RazerCon 2024 makes haptic gaming cushion a reality with Freyja
Now games can send shivers down your spine, literally
It’s tough to announce something after Apple’s iPhone September launch, but you can’t help but feel intrigued by the RazerCon 2024 announcements. Sure, it’s just gaming accessories you may exclaim, but the products certainly caught my eye.
Take the S$459 Razer Freyja, a cushion you put on your gaming chair. It’s powered by Razer’s new Sensa HD Haptics, and delivers subtle vibrations to your body with four motors in the back and two in the bottom. We tried it out at an early media preview, and came away amazed at how casting spells in Hogwarts Legacy felt.
The subtle vibrations were synced to the spell animations, enhancing the experience, and making you feel like you were right there in the action. There will be a bunch of games that will be supported at launch, and I’m hoping to see more games added as well. Otherwise, you can also use the cushion with music or videos, though the experience is not as good.
One thing that I liked is a quick release cable system which releases the power cable. The Freyja needs its own power outlet to work, and this is a great touch if you accidentally snag the cable while rolling around in your chair.
Other RazerCon 2024 announcements include the S$599 Razer Kraken V4 Pro, which also uses Sensa HD Haptics. The experience is even better when used in tandem with the Freyja. But the Kraken V4 Pro isn’t just for vibrating your head, it also comes with an OLED Control Hub, which lets you adjust your audio, switch inputs, or even use it to show your PC’s temperature.
Lastly, Razer also wants to get into the cooling game with the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad, which features smart fan control and an airtight chamber to circulate cool air to your laptop. Razer says temperatures can drop by as much as 18% when you use this. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Razer product without RGB LEDs, and the Laptop Cooling Pad packs Razer Chroma for all the bling you need. It’s expected to retail for US$$149.99, and will be out in Q4.
This week, we try out the new Xiaomi 14T Pro which packs AI features and flagship-tier features for a midrange phone, a much improved Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, and the excellent Canon EOS R5 Mark II designed for professionals and prosumers.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro packs even more for less, thanks to a bunch of new AI features, upgraded hardware, and flagship-tier features (wireless charging and IP68 rating). Based on our initial impressions, it seems like a great option for those who want an AI phone without the hefty price tag. The 1TB version costs S$999, which is actually S$100 less than the previous version at launch.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 is a huge upgrade over its predecessor. A new, more comfortable design, the addition of a new Tensor A1 chip, and improvements all round make it a worthy competitor to the best true wireless earbuds from fellow tech giants like Apple and Samsung, as well as audio stalwarts like Bose and Sony. There are definitely enough upgrades to justify its higher S$349 launch price.
Photography pros and prosumers will be delighted with the Canon EOS R5 Mark II. Not only does it take great photos with its 45MP stacked sensor, the handling, and Canon’s eye-tracking autofocusing feature are excellent. But it’s undoubtedly pricey, costing S$5,999 for the body only, which makes it more suited for professional photographers.