mibeal's stats
- Review count194
- Helpfulness votes125
- First reviewJuly 19, 2016
- Last reviewJune 11, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count7
- Helpfulness votes12
- First answerDecember 4, 2017
- Last answerMay 4, 2020
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
CORSAIR~s VANGUARD 96 pulls off the astonishing feat of shrinking a full keyboard with arrow keys, a tenkey pad, an LCD screen, rotary dial, and 6 programmable G-keys into a super-compact frame. Featuring wobble-free pre-lubricated CORSAIR MLX switches, it~s also hotswappable, supporting compatible 3-pin and 5-pin switches. The stunning LCD screen takes keyboard personalization to the next level with animations, stats, and game integration support. Quadlayer sound dampening provides satisfying keypress acoustics, and 8,000Hz hyper-polling delivers lightning-fast inputs. VANGUARD 96 also features Elgato Virtual Stream Deck integration, FlashTap SOCD handling, and easy customization via our web-based utility, CORSAIR Web Hub.
Customer Rating
4
Good Hardware crippled by bad software
on October 2, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
Newest 96% offering by Corsair has its ups and downs. This is a wired keyboard first off so no wireless option here. 6 macro keys along the side which are kind of awkwardly placed but no real option to get the 96% size.
The small LCD screen in the upper right corner is really novelty than functionality at least in my setup. Unless you are hovering right over top you can't really see much of it, I tend to lean back more. I was able to load a custom GIF no issue though, so it's still got a cool factor.
Keys feel really nice a tad clicky but I would call them mid tier on switches. I like the feel of the keyboard myself. The wrist palm rest is a nice touch but it does seem to hold onto sweat and dust bits easily.
Now onto the software and my gripe. This keyboard DOES NOT use iCUE at all, instead they have switched to a web based configuration tool similar to what Keychron does. I'm not even mad about this part, fine no problem. Here's the real issue I also have a SCUF Envision controller by Corsair that DOES use iCUE. The web tool 100% will not allow you to use if you have iCUE open. So now I have to use two separate configuration tools for the same family of products and HAVE to close iCUE to use the other one. Totally unacceptable in my opinion and worth a one star dock on my rating.
Corsair needs to do better job of incorporating their family of products into one software eco system and not frustrating users rather than heightening their experience. I will continue to use both products because they are top quality hardware but the software needs improvement.
Overall the keyboard is a nice fit for me, I dig the 96%, RGB, screen, the whole package. Be aware of the software problems and you'll get along fine here.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience breathability, environmental awareness, and powerful yet private sound with the AeroFit 2 from Soundcore by Anker, open-ear earbuds with flexible and adjustable silicone earhooks to fit any ear. With 29 x 11.5mm racetrack drivers, BassTurbo tech, and LDAC support, you can enjoy breathtaking Hi-Res audio on the move.
Customer Rating
5
Great Earbuds for the cost
on September 25, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
Soundcore Aerofit2 are a real surprise in the earbud market. At the price point they are a really breath of fresh air. They are very comfortable with the ear loops to wear all day. They boast 10 hours play time without a charge and I can confirm this is indeed the case. I can wear them all day at work without ever thinking about battery life.
The open design of the earbuds is fantastic for listening and interacting with people. They also adjust a bit to fit your ear design since we are all a little different. The case is a wireless charge capable or USB-C as expected and works really well. Can easily get over 24 hrs listening time when combining the initial earbud charge with the case.
Sound quality is really good for open design, I also use them for zoom calls and people tell me that I sound nice and clear. The mobile app lets you customize some button taps and see battery life the usual suspects here. They came with the most recent up to date firmware which is appreciated.
I'm really blown away with these for the price point, I was not expecting to love them but I really do and they are my main pair that I wear everyday now. If you want an open type of earbud give these a try!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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SCUF Envision was designed to deliver the best controller experience for PC gamers. Equipped with 11 additional remappable inputs, ultra-fast wired/wireless connectivity, and advanced software for macros and endless customization options. Our new OMRON mechanical ABXY and D-Pad buttons offer crisp and responsive clicks. Adjustable Instant Triggers allow you to switch between mouse-like clicks and full trigger range. Unlock the full power of Envision by mapping the fully configurable inputs to any PC shortcut, customizing your RGB Lighting Strip, and tailoring your anti-drift Hall Effect thumbstick and trigger response curves. More control, more finesse, and more performance to once again, change your game.
Customer Rating
5
Great Wireless Gaming Option
on August 20, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
My review is going to be mostly based off use with a PC. Packaging was frustration free and everything was packed neatly and organized making it easy to tear open and get started with.
Inside you'll get a charging cable, wireless dongle, controller, replacement thumb grips and some button swaps/covers.
I had a previous generation of this controller and did not enjoy it because I'm not a FPS gamer more of a chill RPG guy. I found the buttons on the side to be rather annoying and I was always hitting them by mistake. Corsair solved this problem and included an option to actually remove the buttons and instead place modular covers over the button holes. I did this fairly easy and it was a game changer.
I like how clicky all the buttons feel think mechanical keyboard type of feedback. The software was pretty frustration free got it installed in no time, controller updated. You can use the software to customize the controller with any range of RGB, make controller or keyboard and mouse macros and map them to any button. Super customizable and it all felt pretty simple not like I need a programming degree to get started.
Battery life seems solid and not like I need to charge it everyday of course this will vary on use.
Overall I'm very happy with the new design choices by Corsair and would recommend this controller.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Step into the future with Predator Helios Neo 16S AI~a gaming powerhouse crafted for versatility on the move. Built around an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU with 572 AI TOPS, and a vibrant 16-inch OLED WQXGA display offering 240Hz refresh and 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy. Designed for style-conscious gamers and professionals, this ultra-slim machine (18.97mm) with a sleek profile that meets the demands for performance on the go.
Posted by: mibeal
The new Acer Predator Helios is here but is it everything you are looking for in a gaming laptop? Cpu is top notch with a Ultra 9 275hx at the helm. Runs decently cool enough for a laptop CPU and handles any game i've thrown at it.
RGB all around is nice on the keyboard and the outer shell case. Plenty of ports everywhere, 2.5gb nic, hdmi out, usb of all shapes and sizes and a thunderbolt 5 port. 1TB SSD performs as you expect.
Screen is buttery smooth oled at 240hz so all your fps games look amazing.
This particular model though is a let down for me and here is why. They opted to cheap out at 16gb Ram which is barely the minimum this day in age especially with Windows 11 at the fore front. Should not be seeing any gaming laptops with less than 32gb in my opinion. They also took a cheap route by pairing all the bells and whistles with a lowly 8gb 5060, not even a ti just the basic version. All this while the next model up for a couple hundred more has all the things this one does not with 32gb Ram and a 5070ti. That's the model you want, this one I would pass on. If that model isn't available there are other better options out there.
It's pretty, the battery life is good, but they really missed the mark on the internals. Also a quick note on the Quality Assurance from Acer could use some work, the bezel around my laptop was popped off and I had to snap it back in a few spots. For the money you are paying for this laptop, they need to put a little more care before shipping things out.
Solid 4 stars but the ram and gpu, really gutted this beautiful machine.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Boost productivity with a high-performance desktop designed to fit in any space. Featuring built-in AI, powered by Intel Core Ultra desktop processors (Series 2).
Customer Rating
5
Strong PC for Home or Work Production
on July 10, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
This new offering Dell is just what you need whether it be for home or work. It's a slim form factor which makes it really convenient for tucking it out of the way on your desk to make more room for other things.
It does come with a power cord and a dell brand wired keyboard and mouse to get you up and going. You will need to provide your own monitor and the PC has a HDMI and Display Port connection options. Plenty of USB ports mixed A and C variety.
Inside your have a proprietary power supply and motherboard sporting 16gb DDR5 ram easily upgradeable to 64gb (2xDimm Slots). 1tb NVME SSD so plenty of space for whatever you might need. There isn't really any room for mounting any drives inside so that's a bummer but plenty of space. The processor is the latest and greatest and you will struggle to saturate this thing with anything you throw at it.
Windows 11 Home edition came preinstalled and ready to go which is handy. The Bios have some neat cloud recovery options if you run into a bad situation where Windows will no longer boot.
This is a great little machine for home or work, have not been disappointed yet. Have to mention this is not a gaming desktop, no GPU only onboard graphics here.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience the height of gaming innovation with the ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring an all-new premium aluminum chassis with customizable lighting, this laptop merges style and durability. Its ultra-slim 0.59~ profile and lightweight 4.30lbs 16~ chassis redefines portability, but does not compromise on performance. Powered by Windows 11 Home, Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, the Zephyrus G16 seamlessly aligns with your lifestyle, meeting all your gaming and creative demands. ROG Intelligent Cooling features liquid metal for reduced CPU temperatures and upgraded Arc Flow Fans for improved airflow to sustain peak performance on the Zephyrus G16 no matter the task. Immerse yourself in the OLED Nebula Display and enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 2.5K resolution, and a smooth 240Hz refresh rate.
Customer Rating
5
The very best gaming laptop you can get right now
on July 10, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
This thing is a true king in gaming laptops right now. The specs are everything you need and then some. 240hz OLED screen is just beautiful and the colors really pop. Paired with a 5070ti GPU keeps the frames quite high. I run a 7900XTX 24g on my desktop and this mobile GPU goes neck and neck with it.
It does get a little warm when gaming but well within reason and keeps running along like a champ. With 32gb Ram plenty for anything you can throw at it and the new i7 hasn't hit full use yet.
I can run The Finals at an easy 200fps on this thing and it just looks buttery smooth. WiFi 7 makes sure I can get the best speeds but also has onboard 2.5g nic for those of you that prefer a hardwire connection.
PCI Gen5 Nvme means file transfers are insanely fast along with minimal boot times (talking seconds here).
Battery on this thing will blow your mind. I can get 6-7 hours of usage (not gaming mind you) so I'd cut that estimate in half or more for actual gaming.
One feature that really stands out is the RGB on the outside of the case which can be programmed and can let you know how charged the battery is on a quick glance, super helpful if you are on the go.
Weight is pretty light and this thing is so thin I don't know how they packed this much power into something so sleek. I have nothing bad to say about this thing, it really is a king gamer laptop. If it's in your budget, stop looking get it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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JVC Gumy Premium active noise cancelling inner ear style headphones with improved sound quality, featuring an ergonomic stick design for a secure fit and a translucent recharging case.
Customer Rating
5
Medium tier headphones to listen to music
on June 12, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
This new offering from JVC in the earbuds market has a particular target audience. At the low entry cost you should align your expectations. These will not compete with any of the higher end competitors at Sony or Bose.
Now that we have that out of the way these are great lightweight earbuds that I find accel the most at listening to music casually. I've taken some phone calls on them and find that my callers on the other end often have a hard time hearing me so the mic's are not the greatest.
There's no app configuration here either, everything is pre programmed into the earbuds and is explained in the helpful how to documentation that comes with the earbuds. The case is your charger for the earbuds and charges over USB-C. The case does not support wireless charging. I find the battery length is pretty great, I can generally listen to music all day and not worry too much about battery life.
These earbuds do not support Multi Point Connection which is too bad so you can only connect them to one device at a time.
I also like that you can use left or right earpiece independently if needed. The ambient and noise cancellation modes don't leave any surprises, they are not ground breaking but they do just what their name implies.
It might seem like I'm disappointed in this product but I'm really not, I tend to listen to music on these often but I find that is there best use case. They are very lightweight on features but sometimes you just want a low cost option with good bass and sound and these will absolutely satisfy that need.
Know what you getting into and you will not disappointed here.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing Backbone Pro ~ a new era of mobile gaming control. Designed for performance and freedom, Backbone Pro lets you play anywhere, on any screen. Featuring full-sized ALPS joysticks, pro-style rear buttons, and a larger ergonomic form, it brings console-quality precision to your phone. Seamlessly switch between devices with Bluetooth Low Energy and enjoy up to 40 hours of battery life in wireless mode.1 With Backbone App integration, you can customize controls, remap buttons, and access your favorite games across mobile, cloud, and remote platforms. From iPhone to Android, smart TVs to tablets~Backbone Pro gives you the power to jump into any game, anywhere. ~
Customer Rating
5
Great mobile and streaming controller
on June 12, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
The Backbone Pro USB-C is the perfect controller for mobile and cloud/streaming from your couch. This is the USB-C version so if you are hanging on to an older iPhone or other brand that doesn't use USB-C this will not work for you. I tested this with a google pixel 9a and an iPhone 16 pro max as well.
Both phones felt great to use with the controller. Setup is fairly simple adjust the controller snap in your phone and off you go. There is a backbone app that has a subscription model that lets you cloud game for a cost but honestly I don't use it and don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.
I setup steam streaming from my home gaming pc with my phone plug in the phone and I was off playing my favorite games on my phone. The buttons feel good and the grip feels the right size for my hands. I felt both the google and iPhone screens looked crisp after some resolution adjustments from the PC.
Overall this phone does everything I was looking for in a couch gaming on my phone solution. The backbone app would give you some great cloud gaming options if aren't looking to stream from a console or existing PC but its completely optional, which I appreciate not being forced into anything.
No regrets here, buy it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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High-speed Gen4 performance for gamers is here. Introducing the Crucial P310 2280 Gen4 NVMe SSD, a leader in the Gen4 space with sequential reads/writes up to 7,100/6,000MB/s. Engineered with the latest Micron 3D NAND technology, the Crucial P310 comes in generous capacities and offers flexible backward compatibility, performing 2x faster than Gen3 SSDs and offering 20% faster performance in real-world tasks compared to other Gen4 SSDs when booting Windows, starting applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and working with popular applications such as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. The P310 is the NVMe storage solution that gives gamers the edge they crave.
Customer Rating
5
Great storage option for PS5/PS5 Pro
on May 5, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
This new SSD from Crucial is exactly the storage upgrade I was looking for on my PS5. Note that is compatible with the regular PS5 and the PS5 Pro. The packaging is frustration free, no screws or anything else inside is just the drive already assembled.
Heatsink is already attached and feels very snug and secure. For anyone that would be interested in removing the heatsink, it does not seem to be easy to remove without risking damage to the drive so be warned there.
Installation into the PS5 was fairly simple with minimal disassembly required. Once I got through the usual messages upon boot, I was off to the races with installing all my games on it. At 2TB I was able to get my small library of games installed with plenty of room for growth.
Speeds on this thing are very fast and I def noticed a few seconds of loading screen improvements throughout my testing phase with it. It does everything I was hoping for and does it well, the heatsink will help keep the temperature down and make sure the drive lasts a long time.
It comes with a 5yr backed warranty from Crucial so you can rest easy knowing that if something does go wrong, they have your back. This would also work in a PC instead of a PS5 for those curious but with that hefty heatsink it likely would not fit into a laptop without attempting to remove the heatsink.
Solid choice for a PS5 or PC upgrade, can't go wrong here especially with the 5 yr warranty, would recommend.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet Pixel 9a ~ engineered by Google with more than you expect, for less than you think. Like Gemini built in to supercharge your productivity and creativity.~ A best-in-class camera~ for incredible photos. All-day battery.~ Durable design. And 7 years of updates so it keeps feeling new.~ All for under $500.
Customer Rating
5
Great new Mid Range Phone from Google
on May 5, 2025
Posted by: mibeal
Google Pixel 9a is an excellent place in the mid range market for the Android eco system. Setup was nice and easy some basic info, activation and you are off to the races. Screen transitions feel nice and smooth on the new cpu chip. The colors are very vibrant and really pop at you.
You are getting the latest in face unlock/fingerprint unlock tech as well. The camera is a 48MP and all the pictures I took to test look amazing in quality.
Battery life is really something this phone shines at. Of course this all varies on use but while mostly idle in not in use I can get around 3 days or so charge on this.
The screen is slightly bigger over the 8a if you are upgrading from that (.2"), the peak nits however at 2700 is very bright. I'm the type that likes to have my brightness cranked so it really helps the colors pop but be warned in a dark environment this will hurt the old eyes a little.
Overall this phone feels really great in my hands, it doesn't feel oversized like some of the "max" versions of other phones. At the price range for what you get, this one really hits the right spot. All my calls were crystal clear, WIFI and Bluetooth working as intended no issues. 7 years of OS updates and you can rest easy knowing you are going to be covered with this phone for years to come.
If I had to offer one bit of criticism I wish they hadn't put all the buttons on side of the phone, it makes it awkward to hit some of the shortcut key combos but not a deal breaker.
I would recommend this if you want the feel of a top end phone with the price tag that comes with some of them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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mibeal's Answers
The WD_Black P50 Game Drive SSD provides the tools you need to drive your game. With read speeds of up to 2000MB/s and up to 1TB of storage, you~ll spend less time waiting to get back in the game and more time actually playing. Designed from the ground up with the gamer in mind, the WD_Black P50 Game Drive SSD is future-ready with a SuperSpeed USB 20Gb/s interface to provide full compatibility to your PC or console.
Overview says console but does it really work with a ps4 pro
Yes it would work fine with a ps4 pro, its a usb drive it would be limited by the usb 3 port on your ps4 pro but you would gain some loading time over the drive that ships with the ps4 pro.
6 years, 1 month ago
by
mibeal
Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
How comfortable are they? Do they feel like they're going to fall out with rigorous exercise (running) or do they have a secure fit a majority of the time?
They do not feel secure to me and I tried several of the ear tip sizes. One of the major complaints in my review was that when walking/running they don't feel secure.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
mibeal
Enjoy hours of reliability and speed with this HP Pavilion desktop. Its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 12GB of RAM let you accomplish multiple tasks at the same time, and its 1TB hard drive provides plenty of space for file storage. This HP Pavilion desktop comes with a wired keyboard and mouse for interacting with Windows 10 Home.
how long has this been on the market I cant find any reviews any where I bought it because it sounds good on the inside and the last HP Pavillion I bought in 2011 is still running mostly good but I am preparing for needing a new 1
New to the market maybe a month or so. Short version of my review is if you just want to use this for checking email typing up documents and browsing web you will be ok. Don't expect any kind of gaming or 4k movie watching on this. Even just using it as a workstation feels somewhat slow with the 1tb mechanical drive. Add a SSD and it will be a speedy machine for you.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
mibeal
Enjoy hours of reliability and speed with this HP Pavilion desktop. Its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 12GB of RAM let you accomplish multiple tasks at the same time, and its 1TB hard drive provides plenty of space for file storage. This HP Pavilion desktop comes with a wired keyboard and mouse for interacting with Windows 10 Home.
Will I be able to add a GTX 1050 graphics card to this build without replacing the power supply?
No you def will not it only comes with a 180w power supply most of those cards require 400w minimum.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
mibeal
Enjoy hours of reliability and speed with this HP Pavilion desktop. Its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 12GB of RAM let you accomplish multiple tasks at the same time, and its 1TB hard drive provides plenty of space for file storage. This HP Pavilion desktop comes with a wired keyboard and mouse for interacting with Windows 10 Home.
Graphics card? Dedicated or integrated? Does it have it's own Vram? Or shares the 12GB system ram?
Integrated graphics not usable on anything but the likes of esport/minecraft games. 1gb vram.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
mibeal
Power your custom-built computer with this CORSAIR power supply. It's built for efficient operation, so it saves energy and doesn~t produce much heat, and it operates quietly at slow and medium speeds for a better work environment. The modular cable system of this CORSAIR power supply provides easy, clutter-free installation in compatible ATX desktop cases.
Is the upgrade from a corsair cx600 to a cx650 plug and play with no changes to connections?
Never re use the ac power plug between power supplies you can and will fry your psu mobo/cpu and maybe more. Only ever use the cable included with each psu.
8 years, 2 months ago
by
mibeal
Simplify tasks with this 15.6-inch HP ENVY convertible laptop. Its Full HD touch screen lets you navigate the intuitive Windows 10 interface, and its Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM ensure demanding programs run smoothly. This HP ENVY convertible laptop has a 1TB hard drive for storing photos, videos and documents.Learn more.
Is this loptop is good for gaming?
I would not get this laptop for gaming in my opinion.
8 years, 6 months ago
by
mibeal