Peripherals - Page 11

HYTE makes some pretty funk PC cases and components, and with CES 2024 underway, it's releasing two new firsts - a keyboard and an AIO liquid cooler. Now, you might think that you've seen it all when it comes to mechanical keyboards and coolers, especially when it comes to RGB lighting, but HYTE is here to prove you wrong.

The HYTE Keeb TKL is the company's first mechanical keyboard, and if you think per-key lighting is impressive, the entire Keeb TKL lights up. With double-shot PBT keycaps, gasket-mounted hardware, and an aluminum plate on the bottom, the polycarbonate case is a full RGB array.

It even sports modern features like hot-swappable switches, with the Keeb TKL packed with HYTE's in-house pre-lubed Fluffy Lavender switches designed for fast linear performance. Sporting an actuation distance of 1.5mm and force of 40 grams, they sound tailor-made for PC gaming.

ASUS Republic of Gamers, better known as ROG, is the company's premium gaming brand. At CES 2024, ASUS announced a new range of ROG gaming peripherals covering keyboards, mice, wireless earbuds, a professional-grade USB microphone, and a mobile controller.

Plus, the ROG Archer ErgoAir Gaming Backpack which includes an "innovative airflow tunnel back-rest design." It's a cool-looking laptop bag and backpack, but what immediately grabbed my attention was the new ROG Falchion RX Low Profile keyboard. A compact 65% keyboard that features all-new pre-lubed ROG RX Low-Profile optical switches that the company claims offer near-zero debounce delay and less wobble than any other low-profile switch on the market.

It looks awesome, too, with a minimal, futuristic design. The new ROG Keris II Ace ultralight gaming mouse sits next to the keyboard, with wired and wireless support and an overall weight of just 54 grams.

Kicking off CES 2024 strong, one of the biggest players in mobile accessories, Belkin, has announced a full range of Qi2 devices with just about something for everyone.

Qi2 is the latest in open wireless charging technology and is about to make a massive difference depending on how you charge. Similar to Apple's MagSafe chargers, Qi2 uses a similar setup with magnets that help you line up your device and the charger port.

This reduces the likelihood of a user failing to quickly throw a device on charge because the connector wasn't lined up correctly. The stand out of the new range is the Qi2-enabled BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Stand. It sits fancy with a Qi2 charger for a phone, an Apple Watch charger, and a flat spot at the bottom to wirelessly charge AirPods or any other wireless charging-compatible devices.

Samsung Gaming Hub is a great feature in Smsung's range of Smart TVs, bringing all the biggest cloud gaming services into a single hub - Xbox Game Pass, GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, Utomik, and more. Samsung Gaming Hub is also included in the company's latest Odyssey Monitors and portable projectors.

Supporting Bluetooth and wired controllers, Samsung is finally set to debut its first gaming peripherals at CES 2024. The new REPLAY Wireless Controller is 'Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub' and was developed in a partnership between Samsung and gaming accessory maker PDP.

It sports the Gaming Hub icon on an Xbox-logo-style button that launches you into Samsung Gaming Hub.

MSI and Capcom have partnered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Monster Hunter game series. They are introducing a new line of Monster Hunter PC products, including a gaming laptop, GeForce RTX GPU, gaming controller, case, motherboard, monitor, and liquid cooler. Yeah, the line-up ticks every PC gaming box.

The Monster Hunter franchise is relatively new to PC, but the success of Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Rise is undeniable. Released in 2018, Monster Hunter: World still manages to hit an incredible 150,000+ daily concurrent peak player counts on Steam.

MSI is set to showcase these Monster Hunter products, inspired by the iconic in-game monster Rathalos, at its CES 2024 booth. With the launch set to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Monster Hunter franchise, let's take a closer look at the MSI and Capcom Limited Edition Monster Hunter PC hardware line-up.

We got our first look at G.SKILL's new WigiDash device, a 'PC Command Touch Panel' back at Computex - a fully customizable widget and dashboard that reminded us of the Elgato Stream deck, but for keeping track of system info like temperatures and performance. The versatility goes far beyond that, with the 7-inch IPS touch panel (with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels) able to control media and launch apps.

G.SKILL has designed the WigiDash to be highly customizable, giving you full control over the 5x4 grid layout via the powerful and dedicated WigiDash Manager Software. There's a minimalist quality here reminiscent of Microsoft's 'Metro' design, with the ability to drag and drop tiles while customizing the text and color or adding icons.

Hardware enthusiasts will get a kick out of the third-party software integration, including HWiNFO and AIDA64 SensorPanel. It's available now via Amazon for $129.99 USD.

The new Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Wireless Smart Game Controller for Xbox and PC is available now in the U.S. (other regions like Australia are getting this in January 2024). As a premium gaming controller, it does something we haven't seen before - it features a full-color Connected Command Display. Yeah, a small LCD screen on your Xbox controller is very cool.

Not simply a gimmick, the Connected Command Display offers gamers a new way to customize RGB lighting, make adjustments to game and chat audio settings, thumbstick sensitivity, remap buttons, and more. And that includes getting chat notifications from apps on your phone.

The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Wireless Smart Game Controller, admittedly a mouthful of a name, is the company's premium controller. So, the fancy display is backed by premium materials, ergonomic grips, and tactile switches for all buttons, and the D-Pad is rated with a five-million-click lifecycle. The sticks also use contactless Hall Effect sensors for accuracy, durability, and to avoid stick drift.

Mechanical keyboards come in all shapes and sizes with different switches and levels of customization to suit any need. For those who love retro PC hardware from the 1990s, where grey and beige hardware was the order of the day, the new LOFREE BLOCK 98 wireless mechanical keyboard might be the keyboard you've been looking for.

Right off the bat, the minimal grey and beige aesthetics of this look awesome (yeah, count me as a fan of retro PC hardware) thanks to the touches of orange found on two knobs in the top right-hand corner. By default, one controls volume with a press-to-mute function, while the other switches between wired, wireless, and off. Having an off switch on a keyboard feels old-school.

Of course, the real kicker is the fact that it's a 98% form-factor keyboard with some impressive specs - from a custom stabilizer to multiple layers of padding to PBT keycaps and a hot-swappable self-lubricating Full POM Switch design. Quadruple sound dampening here results in a satisfyingly quiet and smooth type.

Wrapped in gold foil, the latest custom Xbox controller from Microsoft is an edible block of chocolate - with the company calling it the "first-ever official edible Xbox Controller made of 100% pure chocolate." The reason why there's a chocolate Xbox controller is to celebrate the release of the new Warner Bros. "Wonka" film hitting cinemas this December. The promotion also extends to a custom Wonka-Inspired Xbox Series X.

The good news is that the Xbox Series X that looks like a giant chocolate bar isn't edible; it's a fully functioning console with Wonka aesthetics. The custom console is bundled with a console display stand modeled after Willy Wonka's chocolate store. "While the console may look like one of Wonka's famous chocolate bars, the Wonka-inspired Xbox Series X is not edible," the announcement writes.

Best of all, Microsoft, Warner Bros., and the Xbox team are giving away these one-of-a-kind creations via X (formerly Twitter) as part of the latest Xbox sweepstakes competition open to all Xbox regions and markets around the globe.

CORSAIR is expanding its keyboard line-up with a new special edition version of the K70 CORE - with the new CORSAIR K70 CORE SE giving the keyboard a style makeover thanks to the excellent use of white, silver, and yellow flourishes. The combination gives the overall look of the mechanical keyboard a retro meets modern feel that, for me, easily trumps the standard all-black edition.

Hardware-wise, it's no slouch, with pre-lubricated CORSAIR MLX Red linear mechanical switches for smooth performance over the 70 million keystroke lifespan. Throw in two layers of sound-dampening foam, and the CORSAIR K70 CORE SE aims to deliver on acoustics, type-feel and looks.

A nice 'green' touch comes from the keyboard's bottom case, constructed with 85% post-consumer recycled materials, making it the most eco-friendly gaming keyboard CORSAIR has ever produced.

Razer is rolling out one of its more advanced gaming mouse features to several products in its lineup with 8000 Hz Razer HyperPolling Wireless technology coming to Razer's Viper V2 Pro, DeathAdder V3 Pro, Cobra Pro, Basilisk V3 Pro, and Viper V3 HyperSpeed gaming mice.

It's an impressive upgrade when stacked against the industry standard 1000 Hz polling because it means that instead of an input delay of 1 ms, you're getting an input delay of only 0.125 ms. An 8X increase that Razer believes creates "smoother cursor movements, impeccable accuracy, and the elimination of any micro-stutters."

The update arrives via new firmware currently being rolled out via the latest version of the Razer Synapse software.

Alienware has taken two of its peripherals, the Alienware AW420K mechanical keyboard and AW720M gaming mouse, and faithfully re-created them both at 14 times their original size. And with that, you've got the world's largest mechanical keyboard that's over 5 meters long (or 16 feet) with a spacebar the size of a person.

The space apparently took three days to 3D print, and each mechanical switch had to be custom-made because there's no reason for an existing keyboard switch to require over 4 inches of travel distance. Alienware partnered with Team Liquid on the project and even got them to play a round of DOTA using the oversized equipment - naturally, it took the whole team to control a single character.

The mouse, too, is fully functional, with giant mechanical switches and a scroll wheel - though it requires a lot of effort to move around.

Things are taking an interesting turn in the world of Xbox accessories with a new policy uncovered by Windows Report noting that as of November 12, 2023, Microsoft will no longer allow unauthorized third-party accessories to be used on consoles like the Xbox Series X|S - specifically wireless controllers.

The revelation came after players were prompted by a new mysterious error code, "error 0x82d60002," when using certain third-party controllers, letting them know that after November 12, it would be blocked from use. It sounds like a pretty drastic move on behalf of Microsoft and something that will hurt the makers of third-party accessories like controllers long-term.

However, in an update to the news citing sources aware of Microsoft's plans, the company will expand its program for approving third-party wireless controllers.

Apple's move away from Lightning and towards USB-C is set to continue next week, with arguably the company's worst product getting a refresh.

That product is the much-maligned Magic Mouse, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reporting that the upcoming 'Scary Fast' event that takes place on Monday will see the unveiling of updated accessories to go with whatever Macs are announced. One of those accessories is of course the Magic Mouse, with Gurman claiming that the updated model will ditch Lightning for good, replacing it with the USB-C port that now also adorns the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro products.

The $79 Magic Mouse currently comes in two colors and there is no suggestion that more will be added with this update. There is also no suggestion that Apple is getting ready to fix the mouse's main problem - the fact that its Lightning port is on the bottom of the device. That means that the mouse cannot be used while it's plugged in, a fact that continues to make it the laughingstock of the accessory world.

The evolution of the discrete graphics card for PC gaming has been fascinating to watch over the years, with massive performance leaps and breakthroughs arriving at a steady clip. The ancient days of early 3D gaming have paved the way for realistic physics, lighting, animation, texture detail, ray-tracing, and so much more.

However, as GPUs have become more powerful, they've begun to require more sophisticated cooling - often with large fans and lots of fins, copper, and heat pipes.

On the high-end, the overall size of flagship GPUs like the GeForce GTX 980 through to the GeForce RTX 4090 (or the Radeon RX 7900XTX compared to an older Polaris-era card) has increased substantially to the point where mid-range GPUs are now a lot larger than what they used to be. And with that, GPU sag is a real problem - so having a GPU brace or bracket is a must if you plan on installing one in the traditional horizontal configuration.

Acquiring a dedicated PC gaming chair as part of a build is becoming increasingly common, and the overall sports or racing car shape has become synonymous with gamers. And much like with anything PC hardware-related, there are differences between brands, models, features, and the quality you can expect regarding the MSRP.

This is all a long-winded way of saying that Cougar has put a 200mm RGB fan on its new NxSys Aero gaming chair launching this month in the US and Europe. Cougar, a brand known for creating high-performance peripherals, explains in its press release that the fan circulates air around the chair and directs the "airflow towards your back."

Naturally, the idea is that the cooler you are, the better you'll perform in a competitive title. Per the images supplied, the fan sits right in the middle of the backrest between some mesh, and it looks like a sub-woofer from a distance.

CORSAIR has launched its latest wireless mouse, the CORSAIR M75 AIR WIRELESS - an ultra-lightweight wireless mouse designed for gamers who love playing FPS titles. Weighing in at 60 grams, it's among the lightest and most agile offerings.

It comes equipped with the company's powerful CORSAIR MARKSMAN 26K DPI optical sensor, too, to ensure precise and accurate movement and tracking no matter if you're lining up a headshot or on the other end scrambling to run and strafe to find cover. This is backed up by pro-grade 650 IPS tracking and up to 50g acceleration.

Sporting a symmetrical shape, the 2023 wireless M75 AIR from CORSAIR features a meticulous redesign involving "every contour, outline, and button placement" being reworked and fine-tuned to reach the "optimal state." This is a bold claim, but based on the company's track record, it's enough to get super excited about going hands-on with the CORSAIR M75 AIR WIRELESS.

We first looked at AVerMedia's new Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) HDMI 2.1 USB capture card back at Computex 2023 and were impressed with just how feature-packed and groundbreaking it is for content creation and streaming.

You're looking at a capture card that supports 4K 144 Hz passthrough with HDR and VRR enabled over USB 3.2 Gen 2 or above. Yeah, awesome stuff, as that means it supports modern GPUs like the GeForce RTX 40 Series, the new Radeon RX 7000 Series, and consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. As one of the first HDMI 2.1 Game Capture Cards it's no reason people have been waiting for this to release.

In addition to the Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (USD 299.99) bringing true HDMI 2.1 support with 4K 60 capture (plus 1080p 240 and 1440p 144), it's also a stylish little unit with RGB lighting that can sync up with all your hardware, and it arrives with the easy-to-use AVerMedia Gaming Utility tool software for capture, or you can use it with popular streaming and capture tools like OBS.

Logitech's G502 gaming mouse has been around for many years and has been the go-to for many PC gamers with its iconic shape, performance, and ergonomics. When the G502 first hit the scene, there weren't anywhere near as many gaming mouse options as in 2023, so it's great to see the iconic design still kicking.

The Logitech G502 X PLUS is the latest wireless version of the mouse, incorporating the powerful HERO 25K Sensor, new LIGHTFORCE hybris switches, a redesigned scroll wheel, expansive RGB lighting, and nice-to-have flourishes like a removable DPI-switch button, rubberized grips, and a lightweight 106-gram build.

The new limited edition Logitech G502 X PLUS MILLENNIUM FALCON EDITION takes the latest design and adorns it with a schematic of the iconic ship from the Star Wars universe. A fitting tribute as the G502 is like the Millenium Falcon of the gaming mouse world.

Apple's transition away from Lightning to USB-C is now in full swing after the Iphone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro announcements continued that process. But there are still plenty of accessories that are waiting for their time to shine and now a new report has hinted at when those products will wave goodbye to their Lightning ports for good.

Apple announced that the iPhone is switching to USB-C as part of that Wonderlust September 12 event last week and it wasn't the only product, either. As had been rumored Apple also announced a USB-C version of the AirPods Pro earbuds, but that was where the news stopped. That leaves Apple with plenty of devices and accessories still using Lightning for the time being, not least its $550 AirPods Max. Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman thinks he has the timeline for what comes next.

Writing in the paywalled version of the weekly Power On newsletter, picked up by MacRumors, Gurman says that the USB-C versions of Apple;'s Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard products will all be unveiled alongside the next iMac. That's a product that has already been heavily tipped for an October 2023 unveiling which suggests that we won't have to wait all that much longer for news in that regard.