The spec sheet, in plain English
Four explainers that turn numbers into decisions.
Refresh rate and response time explained for budget buyers
Refresh rate and response time are the two numbers gaming monitors print in the biggest type. They describe different things, they are measured in different ways, and a bigger number only helps if your PC or console can use it. This guide explains both in plain English, using real figures from manufacturers' UK spec sheets checked on 3 November 2026.
Wired vs wireless gaming kit: what changes, what it costs
Going wireless removes the cable, but it adds a battery, a pairing step and usually a higher price. On consoles, it also brings rules about which wireless kit is accepted at all. This guide sets out the trade-offs, using official console support pages and UK manufacturer listings checked on 3 November 2026.
Console compatibility: PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2 and PC kit
“Works with PS5” on a box can mean anything from full support to “it plugs in”. This guide sets out what each platform's own support pages say about displays, keyboards, mice and headsets, so you can check a product page against the platform's rules rather than the marketing. All platform details were checked on official Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo pages on 3 November 2026.
How to read a gaming kit spec sheet without being misled
Spec sheets are the most reliable information you can get before buying, as long as you read them carefully. The tricky parts are the small words: “typical”, “max”, “min”, a port version, a region code. This guide walks through monitor and keyboard spec sheets line by line, using real examples from UK manufacturer pages checked on 3 November 2026.