MAINGEAR Press Reviews
Maingear MG-1 (2026) Review: A Clean, Serene Gaming Machine for a Premium Price
Kyle Barr, Gizmodo[The MG-1] is filled with components that could tear through benchmarks if they were packed inside a shoebox with an ice pack.
"The MG-1 MK.II is on a whole other level": I tested Maingear's revamped flagship gaming PC to see exactly how it's improved
Cale Hunt, Windows CentralAn outstanding gaming pre-built that I have a hard time knocking for anything other than minor infractions.
MAINGEAR MG-1 MK 2 Review: High-End Performance in a Cleaner, Smarter Chassis
Josh Cotts, GameRantConsidering how much air is moving through this system, how powerful its hardware is, and how sizable and spacious the chassis is, it's hard to believe just how quiet it is.
Maingear MG-1 (2026) review: Fast and clean, for a price
Andrew Freedman, Tom's HardwareYou buy this type of PC so that it feels like you built it, even if you didn't. This one is built more nicely than I could, with power I could only dream of.
Maingear Did It Right: Secret Prebuilt Gaming PC Review
Steve Burke, Gamers NexusI have no major complaints.
Retro95 Forbes Review
Welcome, You’ve Got Mail (From New Jersey)
"MAINGEAR’s Retro95 provides a solid, funky-looking computer experience that brings back a lot of fond ‘90s memories for me, and it’s impeccably well-built in a wacky case that absolutely screams nostalgia."
Read the review >
Windows Central mg-1 platinum review
Just remove the packaging, plug in power and video, and hit the button to boot.
"There's no wacky motherboard design that doesn't allow for replacement, no generic PSU that frightens when viewed, no OEM GPUs that may or may not hit the performance you expect, and, ultimately, no surprises."
Forbes MG-1 Ultimate Review:
Immaculate Construction & Incredible Performance
“Unsurprisingly, the MG-1 Ultimate is one hell of a modern gaming PC. Given the top-tier components, impeccable build quality, complete lack of bloatware and solid shipping practices, there isn’t too much to criticize here. You get what you pay for, as they say, and you’ll pay a lot for the privilege of gaming like royalty.”
Maingear MG-1 Ultimate Gaming PC Review: Immaculate Construction, Incredible Performance
Mashable Night Drive Rush Review:
I’ve owned MAINGEAR custom PCs — here’s why I’m happy to pay over $3,000 for this Night Drive Artist Series build
"I can say without hesitation that this Night Drive Artist Series build is the best gaming PC I’ve ever used... premium AMD parts, artist-driven design, zero bloatware, and hand-built precision with exceptional support.
...the part that really sealed the deal for me. This system isn’t just powerful now. It’s upgradable later. All the components are standard, not proprietary. You can add a new GPU, swap the RAM, drop in a faster SSD, or upgrade to a new CPU when it makes sense."
Full Review
Mashable MG-1 Platinum Review:
MG-1 Platinum gaming PC is $1,999, and it feels like it was built just for me
“I’ve never once opened the case and thought “Who routed this like that?” It’s clean, it’s careful, and yeah, the RGB is tasteful. You can even swap the magnetic front panel to match your mood or game of the week... In my opinion, this is one of the few pre-builts that’s worth the price without caveats. It’s custom without the chaos — and that’s rare.”
MAINGEAR’s MG-1 Platinum gaming PC is $1,999, and it feels like it was built just for me
HotHardware APEX FORCE Review:
A Custom Liquid-Cooled Masterpiece
“The MAINGEAR Apex Force is awesome...
The expert built and custom Apex cooling is what brings this system to the next level. Whether gaming, surfing the web, and sitting pretty at idle on a desk, the Maingear Apex Force excels on all fronts. The system is fast, well mannered, and looks great.”
Maingear Apex Force Gaming PC: A Custom Liquid-Cooled Masterpiece
PetaPixel MG-1 Ultimate Review:
The Most Powerful PC We’ve Ever Tested
“Should You Buy It? Yes, if you’re firmly in the Windows camp and don’t require the portability of a laptop. If you’re seeking a tower PC that can shred through creative tasks, play the latest games, and be straightforward to use and maintain, the Maingear MG-1 Ultimate is the best option we’ve tested.”
MAINGEAR MG-1 Ultimate Review: The Most Powerful PC We've Ever Tested
PCGamesN Review:
MG-1 Silver Review
8/10 rating
“This gaming PC delivers a solid spec and great 1080p gaming performance, thanks to its RTX 4060 GPU. Add in a tidy build and some great-looking lighting, and this is a great gaming rig for its modest asking price.”
MAINGEAR MG-1 Silver gaming PC review
GamesRadar+ ZERO Review:
Exactly how prebuilt gaming PCs should be
4.5/5 star review
“I can wholeheartedly recommend this gaming PC. If you’re looking for the most up-to-date mid-range prebuild at the moment, you’re going to struggle to beat this in terms of its parts.”
Maingear Zero Ruby review: “Exactly how prebuilt gaming PCs should be”
9to5toys MG-1 Gold Review:
An immaculately pre-built PC with swappable front panels
“It really speaks to the dedication from the MAINGEAR team in making sure they ship well-built PCs. The cable management is something that completely blew me away, especially as someone who has tried very hard to keep her own build tidy – spoiler it’s pretty damn near impossible. The value you get isn’t just in the hardware, but the fact that these are built and supported by a company like MAINGEAR. Other reviewers have found that it offers some pretty top notch customer service, and while I haven’t had a reason to give them a ring, I buy into the sentiment that the people behind the company are just as happy about making good PCs as I am about playing on them.”
MAINGEAR’s MG-1 Gold delivers an immaculately pre-built PC with swappable front panels
Gizmodo MG-1 Review:
You Can’t Get More Custom Than This
Rated 4.5/5 stars
“The MAINGEAR MG-1 is a solid build from a company that obviously knows what it's doing. The Legendary can handle pretty much any game you throw at it.”
Maingear MG-1 Review: You Can’t Get More Custom Than This
Windows Central MG-1 Comparison:
#1 & Editors Choice for Best PCs for World of Warcraft 2024
Rated #1 and Editor’s Choice
“MAINGEAR's MG-1 is an easy recommendation for those who want a desktop gaming PC that truly feels like it was built by hand.”
Best PCs for World of Warcraft in 2024
XDA Developers MG-1 Legendary Review:
A custom desktop PC for gaming enthusiasts who don’t want to build their own
94/100 rating
“The chassis itself is a custom design, and more importantly, customization is at the top with interchangeable front panels with perfect diffusion in the LEDs. Cable management is done very well on the back of the chassis and internal to the system. Further, the system features off-the-shelf parts from recognizable brands, allowing the end-user to grow with and upgrade the system over time.”
MAINGEAR MG-1 Silver Gaming PC Review
TechRadar MG-1 review:
The best custom-built gaming PC on the market
4.88/5 rating
“Thoroughly customizable with fantastic construction, the MG-1 gaming PC is the latest showpiece from custom PC builder MAINGEAR. And MAINGEAR really put its heart into this one, down to the customizable magnetized front panel that makes branding your rig for streaming a breeze. Starting at a very affordable price point for a prebuilt system and scaling up to match the high-end hardware options, there's literally something for everyone to fall in love with here.”
MAINGEAR MG-1 review: the best custom-built gaming PC on the market
