Tuesday, June 5th 2018
Philips Unveils Gaming Peripherals at Computex
Philips has been selling PC monitors for a while now, and at this year's Computex, the grand old Dutch company unveiled its first gaming-grade peripherals. This includes LED-backlit mechanical keyboards (both full-size and tenkeyless), and four different kinds of ergonomic gaming mice. The SPK8601BHSC and SPK8901SQWC are tenkeyless (87-key) keyboards. The former has a matte-black plastic bezel, and amber illumination, while the latter has silvery brushed aluminium bezel, and white LED illumination. Both keyboards feature "blue" mechanical switches (likely Cherry MX).
The full-size mechanical gaming keyboard lineup includes the SPK8401SQM, SPK8401SHW, SPK8401BHM, and the SPK8801. The SPK8401SQM features silvery brushed aluminium bezel, white keycaps, RGB LED backlighting, and Blue mechanical switches; the SPK8401SHW is its cheaper twin with white LED illumination instead of RGB. The SPK8401BHM has black brushed aluminium bezel, black keycaps, RGB illumination and Blue switches, the SPK8801 is its twin with white keycaps instead of black.
Moving on to the mice, and we find four unique designs that share no elements from each other: SPK9403, SPK9842, SPK9401W, and SPK9212. The SPK9403 features a large footprint, and a right palm-grip optimized design, with a gray rubberized sides blending with a glossy white fascia. You get 8 buttons, a 4,000 dpi optical sensor, 20 million click endurance, and 145 g fixed weight. The SPK9842 has a wacky, asymmetric design that lets your right thumb in on more of the action. It packs a 16,400 dpi sensor, 7 programmable buttons, and 150 g fixed weight. The SPK9401W has the same innards as the SPK9403, but a less flabby outer design that's inviting to claw-grip. An RGB LED diffuser accentuates the bottom half. Lastly, there's the SPK9212, which is probably the cheapest of the lot, with its ambidextrous design, 2,800 dpi sensor, and 120 g fixed weight.
The full-size mechanical gaming keyboard lineup includes the SPK8401SQM, SPK8401SHW, SPK8401BHM, and the SPK8801. The SPK8401SQM features silvery brushed aluminium bezel, white keycaps, RGB LED backlighting, and Blue mechanical switches; the SPK8401SHW is its cheaper twin with white LED illumination instead of RGB. The SPK8401BHM has black brushed aluminium bezel, black keycaps, RGB illumination and Blue switches, the SPK8801 is its twin with white keycaps instead of black.
10 Comments on Philips Unveils Gaming Peripherals at Computex
On some of them even the keycaps seems identical, quite funnily. Not to berate users of these mech keyboards, but If I want to get a cheap Chinese RGB mechanical keyboard with Kailh or Outemu switches I'll go straight to the "source" and get them cheap, without the "brand" mark-up.
Philips has absolutely nothing to do with the Philips-branded monitors, the brand when it comes to monitors is owned by MMD, who also makes the displays. Same Philips brand in televisions is owned by TPV Technology (which, if my memory serves me right, owns MMD)
(Philips televisions were for some time a joint venture between TPV and Philips but Philips dropped out from it years ago)
I'm pretty sure same goes for the peripherals - made by someone else and most likely brand is owned by someone other than Philips, too.
What's with putting blues in a "gaming" board? I can't imagine wanting clicky keys while gaming. Give me heavy linear or tactiles with a subtle bump, at most.
Would rather spare some cash and go directly Motospeed or such to buy one instead paying close or the same money as other brands that actually bother to develop their product somewhat and not just plastering their logo on some one elses.