Finalmouse’s Centerpiece Keyboard: Tech Marvel or Display Gimmick?

Finalmouse has finally delivered the first batch of its Centerpiece keyboards to customers, initially unveiled back in 2022. This unique keyboard features a display as its base, with all keys fully transparent. Various animations, crafted using Unreal Engine 5, can be run on this screen. From afar, the keyboard hardly looks like one, as the keys are simply invisible.

Interestingly, to handle these animations, the keyboard is equipped with a full-fledged SoC with a quad-core processor clocked at 2 GHz and a Mali-G52 GPU, alongside 32 GB of flash memory. The screen itself sports a 2K resolution, although it is notably elongated.

Finalmouse uses proprietary linear switches in the keyboard, featuring a 4 mm actuation travel. Incidentally, the keyboard is of a 65-percent format, weighing about 1.7 kg. However, it lacks a battery. The keyboard is available for order on the official website for $350, but the initial batch has already sold out.

The release of the keyboard came at an interesting time as the market sees an increasing interest in gaming peripherals integrating advanced visual effects and personalization options. This development places Finalmouse in the spotlight, competing with other tech giants who are also pushing boundaries in keyboard and input device innovation.

Experts have pointed out that the addition of a high-resolution display within a keyboard opens possibilities beyond mere aesthetics. However, there remains debate over practical usability versus visual distraction. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, devices like the Centerpiece could redefine user interaction, providing immersive experiences that go beyond conventional setups.

“The integration of dynamic displays in keyboards is a bold move, signaling a shift towards personalization and multi-functionality in user devices,” commented a tech analyst.

It remains to be seen how this technology will be adopted by mainstream users, but one thing is clear: Finalmouse has set a precedent for future developments in the peripheral space.