Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

All the new tech that blew our reviewers away in May 2022

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
A new standard
Jump to details
Sonos Ray
Sonos Ray soundbar
The start of something awesome
Jump to details
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C Hub Monitor U3223QE
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C Hub
Deep blacks, more power
Jump to details
LG PuriCare AeroTower
LG PuriCare AeroTower
Powerful, quiet, effective
Jump to details
Falcon Northwest Tiki
Falcon Northwest Tiki
Mini PC gaming, perfected
Jump to details
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW
Big buds, big sound, big battery
Jump to details
steelseries arctis nova pro wireless review 10
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

A new standard

Pros
  • Top-tier audio quality
  • Expansive Sonar software
  • High-quality ANC
  • Comfortable fit with multiple adjustment points
  • Fully retractable microphone
  • Dual USB inputs
Cons
  • GameDAC doesn't fully integrate with Sonar
  • Microphone is prone to pick up noise
  • Spatial audio can have nasty interactions with EQ

There are wireless gaming headsets and there are wireless noise-canceling headphones. Two product categories with two different use cases.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is, somehow, the best of both worlds. The ANC (active noise canceling) is better than any gaming headset we've tested, and the microphone is fully retractable, so it's hardly noticeable. Of course, the audio quality is what matters most, and the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless proves again to be a notch above the competition.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
A new standard
sonos ray review 00005
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos Ray soundbar

The start of something awesome

Pros
  • Compact for versatile placement
  • Impressive sound for its size
  • Expandable to a full 5.1 system
  • Easy setup and control
Cons
  • Pricey for a small soundbar
  • Lacks a bit of midrange detail

Sonos has made a name for itself with its wireless multiroom audio. It's also released a few soundbars over the years, but none are cheap. That's where the Sonos Ray comes in. It's still not cheap, but at $279, it's significantly cheaper than anything else Sonos has to offer.

And what you get in return is a compact soundbar that sounds remarkably impressive for its size. It's easy to set up, and of course, it's expandable to a full 5.1 system when you're ready to take the plunge.

Sonos Ray
Sonos Ray soundbar
The start of something awesome
dell ultrasharp 32 4k usb c hub monitor u3223qe review front angle view
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C Hub

Deep blacks, more power

Pros
  • Large, sharp 4K IPS panel
  • Excellent image quality
  • Truly useful USB-C hub and KVM switch
  • Outstanding build quality and design
  • Standout warranty and support
Cons
  • Expensive
  • HDR support is so-so

Next-gen panel types like OLED and mini-LED offer significantly deeper blacks and brighter peak luminance, but they are still extremely rare, especially in large PC monitors. This new Dell monitor takes a different approach, though, using LG's new "IPS Black" technology to achieve better contrast.

While not quite competitive with OLED, the new Dell UltraSharp 32 4K monitor (U3223GE) definitely takes IPS displays to the next level. On top of that, this UltraSharp monitor features the same great design and useful ports (and even a KVM switch!) you'd expect from Dell's premium line of displays.

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C Hub Monitor U3223QE
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K USB-C Hub
Deep blacks, more power
lg puricare aerotower review powerful quiet effective
Image used with permission by copyright holder

LG PuriCare AeroTower

Powerful, quiet, effective

Pros
  • Quiet
  • Efficient purification
  • Multiple cooling modes and fan speeds
  • 10-year warranty on the motor
Cons
  • No heating capabilities

If you didn't think there was room for innovation in a simple air purifier, check out what LG is doing with its PuriCare AeroTower. The AeroTower works to improve air quality in your room as an oscillating fan. In our testing, we found the purification to be surprisingly efficient, all while staying quiet.

It comes with multiple cooling modes and tracks all the purification through the app. While $600 is a lot to spend on an air purifier, this is the best one we've tested so far.

LG PuriCare AeroTower
LG PuriCare AeroTower
Powerful, quiet, effective
falcon northwest tiki review 2022 08
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Falcon Northwest Tiki

Mini PC gaming, perfected

Pros
  • Blazing 4K gaming performance
  • Fantastic thermal design
  • Top-notch build quality
  • Accessible upgrades
  • Standard three-year warranty
  • Limited fan noise
Cons
  • Limited Intel configurations

Prebuilt gaming PCs usually come with compromises, no matter how good they are. The Falcon NW Tiki, though, is a compact gaming PC that is nearly perfect.

The thermal design is to-notch, and for a PC of its size, it produces very limited fan noise. All that results in fantastic 4K gaming and easy upgrades well into the future. And of course, the build quality, cable management, and customization options are all immaculate. If you can afford the premium price tag that comes with a boutique PC like this one, you won't be disappointed.

Falcon Northwest Tiki
Falcon Northwest Tiki
Mini PC gaming, perfected
audio technica ath cks50tw review 00020
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW

Big buds, big sound, big battery

Pros
  • Great sound with massive bass
  • Huge battery capacity
  • Very good noise cancellation
  • Bluetooth Multipoint
  • IPX4 water resistance
  • aptX Adaptive
Cons
  • No wireless charging
  • No wear sensors
  • Bulky charging case

These Audio-Technica wireless earbuds are the opposite of Apple's iconic AirPods. They're black, bulky, and have tremendous bass. When's the last time you've been able to say that about a pair of noise-canceling earbuds?

The buds also come with both very good ANC and long battery life. You'll have to put up with the large case, of course. But when it comes to battery life and low-end performance, the CKS50TW have no competition at its price point.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW
Big buds, big sound, big battery

Editors' Recommendations

Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
The best new gadgets we reviewed in January: Earbuds, PCs, vacuums, and more

January can be a slower month for new tech releases. The shopping season is behind us, as is the insanity of new product releases to get announced at CES.

And yet, we're always busy working on reviewing unique, new gadgets to find the very best. So from affordable wireless earbuds to a posture training device, these are the best gadgets we reviewed in 2022.

Read more
iPad Pro vs. MacBook Air: It’s closer than you’d think
Two iPad Pro tablets next to each other against a black background. Both have Apple's Magic Keyboard case.

You might assume that the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air are worlds apart, but they’re actually pretty similar devices when you think about it. Both are built for portability, come in two display sizes, and cost roughly the same. Picking between them is trickier than it first looks.

We’ve put together this guide to help you choose the right device, no matter your budget or use case. Whether you prioritize performance, portability, display, software, or something else, you should feel much more confident in your decision by the end of this article.
Price

Read more
Common keyboard problems and how to fix them
logiech ergo k860 review logitech keyboard 4

Few things are more frustrating than when your keyboard stops working. From keys not responding correctly to power issues and backlighting problems, a lot can go wrong with keyboards, even if you have one of the best keyboards. Let’s take a look at common problems users experience and which solutions can get you back to typing ASAP.

The keyboard becomes unresponsive
If the keyboard was working fine before but suddenly stops working altogether, it's probably a power or software issue. If you have a wired keyboard, check that your connection to the computer is stable and in place. Unplug it and plug it back in again if necessary. For wireless keyboards, check that they still have battery life and plug them into a source of power, or replace the power if they've run out.

Read more