This gift guide shows some of our favorite gaming hardware and accessories of the year. These items are all platform agnostic and can be used with a multitude of platforms to enhance your experience. If you’ve already got everything on our Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One then pair those items with the ones on our 2018 gaming hardware and accessories gift guide to have an even better time. TVs, monitors, gaming chairs, and more, we’ve got you covered.
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen)
The Amazon Echo Show wraps a 10-inch screen and excellent speakers into an Alexa-powered home hub. It might seem silly to choose the Show over the Dot, but the screen is convenient and can display lyrics, YouTube videos, and tons of other convenient info. I never thought a voice-assistant would be worthwhile, but yelling at Alexa to turn on or off the TV and lights has saved me so much hassle I don’t think I could live without her anymore.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $179.99
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Audeze Mobius Bluetooth Headphones
The Audeze Mobius headphones are pricey, but have a great sound (especially the bass) and some unique features. They contain a proprietary head-tracking technology which adjust the output when you turn your head. This gives the surround sound a more “surround” feeling and works great with Dolby Atmos. They’re compatible with PC, consoles (except the PS4), and mobile devices, so you’ll be sure to get a lot of use out of them.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $399.99
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – BenQ EL2870U 28-inch 4K HDR Monitor
Finally, 4K HDR monitors are becoming affordable, and the BenQ EL2870U is a great purchase for anyone wanting to enter the wonderful world of UHD PC gaming. This 28-inch monitor has a 1 ms response time and supports AMD FreeSync. Some PC gamers might be disappointed by the 60 Hz refresh rate, but if you want 4K resolution you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a video card that can run current games above 60fps, anyway.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $399.99
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Blue Yeti Blackout USB Microphone
If you want great sound without the hassle of messing with an XLR board, the Blue Yeti is one of the best USB microphones you can get. The cardioid, bidirection, omnidirectional, and stereo settings allow the mic to function well in any recording scenario, and it produces warm, clear sound with a minimum of setup.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $120.00
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Denon AVRX3400H 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
A great screen needs great sound to compliment it, and an A/V receiver should be high on the list of priorities for gamers that want to get the most out of their systems. The Denon AVRX3400H is a good entry level receiver that supports up to 7.2 channels of surround sound. All 8 HDMI inputs support 4K UHD HDR, and there are even three composite and three component inputs so you can hook your legacy systems up as well.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $599.99
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam
This business-grade webcam might seem like overkill for normal applications. However, if you plan on streaming or making vlogs you’ll appreciate the ease to which this webcam can adjust to various resolutions. Whether you want to shoot fullscreen or picture-in-picture, you’ll get a sharp, steady image with the Logitech c930e.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $66.00
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – NVIDIA SHIELD TV Gaming Edition
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV came out over two years ago, but it’s still the best Android set-top box you can get. The SHIELD TV outputs 4K HDR and continues to receive regular updates for NVIDIA that keep it relevant years after release. If you have an NVIDIA GPU in your PC this box is an even better value as Gamestream beats out Steam Link when it comes to streaming your PC games to your TV.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $169.00
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – OPSEAT Grandmaster Series 2018 Gaming Chair
If you spend any amount of time in front of your computer, you want to make sure you have a chair that gives support and comfort. It also helps if it looks cool too. The OPSEAT Grandmaster is a sturdy and comfortable chair that features removable lumbar and head rest pillows as well as a plethora of adjustability options. It’s hard to get a chair to feel “just right,” but with the OPSEAT Grandmaster you’re much more likely to find that sweet spot.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $299.00
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Sony XBR55X900F 55-Inch 4K UHD Smart LED TV (2018 Model)
The Sony XBR55X900F is a great compromise between features and price. This 55-inch TV won’t blow your mind like an OLED monitor, but it’s got a sharp picture, and importantly, it’s versatile. With the silent war between HDR formats going on, you’ll want a set that will remain relevant for years to come. With support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, the XBR55X900F will ensure you’re able to use pretty much any device and not be barred from that sweet, sweet high-dynamic-range.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $1,198.00
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – SteelSeries Stratus XL Bluetooth Controller
If you like the grip of an Xbox One controller, but the layout of the DualShock 4, then the SteelSeries Stratus XL is for you. This Bluetooth controller lends itself well to PC and mobile gaming applications and is a great dedicated controller if you’re tired of having to make your console pads pull double duty.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $42.27
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – Synology 4 Bay NAS DiskStation DS918+
If you’re a data hoarder like I am, you need a decent NAS. While the Synology DS918+ isn’t as flexible as a self-built system running FreeNAS, it’s a great introduction to the world of Network-Attached Storage. It comes standard with an Intel Celeron J3455 processor which is stout enough to encode 4K for streaming to devices in or outside of your home. You can expand the included 4 GB of DDR3L RAM to turn the DS918+ into a haven for virtual machines, and you can even install an M.2 SSD to use as a cache for frequently accessed files.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $549.99
Gaming Hardware and Accessories Gift Guide 2018 – ViewSonic PX706HD 1080p Projector
If you’re looking to throw a gaming block party for New Year’s, the ViewSonic PX706HD is an affordable, high-quality projector that can project an image on screes up to 300-inches. It’s a short-throw projector, so you don’t have to worry about placing it an obnoxious distance back from your screen, and the lamp is rated up to 15,000 hours. It also has reduced input latency which makes it perfect for gaming applications.
Buy it Now: Amazon – $599.99
