custom-tuned 50mm high-density neodymium audio drivers, but you can only appreciate this by using it - this headset allows you to catch every sound in exquisite detail with an expanded frequency range of 20Hz - 40,000Hz.
Again, not only is it a tremendous gaming headset but if Dad is on Teams and Zoom meetings all day, let him do so in comfort. Forget the bland business headset - a gaming headset is designed for long-term use and is comfortable and durable from inception. Let Dad work and play in style.
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David has been computing since 1984 where he instantly gravitated to the family Commodore 64. He completed a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from 1990 to 1992, commencing full-time employment as a systems analyst at the end of that year. David subsequently worked as a UNIX Systems Manager, Asia-Pacific technical specialist for an international software company, Business Analyst, IT Manager, and other roles. David has been the Chief Information Officer for national public companies since 2007, delivering IT knowledge and business acumen, seeking to transform the industries within which he works. David is also involved in the user group community, the Australian Computer Society technical advisory boards, and education.
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