21 Best PC Gaming Gifts For 2020: Christmas Gift Ideas For PC Gamers
The new consoles may steal the spotlight this holiday, but there are still a lot of fantastic gift options for PC gamers.
This holiday season's spotlight is dominated by the new consoles, but that doesn't mean PC gaming hasn't had any great hardware and accessories this year. Companies like Corsair and Razer have expanded their gaming keyboard and gaming mouse lines, while Elgato and HyperX have released some excellent streaming microphones. We've also seen fantastic gaming headsets from the likes of SteelSeries and Creative Labs. Yes, the PS5 and Xbox Series X might be the biggest gaming launches of the year, but PC gaming is still as great as it's ever been.
RTX 30 series graphics cards are the big new release for PC gamers this year, but they are extremely hard to find. Thankfully, there's a wide selection of available keyboards, mice, gaming headsets, and more that are worthy additions to any PC gaming setup.
If you need more gift ideas, we have a ton of great guides that can help you out, including a list of the best budget gaming monitors. Check out our picks for the best Nintendo Switch gifts this year along with the best PlayStation gifts, and best Xbox gifts, which feature a number of games and accessories that work on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. We've also picked out the best gifts for board game fans and have gift ideas for anime fans too. In our 2020 holiday gift guide hub, you'll also find great gifts for Star Wars fans, gift ideas for Marvel fans, and more.
Corsair K100 RGB gaming keyboard
The Corsair K100 RGB is a fantastic keyboard with two different switch options: mechanical and optical-mechanical. The latter features optical lasers that offer a slightly faster input over the strictly mechanical option, but both are excellent choices for PC gamers. The K100 RGB also boasts a dial that can fast-forward and rewind media, customize macros, and more. You can also program the dial to perform a number of tasks, including switching applications, zooming, and scrolling.
Razer Blackwidow V3 Pro gaming keyboard
Razer's new suite of wireless PC gaming accessories features the BlackWidow V3 Pro, a stellar keyboard that is surprisingly fast and accurate for a wireless option. It connects three different ways--2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired--which the user can swap between on the fly, allowing them to connect to multiple devices and multitask. It also features Razer's excellent key switches, of which you can choose between clicky, tactile Green or silent, linear Yellow.
Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro gaming mouse
The DeathAdder is one of Razer's most popular gaming mouse options, and it's now gotten the company's "Pro" treatment. This means PC gamers can now use it wired or wirelessly via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz USB dongle. Thankfully, its 2.4GHz wireless connection is fast and reliable. The DeathAdder V2 Pro also features two mappable thumb buttons and a DPI sensitivity of 20,000 for an extremely accurate experience.
Xbox wireless controller
The Xbox wireless controller is a great choice for PC gamers who prefer to play their games with a controller over keyboard and mouse. Of course, they'll want a great keyboard and mouse for games like competitive shooters, but when it comes to certain genres, many players find gaming with a controller more comfortable. The new Xbox wireless controller, which was designed specifically for Series X and S, is equipped with Bluetooth and Microsoft's own low-latency wireless technology, which you'll need a special USB adapter to connect with.
Xbox One wireless controller adapter
The Xbox One wireless controller adapter is how gamers can connect their controller wirelessly to their PC without Bluetooth. It's a lower latency option that is more reliable than Bluetooth as well--once a user has connected their controller, all they have to do is turn it on whenever they want to use it with their PC.
Xbox Elite Series 2 controller
If you really want to spoil someone, the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is one of the best ways to do so. It's a premium controller with excellent build quality that helps it feel sturdy and luxurious. It features four programmable back paddles and interchangeable analog sticks as well as an internal rechargeable battery and adjustable stick tension. Users can also customize many aspects of the Elite Series 2 controller with the compatible app on PC or Xbox consoles and save their settings to one of three profiles.
Logitech G923 racing wheel
For racing fans, a good racing wheel is one of the best gifts you can buy them. The Logitech C923 racing wheel is one of the company's latest models, and it features TrueForce feedback, which makes it feel like you're actually racing. There's an appropriate amount of tension in the steering wheel, and it has built-in motors to match the feel of the game's physics as well.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro gaming headset
Razer's new BlackShark V2 Pro wireless gaming headset is one of the company's best ever. It was designed with esports in mind, so gamers who like to communicate with their friends and play for long sessions will enjoy wearing the BlackShark V2 Pro. It features very comfortable ear cushions, a great-sounding microphone, and excellent audio quality that works well with Razer's THX Spatial Audio app on PC--this lets the user fine-tune their audio experience, providing virtual 3D audio that can help them determine which direction in-game sounds like footsteps or gunshots are coming from.
Creative SXFI Gamer gaming headset
Creative's SXFI Gamer isn't as well-known, but it's one of the best gaming headsets out there today. It features fantastic 3D audio, thanks to Creative's Super X-Fi technology, which makes it very easy to know exactly where the enemy is if they're trying to sneak around or flank. It's also a great headset for listening to music and movies, thanks to that 3D audio tech. The Creative SXFI Gamer features three different listening modes, too: Super X-Fi On for the full 3D audio effect, Battle Mode for gaming, and Super X-Fi Off.
SteelSeries Arctis 9 gaming headset
The Arctis 9 is the latest PC gaming headset from SteelSeries, and it's great for multitaskers. It connects to a PC (or a PlayStation console) with a low-latency wireless dongle, but users can also connect it to their phone via Bluetooth at the exact same time. This lets the wearer listen to their phone and game simultaneously, which means they can answer calls, listen to music, or catch up on their favourite podcasts during gaming sessions. This works great, thanks to the headset's volume mix, which lets the user adjust exactly how much they hear of each source.
LG UltraGear 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor
4K may be on the minds of many, but a 1440p resolution and a 144Hz+ refresh rate is where PC gaming shines most. The LG UltraGear 27-inch monitor is one of the best 1440p IPS monitors available right now, as it features great colours, a fast refresh rate, and more that make it an optimal monitor for everything from competitive shooters to slower single-player games. It also supports FreeSync (with G-Sync compatibility), which helps provide a smooth, stutter-free experience.
Razer Raptor 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor
The Razer Raptor is a more premium-feeling 1440p IPS monitor, which features a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync (with G-Sync compatibility), and a convenient cable management system built right into the monitor's stand. The Raptor's colours are the best we've seen from a monitor, and being able to route your cables through the stand keeps PC gaming setups looking clean. And like most Razer products, it's also equipped with RGB lighting.
Acer XFA240 24-inch 1080p gaming monitor
The Acer XFA240 monitor is one of the best budget monitors available right now. It's a 1080p, 24-inch display with FreeSync and a 144Hz refresh rate, which means it's great for fast-moving games like competitive shooters, racing games, and more.
Elgato 4K60 Pro capture card
When it comes to PC capture cards, nothing beats the Elgato 4K60 Pro--it's one of our choices for best capture card for a reason. It captures up to 4K and 60 FPS with HDR and supports up to 1080p240Hz and 1440p144Hz passthrough, meaning owners won't compromise their gameplay when they're not recording. Users also need to install this into a PCIe slot in their desktop PC, which means once it's installed, they don't have to worry about losing or misplacing it.
Razer Kiyo webcam
The Razer Kiyo is a great webcam for streamers and work, thanks in most part to its ring light that illuminates its user's face. This eliminates shadows and ensures anyone viewing the feed can see the subject perfectly. It may be 720p, but webcam feeds are typically smaller than the rest of the screen, so a difference in resolution won't be as noticeable. Razer's Synapse 3 software also allows the user to adjust focus, brightness, and contrast, among other things.
Logitech Streamcam
The Logitech StreamCam was designed specifically for streamers. It's capable of streaming up to 1080p and 60 FPS, though owners may need a light for the best possible image. Its auto-focus is also quite impressive, acting fast when the subject's distance from the camera's lens changes. Users are also able to flip this webcam from a horizontal position to a vertical one, making it excellent for streaming to social media platforms people typically view on their phone.
Logitech Brio Ultra 4K Pro webcam
Logitech's 4K Pro webcam is the best webcam available on the market, thanks to its accurate colours and excellent low-light capabilities. Even in a dimly-lit room at night, the 4K Pro webcam is capable of producing a clear and bright feed that looks great. The Logitech 4K Pro webcam is capable of recording at 4K and 30 FPS and streaming at 1080p and 60 FPS.
Elgato Wave 3 microphone
The Elgato Wave 3 is a sleek-looking microphone that features excellent on-board controls to let you adjust mic volume, headset volume, and the overall sound mix. Its best feature is its Clipguard technology, which protects the audio from clipping and sounding rough when the user raises their voice during recordings and livestreams. This ensures the fantastic audio quality rarely falters.
HyperX QuadCast microphone
The HyperX QuadCast is another great USB microphone. It features multiple polar patterns that make using this mic in a variety of different settings. Cardioid pulls in audio from one direction, making it great for streaming and single-person recording. Omnidirectional works well for podcasts and multi-person recording, while bidirectional is perfect for when there are only two people. Lastly, stereo works well for recording music.
Eureka Z1S gaming desk
The Eureka Z1S gaming desk is one of the best gaming desks out there, offering a sturdy metal frame that keeps everything secure, built-in RGB lighting, and a lot of bonus accessories. Measuring in at 44.5 inches long, the Eureka comes with a hook for gaming headsets, a cup holder, a mouse pad, and a stand that can hold multiple controllers.
Arozzi Arena gaming desk
The Arozzi Arena gaming desk is the desk you should get your loved one if they have a large PC gaming setup with multiple monitors. It features a 63-inch long surface area, a full-surface mouse pad, and a great cable management system. Depending on the sizes of the monitors, it can house up to three monitors and a lot of different accessories.
More Great Gift Ideas For Holiday 2020
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