Welcome to my first curated shopping guide at Region Free. Here, I'll put together links to the best prices and stores for every piece of gear that I've reviewed this year. These are products that I've tested thoroughly and would recommend to close friends and family. The links are not affiliates, they're simply the easiest and most consumer friendly way I've found to direct you to the best deal.
Merry Christmas, friends, and come back regularly to find new updates as I will constantly update this list with new items towards the holidays.
Everyday carry gear
Sony ULT Power Sound
+ Fantastic battery life
+ Durable and portable
- Highs and mids could be better
- Attention grabbing, which is a blessing and a curse
There’s little I can say about the technical side of the Sony Ult Power Sound series that hasn’t been said elsewhere. At 150 Euros, they’re the best deal you can get in the mid-range headphone space. They have superb noise cancelling, they’re comfortable, and they attract attention in the best way possible with their smooth, muscular styling.
The soundscape is great and you’ll have a great time regardless of your preferred genre; even movies sound pretty dang great on these.
I tested the Sony ULT Wear in a variety of environments in four different countries, and everywhere I went, I noticed how happy I was with the sound, even on an airplane, and how little I worried about things like battery life or durability.
Best mid-range phone: Honor 400
+ Surprisingly capable camera
+ Terrific gaming performance on medium settings
+ Stylish and durable
- UI is not for everyone
- Lots of unnecessary AI features
In a nutshell, the Honor 400 is a surprisingly impressive device that has continuously kept me on my toes. When it arrived for testing, I figured I would at least find it a passable, if not particularly noteworthy.
It delivers on every aspect I want out of my phone. Yes, there are compromises, and I wish it had better battery life and more RAM, but I'm more than willing to live with those issues when everything else works so well.
Most importantly, the Honor 400 achieves the one thing a smartphone should: It made me imagine a life in this particular ecosystem, and I'm finding it hard to find reasons against the idea.
Best high-end phone: OnePlus 15
+ Hugely impressive battery life
+ Incredible screen
+ Fantastic set of cameras
+ RAM for days and days
- The new side button is useless
- AI only occasionally helpful
The big powerhouse phone of the year with incredible battery life, solid and dependable camera, and a gorgeous screen, the OnePlus 15 is everything you'd want out of an Android phone.
G515 Rapid TKL keyboard
+ Incredible input speed and tactility
+ Fantastic build quality
+ Great backlighting
- No ten-key option
I have one major drawback with the G515 Rapid: it doesn't have the numpad. Yes, I know, it's already in the name. This is a gaming keyboard first and foremost. But it's so good at all the other stuff, too, that a part of me wishes it had the full widgth of a "normal" keyboard.
Apart from that, I can't think of a single thing I'd change about it. The G515 Rapid is an effortlessly great peripheral, a superb refinement of what makes Logitech's products so good, and one of the most comfortable and satisfying computer accessories I've used in years.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600
+ Superb sound quality for the price
+ Comfortable and sturdy
+ FANTASTIC battery life
- Mic could be a little longer
If you’re in the market for a solid headset with long battery life, excellent audio quality, and superb comfort, I couldn’t recommend the Turtle Beach Stealth 600s more warmly. They punch way above their price category and deliver everything you’d expect out of higher specced devices for half the price.
As for price, the Stealth 600 starts at 40 Euros higher than the 500 series, around 100€ currently. For that, you get a noticeably better build quality, a slightly better battery, and the same all-around quality connectivity.
Nacon Switch 2 Hard Shell Carry Case
+ Durable and sturdy
+ Easy to carry and comfortable to hold
+ Fits 12 Switch cartridges
- And yet somehow bulkier than it needs to be
The Nacon Deluxe Carrying Case for the Nintendo Switch 2 does exactly what the name promises; no more, no less.
That should be enough, right? This is a carrying case. It's not like that needs a lot of explaining or deep dives into how it works. But instead of just faffing about at home with one, never actually using it for its intended purpose, I decided to take both it and my expensive Switch 2 out and about to see just how reliable Nacon's latest offering really is.
Simply put, reliable enough that I stopped worrying about my console entirely. Which for someone with chronic anxiety is a huge step.
For Gamers
PS Plus Subscription
+ A fantastic rotation of games every month
+ Stellar lineup of old-school titles
+ Cloud saves work everywhere
- Still surprisingly limited considering Sony's massive catalog
- Paying for multiplayer still hurts the soul
It's hard to argue that the PlayStation Plus service isn't an essential deal, especially if you're someone still figuring out what to play on the vast ecosystem. It delivers essential gaming at a surprisingly acceptable cost when you consider offerings, and the retro conservation is still the best we've got from any competitor.
If you have a PlayStation, you basically want and need a PlayStation Plus subscription.
If you need recommendations or a place to start with the subscription, don't forget to check out my recommendations of the best games to play from PlayStation history.
Nvidia GeForce NOW
+ Gaming made possible everywhere
+ Easy to use and set up
- Spotty connections can ruin the experience
- Renting hardware in perpetuity is iffy
I grew up in a time where gaming cafe's where hugely popular. When I studied abroad in Australia, I had no money for a gaming console, let alone a PC, but on occasion I could swing an afternoon playing my favorites at the local establishment.
GeForce NOW operates on the same basic idea, but without the need to find a cafe or even leaving the comfort of your own home. It works on PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, and even some Smart TV's, rarely requiring more than a simple login to your account.
The price points are reasonable, too. You can even get started with a free account, which should do in a pinch for most casual gamers. But there's something truly wild about the ability to just start up your phone and play any AAA-title that you own on Steam just like that.
There are downsides, including the occasionally wobbly connections and input lag on a TV setup, but they're surprisingly easy to overlook when the actual experience is this seamless and fun.
Joonatan Itkonen
Controllers
Nintendo Switch Minecraft Forest Biome REALMz Wireless Controller
+ Fun and quirky
+ Built for kids
+ Durable!
- Built for kids
“Oh my God, you’ve got a Steve!”
That was the reaction of my not-easily-impressed family friend in their early teens. I’m not sure if it was an entirely sincere display of excitement, or tinged with that backhanded snark they employ so efficiently, but there was something that broke the hard surface of pre-teen malaise.
When I reported my first impressions from Gamescom on PDP’s foray into making controllers collectible and communal again, I remember thinking that while cute, I didn’t “get” the point entirely. Now, having used the controller and seen how kids from 6 and up react to seeing it, I do. Where my generation was all about decals and personalized colors for their controllers, this younger generation appreciates the novelty of collectible characters and seeing the inner workings of their toys.
On that front, the REALMz series has impressed me more than once. It’s a perfect encapsulation of the fun that is Minecraft, packed into a solidly built and well-crafted controller you can genuinely recommend to anyone.
PDP Rematch GLOW Wireless Controller- Boo-Ho
+ Super cute and well-designed
+ Superb alternative for Pro Controller
+ Amazing battery life
- Slightly smaller than Pro Controller
The PDP Rematch series controllers have consistently impressed me over the past year. Basically anything in their lineup is worth getting, but I'm partial to this delightfully silly glow-in-the-dark Boo-Hoo variant, which features the shy ghost from the Super Mario series.
In terms of quality, usability, and sheer fun factor, the Rematch Glow should be a strong contender for families with multiple users who want a more personalized gaming experience. It's a high-quality, super fun device that consistently made me smile when I saw it lying on the table or picked it up for a gaming session.
PDP and Turtle Beach have knocked it out of the park once again and delivered an accessory that is easy to recommend for just about everyone.
iMP Mini Arcade Pro for Nintendo Switch
+ Superb build quality
+ Easy to put together and take apart
+ Joystick feels premium and features no input lag
+ Clicky and tactile buttons
- Difficult to insert and remove game cartridges
- Ugly AI art plastered on the sides
The Mini Arcade Pro is an easy recommendation for any Switch fan, and it should make for a delightful Christmas gift to any geeks looking to replicate a little bit of the arcade magic. Younger audiences in particular will love the sturdy and vibrant aesthetic. It makes the console feel bigger somehow.
It won't replace your Pro controller and it isn't a solution for everything, but it isn't meant to be one. Instead, it's a joyful reminder that controllers used to be fun. Accessories had a vision; an opinion of what gaming could look like. That's precisely what the Mini Arcade Pro achieves.
It reminds us of a collective past and allows us to pass that love to the next generation.
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited
+ Gorgeous
+ Grippy and textured
+ Easily adjusted buttons and joysticks
+ Fantastic display and settings
- Big old chungus that won't be for everyone
The Revolution X Unlimited is a solid performer in terms of battery life, especially if you run it in power saving mode. Charging time is equally fine, usually taking about two hours from zero to full. The charging dock is quite a beast though, so you'll want to make sure you have adequate space for it.
As for competition, there are few other controllers that offer this kind of quality with such reliablity and adjustibility. Razer's lineup is impressive, especially the Wolverine P3 Pro and might be more suitable for those looking for a pure FPS experience.
But for those looking for an all-rounder controller, something that is equally impressive in any genre of gameplay, you won't find a better fit than the Nacon Revolution X.
Toys and gadgets
Nintendo Alarmo
+ Cute and easy to use
+ It's a Nintendo alarm clock!
- The technical limitations are a bummer
Like most people, my smartphone is also my alarm clock.
It’s not a great solution as it usually leads me to doomscroll late at night when I should be going to bed. Even so, I can’t remember when I last had a real clock on a bedside table. It was probably when I was a child, if then.
So, as a concept, the Nintendo Alarmo isn’t something I need, but was something that I wanted. That’s an important distinction, one that I think Nintendo understands better than almost any other company. This is a product that is so cute and so uniquely Nintendo, that it coasts by on sheer charm alone.
Mova Z50 Ultra
+ Reliable and easy to set up
+ Replacement parts are cost-effective and available
+ Easy to maintain and upkeep
Most future technology creates a problem that needs a solution. MOVA’s Z50 Ultra is a solution to a timeless one. It doesn’t eliminate cleaning from your life entirely, but it does make it so easy that it feels like a genuine change in the way that I perceive chores in the future.
Easy to use, reliable, and thoroughly impressive in its implementation of cutting edge technology, the Z50 Ultra is everything we were promised by The Jetsons, only real and accessible. You have to see it to believe it.
After a year of use, I couldn't go back to life without the MOVA. I've had to only the barest amount of maintenance on it, and even then the spare parts were a single store order away. If you can manage the high initial cost, it's the best single purchase you can make for household technology.
Best Blu-ray and 4K
Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
+ The best audiovisual presentation of the film, ever.
- Missing some of the extras the old DVD and Blu-ray used to have
Master and Commander is one of the best films ever made, and its 4K presentation lives up to expectations in the technical department. As an update to the 2008 Blu-ray, it is a grandiose win in every way, except for the extras, which are a downright slap in the face for fans.
While it's unlikely we'll see an updated version or a collectors edition any time soon, one can only hope that one day the studio will remember how much work went into this picture, and how it's important for preservation to celebrate that by documenting it for future generations.
The Outlaw Josey Wales 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
+Superb audiovisual presentation
+ Exactly the same extras as other regions
+ One of Eastwood's best westerns...
- ... though arguably quite dated today
Josey Wales is a difficult picture to love, even though Eastwood's grand directing and fantastic leading performance carry it into the annals of Western classics.
On a technical level, this 4K release is superlative, and features the high standard that Warner Bros. has now established for their home video releases. At a time when people worry for the future of physical media, it's wonderful to see a studio really put in the effort and release classic cinema without any compromises on this level.
This is an essential purchase, no questions asked.
Dune Prophecy: Season 1 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
+ Stunning Dolby Atmos mix
+ Dark levels way better than on streaming
- Extras are merely OK
I'm a huge fan of Frank Herbert's books, and I love Villeneuve's take on the material as well. After initial hesitation over a prequel, I've come to fully love Dune: Prophecy on its own terms as well. This is a fantastically crafted and mature exploration of fanaticism, faith, and revenge that deserves the attention of even those who aren't fans of sci-fi.
The 4K release is top-of-the-line, with superb audiovisual presentation and some decent extra material to boot. The Nordic edition is decent, though completionists will want to explore import options if they really want the most feature-rich version available.
For all others, this is a quintessential addition to the Dune saga.
Nosferatu 4K Ultra HD
+ Incredible audiovisual presentation
+ The best adaptation of the material to date
+ Eggers has a fantastic commentary track
- Extras are naff otherwise
Nosferatu was one of my favorite films of 2024, and I'm thrilled the physical release is just as high quality. On a purely technical level, it's the kind of demo disc you'd want to use for showing the best that 4K can offer.
The extras are a bit light, and I sincerely hope we'll one day get a true definitive edition with even more deep dives into the production process.
That said, the feature commentary is an all-time great one, and combined with the pristine audiovisual presentation makes Nosferatu an easy recommendation for everyone who loves their horror classy and timeless.
