Getting your tax return can be one of life’s greatest joys, but knowing what to spend it on can be another matter entirely. If you’re still wondering what you should treat yourself to this year, here’s a few ideas that’d even make your tax accountant a little jealous.
Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse
Price: $249
Where to buy: JB Hi-Fi
While many hardcore PC gamers love to put their cash towards a flashy new graphics card or an extra bit of RAM, the humble mouse is often overlooked. Grab yourself a Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED and you won’t make that mistake again.
Customisable for every gaming need, from Fortnite to Call of Duty, the G502 features a whopping eleven programmable buttons – meaning you can take some of your most important actions away from your keyboard and closer to your fingers. In high-pressure multiplayer matches where speed is everything, that can mean the difference between a bitter loss or satisfying victory.
We particularly appreciated the six adjustable weights, which allowed us to opt for a slightly heavier device that still allowed for plenty of quick-fire reflexes. Plus, with a battery life of up to 60 hours and 1 ms wireless connectivity, the G502 is all without question all class.
Hollow Knight
Price: $59
Where to buy: JB Hi-Fi
Hollow Knight became something of a sleeper hit when it originally released in 2017. The locally developed 2D action adventure game has you venturing down into a ruined world of insects and heroes – filled with danger and secrets.
It’s also packing a wonderfully artistic art style, and now is scoring its very own physical release for Switch and PS4. You owe it to yourself to add this to your collection and support our local video game industry.
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LEGO Overwatch
Price: From $19
Where to buy: EB Games
No, you’re never too old for LEGO and Blizzard knows it – releasing a range of LEGO-based products based on the incredibly successful Overwatch series in a range of different sizes and price points.
There’s the more basic 129-piece Tracer vs. Widowmaker set, to the more impressive 602-piece Bastion – complete with the ability to reconfigure from recon to sentry mode. No matter which set you grab, they all offer the signature LEGO charm while still being able to retain the look and visual style Overwatch fans have grown to know and love.
Plus, for those who might’ve already completed all the available sets, there are new releases due in October that will be previewed at this year’s San Diego Comic Con.
Ultimate Ears Boom 3
Price: $149
Where to buy: Harvey Norman
If you’re after music on the go, you needn’t look further than the Boom 3. Its older brother was already a force to be reckoned with, and this updated model only adds more bells and whistles to make it an attractive purchase.
With a new IP67 waterproof and dust-proof rating, the Boom 3 is even more durable, and can be submerged under water for up to 30 minutes, meaning it’s the perfect companion for any weekend or extended getaway.
Most importantly however, your music will sound better than ever with improved bass and a beefier 360-degree sound.
For those that are slightly pickier with their audio setup, again the unit’s settings can be easily adjusted to your liking via a downloadable app. The ability to link multiple speakers for an even richer sound helps round out this winner.
RIG 500 Pro Esports Headset
Price: $199
Where to buy: JB Hi-Fi
Looking for a premium headset to compliment your gaming setup? Plantronics’ RIG 500 PRO Esports Edition is a stellar choice that isn’t just incredibly comfy on your head for long play sessions, but thanks to the unit’s metal exoskeleton, you gain a level of sturdiness that is often lacking in many competitors.
Then there’s the modular design structure, allowing you to customise earcups and cables to suit a more comfortable playstyle, or save the day should you cause accidental damage – all without having to shell out for a whole new unit.
We particularly loved the in-built audio dial that, when plugged into your controller, allows you to easily adjust your game’s master volume without having to constantly revert back to your system’s audio menu – which has become something of a pet peeve of ours lately.
NERF Fortnite AR-L Elite Dart Blaster
Price: $49
Where to buy: Big W
Whether you’re playing with the kids, or just after some casual fun in the office, a good Nerf blaster never goes astray. The latest releases in company’s line-up has been inspired by video game behemoth Fortnite, but the undeniable star of the show, the AR-L, has been modelled off the elusive Golden Scar.
And make no doubt about it, this is a top tier Nerf product, complete with reloadable clip, flip-up sights and motorised delivery. It might not deliver the same blistering speeds of some of the more traditional spring-based models, but firing off ten darts in quick succession is always incredibly satisfying. You’ll want to add this one to your arsenal.
Sonos Beam Sound Bar
Price: $525
Where to buy: Amazon
We’ve spent a little while with the Beam sound bar and you can certainly consider us impressed. Its sleek black design makes it the perfect accompaniment to almost any television, and thanks to a number of digital amplifiers and full-range woofers, the sound will always be crystal clear.
It’s particularly effective at balancing softer voice tracks with the more explosive action – a real pitfall with many modern televisions. Even Sonos’ Trueplay analysis smartly judges all the acoustic factors in your room – asking you to wave your phone in the air to help it determine size, layout and décor in order to tune the sound bar for an optimal audio experience.
You’ll feel a bit silly, but it’s worth the effort. Our one piece of advice: make sure your television has a HDMI ARC port. If you don’t, setting up the Beam will be slightly more difficult.
Sphero Specdrums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3916TgLt2v8
Price: $109
Where to buy: JB Hi-Fi
It’s understandable if you’re initially confused by Sphero’s Specdrums, but the app-enabled musical rings are a fascinating bit of technology. All you need to do is throw a ring on your finger, connect to the device’s app and start tapping on the included colour keyboard to start mixing sounds, beats and loops to your hearts content.
What’s even more impressive is that you can do away with the keyboard entirely and start tapping on anything and everything in your day-to-day life. From clothes, to furniture and fruit, the Specdrums intelligently pick up the item’s colour and transforms it into a relevant sound.
We might not be the most musically gifted people around but still had a blast playing around with our Specdrums all the same – though you might want to grab the two-ring pack for a bit more flexibility.
Turtle Beach Recon 70 headset
Price: $59.95
Where to buy: EB Games
If the RIG headset is a little bit out your price range, then Turtle Beach’s Recon 70 is the perfect alternative. With high-quality 40mm speakers and over-ear synthetic leather cushions, Turtle Beach knows how to keep your game sessions comfy no matter how long you play.
The included high-sensitivity microphone does well to pick up your voice for group chats, and perhaps best of all, although the headset does have different versions suited to each of the main systems, the 3.5mm jack means that you can swap between multiple systems should you own more than one.
That means whether you’re gaming at home or on the go, your Recon 70’s can travel alongside you as well.
