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We are fortunate here at KitGuru … because we often get access to the world's most advanced technology, a long time before it is generally available in the market.
Also, we are able to perform a lot of in-depth, side-by-side testing to see which manufacturers have got it right on the button and which need to go back to the drawing board. It is that extensive testing that allows us to give a definitive opinion.
In many cases, we have picked winners at the ‘budget' and ‘overall' price points, which reflects how a lot of people think when it comes to PC's and components.
In a few cases we are focused on the kind of budget that most people will work to for a component that is not core to their build. For example keyboards, mice, speakers and headsets. Each of these is a very individual choice, so we held the price under £100.
Lastly there are some products which may well be outside what many would consider a reasonable budget, and in those cases we have been forced to give an award simply because the product was so exceptional (The Asus 4K monitor and ASRock Z87 OC Formula mainboard).
So what about surprises?
Well the one thing that surprised us most this year was the competitiveness in the market place. Companies that would once focus almost solely on the higher price points are now bringing their skill and experience into the mainstream or even budget sectors. We're thinking specifically of Kingston and Asus – both of whom now have very aggressively priced products in many areas of the market.
Why is that significant?
Well, Kingston is the largest memory company of its kind in the world. Their history and reputation is very strong. If a company like Kingston gets serious about price, then that can have all kinds of knock on effect into the market. It's like Mercedes deciding to launch an A-Class. It will put additional pressure on brands who have previously focused almost entirely on price – forcing them to choose either to ‘step up' or ‘step out'.
Our prediction for 2014/15 is that the market will see a serious clear out of brands, even though, overall, many people are expecting to see a significant increase in spending in the gaming hardware sectors.
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We thank you for taking the time to read the KitGuru Annual Awards 2013 – and we hope you find it an interesting reference point during the year. From everyone at KitGuru: Have a GREAT 2014!
– Allan ‘Zardon' Campbell. Kitguru Limited Managing Director/Editor In Chief.
That palit card certainly looks amazing
I got that mouse and im glad you acknowledged it, its great for bigger people like myself, razer I used to use, but they are too small for my hands.
I afraid my beloved ms-3 mouse dying on me.