Phil Hayton
I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
Latest articles by Phil Hayton
Black Friday gaming monitor deals 2024: prepare for panel deals later this year
By Phil Hayton last updated
Black Friday Black Friday gaming monitor deals are done for now, but you can already learn about what to expect from the big annual sale in 2024.
Black Friday TV deals 2024: everything to expect from this year's event
By Phil Hayton last updated
Black Friday Black Friday TV deals are over for now, but if you're saving your pennies for the 2024 event, we're here to help you get the best deal when the time comes.
Acer is “watching” the handheld gaming PC scene, and I hope that means budget options
By Phil Hayton published
News Acer could eventually create a Steam Deck rival, as the company's is apparently watching the handheld gaming PC race with interest.
Palworld gaming PCs are now a thing, and they’re a bit unnerving
By Phil Hayton published
News UK Builder CCL Computers now has a range of Palworld gaming PC builds, and they feature character faces on the front that look a little menacing.
Ayaneo Mini PC AM01 review: “I adore this ridiculously adorable retro rig”
By Phil Hayton published
Review The Ayaneo Mini PC AM01 might be the gaming handheld maker's first stay-at-home system, but this tiny retro rig is both cute and surprisingly capable.
Did the Asus ROG Ally 2 just get announced at this laptop reveal?
By Phil Hayton published
News The Asus ROG Ally 2 may end up showing up in 2024, as a recent interview with Asus has touched on the company's handheld gaming PC plans.
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super causes review ruckus right before release date
By Phil Hayton published
News Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super reviews are now live, but the MSI version is currently suffering from a BIOS issue that caused issues during benchmarks.
PowerA Wireless Kirby Nintendo Switch Controller review: “Pink puffball perfection”
By Phil Hayton published
Review The PowerA Wireless Kirby Controller is probably the cutest gamepad out there, and it holds up as a great way to play Nintendo Switch games.
You can now pay to have your Steam Deck screen upgraded, but I’m not sold on the idea
By Phil Hayton published
News DeckHD, the company behind the 1200p Steam Deck screen, is now offering an installation service, but I'm not convinced the upgrade is worthwhile.
Lenovo Legion GO review: “feels like a handheld by laptop makers”
By Phil Hayton published
Review The Lenovo Legion GO is an ambitious handheld PC with a high spec screen and innards, but it ultimately feels like it’s trying to do too much at once
The next Ayaneo mini PC looks like an NES, but it actually has more in common with a handheld
By Phil Hayton published
News Ayaneo just launched a mini PC that looks like an NES, but it has an APU within that's on par with handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super has landed, but getting one could be a chore
By Phil Hayton published
News You can now grab an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super at various online retailers, but the Founder's Edition seems to be selling pretty fast.
Here's how to play the original Prince of Persia games in 2024
By Phil Hayton published
Guide Picking up The Lost Crown? Here’s how to play the rest of the Prince of Persia series in 2024, including the 1989 original and the Sands of Time trilogy.
Asus ROG phone 8 Pro review: “This pocket rocket helped me get into mobile gaming”
By Phil Hayton published
Review The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is proof that gaming phones have matured, but there's still monstrous performance lurking under its sleek new shell.
Ayaneo is cooking up its own Steam Deck, but its specs target indie games
By Phil Hayton published
News The Ayaneo Next Lite is an upcoming budget handheld that uses an unofficial version of SteamOS, but features lighter specs than Valve's Steam Deck.
The next mini Atari is a ‘70s computer you’ve probably never heard of, and I’m hyped
By Phil Hayton published
News THE400 is a plug and play replica of the classic Atari 400 microcomputer from 1979, and this modern re-release boast 720p output and built-in games.
My favorite Xbox controller is making a comeback, and it’s immune to stick drift
By Phil Hayton published
News Hyperkin is cooking up a new version of the original Xbox Controller S controller dubbed the "DuchesS", and it's immune to the horrors of stick drift.
Intel is already a step ahead with Arc graphics cards, and that pleases me
By Phil Hayton published
CES 2024 Intel says it's already working on a successor to its next wave of Arc graphics cards, and Battlemage is almost ready to storm the GPU battlefield.
I’m actually excited for this new Acer 3D monitor, and it’s thanks to Dark Souls
By Phil Hayton published
CES 2024 Acer just announced a new Predator SpatialLabs View 27 monitor, and I'm itching to play Dark Souls Remastered on PC in stereoscopic 3D.
I’m glad the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT has more VRAM, but the price is an issue
By Phil Hayton published
CES 2024 The new AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT features double the VRAM compared to its non-XT predecessor, but not much else has changed with the more expensive card.
Hyperkin is turning my favorite retro console into a handheld, and my backlog is grateful
By Phil Hayton published
CES 2024 The Hyperkin Retron 95 is an upcoming handheld that can run Sega Genesis cartridges and hook up to a TV or monitor using a docking station.
The LG OLED M4 is a glimpse into a cordless TV future, but the gamer in me has concerns
By Phil Hayton published
CES 2024 The new LG OLED M4 brings wireless 4K 144Hz inputs to the table, but there are some caveats to consider if you're into competitive gaming.
I can't stop thinking about this ridiculously small Asus RTX 4070 mini PC
By Phil Hayton published
CES 2024 Asus has unveiled a ROG NUC mini PC that's armed with RTX 4070 graphics and an i9 CPU, and it's not that much bigger than a docked Nintendo Switch.