Budget gaming monitor steals the show in Engadget roundup

A $350 gaming monitor just proved you don’t need to overpay for great color.

Engadget’s latest review roundup pulls together a pocket camera, a dual-mode pellet grill, and a gaming monitor that costs less than three new smartphones. The headline grabber is the Alienware 27 QD-OLED, a 27-inch panel that sells for about 350 dollars and manages to deliver what many rival displays ask triple that for. In hands-on reviews, testers found the QD-OLED panel offered striking color and fast response, making it a rare value proposition in the current OLED market. For budget-conscious gamers, the verdict is obvious: you don’t need to drain your wallet to get a competitive edge.

The rest of the roundup reads like a tour of modern hobby tech for real homes, not glossy ads. DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 remains a favorite for quick shoots and on-the-go footage. The pocket camera is small enough to tuck into a jacket, yet the new edition promises better image quality that can pay you back over time if you shoot events, vacations, or quick B-roll on the fly. It’s not a substitute for a proper mirrorless rig or a phone with a good camera, but in real-world use it fills a niche where speed and portability matter more than absolute resolution.

Meanwhile Recteq’s X-Fire Pro pellet grill tries to bridge two worlds: wood-fired flavor and the convenience of modern grilling tech. The X-Fire Pro’s dual-mode design lets cooks switch between a wood-scented profile and a high-heat, fast-sear mode, with dedicated controls that will feel familiar to gas grillers. The grill also supports Wi-Fi connectivity for extended smoking sessions, which is useful for weekend cooks or remote monitoring. Real-world performance reveals a sturdy build and reliable temperature control, though the value proposition depends on how much you prize wood-fire aroma and remote monitoring versus traditional charcoal or gas setups.

Taken together, the roundup underscores a few industry trends that matter to real buyers. First, display makers are bending price. The Alienware 27 QD-OLED demonstrates that high-end color and fast gaming can arrive at a budget-friendly price point, challenging expectations that OLED comes only at premium costs. Second, the market for portable content creation gear remains healthy, with devices like the Osmo Pocket 4 emphasizing convenience and quick turnaround footage for creators who don’t want to sacrifice image quality to stay mobile. Third, connected grills are transitioning from curiosity to practical feature sets, where Wi-Fi enhances “set it and forget it” cooks but also adds potential failure points if the network or app behaves unpredictably.

For shoppers, the message is nuanced. If you want a value-first monitor that can handle fast-paced games and deliver strong HDR-style color without paying a premium, the Alienware 27 QD-OLED is worth a hard look. If your needs are more about portability and quick, candid video capture, the Osmo Pocket 4 remains a credible choice, provided you don’t expect it to replace a dedicated camera. If you’re a weekend grill enthusiast who loves smart features, the Recteq X-Fire Pro could tip the scale on decision making, but you’ll want to weigh the cost against how deeply you value its dual-mode capability and Wi-Fi.

Verdict: Buy the Alienware 27 QD-OLED for value and performance; consider the pocket camera and pellet grill only if their niche use cases align with how you actually shoot and cook. If you want a broad, budget-friendly upgrade across two practical categories, this roundup leans in favor of the monitor.

Sources

Engadget review recap: DJI Osmo Pocket 4, Recteq X-Fire Pro and Alienware 27 QD-OLED